Warhammer 40: Shattered Steel Soul

Chapter 510: Shadow Crossing the Sky (7)

Dorn suddenly exerted force - no, the door suddenly became fragile, like an iron curtain, twisting and opening to both sides under Dorn's palm... revealing the path leading to the bottom floor of the secret room.

His expression remained solemn because he had heard it.

A low and strange breath surged into their consciousness, and the air around them seemed to become heavier, as if an invisible hand was distorting reality. Shadows began to spread around them, as if the entire space was being swallowed, decomposed, and destroyed by an invisible force...

The secret room belonging to the Iron Hands was falling into another unreal state. A cold wind with a coke-like smell came and invaded their sense of smell.

"Closer," Valdor whispered, a look of alarm flashing in his ruthless eyes. "Is that Fulgrim?"

He had seen the body of the Primarch of the Emperor's Children in the darkness: deep in the secret room, the Purple Phoenix fell to the ground in a mess, his eyes closed, his face pale and gloomy, immersed in the pain of endurance. In addition, his arms were tightly clasped on something gleaming with metallic luster, and in this special dimness, Valdor could not see what it was.

At this moment, whispers in the darkness began to echo in their ears, and the hoarse voices seemed to come from all directions.

"Samus is close to you...Samus has heard your end...Darkness and death are beside you..."

The sound overlapped like thousands of whispers, echoing in the valley of the mountains, and Rogal Dorn's heart was gripped by a fear that should not exist. He immediately knew that this emotion did not belong to him, gritted his teeth and clenched Stormfang tightly, and his facial muscles twitched slightly.

The obsidian ground began to shake slightly, and the smell became stronger and stronger, filling the air. It was the smell of rotting organs and blood. The invisible darkness surged like a tide, gathering into a dark cloud that covered the sky.

"The end has come... Samus saw the end of the world..."

Suddenly, Rogal Dorn took a step back and saw a huge dark figure rising from the shadows under his feet like a black tide, and in an instant it was the same height as him. Accompanied by the collision of metal and strange whispers, six arms, a mechanical snake tail, and a half-human, half-beast figure loomed in the darkness.

Dorn tried to swing the knife at his own shadow. He wasn't sure if it would work, but it was too late. The shadow demon separated along the cut of the blade and stood alone in the darkness.

It is a distorted, surreal entity, as if its body is made of pure shadow, with its surface skin shifting like floating black oil, covering a skeleton made of iron mesh, thorns, blades and metal armor.

Its limbs have a mechanical texture, and the joints are wrapped in a spherical shell, but it also has the hideous features of a demon. There are sharp spikes on the forehead, shoulders, sides of the forearms, and knees; each arm holds a different weapon, and each finger is a short and sharp blade; like a snake's long tail swinging behind it, making a harsh but eerily beautiful scraping sound.

An umbilical cord extended outward from the demon's abdomen, quickly turning invisible and transparent, and disappeared.

"Prepare for battle." Dorn growled, the Stormfang blade in his hand reflecting a faint light. He looked directly at the demon without fear, even though he couldn't think of how to fight against a shadow.

Without needing his reminder, he noticed that Constantine was also ready for a fight.

But the moment the battle began, Rogal Dorn realized that this was not an opponent the Lord Commander of the Guards could contend with.

The demon in the darkness suddenly pounced on Dorn, and its six arms attacked him as fast as a sword. Dorn's eyes were stern, and he raised his sword to fight back. The Storm Fang collided with the demon's claws, and a deafening roar broke out. Sparks flew everywhere, and the air seemed to be distorted in the confrontation between them.

The demon's speed was extraordinary, and each attack was extremely destructive. Its arms were as swift as black lightning, and it kept hitting Dorn with swords, sickles, hammers, and scimitars, trying to crush him. Dorn kept swinging his sword, blocking the attacks. His movements were as steady as a rock, like an unshakable fortress.

Constantine Waldo was trying to cooperate with him, but with the strength Waldo was created with, it was extremely difficult for him to catch up with the speed of the two of them. The pale spear sometimes stabbed towards the shadow, but often stood still. This was a manifestation of his quick thinking.

Each arm of the shadow had a different way of attacking, and together they formed an almost impenetrable offensive net. Dorn had to constantly parry and counterattack, and the Stormfang in his hand turned into silver wind and snow, descending dully and fiercely in this dark chamber.

