Testing One’s Resolve
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The Six Circles of Seduction were truly a sight to behold. Despite the perimeter of the great realm being surrounded by a great fog, seeing each section rise higher up into the heavens with the great palace of Slaanesh atop it all stole his breath away. As terrifying as it was, there was a certain sense of beauty in it. Now he understood truly why people fell for this place despite all the horrors that lay before him.
Now he stood there at the base of the great mountain, surrounded by the marshes that protected Slaanesh’s realm from Khorne. With Beel as his guide, he’d managed to slip past the famous bastion that guarded this forest, the great Marcher Fortress. Even from way out here in the backdoors leading to the realm, he could see the bastion of spikes as it stood in proud defiance against the brass beast, its walls formidable in spite of being a perverted imitation to the fortresses of the blood god.
“Talk about being petty,” He muttered as he stared back at the fog in front of him. Should he really go through? Feeling for the map he had in his pocket, as well as the bag of supplies, he certainly had an easier time, but this was a realm made to break wills. He was afraid, but if he couldn’t do this then how could he even hope to beat up a god? This was a mere cakewalk compared to what he needed to do afterwards.
Feeling his unease, Beel’s hands wrapped around his chest. Pulling herself closer to him, she started, “Hey Magi…” Leaning against his hold as he slipped his hand around her, she then offered, “You know you can just turn back and stay back home. The girls would definitely appreciate the company and, besides, you can trust us to get things done!”
He didn’t have to do this, but as he stared back at her worried gaze his resolve was hardened, “I wish I could just stay back Beel but I can’t,” He replied as he clenched his fist. He was already asking a lot of her and asking her to do it without his help felt dirty. How could he say he loved her if she was doing all the work? With a reassuring smile stretched across his face, he then said, “If somebody’s going to piss off Slaanesh then it’ll be me.“
Thumping his fist against his chest, he then boldly laughed out, “Hey, I already have two gods that are pissed at me, so why not add a third one to the list!”
Beel snorted as she fired back, “You seem to be forgetting that my father’s not exactly happy with me either.”
He raised his hand in surrender as he reluctantly agreed to her, “Fair enough, but my point still stands,” He argued. He’d rather be the focus of his enemy’s ire than those he loved and cherished.
Beel sighed as she gave him a squeeze. Muttering, she whispered, “If there’s really nothing I can do to change your mind…then I want you to make a promise,” She looked up to him, her eyes begging him for this one wish to which he nodded. Holding on to him tightly, she made him swear, “Promise me you’ll come back to me Magsnik. I’ll make sure to find you if you don’t. I swear I’ll do it!”
He chuckled as he ruffled her hair before pulling her in for a kiss. It was but a brief and chaste kiss but it warmed his heart like no other, “I love you too Beel.” He then pulled away from her, their hands lingering together before both of them let go of each other. Marching onwards, he promised her, “I’ll make sure to contact you the moment I get through all of the circles.”
“You better!” Beel shouted encouragement while her into the distance as he delved into the fog. Soon enough not even her voice could reach him as he was swallowed up within the wall of white. He would walk in this fog for what felt like an eternity before he found himself standing before a great doorway. Looking down at the map he was given, he had now come face to face to the entrance to the six circle.
Of all the horrors the realms of Chaos could conjure, none were more sinister than that of Slaanesh’s home; for it welcomed all who attempted to delve into its depths. The door before him was no great gate of brass, nor some intricate puzzle. It wasn’t even covered in spikes filled with whatever fetid disease the mind could conjure. Instead, what lay before him was what could only be described as that of a surface of a still pond.
He hesitated as he gazed back at the image before him, that of a great leader among orks, but he let it fuel his anger. As he stepped forward, he swung his hammer at it and the surface rippled showing that none barred his way inside. Having the image of himself before his retirement helped in getting his mind back into the game as he slipped through the mirror's surface.
