Warhammer 40: My Fiancée Fulgrim.

Chapter 206 The Game Is Set
Holy Terra, Royal Palace.

The gate opened as the Marker approached, the ancient wood swirling to reveal a small antechamber. It wasn't far from the grand entrance to the Imperial Dungeons.

He stepped across the threshold and waved, and the branding in the wall lamps on the surrounding walls ignited, illuminating everything in the small room.

There was nothing here except a round table and two high-backed chairs facing each other.

On the table is an octagonal granite and white marble slab, next to a light-colored wooden box, and in this geometric space are twenty chess pieces.

Macardo leaned his scepter against the back of his chair, then sat down, carefully examining the board of twenty gray pieces, lost in thought. He then lowered his head and picked up the crystal cards placed in the center of the table—they were also blank, a fact Macardo was well aware of.

Makado put the card back, and just as he looked up, a figure sat down opposite him.

He was very tall, with a bright red cloak and hood hanging over his shoulders.

"let us start."

He arranged the chess pieces with his rough, powerful hands.

They take turns activating each piece, scattering them in the true starting positions designated on the cards. Once everything is in place and each side has received ten figurines, the game solemnly begins.

“What has happened in the past cannot be changed,” he said solemnly, seemingly puzzled by Makado’s insistence on playing it out again. “We’ve done it hundreds of times.”

The result was exactly the same as in the past.

Makado's offensive was swift and fierce. With the help of the Great Tempest card, he was able to preemptively isolate the opponent's pieces in this battle, as well as in countless previous battles, creating local situations where he outnumbered the opponent.

They have gained every advantage and initiative.

The game continued as it had always been.

Makado tried to change the course of his moves, attempting to reclaim the pieces that had previously blocked him, but each time his opponent flipped a card or made a cunning next move, the pieces returned to the positions they had occupied many times before.

As the game progressed, even when his side was almost about to deliver the decisive blow to secure victory, his opponent always managed to slip away from his seemingly invincible hand through various unexpected means.

Makado now has no choice but to attack.

Despite having the initiative and the advantage in attack, he now only had one option left: to attack.

The other party put pressure on him accordingly.

"I'll win in the next step."

The man announced, throwing the word "Salvation" in front of Macardo. He looked at the portrait painted on the colored crystal, and there was no doubt that it was Robert Guilliman.

"But that's in the next round."

Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst; the outcome of the entire battle will be decided in this single round.

“We have conducted this kind of simulation many times, and the outcome is always the same.”

"But I still don't understand—what is the point of all this?"

Makado suppressed his urge to pick up a chess piece and asked him a question.

Their game simulations have been performed countless times, and they have played countless games together.

It seems that he had long anticipated the final battle between the two sides, and judging from the countless changes in the game, he had foreseen the occurrence of the great rebellion.

However, he did not nip all the sparks of rebellion in the bud, thus minimizing the possibility of a major rebellion from the outset.

Why didn't you do that?

“Because,” he replied, seemingly having anticipated Macardo’s question, “because all of this was bound to happen.”

"Because...it's an inevitable fate that half of the Primarchs must join the rebels?"

Makado had a vague premonition of this.

It was as if everything was already decided from the very beginning, the moment the Primarch Project was implemented: half of the Primarchs would inevitably stand against the Lords of Man and become an inevitable obstacle to the future of the Imperium of Man.

No matter how hard you struggle, it won't make a difference, because that's the fate of humanity.

His fate.

"No, it's not such a metaphysical concept."

He sighed, as if he wanted to say a lot, but then stopped himself from expressing himself.

“Just like Magnus’s passionate speech at the Nicaea Conference,” he said, “can you feel his confidence and enthusiasm, just as we did when we first embarked on our exploration of the warp with such hope?”

"I"

"There is no need to be ashamed of this, you who hold the seal."

"People always stumble in the same places, no matter how many lessons have been learned or how many admonitions and warnings have been given."

"The biggest lesson we, you, me, Magnus and Luojia, and many others have learned in this world is that we never learn from the past."

What has been will be again;
What has been done will be done again.

Makado seemed to understand what the other person was saying.

He struggled to lift the chess piece in his hand, and then...
But as he turned his attention back to placing the piece on the board that could checkmate his opponent, another piece occupied the space he was about to capture.

A court jester (fool).

The role of the court jester was to remind the king and queen that they were not immortal and that they were not superior to ordinary people. In later interpretations, their existence was to speak the truth to power and to rebel against authority.