"Constantine," said Dorn. "Go see Fulgrim."

At the same time, he pressed closer and closer to the shadow, entangled with the huge demon. He was not sure whether this was the "Samus" that kept whispering, but it didn't matter at all.

Constantine observed for a moment, then withdrew from the battle and stepped cautiously towards Fulgrim. The phoenix's messy white hair was just in front of his boots, but even at such a distance, he still couldn't see what Fulgrim was holding.

He stretched out the Sol Spear, and the tip of the spear slowly parted the darkness and approached what Fulgrim was holding.

Behind him, the battle intensified, each strike of the demon trying to break Dorn's defenses and force him into a corner.

Its tail swung out suddenly, trying to wrap around Dorn's waist and pull him into the depths of darkness. Dorn growled and raised his sword to chop at the demon's tail, making a series of metallic reverberations. He silently memorized this feature: soft limbs and hard tail. Even though the creature was completely black, it did not prevent him from making a judgment.

Dorn dodged the claws and slashed at the demon's shoulder with his sword in a lightning-fast motion. The blade cut into the demon's flesh, bringing out a stream of black liquid. Then, he struck again, and the huge sword tore open the shadow demon's arm, severing the part that should have been the bone.

For a moment, the demon paused, and then there was the creaking sound of gears turning, and the broken hard objects were quickly welded together. The demon attacked again, and the sharp blade pierced Rog Dorn's wrist, then cut up his forearm, revealing a piece of arm armor and a handful of blood.

Dorn cautiously returned to a defensive posture. The demon was about to swim towards Waldo. Dorn decisively ignored his injuries and gave chase, leaving time and space for Waldo.

As the one who holds the Solar Spear, Constantine Valdor is under the command of the Emperor, and he must know better how to deal with and solve unrealistic troubles.

"Darkness will consume everything..." Samus' voice echoed in their consciousness like thunder.

Valdor stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eyes turned to the Solar Spear in his hand. At present, there was only one thing in this area that was worthy of suspicion, and that was the dark thing in Fulgrim's arms.

He felt the thick darkness passing over the tip of the spear, and with a quick flip of his wrist, an invisible tendril-like object broke off under the spear. A wind with a corrupt and fragrant smell rose from the ground and passed over his visor.

Correspondingly, from the sound of Dorn's sword swinging in the back, he could tell that the demon was slightly injured. Dorn took advantage of the victory to chase and kill, and a part of the demon was pierced, and a wet dripping sound exploded dully. At the same time, Dorn's breathing became heavy in an instant. The Primarch was counterattacked.

Constantine looked straight ahead, without turning back, to make any more judgments.

——Yes, this is still the real universe, the demon invasion is unstable, and the source is right under his spear.

Although Fulgrim's posture actually looks like a protective one...

Constantine did not hesitate, and immediately thrust the blade of the Solar Spear into the thing in Fulgrim's arms.

For a moment there was the crisp sound of metal tearing, and then the images brought to him by the Spear of the Sun God flooded into his mind.

The Sun God reveals the truth to the holder, and he is indeed ready to receive some images, as he has done repeatedly of late.

But this time it's different.

What flashed before him was a vision of a silver lake burning with golden red flames. The lake was surrounded by endless darkness that could invade at any time. In the center of the lake was an egg-shaped object like a steel cocoon, with silver wires woven into a loosely spaced circular cage, and flames overflowed from each of the silk threads. Faintly, it seemed that there were two phantoms in the cage.

"Samus is waiting in the dark..." Samus's whisper continued.

Amid a series of crackling sounds, the sharp blade of the Solar Spear instantly pierced through the existence in the real world that was still shrouded in darkness - even though Constantine had already guessed the origin of this thing, his piercing was still without any hesitation, with only the precision and determination of an executor.

The power in the spear was constantly gathering, as if invisible light was extending from the tip of the spear, penetrating reality and connecting to an area that he could not describe in words. The light seemed to extend to his feet, waiting for him to move forward.

What can make the Solar Spear a channel for energy communication?

Constantine concentrated all his energy on the first time he had actually pierced a Primarch with the spear. He was unsure what would happen next.

