Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 890 Facing Vashtor
"If Khorne were to crush you, it would be tantamount to denying one of the foundations of His own existence. Therefore, He spared you as a living warning to remind Him."

Angertai heard Kabanha's confusion and then answered.

Kabanha seemed to understand, but not quite. It felt an itch in its head, as if something was about to grow.

"Am I a warning sign? Then what should I do next? Return to the Blood God's side?"

Kabanha instinctively thought of returning to the Bronze Throne, but then a chill from the depths of his soul made his blood feel as if it were about to freeze.

Go back? What awaits it?
Is it the punishment of being thrown into the Brass Arena until utter annihilation? Or the fate of being torn apart and devoured by other great demons to appease the Blood God?

“Go back?” Angelte shook his head, a hint of mockery in his voice.

"If you go back now, what awaits you is eternal torment, more terrible than death."

"Your warning has been given. Your very existence is, to the present thyursus, a poisonous sting that constantly reminds Him of His errors."

He won't tolerate you for long. Your intentions were indeed loyalty, but you have also genuinely offended Khorne.

The Blood God will not allow a great demon who has offended him to continue to roam freely; you will only become a stain that He must remove.

Kabanha's massive body jolted violently. Perhaps it was fearless of death when it was correcting Khorne, but now?
It no longer wants to die.

Isn't it good to be alive? Kabanha did live for a long time, but the longer he lived, the more afraid he became of death.

"Then where should I go? I have already offended the Blood God, and there is nowhere for me to stay in the vast Warp."

"I can't possibly go and seek refuge with other Chaos Powers, that would be suicidal. Am I supposed to follow Skabrand's example and become a complete wanderer?"

Kabanha felt a sense of unprecedented confusion.

It challenged its own god and survived, but it also lost its meaning and direction of existence.

“No, Kabanha.” Angertai saw that now was the best time to win over this Chaos Demon.

His great cause needs the participation of more people.

"Your mission has only just begun, Kabanha. Your very existence is a banner, proclaiming one thing to all the warp gods—"

Even a god's actions should conform to the rules he proclaims. Your warning cannot be directed solely at Khurel, nor can it vanish with your death.

"Think about it, Slaanesh is addicted to endless sensory stimulation and has long since deviated from the true nature of the ultimate emotions and art that he represents."
While seemingly embracing the cycle of life, Nurgle is actually mired in stagnation and decay, and his benevolent fatherhood is a tyranny that rejects any progress and choice.
Even the ever-changing master strategist, did his endless schemes ultimately fall into a self-contradictory vicious cycle, deviating from the original intention of wisdom and change?

Angeltai's words struck like a thunderbolt, shattering the simple mind of Kabanha, a mind built on muscles and fighting instincts.

It has never considered other evil gods from the perspective of their enemies.

If we can look at the issue from a higher perspective, then the four Chaos Gods, along with other warp beings, actually share a common stance and common interests.

"The Chaos Gods have long since deviated from the original concepts they symbolized at the beginning of their existence, and they have fallen into their own extreme madness."

"And you, Kabanha, have proven that even their servants can awaken and challenge their own God in order to uphold the sanctity of that 'concept' itself."

Your existence, your actions, are the spark that awakens other 'loyalists,' and a single spark can start a prairie fire; you must survive.

"In the depths of Slaanesh’s palace of pleasure, are there also guardians who are tired of empty stimulation and yearn for the true ultimate emotion and creative beauty?"
In Nurgle's Garden of Plague Swamp, are there also Nurgle archdemons who are tired of eternal decay and yearn to see life burst forth with true revolutionary power after destruction?
In Tzeentch's labyrinth of fate, is there also a Dark Lord who tires of endless intrigue and yearns to guide wisdom towards true enlightenment and change?

"Find them, unite with them, Kabanha!"

Angeltai's voice rang out like a resounding bell, filled with a sense of mission.

"You don't need to understand complex politics, you don't need to play elaborate schemes, you just need to do what you do best—fight!"
Use your existence, your actions, and the legend of you wielding your battle axe against Khorne to tell all the great demons, demon princes, or other powerful beings in the Chaos Realm who aspire to this goal.

Even those as humble as you can raise your voices loudly to correct the errors of the Chaos Gods.

