Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 486 "Corrosion" and the Opportunity of "Ash Claws"
Nimrod drew his sword, Val, and strode forward.

He saw a blond-haired, resolute-looking think tank member launching an attack using a bomb pistol and a chainsaw sword.

Ninglu recognized the figure immediately.

The Primarch's superhuman brain spun rapidly, instantly recognizing the think tank's identity as Balsa Kuturi.

Because Balsa was different from the bald, weathered figure he was most familiar with, Ninglu did not recognize him immediately.

A flash of blue-white light shattered the personal energy shield of a Ran Dan overlord, and with a swift slash, he ended the enemy's life.

Alkahas Far's eyes flashed; the alien he had fought so hard against was easily killed by the Primarch.

Ninglu rushed towards Balsa, his mind racing with information about the enemy.

[Another unfortunate person.]
Ning Lu recalls that after the "Nicaea Conference," Kovacs Colax disbanded the think tank department.

Balsa is one of the few Raven Guards who survived the "Landing Point Massacre," and he serves as the head of the think tank in the rebuilt think tank department.

The good times didn't last long; the think tank was disbanded again, and Corax decided to send them to Terra.

But at Balsa's request, the think tank was left in the Legion, in exchange for being sent to Terra.

At the Primarch's request, Balthazar swore that he would never use psionic powers until he saw Macardo.

During the journey, Macado, in order to test the candidates' will and self-control, ordered the Imperial Guard to launch an attack.

Balsa obeyed Corax's orders and refrained from using his psionic impulses.

He had fought alongside Noritz, the company commander of "Imperial Fist," for a long time and had developed a deep friendship with him.

He fled with Balsa, but was mercilessly killed by the Imperial Guard.

Enraged and seeking revenge for his best friend, Balsa used his powerful psychic abilities to kill the Imperial Guard. However, he remembered the oath he had made and ultimately surrendered.

Balsa passed Macado's test, and the Marker demanded that he forgive the test he had set.

Macardo apologized to him, saying he would learn from the mistake that led to Noritz's death.

Balsa reluctantly accepted that his best friend would be the victim of this trial.

As one of the founding mentors of the "Grey Knights," he gained even greater psychic power, but he could not forget the death of his best friend.

He changed his name to Augen, but could not forget his guilt towards Noritz. His face grew increasingly aged, and he suffered inner torment for the rest of his life.

[Balsa witnessed the death of his close friend, yet remained true to his oath to Corax, demonstrating both strong willpower and unwavering loyalty, making him far more difficult to corrupt than Alcaraz.]

However, it's not entirely impossible. Balsa's decision to abandon his loyalty to Corax at Macado's request shows that he is capable of changing his mind, but he needs sufficient reasons.

It's worth a try, but shouldn't be the primary goal.
As Ning Lu pondered, he continued walking, neither the Ran Dan warriors nor the overlords slowing his pace.

In the blink of an eye, he had fought his way through and arrived in front of Balsa.

"Lord Nimrod."

Balsa never met his genetic father; he only met the genetic principal, Horus Lupecal, who commanded the Nineteenth Legion.

He noticed that the king was taller than the wolf god.

Balsa's gaze met those dark eyes, and he felt as if he were completely seen through, not only in the present but also in the future.

His clear mind suddenly froze, as if it were entangled in a spider web.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he came to his senses when he heard a dignified voice in his ear.

"Barsa Kuturi".

"Yes, my lord."

Balsa tilted his head slightly, no longer meeting those dark eyes.

He saw numerous black-armored warriors charging towards the alien's lines.

Balsa noticed that the Shadows of Order were perfectly organized. One of the think tanks raised his blue staff, and the human slaves enslaved by the aliens around him immediately slowed their pace.

The Shadow Order members raised their explosive guns and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the aliens.

Amidst the deafening explosions, the alien's pale flesh was torn apart.

The Order Shadows Killing Squad, armed with powered weapons, rounded up and killed enemies with personal energy shields through a series of precise strikes.

The Shadow Order can keenly identify elite alien warriors and launch swift attacks.

They seem to know a lot about the Xenomorph.
Balsa, puzzled, looked away.

He didn't want to fall back into the same dazed state he had just been in, so he lowered his head slightly and met Alkahas's cold gaze as he walked over.

To shake off the unease caused by his absent-mindedness, he spoke.

"Lord of Shadows, my prediction has come true. We have received reinforcements."

"Do you remember?"

"shadow."

“Barsa, you have proven yourself,” Alcaraz said.

“Come with me,” the “Corrupted Baron” said to the two.

“Lord Nimrod,” Alcaraz did not follow immediately, “one of my companies has lost contact.”

“Nerat Killing has fallen into the alien’s trap. I beg you to help us.”

Upon hearing this, Ning Lu stopped in his tracks.

[Nerat Keeling!]
Today is truly a lucky day; another target has come knocking on my door—a perfect opportunity to obtain "Corruption" and "Ash Claws."

"Corroding" Nerat is even easier than it is to Alcaraz.
Ninglu recalls that the future "Raven Guardians" of Terran experienced two large-scale exiles.

Alcaraz's "Space Shark" was exiled shortly after Kovacs Corax's return.

Nerat Gearing's "Claw of Ash" was exiled to the Ghoul Stars by order of the Archon Kaneus, who was saving the Starborn, after the Battle of Stargate 42 in the 31st millennium of 002.

Afterwards, Nerat declared that his "Claw of Ash" was loyal to neither the Empire nor Horus Lupecal.

[Nerat followed Corax for over eighty years, yet never showed absolute loyalty.]

Corax also harbored a deep resentment towards his Eighteenth Chapter, Ash Claws.

I'll still do my best to take care of Corax's pups; both "Space Shark" and "Ash Claw" will have a bright future.
Among the objects of "corrosion" that Ninglu could think of, the most were "space sharks" and "ash claws".

Unexpectedly, Alcaraz and Nerat both ran into each other in Shana.

He thought of this and immediately said it.

"I will go to the rescue immediately."

"Connect to my communication network and send your location coordinates."

Alcaraz immediately did as the Primarch instructed, Balsa added with a look of shame.

"My lord, we have lost contact with Nerat for more than ten sidereal days."

"His last known location, coordinate 513, might be a trap, and we may not be able to find him."

“I tried my best to predict his location, but I failed. The alien set a trap and interfered with my prediction.”

As Balsa spoke, he heard footsteps approaching.

"I might have a way to find him."

(End of this chapter)