-x-x-x-
As he opened his eyes, he found himself in a realm of gold. Riches beyond imagining covered the whole realm as entire mountains made of precious metals and gems dotted the chaotic realm. As he looked down, he found even the very ground was made of opals while the grass that grew in it were tassels of saffron. If there was something man desired that was material in nature, one could find it here. Never had he seen such a display of wealth and it was disturbing in a way he couldn’t put it to words.
“So, this is Avidity, huh?” He whispered as he sat down and checked on his supplies once more. He had already checked it before but another go wouldn’t hurt. It also helped that it dulled his need to grab onto something. This realm was made to appeal to one’s greed, and now he was surrounded by wealth beyond imagining.
He only carried with him the bare necessities. Rations to last him several weeks if needed, a length of rope, a knife made by Justice with the promise that it’d always be with him, a canteen attached to his water tank, a map given to him by Hecate, clock accurate to the time of his home, and a lock of hair given to him by Beel which he could whisper to if he ever felt lonely.
He had all the necessities for living in the wilderness, but he brought no sleeping bags with him, “As if I’ll ever get to sleep in this place,” he whispered as he started gathering his things and was about to reach out for the last piece of his ensemble, that of his phone, when he stopped dead in his tracks.
He stared long and hard at the object before him. He fondly remembered the time he bought it with the pay he’d saved up from his odd jobs. Sleek, stylish, it was something he’d been proud to own. It even had the same camo colored protective case he brought to avoid having the screen cracking from his clumsy hold. It was just laying there… but it’s been years since he last grabbed his phone.
Slowly he pulled back, reaching for his hammer once more. He raised it up high before swinging it down with a roar. The phone screamed as it buckled under the weight of his hammer. The thing cracked, growing chitinous legs as it limped away, “Oh no you fuckind don’t!” He hissed out as he lobbed a green globe of fire at the creature.
The thing burst in flames, its body melting revealing flesh underneath before all that was left was a pile of molten slag. He spat at the thing before he looked away, gritting his teeth. It was just the first circle but it almost got him right then and there. With the illusion broken, however, he could finally see this realm as what it truly was: a trap.
Looking around, he could see that for every display of wealth was a viction. Doting the path ahead were statues, of every species and status, standing frozen in time. They who became cursed with the wealth of this place. He soon noticed the blood leaking from some of the piles, coating the gold in crimson. The more he looked, the more he realized that this realm of greed figuratively and literally ate those who were tempted into taking the wealth within.
Tearing his gaze away at what the realm had to offer, he then slipped his hammer back into its holster while he grabbed for his map. He could not just let it sit on the ground lest he might be tempted to grab onto something, “If it’s not on your person, don’t trust it,” He muttered and pulled out his map and checked on where he must go.
It was a simple velum piece, no bigger than the palm of his hand, but within lay the path he must take. Ever shifting, he traced the road he had to follow to pass this test and the next. The path was dead ahead, and there would be things to test his resolve in the road.
To pass this test… he must simply walk forward and let go of any desire. Once he had been thoroughly tested, he would soon find a door, a door akin to what he faced earlier. Only then would he pass through this realm and into the next.
Slipping the map back inside his pack before pulling out his clock. The second hand moved like it was in molasses. It seemed that time moved glacially here; perfect, for the road ahead was long and arduous. Nodding, he pocketed his items before briefly touching his amulet, “I can do this. Just remember that everything here is cursed,” He whispered as he pulled out his hammer once more.
As he walked by the statues, he swung his hammer; letting them break under the flame shrouded head of his maul, shattering and melting all that stood before him. These people might have failed in resisting the temptations offered by this realm, but that did not mean he should let them be. They might be damned, but he still had his ways to free them. He left himself a path of destruction. What were a few statues missing compared to the countless before him?
It wouldn’t take long for him to find the end of the realm and he stepped through without hesitation, eager to get out of the realm of greed; but what lay before him might prove harder to resist.
