Emperor's Bane

Chapter 1024 The Kings' March (Part 2)
"Um……"

"In other words, Dorn is at a disadvantage, but there is no risk of a complete rout in the short term?"

"Yes, Lord Ferrus."

On the battered, desolate, yet meticulously crafted Steel Fist, Primarch Feralas's personal room was undoubtedly the most vibrant space.

This perfectly matches its title: the Iron Forge.

This flagship of the Steel Hands follows a strange Medusa principle: the closer to the center, the warmer the ship's corridors and rooms become, and the forging hall, which is the heart of the ship, is like the sun, always making envoys and diplomats who pass through it sweat profusely.

But the Iron Hands remained indifferent.

However, even these warriors who adhere to the ironclad principles do not perform much better than the mortals of the Forge in the face of the Primarch.

When Primarch Feralus's gaze sweeps over them, his offspring are always timid like schoolchildren, yet eager to try.

The fear stems from the fervent worship that every Iron Hand warrior holds for their genetic father.

The eagerness stems from pride in standing before the father of genetics and a constant readiness to garner more attention and glory for their clan.

Gorgon was already used to this.

After two hundred years of rule, the Primarchs had learned to balance the complex and sophisticated system within the Legions, a system that allowed them to fight side by side while also being hostile to each other. The will of Feralus himself played a crucial role in establishing this system.

It was this Primarch who, when he left Medusa with the ten tribes most loyal to him to join the Legion, did not immediately disrupt or reorganize them. Instead, he allowed them to maintain a high degree of independence and encouraged them to continue the ancient hatred between them that existed on Medusa, using this internal competition to drive Feralus's intended path of elites.

It was this competition that brought great prosperity to the Iron Hand Legion.

During the Great Expedition, Feralus lacked Horus's extensive network, Johnson's formidable martial prowess, and Guilliman and Morgan's vast territory. However, solely based on his command abilities and the absolute strength of his Iron Hand, he was qualified to be one of the strongest contenders for the title of Warmaster.

If he hadn't voluntarily withdrawn, then the main characters on Ulano would definitely not have been just Johnson and Horus.

Therefore, to this day, the Primarch does not see anything wrong with this division in the eyes of outsiders.

He didn't even think about changing that.

During the Great Crusade, many people had a misunderstanding about Feralas: they mistakenly thought that Feralas was worried about the various problems within the Iron Hand and decided to start solving them after the Great Crusade ended, trying to find a way to correct the various erroneous ideas within the Iron Hand.

This should be considered a partial misunderstanding.

Felus was indeed concerned about certain problems within the Tenth Legion and immediately began to address them after the Great Crusade.

But what he needed to address was not the Steel Hands' infamous clan-based and divisive nature.

It was his descendants who inexplicably despised flesh and blood and fanatically worshipped bodies of steel.

Iron Hand: This overly catchy nickname clearly misled the Tenth Legion.

Ferrus decided to correct this: starting with his signature metal hand.

This hand is indeed very good, very perfect, but it is ultimately not the Primarch's own hand. It cannot bring about the completeness of the soul through its functional power. During the war, the greater good was the priority, and Felus had no time to care about this. Now that peace has come, it is time to take action to correct these mistakes.

Felus originally intended to work with his father to remove the iron hand and replace it with a normal limb, but the Emperor clearly had more important matters to attend to: after leaving Nicaea, he practically plunged into Terra and never came out again, and Felus felt too embarrassed to disturb him.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. Although the steel hand on Felus’s body was not removed, the steel hand in the Tenth Legion’s mind was ruthlessly uprooted by the Primarch over the past half-century.

This was not difficult for Gorgon.

Although Astartes warriors generally harbor extreme fanaticism and loyalty towards their Gene Father, the Tenth Legion's devotion to their Gene Father stands out even among all the Legions.

