bookrandom Chapter 289 The Wizard's Scheme
Chapter 289 The Wizard's Scheme
Inside the Commander's ship, the roar of Chaos Lord Mal'karn caused the Chaos runes on the bulkhead to flake off. A holographic projection repeatedly played images of twelve scout corpses half-buried in sand, each with a white-scarred serrated dart embedded in its heart.
“They slaughtered my warriors like livestock!” Malkarn’s tentacle-like right hand shattered the control panel, dark purple blood seeping from the cracked carapace. “I will nail that mortal’s soul to Khorne’s skull throne!”
A hoarse laugh echoed from the shadows. The dark wizard Gorgraz emerged, leaning on his bone staff, his robes crawling with writhing chaotic centipedes: "My lord, anger blinds wisdom... Why not let the prey walk into the slaughterhouse on its own?"
The tip of the staff traced a string of blasphemous runes in the air, and the holographic projection switched to a three-dimensional model of White Scar Fortress. Gorgraz's single eye stared at the energy reactor in the northwest corner of the fortress: "They've been sending out squads to wipe out scouts frequently lately—if we 'reveal' that this place harbors a viral bomb capable of paralyzing the fortress's void shield..."
Malcolm's compound eyes flashed red: "You want to use my warship as bait?"
“No,” the wizard pointed his staff at a spot in the projection—the ruins of an ancient temple deep in the desert—“use me.”
-
Three hours later, the detection array at White Scar Fortress received a fragmented signal: a Word Bearer wizard was leading a squad in a ritual at the temple ruins, attempting to summon a demonic army. Arya's psionic scan revealed fluctuations of chaotic energy within the ruins—but they were 70% weaker than their actual intensity.
“A trap.” Casal stared at the holographic sand table, the tip of his White Tiger Blade pointing at the temple. “But if we let it go unchecked, it will be even more troublesome if they actually summon a demon.”
Russell spun his Bloodthirster shovel in his palm, the blade reflecting the corner of his cold smile: "Then let the trap snap the hunter's hand."
That night, thirty elite White Scars soldiers approached the ruins under the cover of a sandstorm. Russell led the charge, golden arcs of electricity flickering like snakes in the dust. However, as they entered the temple plaza, Arya suddenly pressed her temple: "Psionic interference! The concentration of chaotic energy here is twenty times the detected level—"
The ground suddenly collapsed. Eight Khorne skull cannons rose from the ground, and the Word Bearer heavy armored forces surrounded them from all sides. Malkarn stood atop the temple, laughing maniacally. His lower body had merged with the Chaos mech, and the shoulder-mounted cannons were locked onto Russell: "Now, mortal, let me see how many warp shells your psionic shield can withstand!"
Casal's roar echoed amidst the explosions: "Spread out! Circular defensive formation!"
The White Scar warriors rapidly closed their lines, but Russell charged forward against the tide. His Bloodthirsty entrenching tool cleaved through two incoming shells, and he roared amidst the flames, "Leave the wizard to me! That wizard is maintaining the energy barrier!"
Arya's psionic shield barely withstood the second barrage, and the instant blood trickled from her mouth, Russell had already broken through the barrage. As the golden arc of electricity collided with the wizard's Chaos Shield, the entire temple began to collapse—this hunt would ultimately be a battle of who could bite the other's throat first.
The temple ruins trembled amidst the roar of chaotic energy and explosive bombs, with rubble and dust raining down. Russell's golden arc of electricity traced a dazzling streak across the dim ruins, pointing directly at the dark wizard Gorgraz.
"Mortal, do you think you can contend with the wisdom of chaos?" Gorgraz's staff drew a dark red arc in the air, and chaotic energy condensed into countless spikes, attacking Russell.
Russell's body sprang up like a spring, the Bloodthirsty entrenching tool spinning in his hand, its serrated blade colliding with the Chaos Spikes, sparking blinding flashes. His feet landed firmly, golden arcs of electricity crackling around him, forming a solid shield.
"Your wisdom is nothing but a plaything of evil gods!" Russell's voice was deep yet powerful. He swung the entrenching tool again, its serrated blade cleaving through a wave of chaotic energy.
A flicker of surprise crossed Gorgraz's single eye, but it was quickly replaced by a ferocious grin: "Then let me show you the true power of chaos!"
His staff slammed into the ground, and dark red runes spread across the ruins. Chaotic energy surged forth like a tidal wave, forming a gigantic demonic hand that reached for Russell.
Russell bent his knees slightly, his entrenching tool held horizontally in front of his chest. Golden arcs of electricity surged around him, forming a dazzling pillar of light. His body shot out like a cannonball, the serrated edge of the entrenching tool aimed directly at the palm of the demon's hand.
"Break!" Russell's voice boomed like thunder as his entrenching tool cleaved through the demon's hand, the chaotic energy dissipating in the air. He landed steadily, but Gorgrazh's staff was already swinging once more.
"You think this is the end?" Gorgrash's voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "The power of chaos far exceeds your imagination!"
Dark red energy condensed at the tip of the staff, forming a massive energy wave. Russell's golden shield flickered under the impact of the energy wave, but he remained firmly standing.
"Your power is merely borrowed!" Russell's voice was deep yet powerful. "But I rely on my own will!"
His body lunged forward, the entrenching tool spinning in his hand, its serrated blade cleaving through the energy waves. Gorgraz's staff collided with the entrenching tool, unleashing a violent energy surge.
"Impossible!" Gorgraz's voice was tinged with terror. "Your power... how could it be..."
Russell did not answer, and the serrated edge of the entrenching tool plunged into Gorgraz's chest. Golden arcs of electricity erupted within the wizard's body, and chaotic energy turned to ash in the light.
“It’s over.” Russell’s voice was deep but powerful.
Gorgraz's body dissipated in golden arcs of electricity, but his soul transformed into a dark red light, fleeing into the depths of the ruins. Russell's Blood-Drinker entrenching tool sliced through the air, absorbing a portion of the chaotic psionic energy, its serrated blade gleaming with a dark red light.
Meanwhile, Kassar's battle with Mal'karn, the leader of the Word Bearers, was going against him. Mal'karn's Chaos Mech was as massive as a mountain, and every swing of its power claws made Kassar's White Tiger Blade tremble.
"Cassal, your speed is meaningless against me!" Malkahn's voice was full of sarcasm as he swung his power claws down, knocking Casal's White Tiger Blade away.
“Russell!” Casal’s voice came through the communication channel, tinged with anxiety.
Russell charged forward like lightning, the serrated edge of his entrenching tool cleaving through Malcolm's powered claws. His golden arcs of electricity crackled in the air, forming a solid shield.
"Retreat!" Russell's voice was deep yet powerful. "I'll hold him off!"
Without hesitation, Casal swiftly picked up the White Tiger Blade and led the White Scar warriors to retreat. Russell's golden arcs of electricity flickered in the ruins, and the serrated edge of the Bloodthirsty entrenching tool collided with Malkarn's power claws, unleashing a violent energy surge.
"See you next time, Malcolm!" Russell's voice was deep yet powerful as he abruptly stepped back and disappeared into the shadows of the ruins.