The Emperor’s Angel of Death

“Come on, let's see what gifts the Eldar have brought us! Everyone, perk up! Distribute the potions! Don't all look as listless as if your mothers just died!”

taiwan novels →t w k a n. c o m

“Yes, Master!”

“Let the revelry begin! Praise the Dark Prince!”

Balzhaft strode forward, his Slaaneshi warriors turning to accompany him, their roars and howls mixing with the shouts of mortals. Mutants followed behind. As he donned his helmet, a toothy grin stretched across his face.

“I didn't realize you had prophetic abilities.”

Standing within the spider-like Ghostship, a specialized boarding craft unique to the Yme-Loc Craftworld, Sol sighed, arms crossed, gazing at the scene displayed on the visual crystal before him. Several ships bearing defiled markings of Chaos tumbled amidst beams of light and missile barrages. The prow of one vessel had been sheared off by a third, scattering debris into space from the gaping wound.

“It's not prophecy.”

Amon, clad in unadorned power armor, rose from a nearby chair, his voice a low rumble.

“It is perception.”

“So, upon arriving in the Lileathans Kingdom, you sensed the lurking presence of Slaanesh's power? That's far more potent than any warp-space probe.”

“Without some ability, how could I possibly curry favor with you, the Phoenix Lord?”

Sol turned.

“How many more abilities do you possess that I am unaware of?”

Amon offered a genial smile, shrugging as he replied,

“Not many.”

“What will we face this time? Will Slaanesh dispatch its most formidable demons?”

“Hard to say, but I suspect... perhaps not, or at least not in a way I recognize.”

“Oh? Are there things about Slaanesh that even you are ignorant of?”

“There is much, or perhaps I once knew, but lost too many memories during the two conversions... The games of the Gods are never that simple, this is a grand gambit that transcends both time and space.”

Hearing Amon's words, Sol suddenly recalled something. After a moment's thought, he spoke softly,

“Talos once mentioned an encounter on the world of Pyraan, a Bloodsmoke Swordsman... I heard that they only take orders from Khorne himself, and are very mysterious, almost never appearing in the material universe.”

“Bloodsmoke Swordsman...”

Amon muttered, brow furrowed, his expression complex, like someone with amnesia encountering a familiar object.

“Alas, my memories must have been purged during the first conversion. Slaanesh erased some secrets He didn't want me to reveal, but the Ruinous Powers surely have strength elsewhere. As for what they are doing, it's hard to say, but like you just mentioned, these powers will only be used as a last resort... Hmm, I feel there's something very important I've forgotten.”

He paused, then continued after a moment,

“They're here.”

Sol raised an eyebrow, ceasing his questioning, turning to lightly touch the floating crystal nearby, then took the Flames of the Phoenix from the weapon rack.

“Only one?”

Balzhaft, hurrying to the area where the Eldar were boarding, frowned at the object protruding from the bulkhead on one side of the flight deck. It resembled a marine creature with a sharp carapace, its conical body encircled by segmented limbs, anchoring it to the breached wall. Its size dwarfed that of a standard landing craft.

“Yes, Master, only one, but the fleet is now...”

“Silence!”

At the same time, a horde of cultists, mutants, Slaaneshi warriors, and other warband auxiliaries swarmed in, filling the once-empty flight deck. The baying of beasts and the howls of the crowd filled the air, but no one dared to act first, knowing that privilege belonged to their master.

Looking at the bizarre landing craft, Balzhaft sneered, then called out in Eldar,

“Since you've arrived, don't be shrinking violets! Show me what champions the Eternal Court has to offer!”

The next second, the head of the landing craft clicked open, revealing a gap, startling the surrounding Slaanesh worshippers, who instinctively retreated a step. The cacophony of sounds ceased.

Countless grotesque and hideous eyes stared intently at the thing as it opened slowly, extending a ramp over a hundred meters wide, like a tongue being licked out.

Everyone gripped their weapons tightly, thumbs on the triggers, ready to fire the moment the Eldar forces poured out.

But they waited in vain for the Eldar army.

Instead...

→

Bang!

