Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

Chapter 444 Assassination

The vast plain surrounded by mountains on three sides unfolds under the night sky. The camp under construction is as bright as day. The geomorphic machinery that flattens the mountains is suspended on the hanging tower. The temporary energy tower in the center stands at the center of the square for unified centralized energy supply.

Countless shuttles and large land trains weave a busy but orderly iron and stone network in the sky and on the laid tracks. Their tails are lit by flame-spraying thrusters, reflecting the gear mark of the Mechanicus and the clenched iron fist of the Imperial Fist.

Give me two months, Rogal Dorn said to him, and I will give you a triumphal square worthy of the human empire.

He kept his word, and this project, which is enough to consume dozens or even hundreds of years on a single planet, has come to an end.

A week later, representatives of many legions will gather together, more than 200,000 Astartes, at least half of the Primarchs, tens of millions of mortal auxiliary troops, and countless more narrators, memoirists, preachers, clerks, and internal affairs officials...

All of them will step on the reorganized land of Ullanor, proudly witnessing the key turning point of the most glorious great expedition in human history, and move forward with the entire history into the golden age of light.

Horus Lupercal stood on the edge of the cliff that was not completely cut off on the plain - this place will exist as a natural tower for setting up flags in the end. He lowered his head and looked at the whole field, and his eyes seemed to reflect the familiar scene of the warriors laughing and joking.

Aximand may be in a good mood enough to allow others to call him Little Horus. Loken and Sigismund talked happily about half of the things, and argued endlessly about the other half. Maar and Moi walked side by side, and Sejanus was probably sharing fond memories of the battles they had experienced with a group of people,...

"It's bright here," Malcador said, walking up the cliff, holding his scepter in one hand. When he came to Horus' side, the light below illuminated his old face. "It's all light."

"Yes," Horus replied, sitting down on the edge of the cliff and adjusting his clothes. The war in Ullanor was over, and he changed into a white robe with gold trim and pearls in the style of the Terran Palace, with the emblem of a moon-holding wolf head embroidered on his chest. "What is it, Sigillite?"

"Looking at you for your father, Horus," Malcador smiled, "You have fulfilled your battle oath."

"I hope he is pleased with this," Horus smiled, "Remember our argument?"

"Which one?"

"I went to the Terran Council to find you, you and Mors were there. I asked why two of our brothers had empty pedestals in the Forum of Heroes."

"Oh, that time," Malcador knew tacitly, during that period, the Imperial craftsmen acted vigorously, but their private mood never improved. Malcador believed that it was the sequelae of the conversation with the Emperor. Anyway, a spell arc slapped Horus straight out of the door of the Council Hall.

"I don't know who they are, or even if they exist," Horus said, "but sometimes I wonder if it would be better if they were still among us, their warriors were in this square, their laughter was blown into our ears by the wind."

"Or worse."

"You are right, Sigillite. I wondered who took away our memories of them, but then I found out that only my father could make such a supreme decision - and he must have his reasons for doing so."

"You no longer have doubts."

"I just feel sorry." Horus said, a brief look of disappointment on his face, "No matter what they encountered, or what they What have you done? Two of us are condemned to be lost forever, if that is what they deserve."

"You still have everything else," Malcador responded. "They are loyal to the Emperor, serve the Imperium, and love what you love. If the election goes well, they will listen to you in the future."

"Like Perturabo?" Horus's smile lit up his face, "Or Sanguinius? Oh, how dare I expect them to listen to me?"

"Then what will you do?"

"I can only hope that my actions will be worthy of their praise and expectations. Titles cannot win anyone's heart and conviction, only sincerity and actions can prove it." Horus replied.

"You are surprising, Horus."

"Really?" Horus shrugged, "Well."

Malcador smiled, straightened his back, and looked at the vast plain in front of him for the last time, then raised his head and looked at the direction of the golden flagship in the sky.

"See you in a week, Horus," he said. "Rest well, he will wish to see you in a more spirited state."

"Of course," Horus said, pausing. "Whatever happened to him, take care of the Emperor, Sigillite."

