The two clashed instantly. There were no flashy techniques, only the raw, bone-crunching impact of fist against flesh.
Seti, wielding 250,000 Horsepower Magnetic Field Manipulation, unleashed terrifying destructive power with every strike. Yet the Ork Emperor was not to be underestimated. Heavily modified with advanced technology and bolstered by the "I Reckon Power" of his countless underlings, his strength was nothing short of monstrous.
For a time, they fought to a standstill, a prospect that filled Seti with absolute joy. His long-stagnant power began to creep upward in the heat of battle. With every collision of their fists, his magnetic field intensified, and his martial insights sharpened.
Even more interesting was the reaction of the surrounding Orks. Seeing Seti fight their Ork Emperor on equal terms, their "I Reckon Power" actually began to affect Seti as well, granting him a slight power boost based on their collective belief in his strength.
"Seti, your potential goes far beyond this," Ian's voice whispered a reminder from within him.
Seti grinned, baring his sharp canines. "I know. This is only the beginning!"
The watching Space Marines were struck speechless. "Emperor above!" an Astartes captain exclaimed, eyes wide. "I have never seen a battle so fierce!"
The Orks were even more ecstatic, jumping wildly and waving their weapons while letting out deafening roars.
"WAAAGH! Fight! Fight!"
"I reckon the Emperor's gonna win!"
"I reckon the blondie is pretty strong too!"
When their battle punched through the surface and plunged into the planet's core, the entire War Planet trembled. The core was a chaotic fusion of magma and machinery, where countless strange conduits and gears churned in the intense heat. Seti stepped directly into the lava, completely unaffected. The force field generated by his Magnetic Field Manipulation insulated him from the high temperatures, allowing him to move as freely as if he were on solid ground.
The Ork Emperor refused to be outdone. His golden power armor gleamed amidst the magma, arcs of electricity dancing across its surface.
"WAAAGH!" the Ork Emperor roared, swinging a flaming power gauntlet at Seti.
Seti sidestepped the blow and countered with a right hook to the Ork Emperor's midsection. The impact sent the Ork Emperor flying, snapping several thick conduits. Strange, multicolored energy fluids erupted, mixing with the lava and triggering a series of explosions. The entire core vibrated violently, but the two combatants ignored it entirely. In their eyes, there was only the opponent standing before them.
The Ork Engineers working in the core were thrown into unprecedented chaos. These technicians, who usually relied on "I Reckon" logic to keep the impossibly complex system running, had varied reactions to seeing two titans brawling in their engine room.
Some Ork Engineers fled in terror. "Run! The big guys are gonna blow us all up!"
Others joined the spectators in excitement. "WAAAGH! I've never seen such a good scrap! I'm staying until the end!"
A few even tried to repair the damage on the fly. "I reckon this pipe goes to that one!" "I reckon we should hook this bit up too!"
But the two fighters cared nothing for the fate of the War Planet. Seti only cared about the growth of his own strength. He pursued ultimate power, and this battle was the forge that would temper him. Countless brushes with death only made him stronger. Science, technology, advanced equipment—all of it was trivial before the might of pure strength!
The Ork Emperor was the same. Orks fought without regard for consequences; they lived for the combat itself, basking in the thrill and fanaticism of the fray. To them, nothing was more important than a heart-pounding battle.
They fought their way from the core back up to the surface, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. Twisted metal, severed lines, collapsed structures, and the corpses of countless Orks paved their path. Yet, nothing could stop the two warriors in their pursuit of the limit.
The slaughter continued. Seti was covered in wounds that slowly knitted themselves back together. The Ork Emperor's flesh was torn, only to regrow instantly. The battle raged for several days, pushing both sides to their absolute breaking point. There were no supplies and no rest—only pure martial will sustained them.
As the Orks on the surface were wiped out by the Astartes and the aftershocks of the duel, the Ork Emperor finally lost his composure. He drew the Emperor's Sword.
"Finally willing to use a weapon?" Seti grinned.
Even facing a blade, Seti chose to remain barehanded. His martial realm had advanced by leaps and bounds during the fight. His fists were enough!
The Ork Emperor swung his blade; Seti sidestepped and buried his right fist into the Ork's chest. The golden plate buckled. The Ork Emperor stumbled back but quickly steadied himself.
"WAAAGH!" the Ork Emperor bellowed, swinging again. Seti crossed his arms, parrying the blade with ease.
As the battle reached its final moments, the surrounding area had been almost entirely cleared of Orks. The Ork Emperor's strength was visibly waning. He panted heavily, his golden power armor covered in cracks.
"WAAAGH!" The Ork Emperor suddenly halted his assault and looked Seti in the eye. "You are a warrior worthy of respect," he said in halting, broken Human speech. "Now, I shall bring forth my greatest weapon and strike with my most powerful blow."
A flash of fanaticism crossed the Ork Emperor's eyes. "I hope you can block it."
Seti raised an eyebrow, his fighting spirit soaring. The Ork Emperor pulled a pitch-black sphere from his waist. It was eerily shaped and covered in complex runes. This was no traditional weapon; it looked more like an ancient artifact.
"What is that?" Seti asked, staring warily at the black orb.
The Ork Emperor didn't answer. He placed both hands on the sphere and began funneling his power into it. As the energy poured in, the Ork Emperor's body began to shrivel. His skin wrinkled, and his muscles withered. He was burning his very life force to charge the weapon.
Seti narrowed his eyes, sensing an unprecedented aura of danger. Finally, the black sphere finished charging, its surface runes glowing with an eerie green light. The Ork Emperor, now devoid of the strength to even move, used his last bit of energy to lift his arm and point the sphere at Seti.
"This is a Necron Artifact, containing a C'tan Shard," the Ork Emperor rasped.
Seti didn't back down. Instead, he took a step forward. "Come then! Let me see it!"
In an instant, an invisible wave of force hit Seti. The air distorted and the ground shattered, as if an invisible planet were being pressed down upon him. This was pure Physical Power, derived from a Star God that commanded the laws of force.
"Kid, the power ahead is too much for your current strength to block," Ian warned from within. "If you don't break through now, you're going to be crushed like a stray dog in the street. Do you need support?"
Hearing this, Seti didn't feel fear. Instead, he trembled with excitement. His eyes turned a brilliant gold, his hair—now dyed golden by his power—flared upward, and his pupils narrowed into vertical slits.
"Support?" Seti laughed boisterously. "I don't need any support!"
He felt the critical point, the catalyst for his breakthrough. "Let it come! Let it be even more violent!" Seti roared, charging straight into the heart of the devastating force.