Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 337 "Corrosion" - Hathor Matt, Head of the Temple of the "Bright Feather School"
The Shadow of the Kings and the 28th Expeditionary Fleet departed Terra and sailed towards Prospero on the second day.

At 10 PM ship time, Ninglu casually tossed the Spear of Dionysus on the ground and walked to the door of his resting cabin.

His telekinesis swept outwards, covering the cameras in the area he passed through.

Ninglu floated out with its golden wings slightly outstretched, but there was no reaction on any of the video screens on the entire ship.

The Primarch floated to the doorway of Hathor Matt's cabin, raised his hand and placed it on the door, telekinesis covering the entire doorway.

The sound of pneumatic transmission filled the air, and the door slowly opened.

As the door opened, the spirit of the "Corrupted Baron" permeated the entire cabin.

On the ground, Matt lay curled up, biochemical forces surging within him, tearing at his tendons.

The cartilage snapped with a cracking sound, and the unnatural error was forcibly terminated.

Flesh, blood, and bone fragments fell to the ground, mixing with the viscous liquid and covering the deck.

Matt's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he endured the pain and used bio-energy to reshape his body.

He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine; he sensed that a powerful and dangerous creature had entered the cabin.

Just as Matt was about to act, a large hand suddenly grabbed her neck.

His eyes widened, as if he wanted to gasp in surprise.

Before she could even utter a cry of alarm, Matt's vision was filled with black mist.

The large hand released its grip, and he fell to the ground.

Matt raised his hand and released psionic lightning behind him, then rolled over and got to his feet.

He saw no one; all around him was an endless black fog.

To Matt's astonishment, even his superhuman vision couldn't see the end of the black fog.

He raised his psionic shield and looked around warily.

After a long time, Matt gave up in despair. He couldn't find anything, whether he used his superhuman senses or his bio-psychic abilities to perceive the surrounding flesh and blood.

“Who?” Matt asked loudly.

“It’s me.” Ninglu suddenly appeared in front of Matt.

He had decided that he would only let Matt go after he had completely "corrupted" him, and he wasn't worried about Matt seeing his face.

Matt exclaimed in surprise, "Ninlu... Lord."

Why did you bring me here?

“Of course I’m helping you,” Ninglu said with a smile, reminding him, “Are you still troubled by the flesh mutation?”

Matt frowned, his bio-chemical power covering his entire body.

He immediately widened his eyes and said in disbelief.

"The flesh and blood... have mutated and disappeared."

As the strongest bio-psychic in the Fifteenth Legion under Olmuzd Ahriman, Matt, though unable to resolve the flesh mutation, possesses far superior control over his body compared to anyone else.

He felt his body return to normal, his skin as smooth and white as the finest marble, and the chaotic, mutated power within him vanished.

"Lord Ninglu... how did you do that?"

"How is this possible? Where am I?"

"Even with the medical deck and the crystal coffin with its stasis field activated, it can only temporarily suppress the mutation of flesh and blood," Matt exclaimed in disbelief.

Most people will eventually turn into monsters of various shapes.

The few survivors were just struggling to stay afloat, and he was no exception.

Eleven months ago, Matt first discovered that his body, like the other Senko, was undergoing a terrifying transformation.

He used his bio-energy to forcefully interrupt the mutations time and time again, but he never imagined that one day he would be as relaxed as he is now.

The mutation in flesh and blood has completely disappeared!
Ninglu waited a few seconds until Matt looked at him in shock again before he spoke.

"Submit to me, pledge allegiance to me! The mutation of flesh will no longer trouble you!"

“Lord Nimrod,” Matt asked, puzzled, “the Emperor has ordered the Fifteenth Legion to be under your command, and I will obey your orders.”

"No, I want you to submit to me and place my commands above those of your genetic father and the emperor."

Matt's pupils widened, and he asked incredulously, "Lord Ninglu..." "You will understand."

After Ninglu finished speaking, he vanished from in front of Matt with a thought.