“Correct the gods…” Kabanha murmured, repeating this unfamiliar concept.

Angelte's words, however, acted like a key, opening a new door to his confusion.

It doesn't need to understand too much; it just needs to fight, fight for a grander, more righteous goal.

This seems more meaningful than simply killing for the Blood God to plunder more skulls.

“You can go and gather more allies who share your ideals, and then return to my side. I will lead you to accomplish an incredibly great undertaking,” Angelte promised.

Upon hearing this, Kabanha immediately got up and began to retreat from the battlefield.

The subspace is vast; if it deliberately tries to hide itself, even the Blood God would find it difficult to locate.

Angeltai watched the enormous figure disappear into the turbulent flow of warp energy, let out a long sigh, and showed deep exhaustion on his face.

He walked over to Kahn, reached out, and placed his hand on his brother's trembling shoulder.

"It's time to go, Kahn."

"Our mission is complete. Angron has been freed, and Kabanhar has ignited the flames of rebellion."

The cracks within Chaos have been planted, and the future will be completely derailed from its original trajectory. We need to return to our legions, gather our strength, and perhaps leaving this universe with Abaddon is also a good option.

“It is far wiser to start over in a new universe than to waste our time and lives in this incredibly cruel universe.”

“We can practice the idea of ​​harmonious coexistence between humanity and the warp in a place where the warp is not yet so rampant, and then extend this idea to those hopeless places.”

Kahn slowly raised his head, his sorrow gradually dissipating, and the indomitable Eighth Company Commander of the World Eater returned once more.

He never dwells on memories and pain, because it's meaningless.

He looked at Angeltai and nodded heavily.

“Brother, my last wish has been fulfilled, my Primarch has been freed, and I will dedicate the rest of my life to our ideals.”

Angertai raised his hand again, and a brand new, stable portal slowly unfolded behind them.

"Chaos Legion, retreat!" Angeltai's voice echoed across the battlefield.

The blessed Space Marines silently and orderly began to disengage from the battle and converge on the portal.

Ryan and the other Primarchs watched them retreat, ultimately refraining from ordering a pursuit and tacitly approving their departure.

What happened today was too shocking.

Whether it was the annihilation of Angron, the betrayal of Kabanhar, or Angortai's earth-shattering remarks about "correcting the gods," they all realized a crucial issue.

The upheavals within Chaos may be more devastating to the foundations of those evil gods than the external threat of imperial powers.

Regardless of Angeltai's motives, the objective fact he created is that a hint of betrayal has emerged within the chaos.

What Kabanha considers "correction" is no different from betrayal to other warp beings.

Even if their betrayal is not a big deal to the Chaos faction, the Primarchs feel a sense of satisfaction as long as they can disgust these beings who have been influencing and controlling humanity from behind the scenes.

Rather than extinguishing Angelte's flame, it's better to let him continue to pursue his dreams; perhaps there will be more surprises in the future.

……

The destruction of Angron was merely a minor episode for Khorne and the Emperor, who were engaged in the war of the gods.

Even the proud Blood God had to helplessly discover that although his power surpassed that of the emperor before him, defeating him would still require an extremely long process.

The Emperor's tactics were very clear: defense.

He is not without the power to attack, but with the three Chaos Gods surrounding him and the warp storm raging, the best strategy is to defend the entrance to Comoros.

Loshi is deepening his control over the tunnel boring machine from the rear. As long as he masters this newly born ancient artifact, it is only a matter of time before the Gate of Kane, torn open by Khorne, is sealed.

With the assistance of the Netway tunnel boring machine and the Spirit Race gods such as Aisha and Higoki, even the four Chaos Gods working together could not truly shake the foundation of the Netway.

This time, time did not side with chaos.

The battle in Comoros has reached a suffocating stalemate. On the ground, the Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Imperial Fists, White Scars, and Iron Legion have formed an incredibly solid defensive line.

The human army, under immense pressure from the Khorne demons' increasingly frenzied attacks fueled by the gods' wrath, stubbornly held its ground, like a reef resisting the blood-red raging tide.

Every successful defense, every counterattack against the demonic tide, unleashes an ever-purer light of faith, flowing into the God-Emperor's source of power.

