Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 573 (Third Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets) Dark Angel, Caliban, Everything is Going According to Plan

On the Unyielding Truth, Ryan Aljonson walks into his private armory.

Four legionary servants awaited him in a room built of stone in the style of Caliban, all dressed in dark green cloaks, thick gloves, and heavy boots.

The armory walls were covered with all sorts of weapons, some made for the Primarchs, others spoils of war acquired after conquering civilizations.

The only thing Ryan was allowed to show off was his collection of weapons.

He believed this was a unique pursuit, similar to Nimrod's collection of special items, Forgrim's love of art, and Magnus's yearning for knowledge.

During his time on the Unyielding Truth, aside from issuing orders from his throne, Ryan spent most of his time in this cabin, racking his brains for ways to kill the enemy with weapons.

He paced along the wall, touching each of his beloved items, his fingers, encased in metal gloves, tracing the blades and tips of swords and knives, admiring their exquisite craftsmanship.

The piercing gauntlets of Roman gladiators, the machetes of primitive Germanic tribes...

Finally, Ryan walked toward the center of the display with a complicated expression.

There lay the beginning of his collection, a Caliban-style short sword.

Ryan stroked the short sword, recalling the moment when Luther gave him his first sword when he became a knight of the "Grand Knights".

Although this short sword has a simple design, it has always proudly occupied the central position in his private armory.

Ryan heard heavy footsteps and abruptly withdrew his hand.

He walked toward the door and stared at Cos Wayne.

“Father, it has been confirmed that there is a legion active on the surface, just as you suspected, it is Luther and his followers.”

Ryan paused for a few seconds, then strode forward.

"Announce my departure for the surface via the Legion's communications channel."

"Prepare the Stormbirds."

……

On the Nightspear, Urian Bendreg paced back and forth by the observation window, watching the terracotta stormbirds hurtle past.

After a moment, he sighed heavily and turned on his communicator.

“Lord Nimrod, my father is heading to the surface, and I believe he has already discovered Lord Luther.”

In order to cover up his keeping of Lord Ninglu's secret, he had to report to Lord Ninglu.

On the surface of Tarks, Luther leads the newly formed "Grand Knights," bypassing the A-1 fortress area, and engages in battle in an area filled with mist and forests.

He kicked away the alien's corpse, connected the communicator, listened to Lord Ninglu's message, pondered for a dozen seconds, and then replied.

“My lord, Ryan has confirmed my presence. I can’t hide for long.”

"I will face him directly."

Luther charged at the alien, swung his sword hard, and smashed the alien's head.

Dozens of meters behind Luther, Serafax heard Luther's words and exchanged a glance with Bella beside him. They read worry and relief in each other's eyes.

As the alien roared, Bella swung her sword to block its claws. At the same moment, Serafax appeared from the side and beheaded the alien with a single strike.

The roar of engines broke the clamor of the battlefield.

The new members of the "Great Knights" gazed with complex expressions at the approaching Stormbird, seeing the leader who had abandoned them in Caliban and excluded them from the "Great Crusade".

Ryan's expression was stern, with Wayne and Nemir following behind him on either side.

Nemir looked at Zaharie, and the cousins ​​exchanged glances.

Zaharel once kept Nemir's secret and persuaded him to give up on assassinating the Emperor with the other members of the Knights of the Order.

That was a secret between the brothers.

Ryan's gaze swept over Zaharie, a brother he once valued.

They both killed Caliban's lion beast, and Ryan once thought their relationship was unbreakable, but now Zaharie stands by Luther's side.

Ryan scrutinized the figure before him, a tall and robust man who was just like the other dark angels.

“Luther…”

"My orders to you are to garrison Caliban and train new recruits."

As a qualified "lawyer," Luther had already prepared his arguments.

"After the aliens invaded Caliban and I repelled the attack, I pursued them all the way and saw world after world fall into the hands of the aliens, and countless people were enslaved."

"The alien, like the Caliban behemoth, has brought suffering to countless people."

