Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 294 The Kasser, Suitable to Become Warriors
The Casagian system, the flagship Blade of the Eighth Chapter.

Thierry Vieira stood before the star chart table, gazing at the magnified Kassaij primary star.

A buzzing sound came from the communication bead in his ear. Thierry pressed the rune, and the slightly magnetic voice of the Sound Array Master entered his ears.

"My lord, the Oshes Matrix chief reports that the scan shows there are forty-eight cities on the main planet Kasayi."

"The world has relatively weak orbital defenses, so airdrop losses are expected to be low."

“Our goal is to make them pledge allegiance to His Majesty the King; it will be the world of recruitment for the chapter,” the Knight Lord said.

"Activate the maximum power sound array matrix to broadcast across all channels and in multiple languages, covering the entire planet."

“Yes, sir,” the sound array master replied. A dial tone sounded on the random communication channel. A dozen seconds later, his voice rang out again, “Standard propaganda procedures have been initiated.”

The Eighth Fleet is arrayed in orbit around Kassadin.

Four hours after the ship's timer expired, Thierry's communicator rang again.

After he connected, the voice of the sound array master came through.

"My lord, the Kaser Noble Alliance, having confirmed that we are fellow human beings, has agreed to pledge allegiance to Your Majesty."

"They have lowered their orbital defenses and invite you to the surface."

After Robin's death, his successor as company commander, Buka, warned, "They know they can't resist the fleet."

"Inviting you to the surface might be a trap."

“It’s more likely that these nobles are still weighing their options,” Thierry said, his eyes deep. “If we can demonstrate our strength, they will be convinced.”

"If they think there's still a chance, they might have other ideas."

"Assemble the guards and follow me to the surface."

He looked at Bukau, who had a worried expression: "Your company, prepare for the airdrop."

"If the Kassers make any unusual moves, airdrop support."

After the Stormbird landed on the tarmac, Thierry stepped off the deck and looked at the waiting nobles from Cather and the surrounding guards. His dark eyes narrowed.

Regardless of gender, the Kassians are all around two meters tall, even taller than the Vostonians, who are among the taller human populations.

The nobles were taller and more slender, all exceeding two meters in height.

The Qassembran were not as strong as the Qatachan auxiliary troops; their physiques were more balanced.

Every Qassem carries a longsword at their waist, and the nobles' scabbards are exquisitely crafted.

The Shadow of Order, with the eyes of a "weapon master," scrutinized the Kasser and formed an initial impression in his mind.

Judging solely by their innate physical qualities, they are well-suited to be warriors.

Furthermore, given my lord's exceptional swordsmanship, it is even more suitable.
As Thierry pondered, a tall man wearing bronze armor and a fur-trimmed cloak with fringes stepped out from the noble procession.

Thierry understood what he was saying in Cassian through the translator provided by the technical sergeant.

“Mika Wright, on behalf of the Kasser people, welcomes you.”

As Wright was being translated by the technical sergeant, he sized up the black-armored warrior in front of him. It was the first time he had seen a giant even taller than the Kasser.

Its enormous body contains terrifying power.

[Astartes... terrifying warriors...]
Thierry frowned as he watched the waiter, who was braiding his silver hair with beads, lead a horse up to him.

“Tell him that the horses are not capable of carrying my body.”

After hearing what the technical sergeant relayed, Wright smiled and said:

"The horses of Casai are not ordinary horses; they are bred for true knights and can carry any heavy load."

"But they are unruly, and only a true knight can tame them."

After hearing the technical sergeant's translation, Thierry looked at the horse in front of him. The horse was similar in size to the giant wolf from Fenris that the Seventh Legion kept.

Their fur was deep red, as if it were soaked in blood.

If the horse can truly carry my body, then Wright's "unruly" behavior might be a test of me.

To test my ability to tame a wild horse.
With that thought in mind, Thierry walked up to the horse, removed his gauntlets, and placed his large hand on the horse.

His powerful cat bared its teeth at the crimson-coated horse.

Thierry leaped onto the horse's back, and the horse reared up, neighing as if trying to throw the giant off.

But Thierry's body was as steady as a mountain. He squeezed his legs together and the horse landed on its hooves.

Wright observed that no matter how much the wild horse struggled, Thierry remained seated on its back, stopping after a dozen or so steps. The nobles of Cassell, seeing the black-armored giant tame the wild horse so quickly, were filled with admiration.

