Emperor's Bane

Chapter 798 The Honeymoon is Over

【This is a sincere invitation. 】

[Power, trust, and a future: you promised me everything. ]

[But, Sally...]

What is the price?

[The price of all this: What will it make me look like? ]

+...+
＋Become like me. ＋
------

To be fair, Morgan was indeed tempted by the Dark Prince's proposal: although it was only a very brief moment, the Spider Queen was also very clear about the huge benefits and temptations placed before her.

Although she still doubted every word Slaanesh said from the bottom of her heart: no matter whether it was an ambiguous request or a persistent show of goodwill, there were some things that did not require trust or distrust, because the truth of the world was there, and there would be no mistake in it being spoken by the gods.

For example: Only by ascending to the supreme being can one obtain true freedom.

Only by looking up to the gods, becoming the gods, and even surpassing the gods, can one break free from the eternal constraints in the real universe and the subspace: perhaps there are still some constraints above the gods, but the closer one is to the pinnacle of power, the more one can smell the sweet scent of freedom.

If it were a few decades ago, the Spider Queen might have disdained this declaration, but the current Lord of Avalon has already agreed with it from the bottom of his heart: even the entire galaxy is just a chessboard for a few subspace giants to kill their leisure time, and freedom naturally cannot exist on this land.

Just like a chess piece on a chessboard, no matter which square it moves to, it is just a chess piece: its victory, the path it takes, and even its existence itself, all depend solely on the will of the chess player behind it.

Unless the chess piece can jump out: either roll outside the chessboard, escape from the painful but temporarily safe known world, and greet the unknown fog at the end of the sight; or simply fall to pieces, so that the chess players can no longer have fun with their own chess piece.

Of course, if one gambles on extreme luck and sufficient strength, no one would say that a chess piece cannot be upgraded to a new chess player: but this is a territory that no one has ever set foot on, and even the Lord of Mankind is unwilling to move forward rashly.

The reason is simple: to be on par with the gods means that you have to break away from the existing class, go to the deepest part of the warp, embrace a force more powerful than yourself, and merge with it deeply in your soul, without distinction between you and me, before you can wear the crown and ascend the throne as a god.

After this, you will sit on the throne of the Warp forever, with your own authority and ability as the only standard for doing things: no matter who you were before, after wearing the supreme crown of the Warp, you naturally become everything the crown represents.

So, did you devour the throne and the power it bestowed, and ascend to become a god, or did the power of the throne devour you, leaving behind only the memory of going your own way: there has never been any gentleness or justice in the warp, and the truth may be far more cruel than you can imagine.

This is also the main reason why the Emperor, Morgan and others are afraid to take action: Ascension is indeed fascinating, but who knows what kind of person the person sitting on the throne is? Who knows when the eyes under the crown look at the real universe again, will he still have the same perseverance in his heart?

Even worldly power, wealth, and status are enough to corrupt a saint, let alone the authority of God?

Similarly, this is also the reason why the Lord of Mankind, although knowing the power of faith, always hesitates and refuses to officially become the object of worship of the entire human race: the Emperor knows how powerful the power of faith is, and he cannot be sure whether he will be swallowed up by it.

But for Morgan, the situation is even more dangerous.

No matter how tempting and sweet the plan proposed by the Dark Prince is, don't forget that it was spoken by a true evil god of the Warp: Is a god who massacres the race closely related to him the moment he is born really worth trusting?
The Chaos Gods are fickle, but this is a common trait among them. Don't think that only Tzeentch is good at betrayal and lies. Slaanesh is also not a sincere master: how can a god who represents desire be calm? How can a god who represents emptiness really have a sincere heart?

Even a brave and skilled champion warrior like Sharathi could be banished to the cold palace by Slaanesh almost permanently because of a small defeat. The story of the Masked Dancer is well known: although it was because the Dark Prince did not understand his intentions, the demon only received punishment rather than an apology.

These are the accurate information that the Spider Queen obtained through various channels: Although she is well aware that in the eyes of the gods, the value of any Primarch is far beyond the reach of just a few great demons, Morgan does not think that this value will be very high.

Look at Khorne's attitude towards Angron.

Who can say that the Lord of the Brass Throne doesn't value Angron?
But what does this attention bring?
So: in the final analysis, the Primarchs are just precious objects in their eyes.

