Emperor's Bane

Chapter 1013 Breakup
Horus-Lupecal.

Shepherd of Wolves, War General, the Emperor's eldest son.

The Milky Way burns for him.

Instantly, everyone present was drawn to the instigator of the war.

Whether it was hatred, doubt, worship, or the eagerness to pull the trigger: the War General, bathed in this chaotic light, resembled a legendary deity.

He held the famous Worldbreaker warhammer in one hand and the equally renowned Claw of Horus in the other. Among the array of metal spears, there seemed to be some black flames flickering in the shadows. Like Dorn, Horus did not wear a helmet, for his mere gaze was enough to deter any sniper shot that dared to aim at him.

But what is most striking is that, whether on the chest or at the waist of the Wolf God, he is still adorned with the double-headed eagle that symbolizes the emperor and the empire. The dazzling golden light is captivating: it is as if the War General is still the spokesperson who can represent the entire human race, and this war has not changed anything.

When Dorn saw this, his steely eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

The only thing that could make him loathe Horus even more was his arrogant face.

The Emperor Fist Master's lips twitched slightly, but he ultimately did not respond to Horus's overture.

But the Wolf God didn't care about this matter.

“I’ve felt for a long time that we lack opportunities to sit down and have a proper talk.”

As Horus spoke in a loud voice, he strode forward, and the Shadowmoon Wolves humbly made way for their genetic father, lowering their guns slightly at his gesture.

Even the Imperial Fists beside Dorn paused their boiling killing intent as a result, and with the Primarch's tacit approval, they lowered their gun barrels accordingly.

This is the majesty of the Primarch. Even though they are now enemies, and even though the two legions fought fiercely before, as long as one side speaks, everyone must maintain their courtesy and pay homage to the Primarch's authority and commands.

To this day, no one in the galaxy dares to truly break the Primarch's sacred and inviolable aura: this may be the only remaining authority of the former Empire.

After all, in the eyes of many mortals, and even Astartes warriors, this war involving the entire galaxy is still within the scope of the Imperial family's civil war. And the war between brothers can be small or large. Even though the Primarchs still regard each other as enemies today, they may be able to shake hands and make peace as if nothing had happened tomorrow.

At the same time, this also proves that, at least at this point, the war has not yet completely crossed the line.

negotiation?

Although it sounds unlikely, it is still an option: worth a sliver of hope.

Dorn remained silent.

When Horus stepped out of the heavily guarded array of Shadowmoon Wolves and came to the open space in front of the two armies, which was large enough for them to maneuver, Rogdorn did not stay in the same place. He also stepped forward until he stood about five steps away from Horus.

He placed his chainsaw sword on the ground, but still held the shield in his hand.

"Horus."

Without nodding or rising and falling, Dorn repeated the name of the Wolf God like a contemplative thinker.

Compared to the Invites, the Wolf God's expressions and movements are much more vivid.

“You’ve changed, Dorn.”

Horus observed his brother with great interest.

"Your face is thinner, and your hair is shorter: it looks like it's to make it easier to join the fight."

"let me guess."

"Has Omega caused you any trouble in Terra?"

"His actions did indeed exceed my expectations in some respects."

"I also suffered losses as a result: but the Hydra were the ones who lost the battle."

Faced with Warmaster's somewhat sarcastic question, Dorn did not try to hide anything; he simply responded frankly.

"The vast majority of the Hydras have been killed, and their leader Omega has escaped with serious injuries: the traitors in the Twentieth Legion no longer pose a threat to Holy Terra."

Then, Dorn pierced the Wolf God with his icy gaze.

"And listening to your words: if you are behind Omega, I wouldn't be surprised, Horus."

"I?"

The Wolf God smiled.

Do you think I'm that despicable?

"You are not despicable."

Dorn corrected him earnestly.

"You're just emotionally fragile and ruthless."

"There are some things you've always understood, Horus, but you've been willing to pretend you didn't."

"Using any means necessary? Hahahaha..."

Zhan Shuai's laughter echoed in the cold air.

"A very accurate assessment, Dorn."

"but……"

Shepherd Wolf God changed the subject.

“I’ve never heard such praise before, Dorn.”

"Is this something you're only just realizing now?"

"Was it out of consideration for face that I couldn't say it before: I had already thought it through in my heart?"

"Do not."

Dorn stared at him.

"I'm only now daring to believe it."

“After all, you have always been well protected, Horus.”

"During the Great Expedition, we could never see your true face beneath the glory."

"We can only see the good side: half of you."

"And we are willing to believe that that is all there is to you."

These words silenced Horus.

