Lelith's expression darkened, Drukhari, after all, had always thrived through raiding and capturing. She was intimately familiar with the tactics of ambush and seizure.
The entity before her was clearly declaring that whether it was the Torture-class Raider or the Kabalite warriors aboard, they all now belonged to him!
Even she herself appeared to be within the scope of what had been "claimed"!
That sanctimonious Yvraine. How could she associate with an entity like this?
Hadn't she always positioned herself as righteous? Claiming to reject consorting with dimensional predators?
Consuming the remainder of the Imperial fermented beverage, Lelith assessed Kei with a sidelong glance. He appeared entirely mundane, indistinguishable from any human. Yet, his essence remained completely impervious to warp-sensing.
The moment he lifted his drinking vessel, the bladed tips of her combat headdress shot forward toward his vital organs.
Clang—
The monomolecular blades, crafted from the same wraithbone composite as Drukhari weapons, were intercepted by a suddenly manifested spear tip.
A replica of Gungnir.
In material composition, it rivaled even the spirit-forged weapons that dominated the Warhammer universe.
"You already saw the power difference, didn't you?" Kei appeared utterly unimpressed.
His essence was integrated with an entire dimension, theoretically, his resilience far exceeded even Yvraine's connection to Ynnead.
Even if a wraithbone weapon could inflict damage, it would be superficial at most, instantly mended by dimensional energies.
Nevertheless, being struck with any implement, even a primitive one, remains objectively unpleasant.
"You've already seized everything I possessed, and I cannot even offer token resistance?!" Lelith hissed venomously, retracting her headdress blades and returning her attention to the Imperial spirits.
"You can. But you have to bear the consequences of resistance." Kei, holding the vessel in his right hand, brought it to his lips. His left hand formed an arcane gesture and rotated slightly in the air.
A rune-inscribed circle manifested beneath Lelith's feet, pulsing with eldritch energy. Before she could react, a crushing gravitational distortion compressed her downward into the arcane pattern.
Clang!
The runic circle dissipated. The combat headdress she had worn dropped to the ground beside them.
Kei employed the Labyrinthian Circuit to disable the dimensional restrictions within several kilometers of their position. With a subtle gesture, he transferred the headdress into the Primordial Realm, allowing the Labyrinthian Circuit to commence analysis.
"Where has she been relocated?" Jain Zar inquired, observing the spatial manipulation with professional interest.
Beside her, Kyganil noted the removal of the warp energy restrictions and swiftly re-established his connection to the Craftworld's psychic matrix, transmitting everything that had just transpired.
The rare spectacle of the Drukhari Queen Lelith fleeing in such undignified circumstances, if Farseer Macha of Biel-Tan witnessed this, she would surely experience considerable satisfaction!
"She went bungee jumping."
"You refer to those primitive free-fall amusement on human worlds?"
"Something like that. Except the gravity's about... I dunno, a hundred times Terra's. Falls a little faster. Also, there's no rope, she just keeps falling."
"That sounds rather... invigorating."
"Indeed. Would you care to experience it?" Kei turned his attention to Jain Zar.
Both Craftworld Eldar and Drukhari were capable of operating in zero-gravity environments. To be deprived of movement control and subjected to accelerated free-fall, he surmised this would be a novel experience for her.
"Unrestrained freedom is the domain of the Drukhari. We of the Craftworlds prefer structure." Jain Zar's expression held a subtle hint of amusement as she declined with characteristic poise.
Let the Drukhari Queen enjoy such entertainments. They did not appeal to her sensibilities.
"Then let's eat. Later we'll go take a look at... the Imperium's forces."
Kei paused mid-statement. He observed Jain Zar's reaction carefully. If his recollection was accurate, Yvraine had tasked Jain Zar with establishing contact with the Imperial forces after she arrived in this sector to negotiate with the local authorities.
But by the time he had materialized, she had only just reached Terra's atmosphere.
With a dimensional entity who manipulated reality suddenly appearing, Yvraine likely hadn't had opportunity to issue specific directives.
Had he inadvertently altered her designated purpose?
Or...
"Why do you scrutinize me so? Do you wish to inquire about Imperial forces? I can provide tactical assessments. Cease analyzing my spirit stone matrix, it contains millennia of personal experience, which you would do well to respect." Jain Zar sighed with subtle exasperation at Kei's continued observation.
She had never considered accessing another's spirit stone data particularly intrusive before. But now, being examined by an entity of his nature, and with such casual disregard, it felt uncomfortably invasive, as if her countless lives had been exposed.
Most disconcerting!
"I'm not. I totally respect your privacy."
"Is that so?"
"From an ethical standpoint, I believe my principles might exceed your expectations." Kei raised an eyebrow, gently teasing the Phoenix Lord before him.