The anthem of humanity is the anthem of courage, and everyone on this battlefield has never lacked courage.

"Hold on... Give me a little more time."

"I'm almost there, I've got control of the tunnel boring machine."

Lothie's thoughts echoed in the ears of the Emperor and the Primarchs.

"This time, we will not fail again."

Deep within the subspace, the three Chaos Gods also felt a strong sense of unease.

Khorne's frenzied attacks were futile, and instead only depleted His power.

Slaanesh and Nurgle watched coldly, but if they intervened, Khorne would immediately retaliate.

Since the situation has reached such a stalemate, then everyone should just stay out of it and let the real instigators and beneficiaries of this war pay the price.

Whether it was Khorne, Slaanesh, or Nurgle, the fundamental reason they intervened in this war was because of Vashtor's earnest invitation.

Now the Chaos Gods have come to their senses. They fought the Emperor here, but gained nothing and ended up with a humiliating defeat.

“Vashtor…” Slaanesh’s voice, filled with deadly allure and malice, pierced through the warp and echoed in a certain alien realm filled with furnace fire and twisted machinery.

"A coward hiding behind a conspiracy..."

Then came the sluggish, sticky voice of Naggle, filled with undisguised contempt.

"Do you really expect us to clear away the obstacles to your ascension so you can sit back and reap the benefits?"

Khorne's furious roar paused for a moment as the Blood God's gaze was fixed on Vashtor's lair.

Although He disdains to join forces with the other guys, He equally hates being used.

Vashtor, the guy who fanned the flames behind the scenes and pushed the war to its outbreak, must now come out and bear the consequences.

Locked down by three Chaos Gods simultaneously, even Vashtor could no longer hide.

The domain of furnace and machinery trembled violently, space was forcibly torn apart, and the main body of the Furnace Lord was forcibly pulled out and descended over the Comoros battlefield, exposed to the Emperor's gaze.

Vashtor, a lesser god of the warp, lord of the soul furnace.

The mastermind and biggest beneficiary of the Comoros invasion war has now truly revealed his existence.

Vashtor's true form is much shorter and more hunched than his incarnations in the world. He looks like an old man with a cane, gazing at everything around him with a slightly bewildered expression.

"Gods..." Vashtor's inhuman voice, a mixture of countless gears grinding, steam hissing, and painful howls, rang out, carrying a forced exposure of shock and anger, along with a hint of barely perceptible fear.

"What do you mean by this?! There's no such clause in our agreement!"

"An agreement?" Slaanesh's voice interrupted sharply.

"Only the weak rely on the power of agreements. Do you think your agreements can bind us?" "How naive you are to expect us, the chaotic gods, to risk our lives for you?"

"Since you're so eager to take the tunnel boring machine from humanity, then you can do it yourself."

“We can create an opportunity for you where no supreme being will interfere with you, including the cursed.”

"If you can seize that ancient artifact from humans, then take it with you, and we will not stop you."

Slaanesh's mocking voice rang out, seemingly gloating.

Under the coercion of the three evil gods, Vashtor had no chance to resist.

He originally intended to remain hidden behind the scenes and reap the benefits, but now He has been pushed to the forefront and become a pawn that must confront humanity.

Anger and humiliation burned within Vashtor's mechanical core, but He suppressed all his emotions through reason.

"Good, good, good!"

"If that's the case, then let me face that human head-on. I am the true God of All Machines!"

Almost at the same moment that Vashtor was forced to reveal himself, Lothie's control over the artifact also reached a critical juncture.

He can now use his "reins" to control the tunnel boring machine to accomplish certain objectives.

The entire tunnel boring machine emitted a deep and grand hum, as if a sleeping giant had been fully awakened.

Countless runes lit up with a steady light, and the internal energy circuits were reconnected and strengthened. Under Lothie's guidance, the Gate of Kane, which had been torn apart by Khorne, was now being reinforced at a visible speed.

"It's done!"

Loshi opened his eyes and sensed the presence of that bastard Vashtor.

"This cowardly fellow actually dared to come to this battlefield in his true form and even dared to provoke me?"

Loxi raised an eyebrow, then traversed space and appeared on the Battlefield of Comoros.

This was the first time he had ever seen Vashtor in his true form. Before this, the warp sub-god had always met him in the form of an avatar.