Most importantly—exposing tyranny.

"Hope remains."

Makado choked up at that moment, unable to express himself. And opposite him, the man, whose face rarely showed a smile, finally smiled again.

"Who are you speaking to, sir?"

A woman's voice struck the windowpane like a hammer blow, shattering the wall of concentration that Macardo had erected around himself. He looked toward the door with a start, where an official stood, her fingers crumpling her white robe into a ball, staring at him fearfully.

How long have you been here?

“A few minutes, sir,” the official told him. “The Star Speaker sent me to deliver a message.”

"Then why were you staring at me like that? What did you see?"

“You, sir, are playing chess with yourself. You flip the cards, move the pieces, your face contorted.” She gripped her robe tighter, her eyes fixed on the table.

Malcardo hesitated, following her gaze to the pieces placed at the endgame—the spot where the jester had been was now occupied by another piece, uniquely golden, shaped like a crown.

Next to it was the last crystal card—its image was an eagle tearing open a viper's throat.

With trembling fingers, Makado slowly picked up the card.

Makado's fingers could feel that the card was thicker than before.

He tried rubbing the card with his hand for a while until he shifted it and revealed the last card that was face down underneath.

Makado examined the card closely with his aged and wrinkled face, as if it had never appeared in the game.

【world】

Its design is a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Istvan III.

Choir City.

"Quick! Quick!"

The moment the Stormbird landed, Kasgar no longer cared about the etiquette of the Emperor's Son or the fixed routines of communication between legions.

The instant he opened the hatch, he sped toward the room in the center of Ascension City where Horus was being performed a magical ritual.

"Stop him!"

Seeing Kaska approach Horus, who was undergoing "treatment," at lightning speed, Abaddon, who was guarding the door for him, rushed to meet him in a moment of panic.

The two sides met unexpectedly and were evenly matched.

Casca took a few steps back, while Abaddon braced his heel against the marble pillar of the castle.

"Casca, the Council of the Four Kings is still discussing your request!"

"This is not a place you should trespass into!"

"Get out of the way, Abaddon!" Casca retorted. "Haven't you realized it yet? Ahriman deceived you with your trust, and he deceived all of you!"

"He is defiling your most beloved Horus with evil witchcraft!"

"This is not a decision for you to make!"

Abaddon roared, his eyes bloodshot, and stood in front of Casca, refusing to let him advance an inch.

(It seems there was no rebuttal to the fact that Horus is their favorite)
"Gentlemen, please pause your fighting for now. We are still discussing your request," Togardon said with a smile, stepping in to smooth things over and separating the two who had been at each other's throats. "Lord Horus's condition is critical, but Ahriman has also emphasized that no one is allowed to enter during his treatment."

"For the sake of Lord Horus's safety, we must be extremely cautious."

He turned to the members of the Council of Four Kings around him and said, "Well then, since everyone in the Council of Four Kings is here, why don't we vote here?"

"The Kasgar from the Sons of the Emperor's Legion believe that the sorcery performed by Ahriman is untrustworthy and is aimed at destroying Lord Horus. What are your thoughts on this accusation?"

“I support Kasga’s view. I don’t really trust Ahriman either; his knowledge of Lord Horus’s witchcraft rituals is completely unlike what a normal healing method should have.”

"We should not place our hopes on witchcraft."

The speaker was Gavial Loken, who succeeded Cyranus, the leader of the Shadowmoon Wolves Council of Four Kings, after Cyranus's fall, becoming the council's newest member.

“To be honest, that’s what I think too, Gavial.”

Togarden nodded slightly: "Abaddon, we were too hasty in believing Ahriman's decision. Moreover, the mysterious death of Cyranus seems very likely to be related to Ahriman."

"Then what do you suggest we do? We're just supposed to watch Horus die, are we?" Abaddon said through gritted teeth. "We only have one chance. We must make Ahriman complete his ritual, no matter what!"

Abaddon cast his vote against it—the vote now stands at 2 to 1 in the Council of the Four Kings.

"What do you say, Ashmand?" Abaddon glared at the last member of the Council of Four—a Space Marine who bore a striking resemblance to Horus, Horus Jr., who seemed somewhat hesitant at this moment.

"I actually think that interrupting the ceremony midway would only make things worse."

But in the end, he sided with Abaddon – the vote was tied at two to two, resulting in a stalemate.

