Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 13 The First Betrayal

Nikona Sharokin was walking on the lower deck of the cruiser Samothrace.

Most of the empire's warships have huge redundant spaces. These kilometers-long ships are like cities floating in the void, with countless dark and damp underground pipes.

In these dark places, the mortal servants and crew members on the ships live from generation to generation, forming a strange but balanced ecosystem with various mutants and alien creatures.

And at this moment, from these shadows where no light can be seen, the true Lord of Shadows arrived.

Nikonna traveled through the complex maze-like pipe deck at a speed that was unattainable by mortals. He seemed to be born to blend with the shadows. While moving at high speed, even the quietest footsteps were completely obliterated by the background noise of the environment.

He was somewhat surprised to realize the magic of this new power armor on his body. Its servo system was truly silent, even like a walking black hole, swallowing up all noise.

In the darkness, he swept past several mortal servants passing by like a crow from the underworld. Bloodstains slowly emerged from their vital parts, and the genetic detection nerves obtained the required memories from the blood.

"The stench of the Word Bearers, corruption and depravity, the deepest curse of the Warp."

The Raven Sons will never forget the smell of their old enemies, nor will they forget the killing of the blasphemous beings who called themselves the Sons of the Blessed by their father Corax.

Anger and hatred intertwined and burned into ashes in Nikonna's heart.

He entered an ethereal state, transformed into a shadow, and sneaked to his true destination.

The cruiser's main cabin observation deck.

In the shadows, he finally saw a Word Bearers Astartes walking, wearing the common Mark IV Extreme Power Armor, the dark scarlet paint covering the past gunmetal gray, and black paint covering the former squad badges and markings.

Nikona's instinctive fighting reaction was suppressed by Superman's will, and the surging adrenaline was calmed. At this distance, there was no possibility of him missing. Only one explosive shell was enough to tear the enemy's fragile helmet goggles, or penetrate the more fragile armor at the joints.

In addition, what surprised him was that next to the Word Bearers sergeant stood a tall Ultramarines wearing a blue and gold painted Archon-type power armor that was polished to a sleek shine.

Did the Ultramarines betray along with the Word Bearers?
Nikonna thought silently, but he did not jump to any conclusion.

"Lucil," the Word Bearer warrior opened his arms in a warm welcome. "My brother."

"Chor." The Ultramarines responded with equal eagerness. They hugged each other, and their bodies in heavy power armor made clanging sounds.

Nikona saw the whole touching scene of the reunion of old friends.

If he had not experienced the heart-wrenching betrayal of his brother on Isstvan V, he would probably have been moved by the brotherhood shown by the Ultramarines and the Word Bearers.

After forty years, the Ultramarines, who once brought the destruction of the Perfect City to the Word Bearers, have once again established a brotherhood.

However, the Son of the Dark Raven, who was extremely sensitive to murderous intent, detected an almost inaudible movement from the most subtle body movements of the One with the Word.

The Word Bearer's hand always remained within a one-second reaction distance of the bolter.

Regarding all this, Nikonna just watched quietly, hiding in the shadows. Even the bird servants on the warship could not see the slightest bit of this uninvited guest.

The Ultramarines' hospitality towards their battle brothers was impeccable, and after a brief greeting, they provided their brothers with an exquisite meal.

The stomachs of the Astartes can adapt to almost any organic matter, even some metals are included in their diet. When necessary, they can eat the tableware along with the food to supplement the metal element.

But it was a clear gesture, a strong sign of friendship among the Ultramarines, who, shaped into perfect beings by their gene-father, Roboute Guilliman, still felt a tinge of guilt for having burned the Word Bearers' perfect city at the Emperor's command.

They tried their best to re-establish the bond between the two and prepare for the next cooperation.

"My battle brothers, why did you change the paint and markings of the power armor, and where did those engraved holy words go?" Finally, Lucier couldn't help but ask.

Could it be that after the burning of the Perfect City, these Word Bearers really cut ties with the past completely?
"In fact, we use a new appearance to commemorate the reshaping of our essence. The Word Bearers have been struggling to find their place in the universe. Unlike you Ultramarines, our road is more bumpy, even-"

Chul's voice paused, and then he uttered dangerous words that made Luciel tremble with fear.

"I spit on Lorgar, my gene-father. His mind is so fickle and unstable. Compared with the primarchs of the Imperial Fists, the Luna Wolves, the Iron Hands, and the Ultramarines, he has suffered so many defeats that we are ashamed to mention them."

Faced with the humiliation of his genetic father by the Word Bearers, Lucille was so shocked that he forgot to breathe.

He had never heard of an Astartes having such a bad attitude towards his genetic father, which could even be described as naked rebellion.

Even the Iron Lord of Olympia, who was able to issue the eleven-shot kill order, would not have such a rebellious offspring.

"Lies." Nikonna whispered to himself in the shadows.

"But fortunately, we awakened not too late. We found a brand new path, a path that leads directly to the highest heaven and shows us the original truth."

“I need to do something to show that I am also committed to this great goal.”

The attitude and words of the Word Bearers confused the Ultramarines. They did not quite understand what spiritual sustenance these cousins ​​had found. In the past, they worshipped the Emperor as the God-Emperor and used his will as the guide for everything.

And all of this is contrary to the imperial truth.

"In the battle of Isstvan, I learned some unique war skills that the Ultramarines lack." The Word Bearer stroked the wine glass on the table, quickly attracting Lucille's interest.

The Ultramarines are the legion that is best at learning. They will not hesitate to imitate the strengths of their brother legions and add their own characteristics. It is for this reason that in the eyes of many legions, the XIII Legion is a group of arrogant narcissists who do not know how to respect others.

"Excuse me, my gene-father is compiling a book on the ways of war: the Codex Astartes. Is there any war technique that is not in the Codex?"

Lucille raised his glass, somewhat confused. "I have never heard of a battle in the Isstvan system. When did this happen? Why didn't Lord Guilliman know about it?"

"It wasn't long, and the war is over. The empire paid a heavy price. The enemy this time is different from all the previous ones." Chul said with a smile, without any sadness on his face, which made Luciel feel a little uncomfortable.

"It is more terrible than the Battle of Randan, more horrifying than the Battle of Ullanor. The enemies of the empire have discovered the power of betrayal. It is not a tactic, nor a weapon, but a conceptual power. The deeper the betrayal, the stronger the power..."

The rational mindset of the Ultramarines could not comprehend what the Word Bearers meant by betrayal; it sounded like some kind of unfathomable witchcraft.

The Word Bearers were always obsessed with faith and sorcery, which was completely different from the Ultramarines.

"Yes, the power of [betrayal] destroyed three legions. The Randan aliens didn't do it, and the emperor of the green-skinned orcs didn't do it either. How hateful and how pathetic."

Nikonna's finger was already on the trigger, waiting for the Word Bearer to reveal his true face beneath his hypocritical mask.

(End of this chapter)