Chapter 85

Even with a holy relic bestowed by the Blood God, it could not withstand the loyalty of plasma rifles; the Great Omnissiah blesses the loyal warriors, the Emperor’s Inquisitor!

In many ways, Winnie was undoubtedly unfit!

She lacked decisiveness, let alone firmness, always clinging to idealistic visions; some of her decisions, in Alvin’s eyes, were stubborn and rigid!

But one thing could not be denied by anyone!

Winnie Winslet was worthy of the Winslet family, and even more so of the title of Imperial Inquisitor—when facing heresy, she unhesitatingly gave her life to become a cornerstone of the Empire!

The final plasma cannon blast shattered the relic’s shield!

Then Winnie was swallowed by a flood of holy scarabs; Alvin did not need to look to know the outcome.

“May your soul return to the Golden Throne!”

The relic’s shield was shattered, but Rashid did not die—he was the son of the Planetary Governor, and even as a disfavored collateral branch, he still bore a deflection device.

Though this device could not hold back the holy scarabs for long.

Yet utterly cornered, Rashid clung to the last straw like a drowning man, abandoning all dignity, turning and fleeing in sheer terror.

“No… I cannot die here!”

Rashid sprinted, desperately gripping the rock wall, trying to climb upward and escape that damned madman!

But how could Alvin let him succeed?

“Get back here, coward!”

Agony lashed his nerves, splitting his skull with pain, yet he gritted his teeth and used his last remaining strength to drag Rashid off the rock face!

Thud!

Rashid crashed heavily to the ground, battered and humiliated.

“Get away from me, you madman!” He turned and saw Alvin advancing with his combat knife, his face as pale as death, screaming in terror: “No… don’t come near me!”

Boom!

Sudden flames erupted, engulfing Alvin.

But something even more horrifying occurred: Alvin, wreathed in psychic flame, looked like a death god returned from hell—his steps to claim lives never paused.

His armor ignited, bursting open with gaps.

His helmet shattered, revealing his face—a grotesque demon’s visage, eyes blazing crimson with murderous intent so tangible it froze Rashid’s bones.

“Don’t run—our business isn’t finished yet!”

Alvin was nearing his limit, yet he refused to fall, clinging solely to madness and sheer willpower.

“Save… save me… who can save me?!”

Rashid was utterly terrified by the man’s madness, his fighting spirit shattered, his mind consumed only by escape.

“Yes… yes!”

“There’s the Great Blood God!”

Hope flared in his eyes as he chanted a twisted, blasphemous incantation, seeking to draw power from the Warp, begging the Great Blood God for blessing!

If only he received that blessing—he could turn the tide!

Yet… the Warp remained utterly still.

“H-how could this happen?”

Rashid’s prayer received no response whatsoever.

Even the blessing granted by the Blood God seemed to be fading from his soul.

“Why is this happening?!”

Rashid screamed in despair, chanting the blasphemous incantation again, desperate for the Blood God’s favor—even any other power would do!

But he forgot the most crucial point.

Though the Blood God reveled in war and slaughter, a brutal, bloodthirsty god of destruction, He also symbolized courage and honor.

From the moment Rashid felt fear and begged Alvin for mercy, from the moment he failed the ultimate test of courage and honor in a death-defying duel, he had lost all worth!

A coward is unworthy of the Blood God’s blessing!

“Who the hell are you calling?!”

Alvin kicked Rashid over, his lips curling into a mad, bloodthirsty grin: “Look at my face clearly—our debt is settled!”

“No… please…”

Rashid’s eyes widened in utter horror, his pupils shrinking to needle points, reflecting a cold, glinting blade!

Snap!

One slash across the throat, one through the heart!

Blood gushed like a fountain, drenching Alvin’s face, making him look like a raving murderer.

He twisted his blade upward from the heart!

Severing every muscle and bone along the way, he finally severed Rashid’s head—until his final breath, his eyes were filled with terror.

“To hell with the Blood God!”

Alvin grabbed the head and hurled it into the scarabs, watching until not a single scrap remained, only then exhaling a long breath.

Tucker taught him: kill cleanly!

Leave no hope for the enemy—especially cultists. If you don’t eradicate them completely, who knows what horrors might arise?

It’s over…

Finally, the cult’s leader was slain, the source destroyed!

Alvin turned to look at the Inquisitor, entirely buried beneath a sea of holy scarabs, his gaze dimming: “It seems… miracles truly don’t happen.”

Personally, he had hoped for a miracle—but alas… a miracle is called a miracle precisely because it never occurs!

“I thought too much…”

Alvin savored the bitter taste of sorrow alone.

Millions, billions die every day in the Imperium—why should he expect Winnie to survive?

The Rose Knot’s void shield was nearing overload.

And he himself was nearly spent.

“It’s time to leave…”

Completely surrounded by holy scarabs, Alvin activated the last of his armor’s energy and shot toward the sky.

“Warning! Warning!”

“Energy insufficient! Energy insufficient!”

A cascade of alarms and flashing red interfaces signaled the armor had reached its limit.

“Should be enough to escape Ironstone Town…”

Alvin glanced at the remaining energy and accelerated: “Once out of this zone, I’ll just—”

The moment he spoke, a crushing dread seized his heart—he couldn’t breathe, as if a dagger had been pressed against his chest!

“Warning! Targeted by unknown weapon!”

“Evasion impossible! Defense impossible!”

Suddenly, a blinding crimson beam stretched across the entire sky, annihilating every holy scarab in its path!

Amid a sonic boom that tore the heavens, tidal waves of air surged toward him, a colossal shadow swallowing him whole!

“What the hell is that?!”

Alvin, stunned, turned to look back.

There, a monstrous, grotesquely twisted creature—like a demonic dragon—spewed terrifying flames that consumed the entire foundry.

That… was a Hell Drake?!

Alvin reeled in horror—he’d just destroyed a Brass Scorpion, and now where had this demon engine come from?!

But the Hell Drake would not answer. A torrent of destructive energy surged forth, coalescing into a single, unstoppable wave that roared toward him!

“Navigator, Warp Jump!!!”

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