Necrontyr...
Orikan the Scryer silently took off his hood, and the river of time was watching it, in chaos.
Time is being played with.
Although reluctant to admit it, Orikan knew that it could not solve all of this by itself, so it had to find an ally.
Traveling through the chaotic and vast underground palace of the alien race, Orikan accepted the invitation of the alien king.
It was also promised in return.
——————
"I—can't accept that."
Trazyn said word by word, Ancient Saints? Ancient Saints? Ancient Saints?!
This word sleeps in the deepest part of its underlying logic. All the necrophiles will carefully avoid it, finding it difficult to accept, unacceptable - this anticlimax war has taken away too much from them.
But Trazyn's calculators were executing faithfully, and the truth they were trying to avoid was right in front of them. The Necrontyr started a war out of jealousy, but fell into the trap of the Star God in the middle of the war... and the Old Saints disappeared.
This... This is the Necrontyr's fault.
They chose the wrong path, started the wrong war, and trusted the wrong people. When their souls were gone and their bodies were only made of metal, the Emperor realized the heinous crime he had committed when he looked at his people who had become like robots.
But it was too late.
They are a group of dead people guarding a huge treasure. No amount of money and jewels can take them to the other side.
The Necrons have long used code to simulate the existence of the former Necrontyr. As long as the personality data is lost, it is equivalent to death.
But no matter how sophisticated the instruments are or how advanced the technology is, hundreds of thousands of years are enough to erase everything. They are just delaying death.
But the most deadly thing is not just that.
As the Necrontyr abandoned Death, the New Life also abandoned them.
Every time data is lost, the Necrons lose a member of their clan forever.
Necrons don't have newborns.
Without new life, this race would have been declared dead long ago.
This is why... why Trazyn and the other Necrons are so eager to return to the Necrontyrdom, they are trying to make up for their mistakes in the past.
They are obsessed with it.
But—but—but—the Ancient Ones
Trazyn's calculator was calculating, and the Necrons, who were good at multi-threaded thinking, focused their thoughts on this matter. The overheated hum sounded, and they rarely mentioned that existence - the Old Saints might represent a failure, a shameful history, and they represented the stupidity of the Deathly Haunted.
The Old Ones were meant to be buried in the deepest recesses of history, undiscovered and unremembered save in the foolish songs of the Eldar.
But the Primarch took the initiative to bring it up.
The Ancient Saints... Trazyn felt a little pain. He felt that his program was interrupted again and again by his subconscious, but he continued to think.
Finally... Trazyn was almost incapable of expressing any emotions, it could not feel them, but -
"This possibility exists,"
Trazyn said that for the first time, it felt like one of those low-level Necrons, cold and composed entirely of programs.
"But it is impossible," it said, "the Old Ones are gone, and we can never find them again."
Trazyn's body slumped down, and he looked much more tired.
"But thank you, this is indeed an idea - but for us..."
Tara smiled hard and shook her head.
[It’s just a possibility.]
Mortarion said calmly, "I am only seeking the answer to this question—and one of the ideas and solutions is this."
[Besides...] Mortarion narrowed his eyes, [You don't have the technology to travel through time or change time.]
"No!"
Trazyn called out, "Some things cannot be changed—time travel is not what you think it is. Great paradoxes run through it. Only the best of the Necrons can try to change the past—and... if a thing is too big, then there is no way to reverse it. Only the ends of time can be moved by us."
The Necron looked at Mortarion sternly.
"I know what you're thinking - you want me to go back to the time of the Old Ones?"
"It's just a suggestion," Mortarion said. "It's nothing more than that. As I said, I'm just solving this problem."
Trazyn shook her head. "Impossible. Absurd. Absolutely impossible."
The Necromancer thought for a moment and said,
"There are several faults in the long river of time we are in now. After the faults, it is impossible to trace back. The most recent major fault is the awakening of Slaanesh."
The Primarch raised an eyebrow in surprise, but said nothing.
Trazyn was silent for a moment. It seemed to be thinking, with its hands crossed. Its metal face looked more serious. The Primarch was silent, giving the Necrons time to think.
Finally, Trazyn shook her head.
“Thanks for your previous advice,” it said, “but after this… don’t mention it again.”
The Primarch nodded.
[So this is the end of our last collaboration? ]
Mortarion asked. Trazyn paused.
"I may need to provide you with some after-sales service."
The Necron said, looking at Hades who had his eyes empty.
"He's… not right, is he?"
The Primarch's breathing became sluggish, and finally Mortarion nodded undeniably. The Primarch narrowed his eyes.
[Can you explain to me what the Lord of Humanity did back then? ]
"Hey!" Hades shouted, "Wait a minute, why are you guys just skipping over the person involved and starting to talk?"
Neither of them paid any attention to him. Trazyn resolutely ignored Hades and began to explain - it did not dare to underestimate the Primarch who could trace his power back to the Ancient Ones.
"At least give me a little death vigil!"
Hades continued to protest, and Mortarion was silent for a moment, then finally raised his hand, and a small Death Guard appeared under him and looked at Hades.