They mounted their horses and rode off.

The guards marched in unison, following behind their lord.

Along the way, the knight lord observed every Kasser he saw.

They were all tall and wore swords at their waists.

After walking nearly a kilometer, he saw a stone platform where two men dressed in leather combat suits were fighting with swords that were a meter and a half long.

The Kassers seem to resolve their conflicts through sword fights.
The "Weapon Master" watched the two men. One of them held his sword level, blocked the attack, then crouched down from the right side, and then leaped up to launch a swift attack on the other.

[By ordinary standards, their swordsmanship is quite good; their attacks are swift and their swordsmanship is superb, few among the Vostonians can match them.]
A moment later, the horses stopped in front of a bright marble palace.

After Thierry dismounted, he was led into the palace by Wright.

As the banquet began, Thierry, after putting several pieces of tender steak into his mouth with a silver fork, said to Wright:
"I noticed that the Kasers are all tall and slender, and they carry swords. Are you all skilled in swordsmanship?"

After the technical sergeant relayed Thierry's words, he then translated Wright's words.

“Every Kasser is an excellent swordsman, and every nobleman must earn the title of master swordsman.”

"Only as the chief swordsman can I represent all the Kassers."

“I am also renowned in the Legion for my swordsmanship,” Thierry, the first swordsman below the Primarch in the “Shadow of Order,” extended the invitation.

"Why don't we have a swordsmanship contest to improve our mutual understanding?"

Thierry wanted to witness the swordsmanship praised by the Black Emperor by fighting against the chief swordsman of Cassell, and also wanted to take this opportunity to demonstrate his strength, defeat the pinnacle in the hearts of the Cassell people, and thus completely subdue them.

“Alright.” Wright stroked his longsword and readily agreed. As the chief swordsman of Cather, he was confident in himself.

Even when facing giants, he was confident that he could win through skill.

When the people of Cassell heard that Wright had accepted Thierry's challenge, they all believed that the swordsman would defeat the outsider, just as he had defeated countless challengers in the past.

Thierry's attendants removed his power armor and dressed him in a black bodysuit.

Since it's a sword duel, he won't rely on his powered armor.

This sword duel was both a personal experience of the Elvira swordsmanship praised by the Primarch and an act of subduing the Kasser.

There is no better way to win the respect of the Kasers than by winning a sword duel.

Upon hearing the news that the chief swordsman was fighting the leader of the foreign black-armored warriors, the Kasser people gathered below the great arena.

Thierry, having removed his power armor, walked toward the arena surrounded by his guards. He was much taller than the shadowy figures of Order clad in black armor behind him.

After being promoted to "Weapon Master", his size increased further, and his power armor was completely replaced.

His physique was also the largest and most robust among those of the original genetic material.

Before the duel began, they were all talking about it.

"Tell me, Master Wright, how many moves would it take to defeat your opponent?"

"When Master Wright last accepted a challenge from another sword master, he defeated his opponent with just five swift attacks."

"I was fortunate enough to witness that battle. Although it ended in the blink of an eye, Master Wright's swordsmanship has been etched in my mind ever since."

"Although the outsider is exceptionally tall and strong, his swordsmanship is certainly inferior to Master Wright's. Master Wright will win in at most ten attacks."

"..."

On the grand arena, Thierry drew his power sword, pressed the rune, and the blade gleamed with blue light.

He looked at Wright, and the master swordsman Cather ground some powder to give the blade a matte finish.

As he turned his wrist, the blade reflected a few rays of light.

Wright gripped the hilt of his sword, which was wrapped in braided rope. His blade was slightly longer than those of the other Kassermen, with a length of one and a half meters.

He stroked the sword, channeling energy into it.

Thierry's eyes narrowed, and he thought to himself: [Psionic power! Wright's swordsmanship combined with psionic power?]
The Shadow of Order keenly sensed that as psionic energy flowed into the sword, Wright and the blade became one.

After bowing to each other, they walked towards each other without speaking because of the language barrier.

Wright met Thierry's dark eyes as if they were solid basalt. He took a deep breath and launched the first attack.

The energy-filled blade traced an "8" shape in the air as the Ian Sword, passed down through nine generations of the Wright family, collided with the charged blade.

(End of this chapter)