Space twisted and deformed like the veil of reality torn by a Warp Storm, and thick black mist surged from the void, instantly suppressing the chaotic energy emanating from the altar's rift.
This black mist was no ordinary substance; it was Nether Energy from the Underworld, forming a bizarre standoff with the Warp of the Warhammer universe—as if two entirely different dark dimensions were colliding here.
From within the mist came the uniform clang of armor as a hundred Nether Soldiers, treading on Netherworld flames, marched out in formation.
Their ghost-head blades gleamed with chilling light, and the flickering ghost fires on their blades illuminated the cave like the Hall of Yama.
The presence of these spirit warriors caused the Warp whispers permeating the air to congeal, as if even the gaze of the Chaos Gods was momentarily obscured.
Immediately after, the ground began to tremble violently.
Accompanied by a deafening roar, Ox-Head and Horse-Face descended from the void.
The towering Ox-Head general wielded a double-bladed battle-axe, its surface inscribed with runes for suppressing evil spirits, and its material bore a striking resemblance to the psychic plating of a Custodes power halberd.
The Horse-Face Yin Marshal swung a long halberd entwined with soul-binding chains, leaving burning hoofprints on the rocky ground with every step, the color of the flames like Warp residue purified by the Emperor's Holy Flame.
In an instant, the entire cave became shrouded in eerie Nether energy, and the ghostly light in Yama's eyes abruptly extinguished.
He rubbed his temples, muttering, "The mental resistance of these Chaos scum is quite a tough nut to crack."
In fact, as the master of the Underworld, Knox was naturally endowed with several personal abilities.
If placed within the Warhammer universe's rating system, his Soul-Seizing Eye would be enough to silence even the most strongest members of the psychic council.
This ability could not only pierce through objects, directly observing the essence of things, but also lock any sinner into a statue, an effect comparable to a Silent Sister's null field.
What was even more outrageous was that he could also, with the help of that half-dead Mirror of Retribution and the rule-power of the Eighteen Levels of Hell, weave illusions so real that even Tzeentch himself would frown—imagine turning Khorne's Skull Throne into a carousel.
As for his "Netherlord True Form," it was a magic-immune physique that would make Grey Knights weep silently, forcing even Khorne's Skull Heralds to scratch their heads and borrow some plagues from Nurgle to try their luck.
But the problem was that the Underworld was still in the "reconstruction" phase.
Less than one-tenth of its functional buildings remained, and unrepaired facilities were virtually useless.
Under these strained circumstances, the yin virtue power Yama could call upon was barely enough for him to open a "Demon Sealing VIP Experience Version," especially when facing the Bloodthirster before him.
A Great Daemon-level Khorne berserker, whose mental resistance was high enough to make a Thousand Sons Sorcerer doubt life itself.
"Suppressing this thing is probably harder than teaching calculus to an Ork," knox spat, then snapped his fingers, "Forget it, time to let the laborers clean up."
The Bloodthirster's crimson pupils suddenly constricted, and the invisible shackles binding its body finally shattered.
It let out a roar that cracked the rock walls, and the Chaos runes on its skull erupted with dazzling blood-light.
This puny human dared to toy with it like a puppet; such blasphemy must be repaid in the most brutal way!
Just as its curved demonic claws were about to tear through the air, a soul-shattering whoosh suddenly came from above.
The Bloodthirster reacted swiftly, turning sharply, only to be met by a colossal Ox-Head beast of comparable size.
The moment they clashed, a deafening roar erupted in the air, as if even space itself was trembling.
This instantly made the Bloodthirster ecstatic; the thrill of battle drove it into a frenzy, and the opponent before it was precisely the formidable foe it had longed for.
"Blood for the Blood God!"
The Bloodthirster let out a joyous war cry, and Chaos energy formed a crimson vortex around its body.
But as it adopted a charging stance, it saw the Ox-Head beast retreat and gather strength with a precision comparable to a "Titan Mech Activation Protocol."
The great axe dragged on the ground, carving a dark green trajectory that profane energy could not erode, and its left hoof ploughed a half-meter deep furrow in the rocky ground.
The Ox-Head beast snorted a puff of white air, which instantly condensed into frost in the Warp-polluted air.
The moment the battle-axe swung, the entire cave echoed with a hum like a "Void Shield overload."
The Bloodthirster's raised Chaos battle-axe collided with it, and with a "clank..." it heard, its knees hit the ground heavily like a "T'au facing a genetic test report of 10,000 years old dreadnought," a more absurd expression frozen on its demonic face.
