Within the corrupted zones of the Nightfall (Warship Name), the battle between Konrad Curze and Mortarion had entered its most perilous stage.
Shadow and plague energies collided fiercely, transforming the space into a death domain where laws were twisted.
Konrad Curze, relying on his precognitive abilities and ghostly movements, repeatedly dodged Mortarion's powerful strikes, which contained the rules of decay, and left shocking wounds on his body with his Lightning Claw.
However, Nurgle's almost shameless blessings made Mortarion seem immortal; no matter how severely he was wounded, he could rapidly recover amidst the squirming, vile flesh.
Just as Konrad Curze once again cut in at a precise angle, attempting to tear open Mortarion's chest with his Lightning Claw, a cold, sinister arc seemed to form at Mortarion's mouth, hidden beneath his shattered mask.
He did not try to block or evade; instead, he spread his arms, covered in viscous fluids, in an almost embracing gesture!
The next moment, a surge of dark green plague energy, far more potent, more lethal, and seemingly embodying the essence of all disease and decay in the universe, erupted from Mortarion's body like a bursting dam!
This energy was not a simple shockwave; it possessed an active, self-replicating, and spreading terror, and wherever it passed, even space itself seemed to wail and decay!
Metal instantly turned to rust, fungal growths proliferated wildly, emitting suffocating poisonous mist, and even Konrad Curze's protective force field, composed of shadow energy, crackled with the sound of corrosion!
In Konrad Curze's sunken eyes, countless fragments of the future flashed like an avalanche!
He saw this plague energy spreading uncontrollably, penetrating deck after deck, infecting the entire Nightfall (Warship Name), turning his sons into twisted plague zombies, and corroding the foundation of his painstakingly rebuilt Legion!
This was not merely a matter of personal victory or defeat; it concerned the survival of the entire Eighth Legion!
"I can't keep fighting here!" a clear thought flashed through Konrad Curze's mind like lightning.
Just as the destructive plague torrent was about to completely engulf him, Konrad Curze made his decision!
He abandoned his attack, his body rapidly retreating backward, and at the same time, his dark form began to undergo an astonishing transformation—muscles bulged, bones stretched, and dark energy surged out of his body like a tangible substance, enveloping his entire being!
In the blink of an eye, what stood in his place was no longer the Primarch in power armor, but an immense, terrifying giant bat, its wingspan large enough to obscure half the battlefield!
This giant bat was utterly black, like the deepest midnight, its eyes burned with eerie blue soul-fire, its claws and fangs gleamed with a metallic tearing chill, and its entire body emanated an aura of fear that could shatter the mind!
This was indeed Konrad Curze, the night haunter, one of the terrifying forms deeply rooted in the legends of Nostramo and the essence of the Warp!
Transformed into a giant bat, Konrad Curze let out an ear-splitting shriek, and with a powerful flap of his massive wings, he stirred up a violent current of air.
Instead of moving away from the surging plague, he, like a moth to a flame, lunged at Mortarion, who had just unleashed his ultimate attack and was in a brief energy recovery period, with astonishing speed!
Mortarion clearly did not expect Konrad Curze to react this way; his massive, still foul-smelling demon body was firmly seized by the giant bat's steel-hook-like claws!
The giant bat form of Konrad Curze contained terrifying power, its claws even digging deep into Mortarion's corrupted flesh and bone!
"What are you trying to do?! Konrad!" Mortarion roared in shock and anger, wielding his scythe to try and sever the giant bat's claws, but the giant bat had already taken him, like a reverse meteor, and fiercely burst out through the massive opening leading to the outside of the warship, which had been created by the previous battle in the area above!
"Boom—!!!"
The giant bat, gripping the struggling, roaring Mortarion, violently broke through the Nightfall (Warship Name)'s multi-layered armor and plunged into the cold void of space!
Immediately after, the giant bat form of Konrad Curze adjusted its direction, its wings unleashing their full power, and, clutching Mortarion, it plummeted like a meteor towards the nearest barren, desolate, grayish-yellow planet below—a dead world with no signs of life, covered in craters and dust—without hesitation!
"No!!!" Mortarion's roar echoed silently in the vacuum, as he frantically released plague energy, trying to corrode the giant bat that restrained him.
