snapping； barbed claws and daemonic mouths。 Another tentacle； black and smooth； emerged from
within the ex…priest of the Machine…God’s body； squirming from a bloody rent that opened up on his
metal chest； reaching towards a control column that rose beside the magos。
A blinking eye appeared at the tip of the tentacle； and it peered down at the controls。 Then the
eye melted back into the fleshy tip of the tentacle； and it keyed in a sequence of buttons on the
console。
A red light rose from the centre of the pentangle； and a similar light stabbed down from the
ceiling above； where a similar daemonic symbol had been daubed。 The two beams of light met；
passing through angular holes within the sides of the dark metal rings； and Darioq…Grendh’al
released his grip on them。
Marduk half…expected the metal rings to fall to the ground； but they hung in place； perfectly
motionless as the magos stepped away。 A pair of black…robed chirumeks； their wasted flesh
augmented with mechanics； stepped forwards and presented the magos with a featureless stasis box。
Mechadendrites stabbed a series of buttons； and the lid of the stasis box slid aside； smoke rising
from within。
Then； with delicate care； the magos brought forth a perfect； silver sphere from within the box。
The chirumeks scurried back into the darkness； and Darioq…Grendh’al moved back towards the rings
hanging suspended in mid…air。
The magos extended his mechadendrites； reaching towards the joined beams of red light； and
placed the silver sphere in their centre； where they had joined。 It hung there； caught between the two
beams； and Darioq…Grendh’al retreated once more。
The dark metal rings began to rotate； three rings moving in separate arcs that rolled around one
another； moving smoothly and with increasing speed。 The sound of air being displaced by the
spinning rings got louder as they rotated faster； and soon the sound became a solid hum。 The red
light of the twin beams became diffuse； filling the sphere created by the rotating rings as they spun
ever faster。
Marduk’s eyes were locked on the silver sphere； the Nexus Arrangement that hung motionless in
the centre of the rapidly spinning rings。 At first nothing happened； but then glowing green； xenos
hieroglyphs appeared across the perfect silver sphere。 They glowed with intense light； and the
sphere appeared to melt； its faultless； seamless exterior becoming seven rings that began to rotate
around a centre of glowing green light。
The rings began to turn； mirroring the movements of the larger rings constructed by Darioq…
Grendh’al； though their movements were slower。
Turning a dial； the red beams of light began to intensify and thicken； turning the green light at
the centre of the xenos sphere a daemonic； bruised purple colour。
“It works；” said Marduk； with a grin。 It was his to command。
Green lightning flickered across the tip of the black pyramid as the prison of the ancient being
known as the Undying One was shattered。 A billowing cloud of dust rose from the ground as the
immense pyramid began to rise； green hieroglyphs glowing into life upon its sides。 Larger than any
battleship； it lifted towards the dark sky； powered by engines far beyond human comprehension； for
it was created by beings that had been in existence before the stars had been formed。
The majority of its bulk had been hidden beneath the rock； and it shattered the earth as it rose to
the heavens； casting a shadow over the continent below。 It rose higher into the air； green lightning
still crackling across its sheer sides。
Directed by the Undying One’s immortal will； it turned towards the angry red blemish that
scarred the night sky； towards the Eye of Terror； towards the one that had released it from its
imprisonment。
（The End）
。 … 。………【gzbysh】整理