Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Chapter 160 10. Five Magic Items (Speaking of Marus)

"I'd rather die than live like this! What if that demon is telling the truth? What reason does he have to lie?" Malus was furious, but doubts haunted him.With a bestial growl, his serrated dagger fell to the ground.

"Well, smart little Drucci, how about I make a deal with you? A deal, exchange your soul for my freedom. When I am free, I will give up control of you. What could be better than this Fairer? Isn't it?" Zakhan agreed in a icy voice.

"I'm not a warlock, Zakhan!" Malus said, frowning.

"Leave the magic to me, little Drucci. I guess you know the story of the temple? The soul in the skull and his poor jesters? You must know that I heard that when the vortex energy was dispelled." The skull screamed hysterically. How I longed to hear that voice, Malus! I knew that fool would show up again sooner or later, but the way you opened the door with him was wonderful. For that, I want Thank you so much."

"Start trading, I am different from you, I may die of old age or boredom." Marus growled.

"Don't underestimate my miserable situation, little Drucci, once five mages used my enormous power to serve their own poor plans. But they played with powers far beyond the knowledge of mortals, and it turned out that they were One by one, they met a terrible fate, until finally the fool sealed himself in his own skull and disappeared from history for thousands of years. But the enchantment that those fools imposed on me Still there, I curse their names forever! But I must admit they did a great job building this horrible prison! Slowly, slowly, I was able to extend my tentacles beyond the cage that imprisoned me .I was able to extend my range of consciousness to the walls of the temple itself. But I can't go any further, this enchantment is too strong even for my strength." Zakhan replied coldly.

"So you admit that you have limits? You are such a god!" Marus sneered.

"The enchantment can be undone, young Drucci. The magic involved in the enchantment is beyond the poor knowledge of any mortal mage today, and I know the spells and rituals of the enchantment. However, I need five of them that have ever used Items that have been used, can be used to dispel the spells they have cast. Each of these items is a very powerful magical item in itself, namely Pulan's Octagon, Kurkus' Idol, Tox's Dagger (Spirit dagger), Kane Dimensional Sword, and Valong's amulet." Zakhan ignored him and continued to speak to himself.

"I don't know anything about these magic items, demon! I'm a warrior and a slave master, not some wizard or thin-necked scholar. These people died thousands of years ago, if they still exist, how can I find these The damn thing?"

"For your sake, young Drucci, you better hope these magic items are still found. The hourglass is quicksand, and your life is slipping out of your grasp as we speak."

"What! What are you talking about?" Marus straightened up and roared.

"I took your soul, Malus. Don't you remember? I hollowed you out like a gourd so I could put the tiniest essence of me into your fragile little body. This It’s the way we can communicate now, and I can also know your every thought. I won’t do the kind of thing that leaves my servants unattended, you know.”

"you!"

"To be fairer, you would have died the moment greed and lust got the better of you! When I took your soul, your body began to perish. In fact, if it weren't for my power, you would be dead by now But even I can't prevent the inevitable from happening. Within five years, if your soul doesn't recover, your body will truly perish, and your soul will always belong to me!" Zakhan proudly said Said.

"Five years? I only have five years? Find five long-lost relics in five years? Is this possible?" Malus exclaimed.

"Maybe? But you have to try, otherwise you can't know the result. If you fail, well, I'm sure there will be others looking for the temple, especially now that the vortex energy is no longer there." Zarkhan said happily Said.

"Maybe I can stay here, you said, I can stay here for a long, long time." Marus gritted his teeth in frustration and said provocatively.

"Oh smart, you're such a smart little Drucci. Of course, you're right. You can linger here for hundreds of years, slowly shrinking into a withered husk, just like you fought outside my door Just like those poor wretches in my house. Stay then, and I'll wait for another servant who will serve me. Amuse yourself with some trinkets at my side, though I must admit that even so much gold is in It will also lose its luster after a hundred years." Zakhan's words were full of delusion.

"I curse you demon! Yes, I'll help you find those trinkets!" Malus growled.

"Excellent! I knew you'd figure it out sooner or later." Zakhan sounded as if he had just successfully taught his pet a demanding new trick, "Once you've found all the magic items, the rest It's up to me to handle things."

"And you will release me?"

"Not only will I set you free, I swear to you that I will never try to enslave you again. To show you that I have your best interests at heart, I will now reveal a message to you, the octagon of Puran The medal is nearby. I can feel it, even in my restrained state."

"Where is that thing?"

"Just outside on the mountainside, the Beastmen reverence it. At night I can hear their hoarse singing, calling for its protection, what a stupid creature. Ironically, you might have to kill all of the Beastmen can pry that octagon from their dirty little paws." Zakhan's tone was full of excitement, and he sounded very interested in what was about to happen.

"I will do whatever I have to do, and I will come back here in five years, and we will finish what we have started." At this time, Marus had regained his composure, his will recovered again, and he took Picking up the sawtooth dagger, retracting the sawtooth dagger into the sheath, stood up and said.

"We will, Malus Blackblade, we will!"

"Don't call me that!" Marus was irritated again.

"Why not? Am I mistaken? The black blade is a flawed thing? Isn't it? Malus please walk before the crystal! There is something you must see."

Malus frowned in astonishment, and after a while he walked to the crystal.

"Okay, now you can take a closer look."

The blue-pink glow fades to reveal a crystalline facet that glistens like a polished mirror.

Malus saw him, his skin pale, swollen black veins running down the back of his hand, the ruby ​​ring on the back of his hand disappearing below his wrist.The blood in his body seemed to pulse with a steady stream of corruption, and his eyes turned pure pitch black.

"Look at what you've become, a soulless being. And you're saying you're not a flawed thing, Marus Blackblade?" Marus laughed as he escaped Zarkhan's cage. It sounded like thunder.

