Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 774: Memorable Scene Check-in, or the Beginning of Their Diverging Fates
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Lucius's blatant swagger in front of a pack of moon wolves undoubtedly propelled the atmosphere to a new level.

"Hey! Lucius! Gavial says he wants to have a sword duel with you!"

"I didn't. Don't talk nonsense."

“Are you afraid of this kid?” Togarden asked. “When it comes to swordsmanship, none of us are better than you, Gavial. You should teach him a lesson.”

Loken shrugged. "You've all seen the past fifteen minutes. After such a superb swordsmanship demonstration, do you really expect me to defeat any of them with a sword?"

"What are you saying? Do you want him to think that Shadowmoon Wolf is afraid of him? Him? This kid?" Asimand looked as unhappy as a burly bulldog pawing at its hind legs.

The chief company commander walked over and, together with Asimand, flanked Loken on either side, pushing him toward the entrance of the gladiator cage.

“Hey!” Loken protested, struggling. “I didn’t mean to fight him!”

"Shut up!" Abaddon's voice boomed like an ancient mastiff. "The Legion's honor forbids you from backing down, kid!"

"Then why don't you go and fight him yourself? I heard you're considered the most outstanding warrior and hero in the Great Expedition. Shouldn't it be you who takes the lead in upholding honor?"

Abaddon turned his head fiercely to look for the one who had spoken out at the wrong time, and sure enough, it was the blue-eyed narrator again.

“The affairs of Astartes are none of a mortal’s business,” he said grimly, raising his massive fist menacingly at the other man. “Don’t think too highly of yourself, Chronicler. Even if you’ve recently gained the Warmaster’s favor, don’t assume you can boss around superhumans like us…”

“Alright, alright, Azekael.” Eribus came over from the side, pressing down on Abaddon’s wrist with seemingly gentle but firm strength. “This is a time for us to relax and chat. The distinction between superiors and subordinates isn’t so strict, you know, like… it’s hard for me to say, so let’s not be so serious, okay?”

The chief platoon leader of Shadowmoon Wolf stared at the chief priest of the Word Bearers for a while, then finally snorted and relaxed his muscles.

“This is for your sake, Chief Pastor.”

“Of course, of course.” Irebas smiled slightly at the blue-eyed narrator, who visibly shivered.

Then he turned to Loken, who was being supported by his companions, and said, "Perhaps you should go up and give it a try, Gavial, just as a friendly match to build rapport?"

Lucius was walking to the edge and wiping his sweat with a towel offered by a servant when he heard this and chuckled softly. Tavitz frowned, and Asimand glared at him.

“Did you hear that?” Abaddon nudged Loken with his broad shoulder, making him stumble. “What are you dawdling for! Get up there! Let this pretty boy show you how a real wolf pack fights.”

This time it was Ramizan's turn to frown. As if he had just noticed something, his gaze began to linger on Lucius. Of course, the swordsman being watched didn't see anything wrong with it. On the contrary, he generously changed his pose a few times to signal the reporter to take a picture of him.

Loken walked into the iron cage, and Togarden tossed him a training sword. He took it and twirled it a couple of times to test his balance and feel.

Lucius walked back, looking eager to fight. "Come on, let's have a good fight!"

Moon Wolf sighed, "I don't want to compete with you in swordsmanship."

“Then you can admit defeat, I’m very magnanimous,” the emperor’s son said cheerfully.

Even Togarden began urging Loken to fight Lucius, and the tenth company commander reluctantly walked to the center of the gladiator cage.

"I'll say it one last time, I don't want to fight you."

"Why? Because you're afraid you'll be defeated soon?" Lucius clicked his tongue loudly and began to circle around Loken with elegant and light courtly swordsmanship steps, while probing the direction of his attacks.

“No.” Loken sighed, transferring his sword to his left hand. “Because the outcome will be decided quickly.” “Ha! I think so too. Then let me witness the Shadowmoon Wolf’s swordsmanship before I—ah!!!”

The instant Lucius provoked and teased Loken and inadvertently got too close, the tenth company commander of Shadowmoon Wolves clenched his right fist and, with a force of grief and indignation that surprised everyone, viciously struck Lucius's face.

The sound of bones breaking and cracking was crisp and loud.

A fresh smell of blood filled the air.

"Ah," Ramizane said, slightly surprised, "but, Gavial, didn't you... go a little too far?"

Apart from Eribus and Gavial Locken, the other Astartes glared at him.

Thor Tavitz, one of only two sons of the emperor in the area, rushed over to check on Lucius, who was lying on the ground covered in blood.

“We should send him out. And bring the apothecary,” Asimand said in a low voice. “This is not a place for a chronicler to witness.”

"Really? I think it suits you perfectly."

"Enough!" Abaddon strode over, about to grab the mortal who had been defying him and throwing a punch at his hateful face—

"Aizekel".

Abaddon turned angrily. "Locken, if you still want to be his protector—"

Iribus was holding him and smiling at him. “Aizekel, perhaps we should keep this matter within a smaller scope. For example, if we ask this gentleman to leave now, and someone sees that we have brought a pharmacist, it might give people something to say that we have caused an unfortunate incident here and are planning to cover it up by forming some secret little group.”

Ramizan let out a sound that truly sounded like mockery. Loken immediately stepped in front of him, blocking Abaddon and the others' view.

"Then what do you suggest we do? Gavial! The men you brought! The mess you caused!" Abaddon shouted, "Asimand, how's Lucius?"

"He's still unconscious. I think his entire jawbone is fractured, he has a concussion, no doubt, and possibly other injuries as well. By the throne, Gavial Loken, if I didn't know what kind of person you are, I would say you've suddenly gone mad and wanted to murder a fellow Legionnaire of Astartes!"

Loken remained silent, but Ramizan spoke up again, "Uh, Lucius almost killed someone in front of you just now, and you were the ones who made Loken fight him. Now that he's actually been beaten to a pulp by Loken, you're saying Loken hit him too hard. Why do you say whatever you want?"

“Shut up! You mortal!” Even the good-natured Togarden couldn’t help but roar. “Who do you think you are?! Gavial! If I were you, I would throw him back into the Chronicler’s cabin! He would tarnish your reputation as an Astartes and our brothers!”

"Alright, alright, gentlemen and brothers, listen to me. The situation is chaotic right now, but perhaps there is a way to bring things under control within the current number of people."

"What can be done?" Tavitz shouted angrily and urgently. "Although the bleeding in his lariman organs has stopped, he still needs treatment! The internal condition, the bones, the nerves! This is a fatal wound for a swordsman! If it cannot be healed, it will cost him his life on the battlefield!"

"Whoever caused the trouble should deal with it. Perhaps we don't need to summon our apothecary brothers, do we?"

"what?"

Irebas unexpectedly turned to the mortal who had been watching the spectacle.

"Can you heal Lucius for Company Commander Loken, Mr. Ramizane?"

Inside the vengeful spirit's cabin, Saint Gilles saw the War General's brow twitch violently.

(End of this chapter)