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The first thing that greeted him in the realm of gluttony was not the sight of it all but the scent that wafted from waves crashing against the sand beneath his boots. Opening his eyes, he was greeted by a tropical realm where the water was wine. The sounds of sparkling wine filled his ears while the fruity scent of every vintage called to him. He could even smell notes of the wine his old lab instructor whipped up.
“Fuck,” He cursed out as he started to hate the realm of Slaanesh even more. He quickly pulled out his flask of water and downed it, letting it fill his stomach till it was close to bursting. So busy was he drinking from his flask that he did not notice the being that snuck up to him.
“An ork or a human?” A voice called out, making him choke as the water slid down the wrong pipe. Melodious laughter echoed all around him as he coughed, thumping his fist against his chest to clear it, “Most curious! Most curious indeed,~” The voice then whispered as he felt arms wrap around him.
Alarmed, he instinctively grabbed the being that latched on to him and threw them off. He was surprised by just how light the being was as a black and white blur arced across the air before they slowed down, their feminine form gliding down before lightly touching the ground. Standing on tiptoes, the being bowed low.
Straightening up, he immediately felt on edge as he came face to face with a being that sent shivers up his spine. Before him stood a tiny woman, no taller than Emmy. With her long white hair, heart shaped face, fair skin and a slender yet enticing figure, she was quite eye-catching. Even her gothic lolita themed dress, a strange fashion choice given how it'd been thirty thousand years since that thing became a thing, only served to highlight her almost ethereal looks. She looked human enough on the outside, but the moment their eyes met he knew that what stood before him was no mortal being.
“Oh this?” The girl giggled as their eyes met and there he saw madness. Crazed silver eyes stared back at him and her smile, her terrible wicked smile, stretched far too widely for his liking. It was as if he was standing before a great and terrible beast, yet what stood before him was a small dainty woman. Not even Justice had him on edge so easily, “Some things are just never out of fashion, you know?” She laughed as she twirled around gracefully, each movement made to catch one's attention.
She certainly got his attention alright. Holding his maul close to his chest, he refused to let his eyes off her. He wasn’t sure what her intentions were but he did not like it, “Who the hell are you?” He growled warningly.
“Little old me?” The woman laughed as she suddenly appeared over his shoulder, her hands cupping her rosy cheeks as she laid atop the air, her legs kicking playfully behind her. He swatted at her but that only made her switch to his other shoulder, “I have many names throughout the years, and so many identities,” She then whispered before he finally caught her, her eyes growing wide as he grabbed her by his dainty neck before slamming her down on the ground.
It drove the air of her lungs as he pinned her down, yet all it did was make the blush in her cheeks grow flush. She bit her lips as she squirmed beneath him, her legs crossing while she moaned out, “You might know me from some of them! I’ve been the shadow of Agrippina the Younger, the voice that whispered to dear Elizabeth, and my most favorite of all:~ Da-Ji.~”
Alarm bells rang in his head, but he remained stony face, his lips pulled back as she snarled at her, “What the hell are you talking about?” He lied.
Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she raised her hand in surrender, “Of course, of course, you shouldn’t know any of them,” She teased him as she reached up to his forearms and traced the muscles, making him twitch as to how good it felt. It only took a second of distraction as she suddenly appeared wrapped around the forearm that once pinned her down, “After all, you’re a mere Ork, right? Just a little lost warboss that’s certainly lost in the field of Slaanesh.~ Certainly not a weird thing given how all the others went over to the blood soaked killing fields of the Khorne!”
“So if you’re asking who I am,~” She whispered slowly, his fist clenching as she leaned against him, paralyzed as her arms wrapped around him like that of a lover, “My little warboss, you can call me whatever you want. Kitten, Lover, or even your Pet. After all, I’m your darling guardian Angel.~”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Without so much of a warning, he found himself yanked to the side, “What the fuck-!” He cried out in surprise as he was casually manhandled, his arms protesting at how roughly she pulled him aside. His protests would quickly die out as he heard an ever so familiar shriek heading straight at him before it whooshed by his cheeks, blood spraying off his face as a bladed projectile scraped him before burying itself on the sand. Someone just fired at them.
