Emperor's Bane

Chapter 916 Entering the Online Path
Then, you entered the online world.

[And have they been wandering in there ever since?]

Once Ivar's story reached a clear plot point, Morgan was able to deduce what would happen next without Ivar saying anything.

This level of reasoning is incredibly simple, and it's not entirely without theoretical basis: at least when the Emperor revealed his grand plan to Morgan, the Lord of Terra specifically mentioned humans, and at least Astartes, who could survive in the Webpath for a long time.

And, most importantly...

The Spider Queen's gaze shifted slightly, from the distant mountains that resembled knights of the night, along the silver river of Dawnbreaker warriors, all the way to the dazzling Web Gate before her, her trusted followers gathered around her, and the [new child] kneeling before her.

Most importantly, the identification of these lost Legion members has been confirmed by the Primarch and numerous Terran veterans, yielding a result that satisfies the Primarch: Ivar and the others are indeed undoubtedly Morgan's sons, their blood also carries the mark of the Dawnbreakers, and their loyalty to the Legion and the Primarch is beyond question.

that's enough.

As for the rest, they are not important.

Morgan didn't care how much new fighting power these lost souls would bring her upon their return: for the current ruler of Avalon, even if the returning warriors included legendary figures comparable to Bayar, or if they brought back the strongest secret weapon from the Dawnbreaker Legion, it wouldn't cause her much emotional fluctuation.

The Spider Queen has long since passed the vulnerable stage where she needed to rely on the strength of her offspring and army.

At least in Morgan's view, those Primarchs who regard their Legions as their ultimate trump card are merely minors among their many brothers. The truly mature Imperial bloodline does not need to rely on any external force; their very existence can easily overturn the balance of the galaxy. Having a Legion is like adding wings to a tiger for them, but not having a Legion will not affect their true power.

Just as an archangel remains an archangel worthy of admiration even without the Blood Angels; even without commanding the Imperial Fists, Rogdorn is still the most outstanding defensive mastermind in the entire Empire; even if he is estranged from the Dark Angels, no one can deny Johnsen's exceptional swordsmanship and command abilities; even Guilliman, whose greatest work in his life, Five Hundred Worlds, actually has little to do with his Ultramarines Legion.

And the Spider Queen is the same kind of person.

Even without the Dawnbreakers, the Spider Queen could have achieved everything she has now: her status within the Primarchs, her territory in Avalon, the psionic scriptures, and her right to intervene in the Webpath Wars. Without the Second Legion's help, the process might have been more complicated, and the outcome might not have been as spectacular, but fundamentally, there would have been no difference.

A warring legion without a network channel?
At worst, Avalon could be fully opened to Johnson, along with the real secrets of the Web. In any case, the Lion of Caliban certainly wouldn't mind his dearest sister borrowing 120,000 Dark Angels: they might be even more suited to fighting the Comoros than the Dawnbreakers, and Morgan would be just as comfortable commanding them.

Therefore, the problem is that simple.

Morgan had no dependence on the Legion, so there was no need for her to have any more pedantic expectations. She simply welcomed her long-lost offspring like an ordinary mother: although she did not feel the tension she had when she first reunited with the entire Legion, she was still moved by a faint warmth in her heart. This complex and subtle emotion could not be described in words, and even the Lord of Avalon found it somewhat novel.

If I really had to say...

Unbeknownst to her, the Spider Queen may have come to understand the Emperor's feelings back then—the feelings of the Lord of Man when, after recovering the vast majority of the Primarchs, the last few of his returning offspring were not exactly agitated, nor were they entirely indifferent. Rather, it was a weariness and resignation that could only be shown to his children after being busy dealing with the myriad affairs of the outside world.

Isn't she the same now?
Faced with the immense pressure of the online war, she had no time to give these poor children more maternal affection.

Putting yourself in her shoes, is there any fundamental difference between her indifference and the Emperor's behavior back in Nukenia? It's just that her situation wasn't as dire, allowing her to employ the Emperor's appeasement tactics with Corax, but fundamentally, they are no different.

【…】

wrong!

Morgan hates that he's becoming more and more like his genetic father without even realizing it.

But necessary things still need to be done.

For example, those two Phoenix Lords: Fortunately, Ivar still clearly remembered the specific appearances of these aliens.

So, have you tracked them down?

Morgan continued to ask questions, while also adjusting his posture somewhat impatiently: the rock under his buttocks, though worn as smooth as possible, was still far inferior to the cushion on the Aurora, and even less so to the lap pillow of his beloved daughter, Virgo.

