When Sergeant Corvinus walked out of the Yellow Warlock's Lair from the single Entry-Exit Point, he found the dark hall crowded.
Squad Aegis had already arrived.
Presently, they had lined up with their backs against the wall on the left side, including the Squad Leader — Sergeant Cassian.
Against the opposite wall stood Squad Invicta's Marines that he had left behind after giving them the order to burn all the dead bodies of Wizards and Witches they had killed so far.
That should have taken them hours.
For them to already be here meant either they had defied reality and completed the task already, or…
Steps rang as two figures walked out from the darkness.
Including Corvinus himself, Brother Thane and Brother Cato, both assisting Brother Valerian and Brother Aquila, straightened their spines to attention, saluting the officer.
It was Lieutenant Varro, walking tall with a small woman next to him.
Madam Villanelle, she called herself, Corvinus remembered.
[At ease, Sergeant,] Varro said. [Report.]
In return, Corvinus shared the entire footage that he and the Brothers of his task force had recorded.
The Lieutenant let the woman go through that footage as well, an unsettled expression appearing on her face.
Corvinus didn't think any expression was warranted.
The overgrown, mutated Devil Snare surely was a problem, but only when it was controlled by a single entity.
The Yellow Warlock must have left behind a piece of his Mindscape to activate upon Devil Snare contacting intruders, Corvinus believed.
However, Brother Thane had taken care of that, destroying that piece.
After that, the Marines had made sure to burn the Magical Creature to death piece by piece, along with the entire forest.
The only thing that they had failed to burn was another Entry Point, similar in appearance to the one they had just used to return, far into the forest, which led deeper into the lair.
Corvinus had found it sensible and necessary to report his findings and alert Lieutenant Varro of the potential risks involved in exploring this Dungeon-like lair before moving ahead with a full Strike Force-sized assault.
Not to mention, Brother Valerian and Brother Aquila could use Healing Magic for their lost limbs.
Brother Thane had also exhausted his abilities, which seemed crucial for further exploration, especially when the possibilities of the Yellow Warlock leaving behind more creatures for his and his Brothers' amusement were almost a hundred percent.
Of course, Corvinus found it needless to put his reasoning and thoughts into words.
He looked away from the woman and found Lieutenant Varro staring back at him.
Varro nodded.
And that was that.
Madam Villanelle, on the other hand, had much to say, it seemed.
"It doesn't make any sense," the Witch said, staring at the arched door that led to the Dungeon. "What's the point of setting a trap when Yellow Warlock knows he cannot stop us, Pillars, from unearthing its secrets? All the rumors surrounding him in the Primordial Tower suggest that he does not believe in protecting his followers.
"Had he truly turned the entire area within the Bounded Field into a dungeon to protect some White Serpent Pirates whom he couldn't send away? Even then, he couldn't have thought that none of the Pillars would manage to reach their deepest level, right? So, if not Contestants, then… what else had he been aiming to hide from us?"
Corvinus… hadn't thought that much.
So, letting the Witch mumble to herself, he went toward his Squad and assumed his position along with his Brothers.
After a few minutes, Corvinus saw the woman handing out high dosages of Invigoration Potions to his Brothers through Lieutenant Varro before healing Brothers Valerian and Aquila personally.
Corvinus drank the fluid and found himself becoming more alert.
Truth be told, he also felt he, and surely his Brothers, could have gone another round with Devil Snare without these Potions.
Still, if the Witch was right about this place having many levels, and the need to clear them out one by one to eliminate any surprise that the Yellow Warlock must have planted before the invasion, then it was best not to gamble with it.
"I think it's best if we finish it in one go," Madam Villanelle said, Varro nodding next to her in agreement. "The War has advanced to a delicate stage, especially with Lord Voldemort leaving the Headquarters to deal with a 12th Floor Contestant from the White Serpent Pirates.
"Needless to say, he wouldn't be able to return in case this trick Yellow Warlock has planted for us in advance happened to get out of hand, defeating the entire purpose of bringing you all here. With me, even if there are Contestants inside who are beyond your abilities, we can easily finish them off."
Corvinus knew the Witch's words weren't meant to make them look weak.
In fact, each of the Marines here was aware of the vast variations the Contestants could have in their abilities, some of which made them truly hard to deal with.
In the end, it was all about completing the mission.
Once the debt was paid, the Strike Force could return to the Bubble and resume its duties.
Strike Force Invictus' Lieutenant unclipped his Bolter, all the Marines slamming their Bolters to their chests in response.
[Astartes…] Varro said, following the witch who entered the Dungeon with a Wand in her hand. [On me.]
…
As expected, there was no sign of Devil Snare in the first level anymore.
The vast, dense forest had become a field of coal and ash, smoke gathering overhead like gray clouds.
The Witch's magic couldn't find any sign of life, either, no matter how many times she used the same Spell.
So, surrounded by Marines, Lieutenant Varro proceeded toward the next Entry Point that led to the second level.
Varro lifted his fingers and gave a sign.
Both Sergeants and the two Librarians blurred, appearing on either side of the arched doors that had no walls around them.
Then, keeping himself posted in front of the Witch, Varro kicked the doors open.
Instantly, Corvinus and Cassian stormed inside, both backed by the two Psykers.
However, just before they could rain hell on whatever lay inside…
… the scene in front of them forced even them to pause.