Warhammer 40: Doom

Chapter 43 The Dice Are Rolled
"You may all leave!" Norwick dismissed the others from the simple council chamber, including the court attendants.

The father and son exchanged a knowing glance, and Norwick decided to answer his son's question.

"Why, father?"

After the outsiders left, Doom asked his beloved father, "Your condition is very bad, most likely due to a psychic curse. Their attack on you is a test for us."

"Our enemy has changed. The greatest threat is no longer the orcs, but the wizards of the City of Truth!"

“I know you are confused, but you must obey the king’s orders now.”

King Norwick's voice was extremely weak, and each word was spoken with great difficulty: "Son, my arrangement for you is the result of careful consideration."

Norwick smiled weakly.

He was pleased with his son's keen insight; his judgment was based on reason and was very close to the truth.

However, he had never come into contact with deities, so his perspective was temporarily limited.

What I am suffering from is not a simple psychic curse, but a test from the gods, their dark will.

“You’re right, so Ennio will lead the other half of the guards to seal off the City of Truth.”

"Let my elder brother face the City of Truth? That's too dangerous. Why won't you let me go?"

Going there would be the real danger!
Norwick wanted to tell his son this, but he couldn't explain it clearly. The warp gods had already made their move; the City of Truth was their pawn, and their target was Doom.

The City of Truth harbors divine methods; the best course of action is to stay away.

Norwick knew very well why his body had become like this.

Several months ago, four gods invaded his soul, constantly eroding his sanity, trying to turn him into a puppet of the gods.

The king contends with the gods in his consciousness, endures torment from his soul, and resists the pollution of chaos.

He knew Doom's excellence and his power, but the wise Norwick knew even more about the god's shamelessness.

The gods' emphasis on Doom is the core of their game; they want to obtain his son both physically and mentally.

The gods are using the faith of the City of Truth to permeate Nur's purity, and then draw Dum into their embrace.

But this takes time. The gods need time, Norwick needs time, Doom needs time.

The gods need time to lay out their plans and infiltrate, Norwick needs time to buy time, and Doom needs time to grow.

Norwick wanted to tell his son that the real enemy was the god standing behind the priests, who was the source of all darkness.

he can not!
When the gods scrutinize him, his wisdom and gaze also scrutinize the gods.

If we expose the hypocrisy of the gods too early, they will only become more unscrupulous and set their sights on the entire Nur region, sparing no effort in their revenge.

Norwick knew perfectly well that it was safer to keep the gods' attention on him than to let them choose and play with whomever they pleased.

Don’t even dare!
Confronting the gods and witnessing their power, Norwick deeply felt the powerlessness of being human.

Even he, Nur's most resilient soul, was finding his conscious time increasingly limited under the evil gaze of the gods, his body requiring life-sustaining drugs to maintain its functions.

Doom is extraordinary; his body and mind may be able to resist the gods, but what about his subjective views?

Actively approaching someone and passively resisting them are completely different in nature.

The temptations of the gods are everywhere, and even the promises made by the gods tempted Norwick.

Norwick dared not gamble, gamble that Doom would reject the gods. He dared not gamble on the present, but dragged out the time to gamble on the future.

He hoped that his son, on whom he placed high hopes, would have a more mature mind and perspective, and be able to examine the hypocrisy and terror of the gods.

“Ennio will do a good job, you don’t need to worry.” Nowick’s thoughts were much slower, and he spoke slowly after a long pause: “He is more mature than you and can do a good job of the lockdown.”

Doom said no more. His elder brother was the most steady and intelligent person besides his father and himself; sealing off the City of Truth shouldn't be a problem.

"You may leave now," Norwick urged Doom to leave. "Summon Harlan to see me. I have a task for him."

"Go and get ready. Harlan will be going with you. The troops at the front are waiting for you."

“I understand!” Doom rose and left, knowing that time was of the essence. The troops at the front awaited their commander; an army cannot be without a leader for even a day. He would respect his father's arrangements, eliminate the orcs as quickly as possible, and then turn his forces to deal with the new enemy.