Speaking of Virgo, Morgan found himself missing her quite a bit during the days he was away.

And I also have some concerns.

Hopefully, her eldest daughter won't let her down.

After all, if she hadn't been unable to find a suitable and satisfactory candidate, the Spider Queen wouldn't have handed over full control of Blackrock Fortress to her eldest daughter. Although Virgo wasn't actually in charge of the actual operation, Morgan, who was in charge of the operation, was really worried: if she handed it over completely, who knew how many of the six Blackrock Fortresses would stay in Avalon peacefully after she returned.

But there's no way around it; there are only so many people who are absolutely loyal.

And Rana is indeed too busy.

At least the Primarch was certain that she had actually pushed her Chief of the Guard to the limit, but she just couldn't leave Ranado a few helpers: to be honest, if Morgan hadn't left enough backup plans before setting off, she really wouldn't have been able to let Ranado take charge of everything by himself, that would definitely have caused trouble.

After all, with Horus's keen sense of smell, it was impossible for him not to notice the strangeness in Avalon.

And a wolf god who is eyeing the world with predatory intent?
Honestly, it's still quite scary.

In fact, if Lucy hadn't fainted, she would have been the most suitable candidate: unfortunately, she had to leave her father and daughter on the Aurora.

This was a special request from the emperor.

Who knows what that old man is thinking?

Thinking of this, the Primarch sighed inwardly.

While she was lost in thought, Ivar, who was kneeling before the Mother of Genes, and the other leaders who were also qualified to be the first to meet the Primarch, were also having a mental breakdown: putting everything else aside, the fact that there was a Mother of Genes was already shocking enough, something that had never been expected by them.

Before Ivar and his companions entered the Webpath, the Imperium of Man had already experienced the return of several Primarchs, and Ivar and his companions had indeed met some of them. Although their impressions of these Imperial bloodlines may not have been consistent, one thing was a common sense that no one would consider: the offspring of an Emperor should rightfully be his sons.

As for the daughter?

Well, that's certainly shocking: it's at least enough to require taking a deep breath.

However, Ivar did not doubt anything further.

Long before they rashly attacked the Webpath out of hatred, the Fifth Fleet had communicated with the Legions that were fortunate enough to welcome back their Primarchs. It was during those exchanges that they learned of an extremely strong psychological connection between the Astartes and the Primarchs: as long as you can see your Primarch with your own eyes, no Astarte can mistake him for someone else.

You will instinctively know: that is your original self.

Ivar himself has proven this statement.

When he looked up in the netherworld and sensed an extremely powerful psionic energy fluctuation, he instinctively looked toward the source of this aura that filled him with awe and familiarity. Despite the great distance between them and the unfamiliarity of this psionic energy, Ivar could swear on his life with just one glance.

That was his original form.

It will absolutely not go wrong.

Every cell in his body, every ounce of his soul, was reminding him of this.

Looking back now, this encounter seems almost like a fairy tale.

And that's exactly what happened next.

Ivar clearly remembered that when the soul of their Mother of Genes realized that the person before her was her child, she hesitated only briefly before giving Ivar her first order: gather everyone around her and follow her to the exit of the Webway, where the Primarch and the main force of the Legion would come to join them.

Sadly, this was not a particularly difficult command.

It is impossible to know exactly how long Ivar and the others were trapped in the Web, but based on their rough calculations and the wear and tear on their armor, the time they experienced should have been slower than the flow rate in the real universe. However, this does not mean that the Web was safe; the battles they experienced were no less than those in the Great Crusade.

Having trekked all the way here, of the more than 300 warriors who rushed into the network channel in a fit of rage back then, only 267 remain. The only thing to be thankful for is that they have preserved their gene seeds intact over the years, whether they were before or after entering the network channel, and most of these gene seeds are still usable.

The reasons for the casualties are varied: most of the network paths are not safe havens, and various dangerous species or indescribable things roam among them. Even Astartes would pay a bloody price, not to mention some hidden dangers in the rifts or spacetime turbulence. Once you get involved, you will be torn apart.

Surprisingly, through careful planning and exhausting resources after each battle, Ivar and his team did not starve. They even retained enough ammunition to fight several more battles, as well as a large number of early Expedition weapons that, although outdated, were still in excellent condition.

It's a pity that the current empire hasn't fallen to the point of treating these semi-antiques as treasures.

