Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 786 Zadekir: Father, you don't understand. He is indeed not a god; the Black Emperor is.
The reckoning that Shirene Valantien prayed for did not arrive until two months after the destruction of the Perfect City, as gray warships returned to Kur.

One hundred and sixteen warships carried one hundred thousand angry and resentful men.

Not long ago, Zadkiel, who had just been granted power by the Black Emperor and became the "Corrupted Baron," was shocked to see a quarter of the continent reduced to charred ashes.

A highly authoritative signal broke into the 17th Army Corps' communication network, and a deep, cold voice broke Zadekiel's shock.

"Warriors of the Word Bearers, I am Guilliman of the Thirteenth Legion, Lord of Macragge."

"You are to be ordered to proceed immediately to the surface of the planet and assemble in the center of the ruins of the former Monazia."

"Coordinates being sent. This order is inviolable. Your entire legion must assemble as ordered. Over."

……

Amidst the rubble of millions of marble buildings, dust drifted in the wind and clung to the armor of hundreds of thousands of Word Bearers.

The ever-accumulating dust stained the oath papers and prayer scrolls on the gray armor grayish-white.

One hundred thousand pairs of red goggles stared straight ahead, while gray iron fists gripped explosive guns tightly.

The sergeants led their squads, standing in orderly formation behind the company commander, and the company assembled under the battle group's flag.

"Get ready." Inside the Terminator armor, Company Commander Cole Fallon, even thinner than the Word Bearer, growled.

"The Primarch has arrived."

A faint, devout chanting echoed through the communication channel as the believers awaited this moment with a mixture of sorrow and anticipation.

Most of them were basking in the light of the Primarch for the first time, and they felt blessed by fate for it.

Smoke and dust weighed heavily on their hearts; the moment they longed for should not happen in a dilapidated cemetery.

The golden Stormbird landed slowly, and the ramp at the bottom of the cockpit slid open.

“Aurelian,” the Word Bearers whispered in unison.

The Primarch of the Seventeenth Legion has many titles; in the worlds he has traversed, he is known as the Chosen One by the followers of the God-Emperor.

Most of the other Astartes soldiers called him Yurizen.

In the hearts of those who cherish words, the golden-bodied Loka is the true father of genes.

“My son,” Loka’s smile was tinged with sadness, “seeing you all uplifts my spirits.”

"Blood for blood!" His eyes, as gray as the winter sun in Colchis, turned ashen. "Blood for blood!"

Loga gripped the Scepter of Enlightenment, which Fernus had crafted for him after they fought side-by-side on Galadon II.

The ivory-colored handle is reinforced with black steel, and the spherical hammerhead is forged from refined gold and inlaid with silver runes.

Equally spaced spikes protrude from the outer edge of the warhammer, each as long as a normal person's arm.

Medusa's Gorgon armor is one of the origins of the Ironclad Terminator, while the Astartes priest's Scepter of Truth is a replica of the Enlightenment.

Loka gazed at the Thunderhawk in the distance; this new gunboat was smaller than the Stormbird.

The Ultramarines were among the first legions to equip themselves with them in large quantities, while the Shadowmoon Wolves preferred the larger and more capable Stormbirds.

“Guilliman, we may never share the same interests, but we are connected by blood.”

"Come to me and take responsibility for your madness."

As steam disperses, the piston structure lowers the ramp.

Zadekiel was surprised to see Robert Guilliman being escorted down by the Honor Guard, with a thin figure dressed simply beside him.

His body appeared frail in Guilliman's imposing shadow, and the black steel cane in his hand was adorned with clanging chains.

Makado the Seal Bearer.

He held a high position of power and was the eternal chief lord of the War Council.

He was the emperor's trusted advisor and chief strategist.

"What kind of insane situation is this?" Fallon roared, his voice filled with disgust.

“Calm down, my friend,” Loka whispered. “We’ll soon get the answer to why we’re here.”

"Company commanders, step forward."

One hundred company commanders stepped forward, their gray gauntlets gripping explosive pistols and swords.

Then came a hundred priests, their iconic gold-trimmed armor and scepters of truth particularly striking.

“Brother. Makado.” Loka’s voice trembled slightly.

Welcome to Monazia.

“Loga.” Guilliman’s tone was devoid of any emotion, and he didn’t say another word.