He immediately sprung into action, roaring out as he brought himself between the woman and their assailants. He heard three more shrieks and he struck out, wincing as the terrible blades of wraith bone shrunken glanced off his form and his weapon. Catching sight of the tall cone shaped helmet of an Aeldari, he immediately aimed his hammer at it, gathering the energies of the WAAAGH within him, but it was far too late.
They slipped away, running off into the forest with only their melodic cursing as well as the wound they gave him being the sign that they were even there to begin with. He stood there, dumbfounded at what had just taken place, “Did they just…” He whispered, unsure if what he saw was right. Did an Aeldari try to just shoot him?
Whirling around, he glared at the Daemon in sheep’s clothing just casually standing there with an innocent smile on her face, “What~? Can’t a daemon be nice for once,” The woman asked with a pout, “We might be shellfish but that doesn’t mean we’re all heartless.~” She added, her feverish smile returning back to grace her lips.
Narrowing his eyes, he walked up to where he saw the shuriken land before he reached out and pushed his fingers into the sand. It dug in deep, digging past the sands and into the flesh beneath but as he pulled it out, he knew what he held was the genuine article; a wraith bone shuriken, yet it looked far firmer than he had ever seen in battle. Burning it in his palm, it acted much like it; unraveling into the very energies that made it up with not a single trace of warp taint.
It was… suspicious to say the least, too convenient even, but he was going to hold judgment for now. Looking around, he couldn’t feel a trace of the knife-eared bastard that shot him, but that was to be expected. If the Slaaneshi could sense them then they would have been a goner long before they had entered into the second ring. After all, their souls were highly priced.
With a huff, he brushed his hands against his tabard, as he stood up. Giving the daemon an appreciative nood and walked away; pulling out his map to guide his way. She might have saved him, but he didn’t trust her one bit. He wanted nothing to do with this daemon and best to just leave on a good note. The girl, however, was persistent; following after him and jumping up and down to get a glimpse of the map in his hands.
He sighed, shutting his map, as he asked, ”What the hell do you want from me? Can’t you see I’m busy?” He made no attempts to slow down, making long strides as he headed for the tall mountains, but the girl all too easily caught up as she skipped along beside him.
“Really? Just going to walk off just like that?” The white haired she-devil asked as she ran up ahead and blocked his path. Spreading her arms wide as she leaned forward, gesturing at her naturally rosy cheeks, before saying, “Not even a kiss on the cheek for a proper thank you~?”
His eye twitched as he reached for his bag and threw one of his more perishable rations, a lone sausage straight at her, “Bwah!?” ”The woman babbled out in confusion as she reared back in surprise. He grinned at how she sputtered as the long hard squigdog slapped against her cheek, making her scramble up to grab the offending food product.
“There’s your reward so leave me be,” He told her as he pushed past her and continued on his merry way. Opening his map once more, he found that he only needed to walk straight ahead but he’d soon encounter a diverging path. He was about to check where the right path was when a dainty set of hands grabbed his hands and pulled it down, revealing a pouting Slaaneshi.
With the ration in hand, she threw it back at him with surprising speed but he came prepared. Opening his mouth, he caught the meaty treat and chewed down, making the girl fume even more. Swallowing it down, he then asked, “I have places to go and I don’t have time to talk,” He told her as he gently pulled his hands away from her before stashing the map back into his pack. He really didn’t want to lose that thing, especially with how clingy this Daemon was, “Don’t you have other things to do? I’m just an ork so fuck off,” He then asked her.
Shaking her head, she smiled once more as she walked beside him, no longer blocking his path, “That’s the thing!” The girl shouted as she twirled around, flashing him with a glimpse of the bare skin her outfit oh so generously provided. He hated how his eyes wandered, but the girl had her way and it felt like he had to beat her up if he wanted to get him out of his hair.
