A stillness fell, until Cezak roared and charged.
Thierry twisted his body sharply, narrowly dodging the strike.
Captain of the First Company, Cezak, didn't see this newly transformed Shadow of Order as a real threat. But as a seasoned Reaper, he knew he had to win, so he fought at full strength right from the start.
His chainsword roared, crashing into Thierry's blade.
Sparks flew.
Watching from the sidelines, Samir and Robin exchanged a glance, both saw the same flicker of shock in the other's dark eyes.
Cezak possessed the strongest physical might in the Eleventh Legion. And yet, this freshly enhanced warrior was matching him blow for blow.
At that moment, Thierry spotted a fleeting opening. He angled his blade and invoked Form No. 8 of the "Otsberg-Vaya" technique, using Cezak's forward momentum to unbalance him.
Most Astartes had undergone some form of mental enhancement. A few, like Thierry, focused on physical mastery, and thanks to Nareth's touch during his surgery, Thierry had retained full memory of his prior training.
During his time aboard the Starvault Deck, Thierry had honed his skills relentlessly, becoming intimately familiar with his new body.
His pre-enhancement martial training, the Otsberg-Vaya style, had not only survived but evolved. He'd even learned extended sword techniques previously limited by his mortal physique, techniques inspired by the Nareth himself.
Thierry lunged forward, using Form No. 1, aiming a precision thrust to draw first blood and end the duel.
Cezak, sensing danger, twisted his chainsaw and parried just in time, then followed up with another brutal shoulder bash.
BANG!
This time, the blow landed squarely. But to his shock, Cezak didn't have the upper hand, even with strength beyond that of most Astartes.
The two warriors collided like tanks, rebounding apart with a resounding crash.
Both swung their chainswords.
The teeth clashed, locked together in a grinding screech.
They wrenched apart, lunging forward again.
From his vantage point, Nareth had already foreseen the outcome. His judgment on the effectiveness of Beyonder Astartes enhancements was becoming clear.
'They're both Astartes, but Thierry's talent and skill make the difference. Thierry's close-combat specialty, combined with the boosts from Sequence 9 "Warrior" and Sequence 8 "Pugilist," has neutralized Cezak's natural advantage. Had Cezak used more refined tactics, he might've won with experience. But his style is too straightforward.'
A faint smile tugged at Nareth's lips.
'This is why I always emphasize the importance of perception in finding an enemy's weakness. Cezak relies too much on instinct.'
'The "Pugilist" edge gives Thierry a slight advantage; he will win. This duel will let the Vostroyan-born overshadow the Terra-born, at least temporarily. And as the enhancement surgeries progress, the Vostroyans will outnumber the Terrans. I can now push for even greater reforms.'
At that moment, Cezak swung an uppercut at Thierry's chin, fast and deadly.
But Thierry, the "Pugilist," caught his wrist mid-air.
Cezak's eyes widened in disbelief. He tried to pull free, but it was too late.
Thierry stepped in, pivoted, and executed a non-standard but swift over-the-shoulder throw, slamming Cezak into the ground with a crushing impact.
BOOM!
The training ground cracked under the blow. Shards of debris were scattered.
The shock wasn't just physical; it shook the hearts of the Terra-born warriors.
Cezak tried to roll up and rise, but Thierry was already straddling him, one knee pinning him down like a mountain.
Then, Thierry's arm snaked around his neck, locking him in a chokehold.
Cezak flailed, thrashing with all four limbs, but the "Pugilist" held him down firmly and decisively.
"Victory, Thierry!"
The voice of Nareth's aide rang out.
All the Astartes present understood, the First Company Captain had lost.
Ten work cycles later, Nareth summoned all the Company Captains and the 28 original Vostroyan Regiment Commanders.
All had undergone ascension and now wore their power armor proudly.
Cezak stood among them, pale-faced. His eyes showed anger and renewed determination, but no longer disdain.
Nareth surveyed his sons and announced the long-awaited reformation of the Legion.
"You've all heard, new reinforcements have arrived from Terra."
"At the same time, enhancement surgeries are progressing well. In the near future, many new Astartes will be born. The Legion will expand dramatically."
"Our current organization is outdated and unfit for our new scale. I am implementing a restructuring."
Captains of the 3rd and 8th Company exchanged glances, immediately realizing:
'Increasing the number of companies like the Luna Wolves would've been expected. But Father's reforms go beyond that. This isn't just about integrating new sons, it's something much bigger.'
They listened anxiously.
"I will introduce a new command layer between companies and squads: the Chapter.
"Each Chapter will be led by a Chapter Master bearing the title Lord Commander.
At those words, Samir and Robin stiffened. They glanced at each other again, so it was true.
The key now lay in who would be appointed as Lord Commanders.
"The First Chapter Lord Commander will be Howard Fender. It will initially consist of the original First Chapter and expand with new recruits."
Cezak's expression grew even grimmer.
He felt a complex mix of emotions, relief at no longer being under pressure, but also rage at losing his place as the Legion's No. 2.
He said nothing. He simply listened.
"James, captain of the Second Company, will lead the Second Chapter.'
Nareth was strategic; he offered opportunities to Terra-born leaders willing to adapt. Those unwilling to change? They would be swept aside.
Thierry's performance had reassured him that the transition could be smooth.
He would assign others like Bukayo and Szczesny, the strongest of the enhanced warriors, as Chapter Lords.
"Bukayo Arshavin will lead the Third Chapter. The original Third Company becomes members of the new First Chapter."
Samir's face turned pale.
They had failed to execute the Primarch's vision, clinging to old ideas, and now, they were replaced.
Though they retained command of their warriors, their standing within the Legion had plummeted.
"Adams will lead the Fourth Chapter."
Seeing that not all Lords were Vostroyan calmed Robin and other "Reaper" loyalists slightly.
Still, the message was clear: this was the consequence of not upholding the Gene-Father's will.
"..."
Nareth continued issuing appointments.
Among them, Thierry Vieira, the victor of the Honor Duel, became Lord of the Eighth Chapter.
All other captains were also promoted to Chapter Lords, except Robin, who remained a company captain.
New recruits from Terra were soon assigned to the twelve Chapters, integrated into the Eleventh Legion.
Simultaneously, Vostroyan-born warriors began joining the Shadows of Order en masse.
That day, while handling official affairs, Nareth received an urgent report from Arsena:
"The 22nd Fleet of the Second Legion has arrived in Vostroya."
"Order their commander to come see me," Nareth instructed, tapping his desk.
Ever since the Emperor had tasked him with leading the Second Legion, Nareth had known: this was an opportunity.
Why did the Ultramarines become the largest Legion after the Great Crusade?
There were three reasons:
The 13th Legion governed an entire star sector, its organized administration enabled vast recruitment.
The Dark Angels (1st Legion) suffered massive casualties in the three battles of Rangdan, losing nearly 150,000 Astartes.
After the dissolution of the 2nd and 11th Legions, some of their members weren't purged; instead, they were transferred into the 13th.
From his memories, Argell Tar had noted that the Ultramarines' numbers suddenly spiked at a certain point.
Nareth now believed: tens of thousands of Astartes from the erased Legions were absorbed by the 13th.
These absorbed warriors, who retained distinct cultures, became the basis for the Ultramarines' varied Chapter styles.
Now, Nareth had his eyes on the Second Legion.
He didn't mind having more men.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
p@treon.com/DaoistJinzu