Marvel: Warhammer Simulator

One minute later.

The deafening roar vanished entirely from the hallway.

Standing motionless, Zaire gazed at the exploded head of the young boy and the cratered walls around him.

Wordlessly, he slung the empty grenade launcher back onto his shoulder.

The next moment, his arms, hanging at his sides, began to tremble slightly.

It was the aftermath of the weapon's terrifying recoil.

"Hiss—"

Zaire twisted his neck and took a deep breath, sharp and heavy.

He struggled to adapt to the searing pain radiating through his arms and every fiber of his body.

Then, his steps unsteady, Zaire staggered past the cooling corpse of Experiment 1101, heading toward the corridor's flickering red lights.

Before long, Zaire stepped through a twisted, distorted metal hatch and entered the central laboratory of the base.

Inside was a fully transparent observation room.

Its sole furnishings were a metal bed frame and a thin blanket.

However, scattered across the smooth floor were the remnants of broken plush toys.

Huff—

Zaire's breathing grew heavier as he turned his gaze, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings within the room.

But when his eyes swept across a corner of the room and landed on two crude humanoid shapes awkwardly assembled from the stuffing of plush toys, he froze.

In an instant, his erratic breathing betrayed the rising, uncontrollable pain tearing through his body.

Accompanied by the sound of his combat armor clanking against itself, his muscles began to spasm uncontrollably.

And slowly, his entire body crumpled to the ground.

Through gritted teeth, Zaire's voice echoed from within his helmet:

"David… I may need backup!"

"Hold on, my lord! I'm on my way!"

The mechanical voice of Iron David swiftly reached Zaire's ears, bringing him some measure of comfort.

With the roar of engines resonating in the air, the interior of the trembling transport bay buzzed softly.

Iron David carefully removed Zaire's combat armor, leaving him lying flat on the cold metal floor.

On Zaire's arms and torso, radiating purple-blue bruises marked his skin like spider webs.

Occasional muscle spasms rendered him unable to even move a single finger.

Sweat constantly trickled down Zaire's forehead as he gradually adjusted his breathing rhythm, enduring the waves of pain rippling through his body.

A few minutes later, Iron David, with rainwater trickling down his metal form, returned with a stack of data drives and chemical samples.

The blue glow in his optical sensors flickered as he knelt down and said,

"My lord, as you commanded, I've retrieved everything of value from the lab."

Barely recovering from his injuries, Zaire turned his gaze toward the samples in David's metal hand. Taking a deep breath, he said,

"These gains… barely justify my injuries."

"Damn it… That grenade launcher was far more terrifying than I anticipated. The enemy didn't manage to harm me at all, yet my own weapon nearly took me out. This is beyond ridiculous."

Hearing Zaire's complaints, Iron David shook his metal head slightly, setting down the items he carried.

With a hint of what seemed like resignation in his mechanical tone, he said,

"My lord… that grenade launcher isn't meant for ordinary mortals. Even those Astartes warriors I've encountered require powered armor to wield it effectively."

"The fact that you're still alive is, well… a blessing from Him, perhaps."

For a brief moment, an embarrassed expression seemed to flicker across Zaire's sweat-covered face.

He closed his eyes in resignation and said to the iron figure,

"This time, I messed up. It won't happen again… David, I need medical assistance. If not that, at least some painkillers."

"My lord, you'll have to endure for now."

Iron David slowly rose to his feet and headed toward the cockpit of the Valkyrie.

Moments later, the roaring engines of the Valkyrie transport shook the air as it lifted off from a sprawling cornfield.

Its massive frame pierced through the torrential downpour, ascending rapidly toward the dark, brooding clouds above.

Several hours later.

A fatigued Zaire lay on a hospital bed in the base's medical room, slowly drifting into sleep.

Needles pierced his arms, delivering glucose solutions and a heavy dose of painkillers.

Iron David, temporarily assuming the role of a medic, tidied up the medical tools.

The blue glow in his optical sensors pulsed gently as he observed Zaire's condition.

Once satisfied, the iron figure left the medical room and entered the brightly lit main hall.

At that moment, Jessica, clad in tight athletic gear, approached briskly, her workout evidently just finished.

Her expression was grave as she looked at the iron figure and asked with concern,

"David, what happened to the boss? Did something go wrong with the mission?"

"Good evening, Ms. Jessica."

Iron David raised a metal hand in greeting, his mechanical voice devoid of emotion as he replied,

"My lord's mission went smoothly. Unfortunately, a minor… incident occurred during the process. However, for my lord, this is merely another lesson and a step in his growth."

"An incident?"

Jessica frowned slightly, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Iron David. After a moment, she asked,

"Is the boss seriously hurt? Does he need professional medical help? I have a friend who can provide assistance. She—"

Before she could finish, Iron David raised a metallic finger, cutting her off.

The blue light in his sensors flickered as he said calmly,

"Ms. Jessica, remember, important matters like this require my lord's direct approval. However, we do indeed need a medical professional stationed at the base. You may contact your friend and negotiate terms, but you must not reveal anything about my lord. Otherwise, he may not appreciate your good intentions."

"Zaire is not just my boss—he's my friend. Of course, I know what to do!"

Jessica crossed her arms, her back straightening as she glared at Iron David.

Without another word, she turned and walked briskly toward the base's exit.

Once her silhouette vanished from view, Iron David tilted his metal head slightly and muttered to himself,

"Analyzing Ms. Jessica's heart rate and hormone levels… Did I say something wrong?"

"I merely reminded her to remain loyal and avoid making unauthorized decisions… I didn't say anything out of line…"

The mechanical undertone of Iron David's voice carried a tinge of confusion.

He turned and made his way toward the hangar where the Valkyrie was docked.

Zaire's equipment and the transport, fresh from its maiden mission, awaited maintenance and care.

"I really do prefer dealing with construction materials. At least they don't have inexplicable emotions…"

"Even the revered Omnissiah is far more polite, respectful, and consistent. They never confuse a timid and humble servant like me…"

For a while, Iron David's muttered musings echoed softly through the base's halls.

Eventually, they faded into silence.

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Happy new year to you Guy's 

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