After a long while, he responded with a mix of emotion and sigh.

"Perhaps Father is right."

"The position of Terra Guardian has indeed changed you."

"It makes you a better person, brother."

The Warmaster raised the Claw of Horus and casually brought it together. This simple action almost made the Imperial Fists want to open fire.

Meanwhile, the Wolf God calmly admired his scythe-like claws.

"However, based on what I know about you..."

"No matter how much you change, Dorn, you could never become so talkative."

"Speak, brother."

"Before you set off, what message did the Sealholder and the High Lord entrust to you to deliver to me?"

Horus had guessed this: and it was entirely within Rogdorn's expectations.

"The Marker wants to know, Horus: Did you instigate Omega and his actions?"

"I?"

Horus smiled: sarcastically.

“You know me, Dorn: you should have answered him for me when you heard the question.”

"If it were me, I would rather have Omega and its supporters in the spotlight to boost my reputation than be this kind of disposable trash."

Dorn nodded, without doubting the matter.

Even now, though his friendship with the Warlord is on the verge of collapse, during the Great Crusade, both Dorne and Horus maintained this friendship with pure sincerity and passion. They genuinely understood what kind of person the other was and never doubted their judgment of each other.

Therefore, from the beginning, Rogdorn did not believe that Omega would obey Horus: after all, the crimes committed by Hydra in Holy Terra were not limited to attacking the palace and destroying the Geneseed. In order to attract the attention of the High Lords, they also recklessly attacked countless large-scale residential areas, resulting in the deaths of at least billions of innocent people, and the number of people permanently injured or severely affected was ten times that number.

A warlord who values ​​his reputation would not allow his subordinates to commit such a crime so openly.

Moreover, he couldn't afford such a reputation.

It's important to understand that at this stage of the war, one of Horus's most important weapons was his disregard for the noble principles of the Marksmen and High Lords: countless worlds that should have put up a fierce resistance sided with the Warmaster almost without any resistance, precisely because of Horus's reputation for tolerance and his promise not to levy taxes.

He has no reason to destroy his own Great Wall.

“Then, there is a second matter, Horus.”

Dorn gripped the chainsaw sword in his hand, his voice serious.

"The one who holds the seal wants to know if there is any possibility of bringing this war to a halt?"

"He can wait for you to propose conditions and try his best to meet them: and promises that the Emperor will return in a year at most to judge whether the two sides are right or wrong."

"..."

The warlord did not respond to this statement immediately.

He simply frowned, staring at his stone brother with an indescribable bewilderment, as if wondering why Dorn hadn't laughed out loud yet.

"Okay, Dorn."

"I really hate Makado."

"But I still want to say: I really find it hard to believe that such words would come from that old man's mouth."

"Has the affairs of the empire finally driven him mad?"

Horus shook his head sadly.

“I should have suggested to my father earlier: he shouldn’t put so much work on Makado’s shoulders.”

"You should always give it a try."

Dorn seemed to be able to accept it.

"After all, too much blood has already been shed; the empire's elite troops are not meant to be wasted like this."

"I know, brother."

Zhan Shuai nodded.

"But have you ever seen a war that was abandoned halfway through?"

"Besides, now that things have come to this, do you really think this war can still go according to my or Makado's wishes?"

“Even if the two of us can reach an agreement, a ceasefire is no longer something we can control.” He held up one finger at a time.

Do you think Lemanrus will give up?

Do you think Forgrim and Mortalian's ambitions will be so easily extinguished?

"Do you think that the problems we've uncovered—the problems that were originally shrouded in the sacred authority of the emperor, but are now laid bare before the entire galaxy—about systems, authority, and distribution, will simply vanish?"

"No, brother, they won't."

“There will always be those who are angry, those who are more ambitious, and those who are willing to take up swords because of the past actions of Holy Terra and the larger share they occupy: I am just a representative, one of the countless people forced to rise up in rebellion, and even if I give up the flag in my hand, there will be plenty of others who will take it up.”

"Because this is a consensus, it is the voice of everyone."

“I am not alone. I am neither a war general nor a wolf god: standing before you is half an empire.”

This made Dorn's expression soften slightly.

"You are even more righteous than I thought, Horus."

"It's just stating the facts."

The Wolf God smiled.

Or do you have a reason to refute this?

"Isn't the reason right in front of you?"

Dorn pointed to the ground beneath his feet.

"You defeated Lemanrus by relying on a traitor?"

"Relying on traitors to disrupt the Holy Terra."

"Relying on traitors, they successively conquered cities and seized territories."

"It's only through the traitor that you can stand here and talk to me as an equal, War General."

