Xivu Arath draws a cleaver from the chitinous scabbard within her thigh and plunges it into the deck of the Dreadnaught. She looks back to Toland, the Shattered, unsure if his information regarding her throne's location was to be believed. With a turn of her blade, the Sea of Screams twists; Ascendant nebulae flow in rushing torrents, splitting against the blade like thickened fog to reveal her lost throne world.

Ripping her blade upward, she cleaves the border open. Ascendant hallows give way to fetid, blackened rot. The Black Terrace looms over desiccated ruin. Exposed bone walkways crest through split tissues. Hive banners hang in tatters from the battlements with three glowering jade eyes set in the sky. The eyes fix on Xivu; before her materializes a vengeful specter resembling Eris Morn.

THE WITCH OF VENGEANCE LEAVES A SHADOW OF HERSELF TO DEFEND HER CLAIM

A PRETENDER IN PLACE OF A COWARD

The three-eyed specter draws Eris's hooked blade. Xivu charges forward and unleashes a flurry of swings trailed by ghostly soulfire after-strikes. The specter parries, shifts between the onslaught of blows, and retaliates with a thrust that hooks into Xivu's throat.

The Hive god of war laughs, spurting blood down the specter's blade and onto the bone floor. Her burning eyes bore into those of the shadow-Eris.

I AM WAR

YOU CANNOT KILL WAR WITH VIOLENCE

Xivu grips the hooked blade and tears it violently through the side of her neck and away from her body.

YOU CANNOT SILENCE WAR WITH VENGEANCE

She holds the weapon aside as it bites into her claw and bears down with her own cleaver on the defenseless specter, howling with gurgling laughter. The strike cuts the vengeful thing in twain.

Xivu Arath's throne world thrums as Eris's protective spell falters, and the specter fades along with the three watchful eyes in the sky.

Five worlds hang in a clearing skyscape: Fundament, a fractured Torobatl, Luna, and two shadowed beyond. Dominions of War.

VENGEANCE WILL LEAD THEM TO WAR

WAR WILL BE THEIR UNDOING

AND THEIR BLOOD WILL REBUILD MY THRONE