B4 Chapter 443: Imperium Mortum, pt. 3

A red light of violence drenched the stairwell as the high-pitched alarm shrieked. It was loud enough it was almost physically painful, regardless of Kaius’s stats.

His mind raced as he watched dozens of fixed automata erupt from the walls. Turning and swivelling to face them, each looked almost like an enlarged crossbow affixed to a cantilevered arm. Yet there were oddities. Rather than having curved limbs under strain, rails lined the groove of their bolt channel. They blazed with magical energy — a building charge of electrical mana and an affinity he didn’t recognise. One close to electricity, but also metal. Clattering echoes filled the space as dozens of metal spikes rose from slots on the crossbows’ channels.

In the space between heartbeats, Kaius made his decision. It was too late to back out now. Besides, they’d been locked in. It wasn’t like they could leave — even if they could, they had to descend and shut down this facility from within before it could pose a danger to the city above.

Faster than he could blink, he focused his true sight on one of the automata.

Bramble Pattern Bolt Thrower:

Rare – Tier I

For the fixed defences, simple volume of fire will suffice. They are merely a surface level distraction compared to our true shields and swords.

Crafted in the great artisan-factories of the Imperium, these bolt throwers autonomously target and fire upon designated enemies.

Artisan-wrought Artefact

Autonomous III, Ferrous Acceleration II

He grit his teeth. They were automata, but not the type he was expecting. From what little he’d heard, most of the mobile units found inside Imperial ruins had levels. These were artefacts. Without a mind, he couldn’t make use of Eirnith to direct their attention. No matter. He had other abilities.

“Kaius.” Porkchop prompted.

Kaius fell into his bond with Porkchop, their senses bleeding together as knowledge and understanding flowed equally between them. The space was tight — there was barely enough room on the stairs for Porkchop to descend. The turrets were high up, out of easy reach of melee, and the tight curve of the stairwell would hamper their mobility greatly.

They came to an understanding immediately.

“Get in behind Porkchop,” Kaius roared, falling to the back of their formation. Ianmus and Kenva moved with the expediency that came with dozens battles fought as a team.

Porkchop roared and charged down the stairs, covering the rest of them from a frontal assault with his armoured bulk.

Kaius felt his breath quicken as he reached for Vyrthane, ready to cast.

Not yet.

Bound Maelstrom would be vital in defending them, but he needed to squeeze the spell for everything it was worth. A jittery tingle shot down his arms as he gripped his blade and felt its comfortable weight in hand. A grin spread across his face, the artefacts were only Tier I Rares. As their description had said, volume of fire had a power all its own, but he was confident they could do this.

Besides, after a few weeks of rest, he’d missed that singing battle-fury coursing through his heart — a crescendo of blood and fire; the sting of open wounds in the clash of blade and spell.

The first volley: a cacophonous boom that echoed through the stairwell as a dozen metal spikes shot at them from all angles. Ianmus and Kenva dropped low, shielding themselves in Porkchop’s shadow as he roared out his Bulwark’s Challenge.