Even though it seemed that the contempt for flesh and blood and the adoration for steel had become an irreversible trend in the Tenth Legion, the atmosphere in the Tenth Legion actually changed in a short period of time after Medusa's Gorgon personally signed a decree in front of his sons, formally demanding that they stop attacking the suffering and weakness of flesh and blood.

The Iron Hands had their complaints, but none of them dared to truly defy the will of the host.

Felus personally led the team to shut down dozens of operating rooms that existed solely for cybernetic modifications. He personally reprimanded the apothecaries who had gone astray in his eyes and demanded that they write oaths of change. At the same time, the Primarch also imposed a series of memorable punishments on the clans that continued to condone the practice of cybernetic modifications within their ranks.

This includes conducting punitive expeditions and being disqualified from fighting alongside Primarchs for the next decade.

These swift and decisive actions demonstrated the Primarch's steadfastness to the entire Legion and powerfully challenged the Iron Hand's flawed thinking during the Great Crusade.

At the same time, Feralas did not forget to throw carrots while holding the big stick.

He personally gave lectures to new recruits, explaining his views on flesh and blood and steel, and emphasized rewarding and promoting officers who could understand his views. He also had one-on-one private talks with the most stubborn recruits. This effort and clear system of rewards and punishments lasted for about seven or eight years and finally achieved a perfect result.

Now, apart from a few of the most stubborn old fogies still grumbling in the shadows, the entire Iron Hand Legion has faithfully carried out the Primarch's new orders with their usual efficiency and steadfastness.

The fervor for steel was quelled.

The disdain for flesh and blood is fading.

Steel prosthetics no longer appeared in droves in the lobby of the Steel Fist. Instead, there were increasingly enthusiastic figures in the arena and training camp, and the smoke from the forging workshop never went out: things seemed to have changed from an unprecedented angle.

But at least it's not heading in the worst possible direction.

Feralus would think with such satisfaction when he saw his offspring's intact limbs.

At this moment, even the fratricide happening not far away doesn't seem so disgusting.

"Tell them to keep an eye on the battle between Dorne and Horus on Minerva."

The Primarch places the information on the desktop.

"I need to get firsthand information to ensure that if we need to go into battle, our troop deployment speed will exceed all the enemy's expectations."

When he said this, Feralus had to suppress his dissatisfaction.

Actually, according to his true thoughts...

He had wanted to join the war for a long time.

He had long wanted to deploy his ironclad army to a great battlefield like Minerva.

Ferrus has no fear of war: even fratricide between brothers, as long as there is a good reason, he will not hesitate for a moment.

Deep down, he was even a little excited.

Confronting their Primarch brothers, they face another fully equipped legion on the battlefield.

What could be more challenging than this? What could allow him to progress more effectively in fierce competition?

Those formidable opponents who struck fear into the hearts of men during the Great Crusade were utterly insignificant compared to a complete legion personally led by the Primarch.

Ferrus could not refuse such a challenge.

The only thing that slowed him down and prevented the Iron Hand Legion from immediately engaging in the war was, as mentioned earlier, a perfectly valid reason.

Gorgon is a battle maniac.

But he was not a warmonger.

They are certainly not warmongers.

No matter how agitated he may be, Gorgon will not mobilize his iron army until he has determined which side is truly loyal.

He had no reason to be loyal to Warmaster Horus, nor did he have any goodwill toward the Spellweaver or Dorne.

Yes, perhaps not many people know this, but Feralus and Dorne's relationship wasn't good: it wasn't exactly hate, but it certainly wasn't affection.

In addition, the existence of Forgrim has made many people worry about Feralas becoming a leader: for example, Terra had worried that the Iron Hand Legion would join the Warmaster's side.

Ferrus had also considered this possibility and had even communicated with Fugrim.

But Phoenix's answer was unexpected.

He told Felus frankly that he was willing to join Horus's ranks for three reasons: first, the Warmaster's political views were more to his liking; second, he personally disliked Holy Terra and the High Lords; and third, he wanted to fulfill the covenant he had made with the Warmaster.

