Enjoyed a brief but earnest massage from Lelith.

With a flicker of thought, Kei opened a palm-sized magical portal, reached inside, and tossed the Torture-class Raider, along with the Drukhari on it, into the atmosphere of Terra.

The original Torture-class Raider, excluding its stealth tech, was outdated in most aspects compared to the cutting-edge technology in the Black Library. On top of that, its design was frankly ugly.

His dimensional overclocking computer already had a perfect grasp over the magical systems of the Marvel Universe.

After fully integrating both Craftworld Eldar and Drukhari technologies, he had begun crafting a brand-new fleet of battleships using super-alloys like Vibranium, magical metals like Uru, branches from the World Tree, and the wraithbone.

Naturally, the Torture-class Raider was now obsolete.

"You want to ascend to a full Wraithbone body?" Kei asked, addressing Lelith beside him.

The full Wraithbone body was a classic high-investment, low-return upgrade, consuming massive energy but offering only moderate power. He could help her ascend directly, but why exert himself if he could get it for free?

"Afraid I'll become stronger than you?" Lelith's eyes glinted as she asked, probing.

"In your dreams."

"Tch~ So how do I ascend?"

"Contact Cegorach later. Don't you guys plan to move against Yvraine?"

"...I think he's more interested in targeting you now." Lelith's expression darkened. She thought he was about to offer her a favor, but no, he was suggesting she go freeload off someone else.

Is this how a dimensional entity behaves?

Following this guy around... she'd probably be starving half the time!

"Then let him come after me. I'll modify the Wraithbone body for you when the time comes, at the very least, it'll give you the power to go toe-to-toe with Yvraine." Kei chuckled softly, unconcerned.

"...Acceptable!" Lelith stared into Kei's eyes. Seeing no hint of evasion or deceit, she decisively agreed.

No matter what this freak was planning, gaining power was never a bad thing!

Seeing Kei wave her off, signaling she could leave, Lelith rolled off the couch. As she contacted the Torture-class Raider to open a webway portal and take her back, she walked barefoot to the room's balcony.

Space rippled with distortion.

Lelith hesitated slightly, then asked again.

"You don't need others to worship you, but what about the devotion of Drukhari?"

"Terra has its own gods."

Recalling the future he'd just glimpsed, where Lelith was enjoying her life in a certain region and converting a batch of Drukhari, Kei dismissed the idea of making her lie low.

"Those primitive mon-keigh?" Lelith curled her lips in disdain. But as she thought of Inquisitor Greyfax, her smile froze for a moment. From the side of the balcony, she caught the gaze of Jain Zar and Kyganil. Tossing her hair provocatively, she gave them a defiant look before stepping into the webway portal.

"Phoenix Lord." Kyganil frowned, his refined features filled with concern.

Drukhari were the sworn enemies of Craftworld Eldar.

If Lelith ascended to a full Wraithbone body and gained power comparable to Yvraine, then spread her hedonistic ideology across Terra, that would not be good news for the Craftworld Eldar.

"The Dark Kin can never threaten the survival path of the Craftworlds."

Jain Zar smiled coldly.

With the Black Library continuously analyzing the Kamar-Taj magic system, Yvraine's power would soon undergo a transformation. Even if Lelith grew stronger, she still wouldn't be a match for Yvraine in the end.

Besides... A thoughtful light flickered in Jain Zar's eyes as she glanced toward Kei's bedroom.

As Yvraine's most trusted Phoenix Lord, she often had to consider the future of her people.

Drukhari were defined as fallen corruption by the Craftworld Eldar.

But in a way, it was because of the existence of Drukhari that the Craftworld concept of survival and renewal had gained recognition in the known galaxy.

She couldn't quite figure out what Kei's ultimate goal was. But from the questions he asked earlier about her and Lelith, it was clear he was testing them. And once he got his answer, he made his decision. Most importantly, some matters were beyond her and Kyganil's authority.

Once they reported this situation to Yvraine...

Jain Zar leaned sideways against the chair back, letting out a faint sigh. Sometimes she truly wished she could be like Kyganil, just a pure warrior.

But most of the time, she simply couldn't.

