The sun rose, and in the bright golden light, the wind blew, mixed with gray ashes.
No one stood up, no one spoke.
Above our heads, the sun is shining silently on all things in the world. It spreads its light on the earth equally and justly.
Angertai breathed, he felt his limbs, he felt the burnt and smelly air in the wind, time seemed to be stretched out, and finally, he slowly stood up.
He was the first Word Bearer to rise, his power armor creaking.
Ingrete looked around blankly. He saw the desolate and wild land, he saw the perfect city whose embers had been extinguished, he saw the vast and clear sky, he saw ashes, he saw wreckage... He saw that they were here, and there was nothing else here.
He turned his head and saw their father, motionless. He saw the two straight spears with the hounds on them baring their teeth and glaring, warning any mortal who approached without permission.
Angertai began to walk, he walked towards their father, he had not seen him for a long time. Angertai dragged his feet slowly, the sand under his feet made a rustling sound, like the slight friction of a quilt when people are sleeping.
All this happened so suddenly that they woke up from a dream.
As Angertai walked, the captain of the 34th Company, Thor, also stood up, followed by the second, the third... They stood up, feeling themselves in a daze.
More and more people stood up, their gray armor gleaming in the sun like a sparkling gray ocean.
Finally, Angertai walked to the front of the queue. Behind the last three kneeling people, he saw Kor Phaeron, whom he despised, with large pieces of blood and flesh under his body, and his arms hanging limply on both sides of the spear.
He saw Erebus - it was unbelievable that the most respected chief priest in the legion would be... a cultist. The obscene words that came out of his mouth were as disgusting as the dried fragments of his organs.
Erebus raised his head high, and the bulging and shriveled eyes of the corpse were looking directly at the sun, like the eyes of a dead fish, but far more hollow than a dead fish. It was just an empty shell, and something like a soul inside the corpse had disappeared.
Angertai swallowed subconsciously. He suddenly realized that he was standing... at the place where that existence had stayed before, facing the kneeling person - standing behind the kneeling person. It was a feeling... a feeling that was difficult to describe.
What was He thinking as He walked past thousands of people kneeling
… who controls everything…
But this thought was quickly driven away by Angertai. He should not be disrespectful to the Primarch. He took two quick steps and walked to the side of Lorgar.
Angertai opened his mouth and looked at Aurelion, his father. Lorgar looked dazed, with traces of dried blood and tears sliding down his cheeks. He was like a living sculpture, without any thoughts.
"… my father?"
The sculpture moved slightly, and Angertai understood what the Primarch meant. He reached out and helped the Primarch to stand up.
Lorgar stood up. The Primarch said nothing, nor did he reveal anything. He just turned his head. Lorgar first looked at Kor Phaeron on his right side behind him—the corpse had its head lowered, nailed to the spot as if in atonement.
Kor Phaeron, his former adoptive father, had spent the last few hours before his death calling out Lorgar's name.
Luo Jia's lips trembled, his eyes were already dry without a trace of liquid, and in the end he said nothing.
Then he looked at Erebus... The moment his eyes met Erebus, Lorgar's vision seemed to be stabbed by a charcoal torture instrument. He looked at the corpse in disbelief that had been twisted beyond human recognition due to the struggle, and the roar in the darkness echoed in his ears.
This reminded him of the Darkness, and the Primarch flinched briefly, the contact between his mind and his flesh too raw, the flinching in his mind causing no physical reaction.
Atop the desolate ruins, two bodies were pierced and nailed to the spot, becoming a permanent symbol.
No…
Luojia opened his mouth with difficulty, and his cracked lips tore open, with trickles of blood flowing out.
No... he needs... needs...
[Take them away.]
Luo Jia said.
This finally made the Primarch's gaze shift to the Word Bearers beside him, Angertai... His name suddenly popped up in the Primarch's clumsy mind.