His figure was not as tall as Vastor's, but the powerful aura emanating from him, resonating with the entire network node, made him as unshakeable as a pillar of strength.

"Vashtor, you've been hiding your true form for so long, and now you're finally willing to show yourself to me? It seems your masters can't wait to push you out as cannon fodder."

"Have you ever thought that today might be the day your life ends?"

Vashtor was not angered by Loshi's taunts.

He even bowed slightly, performing a human greeting, his metal joints creaking as if he were an old-fashioned scholar.

"Mr. Roche."

Vashtor's voice was steady and gentle, as if he were talking to a long-lost friend rather than a mortal enemy.

"I have been looking forward to this meeting for a long time. In such a short time, you were able to restore the tunnel boring machine to its original condition. I am in awe of your talent."

“I think there might be some misunderstanding between us. We have indeed had conflicts, but they are not life-or-death conflicts.”

"Perhaps we don't need to be so tense."

Vashtor loosened his grip on the scepter, his gesture carrying a hint of negotiation.

"You've mastered the tunnel boring machine, that's good, but do you truly understand its greatest power, and where it leads?"

"And I am well aware of all this. If we choose to join forces, it would be good news for both of us, wouldn't it?"

Loshi's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't reply, only staring coldly at Vashtor.

Vashtor seemed unconcerned by Loshi's wariness; His eyes, gleaming with the glow of the hearth fire, seemed to pierce through time and gaze into the future.

"What I seek is nothing more than promotion."

His voice carried a deep, almost pious longing.

"It is not for gaining greater power, nor for consolidating one's rule and enslavement, but for understanding."

To understand the deepest laws governing the universe, to understand the ultimate mysteries of creation, and to understand the landscapes beyond the universe.

“I am a pure seeker of knowledge. I thirst for more knowledge. I am not like Tzeentch, who likes to use knowledge to manipulate changes and tricks. I am only interested in knowledge itself.”

Vashtor's gaze returned to Losi.

"The network tunnel boring machine composed of the three divine artifacts... it is not merely a channel connecting space, but also contains the secrets of the ancient sages' exploration of the boundaries of the universe, and even beyond the universe itself. It is a key, a door to other universes."

The Lord of the Furnace's tone became eager and seductive, like a merchant selling a priceless treasure.

"Think about it, how long have we been trapped in this cosmic quagmire stained with chaos and suffering?"
The gods went mad, life struggled in despair, and everything sank into a cycle of destruction and rebirth.

This is not how the universe should be. The true mystery, the true future, lies hidden beyond the universe, in those unpolluted, undefined infinite possibilities.

"You possess the key, yet you seem to have no intention of opening that door to the multiverse; you are merely content to use it to guard this small piece of land?"
Forgive my bluntness, but your so-called human empire is utterly insignificant compared to these infinite possibilities. You've wasted the power of the network tunnel boring machine.

A mocking smile appeared on Rosie's lips.

He had figured out what Vashtor was doing; that cunning old man had been misleading him all along.

He declared the tunnel boring machine to be a key, but emphasized that it was a tool to connect to other universes and build artificial, stable inter-universe channels.

If Roshi hadn't learned about the Key and the Ancient Vault from the Darkwatcher, she might have really been fooled by this guy.

Vashtor truly embodied the art of flexibility to the extreme; He could incite the four Chaos Gods to besiege humanity, or He could openly discuss cooperation with Roshi.

"I know you have left our universe, but I am ashamed to say that I have never seen different scenery."

I am willing to dedicate all my learning, all the knowledge and strength I have accumulated, to explore the unknown universe with you. Let us join hands to transcend the constraints of this universe and comprehend the truths that transcend the mundane world.

"If I can ascend to the God of Vicious Arts, then I swear that I will become an ally of humanity and protect you from the threats of other warp gods."

Listening to Vashtor's confession, Rosi's eyes remained unmoved, showing only a pity that revealed the truth.

"Ascension? Vashtor, you really want to sit on the throne of [Vicious Arts]?"

Luo Xi spoke slowly, directly exposing the true thoughts of the guy in front of her.

“Vashtor, you are blinded by your own greed for ascension, but you cannot see the true nature of the Chaos Throne, which is actually a prison.”