"That is my duty," Malcador said, and he walked away, his grey robe disappearing into the dim light of the night.

Horus looked at the mountains below for a moment longer, the plains bathed in light and glowing like gold. He heard laughter, the laughter of Astartes, the laughter of mortals, all of it rising on the warm wind into the starry night above, for an instant until eternity.

After a long time, he stood up and found himself smiling.

And then he walked down the mountain.

-

"May His peace be with you, Erebus." Daniel said, stepping down the ramp of the transport plane and nodding slightly to another cult leader who personally greeted him. "I am glad that you can sign my pass. I don't know why, but all my other requests so far have always fallen on deaf ears."

"This may be due to the confusion of the star language. Accidents often become inevitable." Erebus said, "May I ask why you are here in such a hurry? Is there anyone else serving Aurelion?"

"Aurelian is accompanied by priests, Erebus. I am only here on orders, and I have something important to present to the Emperor in person. Can the ground here contact the Emperor's flagship?"

"The Emperor is still in orbit, accompanied by the Imperial Chancellor. He will not meet anyone these days, and you may be disappointed. You can tell me the information, and I will have someone pass it on to the message communication station." Erebus smiled and walked forward with Daniel.

They were now on one side of the plain. Walking along the avenue, they could reach the reviewing stand in the center of the Triumphal Square. On the side was a low hill that served as a natural theater seat. The light of the square shone on their upper bodies, and their shadows sank into the night.

Daniel shook his head slightly. That was information about the eleventh Primarch, and he didn't think Erebus had the corresponding level of secrecy.

"Please contact the Emperor's Dream for me, brother," Daniel said worriedly.

"That will take a long time, and we won't have the opportunity to listen to the Emperor's words every day." Erebus said, waving his hand to dismiss the others around him, "But Horus Lupercal is still on the ground. He often lingers around the plains recently. If you think it's appropriate, we can go to the hill to find him."

Daniel thought about it and agreed.

"Please take me there, Erebus," he said.

They stepped onto the steps, and Daniel followed Erebus, reciting scriptures in his heart. They remained silent for a long time, which made Daniel doubt again whether Erebus really disliked him.

When he learned from Batusa Narek's advice that the chief of Halhabait was hostile to him, he was shocked and puzzled why the other party, who was also a servant, was resentful and kept silent. For this, he rebuked Narek and warned him not to doubt his brothers. "Do not judge, lest you be judged."

"It's at the top of this mountain, on the inner cliff," Erebus suddenly said, "It's late at night, maybe we can meet him coming down the mountainside."

"I thank you for your guidance and for coming to greet him late at night."

"This is a necessary requirement for service," Erebus said, clasping his hands together, "I suddenly realized that we haven't talked alone like this for a long time, Daniel."

"Indeed," Daniel said, "We haven't had the opportunity for a long time. Do you have anything to say to me, brother Erebus?"

"I just found that as a co-worker, I don't understand you. Where are you from, Colchis?" Erebus said, and a rock rolled down at his feet.

Daniel noticed that the other party was wearing a leather satchel on his waist, which was large enough to hold a bolt pistol or an ordinary short knife.

"I think so," Daniel answered honestly.

"Which town? Maybe we were born in the same place." Erebus chatted calmly, and Daniel believed that he was using a conversation to kill time while walking.

"I don't remember," he gave a distressed and true answer, "I only remember that I woke up in the sand outside the city, as tired as if I had just escaped. This may be a destined revelation. My first name was given by the Speaker."

"I never knew your legend."

"I neither hid nor spread it," Daniel said, "Those who can know are often allowed to know by Him, I have always believed so."

Erebus nodded, as if thinking, "'Because everything that is hidden will be revealed, and everything that is concealed will be known.'"

"Yes, I believe so too. Everyone's path is arranged. We just need to obey His will." Daniel responded, "The hidden good and evil deeds will reappear under His gaze at the right time."

"May He guide our steps," Erebus said with a smile, his expression could not be seen clearly, "Your awakening in the sand may be one of His plans. Do you believe so?"