“Ryan, do you still remember us…”

Ryan heard "us" shout coldly and angrily, "Shut up!"

His eyes were filled with rage.

"My orders are to garrison Kaliban."

"Go back now, immediately!"

“No!” Luther met Ryan’s gaze without flinching. Wayne gripped his sword hilt, while Therafax and Bella exchanged a glance and tightened their grips on their blades as well.

The "Barbarian" felt immense pressure and immediately entered the first level of Thelma's mind, his gaze meeting Ryan's.

"Luther!" Ryan roared like a lion, his voice deafening.

He clenched his fist, about to punch Luther, who had betrayed him in Sarosh and disobeyed him once again.

Ryan suddenly loosened his clenched fist and looked up at the sky.

The aircraft near the ground was not the Stormbird of the Eighth Legion as he had expected, but rather the Stormbird that was near the black, shadowy Order.

A figure in black armor with golden wings flew out into the air.

Ryan's expression was stern as he stared at Ninglu, who had landed in front of him.

"Ninglu! I'm handling legion affairs. If you need anything, please wait a moment."

Nimrod's gaze swept over Luther and Zaharel, keenly noticing the unease and fear they were trying to hide beneath their calm exteriors.

[Ryan these days really doesn't know how to handle his relationship with his kids.]

If you could know the future, why bother with the present?
He knew he had to speak up for Luther and not let them be sent back by Ryan like that.

“Ryan,” Ninglu called out, stopping Ryan who had turned around.

“I have no intention of interfering in the affairs of your legion, but the Xenomorphs are a huge threat to the Empire.”

"Luther and Caliban's knights, also the Astartes of the Empire, the Emperor's Angel of Death."

"They made enormous sacrifices in the fight against the aliens."

"Today's decisive battle is the path they paved with their blood."

The uneasy hearts of Luther's followers were soothed by Lord Nimrod's words.

The recognition of their honor only strengthened their belief that they had not gone astray.

"Therefore, Ryan, I beg you to allow them to remain on the battlefield."

"After the war, I will no longer hinder any of your decisions."

Nimrod's earnest request made Ryan fall into deep thought.

Ryan looked at the Dark Angels behind Luther, their black terracotta armor covered in blood.

He keenly noticed that the cratered armor was covered with scars left by the aliens.

"it is good."

Ryan left with a cold remark.

"Lord Ninglu, thank you for speaking up for me."

Hearing the sound behind him, Ryan quickened his pace.

Zaharel and Nemir exchanged a glance before heading in different directions.

Zaharel caught up with Luther, while Nemir followed Ryan.

The terracotta-colored stormbird slowly rose, and Ryan stared at Luther and let out a roar, causing the stormbird to tremble in shock at the pilot.

He watched Luther and Zaharie charge at the alien side by side.

Beyond the curtain, in the highest heavens.

On the vast rainbow plateau, roads made of various colored crystals constantly shift and change, crisscrossing each other.

The crystal maze is constantly moving and rearranging.

At the heart of the crystal labyrinth stands the majestic Impossible Fortress, with twisted crystal spires and towers of blue and pink flames churning and bursting forth at its core.

They exist for only a heartbeat's time, then flash and disappear, replaced by new, even more maddening buildings.

The doors, windows, and inviting doorways opened like hungry mouths, then closed again moments later, forbidding anyone from entering.

In the hidden library, the being who watched the tense standoff between father and son, and the scenes of loyalty and betrayal between the Primarch and his offspring, uttered a meaningful whisper.

“Luther…fate has changed…”

His skin was covered with ever-changing faces, which would repeat his words in subtle tones as he spoke, their mocking tone casting doubt on the true meaning of his words.

"Change...interesting..."

On His countless faces, tens of thousands of eyes shone with chaotic and different lights, all focused on one person.

“'Dark Angel'... Caliban... Serafax... Everything is going according to plan…”

His gaze shifted from Turks.

His interest never lingers on any one person for long, unless that person is the perfect being in His heart.

A red Cyclops.

　P.S.: The other two chapters will be posted after 11 p.m. tonight.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)