The Emperor’s Angel of Death

"The result is just as I expected. You can now distribute your power, and you should also be able to retract it. All life forms that receive your power can be turned into puppets with a single thought. Fortunately, my true consciousness is not residing in this body; it is also just a puppet, and you only possess the highest user rights."

The things Amnak described sounded quite complex, but after thinking about it for a moment, Soshian suddenly felt a chill and said in a low voice:

"Those warriors who have had the Grey髓 implanted..."

Amnak chuckled and said meaningfully:

"You can take away their consciousness and life with a single thought."

"Why did Xerxes create such a thing?"

"Perhaps, this wasn't prepared for himself? Or perhaps, he himself was just a test subject?"

Realizing that the other party was implying something else, Soshian narrowed his eyes and leaned back.

"If you have something to say, you might as well say it clearly."

Amnak stepped forward, and a suppressed voice came from under his helmet.

"Think about it, what a terrifying power! You will become a strongman, even a god, in both the warp and the material universe! After my plan failed, I was almost desperate, but in you, I saw hope, my master! Step onto the ladder of godhood, and I will follow you! Abandon the shackles on your mind, abandon those meaningless loyalties, live for yourself like I do, and you will become the true God-King, ruling the divine and mortal realms with your wife and servants!"

Soshian looked at the other party coldly, and after a few seconds, he suddenly chuckled.

"Amnak, I've discovered that your other abilities may be debatable, but your daydreaming is definitely top-notch. Look, we are currently on the battlefield, surrounded by enemies, and could be wiped out at any moment, and yet you are asking me if I want to become a god."

Amnak was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly.

"You really think Huron is your opponent?"

He shook his head and turned to walk towards the bridge door.

"I'll go directly to the teleportarium and have that psyker named Anya help."

Soshian looked at the other party's back, his mind racing, and the expression on his face gradually disappeared.

He sighed softly, leaned heavily against the command throne, then tilted his body to the right, propped his elbow on the armrest of the throne, and supported his forehead with his right hand, covering his eyes and hiding his face in a shadow.

"Soshian, oh Soshian, remember, you are just Soshian, nothing else..."

After muttering to himself, he composed himself, deciding to deal with everything after the crusade was over. Then, he lowered his hand, sat up straight, and turned his gaze to the tactical display.

Upon discovering an approaching fleet, two strike cruisers immediately turned their bows to attempt an interception, but those ships were extremely fast. Two of them had been completely shaped by the power of the warp, with huge wings composed of metal and hollow flesh extending from their hulls. Tumultuous tendrils surrounded by iridescent matter sprouted on the hull and aft decks, each tendril hundreds of meters long. The docking bays resembled the fleshy palates of carnivorous plants, or the stomachs of beasts filled with venomous teeth. Their gun batteries looked more like the stingers of deadly insects.

These daemon ships could interfere with the targeting equipment of surrounding warships while releasing a kind of hypnotic sound. These sounds, transmitted through the comms, could easily cause crew members to fall into a coma or sleep.

Only one ship still maintained a relatively normal form. It possessed a noble name—

The Crown.

On the Crown, amidst the fire of the Imperial fleet, the bridge hummed, its plasma heart thrumming. The crew members emitted soft whispers, each resembling a bloated mutant, their heads hidden under featureless hard plastic helmets etched with bizarre symbols. The helmets were riveted to toothed gorgets to protect their necks. Apart from oil and scar tissue, they wore nothing on their swollen torsos. Arched legs were hidden beneath scavenged rags.

The command deck was closest to true silence. Everything on the bridge was coated in slick sebum. Matted flesh clung to the walls, veins pulsing with oil and electricity. Bundles of cables writhed like dormant snakes in the foul air flowing from the vents. Ragged figures leaned against the walls and deck, their bare skin intertwined with the soft tissue plastered against the walls.

Lucius had been standing on the bridge for hours, staring at the swirling battlefield outside the observation port, his gauntlet hand tightly gripping the hilt of the Laer blade hanging at his waist.

After a long while, the Champion of Slaanesh turned away and faced the huge seat in the center of the command platform.

"If I don't return in an hour, you and the Musician leave immediately."

A girl in a long black gothic dress stood on her ornate throne. She looked very young, perhaps not even up to Lucius's knee. A pair of gold and black eyes on her porcelain-like angelic face radiated an unusual charm, as if the skin of first snow reflected the light of the tactical hologram. Only a few purple veins were faintly visible beneath the skin.

In the past, she often smiled, but now only worry remained.

"Lucius, this is not a game you should be involved in. Leave the Maelstrom."

The scarred face of the Eternal One twisted into a strange smile, then he said in a soft, self-deprecating tone:

"Curiosity is man's original sin. I have been investigating and collecting everything about the Astral Knights for some time. Although it seems that I have gained nothing, even those clues have already made me deeply involved. There must be a huge secret hidden in it, and someone who once, or almost, killed me, is likely hiding in it. I am not a smart man, but I have eyes sharp enough."

He then looked at the daemon hiding in the girl's skin.

"Klayon, what are you running from? What are you hiding from me?"

The daemon replied with silence.

Several minutes later, until the Musician came, she whispered:

"This is not your game, Lucius. It has surpassed the level you can understand. I don't know anything, and I won't say anything, but you will be crushed if you get involved. Go, Lucius, pursue your perfection, and do not intervene in this game and conflict."

"Is this Klayon speaking to me, or is there another who wants to say these things to me?"

Lucius shook his head with a smile.

"I'm really determined to play this game. If this is the end of my life, it doesn't seem so bad."

The Musician glanced at Lucius, then lowered his head.

"Master—"

Lucius stopped and looked at him. The Musician lowered his head.

"Enlightenment does not exist outside of you. The real truth is within your heart, always has been. To find it, you must cut everything away, deeper and deeper, until you reach the bottom. Once there is nothing left, all that remains is the truth. This is what is happening to you, Eternal One. You are about to discover the real truth."

Lucius chuckled.

"You've said it once. Prepare your rituals. With only the two hundred or so people I've recruited from the Red Corsairs, I really don't have much confidence in being able to stand before Soshian."

"Master!"

A sticky and slightly nervous voice sounded, from the slave operating the auspex.

"Teleport beams detected, from the enemy flagship! Target is the Poppy!"

"Hmm?"

Lucius frowned. Although the Poppy had not activated its void shields in order to use interference, using teleport beams at this distance... are they trying to commit suicide?

"Intercept it."

"By the Dark Prince! The Poppy is sending an emergency signal! The enemy has entered the ship!"

"Quantity."

Lucius asked calmly. The success rate of such a long-distance teleportation is less than 10%. They can't have sent many people.

"O-one."

"What!?"