The Primarch signaled the little warrior with his eyes.
Don't move.
[… He won’t hurt you. ]
Still motionless, but at least not trembling.
The Primarch remained silent. As for the small Death Guard who were completely creatures of the Warp, perhaps... from their perspective, Hades was closer to the image of Nurgle.
Correction, even harder to accept than Nurgle.
Mortarion was still trying to persuade the little Death Guard, but the next moment, a gust of black wind suddenly rushed over! At a speed that the Primarch couldn't react to, Hades successfully took down the large chess piece.
Mortarion's pupils trembled, and the Primarch looked at the child in Hades' arms who was laughing and screaming, calling for help...
Hades held down the struggling little Death Guard's arms, curiously touched the armor, and lifted the little Death Guard up to examine the scars on the armor and the eyepiece in detail...
Hmm... the aging is so damn realistic! Hades thought, no, this is the real old trace, and the lighting! He was still struggling to learn how to light the painting, but the little dead guard directly installed the light on the eyepiece himself!
No... Be patient... The Primarch took a deep breath... Although his comrade's hand hurt a little, it won't hurt him - behind him, Hades laughed and began to try to take off the little Motalin armor. Hades planned to see if he could change the armor, or take a look at the head sculpture -
Trazyn stared in amazement as a gust of wind blew past him, followed by Hades who was knocked to the ground by the handle of the sickle, and Mortarion who was holding the little Death Guard in one hand.
[no.]
Mortarion said firmly that everyone has a bottom line, and perhaps he should add another one.
The Primarch took a deep breath and exhaled a long puff of white mist.
Mortarion looked wearily at Hades,
[Hades, I know what I am about to say will frustrate you,]
The Primarch said, [But I still want to say... I hope you have a preliminary understanding of your own subspace image...]
Mortarian paused, the little Death Guard in his hand seemed to have received a severe blow, showing a seventh-level mental confusion and severe loss of fighting spirit.
[You can't mistreat them anymore.]
Mortarion said, and Hades spread his hands innocently, "I didn't do anything!"
[Your existence is the greatest abuse.]
Mortarion's dead eyes, [Hades... Do you remember the Amarilla Swamp that we cleared on Barbarus? ]
Hades was stunned. Of course he remembered it, an extremely disgusting swamp, like a gathering of rotten corpses, covered in mud, like a giant shit slime, attacking the mind and body indiscriminately, and the attack was like throwing shit at them.
After the massacre, Hades found a deserted corner and lay there dying for three days, thinking that his life was over.
One thing that needs to be explained is that there is a lack of clean water resources on Babarus, and bathing is impossible.
[Actually…]
Mortarion looked away guiltily, and pulled his hood up.
[You are more shocking than the existence there...]
Hades opened his arms, "I know, but I see you, Magnus, Malcador, the Lord of Mankind..."
His voice trailed off.
"All right."
Hades said, "I see, only those with high enough will can look me in the face?"
What kind of ancient god is this
Mortarion pulled his hood up again, covering his eyes.
"Perhaps," Mortarion said hesitantly, "but other than that, don't mistreat them anymore."
The Primarch was silent for a moment. He realized that Hades could not fully understand, because for the creatures in the Warp, their senses were far richer than those in the physical world. Hades might only understand the urge to vomit - but for Hades, this was the point he had been able to overcome most in a long time.
!
Mortarion thought.
[Perhaps...] The Primarch said slowly, patted his offspring's head, and sat back down again, [Perhaps I can show you the words that Karas wrote specifically to scold you, and you may understand, Revenant.]
"But now," the Primarch said cautiously, "No, not at all. I cannot give them to you. They can die in the disgusting gardens of Nurgle, but not near you."
Hades was a little disappointed, but expressed his understanding, "Maybe I... understand?"
Mortarion paused.
[I'll take you flying, let them go.]
Hades's mouth curled into a bright smile again, "It's a deal." Hades said.
Trazyn was thoughtful and felt a little regretful. Perhaps he should have left a few little Death Guards to threaten the Pale Lord.
…
"Star Gods have the ability to possess people. They are beings that can plunder or be plundered."
Trazyn explained, glancing at Hades, who seemed to have lost his ideal in life and was lying there.
"But I've only seen C'tan take over C'tan's body—Oerlikon couldn't do that either. He's the first! The first! I can't imagine the daring of the Lord of Mankind."
Trazyn was silent for a moment. "According to common sense, soulless and absolutely physical beings can all be tried, but most of them are possessed by others. He is the only one who actively possesses a Star God."
Death raised his head slightly,
[Humanity's tenacity is enough to defeat gods,] the Primarch said, [I once doubted this, but reality has proven everything to us.]
[He did it, that's it, this is the will of mankind. ]
Mortarion said, even though Hades behind him was now imageless.
"Don't praise me," Hades waved his hand, "Lao Mo, the wine is gone."
Mortarion pulled a bottle out of the mist and threw it back without looking back.
"So," Trazyn said, "I wonder where he'll end up, where everything becomes one?"
