Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 696 The Great Forest of Caliban, Part Three

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the surrounding trees gradually became sparse.

The sound of flowing water broke the silence of the forest.

A wide river lay before them, blocking their path.

The river water is a deep, dark green, with a calm surface and a slow flow.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see ominous undercurrents lurking beneath the water, occasionally creating unnatural whirlpools on the surface.

The river is over 100 meters wide, and the opposite bank is lined with equally dense forests.

Their attention was immediately drawn to the sight on the river.

A very old wooden boat was floating on the water a dozen meters from the riverbank.

The hull looked old, with dark-colored planks covered in cracks and signs of decay.

In some places, the wooden planks have become thin and blackened, as if they would shatter at the slightest touch.

The small boat looked like it could fall apart at any moment, yet it miraculously floated on the water.

The boat is small and can only accommodate one or two people.

An elderly man with a hunched back sat on the boat.

He wore a faded and tattered purple robe, on which intricate gold embroidery patterns were still faintly visible.

However, these embroideries have been covered by stains, making it difficult to recognize their original splendor.

The old man wore a similarly worn-out golden crown, symbolizing his former status as a noble king.

Now the crown is askew, making him look quite disheveled.

He stood with his back to the riverbank, facing downstream, holding a simple fishing rod in his hand.

The fishing rod looked like a branch casually broken off from a tree, and the fishing line dangled into the dark green river water.

He remained motionless, like a frozen statue.

Most notably, the old king appeared to be seriously injured.

Even from a distance, the Lion King's sharp eyes could clearly see that a viscous golden liquid was constantly seeping out from the back of his tattered robe.

The blood, radiating a faint golden light, flowed slowly down the folds of the robe.

They dripped into the water accumulating at the bottom of the boat, and then flowed into the river through the gaps in the planks.

The moment the golden blood touches the dark green river water, it will create a faint halo of light, which will then quickly dissipate.

It was these drops of golden blood that fell into the river that attracted countless covetous beings from underwater.

Beneath the surface of the water around the ship, distorted shadows could be vaguely seen lurking and swimming.

They come in all shapes and sizes: some resemble deformed leeches magnified countless times, some look like strange fish covered in tentacles, and some are simply indescribable, just a wriggling mass of darkness.

These monsters gathered near the spot where the golden blood had dripped, waiting greedily.

Occasionally, a small ripple of turbidity might be stirred up by the competition.

They exude a nauseating stench, a mixture of corruption and malice.

These underwater monsters clearly craved golden blood, but were restrained by some unseen force, daring not to get too close to the dilapidated boat, and could only wander anxiously underwater.

Lion King Leon walked to the riverbank and stopped.

He stared at the hunched back and the dripping golden blood.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me, including a strange sense of familiarity and reverence, as well as deep pity and anger.

He raised his voice and asked the old king on the ship.

The voice echoed across the silent river: "Who are you? Why are you fishing here? Do you need help?"

However, the old king on the ship did not respond to his question.

He remained in the fishing posture, seemingly completely immersed in his own world.

He ignored both the visitors on the shore and the threats posed by the surrounding water.

Seeing that the old king was ignoring him, the lion king frowned.

He took a step forward, seemingly intending to wade across and check on the old king's condition. "Wait."

Chen Xi's voice rang out just in time.

At the same time, he stretched out his hand, making a gesture to block the lion king.

"Primarch, you must not go into the water rashly."

The Lion King stopped what he was doing, turned to look at Chen Xi, and looked at him with a question in his eyes.

Chen Xi pointed to the wrecked boat in the middle of the river and the old king on it, explaining in a solemn tone:
"Here, the old king is the symbol of the emperor himself."

"He was seriously injured, and golden blood kept flowing into the river."

"Just as in the real universe, the Emperor sits atop the golden throne, sustaining the Starlight with his supreme will and ever-burning psionic energy, supporting the crumbling human empire, while simultaneously fighting against the endless threats from the depths of the warp."

His gaze swept over the restless shadows underwater:
"And these monsters in the water correspond to the greed and malice of evil gods, demons, and all sorts of twisted and bizarre beings in the subspace."

"They covet the Emperor's power and yearn to devour that golden blood, which is to erode the real universe and corrupt the human empire."

"The old king sits here not only to fish, but also to use himself as a shield to suppress these monsters and prevent them from spreading completely."

Chen Xi looked at the Lion King and emphasized:

"If you were to step into the river now, your powerful presence and aura would be like a beacon in the darkness."

"It will instantly draw all the attention of all these monsters to you."

"They will temporarily abandon their covetousness for the old king's blood and instead attack you frantically."

"In this river, which is essentially a subspace projection, their numbers and power may far exceed your imagination."

"This is by no means a wise move."

Upon hearing Chen Xi's warning, Lion King Leon withdrew his step.

He was not afraid of battle, but as an outstanding commander, he knew how to weigh the pros and cons and avoid unnecessary sacrifices.

He turned his gaze once again to the wrecked ship and the silent old king.

A hint of understanding and a deeper sense of gravity flashed in his eyes.

He understood Chen Xi's metaphor and the cruel reality represented by the scene before him—the emperor's sacrifice and the empire's predicament.

He stopped trying to communicate with the old king.

Instead, they cast their sharp gaze toward the opposite bank of the river and further afield.

Behind the forest on the opposite bank of the river, the terrain gradually rises, forming a continuous mountain range.

At the highest peak of the mountain range, a magnificent castle stands atop the summit.

It appeared and disappeared in the thin clouds.

The castle is built of huge, dark-colored stone, with a rustic and sturdy style.

The towering towers pierced the gray sky like sharp swords.

The thick city walls wind and entwine, revealing a sense of majesty and invincibility that has endured the vicissitudes of time.

Even from a great distance, one can feel the immense presence and allure emanating from that castle.

The Lion King raised his hand, pointed to the castle atop the mountain, and asked Chen Xi:
"Then, what about there? What kind of place is that castle?"

Chen Xi looked in the direction the Lion King pointed.

He stared at the castle for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

"I don't know much about that place either."

His tone carried a rare hint of caution.

“But I can sense that a trial awaits you there, Primarch.”

"That is the necessary path to deeper power or higher understanding."

He paused, then turned his gaze back to the Lion King and said frankly:
"However... given your current state of having just awakened and not yet fully mastering your own essential power, it is still too early to step into it."

"Forcing an attempt could lead to unpredictable dangers."

(End of this chapter)