The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

"Odo! Are you trying to start a civil war?!" Outside the Blood Pine Forest, two Imperial armies stood in opposition. The face of the Great Alchemist Gelt was hidden behind a metal mask, his expression unreadable, but his voice carried a hint of anger: "Can you bear the responsibility for this?"

"I'm not starting a civil war," replied the Supreme Patriarch of the Bright College, Odo, with equal severity. "I've told you, Gelt, no passage is allowed here. If you force your way through, I'm sorry."

The two Imperial armies were now at a standoff, ammunition loaded and cannons ready. Gelt's forces, though weary from their expedition, were high in morale after a series of victories. In contrast, Odo's troops, though well-rested, well-equipped, and blessed by the Church of Justice, seemed somewhat uncertain, reluctant to turn their weapons on fellow countrymen, which affected their morale.

Thus, the sides appeared evenly matched.

"Under whose orders?" Gelt demanded, gripping his golden staff tightly. "I can't believe His Majesty the Emperor would give such an order! We are all human compatriots, even troops of Reikland. You're making us kill each other!"

"I've said it before, I'm not starting a civil war," Odo repeated. "I'm merely stationed here to prevent anything, human or otherwise, from passing! Gelt, you and your men cannot pass here. If you wish to return to Altdorf, you may go around through the Drakwald Forest or detour through Stirland and Averland!"

Gelt's metal-gloved hand tightened around his golden staff. Odo's plan was undeniably ruthless: if Gelt detoured, he would miss the Imperial Royal Archmage competition; if he didn't, a conflict would ensue, and Odo could blame Gelt for initiating hostilities, branding him a traitor.

The question remained: how did Odo know he would take this route? How had a Bright Wizard amassed such an army?

By now, the two armies were on the brink of battle, with Odo's troops having secured advantageous terrain. Gelt knew that a direct attack, even with the help of the Lore of Metal, would be a hard-fought battle.

Thinking quickly, Gelt demanded again, "Who ordered you, Odo? Who gave you the authority to stop an Imperial army, to stop the Great Alchemist of the Empire?!"

"Yes! Who has misled our Emperor?!"

"We fought on the front lines, bled and died for the Empire, and now we can't even go home. Why?!"

"What are you people up to?!"

Gelt's troops shouted angrily. Having fought and sacrificed for the Empire, they were now denied even the basic right to return home, their anger turning from sorrow to outright rage.

Odo's soldiers, feeling guilty, began to waver. Seeing this, Odo had to speak louder: "This is the decree of Grand Theogonist Vekmar. Recently, goblin and beastman activities in the Blood Pine Forest have increased. Given the Empire's current situation, this road is temporarily closed!"

"The Grand Theogonist is supposed to deal with greenskins and Chaos, not us!" shouted an Imperial captain, echoing the sentiments of the soldiers. "Why are you stopping us?!"

"Because you've been exposed to Chaos!" Odo retorted, already prepared for this accusation. "I'm not questioning your loyalty, but the dangers of Chaos are known to all. Your campaign in Kislev against Chaos was heroic, but who can guarantee none of you have been corrupted? I can't let you pass, at least not now!"

So that's it. The Bright College had the backing of Vekmar.

Gelt, despite his wisdom, felt powerless against Odo, supported by the entire Church of Justice. He realized he had no choice but to fight.

Odo was a strong competitor and a capable mage. Gelt knew that his best chance lay in launching a preemptive strike, drawing Odo's forces out of their defensive positions and onto the attack. Gelt also knew he had to be cautious, for who knew what schemes Odo might have hidden beneath his white robes.

"Soldiers, men of the Empire!" Gelt finally spoke, raising his voice to his troops. "You all know why Odo is stopping us!"

"Yes! Yes!" Gelt's army roared in response, raising their weapons. "We know!"

"If Odo thinks he can take what's rightfully mine, he's sorely mistaken!"

"I, Balthasar Gelt, am the rightful candidate for Imperial Royal Archmage! I am the one who should wield the Staff of Volans!"

"The Lore of Metal will sweep away all who dare to oppose me! This is the era of the Gold College, and I will eliminate any obstacle! Anyone who stands in my way will watch as their armor turns to lead, their weapons to iron, and their bones to gold!"

"Fight, men! Bring me victory! The Empire needs my strength; I am the strongest, not some foolish fire wizard or dull white mage!"

"For the Emperor, for Holy Terra!" Gelt raised his staff high, a golden aura enveloping his army, strengthening their armor.

"Ahhhh!" Gelt's troops shouted, arranging themselves for battle.

Gelt positioned three handgunners regiments in the front, followed by halberdiers, and then a regiment of crossbowmen. Thousands of spearmen and sword-and-shield troops formed the flanks, with two regiments of Imperial knights and two regiments of greatswords in reserve. A large number of cannons and more advanced war machines were ready, including two regiments of pioneers equipped with grenade launchers, one of Gelt's strategic alliances with Nuln.

