Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 886 The head swordsman of the Imperial Court no longer serves the false emperor.
The solar system, the Nicaea system.

The Shadow of the Kings hovered high in orbit around Nicaea, and Nimrod, along with Think Tank Director Thomas, Reverend Pat, and Flag Bearer Gul Gul, boarded the Stormbird.

He chose the Stormbird as his vehicle not to participate in a battle, but because this new cosmic star was still unstable.

The Primarch's private pilot, Nelson, activated the Black Stormbird and flew out of the flight deck, where he saw murky clouds obscuring the ground.

Countless flashing indicator lights danced on the control panel in the cockpit, and vector lines constantly generated and disappeared, outlining the shattered ground below.

He glanced at the report provided by the Auger Matrix instructor: "[Atmosphere mixed with volcanic eruption embers.]"

The "winner" pushed the control stick, and the black iron bird flew straight into the brown lightning storm.

Nelson, from the perspective of the "Cataclysm Priest," looked down at the fragmented continent below, which then rejoined with a roar.

The shockwave traveled through the mantle and roamed freely.

The impact stirred up and churned the atmosphere.

Nelson slammed the accelerator to the floor, and the black iron bird accelerated and swooped down.

Amidst the rumbling thunder, torrential acid rain poured down.

Nelson, using his skills as a "Cult Master," rode the Stormbird, dodging flashing lightning and rolling acid rain.

He calmly accepted the telemetry signals from the command post, confirmed the landing plan, and continued until the positioning rune coincided with the target point, at which point the Imperial Guard on the ground took over the flight.

Ninglu stepped off the deck, his combat boots landing on the black basalt ground accumulated from the volcanic eruption.

He followed the cold gaze falling on him and saw that the iron-gray stormbird was covered in rust, as if it had been fighting for hundreds of years without any maintenance.

The frail body beside Riemann Russ looked as if it had been shaken to pieces.

Oshel Wardmaker, the rune priest of the Fifth Dalian, planted his mechanical leg on the tarmac, inwardly scoffing. [Witchcraft!]
Ruth strode up to Ninglu and lowered his voice.

"Ning Lu, the think tank you proposed to establish will come to an end today."

“The Emperor will make his own judgment.” After saying this, Ninglu ignored Rus’s probing gaze and walked straight toward the crater of the cone-shaped mountain range.

Russ frowned slightly as he led Kova and Wodemaker, following Nimrod into the center of the stratovolcano.

The bright, smooth tunnel, sculpted by Martian technicians using thermal melting equipment, is large enough for three Primarchs to walk side by side.

But the black and iron-gray lines went one after the other without intersecting.

Thomas walked to the left of the standard-bearer who held high the legion's battle flag, his ever-open "Eye of the Secrets" gazing around, with hundreds of wolves behind them.

He also saw that in the other two directions of the volcano, the "Son of the Emperor," dressed in magnificent purple and gold armor, was led by two lord commanders, Edron and Akulduna, and stood at the front and back of the procession, respectively, with Magnus, Saint Gilles, and Fugrim walking side by side in the middle.

On the other side, Tagutai Yesugei, the Storm Prophet representing the absent Chagatai, was obscured by Mortarion's enormous figure.

With a thought, the mind-based psychic sent a thought pulse to the Black Emperor.

“My lord, Mortarion is with Yesugei, and the sons of Forgrim surround the Thousand Sons.”

"The wolves are like prisoners being held in captivity."

Ning Lu smiled calmly and sent a thought pulse, "Don't be impatient."

The Imperial Guards pushed open the bronze gate at the end of the passage, and Ninglu passed through the gate and stepped into the magnificent hall carved into the steep rock wall of the volcano.

He glanced at the Terra Council members sitting on the black bench, draped in robes and looking down at them.

Their surging emotions were like those of the audience in the ancient Roman Colosseum, waiting to watch the gladiators be torn apart.

Gao Kangda Paiya, the former chief preacher of "Son of the Emperor," appeared physically vigorous, but his spirit was dim and lifeless, indicating that he was nearing the end of his life.

At the top of the pyramid-shaped platform, the emperor's radiance was dazzling.

He sits atop the throne of a soaring eagle, its talons adorned with red gems.

The Emperor's Sword, its energy field unactivated, lay across his lap, while he held a sphere covered in eagle emblems in his left hand.

