Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 864 I bestow upon you the title of War General; all my armies and generals shall be at your command.
Ulanoro underwent a dramatic transformation in a short period of time. The green-skinned world, filled with stinking nests and filthy camps, was reshaped into a magnificent stage by the land-transforming machinery carried by the four industrial fleets of the Mechanicus.

The mountains were leveled and shattered, the dark canyons were filled, and the rolling hills were smoothed out.

Millions of machine guns, industrial robots, and convicts leveled the ground to create a smooth granite surface.

Their blood and sweat have paved a 500-meter-wide and 500-kilometer-long avenue.

On both sides of the avenue, pointed pillars stand tall, covered with green skulls.

The surrounding fire pits were filled with fuel, and the green-skinned corpses piled up by the "Shadowmoon Wolf" were burning fiercely, with thick smoke billowing straight into the sky.

Eight million soldiers of the empire gathered in Ulano, and countless flags fluttered in the wind.

Apart from the Gate of Eternity, there is nowhere else with such a dazzlingly colorful ocean.

Tens of thousands of armored vehicles roared to life.

Hundreds of Titans moved with heavy steps.

Fifteen Astartes legions answered the Emperor's call, and 120,000 superhuman warriors arrived.

On the mirror-like land constructed of granite, the only remaining remnant of the former landscape is the lair of the green-skinned warlord Urak Gerg.

Most of the mountain was erased, leaving a flat base covered with steel, which served as the glorious stage for the emperor and his descendants.

Ten Primarchs stood on either side of the Emperor.

Horus Lupecal stood close to the Emperor's right shoulder, flanked by his close friend Saint Gilles, the proudly engraved double-headed eagle of Forgrim, the hooded Mortarion, and the restless Angron.

Nimrod stood to the Emperor's left, flanked by the rapidly rising Loka Aurelion, the rock-solid Rogue Dorne, Magnus with his multicolored eyes gleaming with golden light, and the aloof Chagatai.

"Imperial warriors, today we gather in Ulanor to celebrate the glorious victory of the Great Expedition, in which we have destroyed the largest evil Greenskin nation in the galaxy."

"What we must remember is that Horus personally killed the orc warlord Urak Ulgr in this battle."

"We have achieved great things over the past two hundred years. We have found one lost brother world after another and overthrown the aliens that oppressed us in the Dark Ages."

"We proclaim humanity's resurgence; the galaxy belongs to humanity!"

Ninglu looked down from the high platform, where a thunderous roar of cheers shook the earth, celebrating the glorious pinnacle of the human empire.

"The time has come!" The voice of the Lord of Mankind drowned out the cheers and echoed among the eight million Imperial soldiers, the 120,000 Astartes, and the hundreds of Titan machines.

"Now is the time for the Primarchs to show what great leaders they are and let them lead this battle to save humanity!"

The cheers abruptly stopped.

The soldier was stunned, wondering if he had just been hallucinating.

The Astartes were bewildered and plunged into deep sorrow.

The emperor silently removed the golden olive branch from his forehead and spoke to Horus.

"You are my son, and we will fight side by side to conquer the entire galaxy."

"Now, the time has come for me to retire from Terra."

"My duty as a soldier is now handed over to you, for I have a more arduous task to complete in my seclusion."

He placed the golden olive branch crown on Horus's head, saying, "I bestow upon you the title of General of War. From this day forward, all my armies and generals will obey you as if the order were given by me personally."

Saint Gilles' wings fluttered, and Fugrim's gleaming white hair swayed as they maintained their perfect posture while subtly shifting their attention to the Emperor's other side.

Mortarion's face was gloomy. "The Emperor's folly will only exacerbate the conflict between Primarchs, no matter who he appoints as Warmaster."

However, Horus is the best choice.

Ninglu was good in other aspects as well, but his obsession with witchcraft put him on the edge of an abyss.
Angron clenched his fist. "[You forced me to abandon my brothers and sisters in Nukelia!]"
You told me you were my general, and now you've let me down again!
You abandoned us! You abandoned everyone!
The Butcher's Nail hummed and spun.

[The Emperor's foolish actions have brought about the rise of Chaos!] The High Priest of Chaos, Loja, had a gleam in his eyes.

He looked at Nimrod with great interest. [Nimrod, Guilliman, Lane, and Finus are all potential war commanders.]

Nimrod's achievements were closest to Horus's, while Randan's achievements were even greater than Ulanno's, but Macardo deliberately downplayed them as ordinary victories to avoid the public's fear of the aliens.

Nimrod is most likely to be dissatisfied with the Emperor and Horus; perhaps he can be used for my great Enlightenment plan.
Dorn scrutinized Nimrod cautiously, just as Constantine Waldo under the canopy did, as if assessing some potential threat.

Magnus's eyes slid to blue, and together with Chagatai's hawk-like eyes, they looked at Nimrod.

