This is our Warhammer journey

Chapter 195 The Duel Begins

The Dark Angels quickly arrived at the bridge.

"Greetings, Lord Romulus."

The knights bowed to Romulus, who sat in the main seat, in a manner so proper that no one could find fault with it.

Ezekiel then glanced at the situation on the bridge.

The bridge of the Dawn is surprisingly wide compared to other ships. The tiered platform accommodates a greater number of departments, including military departments that are wrapping up the ground battle and government departments that are seamlessly coordinating with the Star Language Court.

Ezekiel could even find many Astartes who were sons of Guilliman in them.

They were busy, and from their words, Ezekiel could discern details about various governance projects.

The chief think tank member nodded in approval.

Conquest is only the first step. It takes decades to govern a planet and even more centuries to make it an asset to the empire. The latter is the most important task.

The Dark Angels are well aware of this.

However, they are unable to devote too much of their energy to these tasks.

Their purpose in coming here is far more important than simply overseeing the transformation of a certain world.

"Greetings, Ezekiel, the sons of Ruth have been waiting for you for a long time."

Facing this legendary Dark Angel think tank, Romulus didn't bother with pleasantries. He sat upright on his command throne, and after nodding in return, he continued working on the documents on his desk, maintaining both dignity and a perfectly appropriate distance.

He didn't want to say anything that might offend these sensitive knights.

"."

Ezekiel bowed respectfully, then turned his gaze to the son of Ruth.

After these cousins ​​refused to accept the Astartes Codex, their status in the Empire remained somewhat awkward; these mavericks were always the most conspicuous wherever they went.

"Alm Iron Oath".

The wolf guard shrugged, a small, beastly gesture that caused his wolf fang necklace to sway slightly.

Under Redmane's undisguised disappointment, Alm slammed his right fist heavily onto his breastplate, producing a dull thud.

"I will be your opponent."

Ezekiel's gaze swept over the restless Bloodclaws behind Alm, the young warriors' eyes burning with undisguised fighting spirit.

He could smell the intense heat permeating the air—

These newly transformed wolf cubs are just like Fenris's rutting wolves in spring, constantly eager to prove themselves.

He then looked at the wolf guard and saw that the other was holding a conventional power axe and staring at him intently. He couldn't help but feel a sense of approval.

"Where is our designated area?"

Alm turned around, then raised his weapon as a signal, leading the Dark Angels across the bridge.

They eventually stopped at a modified platform, which had originally been an observation area overlooking the production line below, now fitted with polished steel plates.

The surrounding railings were replaced with pillars engraved with the insignia of both warbands, and the overhead lighting array illuminated the area like a stage.

"bring it on."

The wolf guards arrived at the high platform and then extended an invitation to their opponents.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Redmane grinding his teeth anxiously, while the young Bloodclaws paced back and forth in the spectator area like tethered wolf cubs.

Although Redmane always clamors to win honors for Dalian, Alm doesn't want too many surprises to happen in such a serious setting.

Over the course of ten thousand years, the Space Wolf has repeatedly and unwittingly killed the Dark Angels' champion.

Although they always disguise their true nature as savage, every Space Wolf is wild, reckless, and manic when they first join the Legion.

Every Space Wolf undergoes this transformation: the Bloodclaw stage is a pure, blizzard-like rage; the Gray Hunter stage teaches them to temper their fury into a sharp blade; and finally, they become the Fang, capable of perfectly balancing wildness and reason.

This process is always soaked in blood, some of it from oneself, but mostly from others.

Those responsible for these dueling scandals are usually members of Bloodclaw.

Alm didn't know what those old wolves were thinking at the time, but he didn't want such a scandal to appear in his team, nor did he want to see another century-old feud caused by things getting out of control.

"Sorry, cousin."

Ezekiel stood still and shook his head.

"Your opponent is not me."

A member of the devotees stepped out from the ranks, removing his priestly robes. His armor was of a very ancient style, giving Alm a sense of déjà vu, making him think of Gareth and his group of old men from ten thousand years ago.

Alm frowned slightly. The armor of his opponent was covered with intricate patterns, similar to the tattoos of wolves. The more numerous and complex the patterns, the more experience the warrior had accumulated, and thus the stronger he was.

"I am Najir, the Supreme Teacher of Devotees."

The dark angel raised his sword in his right hand, holding the power sword upright in front of his chest with impeccable posture, and saluted the wolf guards.

As he moved, the cloth strip at his waist fluttered, revealing a uniquely shaped scepter hanging below. The ebony scepter was adorned with six black pearls arranged in a perfect six-pointed star pattern.

Creak~
Again.

Ezekiel gripped his sword, constantly scanning his surroundings, trying to figure out what was happening. His hand was involuntarily tightening. That feeling of impending death returned, as if a cold blade were pressed against his skull.