The sounds of fighting behind him intensified. As the battle continued, the walls of the chamber began to twist, as if corroded by the breath of a demon. The stones crumbled silently, and the air was filled with a sickening sweet smell, intertwined with the destructive smell of burnt oil.

"Don, hold it back." Constantine warned loudly.

Dorn remained silent, still concentrating on the battle. The blades intertwined and produced sparks and arcs, stirring up waves of turbulence in the air.

Snow-white light surged up along the Sun God Spear, as if gushing out from a punctured wound. Constantine heard his golden armor creaking and the temperature continued to rise. He half-knelt on the ground, lowered his head, and held the spear handle tightly with both hands.

At that moment, Constantine's consciousness was torn into another world. His body was still kneeling in the darkness, but his spirit had been guided by the Solar Spear into the silver lake he saw.

Constantine's combat boots stepped on the lake, and golden-red flames danced around his golden boots. The darkness around him was slowly pressing down, like a huge net covering the sky and the earth, instantly bringing great pressure to Constantine.

He ignored the crunching of his bones and lowered his head, staring through the lake.

Deep within the clear silver waters, he saw the two Primarchs - Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus.

They lay in a steel cocoon with gaps large enough for Constantine to see them clearly.

Fulgrim's body was now half-real and half-illusory, like a beautiful ghost. The silver flames reflected on his pale face, which was once proud, but now his eyes were closed and exhausted.

Ferrus' body was also uncertain. He lay in Fulgrim's arms, his limbs almost gone, and a silver light flickered on what was left of his torso. His breathing was weak, but he was still conscious, his eyes fixed on his brother.

Constantine silently thrust the Solar Spear into the lake. The tide of the Silver Lake seemed to be attracted to the tip of the spear, and after being filtered invisibly, it led to the Supreme Crossroads.

The water level began to drop, and the space occupied by the lake was like reverse ripples, shrinking in circles until Fulgrim and Ferrus emerged from the water.

Fulgrim opened his eyes, and his broken arms tightly embraced Ferrus' body. He saw Constantine and recognized the former commander of the Custodes. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, trying to regain a trace of his old attitude.

Had Rogal Dorn brought him here?
"Master of the Custodes..." Fulgrim began hoarsely, and the flames under his control retreated slightly to allow Constantine to approach.

He forced a smile. "It seems that we have caused trouble for our father. Then, this power does not belong to the throne. What do you think, Ferrus?"

"Constantine?" Ferrus murmured in a low voice, his eyes full of confusion.

Constantine did not respond. His eyes swept coldly over Fulgrim and Ferrus. The Solar Spear in his hand flashed with silver light, like a cold star from the sky. Without answering or pausing, he walked towards the two Primarchs step by step.

The smile on Fulgrim's face disappeared, and the joy in his heart was gradually replaced by uneasiness.

He watched Constantine approaching, his eyes subconsciously fell on the sharp tip of the spear, and a chill surged in his heart. As Constantine approached, he felt the threat posed by the spear approaching, just as if the spear was more dangerous and irresistible to them than anything else in the world.

Fulgrim's heart was beating rapidly. It was a strange feeling of near-death, setting off alarm bells in his mind.

His arms tightened around Ferrus, and Ferrus sensed something was wrong, and even though he doubted Fulgrim's judgment, he still tightened his iron cocoon to protect Fulgrim.

"Constantine? Will you lead us away?" Fulgrim asked hesitantly.

Constantine did not stop, as if he could not hear Fulgrim's question at all.

He assessed the situation around him in his own way, then raised the Solar Spear and pointed it at the silver cocoon where they were.

The Phoenix's flames suddenly burned violently, as if threatened. Silver thorns grew wildly from the flames, trying to prevent Constantine from approaching.

"What are you going to do?" Ferrus asked Constantine coldly, with majesty in his voice.

Constantine held the spear expressionlessly. "By order of the Emperor, I have the power to execute the Primarch. You have become corrupt enough to be food for my Lord."

"Father's orders?" Fulgrim asked in surprise, unable to believe what he was hearing.

The remaining waves of the Silver Lake began to stir, and from the surrounding darkness came a kind of anxious emotion. The presence of the Terra Throne became stronger and stronger. The dark eagle claws suddenly appeared from the darkness and flashed by, knocking Constantine aside without warning. The former commander of the imperial guards looked down at the burn marks on his chest, supported the spear and stood up again.

