Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 805: Loken also received a trial card as a replacement.
Gavial Locken knelt upright beside the hearth in the shed.

A unique, sweet apple aroma permeates the air.

Well, although the place where Gavial Locken was born was completely barren, let alone having apple trees, and there doesn't seem to be any similar fruit here.

However, his extra olfactory organs and transplanted memories were clearly analyzing and telling him that this taste now represented the sweetness of a ripe, even slightly rotten and fermenting apple.

If Ramizan knew this, he might say, "Akoshub (meaning snake) really does go well with apple flavor."

But Ramizann wasn't here, so Gavial Loken was unaware of this little-known fact on 3K Earth.

Ever since Eribus earnestly and solemnly uttered the so-called "key word" to him, Loken is now dutifully playing the role of a puppet possessed by the will of the demon god in front of the suspicious priestess Akshub.

He let them do as they pleased. They whipped him with smoldering spice branches, and the priestess smeared a crystalline powder that stung his skin with mysterious patterns on his face. She also adorned his power armor with some kind of blood and suspicious leather scrolls covered in ancient designs, all of which he did not resist.

Finally, at the priestess's signal, a bowl of fermented liquid that looked extremely, very, very suspicious was brought to him by the acolyte.

Loken swore that this stuff definitely contained some fragments of local native ingredients and many primitive hallucinogens, and some that might even be snake venom.

Although Astartes might not necessarily be poisoned by drinking it, if he were of sound mind, he would hesitate to drink such blood and flesh products of unknown origin—especially since he knew that these people were deeply involved with the chaos forces of the warp.

He had personally witnessed how Jube expanded and cracked from an Astartes into a monster in a mere instant.

Hopefully, the so-called "nothing is forbidden here" amulet given by the Lord of Steel will be effective against the corruption of the warp demons.

Under the intense gazes of Eribas and Akshub, Loken expressionlessly accepted the bowl of suspicious mixture and drank it down in one gulp.

Then, a strange feeling he had never experienced before began to spread through his body.

Loken knelt on the spot, trying his best to maintain his expression, but when he felt something starting to emerge from his tailbone and cervical vertebrae, and then began to seep into his brain in thin strands, he felt he might not be able to hold back anymore—

A fuzzy sensation brushed against his skin, and Loken felt the subtle intrusion stop immediately. He then began to retreat in alarm.

Someone pulled his train of thought.

Then the surging heat, anxiety, and other emotions suddenly subsided, like a person walking in the shade on a summer day.

He then saw his perspective shift to "floating" above his head, allowing him to see his current appearance as well as the others in the shed who were watching him with concern.

"This……"

He opened his mouth, then immediately realized something was wrong—he shouldn't have spoken!

"It's alright. Speak, they can't hear you, not even this snake."

Loken suddenly turned to the side.

Standing beside him was a semi-transparent Primarch, but it was definitely a real Primarch—Loken immediately realized the strange attraction the other person possessed to the Astartes.

This was unlike the allure of his beloved commander or the captivating angel lord; this man exuded a charm that stirred the heart of any warrior—or, to put it more irresistibly, made them itch with desire—like the feeling one gets when the weapon destined to be wielded suddenly appears before them, a feeling that defies description.

The Primarch who appeared beside him was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with yellow and black striped Toga—or Himadon—hanging off his broad, muscular shoulder, with a steel skull pin with a gear-backed base attached.

When those dark brown eyes swept over him with a coldness that treated him like a number, Loken realized that this might very well be the real one…

"Enough with the nonsense," the Primarch said. "You are currently in an abnormal state of being. This is to isolate you from the warp link between you and your current body, and to ensure that your soul remains uncorrupted."

"Then you...?"

“No need for that. My true self can’t see it either. I’m just an avatar, a fragment, a will, a projection,” the other said. “A talisman.”

"The amulet actually contained..."

"He hopes it is."

The imposing figure said, “According to this operational guideline, I will also answer your questions within the permitted scope. There is no need to worry about this subspace technician during our conversation; her roaming and concealment techniques are indeed very skilled, but our level is completely isolated, and she cannot see us.”

"If you can do that, why do you need me to do it?"

"Because you need to 'witness' it so that you can accept what happens next and cooperate with us."

The other party replied, "While it's entirely possible to directly rewrite your memories and mind, which would save a lot of trouble, if that were the case, how would we be any different from the original?"

Loken didn't know what he originally meant, but the other person's honesty and directness made him feel much better.

"So it requires my 'voluntary' consent... right? Even if I've already made my choice?"

“Yes.” The dark brown eyes stared at him. “He believes that the last thing needed in this universe is the regret, remorse, and hatred of people like you.”

“…That’s good,” Loken replied.

These conversations were completed almost instantaneously between the spirits. Although he had been informed of the safety measures, he was still horrified when he looked down at his own body again.

The person kneeling there—no, that form had largely lost its human appearance—was now crouching over a supernatural, powerful creature whose very back seemed to pierce the roof of the shed. The acolytes had fled in terror to a corner of the shed, while only Eribas and Akshub remained, greedily and admiringly gazing at it. It had a long snout, sharp, interlocking canines protruding from its lips, erect ears, a mane of steel needles, razor-sharp claws, and a long, thick, scaly tail; black, blade-like bony spikes protruded from behind its ears, its head, its elbows, and even its bent heels, bearing the bloodstains from where they had just pierced the skin.

The once pampered, pearl-white power armor was now in ruins, with broken plates hanging from the monster's body, prompting Loken to sigh.

