My world of reality vanished. When I finally regained my vision, it was blurry and it took me a while to realize that there was a group of people in front of me, joy was the first thing I felt, but then it was cautious not having seen people in a long time did not mean that I would have to trust the first ones I would meet.
A gloved hand held my shoulder to support my body, and someone who I assumed was its owner said something, but I could not understand anything. After regaining my sense of what had happened, my sight and hearing gradually returned.
-We don't know what they have done with you yet, any movement could be a risk for us," I said.
My hand moved unconsciously towards his, pulling away from my shoulder, applying a little force to my grip before I could reflect on what was happening and reduce my strength to a minimum. Only to feel how his hand had been broken.
The world around me slowed down, and in a state of mental daze, I began to look around me. Carefully analyzing each of the people around me, they all looked like military men of some sort except for one of them, they had terrified and surprised looks on their faces, and all the others looked like they were about to point their guns at me because of my apparent aggression.
It seemed that if I didn't do something, a confrontation would occur with people who seemed well-intentioned.
- I apologize, I am confused and my surprise led me to react in a defensive manner. -My hands were raised, waiting for the signal to be multiversal and express my desire to avoid the confrontation.
- Calm down, put down your weapons, it was my fault, I am sorry for the inconvenience my lady. - It seemed that the man whose hand I had rendered useless was their leader, making his reaction to all this more evident. -We are on a somewhat risky mission and our nerves are at their maximum, if you could tell us why you are in this place it would reassure us.
-I understand, I wouldn't easily trust a stranger in such strange situations, but I'm afraid I have no memory of how I got to this place. - As I spoke I decided to be cautious, there was something between them that bothered me but at this moment they were a valuable source of information about where I was - Just a few seconds ago I was at home, and out of nowhere I woke up here.
-What part of the empire do you come from? -His former respectful tone had disappeared and more than a question it seemed to be an order.
But the problem is that I didn't know which empire he was referring to, clearly, this was not my old world, I knew it from the moment I saw their clothes, and the symbols they wore I had seen them before, but my mind wanted to doubt about the crazy possibilities.
-I do not belong to the empire. - It was the only answer that seemed appropriate, for I had discovered at a young age that I abhorred lies.
-We are deep in the Jericho sector, there are no human worlds in the vicinity that have not already been colonized by the empire of mankind. -
It seemed that whatever answer I gave them now would not resolve their doubts about me, everyone had their nerves high and even those who seemed to be watching the surroundings seemed to focus their interest on what I would say. But his words had confirmed my suspicions, I had arrived to a universe different from mine, a universe that was only fiction according to my memories.
-I am not even aware of how I arrived at this place, the last thing I remember was an opening in my home and being attracted to this place.
Their leader stared at me. -I am sorry for the suspicions, we are in a precarious situation on the planet and the last thing we want is for our dangers to increase.
His face seemed to trust me, but I knew that no one was doing it, at the slightest hint they would shoot at me without hesitation.
-I am aware of the dangers that plague the empire, so I understand your concerns.
From there they decided that it was safer for them to keep an eye on me, so we continued exploring the chamber, and I could only say that this whole place was clearly related to me. Every part and every detail was something that I had built at some point and it had somehow taken shape in this place, which from what they had said was a mountain.
I had been assigned an escort boy, a novice compared to his companions in the way he moved, focused on not taking his eyes off my hands.
All the statues had been attempts to create new life to avoid loneliness, something that amused me for a while, one of my hobbies had always been role playing, so creating characters had been part of it.
-You think it's the one that heretic was talking about? - A man from the platoon had approached whispering to his companion, my entire body had been enhanced beyond what I thought possible, so a simple breeze could be picked up by my senses.
His companion seemed to ignore his words, too preoccupied with his surroundings to have a chat, something I would welcome as our peaceful walk through this place would soon be over. I could hear hundreds of chaotic footsteps approaching us.
-A great danger is approaching us from the west, hundreds of creatures and they seem to know our positions. - Even though their suspicions of me would increase, I did not want the first people I had encountered in a long time to die in vain.
-What the hell are you talking about? The boy assigned to guard me was the one who spoke.
-Shut up and get ready - Their leader whose name I had learned was Emil, he seemed to take my words seriously - thank you, my lady, take positions and protect the civilians, we will barricade ourselves in the pillars.
His orders were clear and soon an entrenchment was formed with automatic cannons emplaced and a semi-open cover focused on firing at the approaching horde.
Bipedal creatures, I could tell by their figures that they were human but for the protrusions all over their bodies they seemed to carry every known disease, but they seemed to have no conscience but a relentless thirst for blood.
I had read about them, unfortunate human Poxwalkers with no conscience who were victims of the Walking Pox. The poor things watch their bodies rot and shut down until death finally catches up with them. However, this is not the end. The patient remains cruelly conscious, unlike a zombie, trapped inside his corpse as it grimacingly reanimates and staggers in search of the living. Their flesh mutates even after death, sprouting swollen, throbbing tentacles and horn-like growths from their skulls, similar to those of Nurgle's Demonic Plaguebearers.
Still unseen by the soldiers, with their eyes undisturbed, the light from the chamber could barely serve them to see their surroundings for a few dozen yards.
-Five hundred meters away, hundreds of walkers, fire on my signal. - Motion sensors were what had helped them.
It seemed that I had underestimated this platoon's equipment. As far as I knew, the Astra Militarum is known for massing its numbers, but it looked like they had sent one of their best platoons on this mission.
Soon the automatic cannon shots rang out, their aim was terrifying but for a great mass of beings who ignored the knowledge of cover it was very effective. Dozens fell with every second they approached, but their numbers were large and soon they reached fifty meters distance, then it was the turn of the others to start firing.
The formation was proving its efficiency because the mass of Poxwalkers did not seem to be able to advance more than that distance and after a few seconds the last of them died.