Ninglu sensed the gazes falling on him. With Guilliman and the others absent, he was naturally the focus of attention as the most likely candidate to be chosen as the War Master.

Other protogenes are examining their own responses.

[The position of war commander, which only lasts for a few years, can be held by whoever wants it.]

I'm not in a hurry to raise the banner.
Ning Lu smiled calmly, as if he didn't care at all.

Loka's smile froze.

How could this be?
Ning Lu showed absolutely no sign of abnormality? Did he not feel any dissatisfaction whatsoever?
impossible!]
The Emperor took in Ninglu's expression, looked around at the other Primarchs, and addressed them.

"You still have much work to do, and there are still many parts of the world that need to be liberated, and many people waiting to be saved."

The emperor faced Horus before him one last time.

My trust is with you!

His majestic voice filled Ulano and was transmitted throughout the orbital fleet via holographic projection.

Praise be to Horus!

"Praise be to the war commander!"

"Honorable Warlord!" Company Commander Azekel Abaddon shouted first, followed by Shadowmoon Wolf, who felt immensely honored.

Ulanor's celebrations quickly turned to sorrow, with many Astartes Legions and Auxiliary Forces finding it difficult to accept the Emperor's retreat to Terra.

One hundred thousand Astartes wept in sorrow. Tears pattered inside their helmets and dampened their cheeks.

Even their superhuman intellect could not suppress the grief in their hearts.

Aside from the "Shadowmoon Wolf" enjoying its glory amidst complex emotions, the Shadows of Order felt no sorrow.

Lord San Diego Bergkamp of the Fifth Legion looked up at the high platform and clenched his fist.

Pastor Pat's eyes flashed with golden light, [A False Emperor!]
The Dream Walker swore in his heart: [I will use the eternal life bestowed by my Lord to inscribe the truth into the subconscious of every shadow of order: Only the Black Emperor Nimrod is the one true God!]

Everything else is fake!

Imperial truth, lies! Emperor, false emperor!
The celebration of the "Great Victory of Ulano" ended as the stars fell.

Eight million soldiers and Astartes returned to their camps in shock.

Inside the golden tent, the emperor wore a smile.

"My son, do you still remember the first gift I gave you?"

"Of course." Horus's memory was pulled back more than two hundred years.

"It was an astronomy book, and there was a constellation chart inside."

"Which zodiac sign do you like best?" the emperor asked.

"I admire Leo's nobility and ferocity, Scorpio's strong armor and sharp blade, Taurus's steadfastness and stubbornness, and Libra's emphasis on fairness and justice."

The emperor's smile froze as his memory returned to a celebration following another great battle.

"Wheel of Flames"

During the daytime celebration, he presented Nimrod with the spear of Dionysus.

That evening, when he talked to Nimrod about constellations, his answer was remarkably similar to Horus's words at that moment.

"Your views on constellations are quite similar to Ninglu's."

Horus was taken aback. He looked at his father, Nimrod, who was another candidate for Warmaster.

The emperor noticed the doubts about his beloved son.

Guilliman was the perfect ruler, but he still needed and was better suited to be the commander-in-chief of the "Great Expedition".

Nimrod is a competent commander, but his legions are filled with religious cults, and his support for the use of psionic powers will provoke strong opposition from Angron and Mortarion.

……

“I appreciate your choice, but you should take another look,” the Emperor said, raising his hand.

The image of a warrior drawing his bow and nocking an arrow, galloping on horseback, comes to life.

"He is a fearsome hunter, the constellation that best represents war."

"He was strong, ruthless, unrestrained, swift, and precise."

"In ancient times, he was the most powerful concept, and archers who hunted and fought were the most favored."

The emperor's tone was deep and somber, lost in memories.

“In Anatoli, where I grew up, archers were a highly respected symbol.”

"The rider and the warhorse are one in mythology, a perfect combination of humanity and the arsenal of war."

"This is the goal you should learn from and emulate."

The emperor's tone pulled him back to reality from his memories; his voice was triumphant.

"From this day forward, you will command my army and the tools of war, as one with your horse and rider."

"My archer, you will roam the stars!"

As the emperor spoke, he raised his hand and placed an old gold ring on Horus's left little finger.

The weathered ring, etched by time, can only barely make out the patterns of horseshoes, arms, and bows.

"It was made in Persia, a year before I was born."

"The fearsome archer is now yours."

"My warrior, my archer."

The emperor smiled and encouraged him.

"All legions will follow your lead, stand with you through thick and thin, and fight alongside you in battle."

"After I leave, continue your journey!"

"My son, the imperial army will always be by your side!"

Horus gazed at his father's imposing back, his chest held high.

“Father, I understand.”

"I was born to be a fearsome hunter."

"I will lead my Primarch brothers and continue to gallop!"

His eyes gleamed, and he decided to speak with each of the Primarchs individually to gain their approval.

The first one is Ninglu.

(End of this chapter)