“Primarch Loga,” Macado replied with a bow.

"It's very sad for us to meet under these circumstances."

Luo Jia stepped forward. "Really? You're both very sad? You don't seem too upset, my brother."

Seeing that Guilliman did not speak, he shifted his gaze and looked at Macado scrutinizingly.

"The answer, Makado."

"I want answers. What's going on?"

"Why are you acting so recklessly here?"

The one who held the seal pulled back his hood. "You can't guess, can you, Luo Jia?"

"Answer me!" Luo Jia roared.

"I demand an explanation for your actions!"

"What have you done to my city?"

“It did not submit.” Makado slowed his tone. “This civilization, this world, is not…”

“Lies! Blasphemy!” Loka roared.

"It is a model of submission!"

"They chanted the name of their father!"

"They pay tribute to him at every dawn!"

Loka's frantic gaze was fixed on Makado. "Answer me, mortal!"

"Statues of the emperor stand in every corner, what right do you have to do this?"

Macado, who was only half the height of Loka, looked up and sighed softly.

“The Kur people worship him.”

"The Kur people worship him as a god!"

boom!
The dull thud of the weapon hitting the ground rang out, his ten fingers like hooks, as if he wanted to gouge out his own eyes.

"You stand on the ruins of a perfect city, yet you say that the city was destroyed for no reason."

"Did you come here just to show me the collapse of your fragile mortal heart?"

“Loga…” The one who held the seal stepped forward, trying to calm the enraged Primarch.

boom!
Loka raised his hand and slapped Macado away, sending him flying twenty meters away.

He tumbled and crashed into the dust, and everyone around him heard the sharp crack of bones breaking.

Loka faced Guilliman, staring menacingly at his brother's face, breathing heavily.

"Why...why...did...you...do...this..."

"I am acting under orders."

"You're following this coward's orders?" Loga pointed at Macado and burst into laughter. "This maggot?"

He shook his head and turned to walk towards his offspring.

"I will lead my legion to Terra and personally inform our father's comrades..."

“He knows.” Macado stood up shakily.

"What?" Luo Jia pressed, "What did you say?"

“I said, he knows.” Macardo closed his eyes and leaned on his cane, which represented his authority.

“Your father knows.”

“You’re lying!” Luo Jia gasped.

Makado did not argue further. He raised his head to the sky, and with a thought, every living being within ten kilometers heard the voice of psychic energy echoing in their minds.

One hundred thousand who cherish words. Every extreme warrior.

Seven survivors, including Valantien.

“My lord, he will not listen to me.”

A deafening sonic boom suddenly erupted, but Lyman's Ear filtered it down to a tolerable level.

The intense golden light blinded the Astartes, even though their goggles immediately reduced their light transmission.

Unlike the 100,000 Word Bearers who had lost their sight, “The Corrupted Baron” Zadekiel vaguely saw a tall figure shrouded in a dazzling white halo.

“Loga.” His voice fell somewhere between hatred and benevolence, a point that defied interpretation.

"Kneel down."

A deep, resonant wave of psionic energy crashed down upon the 100,000 Word Bearers, striking them to the ground with tremendous force.

Even if many people are not willing, they cannot resist it.

This is not dedication, not loyalty, not worship, but enslavement.

Ager Ta, the 7th Assault Company Commander of the "Sawtooth Sun" Regiment, and others instinctively wanted to resist the imposed reverence, but they obeyed involuntarily.

Zadekiel, the warband leader of "Descendants of the Brush," instantly entered the first level of the Thelma's mental state, clenching his teeth and tensing his temples.

The resistance of will and the resistance of muscle instinct caused the armor to hum.

[May my Lord forgive!] Zadkiel prayed silently with his eyes closed, not ascending to the second level of the Thelma Mind, to avoid attracting the attention of the Emperor and others with the light rising from his spine.

boom!
His resistance lasted only a moment before his knee slammed into the dust of Monazia.

"Luo Jia, kneel down."

Loka looked at Guilliman, who stood upright, and wiped the corner of his eye with his fingertip, as if to wipe away the illusion.

He slowly knelt down on one knee.

Zadekiel, Ager Tower, and the others watched through gritted teeth as the Ultra Warriors, who had been kneeling in salute, rose at Guilliman's signal.