His offspring obediently carried out his orders with an imperceptible caution - was he afraid, was he afraid of Lorgar
Luo Jia never closed his eyes once. His eyes were wide open, and bloodshot almost covered his golden pupils, in which was reflected the scene of Angertai pulling out the black spear.
After a few hissing sounds from the itchy cerebral cortex, the long pole with flesh and blood attached to it was pulled out, and Erebus's body slowly, slowly fell to the ground, with flesh and blood flowing out of it, accompanied by an astonishing stench.
Angertai held the spear somewhat helplessly, and his offspring turned his head, as if asking Lorgar what to do next.
The corners of Luo Jia's mouth twitched into a smile, and the bloodstains under his eyes became more and more eye-catching.
"We...we need to repent."
———————
"Hmm,"
Hades was pinching a piece of Macragge's specialty pastry with two fingers. He obviously had a few more pieces in his mouth. He tried hard to swallow what was in his mouth, and then he opened his mouth.
"They've pulled out the two black spears. Shouldn't we go down and take a look, or at least give the Word Bearers some more instructions?"
Given that at this moment, the Perfect City is still burning, the Word Bearers are filled with grief and anger, the Ultramarines are on the verge of confusion, and the person who knows the whole situation - he and the Emperor are sitting in this small room to rest, eating Macragge specialties, Hades always feels unreal...
But who cares? The Emperor is sitting here resting, what else can Hades do
He looked at the emperor, who was sitting upright, holding a teacup with exquisite patterns and gold rims in his hand. He was sipping tea, but Hades always felt that even after he had been sipping for a long time, the water level did not drop much.
The Emperor glanced at Hades calmly and took another sip of tea.
"Lorgar does not need any further instructions. As the Primarch and my descendant, he will repent on his own."
Hades gave an expression that said "Why don't I believe it?"
"I still suggest you say a few more words - or at least make sure he's mentally stable before leaving him."
"I have chosen my messenger, and that lady will not let us down, Hades, you are too paranoid."
Hades's expression could be described as grief and anger. Was he suspicious? Would anyone be more cautious? Or was it that the Emperor was too confident? Hades lowered his hand holding the snack and started to refute.
"Nyos, you may be too self-confident—"
"You should get used to the way he talks, Hades. He doesn't mean it that way."
The door of the small room was pushed open, and Malcador, looking tired, strode in. Hades silently put away his black domain and moved to the side of the large sofa where he was sitting.
Malcador glanced at him, and Hades suspected that Malcador was going to insult him, but the old man said nothing in the end. He just jumped up and sat at the other end of the long sofa.
It turned out that the furniture that Guilliman used to entertain his guests was quite comfortable.
The Emperor spoke.
"How is Guilliman, Malcador?"
Malcador looked at the Emperor with his deep eyes.
"I insist that you need to talk to him. He is in a state of confusion. My Lord, he is trying to pull himself out of the quagmire of confusion - I think it would be easier if someone could help him at this time."
"I think you can console him, Malcador."
The Emperor spoke slowly, but Malcador shook his head as he held his tea.
"My identity limits me from going any further. There are some things that can only be said by you, my Lord."
The Emperor's gaze fell on Hades.
"What about him?"
Malcador slapped the armrest of the sofa with a dull thud, startling Hades beside him.
“You can’t do this, my Lord. Although Hades is eloquent and smooth-talking, we should be cautious about his identity now. It’s not just about whether Guilliman can listen to Hades’ advice. Even if Hades is standing in front of Guilliman now, he needs to spend time and brainpower to think about this matter!”
Malcador's voice softened again.
"Guilliman is a good person, but he sometimes thinks too much... He is a qualified politician, but reality often cannot accommodate people who are too rational... This world is not rational, my Lord, you need to think about this matter again."
The Emperor paused, still looking at Hades.
"I think Hades is a good fit... Let's play a little game, Hades, give me my pinky bone."
Hades wiped his hands wordlessly, took out the necklace from his neck and handed it to the Emperor.