If she was the one most favored by Slaanesh among all the objects, then the Lord of Avalon might choose to believe it. But what if the Dark Prince was willing to respect her as a precious object from the bottom of his heart and was even willing to share eternal power with her?
Morgan thought he didn't have that kind of charm yet.

She was no Sanguinius: she was just a mediocre person with little popularity and eloquence.

Perhaps Magnus would believe that he was the destined son of destiny, perhaps Horus would think that he was the more special one, perhaps Perturabo would admire her wisdom and think that she could communicate with the gods on an equal footing: but arrogance has never been Morgan's basic color.

Humility, even low self-esteem, is the way.

Therefore, Morgan doubted Slaanesh's sincerity.

Reasonable suspicion.

The more exaggerated and fawning the Dark Prince behaved in front of her, the more awed and wary Morgan became: to her, the thousands of words of love poured out by Slaanesh were not as attractive as the historical stories he told her.

What's more: Even if Slaanesh really showed the most sincere attitude, even if the Dark Prince wanted to join forces with Morgan from the bottom of his heart and share the victory of the big game, it did not mean that this was a safe plan, nor did it mean that Morgan should accept it blindly.

No matter how generous the reward is, you still have to consider your success rate and failure rate, right?

Even the Spider Queen could react quickly and realize how much of a gamble the Dark Prince's plan was. In comparison, Magnus's behavior on Nikea was very cautious, and the Lord of Mankind was also very careful and meticulous in dealing with the relationships with the various Primarchs.

simply put……

How could he be sure that Morgan would be able to devour all of Heydrich?
How could He be sure that Morgan would be accepted into the throne of slavery and tyranny?

How could He ensure that, by crossing two or even three realms, the Primarch's physical body would not be completely torn apart?
He promised Morgan everything: but was Morgan really worthy of mastering it all?

Become a god? Or even become a god across three realms at once?

What a joke!
You know, even until today, the four existing gods in the Warp are unable to fully control their own domains: in Tzeentch's kingdom, there is the Well of Eternity, which even he is afraid to attack, and Nurgle has always been ambiguous about the cycle of life and death, and often appears like a lame duck.

As for Khorne, if the Blood God really controls everything about war, then his army should not be so furious and mindless: perhaps there are followers of order under Khorne, but compared to those mindless butchers, the God of War is too weak.

The above three are all veteran players who have been sitting on their thrones since the War in Heaven. However, even after spending 60 million years, they have not been able to completely master even one corner of the Chaos Octagon: there are still obvious gaps in their own authority that have not been taken care of.

On this basis, where did the Dark Prince get the confidence to think that Morgan could hold three powers in just a few years?
Why just a few years?

Do you think such a big move will not attract the attention of the other three gods?
No matter how cautious the Dark Prince and her early actions are, when Morgan is promoted to the God of Slavery and Tyranny, both universes will be shocked: the offensive of the other three gods and the Lord of Humanity will be continuous like a tide.

In this situation, let Morgan lead the legion to the battlefield of Holy Terra?
And then let the other three gods watch her devour the essence of the Emperor?
Even the Primarch himself doesn't have this confidence.

But then again...

[I can probably guess what you want to do with me? ]

Although the speculations and doubts in his heart were as unstoppable as the tide during the flood season, the Primarch's brain was still working as usual: when Slaanesh's narration stopped, only sixteen breaths later, Morgan raised his head and met those purple eyes with a confident tone.

＋What to do? ＋

Slaanesh's question was tinged with laughter: clearly expecting some kind of answer.

【That’s not hard to guess, is it?】

The Primarch smiled.

[Assuming that we can really steal Heydrich out during the chaos of the Great Heresy, so that I can devour him at ease, it is nothing more than a loophole in the warp: the throne of slavery and tyranny belongs to Heydrich. I was not a candidate for it from the beginning, and it will never accept me. ]

[However, if I can use my unique connection with Heydrich to completely devour his essence, then I may indeed be able to ascend to the throne of the South.]

[Strictly speaking, it was Heydrich who was able to ascend the throne of the due south, and the throne accepted Heydrich's fate of becoming a god, but because everything about Heydrich is in my body, I am the one who actually holds the power: this is a beautiful provocation to the rules of the subspace.]

+...+
Slaanesh said nothing, only licked his lips hungrily over and over.

+You once again made me realize why the Lord of Change is so concerned about you? +

The Dark Prince paused.

+Don't worry, I won't give you to her no matter what. +
Morgan ignored the words.

【But that’s not the problem.】

Her tone cooled.