"A truly righteous person does not need to rely on traitors on the other side for every success."

I think it's quite the opposite.

Horus tilted his head back slightly.

"The difference between a traitor and a hero is merely the difference in the narrator's perspective."

"Aren't the alien scum we see just as heroes in their own world?"

"Moreover: wherever my army advances, whether on the outskirts of Terra's rule or in the heart of a state like Minerva, I can always find countless people willing to betray Terra and the Highlords, willingly follow me, and pledge allegiance to me, even if they do not agree with my ideas, they will risk their lives and their future, just to let the banner of Terra burn in the flames."

"So, doesn't this prove that Holy Terra is the one who is in the wrong?"

"If Terra's rule is truly so good, then why are there so many traitors?"

"If I weren't the popular choice, how could I have garnered so much support from my opponents?"

“I don’t know how you address this, Dorn.”

"But I call it: the will of the people."

Zhan Shuai's smile always has an amazing charm.

Even Dorn had to admit this.

Although in his heart, Horus was merely using his superior linguistic skills to distort the truth.

"You have to admit it, my brother."

"Now: the hearts of the people in the galaxy are with me."

The Wolf God stretched out one arm, so boldly.

“People are either my followers or they are tacitly acknowledging my legitimacy through their actions.”

"Loyal as Johnsen, brave as Ferrus, calm and rational as Peturabo, and passionate as Roger."

"If they really think I'm wrong, then why hasn't their army appeared in the Land of Wolves yet?"

"Putting aside others, can you imagine Zhuang Sen or Luo Jia choosing to swallow their anger when faced with a traitor from the Emperor?"

"On the contrary: Terra has very few followers."

"..."

Dorn did not respond.

He knew that at this point, further words would be pointless.

The Wolf God's attitude was so resolute that there was no need to ask again about the Invites War.

“You really surprise me, Horus.”

The master of Emperor Fist summarized it this way.

"I thought you would be more peace-loving."

"I also thought you would be more decisive."

A hint of confusion flashed across Horus's face.

"Seriously, Dorn."

“I never expected you to talk to me for so long, brother. I’m flattered.”

"I thought that after what happened in Terra, there would only be bloodshed between you and me."

"Just like Lemanrus."

Horus shook his head sadly.

"To be honest, at that time, I genuinely wanted to talk to Lemanrus. Although we weren't exactly close brothers, we didn't have any hatred between us. If he had been willing to sit down and talk to me a little longer like you do, things wouldn't have turned out this way."

"I have no right to comment on Ruth's behavior."

That was all Dorn responded to.

"But I can answer your question."

“Your feeling is right, Wolf God.”

The Terra Guard nodded and picked up his sword.

"From this day forward, there will be swords and spears between us."

"As for what just happened..."

Dorn paused again at this point.

On his usually serious face, a rare and visible tenderness and sadness appeared.

They were so real and abrupt that even Horus's gaze paused for a moment: he realized that this was not a clever disguise by Dorne, but an extremely rare and genuine expression of emotion belonging to the Invites, and that he was truly saddened by the words he was about to say.

There was a hint of melancholy in his voice: it was hard to imagine that this was a feeling that Dorn would have.

"Just now……"

"I was just cherishing this last conversation with my brother."

"Because I know."

"From this moment on, I have lost a brother."

"You too: War General."

"..."

The Wolf God fell silent once again.

In just a moment, the same sadness and emotion slowly blossomed in his heart.

Even though he knew it would be a waste of time, the Wolf God still couldn't help but ask.

"Do you really want to be my enemy, Rogge?"

"I have my bottom line, Commander."

After a very brief period of grief that made outsiders question whether he even existed, Dorn returned to his normal state.

"There are some things I absolutely must do."

"For the Emperor, and for Terra."

"..."

"Me too."

Horus told him.

"For those behind me: for half the galaxy and half the empire behind me."

This made Dorn pause for a moment.

He seemed to remember something.

"Why half an empire?"

When they had all raised their swords, and when their offspring had raised their guns, just as the smell of gunpowder in the air was so thick it was almost tangible, the Terra Guard suddenly posed this question to the Warmaster.

His face showed genuine confusion.

"Is it because the other half is supporting Zhuang Sen?"

"..."

"Hahahaha!"

Horus did not respond.

He remained silent for a while, then burst into a hearty laugh.

But as soon as the laughter subsided, Horus's relaxed and carefree expression vanished instantly.

Instead, there is a seriousness, and a cruelty.

then.

The Wolf God raised the Worldbreaker in his hand.

This was his answer to Rogdorn.

(End of this chapter)