The Ultramarines stood beside the Emperor, while the Word Bearers knelt among the charred bones in the ruins.

"My son, you are a commander, not a priest," the emperor said in a low voice.

"You were born for war, you descended to earth for conquest, you should hold high the shield of truth to protect the human race."

"I…"

The emperor interrupted him. "This is worship, a poisoning of the truth."

“You call me a god, and you have instilled in many worlds the lies that have repeatedly pushed the human race to the brink of extinction.”

“The people are overjoyed…” Loka protested.

"The people have been deceived."

Lojia stood up abruptly and shouted, "My legions have forged the most fervent and loyal world for your empire!"

"This is not my empire." The Emperor's voice struck the hearts of every believer.

"This is the human empire, an empire belonging to the human race enlightened by truth."

“You are a god!” Loka retorted loudly.

“I will not remain silent simply because of a single word you deny. The workings of tens of thousands of worlds are under your control, and millions of spaceships carry out your will.”

"You are immortal and indestructible, and you have all vision and knowledge of everything in the world."

"You are merely not a deity in name only."

Loka stood amidst the surging energy storm, the scrolls of scripture on his armor fluttering in all directions.

"You are God!"

"End the lies, admit it yourself."

The emperor shook his head, displaying a cold refusal.

"I am not a goddess!"

"Let's end all of this."

Zadekiel looked at the Father of Genetics, who was trembling all over and blood was gushing from his ears.

[Father, you don't understand. He is not a god; the Black Emperor is.]
He resisted the urge to clasp his hands in respect, as the emperor's thunderous voice echoed in his ears.

“Those who cherish words, remember the lessons of this time and place, and bear in mind the calamity and ruins at the end of the path of error.”

"Your legions will be reborn here."

"Follow your nature, throw yourself into the battlefield, obey your duty, and be loyal to the empire."

"Father..." Luo Jia's plea abruptly stopped, and with a loud crack in the air, the Emperor had already left.

Zadekir immediately stood up and looked around at the agonizing Word Bearers.

Humiliated, they stood lifelessly amidst the ruins.

boom!
As the Word Bearers struggled to their feet, Loka suddenly knelt down.

Seeing the other company commanders and chaplains rushing forward, Zadekir rushed into the crowd.

The "Corrupted Baron," taller and stronger than the Word Bearers, pushed his way through the crowd.

“Aurelian,” he called softly.

Luo Jia raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion. He did not recognize the offspring he had personally praised.

Zadekir glanced at Guilliman, who was watching silently.

"My Primarch, we must return to the warship."

Zadekir reached out and touched Loja’s shoulder, where a scripture scroll had once hung.

Luo Jia ignored him and suddenly roared to the sky.

He let out a low, long howl at the indifferent and merciless sky.

"The Corrupted Baron" Zadekiel used his strong arms to support the trembling body.

Luo Jia's heart-wrenching cries finally subsided, and he reached out and grabbed a clump of black dust to smear on his face.

Molten bones from the perfect city covered his face.

With the help of Zadekiel and Fallon who came to his side, Loja stood up, glaring at his brother with resentment.

“Guilliman.”

"You are greatly favored by your father. Do you enjoy seeing me fail to achieve anything today?"

Guilliman remained calm and composed, speaking in a flat tone.

“Our father entrusted me with telling you his last thing.”

"Get out of here after you've said that!" Luo Jia picked up the Light of Enlightenment, and the spiked hammerhead scattered dust like raindrops.

“Five Imperial Guards, and fifteen more on my ship,” Guilliman gestured to the warriors clad in golden armor.

“Brother, our father has commanded them to accompany you.”

“I refuse!” Luo Jia shouted.

"I don't need them."

Guilliman spoke calmly.

“Our father has a different view. When your legions rejoin the Great Crusade, they will act as the Emperor’s eyes and ears.”

Loka gripped the scepter tightly. "Does our father also send loyal dogs to discipline you?"

"Do they also reside in your Otlama Baby Kingdom, secretly reporting your every move?"

“You should return to the fleet, my brother,” Guilliman reminded him.

"You still have a lot to do."

Luo Jia snorted, his face contorted with disgust.

"One day you will understand how I feel."

"When one of the worlds of Alteramar is destroyed, will you still be able to laugh?"

"Andman? Axe? Espando?"

(End of this chapter)