At the same time, the Horse-Face Marshal directed the Nether Soldier contingent to launch a textbook-perfect encirclement.
These spirit warriors moved between solid and phantom forms, making the attacks of the Bloodletter seem like trying to stop a meteor with a broom.
Whenever the whoosh of chains sounded, hordes of demons fell like wheat fields swept by a reaper.
This was a one-sided slaughter.
The efficiency of these spirit warriors' slaughter would make even the most seasoned Combat Servitor-Skull display: [Efficiency Comparison: 99.9% Exceeds Space Marine Standard Template] in its data stream.
Concurrently, a unique announcement from the Underworld echoed in Knox's consciousness.
The tone was a blend of the Machine God's binary hymns and the waves of the River Styx:
[yin virtue +5]
[yin virtue +5]
[yin virtue +5]
...
Bang...
With a deafening roar, the Bloodthirster's massive body was slammed into the rock wall as if struck directly by a macro-cannon, and the entire cave trembled from the impact.
His wings were torn, and his crimson scales were covered in wounds.
The colossal Ox-Head beast approached with ground-shaking steps, its battle-axe still dripping with profane demonic blood.
When its eyes, burning with Netherworld flames, gazed down at the Bloodthirster, the Warp energy permeating the air congealed.
The shriek of the battle-axe cutting through the air was comparable to the sound of a Lance weapon charging.
As a dark green afterimage flashed, the Bloodthirster's body was neatly split in two, and what gushed from the cut was not blood, but energy flakes like "Warp turbulence filtered by a Void Shield."
The demonic patterns on the back of Yama's hand flashed with a crimson glow.
When the last trace of demonic energy was completely absorbed, only the sound of Nether Soldiers' armor clashing remained in the cave.
Suddenly, the Mirror of Retribution in his Micro-Netherworld trembled violently, its surface boiling like an enraged tide of blood, reflecting countless distorted demonic remnants.
Suspended before the mirror was a crimson ball of light, solidified, its concentration of sin enough to make any Inquisitor immediately declare an Exterminatus.
[Sin: Sin of Slaughter]
[Sin Value: 10000]
[Sentence: Immediately establish a side hall of Netherworld Palace]
[Converted yin virtue: 5000]
As the judgment concluded, the entire Mirror of Retribution erupted with a roar like a colossal bronze bell.
"Boom—"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, a majestic side hall rose from the ground.
Black pillars were entwined with dragon patterns formed from karmic fire, and every roof tile was carved with bas-reliefs of tormented evil spirits.
Most remarkably, the pair of soul-鎮魂 stone lions in front of the side hall were sculpted from the soul cores of sinners, their eyes glowing with eerie green flames.
Following this, a massive torrent of yin virtue poured into Yama's spiritual veins like a broken dam; his bones emitted a metallic groan similar to a Leman Russ tank braking sharply, and azure runes appeared on his skin.
A chill from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds shot up his spine to the crown of his head, then instantly transformed into a scorching torrent that swept through his entire body.
When the energy storm subsided, a line of golden characters exploded on Yama's retina:
[Boundless yin virtue · Dharma Form Initially Formed]
Knox slowly opened his eyes, a ghostly light swirling in his pupils, and behind him, the void twisted, revealing a majestic and terrifying phantom Dharma Form.
On its green-faced, fanged visage, the beaded curtains of its nine-stringed crown swayed without wind, and the Nether Commander runes on its Dragon-patterned Imperial Robe moved like living things, exuding a pressure that made even the Warp tremble.
He looked down at the back of his hand, where the demonic patterns were reorganizing into a more complex Underworld totem.
"It seems the Blood God's kitchen finally didn't cut corners today."
Knox lightly stroked the new patterns, feeling the surging power within him, "I'll pay for this five-star review with... more demon skulls."
Before his words faded, his movements suddenly froze.
The pupils of the phantom Dharma Form behind him abruptly constricted, piercing the boundary between reality and illusion, reaching a distant, bloody dimension.
There, a Brass Throne, piled with countless twisted skulls, stood majestically, and a vague, colossal figure on it slowly turned its head.
Bloody moonlight spilled onto the figure's ferocious war-armor, and the eight-pointed star emblem flickered in and out of sight in the darkness.
Beneath the throne, the roars of millions of demons suddenly paused.
A cold smile played on knox's lips.
He knew that the bloodthirsty god might have noticed this small "sacrifice," just as a tiger would notice the provocation of an ant at its feet.