Warhammer 40: Doom

Chapter 241 My victory will be meaningless

Vulcan walked out of the town, nimbly leaping down the hill, but the stranger was nowhere to be seen.

He shook his head and gazed into the distance at the endless volcanoes spewing thick smoke, then packed his bags and embarked on his hunting trip.

Its dark, strong body was covered in scales made of salamander skin to protect it from the sweltering heat of the flames.

He then took out a respirator from his backpack and put it on his face. The respirator, modeled after the lungs of a salamander, can ensure that humans can obtain enough oxygen in the thin air of the volcanic area.

Vulcan looked up again, after one last fruitless search for the stranger.

He put the spare respirator back into his backpack—even with the increased load, he remained kind-hearted and wanted to leave the other person with a chance of survival.

In case the stranger encounters danger in the volcanic field, the extra equipment can also help him.

The volcanic area is extremely hot, and lava flows down the mountain valleys, eventually converging into lava rivers, which then form lakes in the flatter areas.

The ferocious fire salamander inhabits lava lakes, maintaining a low metabolism through hibernation while waiting for prey to come to it.

The environment was extremely harsh, with jagged rocks, and Vulcan nimbly traversed it, dodging obsidian fragments to avoid being cut.

He quickly passed the outer lakes, ignoring the fire lizards emerging from the lava lakes, and headed deeper into the volcanic cluster.

The salamanders on the outside are too young and do not meet the conditions for winning.

Salamanders have a strict hierarchy; the more powerful the salamander, the more it inhabits lava lakes with higher temperatures.

Their size and strength increase with age, and older salamanders are more dangerous.

To achieve victory, Vulcan must venture into the heart of the volcanic field and hunt down the "elderly" salamanders that have survived for thousands of years.

This is a dangerous move. Normally, when humans gather the resources of an entire town, the fire lizards they hunt are only juveniles.

He is alone to face the terrifying elder and defeat him.

After a long search, Vulcan found his prey in the heart of the volcanic field.

A giant fire lizard, thirty meters long, with horns extending several meters backward, covered in jet-black scales.

It lay asleep in the lava lake, its robust body resembling a small island, its barbs gleaming coldly.

Vulcan put down his backpack, picked up his massive warhammer, and emerged from behind the mountain, ready to hunt the fire lizard.

With undisguised murderous intent, the black giant glared angrily and swung his warhammer at the towering black stone peak that resembled a dagger.

Rumble~
The deafening roar was like thunder in the sky; Vulcan shattered Obsidian Peak with a single blow!
The intense killing intent and loud noise startled the elder salamander. It raised its head, opened its orange vertical pupils, and looked toward the source of the killing intent.

All he could see was a lowly black worm, clutching a black stone dagger, throwing it toward him.

Vulcan grabbed one side of the stone peak with both hands, veins bulging on his hands, and spun around with a deafening roar. He threw the obsidian at the fire lizard!
Ouch~~~~
The fire salamander opened its mouth, revealing jagged, sharp teeth, and roared with earth-shattering force as it rose from the lava lake, like a colossal beast awakening from the molten lava.

It shook its scales, and magma shot out from its body like fiery meteors as it ran with its strong limbs toward the plump black worm on the shore.

The elder's simple mind couldn't understand why the fleshy worms on the outskirts of the volcano would come to his habitat to provoke him. Were they there to deliver food?

Magma flowed between the salamander's sharp teeth, flames ignited deep in its throat, and it spewed flames, intending to burn the provocateur.

Vulcan lowered his body, ready for battle. There was no fear on his face as he silently gripped his warhammer.

He saw the disdain from the apex predator and immediately showed the fire lizard why he had the courage to come here.

The ground trembled slightly as four large legs propelled the mountain-like body forward.

The black giant remained silent, lacking the passion one would expect in a battle, neither dodging nor avoiding the flames that would scorch him.

The Nocturnal beings have dark skin that can withstand high temperatures, and their genetic makeup, altered by the environment, makes their skin even more resilient.

Despite the bio-flames spewed by the salamanders, Vulcan remained unharmed, protected by his black skin and salamander scales.

He stood amidst the flames until the fire lizard could no longer retreat back into the lava lake, then swung his warhammer in a thunderous attack.

His muscles tensed instantly, and Vulcan swung his warhammer, spinning his body to accumulate kinetic energy. Just as the monster's gaping maw approached, he unleashed a powerful strike from below!

