To Duanmu Huai, one-on-one duels were never something he particularly cared about. If he could just blast this bastard to pieces with a single shot, he'd do it without hesitation. But...
He glanced silently at the task bar before him.
[Special Story Quest: "Wrath of Judgment" Activated]
[Wrath of Judgment: As an Inquisitor, you represent the will and glory of the Inquisition. Let this filthy traitor feel the wrath of judgment—make him tremble and die in fear. (Objective: Defeat the target alone)]
Well, since a quest had appeared, he might as well complete it. After all... Duanmu Huai didn't believe for a second that Archaon could actually beat him!
"Foolish to the extreme! If that's how you want it, then I'll use your blood and soul to begin this war of annihilation!"
Archaon wasn't one to back down either. With a furious roar, he spurred his steed forward, raising his flaming greatsword and shield as he charged at Duanmu Huai. He swung his sword, and waves of blazing fire burst forth, exploding into a storm of fire arrows streaking toward Duanmu Huai.
But Duanmu Huai only snorted coldly. A glimmer flashed from the Soul Card in his hand, and a violent gale erupted outward, colliding with the fiery projectiles midair—an explosion followed.
Seeing this, Archaon's eyes flickered. He began chanting a distorted spell under his breath, and a power that corroded flesh manifested around him, surging toward Duanmu Huai. But a faint halo shimmered around Duanmu Huai's body, blocking the corruptive energy that could melt flesh and bone alike.
He can use magic?!
Archaon was taken aback. Though he was a warrior, as the Everchosen he bore the Mark of Chaos and had received Tzeentch's blessing, which naturally granted him command over sorcery. Yet this armored brute before him—he could use spells too?
Isn't this guy supposed to be a warrior?!
Their magical exchange lasted only a heartbeat. By the time Duanmu Huai's warhammer came crashing down, the battle of spells was over. Archaon snapped out of his shock and raised his shield just in time. The hammer, wreathed in black flame, slammed into it with a thunderous crash, sending Archaon and his doomsday steed skidding back several meters.
What terrifying strength!
He hadn't expected to lose in raw power. Worse, when their weapons clashed, Archaon felt a chilling, unnatural energy flow from the hammer into his body, sapping his strength.
What the hell is this man?!
At that moment, Archaon focused completely—and Duanmu Huai launched his next attack. If someone hits you, it's only polite to hit back. And in truth, Duanmu Huai already had an idea how to finish this fight.
First... [Majestic Spear]!
"Boom—!!"
The instant he landed, Duanmu Huai's fingertips flared as a Soul Card vanished in a flash of light. A massive stone spear erupted from the ground, piercing upward toward Archaon. The latter reacted instantly, spurring his warhorse to leap into the air, narrowly dodging the strike. With a roar, Archaon swung his sword downward—black magic condensed into a corrupt blast that spewed forth like a dragon's breath, engulfing Duanmu Huai.
But Duanmu Huai simply raised his hammer. A transparent barrier of energy shimmered around him, deflecting the Chaos corruption raining from above.
[Magic Barrier]!
And then... [Flame Burst]!
"Boom!!!"
Fire erupted, swallowing Archaon and his steed whole. Duanmu Huai jumped high into the air, the jetpack on his back roaring to life and propelling him upward like a meteor. He brought his warhammer down toward where Archaon stood—but at that same instant, Archaon burst free from the flames, swung his sword backward, and parried Duanmu Huai's strike as if he had foreseen it.
Then a storm of filth and corruption exploded from Archaon, forming a massive miasma that spread across the battlefield. The poisonous magic polluted even the ground itself, forcing soldiers from both sides to retreat lest they be consumed by it.
But moments later, a violent wind howled like a tornado, sweeping across the field and tearing the corrupted clouds apart.
[Windfury Technique]!
The toxic clouds shredded and dispersed. Archaon, realizing he couldn't gain the upper hand, pulled back momentarily. That strange power Duanmu Huai possessed—something that weakened him with every clash—filled Archaon with unease. After two exchanges, he could already feel his strength waning. Though he had no system interface to analyze his status like Duanmu Huai did, he knew that close combat was not in his favor.
What is this curse?!
Archaon tried to purge the icy power eating away at him, but it was futile. Frustration built within him.
Meanwhile, Duanmu Huai's expression was also grim.
He had launched several attacks in succession, yet Archaon blocked or countered every one. Duanmu Huai prided himself on being efficient—even if not the fastest warrior, his strikes were clean and precise. And yet this bastard countered them as if he knew they were coming.
That could only mean one thing—Archaon could see into the future.
Tch. That's annoying.
Seems there was only one way left.
"Raaahhhh—!!"
With a thunderous roar, Archaon's steed suddenly transformed—its body expanding into a massive, three-headed dragon with two tails. The monstrous heads opened their jaws wide, lunging at Duanmu Huai.
