[Captain Bail Sharr took off the metal helmet of his power armor without hesitation, the hiss of displaced air the only sound in the tense hall. His gray, gaunt face and dark eyes, which looked ancient and lifeless, were exposed, showing his vulnerability and confidence.]
[The commander of the Ashen Claws, Nehat, subconsciously glanced at you, wearing the old model of Terminator armor, before his dark, deep gaze turned back to Captain Bail Sharr.]
["The Third Company of the Carcharodons? What happened to your captain, Akia ?" Nehat's massive power armor drove him forward, not running, but simply moving. His heavy footsteps made no sound, as if silent stealth skills had penetrated his very bone marrow and merged with his blood, an unnerving display of speed and grace in such bulky armor.]
["Killed in battle with xenos in the depths of the void, ten years ago," the expressionless Captain Bail Sharr blinked his dark eyes, staring straight at the renegade leader. His voice was flat, revealing nothing.]
[You seemed to see a fleeting sadness—a muscle twitch, a slight slump in the shoulders—on the pale face of the Ashen Claws commander, a reminder that they were once brothers.]
["I still remember the last time, Akia's arrogance and stupidity almost killed you," Nehat's voice was low and laced with old scorn. "This time, why have you come?" He crossed dozens of meters of space in the blink of an eye. He walked until he was standing right in front of Captain Bail Sharr, the distance between the two massive suits of armor no more than three meters, a profoundly aggressive posture.]
["A new Red Tithes," Captain Bail Sharr said concisely, his voice never rising above a monotone.]
["What, your Red Tithe no longer holds meaning" The pale face of the Ashen Claws Chapter Leader showed faint sarcasm, a twisting of his lips. He knew how vital those ancient debts were.]
["The Chapter is still at war. A huge xenos threat approaches from the extra-system void, a hive fleet that will devour all. And the Imperium knows nothing about it," Captain Bail Sharr blinked his dark eyes, staring at Nehat expressionlessly as he explained slowly, laying out the truth without drama. "They must be stopped!"]
["What can we get?" The tall figure of Chapter Leader Nehat suddenly flashed in front of you, his movement like a blink, making your body tense.]
[Neither the motion sensor inside your helmet nor your own eyes could capture his movement trajectory; he was simply there. You subconsciously tightened your grip on the chainsaw axe's handle, the worn ceramite rough under your gauntlet, waiting for Captain Bail Sharr's order to intervene.]
["Weapons and power armor, sufficient to replenish your missing supplies, to recall your lost glory days," Captain Bail Sharr stared at you with his dark eyes, a quick glance that stopped your risky behavior. You lowered your weapon slightly. There seemed to be a hint of cold sarcasm in Bail Sharr's words, mocking Nehat's current state.]
["Does the mechanical old man know you are trading with traitors? You will be sentenced to treason by the Imperium you claim to be loyal to!" The pale face of the Ashen Claws Chapter Captain, Nehat, showed mockery, but also a hint of hidden loss and anger, the pain of his own exile bubbling up.]
["The supplies obtained by the Gray Tax belong to the Chapter, and how we trade them is our will," Captain Bail Sharr stated, his voice now colder, asserting the ancient rights of the Carcharodons. "New blood and fleet support are the final bargaining chips of this transaction." He had stated the bottom line of the transaction expressionlessly, making it clear there was no more to be offered.]
[However, the Chapter Captain of the Ashen Claws seemed to be completely angered by Captain Bail Sharr's refusal to return of his relics. He moved again in his Power Armor, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Captain Bail Sharr, his body practically touching the other Astartes.]
["Do you know what I want most? For the cunning Red Wake to return my Astrix Talons! I want my 'Hunger' and 'Slake'!" Nehat's long black hair fell over the cold ceramite steel of his armor as his eyes, burning with old rage, stared down at Captain Bail Sharr.]
[You suddenly raised the grenade launcher, the heavy weapon snapping up. The black muzzle was firmly aimed at the other party's exposed head. You also pulled out the chainsaw axe, the internal motors roaring softly, and held it tightly in your hand.]
[At the same time, ten Ashen Claws wearing power armor suddenly sneaked out from the dark depths of the hall, their movements quick and practiced. Their bolters clicked, pointing directly at you and Captain Bail Sharr.]