He was certain that his father's condition was inextricably linked to the priests of the City of Truth.

“Brother!” At the door. Doom met his older brother—Ennio Norwick.

Dressed in a plain royal robe, adorned only with a gold ring bearing her family crest, her blonde hair and blue eyes were inherited from Queen Daisy, and her demeanor followed hers, composed and elegant.

Compared to King Norwich's formidable strength, Ennio was not like a warrior; he was tall and slender, and his refined demeanor made him more like a civil official.

Don't underestimate him; as the eldest son, he is the most authoritative person under the king.

Ennio appeared calm and composed, but Doom could still detect his anxiety from subtle changes in his expression.

Without a chance to greet each other, they simply nodded in tacit agreement and entered the council chamber.

Doom turned and left, immediately taking action. He met Harlan and Flano, briefly explained what had happened, and then went to say goodbye to his mother.

“Ennio…” Norwick gasped for breath, his condition worse than before, his voice sounding like it was being ripped from his lungs: “My eldest son on whom I have placed so much hope.”

Ennio knelt down on one knee, knowing that this was not the time for fatherly affection; the situation was urgent.

"I need you to lead half of the guards to block all outward channels from the City of Truth. No one is allowed to enter, and no one is allowed to leave!"

"Never let anyone who comes out escape, wipe them all out!" Novick's voice was weak and urgent, but still sharp: "Nothing in the city can be allowed to circulate, destroy it all."

"The Night Watchers' minds will be challenged like never before, forcing them to build mental barriers to avoid... the influence of psionic energy."

What if they break through the blockade?

Ennio frowned, mentally calculating the cost of a complete lockdown: "How long would the lockdown need to last?"

“They won’t charge out!” Novick’s gaunt face showed little emotion as he scoffed, “They won’t launch a head-on attack until they are absolutely certain.”

King Norwick knew that the gods' influence was currently limited and that they needed to build up their power.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be making noise in their own minds, using corrupt methods, and engaging in underhanded and despicable acts in the shadows.

His expression changed again, and he said seriously to his eldest son, "You know how strange psionic techniques are. You must ensure that the guards are always aware of your thoughts to prevent silent infiltration."

"I see!"

"As for the lockdown time," Norwick gave a clear yet vague answer: "After Doom wipes out the orcs, he will come to meet you as soon as possible, and the two forces will join together to start a new operation."

"As for how long it will take, that depends on the abilities of your brother who has appeared out of nowhere."

Ennio twitched his hand slightly, lowered his head, and said, "I understand! Blockade the city and await reinforcements."

They completely sealed off the City of Truth, awaiting Doom's support. This was tantamount to entrusting everything to his brother; he had no other choice.

“Ennio!” Norwick sensed the turmoil in his eldest son’s heart and said earnestly, “It pains me to entrust your fate to Doom.”

"You should know and understand everything I've done."

"You may not have the same foresight as me, but you should be aware of the current situation. An enemy we have never seen or understood before has appeared."

"Our strength and wisdom are insufficient to resist, and we need to rely on external forces. Before that force grows, we must protect it!"

Finally, King Novik mustered his weakened body and looked intently at his son: "An unprecedented challenge, an unprecedented opportunity. If you overcome this, Nur will be reborn, and a wider world awaits you."

"I understand!"

Ennio breathed a sigh of relief, accepting the immense burden. He understood that his father must have a plan and was beginning to fight against those enemies lurking in the shadows.

As his sons left one by one, silence returned to the council chamber. King Norwick exhaled a breath of stale air and murmured to the empty air:
“Gods, you have begun your actions, and I too will roll the dice.”

"In this somewhat reserved game, I'm betting my entire future. Now it's your turn to make your move."

(Brothers, please keep reading and give me some data these next couple of days!)
　Old Nuo! Old Nuo!
　　You are the true pioneer in fighting against the smog! The Emperor has to bow down to you!
　　Without you, there would be no Doom today!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)