Makado took a sip of tea, then lowered his eyes and stared at the reflection of the aging figure in the teacup.
Frankly speaking, he didn't like this image.
But there are always people who like nostalgia.
He raised his head and looked at the Lord of Humanity, who looked normal.
It's just calm on the surface.
Perhaps ordinary people cannot discern the emotions behind Neos' mask, but Malcador can. He sees the undercurrent beneath the calm sea surface.
No being of the Warp could face it calmly, no one.
Especially when it wakes up again, the former ants have grown into giants driven by appetite. Perhaps they could have used the light they emitted to cover up the dislike...
But now…
Malcador was silent. He felt the body he controlled tense up, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the teacup. He heard footsteps approaching from afar...
Darkness came in with joy and ease.
Malcador remembered an afternoon tea 48,646 years ago. He was still young and was invited to join a gathering of the Eternals for a small subculture. He witnessed people scrambling to grab rotten food with mystical meanings. The restaurant was surrounded by the corpses of his own kind. He was also under the influence of psychic power and his senses were magnified. He thought it was the most disgusting thing he had ever experienced in his life. He would not even be distressed by the half-dead fermenting human bodies in the trenches. He could face the strange liquid food of the small culture or a handful of sticky liquid in the stagnant sky without changing his expression. But in fact,
—This was not even half as painful as the pain Hades had brought him.
He felt like vomiting.
He shouldn't have drunk so much tea just now.
Malcador was painfully aware that even in this body, the pain the Black Tide brought him was supersensory, transcending all experience, a loathing based on the laws of the Warp but above them.
This disgust overcame reason for a moment, and the Emperor couldn't help but question whether His plan really required such an existence - perhaps He should give this pleasant task to the Lord of Change instead of taking action himself.
Amid the tide of negative emotions, he heard the footsteps stop. Instructed by the emotions of the Lord of Mankind, the Imperial Guards decisively stopped Hades.
He was not the only one who suffered this pain.
Malcador's eyes met the Emperor's for a nanosecond, and he was certain that the Emperor, too, was caught in a vortex of doubt and pain.
But reason will always prevail over reality.
The guards retreated, and the being began to climb.
Malcador was dizzy and heard nonsense like "Nyos, Malcador! Can I use the Black Domain to explore first?"
There were also some meaningless emotions and condolences, but these simple notes were all dissolved in the slowly rising black tide.
They tacitly agreed not to answer and accepted Hades' request.
Malcador only used part of his power to control the body, and he felt the muscles under his robes begin to twitch subconsciously.
He watched helplessly as the tentacles stretched out from the darkness. They reached towards them clumsily but incredibly quickly.
At the moment when the darkness came up, Malcador thought of a cold joke at an inopportune time -
This may be the closest the Lord of Mankind ever comes to standing up.
Then... I heard the darkness surge...
… … …
Perhaps he shouldn't be so obsessed with success.
… … …
"Nyos? And Malcador?! Long time no see!"
Hades smiled and looked at his two old friends who seemed to have healthy limbs. He saw a tired middle-aged man sitting on the golden throne, but the good news was that Neos was not a skeleton.
It has a nose, eyes, blood, flesh and skin.
Then there was Malcador, who was sitting next to Neos and drinking tea calmly. Hades saw a red-haired figure hidden under a hood, and he recognized him immediately - he was a rare member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who was not on Buzz's wanted list.
But Hades was certain that this was Malcador.
because…
He was surrounded by a powerful psychic energy, perhaps some kind of psychic possession. Hades was not sure as he did not understand psychic power.
Hades slowly put away the black domain he was trying to explore. He finally remembered where this familiar feeling came from... Malcador...
Ten thousand years later, Malcador's psychic energy was noisier, but much more powerful.
But why was Malcador's psychic energy present on those ships
Hades temporarily suppressed his doubts. He now put most of his willpower into self-control.
Do not swallow whole.
The light of the Emperor and the Golden Throne was too dazzling. To Hades, it was like an apple drenched in gold, but it was too hot. While it emitted an alluring fragrance... it was also burning Hades.
Compared to the Emperor, Malcador's aura is much more familiar and gentle.