[Just when you were about to activate the shield generator of the Terminator Power Armor, preparing for the initial onslaught,]
[You planned to forcibly rely on its powerful protective ability to cover the captain and kill your way out, knowing it would be a desperate fight.]
[The Ashen Claws Chapter Captain, Nehat Nev, suddenly raised his armored hand, a decisive motion.]
[He very rationally stopped the next move of the ten Ashen Claws and eased the conflict, his anger warring with his pragmatism.]
[You quickly analyzed the strength of the enemy versus your own, assessing the twenty Terminators outside and the ten men in the room. It was not a fight you could win cleanly.]
[You looked at Captain Bail Sharr, who seemed utterly fearless in the face of danger, not moving an inch.]
[You did not choose to put down your weapon, but just slightly moved the muzzle of the gun, tracking the renegade leader, but shifting the aim slightly away from the head.]
["I have no right to make that decision, and Lord Tyberos will not hand over the claws," Captain Bail Sharr said slowly, his voice maintaining its level, cold quality. "Weapons and power armor, plus some gene-seed to delay genetic degradation. This is all I can bring you. Deal or..." The expressionless Captain Bail Sharr blinked his dark eyes, staring at the gloomy Nehat as he spoke, letting the implicit threat hang in the air.]
[The gloomy face of Chapter Captain Nehat changed repeatedly, his pale skin flushing with fury and then settling into grim acceptance.]
[He suddenly smiled at Captain Bail Sharr, a wide, unsettling grin that showed his teeth were clenched. "A fight then. A trial by combat."]
[You suddenly heard the team members' report crackling through the communication device, confirming your suspicions. "Twenty Terminators from the Ashen Claws have appeared outside the hall, completely besieging everyone. They are blocking all exits."]
[You stared calmly as Nehat and Captain Bail Sharr reached a prerequisite for completing the deal: the Space Sharks would participate in a brutal gladiatorial fight.]
[If you won, the deal between the two parties would be successfully completed.]
[If you lost, you would leave the supplies behind and leave empty-handed.]
[Nehat stepped aside, making a wide, dramatic way for you and Captain Bail Sharr.]
[You were about to go to the gladiatorial pit to participate in the battle when Captain Bail Sharr drew out his chainsaw axe, the ancient weapon roaring to life, and planned to go into battle himself.]
[You repeatedly persuaded him and stopped him, a firm, heavy hand on his shoulder pauldron. "Captain, I am in Terminator plate. I have the advantage." You didn't argue, you stated fact.]
[Captain Bail Sharr stared with his dark eyes, considering your armor and your skill, and after thinking for a moment, he agreed to your heroic action with a single nod.]
[At the same time, he made a decision without any emotion. If you unfortunately lost or died on the spot, then the entire Third Company would launch an orbital bombardment on the main planet of the Ashen Claws. He was giving them a final chance before extermination, and more intense group conflicts would be inevitable.]
[You remained silent, just patting the heavy breastplate of the ancient Terminator armor with your palm, which was covered with ceramite steel, a silent promise to the Captain.]
[You once again passed through the complex and tortuous underground passages, the winding path lit by flickering, harsh industrial lights.]
[You came to a noisy gladiatorial pit, a vast underground cavern. A large number of Astartes monks and mortal warriors of the Ashen Claws stood on the stone stairs above, their silhouettes dark against the harsh light.]
[They kept shouting fiercely and swearing in the planetary dialect, the noise a deafening wall of sound that vibrated the air in your helmet. They were hungry for blood.]
[You handed your grenade launcher to Bail Sharr for safekeeping, knowing its range would be useless in the pit.]
[You jumped into the gladiatorial pit without hesitation, the heavy Terminator armor landing with a muffled THUD that shook the sand. You held your chainsaw axe ready.]
[Your magnetic boots stepped heavily into the sandy ground soaked with smelly, old blood, the air thick with the metallic stench.]
["The fight... begins." The cold voice of Nehat, the head of the Ashen Claws, echoed over a loud hailer, opening the prelude to the fight.]
[A Chaos Astartes with a broken ceramite steel shell, wearing an even older model of power armor and holding two chain axes, slowly walked out of the shadows of the fighting pit. He was covered in grime and dried viscera.]