Malus crossed the temple, slipping and falling in the mummy-dissolving dust as he jumped down the ramp.The mummified corpse stared at him with slack jaws and wide eye sockets, mocking him.Corpses seemed to reach out to him as he passed, offering knives or slings, corpses offering him damned alms.

Footsteps sounded on the marble slab, and Malus ran down the spiral staircase, feeling the heat of the magma and resisting the urge to jump into the abyss.When he saw the mummified corpse lying on the steps, he kicked the corpse into the abyss, envious that the corpse could jump into the flames.

When Malus reached the bottom of the stairs, the great pumice stones were waiting for him, floating into place at the will of the demon upstairs, how foolish he was to believe he had just summoned them by force of will!

"This is what happens when you reject us!" the statues of the Chaos Gods seemed to be saying, laughing at Malus's pain, at his folly for entering the demon's lair.

Malus threw himself on the statues, howling like crazy, but he didn't have the strength to push the huge statues down.He walked past the statues of the Chaos Gods and stumbled through the ranks of the Eternal Servants.He kicked the submissive bodies of the servants into dust, screaming curses at their cowardly posture.

In the distance, Marus could hear screams and the crisp sound of steel clashing, and the Beastman and Drucci were screaming in anger and pain.

Malus stumbled over. He witnessed the battle at the gate of the temple, and dozens of corpses lay in piles just outside the gate.Several of the Cold Ones were already dead, their bodies pierced and torn apart by the hammer and ax blows, and one Cold One lay trembling and bleeding from the fatal blow.Only Malice survived, thinner and faster than its brethren, but with more than 20 cuts in its scales.

Three squires walked the field like carrion vultures, their black armor spattered with blood.They had long since put aside their air-firing repeaters, and held serrated blades dripping with blood.Like butchers, they scrutinized the corpses and disposed of any wounded they found.Not knowing how many attacks they've repelled and then waiting time between each wave in the same way.They were so engrossed in their own business that they didn't notice Marus until he was about to walk over.

Lunara was the first to see Malus, bloodied and unkempt, with a crimson smear of blood on her face, like the murderous Bride of Kaine.Her armor has many dents and creases, she holds a battered serrated longsword in each hand, and her expression reveals weariness.

"You came too early, my lord. Those Beastmen are already trying to attack on the third floor. We and the Cold One have killed nearly eighty of them, but!!!" She began to laugh at the horse Ruth said.

Lunara's words died in her throat when she noticed the change in Malus's face, her questioning eyes meeting Malus's black as ink.

"My lord, what are you doing!!!" Van Thiel and Darva shouted with their eyes wide open in horror.

Howling like a wounded beast, Malus drove his blade hard into Lunara's skull.

Van Thiel and Darva screamed in horror and dismay, and just as Lunara's body fell to the ground, Malus lunged at them.

Darwa moved to the left, his hand pulled back in one vague motion, then jerked forward.Marus swept his sword without thinking, knocking the jagged dagger he threw aside.Malus charged at him, punching him on the head, parrying the blow with the Messer in his left hand.His right hand drew another serrated dagger, stabbing at a joint in Malus' breastplate.

Marus grabbed Darwa's wrist with his left hand and slammed into Darwa's face with the hilt of Darwa's dagger.Startled, Darva stabbed at his throat, but a little too hard, drawing a jagged gash along Malus' jaw.Howling, he thrust the point of his sword into Darwa's left armpit, where the armor was unprotected.Darwa's body became stiff, and Darwa's face became pale due to the pain. He slowly pushed the sword in. The sword rubbed against the muscles and bones, and slowly penetrated into Darwa's chest.

Darva screamed convulsively and tried to break free, but Marus still grabbed his other wrist tightly, holding him in place.He stabbed frantically at Marus with his serrated dagger, but Marus's outstretched sword sealed his path, and the point of his serrated dagger dug deep into Marus's cheeks, temples, ears and throat. A stab, but not deep enough to kill Malus.With each blow, each burst of pain, Malus pushed only harder on the blade, the point grinding away from the joints, pushing through the ribs, slicing through muscle, lungs, and heart.He let out a choked gasp, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fell to the ground.

When Malus turned to face Van Thiel, he found Van Thiel waiting for him a few meters away.

After a while, Van Thiel's eyes lost their vitality, and his gaze was frozen in eternal hatred.

Malus threw his head back, howling like a mad wolf.It was a cry so savage and insane that even the battle-hardened Beastmen who were slowly advancing along the road paused in terror and wonder.

Lunara's face came to Malus's mind, tormenting him, and the horror on Lunara's dying face was more than he could bear.

"You have all served me faithfully and well, and whether you have been friends or foes, you would rather die than witness my terrible disgrace." Marus stood up unsteadily, wiping the back of his veiny hand Blood from Van Thiel's mouth.

Resentment growled at the approaching Marus, its cold eyes were dulled by the pain, and its ribs heaved due to the force, it could vaguely feel that something was wrong with his master, but it didn't know what was wrong.

"Relax, little coward." Malus said calmly, and he looked into the malicious eyes carefully.If Venom's pupils suddenly dilated and his inner eyelids closed, he would be fighting for his life in no time.

There was a moment when malice seemed to abandon Malus, and Malus's heart began to beat faster.It roared again, and its pupils began to dilate, but then the Beastmen approaching the gate let out a yell, which distracted its attention. Marus took the opportunity to jump on the saddle, and it complained and shook its head.

"There's blood in the wind, it's time to ride."

Marus drove the grudge to the gate, kicked the grudge to run wildly, leaned on the neck of the grudge, and began to charge, straight to the face of the beast man.

(End of this chapter)