However, the interference with his psionic abilities was like being blindfolded, making it impossible for him to see how things were developing.

"What a ruthless person."

Beside Arthur, Ramses, who had also infiltrated the area, remarked to his companion that the psionic camouflage flowed across the surface of his power armor, perfectly mimicking the dark green paint of the Dark Angels like ripples in water.

The Alpha Legion's psionic disguise and personality simulation technology is truly astonishing. Combined with the soul projections of the replaced knights used as cover, even the chief think tank like Ezekiel could not detect the slightest flaw.

Furthermore, the Dark Angels they planted on their side would not reveal their identities due to their behavior or internal secrets.

"Asmodeus only has two, but this guy has six. No wonder he's a devotee; this place produces a lot of crazy people."

Arthur ignored them and silently watched the black pearls.

For millennia, the Dark Angels, centered around the Stone Fortress, have been capturing Fallen Angels, and these Black Pearls represent proof that the Inner Circle members have successfully made the Fallen Angels repent.

Fun fact: Asmodian, the infamous and heartless inquisitor priest known as the Dark Angel, only ever received two black pearls in his entire life.

It's easy to imagine how obsessive the Devotionist Chapter's pursuit of the Fallen Angels had become.

He could understand the feelings of Zabril and the others.

By simply engaging in one-on-one conversations with them and truly understanding their personal experiences, one can discern just how obsessed these "Dark Angels" of the 40k era truly were.

Ten thousand years ago, when Caliban shattered, there were at least fifty thousand dark angels on it.

The more than one thousand people they have gathered now seem like a lot, but what about the others?
Over thousands of years, how many beings who were completely unaware of the current situation have been persecuted?

Arthur was unaware that the Dark Angels' inner circle might contain interrogation records, and he would try to investigate them; he knew without a doubt how bloody those records would be.

But what is he supposed to do?
Indiscriminately kill these dark angels from ten thousand years in the future, and then let the dark angels from ten thousand years ago take their place?
Then what's the difference between him and these madmen?
'Judgment or revenge?'

Arthur shook his head, signaling the dark angels not to act rashly.

The answer may lie in those undeclassified files, and what he needs to do is ensure that the Dark Angels do not become another Asmodie in their pursuit of the truth.

pat~
Inside the government system, Gareth, who was organizing documents, suddenly stopped, his long fingers pressing down on Kai's hand to stop him:
"Kai, don't do anything unnecessary. We are prepared, but we will not be the ones to draw the sword."

Gareth's voice was as calm as a deep pool, but the force from his fingers made a slight metallic cracking sound from Kai's arm armor.

Kay turned to him, a dangerous red light flashing in his eyepiece.

“He killed at least six knights, and those pearls are the evidence.”

Kay's words were transmitted in cipher, and even without a sound, Gareth could feel the intense killing intent emanating from them.

Arthur's knowledge of the contemporary Dark Angels is extraordinary; he knows all the secrets of their inner circle, the identities of the various Grand Masters, and even the meanings represented by these black pearls.

Beneath the visor, light and shadow flowed across Gareth's face, highlighting the taut lines of his jaw.

"Yes, so he will be put on trial in the future."

Gareth replied.

“We will conduct an investigation and gather evidence, but we cannot make a decision on our own before that.”

Beneath Kai's arm armor, the servo motor emitted a slight 'click' sound, but Gareth's hand remained motionless, like a torture device welded to the armor, suppressing even the slightest tremor.

Government officials were still busy around them, oblivious to the tense atmosphere brewing in this corner.

"If we continue to make decisions without investigation, just like them, how can we have the face to call them fallen angels?"

The force that had been barely contained in his hand suddenly loosened, and Gareth's voice suddenly deepened.

There are indeed fallen angels who have truly fallen. After learning what chaos represents during their internal training, they generally believe that those who sided with chaos deserved to die.

"His Highness would not want to see us like this."

Gareth continued to persuade him.

"He finally gave us the opportunity to be honest with each other; the real depravity is the unfounded suspicion and unverified killing."

"."

Kai's armor system finally fell silent, but the breathing beneath the mask was still sharp as a knife.

His voice came through the communication channel, filled with suppressed anger:

"I'll wait and see them show their teeth."
-
Wow!

The crisp sound of metal colliding abruptly broke the stagnant atmosphere.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Romulus straightened up from his throne, swung his arm, and a finely crafted power halberd shot out, spinning as it thrust towards the center of the dueling arena.

Clang!
The halberd was deeply embedded in the steel plate ground, its shaft trembling incessantly, its humming sound echoing like war drums within the bridge.

Almost at the same moment——

Alm and Nagil's figures suddenly blurred, and the power armor's servo systems roared to their limits.

The Wolf Guard's battle axe and the Dark Angel's power sword clashed in mid-air, sparks flying, and the blue light of the disintegrating force field exploded upon impact.

The duel begins!
(End of this chapter)