Normally, when the Council of Four Kings is tied, Horus, the god of the wolf, would make the final decision. But now Horus is seriously injured and unconscious. Previously, Abaddon insisted on having Ahriman perform the ritual to revive Horus, despite the opposition. But now—

"Now, everything is in my hands."

Just as Kasgar was running at the front, Fugrim led the Emperor's Son's personal guard into the central hall of the Holy Song City.

As the Imperial Warmaster, Fugrim currently has the authority to command all Legion members.

Even the Shadowmoon Wolf is no exception.

Using psychic rituals after the Nicaea ban was issued was a major taboo, let alone by the remnants of the original Senko.

Those who repeatedly refuse to learn their lesson must be dealt with severely!

"What? Ezekiel Abaddon, are you going to continue defying the orders of the Imperial Warmaster?"

The other party still insisted on blocking Kasgar's way. Fugrim gently placed one hand on Kasgar's shoulder and said in a deep voice.

"Humph."

Abaddon reluctantly took a step forward, his eyes still as fierce as before: "I hope you can keep your promise, Mr. Sherlock."

Snapped!
Marble fragments, along with the shattering of the metal casing, scattered and flew everywhere, adding new dust to the witchcraft ritual within this airtight chamber.

With the backing of the title of Imperial Warmaster, Casgar, no longer holding back, broke down the door.

The instant the gate was broken, endless flames surged forth, rushing towards both Ahriman, who was concentrating on completing the mission of the Four Gods, and Horus, who was lying heavily wounded on the ground.

Immediately following was Casca himself, who charged in like a cannonball.

He drew his [Severing Blade] sword and aimed it directly at Ahriman, who was casting a spell in the corner!
in!
The power sword gleamed with a ghostly blue light; Casgar's attack showed no mercy. As members of the strongest Space Marines currently in the league, both Ahriman and Casgar were formidable fighters.

—Kokaska has a shameless fire immunity.

With near-complete immunity to psionic energy, even with his immense magical power, Professor A couldn't have managed to turn the tables on Casgar in such a confined space.

escape!
After the door was broken, he hesitated for a moment before choosing this option.

Just as the sword in Nagaska's hand was about to strike him, a strange blue psionic energy surged, and Ahriman vanished from his spot.

Kaska's power sword, propelled by inertia, pierced the stone wall behind Ahriman, sending up another shower of sand and gravel.

The situation is urgent; we cannot pursue them.

Suppressing the urge to kill Ahriman, Kasgar turned his head back to Horus, who was lying in the center of the magic circle.

It seemed that on his chest, where the bandage was wrapped, there was an extremely long wound that was constantly corroding his body and soul.

"Hold on, Horus!"

"I'm coming to save you!"

Kasgar called out softly, and the golden-red flames in his hand flared up again. He frowned with difficulty and pressed down hard on Horus on the ground.

The toxins were spreading from the wound to every corner of his body.

Moreover, Ahriman's damned spells accelerated this process, making Kasgar even more worried about Horus's current state—not only was his body marinated in the toxins of chaos, but his soul had also been shattered into pieces by those damned chaos gods.

His current state can only be described as utter chaos.

Horus, in such a dilapidated state, has managed to survive until now entirely thanks to his unwavering and steadfast adherence to the [Thirty-and-a-Half Centaur Gold Ring]!
No matter how much you try to entice him, you cannot break through Horus’s heart, not even the last line of defense in his broken heart!
Even the Four Gods broke through their defenses.

Therefore, they chose to seek the corruption of normal angels in the Sigmanas system—after all, angels are normal people, which is countless times better than Horus.

What a “great” spirit this is!
Casgar: "."

He had never thought of it, nor had he considered it.

The final result of his arrival in this world and his constant travels during the Great Expedition over hundreds of years—

Other aspects remained largely unchanged.

The only thing that can determine the fate of everything, the only thing that can change the future of humanity, is not some grand and epic final war.

And the unexpected [Centaur Gold Ring].

Who could have predicted this?

Kasgar smiled wryly as he slowly used the golden-red flames in his hand to heal Horus's wounds.

Flames approached the wound left by the ritual dagger.

Kasgar believed that, without the intervention of the Four Gods, he would soon be able to give Horus—

Unfortunately, no if.

Just as Kasgar was controlling the flames to move towards the poison, the flames in his hands were suddenly met with a strong counterattack from the opponent, which seemed to have a mind of its own.

