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Of Blood, Steel, and Lasers
Chapter 5 - Rumblings In The Deep

Chapter 5 - Rumblings In The Deep

It wanted to kill. To rip them apart limb by limb. To drink their blood and eat their flesh. Oh how it would relish in the kill. It would bring honor to his lord and species. But the… -what was it the elder had called them, humans?- whatever they were were clever. They did not approach the prison they had put it in. Not did they leave any gaps or chances for him to free itself. To it, they were cowards. Spineless cowards who cried injustice when the strong beat them. They hid behind laws and their hard matter. No matter how many times it challenged them to a duel, it would be refused. It was very angry. It did not like the honorless way of the humans.

All it felt for the humans was disgust. How dare they proclaim themselves powerful when they relied on tools? If not for the fact that its species could not breathe in space, it would’ve engaged in combat with its own four claws, teeth, and two legs. It would not fear death like these cowardly humans. Only through battle could one prove themselves as worthy to Korphniir (God). Since these humans had dared to forsake the sacred traditions of battle, it did not feel the need to comply with what they did. Heretics would burn. This species would turn to dust. And the Hakt Dothuum Korphniir (Hand of God) would be the one to do so.

It laughed, for it saw the fate of the humans. From the lands of Kenyreat (loosely translates to “heaven for brave warriors”), he would watch them perish. It’s laughter swelled as it imagined the technology the cowards were so proud of turn to flames. Kavard Uuthrym Davkoor Korphniire Quazzentur Bothrunn Galaznto (“Cowards shall perish in God’s flames”)!

“Would you like to join your brothers?”

It shivered. It’s God had spoken.

**Malachor V Prison Complex, 10:52:00 GST**

“That thing’s laughing again.” A prison guard looked through the blue energy screen at the alien prisoner.

The prisoner was a bipedal, four-armed humanoid creature. It’s face was that of a reptilian, with the scales to match. Though through the blue energy screen it couldn’t be seen well, the reptilian alien’s scales were all a deep blue, of a similar color to the oceans of Earth. The reptilian’s species was infamous for its strength, and it took an entire squad of professionals to capture it. If it weren’t for the fact that it had slaughtered a group of human citizens for refusing it’s “challenge,” nobody would’ve ever bothered with it. Unfortunately, it came from a primitive world, so by galactic laws, they couldn’t kill it unless it committed an even more heinous crime.

“Ugh, really? Fucking hate that thing, it’s so creepy.” The guard’s buddy shivered as he spoke.

“Why can’t we just kill it and say it committed suicide? Coming from a barbarian species, surely it wouldn’t be too weird, right?” The guard nervously eyed the small black bulge in the ceiling that was the camera.

“Don’t even try it,” the guard’s friend shook his head. “If you did, our superiors would be forced to report us. Although they hate this thing as much as us, they aren’t willing to break galactic law for us. Better to just let it sit and rot.”

“Rot? You think it’ll rot? It has moved since we brought it here, and it refused to eat anything. I don’t know how it’s still alive!” The guard motioned with his hand.

“Enough. Just tune it out. If you can’t do that, listen to some elevator music or something.” The guard’s friend sighed and turned around, continuing his patrol.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“… Fucking hell.” The guard grimaced, then pulled out a chair from a nearby desk and sat in it.

With a passing scowl aimed at the prisoner, the guard pulled out his phone and began to browse the web. Naturally, the longer he focused on his phone, the more his attention was focused on his phone instead of the prisoner. Eventually, he had completely relaxed, and even set his rifle down. Some time later, a notification pooped up on his phone, notifying him that he had less than 20% battery power left. Sighing, he turned it off and slipped it in his pocket. He picked up his rifle and turned to look at the prisoner’s cage.

“GRAAAAAH!!” The prisoner roared at him, his bloodied hands pressed against the blue energy wall that was slowly fizzling out.

Startled, the guard jumped back and instinctively pulled the trigger. The bullets were disintegrated by the energy field before they could hit the reptilian. Those shots only served to anger the reptilian, as it roared even loader, and started using its four arms to beat the energy field. Strangely, the energy field that was able to vaporize even tough titanium alloys was unable to damage a single scale on its hands.

