Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty.
"...After the application testing in the Bergenheim system," Szczesny's briefing entered its final stage. He exchanged a glance with Librarian Nicholas beside him.
"We believe the optimal way to utilize the power of the Howling Banshees is through release, not restraint. This is also the method more suitable for our Chapter."
"The Fury Mask allows us to unleash our accumulated fury while still maintaining reason."
"Of course, the restraint of reason should remain our final line of defense. Therefore, I believe the training of the mindstate is necessary, especially for those who have not undergone the journey of the Folk of Rage."
Nareth nodded slightly, affirming the Storm Lord's statement, which also aligned with his own planning.
In his conception, each Chapter should simultaneously possess two systems centered on the beyonders.
One system would be integrated into each Company, each squad, with the main Path he had selected for that Chapter as its core, developing unique tactics.
The core for the Ninth Chapter was: the power of fury, the ocean, and future aerial advantage.
His conception required beyonders to realize it.
Nareth had planned the first phase of beyonder development: every squad should have one beyonder of that Chapter's main Path. They formed the foundation.
Now, they had entered the second phase of beyonder development. Nareth's target was for every squad to have several beyonders of that Chapter's main Path.
Among them, their Sequences should be one higher and one lower.
At the current stage, this mostly meant one Sequence 8 as the Sergeant, and another Sequence 9 as his assistant.
The current Ninth Chapter, for example, had "Folk of Rage" as Sergeants, supplemented by "Sailors."
Each squad should also have beyonders of other Paths to enrich the squad's system of beyonder abilities.
A well-combined beyonder squad could handle complex situations.
His short-term goal was for each squad to be supplemented with three beyonders of different Paths. That is, each squad should have five beyonders.
The other system, like the Folk of Rage, concentrated elite beyonders of the Chapter's main Path.
Currently, in the Ninth Chapter, the Chapter's Honor Guard and the First Company had initially formed such a force.
As Nareth pondered, he said appreciatively to Szczesny and Nicholas.
"Your exploration is highly significant." He then instructed Arsena Dunn. "Summarize the experience. Require the other Chapters to learn from it."
The Arsena, who had been recording on his data slate, looked up. "As You command, My Lord."
The Black Emperor's praise and recognition invigorated Szczesny. He spoke of their subsequent plans.
"I have decided to promote this within the Ninth Chapter, striving for every member to master the Fury Mask."
"The Chapter's elite will master the War Mask, accumulating more power before battle erupts."
"Librarians, Techmarines, Apothecaries, and special Court Brothers will invest more in the training of the mindstate, using the restraint of reason to bind the power of fury."
"Excellent," Nareth saw that Szczesny had thought clearly, with a well-organized plan for the Chapter. He voiced his support. "Proceed according to your ideas."
The "Baron of Corruption" then turned his attention to the spoils Szczesny had brought. Besides the burial shroud, the necrotic scepter also radiated psychic luster, clearly potion materials.
"Arsena, send these two items to the Forge Lord aboard his flagship for study."
Finally, Nareth's gaze fell upon the crystal sphere. The Slaugth inside was weakly bound within the stasis field, solidified like a ball molded from a cluster of worms.
"Open it."
Arsena, Marlena, and Nicholas instinctively recoiled from approaching the sphere.
All three psykers could sense the evil consciousness within the creature. Even with the Black Emperor's warning, they reined in their own consciousness, but they could still feel the terrible consciousness permeating the chamber.
They unanimously maintained the third level of the Thelema mindstate, allowing themselves to stand more composedly in the palace.
Szczesny walked calmly towards the sphere. He could also sense the Slaugth's evil consciousness, but it was much milder.
Nareth observed the four men's different reactions, discerning their distinctions.
His gaze fell on Arsena and the other two. He thought to himself,
'Psykers are closely linked to the Warp. When they draw upon its power to unleash psychic abilities, the Slaugth's evil will acts upon the Warp itself, like a Blank.'
'The Slaugth severs the psyker's connection to the Warp and affects them directly. They clearly feel unwell.'
'And this is a Slaugth drained of power, in stasis hibernation, not actively using its suppression abilities, just the natural ambient effect.'
Nareth recalled that most Rangdan xenos possessed psychic abilities, yet the Slaugth could enslave them.
'Perhaps the Slaugth suppress them to achieve enslavement.'