"I suggest that next time if Malcador scolds me again, at least avoid me."
"I also wish you would stop saying shocking things, Hades."
Malcador sneered and said, Hades immediately opened his mouth to refute,
"What did I say? I rarely speak, and what I say is the truth—"
"Not as good as Macragge?"
Hades suddenly got stuck, and then words like "I was telling the truth, just tell me, am I right? Old man, you are going too far" came out of his mouth.
Although Hades was still not used to the Emperor's grammar, Malcador and the Emperor were already accustomed to his... Perhaps it was because he talked so much, the Emperor silently removed the little finger bone from the wire and placed it on the coffee table in front of the three people.
"Whoever the finger points to will go and enlighten Guilliman."
Makado let out a huge sigh, and the old man slapped his legs helplessly.
"You always do this, my Lord, you can't—"
The Emperor blinked, a rare smile appeared in his eyes, he looked at Hades,
"What do you think of this idea, Hades?"
Hades opened his mouth. Huh? So casual
He glanced at Malcador, who was obviously speechless and turned off the microphone. Hardy paused...
"Okay—but let me turn."
"good."
The emperor readily gave way.
"Two to one, Malcador, you lose."
He looked at Malcador, and Malcador's eyes seemed to strangle Hades to death. He always thought that Hades was the representative of reason. Why was he acting so recklessly at this moment? Shouldn't he join Malcador in advising the Emperor? Didn't he know that this kind of game would always be the Emperor's victory - that guy had psychic powers.
The psychic guy is now holding the tea with great confidence.
But Hades seemed to be unable to sense Malcador's resentful gaze. He was concentrating on the little finger bone with his hand on it.
"Three, two, one—go."
The finger bones began to spin on the coffee table, and the smile on the emperor's lips fell imperceptibly, but he still looked confident of victory.
Malcador said nothing, looking at the Emperor with a serious expression. Small crackling psychic lightning began to appear around him, and frost quickly climbed up the surface of the water in the teacup.
Hades seemed to know nothing about this, and was still looking at the rotating little finger bone with nervous anticipation, as its speed began to slow down.
"Malcador,"
Hades suddenly spoke,
"Don't insult me in front of me next time, or I won't help you."
Malcador was stunned, and he instantly understood what Hades meant. The old man grunted through gritted teeth to show his agreement - the next moment, that familiar and disgusting feeling enveloped him.
The smile on the emperor's lips completely disappeared, and a faint golden light instantly lit up. Time was running out, and he was ready to -
The spiritual energy around Malcador suddenly surged, directly pressing down the Emperor's spiritual energy that was reaching forward.
He looked at Malcador, who had a mocking smile on his face.
The Emperor simply wiped away Malcador's psychic energy, and he quickly reached forward -
"Neos, it's you."
The finger bone had stopped and was pointing straight at the Emperor. Hades, as if he knew nothing, pointed at the finger bone with a smile and looked at the Emperor.
The emperor's mouth twitched, but in the end he said nothing. He put the teacup on the coffee table abruptly, then stood up and left.
Hades and Malcador turned to watch him leave.
After the Emperor left, Malcador sighed weakly.
"How did you do it, Hades? Your black domain only blocks psychic energy. It can't do what psychic energy can do, right? Don't tell me you are just relying on luck."
Hades slowly wound up his necklace and put it on.
"I am Malcador, a master forgemaster of the highest order."
Hades picked up a snack from the snack box.
"Give me the shape of the object, its mass, the coefficient of friction of the surface, the wind speed - and I'll figure out how to play. It's science, Malcador."
"This is science, you two psychic tricksters."
Malcador felt his liver starting to throb with anger again, but Hades... Malcador was still unable to refute Hades as usual.
In the end, he could only watch Hades quickly consume Macragge's snacks without being able to utter a word in rebuttal.
4k words, no more today!!!
(End of this chapter)