Most strikingly, the wolf-headed monster's exceptionally muscular shoulders bear not just one head, but three ferocious beast heads.

In the center is a blood-red dog's head with brass teeth and eyes as red as burning coals. To the left is a scaly head, resembling a scaly dog's head. From its open mouth, one can see curved, hollow fangs from which potent venom drips. Its forked tongue is long, thin, and soft. To the right is a dog's head with a pointed beak and feathers growing from its fur. The color in its eyes changes constantly. Anyone who stares at them for more than a second will feel dizzy and even feel as if a part of them has been taken away.

“I have never seen such a magnificent creation! I never imagined that the god you spoke of could transform the three-headed dog into this... This person can even make gods who are mortal enemies put aside their wars and become one here!”

“I knew you wouldn’t believe me at first, Akshub. You and I are the same kind of people.” Eribus sneered. “But when you see how the power of the great beings is also controlled by his will, you will also immediately support me. That’s why I brought him here to persuade you.”

Akshub was lost in thought for a while before saying, "What is the name of this great being? Eribas? The temple we built for you over the past sixty years and its internal design are based on the original divine rituals. We need to hurry up and make changes now."

"It's your turn to interrupt their conversation."

Loken heard the Primarch phantom beside him say something, and then the other party reached directly into the depths of Loken's levitating spirit's head.

He then learned the name of the creature he was currently playing, and then he felt a connection separating but indeed reconnecting to the monster below, like the threads between puppets.

Why don't you ask for my opinion when you make your plans?

Akshub looked at him with suspicion and fear.

"Wait, didn't you say he...?"

The three demons chuckled, their long tails, covered in fur, scales, and feathers, slapping against the floor of the shed. The liquid from their fangs corroded the wooden planks, creating smoking black holes.

"The last Shadowmoon Wolf has been given to me by my master to devour. I wear his skin, and even you can be deceived by me!"

It chuckled gratingly with the screech of three animals, “The complex emotions of such a chosen one before death are truly delicious… while our fourth companion is entertaining our guests in Devon Moon. What, do you think I’m just some kind of poorly cobbled-together monster, all show and no substance?”

The hidden messages and schemes revealed in these words immediately eased the expressions on the faces of Erebbas and Akshub.

“They stayed in Devon Moon,” Eribas nodded. “That’s right, this gives us enough time to modify the original contents of the Delphus Temple. I must say, it’s been a pleasure serving this sir…”

“Yes,” the three-headed demon replied. “My master has decided to deal with the Great Impure One that you and Cole Fallon placed inside Yugan Tamba first, and in the meantime, give you time to renovate the altar of the Serpent Temple… Our master is merciful, Erebas. He saw the offering you made for him and is willing to let you accomplish your great deeds, as long as you continue to serve him faithfully!”

“But if that’s the case, it’s fine to ignore Yugan Tamba,” Akshub said. “Anyway, he and his flagship have been there for over sixty years, so letting him stay there won’t affect the ceremony being held here.”

“Because of that great unclean one,” said the three-headed demon, “I failed to become a perfect being.” Its voice carried a terrifying malice, and just hearing the curse caused several monks to fall silently, bleeding from their seven orifices.

So Akshub shut his mouth too.

“You’d better take me to see the interior of the Temple of Delphis right away,” the three-headed demon said. “Even if my lord is merciful and gives you time, we don’t have much time. If we displease him, forget about rewards and great achievements; I assure you, we will both experience the most terrible fate in the entire universe.”

The chief priest and the priestess exchanged a glance.

“Of course,” Akshub said. “Please come with me. I will show you the secret chamber and magic array we built in the temple according to Lord Eribas’s requirements… How should I address you, my lord?”

Six eyes of different colors turned to her and stared at her. Even Akshub, who had known since childhood that he was destined to lead Horus down the path of burning the galaxy, felt a surge of tension.

"Cyberrus".

Finally, the three demons answered her in the voices of a wolf, a snake, and an owl.

"I am Cerberus, the three-headed dog of hell! The hound of my lord, the gatekeeper of the crossroads of destiny!"

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A small theater in a certain time and place:

I have two fathers and two older brothers: So that's why Horus ended up in a female body and went to the moon by some strange twist of fate? Because the Hulk's great demon looks like a toad?!

The stubborn rock is the foundation upon which all things stand: This is a subconscious inference resulting from a certain inherent cognitive idea of ​​Seris, and not intentional... However, we should perhaps reassess the variable factors caused by the aftershocks of awakening some of his power.

I love corn, corn is so delicious! But wait, are there no men on Seres' moon? That doesn't make sense!
Anonymous Steel: The Seris Moon Mythology has males, but all the trees of Devon Moon are gone! Only toads remain! The green fatso who turned the forest into a swamp is entirely responsible! That's it!
Can I take the cafeteria food with me? Uh, but I heard from the Ecovacs kid that it should be fairies and rabbits...

Anonymous Steel: Shut up!

The rock is the foundation upon which all things stand: Shut up!

When will Utherma Atla's followers finally awaken the real Kluck?! Using the souls of his offspring indefinitely isn't a solution!

The stubborn rock is the foundation upon which all things stand: Their conversion speed and number of people have never kept up, right? Last time, Ahriman lost his temper and roared that their to-do list was almost as long as Saturn's rings.

I love corn, corn is so delicious: *gulp*, perhaps I could go and pull that up...

An anonymous steelworker: Eat your corn!
The stubborn rock is the foundation upon which all things stand: let's say less.

(End of this chapter)