Suffer Not The Radiant

Chapter 13: Another Of Me

Beech forest, Norway, Alpha

The massive Astartes stood amidst the serene beauty of the Norwegian forest, his armor radiating a stench of blood and death. His power claws crackled with energy, a menacing presence that even the hardiest of creatures dared not approach.

Taking in his surroundings, the warrior was struck by the tranquility of this verdant world. It was a stark contrast to the devastation and death that he had witnessed across the galaxy in service to the Imperium.

As he made his way forward, his massive footsteps leaving deep imprints in the soft earth, he caught sight of something in the distance. A sprawling metropolis, a hive city, perhaps? Its towering spires and bustling activity were a sight to behold, a stark reminder that even in the most peaceful corners of the galaxy, the Imperium's influence could be felt.

The towering Astartes emerged from the tranquil embrace of the Norwegian forest, his gaze fixed on the distant cityscape. Its towering edifices were a wonder to behold, a stark contrast to the grim, fortress-like hive cities of the Imperium.

As he approached the outskirts of the city, his senses were immediately alert to the presence of armed men in unfamiliar green garb. Their weapons were crude compared to the finely crafted arms of the Imperium, but they did not look like the twisted, heretical forces of Chaos that he had battled countless times before.

Perplexed but intrigued, the Astartes surveyed the scene before him. The strange aircraft circling overhead was unlike any vehicle he had seen, its rotors whirring with a hypnotic hum.

He pondered the possibilities of what lay before him, unsure if these humans were friend or foe. But one thing was certain - this was a world unlike any he had encountered before, and he was eager to uncover its secrets.

The Astartes stood firm, towering over the armed men who looked up at him with fear and awe. Their weapons, though impressive in design, lacked the ferocity and power of those used by the Imperium. Could they be a faction of human servants to a Xenos empire? The thought lingered in the Astartes' mind as he remained vigilant, waiting for any sign of hostility.

A lone man stepped forward, addressing the Astartes in a language unknown to him. The Astartes, confused by the man's words, did not move. His patience began to wane as an awkward silence fell between them. Suddenly, a 20mm round ricocheted off his pauldron, causing the man to shout in a language he did not understand.

With his patience exhausted, the Astartes activated his power claw, the whirring sound of lightning filling the air. The man in front of him turned his attention back to the armored giant, fear evident in his eyes, as the Astartes activated his power claw, the sound deafening in the sudden silence.

The tension was palpable as the men surrounding the Astartes fired their weapons in single shots, hoping to intimidate the giant into surrender. But the armored warrior stood firm, his unyielding resolve and towering frame causing the soldiers to hesitate.Finally, the Astartes raised his hand, commanding the attention of the man in front of him. 

The soldier stared frozen in fear as the massive hand loomed over him, unsure of what fate awaited him.In one swift motion, the Astartes activated his chainsword and sliced the man into three clean pieces, spraying gore across the vehicles and the surrounding soldiers. The sound of the chainsword was deafening in the sudden silence that followed.

The barrage of auto cannon fire and rifle shots was relentless, but the unknown astartes refused to be subdued. With lightning-fast reflexes, he pounced on the nearest armored vehicle, his power claws rending it in two as if it were made of paper.The men inside screamed in terror as they realized their fate, but it was already too late. The giant's wrath was absolute as he turned his attention to the next target.