Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 830 The Demon Always Seizes Opportunities
"..."

Hong Su strode along the road leading to the lower level of the port with a gloomy expression.

The residents of the Wandering Harbor along the way all bowed to him with the salute of the Aquila. For this trip, he had also donned a bone-white robe, a common symbol of healers in the Calissis Sector, over his apothecary armor. The robe was adorned with his personal apothecary insignia: a black and white double helix with a red halo. He also carried an extra suitcase to set up a stall.

Good news: It's not news of the young apprentice's death or anything worse.

Bad news: It's not news related to the apprentice either.

Even worse news: he has to go to the lower districts to provide free medical care, all by himself, and may need to maintain a “friendly” attitude towards mortals and even various aliens for a long time before his target appears, while staying away from his laboratory and gene bank!

...If you know what's good for you, you'd better show up soon, Uriel Ventress and your companions.

The master pharmacist frowned inwardly.

Before I lose patience and release a specially marked new flu virus on a large scale in this place and find you.

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At some point in the past, a researcher in the lab who was working late into the night to produce a report suddenly sat up straight.

“Hmm…? Is this really his style? Unlike Peturabo, but no wonder it likes him,” he muttered. “However, this is like asking a tiger for its skin, little Astartes.”

"Hey, do you smell something?" His colleague walked over, his face behind the mask full of doubt.

"No, what does it taste like?"

"Strange, there's an animal smell... It smells like a really strong dog kennel, but we're a level 3 biosafety lab, so it shouldn't smell this bad."

"Even if it was an accident, do you have any lingering effects?"

"Hiss...maybe..."

...Petulabo, is this what you call the "side effects of communication"? This witchcraft stinks terribly!
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The rusty alloy iron gate slowly rose, and the sweltering air, carrying sweat, cheap alcohol, metal, sand, and the smell of blood, filled Samokuan's nostrils.

He huddled in a corner of the octagonal cage, his deliberately arched back outlining the curves of his abnormally developed muscles made of demonic skin—the pitiful sight of a “genetically modified slave” who had escaped and been captured.

...Well, hey, you see, he originally just wanted to wander around the lower levels, like usual, carrying a few empty boxes so he could pretend to pass by unintentionally and then eavesdrop on other people's conversations with his keen ears.

But who knew what accident happened at the underground arena today? He was attacked while walking harmlessly on the street.

—Hey, you see, he could totally fight back, okay? But the problem is he hesitated for a second when he thought about the consequences of exposing his abilities on the streets of Wandering Harbor.

It really wasn't just his curiosity that got the better of him!

If a Stonecaller were here, they would say, "Yes, not just any boy would be so stubborn as to ride a Relic-class hoverbike into battle out of sheer curiosity and then return as a Word Bearer enchanted warrior."

We should have run away on the street; there are too many eyes watching us, Samo. Trying to find out what's going on behind the scenes is a bit of a waste.
+To be honest, although it's a gladiator arena, from what I've heard, the gladiator arena in Wandering Harbor is quite well-regulated. But you've seemed very worried here, even more so than we have in the Eye of Fear. +
+I have reason to worry, child. You have no idea how chaotic the subspace on the other side of this region has become. Even the oldest inhabitants of the High Heavens dare not easily act recklessly within this area illuminated by light; this is the true reason for the apparent tranquility here.
+I can't see any of what you're saying. +
+...Oh my god, you and him are practically on the same page—completely incomprehensible! +
You'd better think about what to do once the fight starts.
The demon seemed to grin in my mind's eye.

Try to use the fists, elbows, and knees I taught you, son.
+EMMMM, I'm not sure. I've practiced swordsmanship more. Besides, I've never actually killed anyone. +
+They didn't provide you with a sword or any club. +The devil pointed out objectively, +I think you became an unfortunate victim of some kind of impromptu money-grabbing scheme.
+Wandering Harbor's jurisdiction forbids gladiatorial murders; this is an order of the Carlosini dynasty. The Hound Squad practically comes at the mere smell of blood. +
+Indeed, but they usually patrol and inspect according to the pre-approved event schedule, don't they? Perhaps that's the point of adding extra sessions at the last minute. +
"The devil said meaningfully."
-
The roars from the audience came crashing down like a tidal wave. Samok found that the ordinary audience members had left at some point, and the new group of audience members, wearing masks and other clothing to conceal their identities, were frantically shouting "Tear him apart" and various words like "blood" and "sweet soul" through voice changers.

