One day, people will realize that war and killing are inevitable.
Killing itself gives Him power.
—————
"Hallucination is a special dessert that you must try when facing the subspace."
Hades said, reaching for the Macragge pastry that Guilliman had given him.
So what hallucinations do people usually see
Roboute Guilliman asked, the Lord of Macragge wishing to know more about psionics.
Hades' hand paused.
"I should answer you, I don't know."
The Death Guard commander said:
"I am a Soulless One, and I have never experienced immersive hallucinations—but I guess you could ask Mortarion."
Hades then added the next sentence, as if he was afraid that Guilliman would go directly to Mortarion.
"The premise is that Mortarion is willing to share those illusions with you. Generally speaking, no one likes to mention those illusions on their own initiative."
[…]
[With the Primarch's willpower, I don't think these hallucinations will be a problem that is difficult to overcome.]
Roboute Guilliman said solemnly,
Hades, who was busy chewing cakes, raised his eyes and glanced at Guilliman meaningfully.
"I hope so. I hope you can always maintain your determination."
Hardy paused.
“Perhaps for some people, firm belief is also a kind of strength.”
Now, Roboute Guilliman realized what Hades was talking about.
He and the Ultramarines marched forward in the blood mist, which obscured everything.
There were no enemies, only corpses leaning against the bulkhead in people's sight after a long walk.
Guilliman initially believed that these Ultramarines might attack him, and therefore he was always on guard against them.
But when the first scream rang out, Robouti Guilliman realized he was wrong.
The scream came from the end of this makeshift team, and when the Primarch turned around suddenly, Guilliman only saw the tail of the team where one person had disappeared.
[Respond to me! My warrior!]
Guilliman called out, and the Primarch gestured for his warriors to follow him, while he turned and ran in the direction where the man in the mist had disappeared.
After running eighty-eight steps, Guilliman saw the headless corpse kneeling on the spot with his head held high in his hands.
The corpse knelt on the ground in a circle drawn in blood, with eight mortal heads piled beside it.
It belonged to the Ultramarines who had just disappeared. He held his own head in his hand and pointed it towards Guilliman, as if mocking the naivety of the Lord of Macragge.
Guilliman tightened his grip on his sword, but then he noticed something. Guilliman turned around and realized that his team was missing a few more people.
Distant screams came from the fog, and the corridor distorted the shouts infinitely. Faintly, Guilliman felt as if they were laughing.
Including the corpse kneeling in front of him, there are now eight people missing from this team.
There was a clang of armor colliding, and Guilliman turned sharply. He saw the cloak of Lion the Lion flash in the mist.
[Lion Jonson? !]
Guilliman shouted, his voice lost in the mist as his remaining brood gathered around him, looking terrified.
Guilliman shouted a few times in vain, but his voice was like a stone falling into the abyss, leaving nothing behind.
For a moment, Guilliman felt the folly of his own actions, and it filled him with impotent irritation.
The Primarch immediately rejoined the team, as he did not want the situation just now to happen again.
But in just a flash, another eight Ultramarines disappeared from Guilliman's sight.
They disappeared without a trace.
At eighty-eight steps, Guilliman found the bodies of those men again.
Did they struggle in the moment before death
Cold sweat broke out on Guilliman's forehead. Were they forced or did they do it voluntarily
If it was forced, why did they disappear so smoothly, but if it was voluntary... could this really happen
This time a hoarse chuckle came from the darkness of the ceiling. Guilliman looked up and saw a pair of pure black eyes staring at him madly.
The next moment, Conrad Curze pounced on him and disappeared into the mist in an instant.
!
Guilliman looked down and saw a clear bloodstain on his blue helmet. The bloodstain looked like the wound left by Curze's power claw, with a sharp tip.
Robouti Guilliman took a deep breath. This was an illusion, the Lord of Macragge told himself firmly.
Lion Jonson, and Conrad Curze, could not be here, in Macragge.
Guilliman realized that these deaths were accelerating the onset of the hallucinations.
Then, the Ultramarines at the head of his team cried out in surprise, but this time it was not a casualty. Guilliman looked and saw the naked corpse of the Fire Dragon Lord lying on the ground with flames.
!
Guilliman uttered a cry of surprise.
[Vulcan?!]
But this time his brother did not disappear into the mist immediately, and Guilliman ran over, crouching down, trying to examine Vulkan's body.
As soon as he stretched out his hand, blood gushed out from the floor. The blood quickly surged up and instantly engulfed Vulkan.
[Vulkan!!!]
Guilliman's hands tried in vain to fish in the blood, but then he stood up, blood staining his gauntlets, and spots of blood dripping from them.
It's all an illusion.
Guilliman reassured himself once again that he could not lose his composure any longer.
These are all lies, meant to distract you, Guilliman, and you should know that.
Even though he was still shocked and puzzled by the Primarch that appeared in the illusion.
"My Lord, please keep your sanity."
The Ultramarines Boris beside him suddenly spoke up, reminding Guilliman. Guilliman calmed down, and the light of reason was burning in his eyes.
[Stay alert, these are all illusions,]
Guilliman paused.
[We cannot accept any more staff reductions.]
Is this an illusion
Guilliman thought, feeling the rage of being fooled, his enemy taunting him with invisible illusions, and he being trapped here with nothing to do.
A sneer sounded, clearly reaching Guilliman's ears.
Guilliman immediately recognised it as coming from one of the Ultramarines who was still alive!
Without hesitation, the Ultramarines thrust the power sword into his own chest—
"ah!!!!"
As the blood splattered, Guilliman heard a clear, familiar scream.
It's Euden.
[Stop!!!]
Guilliman roared in rage, and the Primarch rushed towards the Ultramarines who were trying to commit suicide. He pulled the traitor's hand away with his hands, and the sound of the Space Marine's arm breaking was crisp.
But it was too late, the Primarch realized that the traitor he had suppressed had already lost his breath.
Beside him, the last eight traitors also drew their guns.
[You think fooling a Primarch is a feat?!]
In the mist, Euden's dying sobs rang out, and at the same time, the Ultramarines' blood splattered around Guilliman. They didn't even have time to pull the trigger of their bolter.
The traitors fell, and Guilliman put one hand on Boris's neck, pressing him against the bulkhead.
[traitor,]
Robert Guilliman said expressionlessly,
[Do you think a phantom could try to defeat a Primarch?]
He exerted force and his neck made a sound of bones breaking.
Guilliman let go, and the body fell limp to the ground.
To the relief of the Lord of Macragge, the wailing of Jotun in the illusion stopped.
The flames of confusion, bewilderment, betrayal and deception were burning in his heart.
Now he should try to get out of the illusion and find Angron.
Roboute Guilliman killed the last eight.
There was a red light flashing in his eyes.
Roboute Guilliman saw Angron coming towards him and raised his axe.
Yay!
(End of this chapter)