A heavy footstep echoed through the flight deck, stomping on the hearts of all the Slaaneshi faithful.

Bang, bang, bang!

With each successive footstep, a towering figure emerged from the warm eldar light, all eyes widening in disbelief. An uneasy murmur filled the air, even the Slaaneshi warriors voicing their confusion.

The sneer on Balzhaft's face solidified and gradually disappeared, replaced by a serious expression and a furrowed brow.

Clad in ornate Eldar armor, a phoenix-crested helm upon its head, its face concealed by an angry mask, the giant strode into the Slaaneshi rabble's view, Flames of the Phoenix in its right hand, the Sunsword in its left.

He was so tall, almost towering over all the Slaaneshi faithful.

Balzhaft, wearing a face that suggested he had just swallowed a large pile of excrement, was internally cursing Eidolon thousands of times. The bastard hadn't told him the most crucial information, only vaguely saying that the opponent was strong, but hadn't specified why. As a warrior who had participated in the Great Crusade, he could tell at a glance that this Phoenix Lord's physique was all wrong! This shouldn't even be an Astartes, this is definitely the size of a Primarch!

“Lord, this thing isn't right.”

Balzhaft's Terminator bodyguard noticed something was amiss and asked in a low voice.

“This... isn't an Eldar, is it?”

Balzhaft took a deep breath and whispered in a voice only they could hear,

“Now, send a signal to the escape pod area, prepare the escape pods immediately, we may have to retreat.”

But running now was clearly inappropriate, all his subordinates were present. If he turned and ran, his reputation would be completely ruined, and his warriors would abandon him.

Even if it was difficult, he could only hold on for now!

Or... stall for time.

Balzhaft coughed lightly, then forced a nonchalant smile.

“Oh, isn't this the 'great' Phoenix Lord? Or should I call you the Chapter Master of the Star Phantoms Chapter, Lord Solarian?”

His words caused an uproar among those around him.

This was the stalling tactic that Balzhaft's “brainstorm” had come up with - the opponent certainly wouldn't want this secret revealed, so as long as he said it, the opponent would have to find a way to kill everyone here, which would prevent the opponent from focusing all their attention on him.

That way, it would be much easier to escape.

Sol, having walked down the ramp, stopped, but did not reply, simply watching the other party quietly.

Balzhaft didn't feel as much psychological pressure at this point and continued to mock,

“Oh dear, new talents emerge with each generation. We old guys used to just kill aliens and clean up pointy-ears, but now the younger generation has become the king of aliens and married an alien queen... Tsk tsk tsk, I heard that Eternal Queen is unbelievably beautiful, you must have some special skills to conquer her, right?”

Another year has passed, and Old Mo is very grateful that many readers are willing to support this book, whether they are new or old readers.

In 2024, Old Mo will continue to maintain the same update pace as always. Perhaps the amount of updates per day will not be very large, but Old Mo is not a full-time writer, and I hope everyone will understand.

Here are also a few plot issues that everyone is more concerned about, which can also be regarded as a preview of next year's updates.

1. Regarding Guilliman, this Primarch cannot be avoided whether I follow the GW plot or not, so Guilliman will definitely wake up, but the method may be slightly different.

2. Regarding Lion El'Jonson, readers who have seen this should know that several loyal Primarchs have already appeared. This heavyweight character will definitely not be left out, just like before, the way of appearance may be a little different.

3. The plot of the Great Rift, this is a major event in the entire galaxy version update. Considering the readers' familiarity and sense of immersion in the plot, this event will also occur, but the process of the Battle of Cadia may be a little different.

4. Why always emphasize the protagonist's identity as the Phoenix Lord and the power of the Eldar, because the subsequent plot has a large span in space. To consider the rationality, the protagonist must be given a "quick transition" ability, especially after the Great Rift plot, the ability to act is very important. At that time, the Webway is the most reliable way to act in the galaxy.

5. Will the protagonist completely turn against the Empire? No, some readers think that the current plot does not match the title of the book, but in fact the protagonist has never forgotten his identity, and this will be the main contradiction in the future plot.