“A-A prisoner’s escaping! The containment field is ineffective! Send a Justiciar! Block B-3c, send help immediately!” The guard cried into a radio in his free hand.

“*Static* Repeat… soldier… are you there… *Static*” Someone on the other side of the radio spoke, but it was filled with static.

“Block B-3c! Prisoner escaping! I repeat, a prisoner is escaping in block B-3c! Send reinforcements!” The guard repeated desperately, seeing the energy field fading away faster and faster.

Unable to hear anything on the other side of the radio, the guard picked up his gun, and shakily aimed it in the direction of the raging reptilian. With a final roar and blow, the energy field shatter and fell apart. Fear climbing into his throat, his were short and ragged as he pulled on the trigger. Bullets flew at speeds faster than the human eye could see, most of them hitting the torso of the reptilian, others either zipping by or hitting elsewhere.

Within seconds, only the electric hum of the building and the empty click that signified the gun was empty. However, the reptilian was still standing, its scales dyed blood red. A guttural growl came from its mouth. The guard started, slowly edging away from the reptilian as he reached for another magazine. Slipping in a new magazine, the guard rose his gun again, and moved his finger to the trigger. A bloodthirsty roar interrupted him, and a charging blue form tackled him soon after.

Chunks of flesh and blood flew from the guard’s body as the reptilian shredded his body to pieces with its claws. Heavy, deranged breathing came from the reptilian’s mouth as it slowly lowered its head to eat the guard’s body. It devoured with unholy speed, gulping down the remains without care for the blood that left its mouth. It ate the body until there was only bones left, white and gleaming after having been licked clean.

“Good.” A voice spoke into the reptilian’s mind.

It was rough, and gravely, like it had been the victim of a millennium long cold. However, there was something about that inspired a great amount of dread. Perhaps it was the sheer power of the voice. Strong enough to make the air around it vibrate intensely. One could only imagine what it would be like if it was there in person.

“There are more coming.” A different voice spoke.

Or perhaps it was the ever-changing nature of it. Sometimes it would be kind and warm, feminine, masculine, cold and steely, or apathetic and empty.

“Kill them all.”

“Yes, my lord.” The reptilian’s voice sounded like grating steel as he complied to the orders.

But it was most likely the time when it spoke all at once. In sync, a multitude of voices had spoken. Not fulfilling a harmony, nor creating a tune. It was simply monstrous. A collection from every single possible voice speaking the same thing, all at once. This. This was what it worshiped. And it would fulfill all of its wishes.

**Unknown Time, Cha’karri territory.**

The ones in the Varthõrÿņ Council were quiet. Though the meeting place was immaterial, and the manifestations of themselves were only thoughts, the atmosphere was heavy. Or perhaps it was the feeling of worry that made the pressure they felt so tangible. In a world of thought, every emotion is an event, a real thing.

“Please tell us you have good news, Nãävgæ. I can hardly take it anymore.” Spoke Hrõfgëir.

“No.” Nãävgæ sighed.

The Council was quiet once more, the feeling of dread and despair manifesting as a gray thread that drifted in the air, each council member contributing one.

“Then we launch a true assault, there’s nothing left to do.” A voice, unheard in many centuries spoke.

Immediately, the gray threads winked out of existence, replaced by a golden glow of awe and worship. The thought manifestations of the Council members formed into the shapes of different species, some imitating the cha’karri, some the ludrians, some human, and a mixture of many others. They all, without exception displayed subservience to the voice that spoke. And, in one voice, spoke the same thing. “Venerable One.”

The voice spoke once again, solemn as ever. “The time for action has come, and by my name, I shall see it through.”

The mental space shivered as the Venerable One’s voice filled with power. Some of the weaker members of the Council felt their thought manifestations weaken, and grow blurry. But all, without exception, felt completely assured in their hearts. For the Venerable One, nothing was impossible.