If Feralus himself had no political convictions and no alliance with Horus, then Forgrim would not advise him to rashly get involved in the war.

Although, from a standpoint of faction, the Phoenix Legion is already a true Horusian.

But in matters of personal affection, Fugrim would naturally favor him [the ugly but charming Gorgon].

As for Horus's interests?

Hmm...we'll see when the time comes.

Forgrim's advice was also the second major reason why Feralas was willing to maintain armed neutrality.

The primary reason was that neither side in the war showed him any sincerity.

Even though Felus wasn't one to complicate matters and people's feelings, he could still see that the war was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Whether it's the Emperor's disappearance, the handling of the Terra crisis, or the pretexts used by both sides in the war, everything is so bizarre.

There must be a deeper secret supporting this far-fetched, bloody battle.

On this issue, both sides in the war, who both claimed to be the successors to the throne, were secretive with Gorgon and unwilling to reveal more to him: clearly, they both viewed the Steel Hand as a potential threat and did not believe that Feralus could be a staunch ally of their side.

Medusas also have tempers.

Since he was being treated this way, he had no reason to send his men to their deaths.

As for the desire for war.

If the Emperor returns, the Iron Hand Legion will have plenty of opportunities to reduce the true traitor to ashes. And now, what they need to do is just as the Father of Genetics said.

Wait, prepare, and conserve your energy.

Until the day the beasts are released from their cages.

"Your will, my lord."

The steel hand before the Primarch bowed in salute, revealing the overly obvious clan insignia on its shoulder armor.

Feralus's gaze did not miss him.

"Yes, you are from the Bocuse clan."

Looking at the somewhat unfamiliar but somewhat memorable little guy in front of him, the Primarch muttered to himself that he was one of the most fanatical forces under his command.

"That's right, my lord."

This steel hand stood proudly with its spine straight.

"We are your staunchest supporters."

"Ah."

Ferrus nodded, neither confirming nor denying.

If he had to choose his favorite clan, it would definitely be the Avignon clan.

Wherever he goes, the Morlock Terminators of Avignon will be the guards designated by Feralus.

On the surface, however, Gorgon was still happy to maintain his equal treatment of all legions: even those of weaker clans like Borgus.

He would meticulously observe the development of each clan, carefully weigh their struggles against each other, and ensure that internal competition would not escalate into real bloodshed. At the same time, he was happy to see the various clans constantly strengthening themselves in hopes of advancing further in the competition, and he always maintained a cautious assessment.

"I remember the Iron Fathers of the Bocuse clan were forging some [big guys] in their forges?"

"It will surprise everyone, Primarch."

Faced with the questions from the Father of Genetics, Iron Hand had no reason to hide anything, and his pride grew at a visible rate when the clan's development was mentioned.

"When our creations gallop across the battlefield, even the pride of the Avignon clan pales in comparison."

"That sounds good."

Ferrus was quite pleased with this confident demeanor.

"I look forward to your performance."

After saying that, he didn't forget to add one more sentence.

"But while you are being forged and refined: don't forget to take your own flesh and blood seriously."

"Please rest assured, we will never let you down."

The Steel Hand humbly lowered its head.

"The strongest flesh, the greatest steel: we will respectfully offer them before you."

"……Um."

Faced with such fervor, the Primarch remained silent for a long time, and could only recall it in a lukewarm manner.

Sometimes, he felt like he was overcorrecting.

Although, through his efforts, the Iron Hand did indeed stop being obsessed with the so-called immortal body, it did not mean that their mentality had truly become peaceful.

On the contrary, once they stopped believing in the idea of ​​mixing steel and flesh, the burning flame in their hearts changed its target.

Flesh and blood were no longer seen as weak and feeble, but rather as a path worth pursuing, certified by the Primarch: the pursuit of muscle and strength became a new trend within the Legion.

But at the same time, steel cannot be neglected.

Since it's impossible to transform the body into steel, then let's carry on and develop the original path.