The Primarch was silent. The sound of wine being poured could be heard behind him. Hades shouted,
"No! Absolutely not!" Hades said, "I have now swallowed... uh... about five fragments? I was trapped in an illusion before."
Trazyn stared at Hades.
"But the side effects you'll have are almost non-existent. Your desire for souls may also be the reason why you don't actively eat."
"Moreover," Trazyn paused, "In fact, the piece of Deceiver that I fed you had already devoured at least three other pieces of Star God fragments before this."
The Primarch looked at the Necrons with dissatisfaction.
[Why do you do this?]
"Oh my god!" Trazyn raised her hands innocently. "He needs to grow up. He keeps crying hungry in my museum. What can I do?!"
"I didn't shout!"
"You shouted! You've disturbed the stasis of my collection at least four times! Do you know how time-consuming and laborious it is to recapture them?!"
[…]
"So the key point is willpower," the Necromancer pointed to his head, "The will of the physical world... is completely unclear... We also have no way of judging the extent of his will through the warp, and naturally have no way of judging whether Hades can continue to devour."
"Perhaps I can completely shatter the original will of the Star God fragment before swallowing it," Hades said, "and then eat it."
He already understood that it was like the big fish eating the small fish, and becoming stronger after eating. If that didn't work... he could carry it with him like the Burner, and take one at a critical moment, and instantly become stronger like taking drugs.
But... Hades is not in a hurry now, because in terms of individual ability, he can already fight against Chaos, so there is no need to take risks.
"It's your choice," Trazyn spread his hands and paused. "But I can help."
The Necrons glanced at the Primarch, who seemed to be caught up in a new round of thought. It was time.
Trazyn looked toward Hades.
Since the Necrontyr is truly irreparable... Trazyn felt a faint sadness... Then... Then let it...
It was no longer willing to submit to the King of Silence.
In fact, this free will has long been unwilling to bow to any authority.
It was the Necrontyr's rigidly structured hierarchy that ultimately led to their tragedy.
Trazyn asked himself, could he bow to a king who had led his entire race to destruction? Would he be happy to see the remains of his people continue to carry out his foolish orders
Compared to the Silent King, how could it be that Trazyn was inferior? ! It was just that the bed where they were born hundreds of thousands of years ago was slightly different.
Since the final fate is destruction, why not make yourself live a more comfortable life? !
"Hades, since I have to give you some aftercare anyway... then... how about we talk about some new cooperation?"
… … … …
Small theater:
The Primarch was silent for a moment, and he walked into Karas's private lounge with a guilty conscience. The room gave off an old vibe, with a slightly larger bed, a desk, and a workbench.
On the wall hung the talismans written and drawn by Karas himself. Next to the desk were neatly placed books on government affairs and psychic powers. Mortarion also saw a photo of Karas and Grugor. The second captain from ten thousand years ago had died long ago.
The Primarch squatted down and tapped on the third drawer of the desk with his bony fingers. The lock covered with curses fell off. He opened the drawer and took out the diary.
There is a hobby of writing among the Death Guard, not only Karas, but also Vox is quite good at writing.
Mortarion knew that Karas had always had the diary, and Karas allowed the Primarch to read it, but Mortarion always thought it was unnecessary, and later... Karas locked the diary.
He carefully opened the diary. Most of the pages were curses, with extremely high levels of swearing. Mortarion even saw the words that Karas cursed at him.
But this was not the purpose of his trip. Crouching beside the number line, Mortarion quickly flipped through the pages, and finally, he found -
"shit.
A giant, roiling, tentacled pile of shit, but ultimately it wasn't that that made me throw up, it was the stupid noises that came out of it.
Lord of mankind, is it too late for me to convert to you now? But I have already sold my soul to a fly that is willing to work with shit, my God - shit and flies are so close, what am I
”
Mortarion felt a little angry and looked back at his wings.
"He is more annoying than government affairs, more smelly than a toilet, and more bloated than a "nagou". Sometimes I hate that I am still alive and have psychic gifts - people should not be tortured by this. I would rather drink from the river in the garden."
"The idiot seems to be a little overworked lately, which is a good thing. I'm already celebrating it."
"… Karas, if you keep taking on more work for yourself, I will look down on you."
"Stupid, I've stressed it again and again, don't try to talk to me anymore, don't exude your bright, majestic, kind and warm personality charm - I know you are just greeting me out of your damn healthy and disgusting personality, you can put this energy into others instead of a poor person who can't even die.
Actually - there's nothing wrong with me, the only problem is that all my willpower is restraining myself from vomiting - not reporting to you.
If I leave here, I will recover quickly, just like a tuberculosis patient breathing fresh air for the first time. I am now committing suicide under the statue of the Lord of Humanity. Can I reunite with Jia Luo?"
"I sometimes envy that Vox boy his lack of talent."
"The Primarch has been in poor condition recently. It's time to remind him to stay away from shit."
"How foolish was I to get involved with them?"
"Maybe that's why I'm doomed to fail, a huge failure."
Mortarion slowly closed the book. The Primarch felt it necessary to pay attention to the mental state of his most capable deputy.
Even though he was still angry.
(End of this chapter)