[You identified him by the two chainsaw axes he carried, which were covered with blasphemous runes and mottled bloodstains, and the legion emblem on his blood-red power armor. It was the mark of the XII Legion.]
[It was a World Eater from the 12th Legion, a traitor heretic who was accidentally captured by the Ashen Claws and kept as an unwilling gladiator.]
[The next second, the roar of the chainsaw axes in the hands of both sides sounded, filling the pit with a high-pitched, mechanical shriek.]
[The World Eater, his mind buzzing from the Butcher's Nails, gave a vague, guttural roar first. The tall and terrifying figure pounced on you, crossing the sand with frightening speed.]
[His steps seemed to be full of violence and pure, unadulterated anger, and his charging speed was far beyond that of an ordinary Astartes.]
[You gripped the chainsaw axe without hesitation, and the extremely heavy Terminator power armor rushed forward quickly, meeting his charge head-on.]
[Even though your movement speed was much slower than the opponent's, the powerful protection of the Terminator power armor completely solved your worries. You didn't need speed; you had durability.]
[You didn't have any defense plan at all; your strategy was simple brute force and offense. You let the opponent's chainsaw axe fall heavily on the thick ceramite steel armor, the first blow impacting your chestplate.]
[The harsh metal collisions and violent friction vibrations sent a jolt through your arms, but did not make you feel the slightest fear. The terrifying charge of the World Eater did not even make you retreat a single step. He was stopped dead by your ancient, thick plate.]
[The chainsaw axe in your hand was like an unstoppable tide, slashing back at the opponent's broken power armor, aiming for the joints.]
[The World Eater, who fought very violently, seemed to notice your reckless fighting style of exchanging injuries for injuries. He roared his frustration.]
[Just as he tried to intercept your swing with his other roaring chainsaw axe, you executed a brutal, unplanned maneuver.]
[Your huge power armor leaned back slightly, pulling your axe away, and then your head, protected by its metal helmet, launched forward, hitting the opponent's helmet heavily, a deafening ceramite-on-ceramite clang.]
[Instantly, the broken eyepiece blurred his vision, and the violent shock also temporarily affected his judgment, the Butcher's Nails spiking his pain threshold to breaking point.]
[Your chainsaw axe suddenly changed direction, exploiting the momentary disorientation.]
[Accompanied by the rapid rotation of monomolecular saw teeth, a sturdy arm holding a chainsaw axe was suddenly severed at the elbow. It flew into the air, then fell heavily to the ground, smashing a shallow pit in the sand.]
[Boiling blood, thick and black, splattered on your ceramite steel armor.]
[You heard the obscure roar of agony and rage from inside the World Eater's helmet.]
[You also smelled the disgusting stench of chaos and sweat clinging to him.]
[You did not give him any chance to react, the bloodlust of the Carcharodon taking over.]
[You swung the roaring chainsaw axe mercilessly, and the monomolecular blade embedded deep in his neck, where the ordinary power armor's protection was most vulnerable and the joints were exposed.]
[The World Eater's remaining chainsaw axe kept hitting the heavy shoulder armor of the ancient Terminator, driven by pure, brain-dead rage.]
[But it only destroyed a thick layer of ceramite steel and did not cause any real damage to you; the Terminator plate was simply too thick.]
[Amidst the sharp roar of the chainsaw axe and the continuous spurting of a large amount of blood from the severed neck joint,]
[You suddenly raised your armored thigh, and a kick with enough force to kill a mortal landed on the opponent's waist and abdomen, a devastating blow.]
[You took the opportunity to grab the traitor's head, which was about to break off, and pulled it free with a final, sickening surge of strength.]
[Then, the headless corpse you kicked away fell heavily to the ground, splashing countless sand and dust.]
[You took a deep breath, the filtered air tasting of ozone and blood.]
[You raised the bloody head, wrapped in its broken helmet, high for all to see.]
[You raised the still-roaring chainsaw axe with force and pointed it at the silent Ashen Claws, who were now stunned by the sudden, brutal display of power, above the fighting pit.]
[You completely ignored the increasingly gloomy, betrayed expression of Chapter Master Nehat.]
[Your deep and hoarse voice penetrated the layers of barriers of the dog-shaped helmet and slowly echoed inside the fighting pit, filled with cold menace.]
["If anyone of you dares to come down, I will... beat ten of you!"]