It also requires more self-control.
Hades suppressed Black Domain, feeling a little dizzy, he felt another part of himself awakening. The Star God was greedy for souls, while Black Domain desired more psychic energy - the two produced a wonderful chemical reaction in his body, which reminded Hades of the curse the Deceiver had once cast on him.
The image of the three friends reuniting once reminded him of the conversation on the track of Perfect City, but now... he was no longer the same.
Fortunately, the remaining two are still intact.
…Hades took a deep breath and steadied himself. He regained his sanity and looked at the two old friends in front of him.
The Lord of Mankind sat calmly on the throne, as quiet as a sculpture.
Malcador maintained a mysterious posture of drinking tea, and Hades saw that his hand holding the cup was trembling slightly.
Hades remembered that he had already greeted him once.
But neither of them paid any attention to him.
…
"Neos?"
Hades called out tentatively, and the Emperor blinked slowly, looking at Hades with pupils that seemed a little out of focus.
"Long time no see, my... friend."
Hades smiled. The Emperor was still awake and intact, and his psychic powers did not look like they would transform into those of the God-Emperor, except that Neos now looked a little pale - this might be the sequelae of squatting on the toilet for too long.
"Long time no see, and Malcador,"
Hades looked at Malcador. He could hardly describe his current mood. He remembered the Malcador in the illusion ten thousand years ago... He once realized in despair that because of his own reasons, Malcador might no longer exist.
But now Malcador was sitting in front of him, drinking tea.
Hades looked at Malcador suspiciously as he began to cough violently. The old man was out of breath after coughing.
Hades turned around, squatted down and tried to pat the old man on the back, but Malcador slapped his hand away.
The moment he turned around, Hades missed the hint of relief and regret in the Emperor's eyes.
"Not necessary... cough cough cough! Long time no see... Hardy..."
"Long time no see! Malcador, I thought I would never see you again—"
"Stop!!!" Malcador suddenly stopped coughing, "Change your title, don't call it that anymore, any code name will do, just stop calling it that!"
The Lord of Mankind's faint voice sounded from behind Hades, speaking to Malcador.
Malcador smiled. "Then you could tell us your true name, Great Emperor, I suppose—"
His words hesitated, Malcador looked at Hades, who immediately spoke,
"A wandering soul, just a wandering soul."
"I think the wandering spirits will be happy to call you by your real name."
"Don't bother. I have already exchanged a name from my past identity with him."
The emperor said, he was silent for a moment, "Youhun, please take a seat."
Hades stood up silently and turned around. On the empty platform in front of the Golden Throne, there was no other place to sit except the psychic chair where Malcador sat and the golden toilet of the Lord of Mankind.
"… "
Hades opened his hand, but the Emperor still had that calm expression—he always had that look.
"Please."
The Emperor repeated himself once more.
If it were anyone else, Hades might think he was here to cause trouble with malicious intent, but this was the Lord of Mankind.
"Well," Hades raised a hand, emerald green lightning running through his fingertips, "I won't be polite then."
A few dozen seconds later, a silver metal sofa the size of Hades appeared.
Hades sat down and looked at the Emperor and Malcador. "Looks like I can't expect to get anything to drink, either?"
Makado laughed first.
"I can treat you to a feast later, Wandering Soul, but right now... your demands are a bit high."
The old man's eyes were sparkling. He and the Emperor had both witnessed Hades using the power of the Void Dragon. He was right. Hades, who had defeated the Deceiver, must have begun to master the abilities of a Star God.
It's too valuable... to be given up lightly.
Malcador began to laugh at himself again for his recent hesitation.
This is the sharpest and most incorruptible black sickle in the treasure house of the Lord of Mankind.
Hades raised his hand and wiped his lower face. A metal mask appeared. He swallowed and said muffledly,
"I look forward to your hospitality, Old Ma, but you... don't have to come with me then."
Old, horse.
Malcador took a breath and sipped his tea.
"Why not?"
Haddish was stunned. He didn't know whether he should tell the story of the illusion, but he needed to let the Emperor and Malcador know about his current situation.