He knew that a few words alone wouldn't make Matt submit, but the "corrosion" of the fifth layer of space would make him submit to him.

If it were Azek Ahriman or one of the other four Temple leaders of the five major schools, they might not have yielded.

However, in the future, Matt, who will be mutated and betray Magnus to cooperate with Carlos, is not without loyalty, especially since he has not yet met the Father of Genetics.

Ninglu then left and returned to his cabin.

On the third day after the ship set sail, the legion's servants pushed a food cart and placed nutritious porridge in the storage baskets hanging outside each cabin door.

Since the Astartes fell ill, they have been ordered to keep food in storage baskets.

The servants did not know what kind of disease would afflict the Astartes.

But the incomprehensible reality is that he needs to deliver less and less food.

On the fourth day, after seeing the empty tableware at the door, he put down the new nutritious porridge.

On the thirty-third day of the ship's voyage, in the fifth layer of the "Disorderly Country".

Mat knelt on one knee before Nimrod, “My lord, from this moment on, I will serve you with all my heart.”

Ninglu nodded slightly, believing that Matt had pledged his allegiance to him.

This didn't come from Matt's words, but from what he saw: a person completely "corroded" by the fifth layer of space would form a floating black sphere above their head.

This phenomenon did not occur when I "corroded" Lyon.

This was the result of being "corrupted" by the "disordered country," allowing him to establish direct contact with the fifth layer.

I don't need to tell him about the Black Emperor's existence or make him pray; I can directly convey the message to him. This is very important.
Ninglu knew that the thousand children would soon master the method of summoning the "Guardian Spirits".

They are actually warp beings, and most likely Tzeentch demons.

If he mentions words like "Black Emperor," it will immediately be noticed by the guardian spirits who are always by his side, and it may even spread to the Warp.

"After this, you will return to the Fifteenth Legion and master the secrets that Magnus taught you."

"I have a way to pass on the order to you."

When you hear this, do not respond verbally, just do it.

Nimrod decided to let Matt stay in the Thousand Sons Legion for a while longer to master the "Bright Feather School" techniques and mental skills that Magnus would teach him.

In a subsequent exchange, Magnus not only shared all the secrets he had mastered, but also the knowledge and secrets he would gain during the Great Expedition.

Ninglu knew that Magnus would only obtain the secrets of the net at Argos in 999.

Only after the "Burning of Prospero" will it be shared with the thousand sons.

Slau Da's mind certainly held the mystery of the net, but it may not be the same as Magnus's discovery.

[Mat's decision to stay in "Thousand Sons" is more beneficial than harmful, at least in the short term.]

Every so often, I summon him once to receive a new wave of secrets he has acquired.

When you take him with you, it's best to be on the battlefield, not on places like the Shadow of the Throne.
Ninglu opened his hand, revealing a golden potion in his palm: "Drink it."

Without a moment's hesitation, Matt picked up the potion, tilted his head back, and drank it down.

Nimrod chose the "Dreamer" approach for Matt, rather than the "Hanged Man" approach, which was more suitable for the biochemistry department.

As a pawn placed among the "thousand pieces," he needs to patiently observe, discern their thoughts, and subtly influence them.

When the "audience" and "mind readers" use their abilities, there are no obvious external signs, so Matt will not be detected by the other Senko and "guardian spirits".

A moment later, under Nimrod's guidance, Matt restrained the potion's power, and he couldn't help but think to himself.

The abilities of the "audience" are somewhat similar to the psychic powers that Apophis possesses.

His ability is more direct; when he peers into other people's minds, he will be discovered if he encounters a powerful psychic or a person with a strong will and keen senses.

While the "audience" cannot uncover the deepest secrets of the heart by observing facial expressions and other external factors, they are also less likely to be noticed.
He looked at Ninglu in shock, realizing that if such a terrifying mutation of flesh could be stopped, it was no wonder that he could be granted extraordinary power.

"Thank you, my Lord, for this. I will make good use of the power you have given me and bring back to you all the secrets of the Fifteenth Legion."

(End of this chapter)