"Indeed, I feel-everything for me has started again."

"But what if you have a past?" Erebus turned sideways and looked at him from above.

"Does it have anything to do with the present?"

"What if you were a believer in paganism?" Erebus revealed his concern. "You know, the end of Kor Phaeron still echoes in Colchis."

Daniel was stunned. After a long hesitation, he slowly said: "If I have gone astray, it must be the paganism that tempted people with happiness."

"Now?" Erebus narrowed his eyes and stopped on the road on the hillside.

"Only the Emperor, I will not waver." Daniel was a little confused, "If I have really gone astray, I will need to atone for my sins one day."

"Let's change the subject, Brother Daniel. How did you get on the right path now? Were you led by the recruiting officer?"

Daniel recalled this and couldn't help but smile gently and happily.

"I can feel the call, Brother Erebus, His light and love illuminate me, and I can't help but believe in Him."

"Then, what's the difference between it and your reason for believing in paganism?" Erebus declared coldly, joy flashed in his eyes in the night, and Daniel was regretfully convinced that he was indeed very hostile to him. Does deliberately twisting his words mean anything to Erebus? He couldn't understand.

However, the next moment, his eyes widened.

Erebus suddenly took out a straight short knife from his satchel, and with a flash of cold light, he quickly stabbed Daniel. Daniel jumped back in horror, narrowly avoiding the blade.

"What are you doing, Erebus!" Daniel exclaimed, realizing that his hands were empty, and Erebus's swordsmanship was as good as anyone's.

Erebus said coldly, a grim glee in his features: "You are never truly forgiven, Daniel. Your past will always follow you."

They fought hand-to-hand on the narrow mountain road. Erebus swung his sword and attacked fiercely, but Daniel tried his best to dodge. Sometimes he had to use his bare hands to block Erebus's thrusts in embarrassment, which made every blow dangerous. The two bodies intertwined, and rocks rolled down, causing dust to fly.

"Please give me strength." Daniel knew he had to start fighting back and prayed silently in his heart for the sins caused by fighting with his co-workers. He took the opportunity to punch Erebus hard in the chest, temporarily knocking him off balance.

Erebus quickly recovered: "Do you think your dishonest faith can save you?"

Daniel was saddened by Erebus's violation of dogma, even though he knew that the other party would never admit it: "His grace alone can save me." Although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because you and I I'm with you.'"

Erebus rushed forward again, but Daniel was ready, stepped aside, and grabbed Erebus's wrist. The two were entangled again, and the smell of blood quietly leaked out. Daniel was pushed to the ground, and the dagger was nailed into his shoulder. He tried his best to push Erebus away, rolling up from the ground, panting, and missing something in his hand. The disadvantages of weapons are becoming more and more apparent.

"Are you crazy!" He yelled, his heart beating faster, sweat and blood sliding down his forehead.

"Look at you, you wretch without weapons!" Erebus mocked, "Why do you fight against true believers!"

Daniel tried his best to avoid Erebus' attacks, knowing that he was slipping into the abyss of failure step by step. Every dodge made him more exhausted. Every taunt from Erebus was like a sharp blade, piercing into his heart. Sometimes he even felt that Erebus was playing with him, appreciating his struggle and pulling his shell off his body piece by piece.

"You can't defeat me at all, you heretic," Erebus sneered. "You have no weapons, no strength, you are just struggling in vain."

"I'm not-" Daniel muttered painfully, breathing heavily, his body already hurt. Everything in front of him began to spin rapidly, and the world seemed to be changing in a blur.

If only he had a knife, Dan Yi couldn't help but wonder, if he could have a weapon that would allow him to fight back, he needed to escape from this crazy situation and get Erebus to his senses.

"Please give me strength," he prayed desperately, longing for a miracle.

Erebus pressed forward step by step, the blade flashing coldly in the dark.

"Did you see? You can't even get a counterattack blade." He whispered, like a poisonous snake, "The failure of the heresy, Daniel."