[The problem is that, although it seems that I will have the thrones and authority of three realms in one fell swoop under the best circumstances, there is actually a clear sequence of events, as well as a trap that you deliberately hid: something you deliberately left unsaid in your grand plan.]

+...+
The Primarch and the God looked at each other.

A smile and silence.

+What can I hide? +
Now, the Dark Prince's words could no longer slip into Morgan's ears.

[According to your statement, the one related to me among the four remaining thrones in the warp is the throne located in the west. That is the true path to godhood that I may have, but I can only choose it last: because its appearance means the end of everything.]

[That is to say, I must give up the path that suits me best and forcibly seize the other two powers in an inappropriate manner: and considering that if I want to snatch something from the Emperor, I must have his equal power, so my first choice can only be Heydrich's throne. ]

[However, if I follow your previous description and method, I can indeed use tricks to ascend to Hedrich's throne, but the one who ascends to godhood is not me. It is Hedrich who is devoured by me: I can only master the power of the gods, but this power will not recognize me as its master.]

[That is to say, there will be a god-like power in my body that is not completely obedient to me for a long time. Not to mention whether it will burst my body: How can I drag this sweet burden to Holy Terra and defeat my father in battle? ]

That is impossible.

Morgan shook his head, rejecting the plan with a word of affirmation.

【unless……】

But soon, she changed the subject and stared coldly at the smiling Slaanesh. [Unless I can attract a powerful helper during the period of ascending the throne of the south and defeating the Emperor, so that I can get another god-like power to support me, help me to deal with the divine power in my body, and go to Holy Terra in a delicately balanced posture.]

[As a price, on this journey to Terra, I will have to rely more and more on this god who is willing to help me. Our essences will be integrated as much as possible. I will never be able to separate myself from Him again, and I will form an alliance of flesh and blood with Him: no matter whether this is what I want or not.]

[I will lose everything I have mastered before: in exchange for gaining power beyond the gods in the future.]

【And this is the part of your sweet plan that you didn't tell me.】

[We will usher in eternity: but that is not the eternity I will actively choose. ]

+...+
"Crack...crack...crack..."

In the deep space, the dark prince applauded intermittently.

＋How long did it take you to figure all this out? ＋

【Five breaths: The remaining eleven breaths are used to question yourself. 】

The Primarch twisted her neck; the long confrontation made her body a little stiff.

[I have to admit: apart from the gambler-like nature of this plan and its ridiculously low success rate, this is indeed a very profitable business, and the profits contained in it are enough to seduce the vast majority of people in the galaxy.]

+ But not you, right: my cautious wild fox? +

【…】

Morgan was silent for a moment and took a deep breath.

[Salise, you should know.]

When he opened his eyes again, there was a raging fire burning in the Primarch's pupils, a rage that was enough to burn down worlds and stars.

[What I hate most is being controlled and manipulated by others like a puppet. ]

[No matter what kind of benefits this will bring to me, even if it is beneficial, I will reject it from the bottom of my heart: this has nothing to do with loyalty and persistence in human identity, just because you touched the last red line in my heart, my little remaining dignity. ]

+Dignity... +
Slaanesh whispered the word.

＋You will eventually learn: Dignity is worthless in this galaxy. ＋
【But not today.】

Morgan closed his eyes, and the golden flame in his palm became stronger and stronger.

[At least, I will not choose to give up my dignity today: just like I will not accept your invitation today. ]

＋It's okay. ＋
The Dark Prince stroked his face, imagining that it was the whiteness that belonged to Morgan.

+Like I said, I never expect to convince you in a short time. My patience with you is always unlimited. Morgan, my only flesh and blood in the world: you are the most important existence since I was born, and the only person I want to truly cooperate with since I have my own consciousness. +
【…】

【laugh! 】

Unexpectedly, this sentence received a fierce reaction from the Primarch: Morgan, who had just closed his eyes, shook his head at the evil god with disdain, as if he had heard a big joke. While the Dark Prince was confused, the Primarch slowly danced the flame in his palm.

[Would you like to hear a story, Sally? What you just said reminded me of this story.]

After saying this, without waiting for a response from the Dark Prince, the Spider Queen began to tell her story.

[That was a long, long time ago... well, it was hundreds of years ago. ]

[A few hundred years ago, or even earlier, a young evil god was born in the subspace: He tore apart the race that fed him like a baby, and after enjoying enough flesh and blood, he looked at the real universe and the subspace with greedy eyes.]

