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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Sabien and death
Arkio's corruption was nearly revealed for all to see when he spent too much time in the chapel in the presence of the Spear of Telesto, which somehow triggered rampant mutation all over his body and then rejected him. During this time, Arkio suffered a prophetic vision of his brother plunging the Spear into his heart. The mutations were barely stopped by Inquisitor Stele's psyker powers, who convinced Arkio that the vision was from Sanguinius and that it was what would transpire if they failed him.
Mephiston soon arrived to judge Arkio, and turned his witch-sight upon him. He saw the carefully-hidden seed of Chaos that Stele had planted inside Arkio, and was surprised when Arkio was able to hold the Spear of Telesto, but remained unconvinced and denounced Arkio as being false and Stele as a heretic. Mephiston challenged Arkio to a duel, for it was written in the [[Book of the Lords]] that the Pure One would be the match of any warrior that lived. The duel was about to begin when Rafen turned up, having survived the Warriors of the Reborn's attempts on his life, and Mephiston allowed him to take his place. Although Arkio had the inhuman strength that his mutations granted him, Rafen had more experience. During the resultant fight, Arkio attempted to use the Spear's power against Rafen as he did the [[Word Bearers]], but it refused to harm one who carried Sanguinius' gene-code, and Rafen was able to cut a wound into Arkio's wings. Shocked, Arkio fled the field as his warriors and Mephiston's turned on each other (triggered when Stele psychically killed Sachiel and blamed Mephiston). When the [[Word Bearers]] suddenly arrived on the field, Mephiston revealed that he had ordered the Europae to destroy [[Sabien ]] with [[cyclonic torpedoes]] if they failed to stop Arkio's followers; but Rafen insisted that he could stop his brother, and was given a jump pack so he could fight him on even terms.
Rafen caught up with Arkio atop a ruined cathedral and the two fought. During the fight, Arkio's mutations resurfaced, fuelled by his hate for Rafen, and the Spear of Telesto rejected him, burning white-hot in his hand until it melted the master-crafted gauntlets and he was forced to drop it. Enraged, Arkio's visage turned into the likeness of a vampire, and he tried to kill Rafen with teeth and claws alone, but Rafen knocked him aside with his combat knife. As Arkio fell, the Spear of Telesto sensed him coming and shifted to meet him head-on, impaling him upon its teardrop blade. Arkio died begging for his brother's forgiveness. His remains were burned upon a pyre out of respect.