On the contrary, a significant portion of the truly important ancient weapons have inevitably worn down.

But that's not the most shameful thing.

When Ivar and all his surviving brothers finally emerged from that damned gate and stood once again in the void of the real universe, the drastically different environment and the long period of acclimatization nearly made these indomitable warriors lose their footing. However, the Dawnbreaker army, already appearing on the distant horizon, their familiar faces and gleaming breastplates, still filled Ivar and his companions with immense happiness and pride.

The legion did not split; instead, they were united as never before. In that army that was gradually approaching them from the horizon, Ivar and the others saw no distinct differences: there were no distinctions of which fleet number, nor the indifference and unfamiliarity that had once torn the entire legion apart. All they could see was a united force, an army that obeyed orders in the name of the Dawnbreakers.

Without a doubt, a large part of this is thanks to their original genes.

For the soldiers who had witnessed firsthand how their beloved legion had fallen into disarray, nothing could be happier than seeing this scene unfold before their eyes.

Not to mention, the most glorious pursuit of an Astartes warrior also comes one after another.

Although the Primarch himself was somewhat beyond their expectations, being able to recognize their genetic mother was an immense honor: the loyalty and excitement from the deepest part of their bloodline were enough to temporarily erase their rationality and immerse them in boundless joy.

Not to mention, as the main force approached, the unfamiliar yet familiar faces in front of them brought Ivar and the others back to more than a hundred years ago: those brothers who had fought side by side in the unification war and the early stages of the Great Expedition were still alive today, and they looked great, radiating the health and glory of warriors.

After many years, I embraced my comrades-in-arms again: the emotions I felt were beyond words.

But at the same time, a different kind of sorrow, like a fishbone deeply embedded in the heart, belatedly began to gnaw at the nerves of Ivar and the others in front of the proud eyes and gleaming breastplates of their fighting comrades: nothing reminds you of your own failures and pain more than the current success and glory of those you know.

Your brothers are also laden with honors, but what about you? All you show them is dejection.

For Astartes, this seemingly insurmountable gap does not arouse their envy.

Instead, there was more pain and humiliation.

Even afterward, they did many things to distract themselves: whether it was accepting questions and checks from their fellow Terran warriors to make sure they were really the Fifth Fleet, or watching the main force of the Dawnbreaker Legion gradually arrive at the Webway and head towards the world that had tormented them for decades, while being indoctrinated with what had happened in the Legion, the Empire, and the galaxy during their absence.

Many things are truly thought-provoking.

The mother of genes? There's no need to be surprised again.

The Dawnbreaker? The name is somewhat strange, but it's a good name among all the Legions.

Far Eastern frontier, twenty Primarchs, and those newly joined warriors: these terms sound like they're in the realm of quick understanding.

As for the War General Horus?
Ah, this requires some mental preparation.

Why not their original form?

Randan, Nikaia, Ulano... What does it mean that the Great Expedition is over?

Marching into Comoros?

Well: all the bad news from before seems acceptable in the face of this good news.

And with the Emperor?
What else is there to complain about?
Too many questions, too many things missed because of this damned battle and the journey through the net, were crammed into the minds of the Losers in the shortest amount of time.

Even so, nothing new could wash away the shame born of failure deep in their souls.

At least, when Ivar knelt on the ground and answered his Primarch's first question, the Lord of the Lost's teeth chattered with rage.

A single sentence from the Mother of Genetics was enough to remind him of the difficult years of the past.

For Astartes, what could be more painful than admitting defeat and powerlessness before your Primarch?

"I'm sorry, my lord."

Call her Mother.

Morgan insisted on changing his mind.

"Yes, Mother."

【…】

The Spider Queen fell silent, but this time, she wisely refrained from continuing her obsession.

Because Ivar's voice sounds...very bad.

"We have been unable to find them."

"By the time we stormed into the network, the entire Eldar army had vanished without a trace: it was as if we weren't on the same path as them."

“In the period that followed, we also encountered Eldar armies several times in the Webway. Although the vast majority of them were not Ark Eldar, we fought against them all: the most recent engagement was about two to three months ago, when we suffered a defeat after a conflict with a large Dark Eldar army and were forced to retreat to an unknown area deep within the Webway.”

[Dark Eldar?]

The name made Morgan's brow twitch.

Is it from Comoros?

“It should be.” Ivar hesitated for a moment.

“In fact, we were once very close to the edge of the Comoros.”

