40K x AOT: Warden of Sorrows

"Let's get ready to move!" The soldiers got on their horseback, Levi peeked over at Cloudius who didn't want to leave his armor at the fortress to ride a horse.

"Hey, don't fall behind."

"You just lead the way properly."

"Sure, just handle any titans that we may come by."

"They will be delt with even if they don't interfere." Cloudius responded.

"Alright everyone, move out!" The Special Operations Team left the fort in line with Cloudius in the back. Immediately getting outside the wall, they broke into a sprint and Cloudius stayed with the group as they did so.

His heavy armor sent strong vibrations through the ground with each step and the strong thudding sound genuinely made it seem like he was on a warpath straight into a battlefield.

"Two up ahead!" Hearing the callout, Cloudius took his halberd and launched it in the neck of one while using his power to send it flying over to decapitate the next.

He recalled the weapon back to his side and deactivated it, with its regular silver color coming back as the blue energy drained away.

"N-No way, magic is real!?" Zoe shouted with a huge smile adorning her face.

"Yes, sorcery exists. Although, even if you can weild it, would you be able to resist its terrors?" Cloudius answered.

"How does one aquire such a thing? It's like you're right from a fairytale!" She continued.

"You're born with it. However, I don't imagine anyone here being able to endure the whisper of demons that come with it. You'd all be sure to fall into corruption and if that were to happen, my blade would be the product of your greatest fear."

"Even now on this distant world, the voice of chaos whispers in my ear, but I am a Grey Knight and it's temptation is futile." He added.

"Okay, I have like 100 more questions now!"

"I will answer if I have the ability."

"No, that's enough talking. Zoe, focus on the path ahead or you'll be the bait in the next outing." Levi interjected, shutting the conversation down as he didn't want to hear Cloudius gloating any longer.

Although, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested in the existence of things like demon and magic.

'Just how much more advanced is the world he came from?'

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"We'll stop at the station up ahead to give the horses a break and feed. We're only 4 hours away, so we'll leave immediately after." Levi informed his team.

"Your steeds are quite strong. Very enduring creatures." Cloudius praised.

"Anything like them where you're from?" Levi inqured.

"Indeed we have horses in the empire. Although they're used by the human Krieg army."

Hearing this Levi's eyes squinted.

"You mean, there's regular humans even far out there? Hah, what the hell..." Faintly, Cloudius was able to hear some disbelief in his voice.

"Long ago, humans lived on a planet called earth. Eventually they came towards extinction and ventured out into the stars above. Tell me, how much of the world do you all truly know about?"

"Does it even matter? We have no way of exploring such places and we cant even take command of the planet we're on." Levi answered, his tone mellow.

"It seems the humans here are much alike to the humans of old, in the aspect of extinction. You all may very weel be going down the same path of history as the Emperor's ancestors. If Brother Argentus was here, I'm sure he'd be able to perform a divination of your future." Cloudius inquired.

Hange Zoe looked back with an unusually normal expression.

"If you don't mind, could you tell us a bit more about yourself?"

"While I can't give details of myself, I do have some tales of battle, if you all care to listen?"

Levi interrupted, "It'll have to wait for later. Purple smoke up ahead! Let's speed up!" Levi ordered.

Purple smoke meant an emergency and letting off one at this time could only mean a group of abnormals were on the move!

As they sped across the fields, they began to see the supply station swarming with over a dozen titans all around it. The troops their tried to defend against the titans, but if they were to go on the offensive it would be brutal.

"I'll go on ahead!" Cloudius informed as he began to glow with a silver hue! He burst forward, outpacing the fleet and releasing a war cry as he launched himself into the sky!

"TITAAANS!" They turned their heads towards the cry that could be heard for miles and with a swift swing of his blade, a head went flying!

The titans began to surround him, one swinging at him with its hand, but he jumped over it and upped his Bolter, blasting a whole through the titans neck!

He dug his gauntlets in the station walls and let off a multitude of rounds at the behemoths and they began to drop like flies!

With each fall of a titan, the troops of the station began to seep out from their defenses and fought along with Cloudius to kill the titans.

"Your wills stay intact! Excellent qualities of a soldier!" Cloudius complimented as he uppercut a titan, sending it stumbling to the ground!

Seeing this, moral skyrocketed and by the time Levi and his squid arrived, Cloudius was clawing out a huge chunk of the final titan's neck.

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"How many casualties?"

"Four casualties with twelve injured,three being severe."

"The walls of the station won't hold much longer. You all will have to come with us back to the walls until we can station you somewhere else. Damn it, we're losing ground by the day." Levi cursed.

"Sorry, but is that..." The soldier pointed at the huge hunk of armor and Levi shoo'd him away to pack up some supplies.

"I noticed on my travels that there are many settlements like these. Partially destroyed, but not beyond repair. It is to my understanding that you all have never reclaimed a position lost to titans." Cloudius concluded and being correct.

"Indeed, we have no way of defending while also repaiing a station. Our numbers dont allow for that." Levi answered.

"Once we arrive at your native land, I'd like to discuss a few strategies with you. A look at your infrastructure and mechanical advances would aslo help greatly in equipment design." Cloudius mentioned.

Levi eyed him, "Wasn't your mission only to kill titans? It seems like you're trying to mold the development of our world now."

"All worlds will soon come under the rule of the Emperor. It would be better if one still housing the humans of old were useful to him." He answered with a distant look.

Would it please the Emperor, knowing he helped with the development of a species so similar to his own creator's?

He didn't know, but regardless they shoild be useful if they are given the honor of coming into the Empire.

"So it's not all knighly in name?" Levi replied.

"Me and my brethren have committed many deeds that would be outside of a knights vow." Levi hummed hearing this and after some moments of rest, he ordered for everyone to saddle up.

Once again they rode across the land, on route back to their walls of safety.

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Approaching the walls, Levi signaled to the men stationed at the top of the walls and they called for the gates to be opened to allow them entry.

Upon entering the walls, there was a mass amount of citizens making way for them. Even at this time of night, many roamed around and as the news of the SOT coming home began to spread, many came out of their homes to cheer for them.

Lanters and other lights lit up the streets with cheers!

*THOOM!* *THOOM!* *THOOM!* *THOOM!*

A dense thudding noise made the gathering go silent as a huge hunk of metal came in behind the troops. The light illuminated the armor he wore and the blue shine of his helmets visor glowing in the dark.

"W-What is that?"

"Since when they have something like that in stock?"

"Our nation is starting to get pretty advanced."

"Look at all those golden medals!"

"What do those inscriptions say?"

"Look at that weapon!!"

Cloudius followed the troops further into the city, paying the civilians no mind. He couldn't say he cared for them, as they simply lived off the lives of their military having no worth of their own. Also because it was never a part of his duty to protect people, but simply fight the ungody enemies of the Emperor.

Civilian lives were but a means to an end. This made his recall the many times him amd his brethren culled down entire villages just from the civilians knowing of their arrival.

It was the Emperor's will that Grey Knights operate in secrecy and their existence should be nothing but mere myth.

All who knew of them were to be brain wiped or life wiped. As he treaded through the streets and internal struggle would form in his heart as he directly went against the laws of his chapter.

'I wonder why?'

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Pretty short with not much action, but its a good spot to leave off for a 3 day to 1 week cliffhanger.

I'll see you guys next time and keep up the feedback!