'The Cerabvores' psychic powers are useless. The Slaugth are immune to toxins and diseases. Swordsmanship cannot overcome the Slaugth's constantly regenerating body. Facing means like necrotic fluids, they are utterly outmatched.'
'Even an Infiltrator could dominate a Cerabvore.'
Nareth shifted his gaze to Szczesny, who reacted so differently, pondering the distinctions of the beyonder.
'An beyonder's power comes from the potion, relying on consuming their own psychic energy to unleash beyonder abilities.'
'Therefore, the "Wind-Blessed's" "Water Control" is not suppressed by the Slaugth.'
'Though, in most cases, beyonder abilities and psychic powers appear outwardly the same, they offer a unique advantage against Slaugth, Blanks, and even Necron Blackstone technology.'
Nareth leaned back on his throne, making a final summary.
'As long as they wisely refrain from using psychic powers, Arsena and the other two could also have a chance to defeat a Slaugth Infiltrator.'
'With prior preparation, the "Polymath" could secure victory. In the ocean, or in an open space where flight is possible, the "Wind-Blessed" can easily prevail.
'In a chance encounter, the "Biologist" could defeat a worm-creature under any circumstances.'
As Nareth pondered, Szczesny approached the crystal. His gauntlet tapped on the runes.
A series of runes lit up. The crystal sphere opened.
A puddle of seawater spilled, wetting the obsidian floor.
The remaining half of the water, still under the influence of residual psychic energy, tightly bound the spherical cluster of worms.
One worm awoke from its slumber. It sluggishly moved, bumping into several nearby worms.
One by one, the worms awoke. They writhed madly.
Cody felt himself extreme weakness. It took him five times the usual time, and ten times the usual energy expenditure, to stretch himself into sharp spikes.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
In a series of impacts, clusters of worms burst the seawater cage binding them.
Nareth raised a hand, stopping Szczesny's movement.
He rose and in an instant appeared before Cody. He raised his left arm but made no further move.
Light and shadow flickered in the Primarch's eyes. His consciousness extended towards the Slaugth.
The Primarch's consciousness crashed against the evil, dark will. In the collision, he frowned slightly.
Cody re-unites into humanoid form. He felt an immense psychic force applied upon him.
He let out a contemptuous shriek. His will united, he retaliated against the foolish psyker.
Nareth immediately felt a throbbing in his temples and a buzzing in his ears.
'Not just passive defense, but also actively using psychic suppression. Not a Overseer, but close to that level.'
'Psychic suppression?'
'Let's see if you can suppress this.'
In an instant, the Primarch ascended to the first level of the Thelema mindstate. The throbbing in his temples instantly calmed. The buzzing in his ears vanished.
He ascended to the second level of the Thelema mindstate. Golden light erupted from his spine.
The light streamed through the viewport, shooting into the cold void.
The Primarch's psychic power, like repeated hammer blows, crashed against the shield of the evil will.
An invisible collision raged intensely in the realm of mind. Worms writhed madly. The Primarch stood unmoving.
The Primarch ascended to the third level of the Thelema mindstate. His will bore down on the Slaugth like a mountain.
"How... is this possible?"
Having traversed a hundred worlds, this was the first time he had encountered a being that could suppress him psychically.
In all of Slaugth history, such a bizarre event had never occurred.
Cody shot a panicked glance at the black-armored, golden-winged figure. A name struck his evil mind like lightning.
'Nareth! The Primarch of Shadows of Order!'
He immediately dispersed himself into clusters of worms, scattering like his body dissolving.
Nareth gazed at the scattered worm-creature, comparing it to his own strength.
'Without taking risks, my psychic power can defeat a Slaugth Overseer. But facing a Destroyer, I would likely be injured.'
'For the mission to rescue Omegon early on Bar'Savor, I cannot use psychic powers.'
The "Baron of Corruption" channeled psychic energy into his power gauntlet and thrust it forward suddenly.
A flash of golden light, blinding, illuminated the entire Primarch's office.
The light of the lumen lamps paled in the dazzling golden radiance.
Nareth stared at the Slaugth trapped in the amber-like liquid, thinking to himself.
'The Slaugth are few in number. That's why they always stay hidden in the shadows. The previous potion material was wasted.'
'Not every battle is in the ocean. To capture them, we still need to rely on the "Judge's" "Imprisonment"!'
'I hope that in the future, every Company in every Chapter of mine will have a "Judge."'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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