Four strange sensations and emotional turmoil surged into Casca's mind the moment he was about to come into contact with the toxin.

It seems that the current situation of Chaos is so urgent that the four gods seem to have gone to great lengths to help Horus.

The original single Nurgle poison has now been upgraded to a mixed poison of the four gods, all in order to completely corrupt Horus into the chosen one of the four gods, even when Horus is only thinking about the [Centaur Gold Ring].

Especially after the angels were successfully rescued by Kasgar in the Sighnas system, they had to hold onto Horus, the last chosen one of the four gods.

—If even Horus won't work, then they'll have to choose Abaddon, the one with the pointed head!
Chaos War General!

The Four Gods' Choice!
Invincible

A-Barton will face the Emperor aboard the Soul of Vengeance!

The angel, who teleported to the other's face a step ahead: ".?"

—Abaddon was reduced to a bloody mist.

The great rebellion ended.

no way.

The disparity in strength was simply too great, forcing the four gods to abandon Horus, the shrewd and powerful war master.

As Kasgar battled back and forth with the Four Gods' Poison, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead. The pale complexion caused by the exhaustion of his spiritual power made it impossible for Kasgar to continue.

No matter how powerful his psionic flames were, they were still beyond what Cassius could handle with his own strength in the face of the unreasonable situation of the Four Gods forcibly imbuing him with their power.

Moreover, even if the poison in his body could be cured, the shattering of his soul was still an area that Kasca could not currently reach, and Horus would still be unable to wake up.

"Cough-cough!"

In the end, with Shadowmoon Wolves and the Emperor's Sons anxiously waiting, Kasgar could only helplessly withdraw his flames and collapse wearily to the side.

"You! You bastard! You promised you would succeed!"

Abaddon rushed forward, grabbed Casca's armor, and lifted him up from the ground.

His last glimmer of hope was extinguished as the flames of Casca were withdrawn.

Ahriman is now missing, and the treatment with Kasga is ineffective!
Lord Horus is completely beyond saving!
"Wait, it's not over yet. Primarch, Primarch isn't dead yet, what's the rush?"

"What's the rush?" Abaddon was furious, raising his fist to punch Casca in the face. "Do you think you can save his life?!"

Of course there are.

What should I do if my body is seriously injured?
For something like this, you should definitely ask the relevant and professional legion.

Whose original body always falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow?

Whose original body always needs a stretcher team?

Whose Primarch always gets defeated in one-on-one battles?

—Guilliman, needless to say!
So how did the Ultramarines solve this problem?
—A static force field!
What can I do?
Are the static force fields in your legion just for show?
"Now, immediately place Horus in a stasis field and wait for the warp storm to subside before returning to Holy Terra together."

It's such a simple thing.
In the original timeline, Guilliman was smeared with Slaanesh poison on his neck, but he still lay in a stasis field for ten thousand years and was perfectly fine, wasn't he?

Why is it that, in the same situation of severe injury, poisoning, and unconsciousness, the Ultramarines could come up with a solution, while the hundreds of thousands of Space Marines, along with countless Mechanicus sages and mortal officers of the Shadowmoon Wolf tribe, couldn't come up with a single one?

what?
This has always been the biggest question surrounding Casca.

When Horus was assassinated, why didn't they put him in a stasis field and send him back to Holy Terra to seek treatment from the Emperor?
Yes.

why?

"Silent Stasis Field"

Abaddon murmured softly.

"Abaddon, why didn't you choose to place Horus in a stasis field?"

Abaddon clenched his fists, his face turning red.

In the end, all I could say was in a low voice.

"I! I didn't think of that!"

Hahahaha!

I didn't expect it to be true!
For a moment, the entire city of Holy Song was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Following Kasgar's advice, Abaddon, filled with shame, had the Gastrins carry Horus into the stasis field.

If all goes well, they only need to wait for the future warp storm to subside, and the two legions trapped here will successfully return to Holy Terra.

"The space storm in Koya shows no signs of abating."

What should I do?
What else can we do but wait?
"This is normal; there's no need to report on the subspace storm every moment."

“My lord, that’s not what I meant!” The Star Speaker seemed a little anxious. “It is that we observed a fleet whose navigation was completely unaffected by the warp storm.”

"What!?"

Unaffected by subspace storms, that is—

That's right.

The fleet from the Steel Hand is steadily approaching their Istvan system.

(End of this chapter)