It's not like this! Daniel was in great pain and exhausted. He squeezed out a retort from between his teeth: "You use doctrines to satisfy your selfish desires, Erebus, you insult me ​​with misinterpretations..."

If Erebus raised the sword, it would definitely be a fatal blow, and this was something Daniel could not accept.

His own death didn't matter, everything would eventually return within Him, but he could no longer let a selfish madman dominate half of the Word Bearers and insult His faith.

He threw himself at Erebus with all his strength, even though he knew it might not change anything. If only he had a knife -

At the moment when his desire reached its peak, Daniel felt something suddenly appear in his hand.

It was a strange sharp blade with a long and twisted blade. It might have fallen from Erebus's bag, or it might have been summoned by his desperate prayer.

He no longer hesitated, grabbed the knife, and stabbed Erebas.

Erebus reacted quickly and blocked Daniel's attack with the weapon in his hand. The two men fought fiercely with the flash of swords, and the sound of the blades intersecting could be clearly heard in the night sky.

"Please stay with me." Daniel muttered silently. His knife seemed not as sharp as he imagined, and it would be difficult to actually hurt Erebus.

Erebus sneered, and Daniel seemed to vaguely hear someone approaching. He was pinned to the ground by Erebus, and only the hand holding the knife could aim the blade at Erebus's right shoulder. Likewise, Erebus's knife was pointed directly at one side of his arm.

The two of them swung their swords together. The golden light from the Triumph Square cut their backs with an edge, demarcating the line between light and darkness.

At this moment, a huge figure suddenly loomed over them. Horus Luperkar heard the sound and rushed over. His hands were like iron pliers, grabbing their arms as fast as possible.

Daniel was shocked and wanted to withdraw his strength. Perhaps it was due to inertia, or perhaps he was out of control due to fatigue. The knife seemed to have its own desire, and stubbornly scratched the palm of the Primarch.

For some reason, this knife, which was not sharp, actually cut a small bloody opening on Horus's supposedly extremely tough skin.

"Stop!" Horus roared, his voice like thunder, "What are you doing?"

Erebus and Daniel stopped attacking instantly, but Daniel still noticed the scratches on Horus' hands, and his heart was filled with guilt and apology. He never wanted to hurt anyone else.

Horus' eyes flickered between the two, displeasure and confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Daniel, why do you fight with Erebus?" Horus asked.

Daniel gasped and replied: "He...he doubted my faith. I am deeply sorry, dear Primarch, and I will do anything to repay the harm I have caused."

Erebus sneered: "Traitor." It seemed that this was enough as the clearest evidence.

Horus's stern gaze relaxed slightly, and he first said to Daniel: "It's just a small injury, you don't need to worry about it."

Then, he turned to the two men: "Whatever misunderstandings there may be between you, this is not the place to resolve the issue. Come with me, and I will state what I have seen to Aurelion."

Just as he turned around to lead the two of them away, Horus suddenly felt a pain in his scratched hand. He frowned and looked down at his palm. The wound became extremely red and swollen, with dark green marks spreading.

"What's going on..." Horus whispered to himself, his face turned pale, and his voice was replaced by a cough. He tried to stand firm, but his body shook uncontrollably.

"Lord Horus!" Daniel exclaimed, quickly dropped the knife and stepped forward to support him. The weight of the Primarch was more than he could bear under his exhaustion. He knelt down beside Horus Luperkar, exhausted, "Lord Horus!"

Erebus stared at Daniel coldly, the corners of his mouth tilted: "You hurt him."

Severe pain surged from the palm of his hand, and Horus felt the pain spreading throughout his body with every heartbeat. The scene in front of him gradually blurred, and his legs could no longer support his body, as if his whole body was being dragged into the abyss by invisible forces.

The soldiers' laughter moved away from him, and the light faded slightly at first, and then suddenly shrunk to a very distant point. The world was like a thick veil, and his consciousness fell alone in the darkness.

Horus closed his eyes, and his tall body collapsed like a mountain.

Under the deep night, Horus fell on the bright edge of the Triumph Square.