Just as you and [Draigo] exchanged a glance—
Just as you both prepared to launch the first strike and seize the initiative—
A massive figure clad in blood-red, masterfully forged armor, with crimson flesh-wings sprouting from its back, crashed down heavily behind you and [Draigo], completely cutting off your only route of retreat.
In one enormous hand, it gripped a terrifyingly large Khorne axe. In the other, wrapped in silver chains, it held a bone whip ablaze with crimson flame.
This was clearly no ordinary demon of Khorne. It was one of the elite, a battle-hardened monster among monsters—
A lieutenant of Khorne, a leader of the Blood Host, and a bloodthirsty warlord whose sheer presence cowed lesser daemons with nothing but its monstrous size.
You quickly shifted your stance to face the new threat.
Back-to-back, you and [Draigo] took up a defensive position.
"Do you recognize me?" the creature spoke slowly, its demonic horns tilting slightly. "I am Karbaha, newly crowned Champion of Khorne. By the wrath of our master, we are as brothers..."
Its voice, low as the abyss, was filled with seething rage—yet disturbingly clear for a daemon of Khorne.
You instinctively tightened your grip on the Axe of Khorne.
Murderous intent flared in your lupine, azure eyes.
With a snarl, you bared your snow-white fangs—and spat at Karbaha's feet.
"Clutch that cursed weapon tightly," Karbaha continued, ignoring your defiance. "Embrace our lord's ascension and his blessing of daemonhood. Then... you'll have endless battle and bloodshed, for all eternity..."
As it spoke, it raised its massive axe and pointed toward the blood-red horizon.
"Upon the Brass Throne, our lord awaits your submission... Or—if you choose to stay and serve him for but a while—I will withdraw immediately."
Its immense crimson wings flared wide, and within its scarlet eyes, a blaze of unquenchable fury simmered.
You took a deep breath, hands clenching tighter around the Axe of Khorne.
You responded with the deafening roar of your bolter.
The thunderous crack of your boltgun echoed through the mountains. In the same instant, eight greater daemons of Khorne roared in fury.
Wielding their monstrous weapons, they charged toward you with earth-shaking force.
[Draigo]'s deep gaze darkened as he inhaled.
His white beard quivered. He raised his storm shield and swung the Sword of Nemesis, releasing waves of blazing psychic flame.
Sadly, while the psychic fire could wound the daemons, it was not enough to secure an overwhelming advantage.
"The escape route is beneath the cliff below the Bloodfall... Go now, young one. I'll buy you time!"
A familiar voice hidden within the warpflame whispered into your ear.
With solemn resolve, [Draigo] unleashed another torrent of psychic flame.
Without hesitation, he activated his Terminator armor's charge systems and hurled himself directly into the path of the eight Khorne daemons.
You didn't have time to turn back or support him.
Instead, you launched a ferocious charge straight at Karbaha, the bloodthirsty daemon lord.
From the servo-arm above your backpack, bolter rounds erupted in rapid succession.
Yet for a greater daemon of Khorne, blasts that would annihilate lesser beings were little more than insect bites.
Karbaha didn't even bother to defend himself.
He stood firm, his crimson armor and nightmarish physique absorbing the bolter fire with terrifying ease.
"Then let me test the strength of a so-called Champion of Khorne..."
With a flick of his horned head, Karbaha swung the burning bone whip.
In an instant, its brass-tipped lash smashed against your power armor—the Iron Shell.
With a screech of twisting metal, deep and savage cracks appeared across your armor's surface—its first real damage.
The force of the blow broke your momentum.
You stumbled, crashing hard to the ground.
A servo-arm shot out to brace your towering form.
Your nostrils flared.
Two more servo-arms hurled heavy ammo crates straight at Karbaha.
At the same moment, your storm bolter roared again.
The exploding crates unleashed a massive firestorm, engulfing the daemon's enormous frame.
Using the brief window of cover, you readjusted your stance and charged again.
"How disappointing... Is this the best Khorne's new champion can do?"
Karbaha's deep voice cut through the flames, thick with scorn and wrath.
He stomped forward, crushing stone beneath his hooves, his colossal frame barreling toward you.
You gripped the Axe of Khorne with both hands.
Activating your Iron Shell to its fullest, you summoned strength you'd never reached before.
Your boots shattered rock.
You launched yourself skyward—
With a primal roar, you swung the axe down at the daemon.
A heartbeat later, Karbaha's monstrous axe met yours mid-air.
The clash rang out like thunder, a horrific crash of metal on metal.
Blade-like shockwaves ripped past your face, slicing your skin and drawing blood.
Karbaha's crimson eyes widened in fury.
He roared, swinging his axe with devastating force.
The blow sent you flying.
Still airborne, you managed to deploy your servo-arms to slow your descent, narrowly avoiding a fatal impact.
At that moment, a wall of warpflame erupted between you and Karbaha.
[Draigo]'s hoarse voice rang out:
"Don't engage him—break through, now!"
You instinctively turned back.
You saw [Draigo], his Terminator armor scorched and battered, holding firm.
His storm shield was cracked and rent in several places.
His strikes with the Sword of Nemesis had slowed.
You even saw the banner mounted on his backpack—now broken—jammed into the eye socket of a Khorne daemon, burning its face with warpflame.
Eight-on-one... was now six-on-one.
Grand Master of the Grey Knights, Kaldor [Draigo], had slain one daemon and crippled another—through sheer mastery and unyielding will.
But now...
He was at his limit.
He couldn't hold out much longer.