31

31

The morning after the golden beam shines are met with chaos within the empire. The sudden abundance of magic creates numerous small rifts in which daemons can enter. Hierophants, the light wizards are sent to the every corner of the empire to close them. The witch hunters and inquisitors already began their work as soon as the beam vanish at night. Hunting witches and hidden covens who let their guards down on the equally auspicious and terrifying event. Mutants born from both beasts and men skyrockets overnight. Immediately slaughtered and burned. Even the babies, lest the witch hunters came and drag the parents to the pyre too. Unprepared villages gone before dawn. Destroyed by the amassing beastmen horde and other creatures that hides within the dark corners of the empire. The trees of Drakwald grown. More towering and haunting than ever before. Mustering call announced from every province to prepare on what is to come. The cause of this chaos however are currently sleeping and snuggling between the werewolves. One of the werewolf’s dick still knotted inside her.

Now what to do? I thought as I snuggle on the werewolves fur. Our base of operation is pretty much secured for now. Souls will be delivered to me on its own as visiting beastmen herd will no doubt perform sacrifice on my herdstone. We could theoretically stays here and build up until End Times come but banking everything on just one base is a bad idea. Then again I need to ascertain the date to know how much time left until then. The more reason to try infiltrate the Empire while leveling Facsimile at the same time.

I also need allies. Allying with the Greater Daemons or the Daemon Princes is of course no go since who knows when they will betray me. Temporary alliance with Khornate daemons might be achievable. But I doubt Tzeentch will allow it to last long. The only possibility that come to mind is Cathay. Since they are far enough from here, they might be receptive enough if I help them against Tzeentch.

The only problem is reaching there though. If taking the safest route. First need to pass the Border Princes Confederation to the south which also infested by the Skavens. Pass the mountains belong to the dwarves. Then crossing the greenskin darklands and the ogre kingdom mountains after that. The fastest route if we can pass unbothered is through Sylvania as there is also a mountain pass across the world’s edge mountains between their border with Ostermark. But that would risk even further attention from the vampires and Mannfred Von Carstein. Regardless, both route will take a few months. Might even almost a year.

For now it is better to build our base and breed.

Herd population: 1669

Perhaps when I have more than 2000 beastmen which is soon reached, I can split and create another herd to leave for Cathay in advance. I will think of a way to link both herd so I can move between both and assist them. After giving birth to a litter of werewolves pup, I exit my camp and check my herd.

Now everyone already buffed by the new regeneration, immaculate body, and illusory feathers. The sight of gold furs accentuated with shimmering flow of the feathers are enough to hurt the average human perception. But someone that sat on a golden chair might like the color palette. The newly captured beastwomen are also slowly turned one by one by Mal. Then there are also influxes of small groups of beastmen. Each group only a dozen or two at most. They are a stark contrast as even their largest Caprigors barely on the same height and stature of our Ungors. Now that I realize, I have practically made my herd into almost space marine equivalent of the beastmen. Which I am also sure pretty much achievable after my blood concept evolve. Another thing to look forward too.

Returning back to my tent, I shoo away the still sleeping werewolves to make place. I paid the 20 souls required to make my soul forge. The souls screamed in agony as they melted into one. An 8 pointed star shaped anvil formed in front of me. A runic smithing hammer on top of it.

“Didn’t you have that bow the emperor gave you? Why not use it?” He ask as Markus used only use a mundane bow the entire time

“Well, it felt weird to me. The arrow almost always pierce the heart”

“Weird how? Isn’t that a good thing?” He asks, confused by the remark.

“Almost always Bertrand. Almost. Meaning that the bow can fail. The arrow also veered to the heart even when I aimed somewhere else. I can force it if I concentrate enough. But it feels like I am reigning a horse and forcing it to move.”

“Suppose it’s weird if you put it that way.” Magic is always weird. He couldn’t understand it. Then Bertrand rubs his right arm again.

“Besides, my skill would rust if I rely on that bow too much.” Markus pulled the last of his arrows

“So when will we move out?”

“We will not. I get the feeling our quarry will come to us instead.” Markus turned east to Talabecland direction. The last reported sighting of Taurox.

“Now stop idling and help pile the bodies so we can burn them.”