NCCnovel Chapter 262 The Demon Lord
Chapter 262 The Demon Lord
Inside the Thunderhawk gunship, the atmosphere was oppressively tense, almost suffocating. Russell stood before Astram, his eyes bloodshot, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His voice was almost a roar: "You lied to me!"
Astland remained indifferent, offering no reply. His silver-gray power armor was stained with the marks of battle, and the Grey Knight insignia on his shoulder armor gleamed faintly in the dim light. His gaze was stern, as if Russell's anger were nothing more than an insignificant storm to him.
“Almost all my brothers died there! If the intelligence was inaccurate, why did you still send me there with men?” Russell’s voice echoed in the cabin, filled with endless anger and pain. The images of the Kashejin warriors who had fallen on the battlefield kept flashing through his mind; their faces and their voices seemed to still resonate in his ears.
The remaining Grey Knights stood silently to the side, their gazes cold and indifferent, as if none of this concerned them. They were used to this scene—anger, doubt, pain—these were the price of fighting against chaos.
Astrall waited until Russell's emotions had calmed down a bit before slowly speaking: "It wasn't me who deceived you, it was the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord."
"The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord didn't send me here, it was you!" Russell's anger was reignited, and his voice was hoarse.
Astlan's gaze remained icy, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority: "The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord has deceived us all. Boy, watch your tone."
Russell's fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. He suppressed his anger, his voice low and filled with pain: "I shouldn't have trusted you… but my brothers… they…"
Astland sighed, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Russell, have you had any contact with the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord before?"
Russell shook his head, his voice tinged with helplessness: "No."
Astram's gaze deepened, as if recalling a painful past: "What you've encountered today is nothing to us Grey Knights. Do you know? My Grand Master Alaric once led three hundred of his brothers-in-arms to be murdered by the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord. Fighting demons is always the most dangerous and cruel thing. Every action we take is like walking on a knife's edge; the slightest mistake will lead to annihilation."
Russell fell silent. His anger gradually dissipated in the sound of Astran's words, replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness and guilt. He knew Astran was right. The battle against Chaos was never a fair fight. The cunning and cruelty of demons far exceeded human imagination.
“But… my brothers…” Russell’s voice choked with emotion, “they trusted me, they followed me, and yet they died there…”
A flicker of sympathy crossed Astran's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indifference: "Russell, sacrifice is inevitable. Every action we Grey Knights take is a struggle against Chaos, a search for a glimmer of hope. Your brothers gave their lives for the Emperor; their sacrifice was not in vain."
Russell remained silent for a long time, his gaze fixed blankly on the ground, his heart filled with complex emotions. He knew Astram was right, but that did nothing to alleviate his pain. The faces and voices of the fallen Kashezin warriors seemed to still echo in his ears.
"What should we do next?" Russell's voice was low and weary.
Astland's gaze hardened: "The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord's conspiracy is not over yet; we must continue the fight. Russell, although your troops have suffered heavy losses, your experience and courage are still essential to us. Are you willing to continue fighting alongside us?"
Russell raised his head, a flicker of struggle in his eyes. He knew he had no way out. For the Emperor, for his fallen brothers, he had to continue fighting—even if it meant facing the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord's cunning and cruelty once more.
“I do,” Russell said in a low but firm voice, “but this time, I will not easily trust anyone again.”
Astlan nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Very good. Next, we will face an even greater challenge. The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord's conspiracy is far more complex than we imagined, and we must proceed with caution."
The roar of the Thunderhawk gunboat's engines echoed through the air, and the atmosphere inside gradually returned to calm. Russell sat in his seat, his gaze fixed on the starry sky outside the porthole. His heart was filled with complex emotions—anger, guilt, helplessness, but above all, a resolute determination.
…………
Inside the Thunderhawk gunship, Astran's communicator suddenly rang, breaking the brief silence. He quickly answered, and the Inquisitor's voice came from the other end, tinged with urgency and excitement: "Astron, we've broken through the demon's minions' psychological defenses. The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord's henchmen have revealed an address—an ancient, abandoned planet. There's a state church there, and in the church's basement is an ancient study that may contain important information about the Thousand-Faced Demon Lord."
A sharp glint flashed in Astran's eyes, and he quickly replied, "Understood. We'll head to that planet immediately."
After the communication ended, Astran turned to Russell and the other Grey Knight warriors, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority: "We have a new lead. The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord's henchmen have revealed an address that may hold crucial information about his conspiracy. We must act immediately."
Russell looked up, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew this operation might once again push him to the brink of danger, but he had no way out. For the Emperor, for his fallen brothers, he had to continue fighting.
"Where is that planet?" Russell's voice was deep but firm.
Astram quickly pulled up a star map and pointed to a remote star system: "Here. This planet was once a prosperous world, but it's now almost abandoned. Only an old state church remains, and our target is the study in the church's basement."
Russell nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes: "When do we set off?"
"Immediately." Astran's voice was cold and decisive. "Time waits for no one. The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord's conspiracy could succeed at any moment."
The engines of the Thunderhawk gunship roared once more, and the atmosphere inside became tense and solemn. The Gray Knight warriors quickly checked their equipment, preparing for the next battle. Russell sat in his seat, his gaze fixed on the starry sky outside the porthole, his heart filled with complex emotions.
He knew this operation might once again push him to the brink of danger, but he had no way out. For the Emperor, for his fallen brothers, he had to continue fighting.
Several hours later, the Thunderhawk gunship landed on the desolate planet. The planet's surface was barren; its former prosperity was long gone, leaving only dilapidated buildings and withered vegetation. A stench of decay permeated the air, as if telling the story of this world's decline.
Astram and Russell led their troops swiftly toward the Anglican Church. Though ancient, the church building stood firm, as if steadfastly upholding the last vestiges of faith. The church doors were tightly shut, bearing the marks of time.
“Be careful,” Astram whispered. “The Thousand-Faced Demon Lord’s minions may have already set a trap here.”
Russell nodded, gripping the Bloodthirsty entrenching tool in his hand. His gaze was cold and sharp as he warily scanned his surroundings.
The church doors were slowly pushed open with a jarring creak. The interior was dark and gloomy, filled with an old, musty smell. The murals on the walls had faded, but their former glory was still evident.
“The basement is over there,” Astram said, pointing to a narrow staircase deep inside the church.
The troops quickly advanced into the basement. The staircase was narrow and steep, each step kicking up clouds of dust. The basement door was tightly shut, its surface covered with ancient runes.
“These runes…” Russell murmured, “are warning us.”
A look of seriousness flashed across Astland's eyes: "We must go in, no matter what."
The door was slowly pushed open, and a chilly atmosphere rushed out. The basement was dark and damp, with cobwebs and mold covering the walls. In the center of the room stood an old wooden table, piled high with books and scrolls.
“This is it.” Astram’s voice carried a hint of excitement.