A dull thud followed, the force of the blow nearly stunning the fire lizard, its saliva splattering amidst its mournful cries, its sharp teeth flying everywhere.

With a single blow, Vulcan sent the terrifying monster's upper body flying and shattered its jaw, which could swallow more than a dozen people whole.

But he didn't stop. With a powerful leap, he appeared high in the air, his legs flashing as he came into view of the fire lizard's rolled-back eyes. Terrified, knowing that the creature before him was invincible, primal fear welled up in his eyes, and his claws lashed wildly in the air.

Vulcan showed no mercy or pity, raising his warhammer high and bringing it down, striking the salamander's brain.

Rumble~
The volcanic ash in the sky flickered with lightning, seemingly mourning the passing of an ancient creature that had existed for thousands of years, sending it off with thunder.

The fire lizard crashed to the ground as it fell, its body writhing wildly, convulsing as it lost control of its brain, its massive body rolling unconsciously.

Vulcan smiled, pleased with his strength; he had shattered the salamander's brain without damaging its fur.

He shouldered his pack again, packed his warhammer, picked up the tail of the slain fire lizard, and dragged the giant beast's carcass on his way home.

Feeling its heavy weight in his hand, Vulcan was overjoyed; perhaps there was nothing greater than it.

Singing a little tune about blacksmithing, the blacksmith's son, believing himself to have won, looked relaxed.

As time passed, Vulcan quickened his pace, eager to know just how powerful the stranger's prey was.

With this sense of urgency, he walked onto an obsidian suspension bridge.

Click~
Suddenly, a clear, crisp sound reached Vulcan's ears; the Primarch clearly detected the sound of fine cracking from the surging magma.

His expression changed as the obsidian suspension bridge he was on broke at its weakest point, unable to withstand the weight of the fire lizard.

We must get across the bridge quickly before it collapses!

With that thought in mind, Vulcan moved extremely quickly, running forward while the bridge was still stable.

Click~click~click~
The sound of the obsidian breaking was like a death knell, chasing after Vulcan and tightening its grip on his beating heart.

Below the suspension bridge lies a river of lava; falling in would mean certain death. If he abandons the fire lizard, he will not be able to win the competition.

In this critical moment, a resolute glint flashed in Vulcan's scarlet eyes as he grabbed the salamander's corpse and leaped into the air.

He leaped from the middle of the bridge to the other end, carrying the carcass of a giant beast with him, demonstrating his immense strength.

The bridge collapsed during the violent trampling, plunging into the lava and splashing up scorching waves.

Vulcan was hanging on the cliff, one hand holding onto the precipice and the other holding onto the tail of a salamander.

"Damn it!" Even with his excellent temper, he couldn't help but feel irritated and cursed at the void.

The situation is critical; physical strength is rapidly depleting under the scorching heat, and a choice must be made.

The salamander carcass was too large to throw with one hand; to escape danger, they had to abandon their prey.

If Vulcan were to abandon his prey, his Primarch physique would allow him to escape easily, which would also mean he had lost the final match.

As time went by, his dark skin gradually tightened, and the sweat that seeped out was instantly evaporated by the lava.

“Alas,” Vulcan sighed, preparing to let go of his prey: “If this is fate, I will accept defeat.”

Just as I was about to let go, I heard footsteps, accompanied by a heavy dragging sound.

He turned his head and saw on the other side of the valley, a fair-skinned stranger dragging a huge fire lizard gradually appearing in his field of vision.

Vulcan immediately recognized that the fire salamander hunted by the outsider was much larger than his own prey.

Just as he had already given up and was preparing to abandon his prey to save himself, the actions of the stranger shocked him.

The emperor naturally saw his son hanging on the cliff edge. He casually threw the fire lizard into the lava and used it as a springboard to reach the other side.

He stood on the edge of the cliff, looking down at the exhausted Vulcan, and reached out to take his son's dark arm.

"Why?" Vulcan looked up and asked, puzzled, not understanding why the outsider had given up on victory again.

The emperor looked relaxed, a smile playing on his lips, love gleaming in his eyes, and deep pity in his voice: "If you die, my victory will be meaningless."

Vulcan shuddered. He lowered his head and remained silent, letting the stranger pull him up the cliff.

When the two reached a safe area and looked back, the fire lizard that had been thrown into the lava to be used as a bridge had disappeared.

(It burned into relics, thanks to "Baozeze" for the donation)
(End of this chapter)