My Life as A Death Guard
Chapter 465: This Is Not Something That Should Exist
Leman Russ let out a choking grunt. No more—he really couldn't go on. Yielding to gravity, the cup in his hand slammed heavily onto the table.
"I lost! Lost! I lost!!!"
The half-man, half-wolf beings crowding around him burst into cheers. They pressed close to the Wolf King, staring eagerly as foam from the drink dripped down his beard.
He hadn't finished the cup!
Russ staggered to his feet. The noisy hall erupted into shouts and howls as he moved. The beings of the underworld watched him, whistling and roaring.
The Wolf King walked to the far end of the feast, stopping before the black wolf curled there. This was the king of the underworld. Its wise eyes fixed on him as it drew a line across the back of Russ's bare hand. Now there were two scars there.
"You have already lost twice," the black wolf said. "In the first trial, you were defeated by my foster mother. In the second, you failed to finish the drink."
Leman Russ exhaled hot, alcoholic breath. Everything in this underworld felt like a dream. He had wagered four trials with these beings—win, and he would gain what he sought; lose, and he would remain here forever.
The Wolf King vaguely realized that these spirits had never intended for him to win.
"That drink of yours was boundless," Russ belched, "Even all the Space Wolves together couldn't finish it—but regardless, thank you for your hospitality!"
The black wolf bared its teeth slightly, watching him.
"There is no need for such words. This is your trial. Next…"
The black wolf turned its head and nudged forward with its snout.
"Go lift that wolf's paw. If you can raise it one meter, you win."
The Wolf King glanced at it, then turned to look at the massive wolf it indicated—a creature lying in deep slumber. Russ shrugged, spat into his hands, and walked over.
The roaring fire in the hall burned brightly, but somehow, the temperature began to drop.
Summer was ending.
Through his drunken haze, the Wolf King realized he needed to finish this quickly.
He stepped before the giant wolf, reached beneath its paw—and strained with all his strength!
Leman Russ clearly heard his own spine crack.
By the Allfather—that paw was heavier than two Titans combined!
Russ tried again and again. Without question, he failed.
He took a deep breath. As the hall grew colder, his mind began to clear. With resignation, he walked back to face the black wolf.
The once-crowded, noisy hall was now nearly empty of underworld beings.
"I lost," the Wolf King said bluntly, extending his hand. The black wolf carved a third mark into it.
"Now, only the final trial remains—but I want to know. What were they, really?"
The black wolf stared at him.
"Death, the sea, and the great serpent."
"…Right," Russ muttered, "So I've been trying to drink the ocean dry this whole time."
"You should learn to respect them," the black wolf said casually.
At some point, the cold wind from the world of men had begun to blow into the underworld, biting against Leman Russ's skin.
By all logic, the underworld should never be cold. Fenris would not allow it.
"You are fortunate," the black wolf said, "Before you learn that respect, you have been granted one final chance."
"Now, your last trial is—who am I?"
The black wolf's wintery gaze was utterly still—clear, rational. In its deep blue eyes, it reflected Leman Russ's disheveled figure.
Russ broke into a wide grin, baring his fangs.
"You are me," Leman Russ growled low in his throat, "I am the king above, and you are the lord below. You are me—you are—"
A string of strange syllables spilled from Leman Russ's mouth. They were not merely Fenrisian words, not simply "Leman Russ"—
But something far older.
A true name.
As Leman Russ shouted out that name, the ground began to collapse.
He saw the black wolf rise to its feet—its fur fading away, transforming into a neat uniform. He saw that face—his own—but disciplined, clean, without the wild, unkempt beard. He looked like a true soldier—
It was another Leman Russ. A gift from Fenris to its firstborn. A revelation from another thread of fate.
The Wolf King blinked. He couldn't stop himself from falling. Perhaps next, he would speak with that other self—the one who had grown up on Terra—
But…
Summer had already ended.
Winter roared as it shattered. Russ fell, and the collapsing stone buried him beneath it.
. . .
Clatter. Clatter.
The sound of falling rubble echoed. A hand reached out from the pile of stones.
"Cough—cough—cough!"
The Wolf King struggled free from the debris, swaying as he stood, blood running down his forehead.
Confused, he looked around. It seemed he had arrived in some kind of alien structure. The dim, oppressive corridor bore no resemblance to the underworld hall from before.
If anything… it looked more like something Aeldari.
Was there such a place beneath Fenris?
Russ looked up at the hole he had fallen through. He would have to find another way back.
He twitched his nose, trying to call out to the underworld creatures—but his instincts told him that Fenris's gaze did not reach this place.
Russ made a face of disgust. The Aeldari were filth even Fenris would avoid.
. . . .
Magnus began walking down the corridor. He heard the sound of birds hopping across the stone floor.
He continued forward.
. . . .
In another pile of rubble, the Wolf King found the spear—Dionysian Spear.
It lay there quietly. Leman Russ picked it up in surprise. It seemed that Fenris had intended to give it to him—but for some reason, the process had been interrupted.
Gripping the spear, the Wolf King continued onward.
At last, at the end of the corridor, he saw a door—a massive one, its vaulted height disappearing into darkness.
And beneath it, sitting peacefully, calmly, stroking the small birds around him… was Horus Lupercal.
"Horus?!"
Russ cried out in shock.
Horus looked at him calmly and raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence.
"No need to be surprised, my brother. I am dreaming—I will be gone soon." Horus spoke steadily. Blood-tears streamed from his eyes.
Now Leman Russ was completely confused.
Cautiously, the Wolf King walked over and sat beside him. The little birds chirped and played around the Warmaster.
Russ licked his cracked lips carefully. He could smell a heavy scent of blood.
"You're injured?" he asked tentatively.
Horus looked at him. Drops of blood fell from his eyes.
Horus smiled and shook his head.
"The Angel did it. But I do not resent him."
His words sent a chill down Leman Russ's spine.
—What the hell is going on?
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
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