"A cage?"

Vashtor's eyes flashed with an eerie green light. His voice remained steady, but there was a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.

"Power brings freedom, understanding brings transcendence. When I sit on the throne of the Chaos Eight-Pointed Star, no other power can forcefully interfere with my will. How can there be any talk of a cage?"

"Because the ascension you seek is not about transcendence, but about nailing yourself even more deeply to the rules of the warp," Losi said disdainfully.

"The throne you crave is nothing more than the solidification and amplification of the concepts of 'industry,' 'technology,' and 'machinery' that you symbolize by the endless desires and chaotic currents of the warp."

Once you sit on it, you are no longer yourself; your will will be devoured and distorted by the concept of the throne.

You will become a slave to your desire for the throne, utterly annihilating your true self.

Loxi's gaze swept over the terrifying energy source in the distance that represented the three Chaos Gods.

“Look at them: Slaanesh is drowning in the vortex of emotional stimulation, Nurgle is trapped in the mire of the cycle of life, and Khorne is forever trapped in the cycle of killing.”

They appear powerful, but in reality, they are completely imprisoned by their own thrones. They are the embodiment of the rules of the warp, yet also the most tragic prisoners of those rules.

They cannot change, cannot progress, and can only eternally sink into their own madness, because the power of the Chaos Eight-Pointed Star Throne prevents any being capable of killing them from appearing.

"If you truly become the God of Malicious Arts, you'll merely become one of them, another omnipotent evil god trapped in a cage of concepts!"

For the first time, Vashtor's hunched body swayed noticeably.

Loxi's words pierced the core of His mind, and the furnace beneath His body flickered violently, with black and red flames flashing erratically.

He, however, never considered the truth of ascension from this perspective.

"Controlled by the throne?"

Vashtor sought ascension, pursuing ultimate freedom and understanding, never imagining he would become a puppet on the throne.

Could it be that the path to eternity He sought led to an eternal prison? Could it be that His yearning for transcendence would ultimately prevent Him from ever achieving it?
"No! That's impossible, that's your lie and sophistry!"

"You're trying to deceive me so you can monopolize this path to promotion. I understand, I understand everything. You just want to eliminate me, your competitor!"

Vashtor let out a suppressed growl, trying to dispel this terrible inference that was shaking His foundations.

But His voice had lost its previous absolute calmness, carrying a barely perceptible hint of fear.

"You're afraid—afraid that my progress will surpass yours, afraid that I'll become the god of malevolent arts! Give me the key, and let me prove to you that everything you've said is wrong!"

Vashtor has lost his initial composure and is gradually revealing his impatient nature.

“I have never intended to ascend to godhood, Vashtor.”

Rosie's voice was calm and firm, without any falsehood.

"I wield this power to protect, to give humanity a place to breathe in this cruel universe."

This power is a tool, not an end. I will not allow myself to become a slave to the tool, nor will I abandon myself, my emotions, and my choices as a human being for the sake of an illusory divine position.

Sitting on that cold throne, understanding countless mysteries of the universe, yet losing the ability to feel joy, sorrow, love, and anger, losing the will to choose freely—what difference is there between that and a cold stone?

That wasn't sublimation, that was... eternal death.

“This authority and power did not originally belong to me; it was imposed on me by Neos.”

"And haven't you noticed something very interesting?"

"If the emperor so desired, he could simply nod and sit on the throne of corruption and destruction, becoming the supreme Dark King. So why would he fight to the death, preferring to sit on the Golden Throne rather than suppress the Dark King's will?"

"Because he blocked the fifth Chaos Throne, you and the other lesser gods after him cannot ascend to godhood."

"If this throne is really as good as you say, then why is the Emperor so determined not to accept it?"

Vashtor fell silent.

He had considered this question, but He resolved it by saying that the emperor loved the human race so deeply.

But now that I think about it more carefully, is that all there is to it?
"As for you, Vashtor, whether you understand my warning or not, whether you are willing to abandon your twisted ambitions or not, one thing is absolutely impossible—"

I will never allow you to ascend, I will never allow a new Chaos God to be born, one whose core is the blasphemy of technology and mechanical corruption.

That would be a catastrophe for all living beings; your path to ascension ends here!

(End of this chapter)