---

Onboard the Torture-class Raider, Lelith's face was full of fury.

She didn't even bother putting on her shoes. Holding up her hand, she went around slapping the Drukhari controlling the Raider on the head one by one.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

"Do you all have slave-gruel for brains?! Didn't understand the situation at all, just rushed in headfirst?! Damn it! Do you know how much I've suffered?! Do you?! Cower? You think ducking your head means you won't get hit?! Damn it! I told you all to use your brains more, and now look, you're all running on bloodlust instead of actual thinking! Is that little weapon between your legs running your whole body?!"

Seeing one Drukhari ducking his head to avoid her slaps, Lelith kicked him furiously. She, the dignified Drukhari Queen, had to swallow her pride and endure suffering for the sake of these useless fools!

How could it be easy for her?

"My Lady, we just wanted to rescue you..."

"Rescue?! If I relied on you, I'd have been fed to the Haemonculi a hundred times over already! Get lost! Go do something useful!" Lelith glared fiercely at the Drukhari who had spoken. Though her tone was harsh, at least she didn't continue beating them.

It wasn't like she didn't understand what these idiots were thinking. Precisely because she understood, she never truly turned against Kei despite the humiliation and pain, never burned that bridge.

"Contact Cegorach!" She slammed her palm on the console in front of her and ordered one of the Drukhari nearby.

She knew Kei was powerful.

He came from a higher-dimensional realm, someone virtually invincible to her! But she was not willing to give up. She wanted to try again!

What if?

Right?

If she could turn things around and get on top, she'd make that smug bastard give her massages and wash her feet 24 hours a day.

Drazhar, did you escape?

Almost the moment the Torture-class Raider's systems linked to the Webway network, Cegorach picked up the call.

"Cegorach, I want the full Wraithbone body tech, the upgrade resources, and your Warp Aperture."

Lelith rested one hand on the control panel and spoke coldly to Cegorach.

"What… transpired with you?"

"There's no point in talking about it. I only know he came from the dimensional realm you've been researching. The data and capabilities I could analyze, I've already sent them to you."

"...Currently, we lack Warp micro-particles. I can't build a Warp Aperture."

"Then figure out a way, damn it!"

"Drazhar, the Phantom Form, it's even stronger than the Warp Aperture."

"Screw you! Don't think for a second you'll turn me into that ghostly, half-real form of yours! You want to use the Phantom Form to test him out? Then do it your damn self! Three days, you've got three days! I want both the full Wraithbone body and the Warp Aperture!"

Lelith barked fiercely. When Cegorach remained silent, she took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to erupt in profanity, and spoke again.

"That entity promised me that after I ascend to a full Wraithbone body, he'd help me improve again, to gain power equal to Yvraine. Whatever the final outcome is, I'll give you all his data and the data after the upgrade!"

"Why would a higher-dimensional being from the Warp..."

"Shut the hell up! Are you seriously still going?! I was slammed into reality a thousand times! You satisfied now?! I already told you, I sent all the data! Or do you want me to describe how it felt too?!"

"In the meantime, you should consider the Phantom Form—"

"Shut up. Contact me only when you have results."

Before Cegorach could say anything else, Lelith cut the connection.

She closed her eyes and stood in silence for a long time.

Then she turned, slowly walked to her command throne, and sat down.

Millennia could change many things.

Back in the ancient Eldar Empire, Cegorach was like an enigmatic trickster, he wouldn't even reveal his true intentions. But in the end, he still surrendered himself to the Immaterium he'd been studying all along.

The Warp. The Phantom Form.

Those things had already overridden Cegorach's original nature.

No, maybe it wasn't overriding.

The Cegorach who had become a Phantom Form was a creation of the Warp, through and through. He had lost those ancient traits.

Those so-called feelings for the old ways were nothing more than calculated manipulations.

No matter how well he played his games...

A Drukhari's instincts could sense the emptiness and artifice behind it all.

"That's why I think you're a hypocrite and a manipulative bastard, Cegorach..."

Lelith took a deep breath and pushed the data-consumed Laughing God out of her mind.

Remembering what Kei had said before, she began reconnecting with the members of the Steel Legion once more.