The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Trajan's face surprised Soshyan a bit. He had expected someone with the refinement and nobility of Valerian, but in reality, the Custodes Marshal's features were harsh, his face scarred and somewhat broken. His skin had the light gray hue common to Terra, his lips were thin, and his nose was broad. His close-cropped hair and the short beard encircling his lips and chin were tinged with gray.

He was the current Custodes Marshal, Trajan Valoris!

"Greetings, Marshal Valoris, it is a great honor to meet you."

According to Viletz, the Custodes Marshal had a thousand other names, each inscribed on his auramite armor. However, out of standard etiquette, he was generally referred to as Valoris, a title more commonly used in public than some of his others—though he rarely appeared in public anyway.

While not a formal member of the current High Lords of Terra, no one would question his position as the Emperor's closest personal representative.

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"Chapter Master Aleksey, your arrival has brought us quite a few surprises."

The Custodes Marshal's voice was deep and resonant, his tone slow, as if each word had been carefully considered.

"No one breaches the surveillance to reach the Tower of Hegemon so easily."

Soshyan spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

"It was not my intention."

Hearing this, a smile actually appeared on Trajan's stern, rock-like face. He then walked to the side, and a weapon rack rose from the floor, holding an ornate spear.

"For people like us, being able to fulfill our mission is a blessing, so I envy you."

Soshyan blinked.

"I don't quite understand your meaning."

"Even the fall of a thousand worlds is insignificant to us, do you understand? Only one thing matters to us—being able to execute His grand will."

Speaking, the Custodes Marshal sighed softly.

"He no longer communicates with us in mortal language, but His thoughts may be known from the resolve of those servants who carry out His will, and He has chosen you, Soshyan Aleksey. Whether it is this crusade or everything that has happened in the Imperial Palace, we know which hand is guiding it."

"The Custodes can also carry out His will. Ten thousand years have passed, do you really want everyone to keep guarding this place? The Great Rift expedition was a success, but the Imperium is still in danger. I believe you can see that the Imperium's military operations in the last hundred years have rarely been successful. The offensives of both heretics and aliens are becoming more and more fierce. One day, enemies will appear that cannot be defeated by existing Chapters alone. I personally believe that it is time for the Custodes to play a powerful role."

"Your first duty is to the Imperium, so your words are persuasive, but our first duty is to the Emperor, we are His guardians."

"I'm just expressing my personal opinion."

Trajan waved the weapon in his hand, looking at Soshyan.

"Come, let me see what the Imperium's greatest Astartes is like."

Soshyan turned his head. The weapon on the rack that rose beside him was no different from the spear in Trajan's hand. He stroked the metal shaft, ending in a heavy bolter.

"This is a dangerous challenge, Marshal Trajan."

Soshyan's voice was low and steady. He didn't immediately grasp the weapon, but he didn't refuse either.

"I heard that you sometimes use a strange long weapon on the battlefield. Does this not suit your feel?"

"It's passable."

Grasping the middle of the spear tightly, Soshyan turned around, the spearhead pointing at the ground.

Bathed in the cold sunlight streaming through the windows, his face seemed to be carved from granite.

In this silent moment, the two sized each other up, like two knights inspecting the battlefield and the opponent they were about to face before charging into battle.

The almost stagnant air was suddenly shattered by a thunderclap. Almost simultaneously, the two men strode forward, spears thrust out, aimed directly at their opponent.

Soshyan shifted horizontally to dodge, while simultaneously swinging back, the spear forcefully chopping towards his opponent's head. Trajan was not to be outdone. He tilted his head, letting the spear pass by a hair's breadth, taking a few strands of hair with it. At the same time, he gripped the spear with both hands, heavily striking towards Soshyan's abdomen. Soshyan turned his spear sideways, the spearhead and shaft colliding with a deafening crash.

In that instant, Soshyan felt the spear in his hand almost being violently knocked away. The Custodes Marshal's strength was truly astonishing, even greater than some of the daemons he had encountered.

Soshyan used the force to retreat a few steps, then suddenly raised the spearhead, slashing towards his opponent's groin. Trajan twisted his body and thrust the spear into the ground, blocking Soshyan's attack.

In the moment when both sides' offensives paused, a slight smile appeared on the corner of Trajan's mouth. He then switched his grip on the spear, and in the moment of deflecting Soshyan's spear, the spear in his hand went straight for his opponent's face, with an imposing momentum, like a silver dragon breaking through the air.

Soshyan's expression remained unchanged. He shook his spear upwards, drawing a stream of light in the air to meet the silver dragon head-on, instantly erupting into a shocking roar, even causing the surrounding stained-glass windows to tremble slightly.

The spears flashed between the two, bursting out dazzling starlight and sparks. The two constantly shuttled between advancing, retreating, and parrying, sometimes thrusting, sometimes dodging, seemingly indistinguishable in victory or defeat.

At this time, both showed speed and strength that amazed each other. Between the waving of the spears, ear-piercing sonic booms were emitted due to the excessive speed. Lightning-like attacks crisscrossed in the air, constantly shifting to find each other's flaws. Both were very proficient in the use of spears, and were very flexible between dodging and counterattacking. The moves were diverse, and every move of attack and defense was full of power.

In the eyes of mortals, perhaps this was not a contest, but two giant beasts fighting, making people feel frightened.

After a few rounds, they took a few steps back in surprise, their eyes flashing with unprecedented light.

Then, they entangled again.

This time Soshyan gave it his all—

Just as the two were about to collide, he suddenly retreated backwards, while the spear in his hand rotated, instantly switching to a sweeping stance, attacking his opponent's lower body.

Soshyan's speed was so fast that Trajan's expression tightened instantly. He knew that if he was hit by this blow, he would probably be knocked down immediately, so he tried his best to roll his body to the right, avoiding the attacking spear, and directly stabbing his weapon into his opponent's chest.

But before he could regain his footing, Soshyan suddenly changed direction and jerked upwards.

Clang!

A violent collision sounded, and Trajan stepped back a few steps, his hand supporting the spear trembling slightly.

And Soshyan's spearhead was already against his chest—