[And therefore, were they hunted down?]

"no."

Ivar shook his head.

“These Dark Eldar have a very clear objective; they may be seeking revenge for our repeated raids on convoys bound for Comoros.”

Ivar paused for a moment at this point.

"Furthermore, it was during that battle that we encountered an exceptionally powerful Dark Eldar who called himself Drazar, the Nightmare Lord of Comoros. He came looking for us because we were able to kill Kinzar: he killed at least twenty to thirty of his battle brothers in the fight, and we were no match for him and his legion."

(Drazar, the Nightmare Lord of Comoror, is generally considered to be Ahra, the founder of the Assault Scorpions, the only Phoenix Lord to choose corruption.)
[The Lord of Nightmares, Draazar?]

Morgan stroked his chin.

For the human empire, the Eldar have always been a formidable adversary worthy of in-depth study, and the renowned Phoenix Lords are no strangers: though some Phoenix Lords are notoriously elusive. However, the Spider Queen has a well-read and experienced advisor who is happy to share information about this ancient enemy with this Primarch, who possesses unique abilities regarding the Eldar.

Who knows if it will work?

In any case, from Ivar's description, which was given a long time ago and not very clear, Morgan quickly determined the identities of the two Phoenix Lords.

This also means that these two aliens have now officially been added to the Spider Queen's kill list. Regardless of whether they wanted to start a war or not, they genuinely led their armies to slaughter thousands of Dawnbreakers. The Lord of Avalon will not tolerate such an offense; she will only make the Ark Idas shed more blood.

The deaths and injuries of hundreds are far from enough.

The Terra veterans who fought in that war clearly saw the signs of several Ark worlds: they had better pray they never run into Morgan again.

[Very good, I've remembered this name.]

[And those two Phoenix Lords: they should be Kinzhal and Morgana, I will remember them too.]

[The next time we meet, I will act as your genetic prototype to settle these old scores.]

The Spider Queen made her first promise.

As for Ivar and the others' reaction: judging from appearances alone, these warriors who had finally returned to the legion only swayed slightly. No one knew what they were thinking. After a while, Ivar answered in a very low, somewhat weak voice that seemed completely out of character for him.

“We will handle this ourselves, Mother. This is the Fifth Fleet’s hatred…”

[That's also my hatred.]

Morgan waved his hand; the Lord of Avalon was already well-versed in how to use his authority as the Primarch of Genesis appropriately.

This is why her interactions with the survivors of the Fifth Fleet always seemed a bit strange, at least the Primarch herself found it strange. She seemed to be in a powerful position that she found very uncomfortable. This indescribable feeling annoyed Morgan and made her somewhat worried: mainly worried about how her descendants would perceive her.

But Ivar seems to accept it well.

Especially after the Primarch said those words without any consideration and as if it were perfectly natural.

I am the Primarch.

I am your Mother, Your Lord, Your Leader.

Your affairs are my affairs, your glory is my glory, and your hatred should naturally be carried out through my hands.

This is my right, and also my duty.

【certainly……】

Morgan then changed the subject.

Of course I understand your feelings.

The Primarch stood up. She slowly walked to Ivar and the others, helping them up one by one, gently patting their shoulders. Her blue eyes swept over every face weathered by the trials of the Web, and she calmly met the gaze of each of her offspring, communicating in silence, until the anger in their hearts subsided and they willingly bowed their heads in respect to the Primarch.

The Lord of Avalon was pleased to sense the newly returned warriors; their heartbeats were noticeably faster than they had been a few seconds earlier.

Morgan's voice echoed in their ears, ensuring it would be implanted in their hearts.

I understand your anger.

I can understand your humiliation.

I know you may think I'm too cold and distant, but please believe me, I'm not a naive mother, nor am I a Primarch who has just encountered my Legion and knows nothing: I've unified my Legion for over a hundred years, and I know what you truly need.

I'm never stingy.

With his back to his offspring, standing in the shadows where only one person could see him, Morgan stretched out his hand and clenched his fist with contentment.

This is a completely different feeling.

It had been a long time since she last addressed her newly recognized offspring—a long time even for the Primarch—and the difference was striking: Morgan was somewhat surprised that her attitude toward her offspring seemed to have shifted to one of more disdain, yet also one of responsibility. However, she herself didn't actually dislike this change.

how to say?

She may really be becoming more and more like an emperor.

She didn't like it, but had to admit it.

