Warhammer Divine Throne

At the moment Laine picked up Egil’s head, he felt a surge of violent and approving gaze from the Subspace.

A powerful crimson Chaos Energy swept across the battlefield.

Laine unleashed his Spiritual Energy to resist. This power was enough to crush many fragile mortals, but Laine’s soul strength far exceeded that of mortals, and he withstood this force.

From the void came a voice of praise, sounding like the grinding of brass, an ear-piercing noise that could drive many mortals insane on the spot.

”I know who you are, I know where you come from, I will not believe a word you say.” Laine immediately guessed which entity it was and sneered, ”Enjoy watching your Divine Chosen Champion die, do you?”

The entity was obviously surprised that its power was ineffective on Laine. It paused for a moment, its tone unchanged: ”I will not lament a Champion who is already dead. He died because he was a waste. You have proven yourself to be stronger than Egil. I admire you. Accept my trial, lose and die, win, and I will bestow upon you the ultimate reward — become my subordinate through daemonhood!”

”Daemonhood? What kind of trash is that? Don’t use your mortal-tempting tricks on me, they are useless for me.” Laine continued to mock, ”You should go to an asylum, idiot.”

The entity was clearly displeased with Laine’s attitude. It attempted to enter the Mortal World to unleash a Great Demon. Its power was evidently formidable, but the protection of the Lake Fairy had always restrained and hindered it. After several attempts, it suddenly realized something.

While it focused on the mortals’ duel, Nurgle’s Plague Demon Army was attacking its Brass Fortress. Thousands of Fury Demons had already been wiped out by Nurgle’s Plague Demon Army. Simultaneously, in the south, Slaanesh ordered large numbers of Desire Knights to launch a fierce assault on its territory.

Facing a two-front battle, it was unwise to expend substantial power to forcibly unleash a Great Demon into the Mortal World. The Great Demon of Tzeentch, the Eternal Observer, was stationed at the border, clearly seeking an opportunity as well.

Thus, it had to interrupt its attempt to unleash a Great Demon. Looking at Laine, whose expression remained calm, it emitted a cold laugh: ”Mortal, you will never understand what Chaos is. You will eventually fall. As long as you fight and wallow in combat, your head will ultimately appear on the Brass Throne. I will reserve a good spot for you.”

”My throne will also reserve a good spot for your head. By then, please do grace us with your presence.” Laine also sneered.

The entity did not respond again, leaving only the aroma of brass and blood in the void.

Laine coughed a few times, feeling very exhausted.

”It’s Khorne.” The voice of the Lake Fairy echoed in Laine’s mind: ”It can only act tough like this. The Mortal World is protected by the Great Vortex and the Great Guardian, it cannot come in. It can only show off like this and entice mortals. Don’t be careless, Laine, it will eventually return.”

”Indeed, my Lady.” Laine wiped away some blood with his hand. He was seriously injured, but not fatally, a half-month of recuperation would suffice for recovery: ”Khorne does not care about the lives of its followers. In its view, the weak and defeated are not worth pitying... It only needs to tempt the victors to serve it.”

”Clearly, you are the victor that pleases it, well done, my Champion.” The Lake Fairy’s voice was filled with joy: ”Await my reward!”

”I am very much looking forward to it.” Laine panted heavily, unwilling to speak any more.

The contact with Khorne lasted only a fleeting moment. In the sight of everyone on the battlefield, Laine had only just picked up Egil’s head.

The Crimson Guard let out painful howls. They could not allow the king’s head to be taken by someone else. These Chaos Chosen Warriors charged madly towards the champion’s duel site, aiming to kill all they faced, retrieve Egil’s body and head.

However, the Knights could not let them have their way. Under Surya’s command, the remaining seven thousand Knights launched a final charge towards these Barbarians, completely shattering the plan of the Crimson Guard. The severely wounded Laine was protected by a large group of Knights and sergeants. Despite this, these Chaos Chosen Warriors continued to resist stubbornly, and it took the remaining Knight Army a full two hours to annihilate them completely. The Crimson Guard fought to the last man.

The Barbarians too had their pride.

Even in death, they sang the Skalings’ ballads, narrating the tale of a great warrior who reunited the divided tribes. Egil Steelbjorn’s story had concluded; the life of the great King of Scalings had reached its final stop at Leonais, also his last conquered place. The Crimson Guard, knowing they could no longer reclaim Egil’s remains, chose to face death courageously. In the final encirclement, these Chaos Chosen Warriors embraced Egil’s son, burning to ashes in the flames.

The bloodline of the King could not be allowed to be tainted by the lowly Southern People. To prevent this child from falling into the hands of the Southern Man, the Crimson Guard made this choice.

This Dark Son was not burned by the flames; he seemed unafraid of the fire, still crying in the blaze until Count Kaled tremulously tossed him to the ground and pierced his chest with a sharp sword. Egil’s long-cherished son thus met his end on the spot.

The Skalings’ invasion of Brittania ultimately ended in failure, halting on the brink of victory. Even so, the Barbarians’ desperate fight to the death left the Knight Army deeply shaken. The Dwarf Engineer Dugen the Ironman put down his smoke-emitting, scorching Fire Cannon and sighed: ”These are all valiant men... They just followed the wrong person.”