"Then... a toast to the Dimensional Demon God whose ethical standards are so impressively rigorous. Truly you embody qualities worthy of veneration." Jain Zar raised her vessel, using the gesture to conceal a momentary flicker of discomfort.
It wasn't that she willfully invaded others' privacy. It was simply that... few beings maintained complete honesty when confronting Eldar.
Throughout her countless incarnations spanning millennia, she had encountered innumerable entities who dissembled either to disguise corruption or to advance their agendas.
Many Aspect Warriors had perished because of such deceptions.
Compared to expending effort discerning truth from falsehoods, she naturally preferred to rely upon the unambiguous data contained within spirit stones, which could not deceive. Moreover, gathering intelligence through psychic perception and wraithbone scanning typically proved far more efficient than verbal interrogation.
"You miss no opportunity for observation, do you? Even now you attempt to analyze my character." Kei chuckled lightly, touching his vessel to hers before consuming its contents.
"From an Eldar perspective... you present as a most intriguing entity. Knowledgeable, measured, magnanimous, and possessing wit. This assessment is entirely sincere."
Jain Zar's expression softened slightly as she consumed her drink.
A Dimensional Demon God who could regard primitive humans with equanimity, and even exerted effort to preserve them...
Even if his principles didn't perfectly align with the Path system
He certainly didn't embody malevolence!
Kyganil discreetly observed, his eyes reflecting cautious interest as he monitored the interaction between the Dimensional Demon God and Jain Zar.
His posture suggested the alert vigilance of one witnessing significant events unfolding. Silently, he recorded the entire exchange in his memory, to be later shared through the Craftworld's infinity circuit.
---
Shortly thereafter, having cleared the remnants of their meal, Kei placed an ingot of precious metal beneath the disordered array of plates.
With focused intent, he employed the Labyrinthian Circuit's warp-scanning capabilities to swiftly locate an Imperial officer within a nearby command structure and opened a portal pulsing with golden-crimson energy.
"Emperor's blood! Lieutenant! The barracks are under psychic assault!!" An Imperial Guardsman, dressed in regulation undershirt and training attire, standard-issue footwear half-secured, clutching a water container, hurled the liquid contents directly toward the portal in panic.
SPLASH—
Kei's expression twitched.
With a precise gesture, the trajectory of the liquid reversed, returning neatly to the guardsman's container.
"Psychic assault? T-this... we're clearly in the presence of an adept! Is this the technique the Commissar mentioned during training? Warp manipulation?"
"Psyker control?"
"Most venerated one! That demonstration was extraordinary! Do you accept acolytes?"
A second guardsman, similarly attired in standard-issue garments, eyes wide with wonder, disregarded the water manipulation and focused entirely on Kei, questioning without reservation. They had been stationed at this Imperial outpost for some time. Thus far, only certain sanctioned psykers demonstrated spatial manipulation, and only tech-priests exhibited control over material objects.
But this individual, not only could he create warp portals, but manipulate liquids with precision. Far more impressive than both the resident psyker and tech-priest.
"Hold position! You're abandoning watch rotation without me? Traitors, remain where you stand!" Just returning from ablutions, a third guardsman entered the barracks to discover his comrades gathered around the luminous portal.
He discarded his washing implements and rushed forward to restrain them both by their shoulders.
"...Imperial Guard? Militarum Tempestus? Astra Militarum?"
Kyganil observed the disheveled trio beyond the portal, his refined features arranging themselves into an expression of bemused assessment.
Eldar had discussed these "mon-keigh warriors" in tactical briefings before. Many privately acknowledged their tenacity.
Despite their primitive conditions, they fought with determination, who could fault their lack of sophistication during constant warfare? But their conduct and manner of communication...
"They are merely in their third decade of life. We were scarcely more enlightened at comparable development." Jain Zar offered a tolerant smile to the visibly unimpressed Kyganil.
At merely three decades of age... Among the Eldar, that represented barely more than infancy, youths still undergoing the most fundamental teachings, sheltered from the galaxy's harshness.
Undeveloped cognition, unstable psyches, entirely expected at such an early stage.
BOOM—
Before the guardsmen could respond further, a blinding golden energy blast demolished the barracks wall!
Standing below the rain of ferrocrete and debris, all three were violently displaced.
A figure in radiant golden armor strode through, Saint Celestine, the Living Saint, wielding the Ardent Blade which blazed with divine fire.
Her expression was vigilant as she assessed the unexpected warp portal that had manifested within an Imperial installation. Then she noticed Kei beyond the threshold, alongside Jain Zar and Kyganil.
She tilted her head slightly.
The two figures, though lacking visible xenos features due to their psychic disguise, were unmistakably Eldar based on their warp signatures.
But the central figure... Emanated an unusual scent, like human cooking.