Fulgrim heard faint voices, whispers from the throne...

"My son, I have been betrayed..." He heard the Emperor's voice booming from the darkness.

Was this the Emperor's voice? Who had betrayed him? A flicker of doubt crossed his mind - Constantine?
The next moment, he quickly suppressed his doubts and told himself firmly: No, this is not the emperor.

Ferrus had apparently heard the whispers as well. He looked at Fulgrim with anger in his eyes. "Someone has betrayed the Emperor."

"That is not the Emperor! Believe me, the throne is deceiving us, Ferrus," Fulgrim said passionately. "The true father..."

His voice stopped abruptly, and the conflict in his heart made him speechless for a moment. The real father... sent Constantine to execute them? How could this be possible? Constantine was a tool of the Emperor, how could he kill his son for the Emperor's death?
How can this be?

The darkness around him seemed to come alive, and began to devour the faint light of the silver lake. The whispers echoed in his ears like a tide, which seemed to be the voice of the throne, but also seemed to be some deeper malice.

"Betrayal... The Emperor has been betrayed..." Every word he heard seemed to choke him, making Fulgrim's breathing increasingly difficult.

"Fulgrim, what are you talking about?" Ferrus looked at Fulgrim, his eyes filled with confusion and pain. His face turned pale, as if he had never seen his brother before. "Who is deceiving us? Are you still awake?"

Fulgrim's throat tightened, and he tried to answer, but found himself unable to find the words. The faith and oaths he had once held firmly in his heart were now crumbling like sand in his heart. His mind was filled with confusion and contradiction, and Ferrus's questioning made him feel like a tearing pain.

Constantine stood up quickly, the dark eagle claws pierced through the Eagle's breastplate, leaving a pair of charred scars on his chest. The hormones that should have brought fear to his body were increasing rapidly, but there was no emotion in his rational mind.

He didn't care about the details, and while observing whether there were any new attacks, he approached Fulgrim and Ferrus again.

Fulgrim's mind was in a mess, but he still realized that they needed the truth, yes... at least, they needed to know the truth that they had missed during the time when the Astronomican was dim - perhaps this would offset the confusion of Pharaoh, or change Constantine's mind.

"Constantine!" Fulgrim shouted, tearing his eyes away from Ferrus' face. "Tell me... why? Why were you ordered to execute us? What is the meaning of this order? What have we done?"

Constantine paused, looking through the flames and thorns at the two Primarchs with an indifferent gaze. The light of the fire danced on his armor, but could not penetrate his emotionless eyes.

He used the Solar Spear to push aside the steel thorns, and silver light flickered along the tip of the spear, gradually absorbing the barrier built by Fulgrim's flames with spiritual power.

The barrier constructed by the two Primarchs through their mental power was no match for his spear. Or was that spear made for this purpose?

"The Emperor is dead." Constantine's voice was low, but with a chilling coldness, as if declaring an established fact.

"What?" Fulgrim felt as if his heart was suddenly squeezed tight, his mind was dizzy, and the surrounding silver lake and flames became blurred in his vision.

Father...is dead?
His fingers trembled as he gripped Ferus's shoulders tightly, not daring to let go.

Every moment of the past echoed in his mind - the Emperor's orders, the brothers' oath, the time they fought together... Now, is all of this really just a shadow of a lie, as Constantine said?
"This is impossible..." He whispered, almost forgetting the purpose of Constantine coming here, and his arms holding Ferrus trembled slightly.

Constantine said bluntly: "The one sitting on the throne is no longer the emperor you believe in, but the Dark Lord. The throne of my Lord still exists, but the throne has long been eroded."

Ferrus turned his gaze to Constantine, the anger on his face gradually transformed into cold murderous intent. "What the hell are you talking about, Constantine?" His voice was low and dangerous, as if it would explode at any moment. "You said that our father has..." He couldn't make himself say the fatal word, but the anger in his heart had already ignited.

Constantine continued to speak, letting the truth fall like icy rain.

"The Dark God has ascended to the throne, and the Empire will spread his worship. You may continue to serve a false shadow, but you will not stand a chance in an age of lies."

The Sun Spear flashed with a blazing light.

"Until then, you will sacrifice your essence to the Emperor's resurrection."

(End of this chapter)