But Duanmu Huai wasn't intimidated. As the three-headed dragon struck, the Metal Secret Dragon roared back, slamming straight into it and sending the beast tumbling away. Duanmu Huai leapt onto his dragon's back, glaring at Archaon, who now stood upon the triple-headed monster.
Thus began a far greater battle.
Dragon against dragon. Man against man. Both soared into the sky, clashing amid the storming heavens. Archaon's dragon dove, spewing flames, while Duanmu Huai's Metal Secret Dragon met it head-on.
By all logic, Archaon's dragon held the advantage—it had three heads and two tails, each head breathing different horrors: fiery rage, magical storm, and noxious venom that could rot stone. Any one of those would have annihilated a lesser foe.
But the Metal Secret Dragon was no ordinary beast—it was physically immune to most attacks. The claws and tails that could tear apart a fortress did nothing against its metallic body. Only the magical blasts and flames left faint scars. Duanmu Huai raised his hammer, summoning wards of light to shield his dragon from further harm.
The two dragons collided midair, their roars echoing through the storm. Soldiers below could only watch, craning their necks to see two blinding figures clashing amidst lightning and cloud.
No one knew who would emerge victorious.
This can't go on!
Archaon swung his greatsword, his mind racing. He'd thought this fight would be over quickly—but his enemy, for some reason, had chosen a defensive stance instead of pressing the attack. That unsettled him. Though his dragon had torn chunks from the metallic beast, the black flames it breathed in return were just as devastating. If this dragged on, he would be the one to fall!
I need to turn this around—now!
Resolving himself, Archaon's eyes flared. Visions of possible futures flashed before him—and then, one of them caught his eye.
Got you!
"Bang!!"
The two dragons slammed into each other again. This time, the Metal Secret Dragon's claws pierced deep into the three-headed beast's body, but the dragon retaliated by biting into its metallic neck. The corrosion of Chaos energy began to eat into the metal, even as it burned the three-headed dragon from within.
Now!
Taking advantage of the moment, Archaon leapt from his dragon, soaring straight toward Duanmu Huai. With a roar, he hurled his shield like a meteor. Caught off guard, Duanmu Huai instinctively raised his hammer—but the massive shield smashed into it, breaking his defense wide open.
He lost balance—his guard exposed.
Die!
Archaon roared, thrusting his greatsword toward Duanmu Huai's chest. He could already see it—the future where his blade pierced the man's heart. This was the future!
But he didn't know that behind his helmet, Duanmu Huai was smiling.
Just as I thought.
Ever since he'd suspected that Archaon could foresee the future, Duanmu Huai had adjusted his entire strategy. As an Inquisitor, he'd faced countless heretics and psykers—precognition wasn't common, but he'd fought it before. And enemies who could see the future never acted unless they'd seen a guaranteed victory.
That meant if Archaon was attacking, it was because he'd seen a vision where Duanmu Huai died.
This time, Duanmu Huai hadn't used his Mobile Armor, precisely because he didn't want Archaon to glimpse its properties and exploit them.
But Duanmu Huai had another trump card.
The ultimate spell he had received from Manaria—the strongest magic of all.
And now, he was ready to use it.
As Archaon's greatsword drove toward his chest, light flared at Duanmu Huai's fingertips. A Soul Card appeared before him.
[Dimensional Transcendence (20): Mana Amplification Cost -1. After this turn ends, immediately take an additional turn. (The sky, the earth, and the very world itself—nothing and no one can bind you.)]
Time itself stopped.
Archaon didn't understand what had happened. In the instant his blade should have pierced Duanmu Huai's heart, his vision blurred—and suddenly, his body was being torn apart by a roaring Chainsword. The spinning teeth ripped through his rune-engraved armor, tearing from shoulder to waist, splitting his heart in half.
His greatsword never pierced Duanmu Huai. It hung uselessly in the air before dropping from his hands. Archaon's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had seen the future—he had seen this man die. So why… had it changed?
Blood spattered. Black flames erupted.
Pain and death consumed him.
What… what… happened…?
That was his final thought before eternal darkness swallowed him whole.
On the ground below, the soldiers held their breath. They saw the two dragons crash together—then fall from the sky, slamming into the earth.
"BOOM!!!"
The impact shook the battlefield, the ground trembling violently. Both the Allied and Chaos armies froze, staring at the crater, uncertain of what had happened.
Then, a dark figure emerged—armor black as night, eyes glowing crimson.
Seeing it, Karl let out a long sigh of relief, while Kaede No.6 whistled. On the Chaos side, panic spread. Daemons and Northmen stumbled back, terror etched across their faces.
Duanmu Huai strode forth from the smoke, holding something in his hand.
He raised it high—a severed head, hideous and demonic, three eyes still glowing faintly.
Then he spoke.
"Archaon, the Everchosen, is dead! Before the wrath and might of the Inquisition, Chaos… will fall!!"
(End of Chapter)