On the other side of the iron fence, a Dark Eldar was licking the energy whip in his hand with the tip of his cut scarlet tongue.

Her skin was as pale as alabaster, her deep blue hair was tied into a high ponytail, and a pair of fangs and molars hung from her pointed ears. At her waist were two bone daggers made of Comorian bone—one of which had a blade that gleamed with a ghostly blue neurotoxin and had twisted painful runes carved on its hilt, while the other looked more like a ritual dagger used for bloodletting.

+I bet she was at least once a sorcerer, the kind who was very good at torturing and bleeding out her opponents in the arena, then distributing their souls to others to consume. +
I don't like this alien! The way she's looking at me is like she wants to eat me alive!
+Of course...although I think her gaze was literal, but with me here, kid, you can handle it, stay calm. +
The pointed-eared alien opposite him stared at him, then swung her power whip, the energy arcs at the tip crackling and leaving charred marks on the damp walls of the arena.

Samo's heart began to race. Although he was no longer the same as before, his boyish instincts still made him subconsciously adopt a defensive posture.

Don't worry. She's fast, but Demon Skin will protect you from real damage. She has a balance problem on her left side, and her left leg injury may not have healed yet. Remember this weakness.
Raum's voice came just in time. This demon, who had once been sworn brothers with Angertai the Word Bearer, was experienced in battle and was clearly as adept at fighting the Dark Eldar as well.

There were no introductions, no extra words, but the air was thick with the scent of greed and excitement.

A clear, crisp bell rang.

The opposing witch spirit suddenly transformed into a black shadow invisible to the naked eye. The sharp blade at the tip of the whip slashed through the air, instantly wrapping around Samokuan's neck with a whooshing sound, the energy arc almost scorching his skin.

His terrified appearance clearly pleased some viewers, but a large number of people booed his defensive stance instead of fighting back.

"Damn it!" a strange voice shouted. "We didn't pay a fortune to just have a good time! There needs to be some excitement before we start!"

Then the energy in the whip disappeared, and the sharp whip wrapped around his neck, dragging him to the ground.

What is that?!
Oh... what a blessing in disguise, little Samoan, it seems we've finally found a clue after digging into this darkness and evil for so long.
He's injecting me with something! Can't you remove the fluid?!
+Hmm, don't worry... Oh, a mixture of combat potions and stimulants... Alright, leave it to me, relax and enjoy it. +
Samokuan opened his eyes wide, and his body immediately began to move on its own, his muscles throbbing and writhing like a wild beast. The audience let out satisfied howls, while the Dark Eldar released him and stood there smiling.

The whip tip still grazed his left shoulder, and the burlap was instantly burned through by the high temperature, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air—as soon as the blood seeped out of the wound, the muscles began to contract and heal frantically, and pinkish abnormal flesh covered the wound at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Excited shouts erupted from the audience.

"Oh? That's interesting, you deformed big monkey."

Wu Ling raised an eyebrow, flicked his wrist, and the power whip suddenly split into three thin blades, stabbing towards Samokuan's chest, abdomen, and knees from three directions like venomous snakes. The muscular slave crouched down like a wild beast, his right hand precisely grabbing the three-headed snake-like whip tip, his demonic skin on his palm resisting the alien metal.

Wu Ling clearly hadn't expected this lowly slave guild to react so quickly. As he tried to pull his weapon back, Samokuan's left arm suddenly burst forth with strength, forcefully pulling him in front of him.

A flicker of panic crossed the Dark Elf's eyes as he swiftly drew his bone dagger with his left hand and stabbed it toward Samokuan's heart.

The boy's pupils contracted sharply, and the devil's voice carried a hurried yet calm reassurance.

Watch closely, raise your left arm to block, then immediately move it horizontally, using your bone gaps to block her weapon. Your regenerative abilities and strengthened bones should be able to withstand this attack.
He used his left arm to block, and the sharp pain of the bone blade piercing his arm made him groan, but Raum immediately lowered his left arm and used the bones of his arm to block the other's dagger.

The tip of the dagger slashed his chest but eventually stopped. The dark blue toxin seeped into his bloodstream through the wound, only to be frantically devoured and broken down by the demons and cells within his body.

"how……?"

Seeing that the other party had taken the poison that even alien monsters or snake people could not resist without any pain, Wu Ling's expression finally began to twist. She slammed her knee into Samo's abdomen.

Samokuan groaned and took half a step back, but did not loosen his grip on the power whip.