[As an evil god, he should have countless great demons and followers, but he feels that all this is far from enough. Just like his predecessors, he longs to be chosen by the most powerful god in the real universe. ]

【A mutually loyal partner: He would have said so at that time. 】

+...+
Slaanesh's expression moved, as if some memories were evoked, and wrinkles began to appear on his flawless face: not because of old age, but because of anger, because of the anger of being reminded of ancient hatred.

+Morgan, you better... +
[Then, this youngest evil god searched throughout the galaxy until he found Terra, where he found a target that satisfied him: a human being so majestic and powerful that he could become the evil god's dream choice and his most powerful blade and partner.]

【Become His...ah, only love.】

+Quiet…+
[However, this human was so depressed at that time. He felt pessimistic about the fate of himself and his race, wandering around like a zombie, and naturally rejected all the enticements from the gods: the youngest gods listed all the temptations they could think of, and promised the entire galaxy and the subspace, but in front of this decadent immortal, all of this was just something he had already experienced.]

[He's already tired of it.]

【Then, the god of desire found that he could not satisfy the desire of the person in front of him: he could not even arouse his own desire. 】

[What a failure...]

+...+
In the direction of Slaanesh, there was only silence, and gnashing of teeth in the darkness.

[But then, the God of Desire suddenly remembered one thing: He still had one last trump card hidden, He had not completely lost the battle in front of him, and there was still a way to seduce this powerful mortal.]

+Shut up...+
[So, He revealed His true form before this mortal, He placed the proudest crown on the mortal's head, and promised this mortal, telling him: This crown will allow this mortal to see the most taboo fantasy in his heart, will let him know once again what he will fight for in his boring life, and will give him endless motivation again.]

[It will help him recognize himself and satisfy his true desires. ]

+Morgan, you... +
【And then: He succeeded. 】

【Salise succeeded.】

Morgan looked at the evil god in front of him and smiled.

[He successfully aroused the most taboo thoughts and desires in the heart of the mortal named Neos at that time.]

[He successfully helped an immortal who was like a walking corpse on Holy Terra to find his life goal again.]

[The immortal Neos, who was supposed to be doing nothing, disappeared. 】

[The Emperor of Terra, who recognized his life goal and aimed to save all mankind, was born at this moment. 】

[With the help of Sally, the Lord of Humanity has stepped onto the stage of the Galaxy. ]

[He will move forward bravely. Until the evil gods have to curse and unite together to stop his golden steps: Who can think that all this is just originated from a newly born evil god who wants to find his victory in the galaxy? ]

【But what greeted Him...was only failure.】

【Totally...】

[Failure...]

+Shut up!!!+

------

Slaanesh was furious, and his roar completely tore apart the dark world before him.

An endless hurricane was coming towards him, and the purple-black mist completely enveloped Morgan in the blink of an eye: but the power of the evil god only lasted for a moment: when the world he created with his own hands was torn apart by his own hands, Morgan in front of him took the opportunity to raise his right arm high.

The flames burned fiercely, and the scorching whirlwind burned the Dark Prince's rage, causing him to roar like a wild beast and look at the Primarch in front of him with a more complex and fanatical gaze: not only was there the flame of anger and rage, but also a doubled desire and the throbbing of conquest.

Holy crap: this is exactly like the Blood God on Nuceria.

Morgan saw it all clearly, but she no longer had the energy to curse: this already crudely made world was trembling in the face of the wrath of the evil god and the fire of the emperor. It was not a good idea to stay here any longer.

What’s more: the Emperor has been urging us for a long time.

Morgan blinked, and once again responded to the Lord of Mankind's inner urging, but unlike before, this time it was a signal that the father and daughter had already agreed upon: an invisible force was drawn from another dimension, ready to take the Spider Queen away safely from the Dark Prince.

Slaanesh did not stop, and his anger came and went quickly: the Lord of the Silver Palace quietly watched Morgan go to another dimension, his face disappeared into the darkness again, and the last impression given to the Spider Queen was an elusive shadow in the endless mist and flames.

Just like...

Forget it: don’t think about it.

Morgan shook her head: What happened next had nothing to do with her.

All the original body had to do was to put two fingers together, press them between his lips, and then slowly throw them out.

A flying kiss in the direction of Slaanesh was Morgan's last and only gift.

Her laughter echoed through the warp.

[The honeymoon is over: My dearest love]

(End of this chapter)