The Emperor’s Angel of Death

After Soshjan finished the deployment for the Loki Sector, Dolahr spoke again.

Remember the first website domain 𝕥𝕨𝕜𝕒𝕟.𝕔𝕠𝕞

“Your Highness, there is one more matter that requires your adjudication.”

“What is it?”

“Regarding the Kolor Ark.”

“The Kolor Ark, oh, you mean the ark wandering on the edge of the galaxy, what's wrong?”

“They were attacked by the Word Bearers.”

“Word Bearers... I think this was mentioned before, weren't troops sent?”

“Your Highness, the situation has changed. Initially, the Kolor Ark thought it was just harassment from a small Word Bearers warband and didn't pay much attention. Ayla Ashbel, the leader of the Ark's Seer Council, designed an ambush, attempting to eliminate Valerius, the Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers, and his followers on Oboreich. That was a human world, but when the Kolor Ark sent most of its Aspect Warriors to Oboreich, the star system where the Ark was located was suddenly enveloped by a dark force. Only then did Ayla Ashbel realize she had fallen into a trap, and the one who created this trap was Kor Phaeron, one of the notorious leaders of the Word Bearers.”

“Kor Phaeron...”

Soshjan was no stranger to this name, but only in the sense of having heard of him. After all, it was hard to avoid this person when studying the history of the Great Heresy. Saul, Sevatar, and Talos and Khayon often mentioned this person, and the other one was Erebus. These two could be considered 'star figures' on the side of the Great Heresy.

But logically speaking, this guy is an undisputed leader in the Word Bearers. Why would he suddenly come to make things difficult for a small ark?

“Does he have a grudge against the Kolor Ark?”

“Ayla Ashbel once disrupted a conspiracy of Kor Phaeron. It was a brutal battle, and it was also because of that battle that Ayla Ashbel lost her sight.”

Soshjan suddenly understood and said:

“So, there was indeed a grudge. What happened after that?”

“Due to the lack of defensive forces, the Kolor Ark had to make an emergency evasion. The reinforcements from the Royal Court arrived at the Ark at this time, helping them repel the Chaos Space Marines who were trying to land. However, the troops sent to Oboreich encountered unexpected opponents. The Word Bearers had already summoned a large number of demons to wait for the prey to take the bait... Fortunately, a fleet from the Royal Court arrived in time, helping the Kolor Ark's troops break through the encirclement and escape back to the Ark, but some Aspect Warriors sacrificed themselves to cover the retreat of others, including Ayla Ashbel's elder brother, Ira Garnel, the Warleader of the Kolor Ark. Their spirit stones were also mostly lost.”

“The seers didn't foresee this?”

“The Word Bearers are proficient in dark forces and evil rituals, and they also know how to shield prophecies, especially abominations like Kor Phaeron.”

“So, what does the Kolor Ark want now, more reinforcements?”

“They want revenge.”

Soshjan snorted upon hearing this.

“There are many people who want revenge. Is the Royal Court going to help everyone? The Royal Court has already done its utmost by saving them this time. Tell them that the Royal Court can only protect their ark from being attacked, and can't help with anything else.”

“Your Highness, there is a very important piece of information. Kor Phaeron controls a fallen ark world called Lunasad.”

“Is there anything special about this ark world?”

“Your Highness, according to some ancient books provided by Commorragh, the Lunasad Ark was an exploration ark in ancient times, dedicated to carrying out secret transportation missions on the extreme edge of the ancient empire. According to some textual inferences, it is likely a huge network route that runs through the galaxy and can accommodate most arks. It seems to be a secret passage left by the Old Ones, also known as the Eldar Path, but it has never been recorded by our race.”

“Large enough to allow arks to pass...”

Soshjan pondered the value of these words. Although the Aeldari can still use the convenience of the Webway today, the Webway cannot accommodate everything. Most ships are fine, but arks are another matter. Only some small arks can enter the Webway. Slightly larger arks are limited by their size and can only maneuver in the material universe, which greatly limits their range of activity and safety.

“In that case, how did this ark fall?”

“Your Highness, it is said that after the Fall, although Lunasad was not affected, it was subsequently attacked by a sudden army of demons. In order to escape to a safe location, they chose to plunge headlong into the empty and distorted Eldar Path without reconnaissance, and then disappeared. When it reappeared, there were no residents left, only a corrupted shell.”

“In that case, the Eldar Path is clearly not as valuable as rumored.”

“Your Highness, that may have been the case in the past, but do you remember the Barathu?”

Soshjan was stunned for a moment, then gently patted his head.

“I almost forgot, so what did they say?”

“Lunasad did find the Eldar Path, but it deviated. According to the advisors you brought, the main body of the Eldar Path has been completed, but many branches were abandoned during the War in Heaven. They believe that Lunasad must have entered an abandoned branch. As long as reconnaissance is done in advance and the navigation route is determined, the Eldar Path must be safe, and now the only information about this Webway is in Lunasad, even the Barathu may not have it.”

“Hmm? Dear, why are you so sure that Lunasad still has this information?”

“Your Highness, I request to summon someone.”

“Granted.”

Soon, a Wraithseer without weapons walked in and knelt on one knee before Soshjan and Veronica.

“Anaris, a survivor of Lunasad, greets Her Eternal Majesty, the great and merciful Queen, and His Unconquerable Highness, the Phoenix King.”

Looking at this Wraith Construct bearing the Royal Court's mark, Veronica gently raised her arm.

“Rise, Anaris, I hope you have adapted to your new body.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty's grace, I have adapted to it.”

“Well, tell His Highness about your affairs and what happened to Lunasad.”

“As you command.”

Then Anaris told Soshjan about his experiences. He was once a seer of the Lunasad Ark and the only survivor of the Lunasad corruption incident. At that time, although the Ark escaped into the Webway, it went astray due to the warp storms of the Fall, and finally fell directly into a warp rift. Soon the Ark was flooded by demons. Only his ship was the only one that successfully left the ark world and survived the escape journey. Of all the crew members, only he had enough willpower to resist the temptation of the dangerous warp destruction power and keep himself awake.