“I want to know why you’re busy here of all places!~ Your kind usually go to Khorne to fight, but here you are; already at the second ring. Isn’t that strange? But in a good way!” The woman prattled on, prodding at him with her insistent questioning. It ate away at his patience, but the woman was merely fishing for information, nothing more, nothing less.
“Are Daemonette’s really this talkative?” He grumbled as he entered the forest. Pulling out the knife lent to him, he started hacking away, making it big enough for him. He may or may not swing a bit too hard, letting his knife lash out at his companion. Of course, the woman merely danced around his blade, letting it pass by her as she kept trailing him, “Damn it, I’m only at the second ring and I have to deal with your kind already. I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with your kind till the third ring,” He muttered as he hacked away.
“So you’re here to get into Slaanesh’s castle?~” The woman then asked, making him stumble. He scolded himself as he caught himself, he had spoken a bit too much. Giggling, she poked him on the side as she said, “Very interesting indeed.~”
He growled, flinching from her touch, “No, I’m just passing by. I might have gone sightseeing or something if a certain someone didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere,” He fired back, picking his pace up as he came upon an abandoned yet still visible paved road. With his path clear for quite a bit, he sheathed his knife and power walked away, just hoping she’d eventually get tired.
“Hah,~” The girl laughed as she chased after him, spreading her arms as she ran up ahead. Turning around and jogging backwards, she then smiled up to him and complimented him, “You’re funny, I like you.”
He refused to answer her this time around, keeping his mouth shut as he kept walking along and focusing on the untamed wilderness around him. He had to remind himself that his shooter might still be trailing him. He wanted to be on alert but, as they kept walking, no trace of their attackers cropped up. It was just him and the daemon behind. Ignoring the humming she made, he let his eyes wander. Looking around, he wondered why this wasn’t the ring of indolency?
The weather was just perfect as it was neither hot nor cold and the song of the creatures filled the undergrowth. Great tree’s grew high up in the air, giving them shade. They even came by animals gorging themselves upon the fruit, their bodies plump from inaction, showing no fear when he passed by. The scent of the fruit was inviting, but it would pale in comparison to what was up ahead.
As he passed by some comatose animals, a sweet intoxicating scent filled his lungs. He had to hold himself back as the wall of sweetness hit his nose, his stomach growling despite sloshing full of water. The roaring of a waterfall soon filled his ears as he approached the scent until his senses were getting overwhelmed.
Looking straight up ahead as he walked through the branches, his neck straining and his walking stiff as the scent of fungus beer filled his senses. He hated every second of it, his mouth growing dryer with each passing second. His mind screamed at him to just hold out his hands or to just open his mouth and let a single drop touch his tongue but he kept his mouth shut. The sensory torture along with her insistent humming would soon prove to be too much as he exploded.
“God damn it with your humming! Can you leave me alone?” he roared at her as fire blazed all over his form. He was pissed, yet as he saw the girl cower before him, fear flashing in her eyes, the fires of hate started to wither away, “I apologize, that was uncalled for,” He whispered as he patted the fire over his form.
“Just please… go away,” He sighed out as he trudged along. He could see the girl peering up from her hands as he walked away, soon losing sight of her as the scent of the waterfalls finally faded into the background. His patience as it was was already frayed and he could be rather… explosive.
Unfortunately, this barely deterred the girl as it seemed that she was back to her usual peppy self. He could only groan out in defeat as the girl latched on to him once more, “Nope!” She cheered as she wrapped her arms around his neck while her cheeks were pressed against his. Poking his tusk, she then said, “Not when you’re far too intriguing. You see, I’m a storyteller and I just have this fascination for heroes and I just want to see one for the last time.~”
Seeing that there was simply no way to reason with her, he let her be, “What? Pissed off your patron?” He asked with an annoyed huff. At least she didn’t weigh a ton.