Two figures stood beside him: Constantine Waldo, commander of the Imperial Guard, holding the Spear of Apollo.

The frail-looking Makado, the one who held the seal, gripped the scepter tightly and looked toward Nimrod.

Kelbo-Ha, the Mars Forging Director, sat on the other side, his prosthetic eye darting around, ignoring the other Primarchs without mechanical hearts, landing on Nimrod before quickly moving away. Beside him, Nemo Zhi-ming, the Abbot of the Star-Language Court, dressed in green robes, stared straight ahead.

Lauren Visher, the Starfather's special envoy from the Navigator family, looked over to convey the Starfather's will.

Two of the Imperial Army's lord commanders remained unmoved: Marshal Haldan Marlon of the "Sun Auxiliary Army," and Barton Drake cast a determined glance.

Nimrod read their attitude: [Kelbo-Ha was somewhat concerned about him, but he rejected Mars's invitation to divine mechanization, and he clearly wouldn't be on his side.]

Nemo Zhi-ming, too, has already stated his position in the Terra Council based on the shared interests of both parties, but will not comment at today's event, as will Kelsey Demidov, the Charter Captain's spokesperson.

Veschel the Navigator and Patton stood firmly on their side.
As he pondered, he walked toward the high platform.

As Ning Lu walked through the lowest level of the circular theater, his gaze swept over the many hanging boxes.

Each private room was shrouded in distorted light, so much so that even he couldn't see the dim reflections that obscured the view.

He could only discern Horus Lupecal from the blurry outlines.

The Warmaster obviously won't show up, which will only cause conflict between him, himself, and Magnus.

Ninglu shifted his gaze back to the high platform and saw that the Holy Blood Angel, the Emperor's Son, and the Thousand Sons were already kneeling below the platform.

Akulduna, the eldest son of Fulgrim, knelt beneath the fluttering banner.

The former leader of the Paratine swordsmen glanced at the banner that fluttered with the personal emblem of his former master, the Emperor—the Paratine Eagle.

The emperor, once the first court swordsman of Paratine, silently repented, "[Please forgive me, my lord.]"
Before his father returned to the Legion, he led the Palatine swordsmen to protect the Lord of Man, winning a glory unique to the Third Legion.

The golden Paratine eagle branded on the chest of the "Son of the Emperor" is distinct in appearance from the imperial double-headed eagle on the chests of the surrounding Astartes, and is a unique honor belonging to the Third Legion.

He was the leader of the only two hundred swordsmen remaining in the Third Army after the war.

But he had already stopped serving the false emperor when the Black Emperor shattered the Paratine Eagle brand on his chest.

Hathor Matt, curator of the "Thousand Sons" think tank, who wears a Terminator-style armored vehicle, repeatedly hypnotizes himself.

I was forced to submit.

My Lord will surely forgive my blasphemy.
Bathed in dazzling golden light, Thomas walked down to the foot of the platform. He knelt on the smooth black floor, trying desperately to enter the state of Teresa's mind and regain his thoughts.

Pat slammed his scepter down on the ground, creating a crack.

He knelt down in humiliation, roaring inwardly.

[False Emperor!]

Blasphemy!

heresy!]
Gurghur held aloft the battle flag of "Shadow of Order" bestowed upon him by the Emperor, standing behind the Black Emperor, watching the wolves kneel before him.

[Ruth was too ashamed to admit that he brought our lord here.]
The Guardian felt the golden light pressing down on him, and he silently recited his oath to protect the military flag.

Saint Gilles' gentle voice rang out, and only then did the golden light move away from the black armor.

"Homage to the Lord of Mankind, I bring you the Crimson Magnus, the Primarch of the 'Thousand Sons'."

"Get up."

The Emperor's voice had barely broken the solemn silence when Pat nudged the pale-faced Thomas beside him and stood up first.

Akulduna and Hathor then stood up, as did Astartes members such as Edorun, Yesugei, Kova, and Wodemek.

Macardo stepped onto the platform, holding a Paratine eagle scepter that was much longer than the previous double-headed eagle scepters, resembling an old man's cane.

It once belonged to the emperor himself.

He cleared his throat. “Friends, we have gathered here in Nicaea today to discuss a problem that has troubled us since the founding of the Empire.”

Makado glanced at his speech and took a deep breath.

"We are going to discuss the problem of witchcraft in the empire."

"We are here to discuss the think tank program."

(End of this chapter)