Moreover, judging from the steady breathing of the Fifth Fleet's Dawnbreakers behind her and the lack of any unusual spiritual manifestations, they could accept it: it was understandable, and few Astartes would believe that the Primarch could steal their honor.

Moreover, Ivar and the others were actually in a slightly similar situation to the main force of the Dawnbreakers back then: before reuniting with their Primarchs, they had not been able to achieve anything proud on their own battlefields. Instead, they were in the midst of a painful defeat or a gloomy situation. The dejection brought about by this defeat, coupled with the Primarch's innate majesty, naturally made these warriors appear very weak.

Even if Morgan went any further, they wouldn't resist in the slightest.

After all, no matter how brutal the Spider Queen is, she wouldn't be so brutal as to use eleven draws to kill someone.

Besides, she never intended to do that in the first place.

I know what you want.

The Spider Queen turned around and met the gaze of each of her offspring who dared to look at her with equality.

Therefore, as the Primarch, I hereby issue my first command to you.

Morgan nodded to Ivar, who humbly acknowledged his obedience.

"Your will, my lord."

"We are your most loyal soldiers."

I have no doubt about that.

The Spider Queen smiled.

Therefore, I believe you will be able to execute my next orders perfectly.

------

Listen.

[By the will of the Primarch.]

My lost children.

From this moment forward, I accept you, I trust you, I believe you are my children, and I welcome you back to the Legion: in the name of the Emperor, from this day forward you are the Dawnbreakers, members of the Second Legion, sons treated equally before me.

You will have a place in my kingdom.

You will have a place of rest on my ship.

You will have seats in my most trusted advisors and council, your talents recognized; my throne room will always be open to you; my armory will always provide you with the finest weapons and armor; my people will regard you as true brothers and comrades-in-arms; and I will fulfill my duties and responsibilities as Primarch and Mother, expecting you to serve as faithfully as your brothers in arms.

Therefore, I issue you this order: I demand that you fulfill my expectations.

Listen to my words, my children.

In the name of the Lord of the Dawnbreakers, the Queen of the Far East, of the Imperial bloodline, Primarch Morgan, from this very moment on, I command you, my warriors, to protect yourselves at all costs and survive: As many Ragnar heirs stand before me now, I only wish to see the same number thereafter.

"..."

Ivar raised his head slightly, but he did not properly judge the Primarch's command.

I know your honor as warriors, I know your justice as avengers, and I know it is wrong to stifle that honor and justice. Therefore, I will not exclude you from the war, I will not refuse your request to join the conquest of Comoros. You are also Dawnbringers, and you also have the right to fight and shed blood.

As the Primarch, I also have the right to demand that you survive the battles to come.

Only in this way will you not miss your sacred revenge, and only then will I have the opportunity to fight alongside each of you.

Only then can we, like a true mother and child, like the true Primarch and his offspring, seek our common enemy in this mad galaxy: when those aliens attacked you with their tainted blades, they attacked me; when they harmed you and your brothers with vile means, they harmed me, and they harmed my children.

Therefore, I have reason to seek revenge: I, like you, yearn for their bodies to be burned.

And I will dedicate myself to this.

Morgan extended his five fingers, then slowly clenched them into a fist, as if he were holding the heads of the three thrones in his palm.

[Ginzar, Morgana, and Derazar, the day I met them was the day of their deaths.]

And each of you will have a share in this great river of revenge.

We will stand united.

We will avenge ourselves.

We will kill them, despise them: until every alien in your memory has drowned in its own arrogance and bloodshed.

【Then……】

At this point, the Primarch paused for a moment.

She raised her head, her gaze passing over her subservient offspring, across distant, rolling mountains and the faintly visible snow, through the stars, the piercing starlight, through the imprints of time and space, heading straight towards the absurdity that occurred on the other side of the Milky Way.

She looked at Terra, at the sun, and at the clash between the Empire and the Wolf God.

There, a war between brothers is taking place.

Then, I will take you away from the conflicts within the web, to witness the true war across the galaxy.

Do not grieve for missing the Great Expedition, my loyal sons: you now face a war that will truly determine the fate of humanity.

You will see it too.

How brothers kill each other.

How a child kills their father.

All vows and bonds of friendship will be torn to shreds in this war.

【…】

Morgan paused for a moment.

She gazed into the distance, as if her gaze could reach the Holy Terra or Fenris.

The original muttered to itself.

[Right now: It has already begun.]

(End of this chapter)