“True name or not, it’s just another beast,” Kayvaan replied dismissively. “That thing outing nonsense when it died. Why should I care?”

  “Because this isn’t just another beast!” Elizabeth snapped. “This was a true daemon, not one of the twisted creatures corrupted by Chaos. The others bleed and die like any mortal creature, but this one... its body ignited in unholy fmes. That fire wasn’t natural—it was Chaos itself reg its servant. Killing it doesn’t destroy it; you’ve merely ba back to the . It’ll heal, grow stronger, and e for you again.”

  Kayvaan shrugged, his expression unbothered. “And I’ll kill it again. A huimes if I have to. Let it e back as many times as it wants—the oute won’t ge. This is a human universe. These -spawned parasites have no cim here.”

  Elizabeth sighed, watg the green fmes devour the daemon’s body until only bed ashes remained. She knew Kayvaan's fidence bordered ance, but his skill was undeniable. her spoke as the st traces of the daemon faded into nothing.“Let’s move,” Kayvaan said ftly. “arget.”

  The winding path to the sed target was fraught with danger. Kayvaan and his group faced a relentless onsught of twisted creatures: hulking minotaurs, sentinel rabbits armed with crude ons, daemonic dogs, gorils with cws like scythes, lions wreathed in fmes, and horrors of all shapes and sizes. These creatures ambushed from every ceivable hiding spot—lurking in shadows, leaping from rooftops, or bursting out of the sewers.

  Kayvaan's sharp instincts and experieurhese ambushes into futile efforts. When a daemon tried to emerge from a sewer manhole, Kayvaan casually rolled a phosphrenade inside and smmed the cover shut with his boot. The explosion below sent fiery light spilling out from the cracks. Shadowy figures ging to mp posts or cealed within the dim street ers were swiftly eliminated by Kayvaan's sniper rifle. Each shot recise, each kill .

  Walking point for the team, Kayvaan ehat most threats were ralized before they became a danger. He marked more problematiemies on the squad’s eleic map, guiding the Sisters of Battle to quickly eradicate these hidden threats. Despite his vigihe team couldn’t avoid flict altogether. The daemons’ persistence forced repeated skirmishes, slowing their progress and steadily draining their stamina.

  The team’s path twisted down a seemingly endless staircase spiraling deep into the underground. Shadows daninously along the walls, and every step seemed to echo endlessly. daemons struck from ued pces: from blind ers, from the ceilings, even bursting forth from the very stoself. They g to darkness, waiting to exploit the smallest pse in attention.

  Kayvaan's keen senses and skill rehese ambushes iive. He identified threats before they could strike, calling out locations and dispatg foes with ruthless efficy. Yet, no matter how quickly the team hahese attacks, the stant fighting took its toll. Though the Sisters’ faith and unshakable resolve fortified them against the mental and spiritual assaults of Chaos, their mortal bodies were still bound by human limits.

  Uanding this, Kayvaahem to a secure location to rest. The group halted for two hours, during which every warrior but Kayvaan was given an hour and a half to sleep. He stood watch, ensuring their temporary respite wasn’t interrupted. Refreshed but wary, the group pressed oually reag their sed objective—a massive tent surrounded by makeshift fortifications. Sentinel rabbits armed with primitive firearms guarded the barricades, their glowing eyes sing the darkness.

  The daemons were prepared for an attack, but their defenses were futile against Kayvaan's optical cloak. Invisible to the naked eye, he moved like a wraith. The first explosion shattered the fortifications, and the sentinel rabbits scrambled in disarray. Then came the rhythmifeeling crack of Kayvaan's sniper rifle. Bang. Bang. Bang. Each shot found its mark, spttering daemon heads with ease. Fear rippled through the defenders; none dared to expose themselves.

  Under Kayvaan's cover fire, the Sisters of Battle surged forward. Before breag the tent, they lobbed phosphrehe ensuing fmes ing everything in their path. With righteous fury, the Sisters stormed the tent, their bolters r in unison. The daemons within stood no ce. The age was so overwhelming that even the Chaos-spawn might have questioned who the true monsters were.

  Whetle ehe altar ihe tent y in ruins. But their victory was hollow—the altar was another decoy. The march to the third target was slower. Fatigue weighed heavily on the group. At one point, a Sister colpsed mid-stride, falling to the ground without a sound. Armed, the others formed a defensive perimeter, anticipating a silent attack. But no enemies emerged. On closer iion, it became clear—she had simply succumbed to exhaustion.

  The relentless pace, sleepless nights, and stant fighting had pushed their bodies to the brink. Evero wills couldn’t override their physical limits. Realizing this, Kayvaan ordered an immediate halt. Rest was no longer optional; without it, the eeam would colpse.

  As they settled in for a mueeded break, Kayvaan studied the cityscape visible through nearby windows. The undergrouropolis was a strange, lifeless pce, a maze of reinforced crete cloaked in shadow. Tall buildings rose like silent monoliths, their windows dark and uninviting. It was unclear whether the city had been abandoned or if its inhabitants had sealed themselves away to avoid the horrors lurking outside.

  In the distance, a few streetlights flickered, casting pools e-yellow light onto the empty roads. Instead of providing fort, the faint illumination only heightehe eerie atmosphere, making the surrounding darkness feel even more oppressive. Lightning occasionally sshed across the sky, illuminating the city in brief fshes of pale, unnatural light.

  Kayvaan's thoughts remained pragmatic. This stray was just another battlefield. Whatever secrets it held would eventually be revealed. For now, the priority was clear: rest, regroup, and prepare for the challenges yet to e. The war against Chaos waited for no one.

  After cheg all the sentries, as he had expected, everything was in order. Despite their exhaustion, the Sisters tered a single pint. They carried out their duties fwlessly, with unwavering focus. These women, steadfast and disciplined, gave Kayvaan fideill, out of responsibility and habit, he personally ied every post before allowing himself to rest.

  It wasn’t strictly necessary. These women, all bat veterans, were beyond reproach. Elizabeth’s followers were no ordinary Sisters of Battle. They had undergoe training, executed perilous missions, and carried an unshakable faith in the Emperor. Their belief was their shield, their ce fed in vi. These were not mere soldiers—they were warriors who embodied the Emperor’s light otlefield.

  If Kayvaan had once harbored disdain or skepticism toward the Sisters, that had long since faded. He now held a deep respect for them, though he kept it to himself. These women fought with the same ferocity and discipline as any Space Marine, proving themselves time and again. That alone was deserving of admiration.