So while some of the Iron Hands became obsessed with forging their bodies to be stronger than steel, others flocked to the forges, obsessed with creating the most powerful war monsters they could imagine: to give their clans an advantage in the legionary competition.

The flesh and blood have disappeared, but this does not mean that the Iron Hand Legion has undergone a fundamental transformation.

After realizing this, Feralus also began to think about his responsibilities.

Sometimes, he would wonder whether his actions of urging the ten clans of the legion to separate and compete with each other were more beneficial or harmful than beneficial.
Objectively speaking, this intense internal struggle did indeed greatly enhance the fighting capacity of the Iron Hand.

But at the same time, the fact that the children who emerged from Medusa became so extreme is also related to this competition.

This was the case with the previous fanaticism for immortality.

In battle, a body made of steel is certainly more useful than a body of pure flesh and blood: in order to accumulate more glory than other clans in the Great Crusade, many steel-armed individuals are willing to undergo modifications even when their limbs are intact.

After the Primarch repeatedly emphasized this, the pursuit of personal martial prowess and the creation of even more insane war machines became the best way to defeat rivals in internal competition, naturally creating a new fanaticism within the Iron Hand.

Even Ferrus couldn't think of a reason to stop these trends.

Exercise your physical body.

Build powerful war machines.

None of these seem to be bad things.

Moreover, as long as Feralas continues to encourage this kind of competition within the Legion, there will always be new paths to power that ignite fervor in the hearts of the Iron Hand.

However, if it were to be abolished, Feralus felt somewhat reluctant to do so.

Since that's the case, let's just let it be for now.

In any case, the idea of ​​clearly separating flesh and steel is much better than combining them into one.

Driven by the competitive spirit, the various clans of the Iron Hands have indeed produced more powerful warriors. Their martial arts skills have become increasingly refined, and at the same time, ever-greater war machines are constantly emerging from the forges: each one, with its strength and magnificence, seems to have been personally watched over by the legendary god of war.

All of this pleased Gorgon.

Because he knows.

When he decides to go to war, these tough soldiers and fierce machines will become his assets.

Half a century of peace did not weaken the Iron Hand Legion; on the contrary, it made it stronger.

More powerful than ever.

No one knows this better than Feralus.

After the Iron Hand took his leave, his Gene Father calculated his own power in his mind.

What the Primarch cares about most is a number: a number that best represents the Iron Hand.

That is, in a battle, the number of Morlock Terminator troops that can be quickly deployed to the battlefield, personally commanded by him, and capable of directly defeating any opponent.

It symbolizes many issues: its members are all veterans and high-ranking members of the Iron Hand Legion, who are directly under the command of the Primarch on the battlefield. Each of them has at least a hundred years of combat experience, and their armor modifications are all different, with the most lethal modifications made according to the user's habits.

Most Morlock Terminators are just as powerful as the Dreadnoughts.

And this number, on Ulanno, on the eve of the Emperor's departure for the Great Expedition, was ten thousand.

With these 10,000 men, Felus was confident he could break through the defenses of 100,000 Astartes, even if their commander was also a Primarch.

However, this number is now outdated.

Fifty years of accumulation and continuous refinement: now, the number that Gorgon can truly trust is no longer ten thousand.

It arrived at: 50,000.

Fifty thousand battle-hardened Morlock Terminators.

Fifty thousand steel warriors who could be directly commanded by him to tear through any defense with a frontal assault.

This is Felus-Marus's greatest asset in the face of the upcoming war.

With this force, he believed.

Regardless of which side in the war is the traitor.

He could single-handedly wipe out all those traitors who dared to betray the Lord of Mankind.

Let their blood glorify the great emperor.

------

Today felt like my brain and fingers had separated.

Also, this is the update for today's daytime, which I mentioned in yesterday's update. Tonight's update will be released later: The manuscript is finished, and the next step is to revise those few thousand words.

Then I can write about Johnson and Guilliman: Let me think how to write about these two rivals?

(End of this chapter)