"Excuse me, old horse, but for my own personal reasons... you look..." Hades' voice became smaller and smaller, as soft as a fly. "Tastes good? I don't want you to appear with food, sorry, but..."
A chuckle.
From the Lord of Mankind.
Malcador ignored the Emperor's challenge, realizing that perhaps the pain came not just from Hades's essence, but from his nonexistent soul.
“… Your condition has worsened?”
But it's a... necessary compromise.
“Wandering soul,” Malcador sighed, “The last time we saw each other ten thousand years ago, your situation was not optimistic.”
"The Empire is aware of my current state?"
Hades asked in surprise, but Malcador shook his head.
"Any creature looking at you from the perspective of the Warp will realize that something is wrong with you."
Makado brought the tea and took a sip.
"And now, you look even more abnormal - but you still look like you can control yourself... just a little bigger."
Billions.
He watched as Hades' expression became serious. Hades paused, then looked at the Emperor and Malcador to explain.
He did not doubt Malcador, who smiled behind his teacup.
…
"... That's it," Hades sighed, glancing at the honest red stone on his waist, "I almost swallowed the fragments of Magnus several times, and then I met the C'tan Deceiver..."
He swallowed and glanced at Malcador guiltily.
Makado said nothing and continued to sip his tea.
"Fortunately, I stopped in time. I have to thank Lao Ma for all this. Maybe you don't know, but ten thousand years ago, when Lao Ma came to save me... I saw him in the illusion."
Hardy paused, then turned to look at Malcador, his expression becoming serious.
"Ma... Old Ma, I really thank you."
Is this your plan, [Emperor]
The Lord of Mankind sat on the golden throne in silence, using the fragments of your past, your dead self, to earn the trust of your former best friend
He felt a little sad, but also admired the emperor's courage to endure his instincts and mediate with Hades.
Back then, Malcador took Hades through the warps and navigated the warps in the same way.
Perhaps Hades could be handed over to Malcador temporarily... He should trust in Hades' wisdom. Hades would hinder Malcador's plans and continue to consume Malcador's energy and strength.
However, Malcador, who is obsessed with power and a little obsession, will not give up his goal of Hades easily.
The Lord of Mankind's expression remained unchanged. His current faith was being split by Malcador, who had deliberately seized his power, which meant that there was some information sharing between them.
…The Lord of Mankind admitted that it might be a little tricky for him to manage Hades now.
Hades will disperse part of his will and power. This is an unnecessary sacrifice when he is preparing to mediate with the Lord of Change. He can give this part of the sacrifice to disloyal ministers, but it would be best if it were a reliable heir... When will Mortarion return
The Lord of Mankind extended his psychic energy, but still returned empty-handed. The Pale Lord refused the Lord of Mankind's blessing. After Sanguinius was shattered, Mortarion became even more resistant to the Emperor's power.
The Emperor hoped that Mortarion would return soon, but there might be Malcador's eyes and ears among the Eldar troops in the garden - Malcador would not want the Pale Lord to return and take up Hades' attention.
Malcador... he was too persistent.
In addition to his plans, Malcador was also shaped by his past obsessions and desires. The power from the Warp made him obsessed with [control] and [collection], which was the authority that a [king] in the Warp must have.
The Emperor was thinking, but he saw Malcador put down the teacup, the old man sat up straight, and looked at Hades seriously.
"I know what you're going to say, I know what you've been through, Revenant... Because... I've been through it too..."
Malcador spoke softly as the Emperor watched coldly. The flames in the Ministry of the Interior were burning fiercely, but there were no more screams, only the fire burning lonely.
These were merely attempts to get the Emperor out of Malcador's way.
… He may not have to be so extreme.
The Lord of Mankind has done too many things, such as going together and betraying each other. Now that their cooperation has not yet begun, Malcador can go ahead with him for a while...
… Perhaps this is also Malcador’s obsession.
At the beginning of the ten thousand years, he was still actively reforming the imperial system...
"I know, Hades..."
Hades held his breath, waiting for Malcador's words.
“Rice cooker.”
Malcador watched calmly as Hades before him coughed and collapsed.
(End of this chapter)