Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

Nareth took a deep breath and plunged into the Sea of Storm, swimming straight toward the giant sea monster.

The Primarch noticed that this Kraken was even larger than the Toothed Kraken he had once slain in the Stmphony of the Sea.

He also keenly sensed that despite its similar appearance, the Kraken was completely different from the Toothed Kraken, it was a far more perfect creature.

Its body was hidden within a bony sheath, making it hard to hit, a perfect defensive mechanism evolved to match its size and species.

In the dark blue seawater, the Kraken extended its elegant tentacles, each inch of its skin rippling with flawless curves. At the ends were massive, hard chitinous hooks, like enormous claws.

Nareth remembered that in the 41st millennium, after the Imperium became aware of the Tyranid threat, the magos biologis of the Mechanicus conducted a series of studies on the Tyranids and similar creatures.

They discovered that the tentacles of the Fenrisian Kraken had similar chitinous hooks and possessed independent intelligence.

Even if the host creature was slain, its tentacles would continue to attack anything that came near.

Experiments showed that they responded to brainwaves, an innate predatory weapon system similar to those used by the Tyranids.

From what Nareth observed now, the magos biologis' conclusions were correct.

This Kraken must have been an advance scout dispatched by the Hive Mind, but for some reason, it had lost contact and become a rogue "wild spawn." However, the Tyranid evolutionary genes hidden within had still driven it to evolve in much the same way over a long period of time.

Other creatures considered Tyranid offshoots by the Mechanicus' magos biologis included the psyker-eating Psychneuein and the Catachan Devil…

'Much tougher than the Toothed Kraken! But the spiritual essence it carries is far richer!'

Nareth's eyes gleamed. The chitinous hooks on the Kraken's tentacles, its blade-like fangs, massive eyes, and even the bones visible through its flesh under spirit-sight all pulsed with intense spiritual power.

The Primarch activated the runes on his power fists and lunged at the treasure before him.

At the same time, the Kraken sensed Nareth's presence. Its massive body trembled instinctively.

It perceived the small black figure as a tasty morsel.

By devouring him, it would evolve again.

The Kraken raised all its tentacles, greedily reaching to entangle the small black humanoid.

Nareth activated the runes, and the power fists blazed with radiant golden light.

He darted through the water like a fish, as though the immense pressure of the ten-thousand-meter-deep sea didn't exist, weaving between the many limbs.

In an instant, Nareth reached the Kraken's head, which was protected inside its bony sheath.

The Kraken reacted quickly, swinging its sword-like fangs down at him.

The fangs slashed at the little figure in black armor, but the Kraken felt no satisfaction from the attack.

Its fangs had struck nothing. The black figure hadn't bled.

Before it could react further, the power fist slammed into its colossal, plaza-sized jaw.

The golden disintegration field crackled, but this time, it didn't destroy or rip apart the Kraken's body as it usually would.

Nareth's eyes narrowed as he saw the iron-like scales densely covering the Kraken's bone sheath and flesh.

Iron-Scaled Kraken.

Nareth knew this was the strongest, most dangerous type among its kind. Only they could grow to lengths exceeding several kilometers.

The one he was hunting now was nearly 30 kilometers long.

Killing an Iron-Scaled Kraken in open ocean was no easy feat, even for a Primarch.

Leman Russ had once dragged an Iron-Scaled Kraken out of the sea and onto land, making it easier to kill.

'Though the power fists' main strength lies in the mystical abilities of the "Hand of Order," they are also formidable weapons. If even they can't break through its hide... this Kraken's skin could be perfect for making a cloak.'

Nareth made up his mind to follow Leman Russ's strategy: knock it out and bring it back intact.

That way, he could prove his Kraken was larger, and preserve its treasures.

With this thought, he suddenly reached out and grabbed a handful of tiny plankton.

Fenrisian Krill.

These krill, similar to ancient Terra's, were widespread throughout the seas of Fenris, forming the base of the Storm Sea's food chain.

"Here's a snack for you!"

The "Briber" class elixir had just recovered to one-fifth potency. Nareth poured it into the krill and tossed them into the Kraken's mouth.

Then, he launched a flurry of hammering blows onto the Kraken's jaw.

With lightning speed, he pummeled the Kraken, whose defenses had been weakened by the Briber: Weaken.

"ROARRRR!"

The Iron-Scaled Kraken let out a furious wail as a tidal wave surged across the Storm Sea.

On the surface, a Fenrisian tribal boat searching for a new home was capsized by the massive wave.

Crafted from the bones of Fenris sea serpents, the dragonship flipped over in an instant. Tribe members plunged into the sea.

Beneath the waves, Nareth became a blur of motion as he launched a savage onslaught around the Kraken.

He moved so fast, like a black hurricane, that even the surrounding seawater was pushed aside.

The Kraken had never faced such a ferocious assault. Its head grew heavy, and the black figure before its eyes became a tangled blur.

Its whipping tentacles could no longer accurately strike their target.

Dizzy and overwhelmed, the Kraken began to float toward the surface under the force of Nareth's rapid-fire punches.

But Nareth's attacks weren't random. His superhuman mind performed precise calculations, plotting a specific attack trajectory.

Each punch forced the Kraken further upward.

And it wasn't just the punches, ocean currents swelled around them, contributing buoyancy and upward momentum, all focused through the golden strikes.

Like a black hurricane, Nareth smashed the Kraken out of the sea.

Its massive head crashed onto the surface, sending a towering wave skyward.

After taking a storm of punishing blows, the Iron-Scaled Kraken lost consciousness.

Nareth deactivated the disintegration field on his fists and swam beneath the Kraken's head.

Raising both arms, he heaved up its massive lower jaw, using his arms and shoulders to carry the enormous head and began swimming forward.

To his surprise, dragging the Kraken was easier than expected, buoyancy helped reduce the burden.

Realizing this, he aligned with the ocean currents of the Storm Sea and swam toward the gunboat, supporting the Kraken as he went.

Along the way, the dragonships he passed stared in disbelief.

Someone, actually dragging such a colossal beast through the water?

Stunned, Fenrisian warriors knelt aboard their ships, chanting the names of gods like Morkai in reverence.

On the gunship, Alpharius watched as Nareth returned dragging a sea monster even larger than the Gloriana–class battleship Throne of Shadow's Sovereignity.

His eyes went wide in shock.

"Nareth... actually hunted down such a colossal sea monster!"

"Could Leman Russ have hunted one even bigger?"

"He couldn't. Nareth hunted the bigger one and did it faster."

...

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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