The girl pouted as she replied, “Unfortunately,” That had had his eyes brows rising. Lending her his ear, he listened closely as he became intrigued himself, “My patron has a one track mind when it comes to stories. I wanted to shake things up, to change the formula, but they didn’t like it so now I’m a dead woman walking,” She replied as she pressed her palm against her forehead.
His lips twitched as he pursed his lips but it was all too much. He burst out laughing, at her jest. “Good, one less gremlin messing with people,” He chuckled as he got a hold of himself.
The girl stuck out her tongue at him before pushing herself away. Walking up ahead, she asked him accusingly, “Really? You aren’t going to offer your help or anything? Won’t you hear this poor maiden’s request?” She asked.
“Nope!” He snorted in reply.
The girl stomped her feet and crossed her arms across her chest, “Some hero you are,” she called out to him
“Hah, bold of you to assume I’m a hero,” he barked out laughing. Even if he wanted to save her, he wasn’t sure if he could help at all. What would he even do? Dealing with Gorka Morka was quite straightforward, Slaanesh, on the other hand, was far more complicated. Besides, was she even telling the truth? Was she really in trouble? She looked free enough on her own.
“But you are,~” The girl insisted as he finally reached the fork in the road. Getting in between him and the path ahead, she started gushing out, “A being rising up to the challenge in front of them, fighting despite the impossible odds? Possessing qualities that make them idols that one should strive to become? Making lies so mortals could push themselves thinking that they can achieve the impossible?” The girl shivered in delight as she held herself, moaning as she dragged her nails against her cheeks.
He flinched back as she turned her gaze on him. Launching herself at him and grabbing him by the collar, she shouted ecstatically, “You!~ You are a hero whether you like it or not. The moment you stepped into the realm of Slaanesh, you became one! You are a hero and what kind of Keeper of Secrets am I if I were to let your story remain raw and untamed!?” She panted, giggling uncontrollably as she pressed her face up against him, her intoxicated scent filling his lungs, “I offer my hand to you oh powerful warboss. I lend you my service so long as you let me be by your side. Let me help you,~” The woman offered, her smile stretching as the world around them seemed to shrink until it was only the two of them, their eyes locked with each other.
For a moment, he was tempted. Here before him was just the daemon that he had intended to make by making Slaanesh sick. His journey could end here and he could just grab her and be done with it. She did offer her help and it was so open ended he could just grab her, yet he felt repulsed, his skin crawling as he grew to know her and now she tries to force her help on him?
He met her gaze head on as he made his answer, “Nah, I’m good,” Grabbing the bewildered girl by the collar, he gently placed her down to the side before he continued on his way, leaving her behind and this time she didn’t follow. As tempting as it was to just grab her and make her the final piece of the ritual, she had way too many red flags. He might have taken in three daemons, but not this one; maybe not until he knew her more.
“Oh before you go, one last thing!” The woman called out, making him pause. He looked up, sighing ashe turned around and saw the woman pointed at the other path he didn’t take. Following her hands, he found the set of stairs leading up to the highest peak in the island, a feature he missed as he was so distracted by this girl. “The exit to this place is that way by the way,” she told him. For once, he saw no trace of deceit in her eyes and as he pulled out his map and looked down, indeed it was the path he should be taking.
Grumbling, he turned around and walked towards the path that she was standing in front of. Stopping beside her, he reached out to her and gave her a pat on the head, “Thank you,” He whispered to her as she shivered and moaned before whining as the hand pulled away, “and Goodbye,” He then told her as he left. Yes, he liked girls freaky, but that girl was a bit too freaky.
“Oh, I’m not so sure about that,” She called out to him as she stood there, watching him walking away. “We’ll be seeing each other again soon enough!~” She shouted to him before he blinked and she was gone. He shivered as he hurried along, refusing to look back. He’d had more than enough of that woman for an entire lifetime.