The humanoid shell was being devoured and enveloped by the surging power within the body. The demonic flesh covering the outer layer of the Astartes' body began to break free of its restraints, and the shape of one arm gradually began to transform into a pincer-like form.

The audience erupted into even more frenzied shouting, with many clearly believing it was just another teratogenic side effect of the arena potion.

"What?! How could you possibly be her...?!"

The witch screamed, drawing a bone blade with her other hand. The two deadly weapons crossed and slashed at Samo's broad neck. This time, it was not for torture or amusement, but a pure killing spree faster than lightning.

Watch closely. Turn to the side like this and twist her wrist holding the dagger. Be quick; Eldar bones are very tough, but we only need to break her ligaments. The intense pain will slow her down considerably.
As the demon explained, Samokon experienced the movements of his own body.

To others, the monster, already covered in carapace and writhing flesh, suddenly turned to the side, and with a forceful upward thrust of its right hand, a soft "thud" was heard as the Dark Elf's wrist was twisted a full 180 degrees.

The power whip fell to the ground, and the energy arc dissipated instantly. The Dark Elf let out a shrill scream, trying to continue the attack with the dagger in his other hand, but Samo grabbed his arm and slammed it hard against the rock wall.

The moss on the rock face was soaked with blood. Samo's wound had stopped bleeding and was no longer painful—his rapid recovery ability allowed his wound to visibly grow fine, interwoven granulation tissue and begin to heal.

The Dark Eldar struggled, then suddenly opened its mouth and bit into Samo's throat with its sharp teeth. The boy suddenly released its grip, and in the instant she lost her balance, he bent his knee and slammed it into her lower abdomen.

The Dark Eldar arched their backs, spitting out saliva mixed with black blood clots.

Samo grabbed her pointed ears and slammed the Dark Spirit's head against the rock wall, once, twice, three times... The rock was smashed, sending stone chips flying, the pit getting deeper and deeper, and the Witch Spirit's struggles growing weaker and weaker.

The Eldar skulls are really hard.
When Samor loosened his grip and let the Dark Eldar's body fall to the ground, the Dark Eldar lay sprawled like a tattered sack, its head sunken and its eyes wide open.

The roars from the audience suddenly stopped, followed by an even more frenzied cheer.

Samok stood in the pool of blood, his chest heaving violently. The boy's eyes were filled with shock and confusion as he looked down at his blood-stained hands—hands that had been trembling just moments before, but now stood as steady as a rock.

The whisper from deep within the skull resounded once more, carrying a sense of satisfaction and a hint of contentment, like a senior watching unripe fruit grow.

+Look, child. You possess me, such immense power, the fleeting pleasure of taking a life, the sweetness of a terrified soul—have you tasted it? Remember this feeling; it will make your next battle even more successful…+
Samo's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he disgustedly shook his hand to wipe away the blood, turned around, and faced the fully armed gladiators who surrounded him with weapons.

"You said not to make a big fuss. You old liar."

He sighed.

I think you're deliberately trying to give me a chance to kill more people.
He raised his hand, and a massive claw formed from demonic skin and terracotta caught a barrage of bullets fired at him.

+Under the supervision of those two rigid Space Marines, you'll find it difficult to get real combat experience. You're a powerful warrior, kid, but they always treat you like a real human child, which will weaken you.
Samo strode forward, kicking one of the thugs into the stone wall with one foot, while his other hand, conjured into a pincer-like claw, swept down two other attackers. Most of the audience members began to scream and frantically try to escape, while a few remained, shouting with delight at the unexpected turn of events.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
He crouched down and, contrary to common sense, leaped onto the ceiling like a nimble cat, then landed among the crowd of attackers and began to take them down one by one.

People screamed and poured out of the arena, while other residents had already warily moved away.

As Samo walked behind the fleeing crowd like a shepherd herding sheep, reaching the ground floor and preparing to jump onto the rooftops to escape, Raum suddenly shouted.

Oh no...!
What...?
Then he fainted amidst a dizzying sensation.

"Look what good stuff I caught as soon as I got here..."

Amidst the prayers and reverence of the surrounding residents, the apothecary master, clad in white robes, set down his tranquilizer dart launcher and stepped forward, his eyes gleaming as he examined the ancient power armor and the fused demonic flesh beneath his prey.

Then he took out a scalpel and scraped off the hastily applied blue paint.

"I knew it……"

He looked at the lower level, which resembled dried blood, and let out a devilish smile.

"Those who cherish words."

(End of this chapter)