Warhammer 40k : Space Marine Kayvaan

 "This underground ancient city was once a sprawling, oval-shaped metropolis. Based on preliminary estimates, it could have housed millions at its peak. Its layered, honeycomb design was a hallmark of colonial urban planning—efficient against floods, predators, and natural disasters. A true marvel. Praise the Omnissiah; the design is almost divine." He paused, a somber expression crossing his face. "But something catastrophic happened here. We don't know the exact cause, but whatever it was, it led to the city's destruction and eventual submergence underground. The entrance we used is actually the city's topmost layer. If the design adheres to standard patterns, the city should span 23 levels. The 12th level would likely be the core, surrounded by living quarters and agricultural zones on the upper levels. The lower levels were probably industrial and military zones. Of course, this is speculation—but what's certain is that the city is vast. Finding one person here will be like finding a needle in a haystack."

Elizabeth crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "We have only three days—61 Terran hours, to be precise—to locate and eliminate Rosina. We've already wasted half a day. The problem isn't just finding her; it's the sheer size of this city. A complete search is impossible in the time we have. If we're to succeed, we'll need more than luck." She smirked, adding with faint sarcasm, "Perhaps the Omnissiah could bless us."

"Ms. Inquisitor, mind your words," Gustav interjected, his tone sharp. "The Omnissiah is the god of knowledge, the spirit within machines. He is not some god of chance."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Fine, Gustav, but tell me this—what are the odds of digging up an intact STC? Higher than winning the lottery? Without the Omnissiah's 'blessing,' would you even manage to unearth a can of soda?"

Gustav faltered, his indignation fading into confusion. "Uh…" Before he could form a reply, Syladria, one of the Eldar Rangers, cut in. "Leave the problem to us. Human psychic abilities are rudimentary at best, but for us, such challenges are trivial—assuming there are no unusual barriers. Rosina may be clever, but she cannot escape the gaze of Alaitoc's Rangers. Nothing evades the hawk-eyes of our craftworld. We have no need for your Omnissiah. We require only the blessing of Khaine, the God of War, to crush our foes."

The room fell silent for a moment. None of the humans bothered to comment on the Eldar's dead gods. Kayvaan, wearing scout equipment, broke the silence. "Understood. Everyone, prepare yourselves. We move out now."

A task force comprising Eldar Rangers, a squad of Battle Sisters, Inquisitor Elizabeth, and Kayvaan set out for the ancient city. Gustav and his combat servitors remained behind, tasked with fortifying their position. For Gustav, the battle had only begun. He needed to construct a robust defense system for the reinforcements expected to arrive. More defensive turrets, deeper trenches, stronger fortifications, and heavier firepower were required.

Kayvaan's defensive lines, in Gustav's opinion, were inadequate. The soldiers available were mere mortals, and if Chaos Serapheas breached the lines, morale would collapse. A flexible defense was essential—fortifications that could absorb pressure without breaking. Gustav muttered a prayer to the Omnissiah as he began sketching his plans.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth's team ventured deeper into the ancient city. As she predicted, their connection to the outside world was severed by an unknown energy. Psychic communication and electronic signals alike were blocked, though the interference seemed localized—inside the city, their instruments worked fine. The Eldar Rangers noted the anomaly but set aside their curiosity. There was no time for analysis. Their priority was finding Rosina.

Rosina was no novice. She knew how to conceal her psychic energy and movements. However, the Chaos Altar she was using emitted a faint but detectable signature. Skilled psychics like the Eldar Rangers could pick up on it, even amidst the taint of Chaos saturating the city.

Elizabeth found it impossible to distinguish the altar's presence amidst the overwhelming background noise of corruption. For her, it was like trying to identify a specific scent in a swamp. The Eldar, however, were confident. "The path ahead is clear," Kayvaan reported, returning from a quick reconnaissance. "No enemies detected for now. Syladria, can you pinpoint Rosina's location?"

Syladria hesitated, his expression troubled. "There's… a problem."

Kayvaan narrowed his eyes. "What kind of problem?"

"There's definitely some kind of psychic interference in the city," Syladria said, his tone laced with frustration. "It's like a dense mist clouding the mind, making it impossible to see clearly. It's strange—I can't pinpoint the source of this disturbance."

"Let me stop you right there," Kayvaan interrupted, his voice sharp. "Can you locate the Chaos Altar or not?"

"I can," Syladria replied calmly. "The interference doesn't block everything. I can sense the Chaos Altar."

Kayvaan raised an eyebrow. "Then there's no issue. You can see through the fog."

"Not exactly." Syladria's expression darkened. "We found the altar's location… but there isn't just one."

Kayvaan froze. "What do you mean? How many are there?"

"Six altars," Syladria replied flatly. "That's what I've detected."

"Six altars?" Kayvaan echoed, his tone incredulous. "Is this some kind of ritual formation, or do we need to destroy all six?"

"No," Syladria said, shaking his head. "There shouldn't be six altars. Rosina is working alone—she can only perform her ritual in one location. The other five are decoys, meant to mislead us. If it weren't for this psychic interference, I might be able to identify the real one. But right now, I can't."

Kayvaan sighed, his frustration mounting. "So, we have six targets, and only one is real. Not ideal, but at least we have something to work with." He turned toward Elizabeth, raising his voice. "Inquisitor, we've got a situation. Care to lend us your wisdom?"

Elizabeth didn't budge. "Can't you handle it yourselves?"

Kayvaan's patience thinned. "We could, but it'd be faster with your input."

Reluctantly, Elizabeth joined them, and the three leaders examined the map Syladria had marked. The six altars were spread across the vast, labyrinthine city. The conclusion was obvious. "We don't have the time to check each altar one by one," Kayvaan said. "If we're lucky, we'll hit the right one first. If not…" He trailed off, but the implication was clear. "We'll have to split up. It's risky, but it's the best option to cover ground quickly."

Elizabeth and Syladria exchanged looks and nodded. Neither the Eldar nor the humans trusted each other, but splitting up was a relief for both sides. At least this way, they didn't have to constantly watch their backs against their supposed allies.

Kayvaan's group descended into the depths of the city, heading toward the fifth floor where their first target was located. The journey could only be described as endless. A spiral staircase stretched downward into darkness, its steps worn smooth by time. Peering over the edge of the railing revealed nothing but an abyss, the void below seemingly without end.

Occasionally, they crossed long corridors or traversed iron bridges suspended over bottomless pits. The air grew heavier the deeper they went. The oppressive weight of the ancient hive city bore down on them, its sheer scale humbling. The city's architecture was a testament to the wonders of high technology, far beyond the comprehension of most humans. It wasn't hard to see why the Adeptus Mechanicus revered the Omnissiah. For those without scientific knowledge, such structures would seem like miracles.