As the first salvo from the Hellstorm Rocket Batteries soared into the sky, a civil war erupted.

The artillery duel began, with Odo's troops firing first. He had managed to procure two artillery regiments from the Imperial army and the church, twenty cannons firing simultaneously, creating a spectacular scene. Gelt quickly ordered his forces to spread out and avoid the bombardment.

But that was not enough.

Gelt's army was equipped with the Empire's most advanced Hellstorm Rocket Batteries and Hellblaster Volley Guns, over thirty in total, not to mention a large number of cannons. As they opened fire, a barrage of rockets rained down on Odo's forces, explosions ripping through their ranks. Compared to Odo's heavy cannons, Gelt's firepower was overwhelming. Gelt's expertise in gunpowder and engineering was beyond Odo's comprehension, and he had brought the latest war machines from the Nuln and Altdorf armories.

Odo's artillery was quickly outmatched, and Gelt's magic added to the devastation.

"Mere flames cannot compare to molten metal!" Gelt chanted, hundreds of streams of molten metal raining down, devastating Odo's artillery positions. When Odo tried to cast Banishment, he found it impossible, the distance too great.

"Damn it, order the advance!" Odo had no choice but to order his troops to charge: "Advance! For the Empire, for Charlemagne, for Karl Franz!"

"In the name of the Emperor, fire!" Gelt commanded, and his four handgunners regiments, protected by halberdiers, unleashed a thunderous volley. Hundreds of musket balls poured forth, cutting down scores of Odo's soldiers, forcing the survivors to advance under a hail of bullets.

"Fire! Fire!" Gelt's pioneers, armed with grenade launchers, fired into the advancing enemy, then quickly retreated.

"Activate!" The Hellblaster Volley Guns roared to life, spitting streams of fire that seemed to shake the very air. The relentless gunfire tore through Odo's troops, even those who managed to reach Gelt's lines could not break through, their morale crumbling under the intense bombardment.

Both leaders felt the weight of the conflict. Civil war was not what they had wanted. The sight of Imperial soldiers slaughtering each other, rather than fighting greenskins, beastmen, or Chaos, was disheartening. Gelt's hand trembled slightly on Swiftwing's reins, while Odo's face darkened as he watched his men fall under the relentless fire.

Yet, neither could afford to retreat.

Odo's forces finally engaged Gelt's troops in melee combat. The handgunners ceased fire to avoid hitting their own, and under the battle priests' roars, Odo's soldiers, having survived the brutal gunfire, clashed with the enemy.

"The Light of Ptra!"

"The Light of Battle!"

Odo cast two powerful Light spells, boosting his soldiers' defenses and morale. The troops surged forward, pushing Gelt's forces back.

"Transmutation of Lead!" Gelt countered, surrounding himself with golden Azyr wind. His staff lifted high, enveloping the frontline halberdiers and spearmen in a protective golden sheen. The enhanced armor held the line, preventing a complete rout.

Though Odo had achieved some early successes, he began to worry. Gelt's troops, bolstered by his magic, proved nearly impervious to standard weapons.

Odo ordered his cavalry to charge, mistakenly believing Gelt's lack of visible cavalry was due to a shortage. As Odo's infantry engaged Gelt's, his cavalry charged from the flanks.

Gelt's army, exhausted from the expedition, began to falter under the cavalry assault, giving Odo time to reorganize his shattered formation and bolster morale.

It seemed the tide was turning in Odo's favor. He ordered his troops to advance, with cavalry support on the flanks, and signaled into the depths of the Blood Pine Forest.

A

 brilliant light orb shot from Odo's staff, exploding in the sky!

In the forest's depths, a mercenary force appeared, aiming to attack Gelt's forces from the side!

"Of course!" Gelt remained calm, having anticipated Odo's backup plan. His golden staff was raised high, a brighter golden light illuminating the sky.

"Transmutation of Lead!"

Thousands of Odo's soldiers and cavalry were horrified to find their weapons had turned to lead and dirt, becoming useless burdens. The frontline quickly collapsed.

Gelt then signaled his artillery to fire a red flare.

As the flare exploded above, a new army emerged on Odo's right flank.

"By order of His Majesty!" The Sanctuary powerhouse, Duke Ivan Ferdinand, led the Gryphon Knights into battle from the forest!

With four hundred Gryphon Knights as the core, flanked by hundreds of knights and a few mounted on griffons, they charged out of the forest like an unstoppable wave!

With a shout full of disdain, Ivan's forces smashed into Odo's rear, tearing his army apart!

"What?" Odo pulled his reins, disbelief in his eyes.

When had Gelt allied with Duke Ivan of the Gryphon Knights?

There was no time to think.

"The Supreme Patriarch of the Bright College, Odo, surrender immediately!"

"Or face death!"

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