Charging through the portal, the first thing Duanmu Huai saw was a wasteland. The earth was covered in yellow sand, the whole world looking as though it had long since rotted away. Overhead, a black sun hung in the sky, its crimson corona casting everything in a blood-red light.
The fire fades, yet no king is seen—damn it, wrong script!
Already, hordes of monsters had gathered before him. This wasn't some sneaky infiltration—Duanmu Huai had smashed through the wall and window straight into the house. Unless the place was deserted, of course they would react.
And clearly, it wasn't empty.
Before him stood soldiers in black armor, along with hideous beasts with crocodile heads. They had already sensed Duanmu Huai's intrusion and prepared to tear apart the fool who dared invade Oblivion itself!
"Roooar!!"
The monster he had shoved back earlier lunged once more, jaws wide. But this time Duanmu Huai didn't bother with mercy. He reached out, grabbed its maw, and ripped its upper skull clean off. With a swing of both arms, he hurled the carcass forward, then leapt with his warhammer raised, slamming it down onto the armored soldiers.
"Boom!!!"
Thunder cracked as the [Thunder Warhammer] struck, lightning scattering everywhere, forcing the Daedric soldiers back.
At the same time, his companions surged forward. Anne raised her hands, unleashing a howling blizzard that swept the field. Guleya's mouth opened in a furious dragon shout.
"Fus—Ro—Dah!!"
With an earth-shaking roar, a rain of meteors fell from the sky, smashing into the enemy ranks and scattering them in chaos.
Olgis hopped lightly onto Duanmu Huai's shoulder, her threads spinning in invisible arcs that shredded anything that dared approach.
On his other side, Bambi unleashed crimson magic, a storm of bats surging forth to blind the foe.
Even Odelle took part, standing in the rear, summoning volleys of black feathers that pierced the enemy like arrows. Though not lethal, they still disrupted the Daedric ranks.
On the other flank, the angels joined battle.
With the ringing of bells and the blare of trumpets, sacred hymns filled the air, becoming pure holy power that wrapped their allies. Aurora Angels raised their staffs, slowing the Daedric army beneath radiant light. Radiant Angels lowered their spears and shields, charging forward.
But this was Oblivion—the Daedra's realm. From every shadow, countless more poured forth, a tide of darkness rushing at them.
Duanmu Huai had expected it.
"Coordinates locked! Begin teleport!"
At his shout, blue circular portals opened behind him. Thousands of Night Watch soldiers in black power armor emerged, armed with power swords and boltguns. Above, a golden warship appeared.
It wasn't his flagship, Queen of Glory—he couldn't bring that through. But the first Moon-class cruiser built in the Void Dock was complete. Duanmu Huai had brought it to test its strength against Molag Bal.
The Vanguard hadn't objected. Nothing tested weapons like real combat.
Unlike Imperial warships, this cruiser had no torpedo tubes. Guardians preferred direct assault, teleporting aboard enemy vessels, so the ship was instead outfitted with heavy macro-cannons—perfect for ground bombardment.
Light flared as Guardians blinked into existence, joining the fray with their weapons.
"Truth of Voice, open fire! Blast a path to that black fortress! Drag the coward out!!"
Duanmu Huai smashed aside enemies while barking orders. The cruiser above adjusted its angle, macro-cannons lowering toward the battlefield.
Moments later, fire thundered.
The Daedric rear was obliterated in clouds of smoke and fire. Macro-cannon shells tore through bodies like paper, then thundered forward, carving destruction straight into the massive black fortress ahead. Walls collapsed into ruin.
"Woohoo!"
With a yell, a cloaked figure with a black hand cannon landed beside Duanmu Huai. It was Cayde-6, Hunter Vanguard of the Tower. They hadn't all come, but he was their representative.
"This place is wild. So uh, where are we, exactly?"
"Call it hell. We're here to kill a Daedric Prince."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Now this is interesting. Never thought I'd see hell myself."
He snapped his hand forward, fire bursting from him as he drew a flaming revolver. Several shots rang out, and a towering Daedric warlord collapsed in charred ruin.
"These guys aren't so tough."
Cayde spun his revolver, blowing across the barrel.
"For Guardians, no."
Duanmu Huai cast his gaze across the battlefield. Unlike the disciplined formations of angels and Night Watch, Guardians fought in trios, darting through the chaos like hunters.
And their power was overwhelming.
He watched one leap down wreathed in lightning, smashing Daedra in all directions. Another drew a void bow, loosing an arrow that created a swirling black vortex, dragging foes together. The third burst into flames, summoning a blazing sword and cleaving through the trapped enemies, reducing them to ash.
Guardians truly were unmatched. Night Watch and angels were strong, but they couldn't match that.
And most importantly—Guardians didn't fear death.
"Advance! Break the black fortress! Head for the palace!!"
Duanmu Huai's goal was the massive black palace ahead. That had to be Molag Bal's seat. Tear down his lair, and the god would have no place to hide.
"Target the palace! Blow it apart!!"
At his order, the cruiser turned its guns on the colossal palace. Macro-cannons roared again.
The palace was vast and blasphemous, but even it couldn't withstand the firestorm. Explosions shook the world, walls crumbling.
A furious roar split the air.
Well, anyone would be angry if their house was demolished.
"FOOLS!!"
The world trembled. Both armies froze in dread. Then the ruined palace surged upward, lifted by a terrible force, and hurled straight at the Truth of Voice!
"Void shields to maximum! Turn the ship!"
Engines roared, forcing the cruiser to face forward. A blue shield shimmered into place just as the palace debris smashed down, burying the ship beneath rubble.
Stones rained across the battlefield. Soldiers scattered to avoid being crushed.
When the dust cleared, the cruiser still floated, unharmed.
"Whew…"
Duanmu Huai exhaled in relief.
"Status report!"
"Void shields exceeded 130%! Cooling down!"
And then, from the ruins, a colossal figure rose. Dozens of meters tall, with twisted horns, black body, fanged maw, and glowing blue eyes.
"Stupid mortals! Did you think such tricks could harm me? I am the Prince of Oblivion!"
Heh. You're exactly the target.
Duanmu Huai's eyes flicked upward.
[Molag Bal (Epic) LV55]
As expected, about on par with a Greater Daemon. Exactly as he calculated.
He smirked.
This wasn't recklessness. It was calculation.
All gods, no matter how grand their scriptures made them sound, only had as much power as their faith.
Why were the Chaos Gods so terrifying? Because they embodied the emotions of every intelligent soul across the galaxy. That was countless beyond measure.
And Molag Bal?
At best, a local god of one continent. No matter the scriptures, only a handful of mortals believed in him.
How many people did this continent even have?
By his experience, native gods of a single world were no more than weakened Greater Daemons. And he had been right.
Coldly staring at the boastful fool, Duanmu Huai sneered and gave the order.
"Lock main cannon. Fire."
(End of Chapter)