But Konrad Curze's claws, like the hardest alloy, were firmly embedded in his body, carrying him with unwavering determination towards the planet!
The passage through the atmosphere was brief and violent.
The high temperatures generated by high-speed friction caused the shadow energy on the giant bat's surface to sizzle, and Mortarion, firmly clutched, bore the brunt of it; his corrupted flesh rapidly carbonized, burned, and evaporated in the thousands of degrees of heat!
His tattered wings turned to ash, and his massive body, in the mere dozen seconds of atmospheric entry, was incinerated until only a charred, twisted skeletal outline remained, like garbage thrown into a furnace!
"Bang!!!!!!!"
An earth-shattering roar reverberated across the entire desolate world!
The giant bat, clutching Mortarion's almost carbonized remains, slammed into a vast plain on the planet's surface like a hammer of divine punishment!
A massive crater instantly appeared at the impact point, spiderweb-like cracks spread for several kilometers, and the raised dust rose like a mushroom cloud, obscuring the sky!
The force of this impact was enough to level a mountain range!
Mortarion's already meager remains were completely shattered by such terrifying kinetic impact, turning into countless charred fragments, mixed with high-temperature vitrified rock, scattered at the bottom of the crater.
However, it was not over yet!
Almost simultaneously with the impact, the Nightfall (Warship Name) and several escorting Night Lords warships, whose macro cannon arrays had long been poised, unleashed tongues of destructive fire!
Blinding lances of light and massive solid projectiles, like precise surgical scalpels, traversed the short distance of space and slammed violently into the newly formed impact crater and its surrounding area!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!"
Continuous explosions re-plowed the entire crater!
Terrifying energy release vaporized rock and melted the earth!
Dazzling white light flashed again and again, as if creating a brief miniature sun in that area!
When the bombardment ceased and the dust slowly settled, the original crater had transformed into a larger, deeper, terrifying scar with dark red molten lava flowing at its bottom.
Mortarion's scattered remains were now... not even a complete molecular structure could be found.
Utterly annihilated.
The giant bat form of Konrad Curze released its claws an instant before the impact, and relying on its extraordinary agility and mastery of shadows, it landed lightly like a giant black feather on the top of a towering, sword-like giant rock several kilometers away from the explosion's epicenter.
He reverted to his human form, clad in dark power armor, standing atop the giant rock, coldly surveying the scorched earth in the distance, which had been thoroughly purified by the ship's cannons, like the entrance to hell.
The continuous high-intensity combat and shapeshifting had left him feeling a hint of fatigue, but his gaze remained as sharp as an eagle's.
By all accounts, any creature, even a Primarch, would have no chance of survival after experiencing atmospheric incineration, a planetary-level impact, and subsequent orbital saturation bombardment.
However, Konrad Curze's face showed no sign of victorious relief.
His eyes, capable of glimpsing the threads of fate, were fixed on the scorched earth, which was still emitting thick smoke and heat waves.
Something was wrong.
A deeply unsettling feeling, like a cold viper, coiled around his heart.
Indeed, under his gaze, on that land which should have been silent and thoroughly sterilized by high temperatures and shockwaves, an anomaly occurred—
A point of alluring, abnormal green, like ink dripping into clear water, abruptly spread across the charred earth.
It was not a plant sprout, but a small patch of viscous, seemingly living fungal growth.
Immediately after, more and faster green spots spread like a plague!
Mushrooms and vines of bizarre colors and twisted forms burst forth from the ground; their growth rate was astonishingly fast, expanding and proliferating across the scorched earth at a visible pace!
Giant flowers emitting a sweet and rotten mixed scent bloomed, and strange, pus-oozing fruits hung from branches...
In just a few short minutes, that deathly land, which had just been ravaged by macro cannons, was forcibly transformed into a miniature, morbidly
The vast Ultramarines fleet, like a deep blue torrent of steel, patrolled the expansive star systems of the Konor sector in an orderly fashion.
thunderhawk gunships and assault boats, like loyal swarms, shuttled around the fleet, performing guard and reconnaissance missions.
The towering silhouettes of star fortresses and battle barges, illuminated by the starlight, cast enormous shadows, demonstrating the inviolable majesty of Ultramar.
Everything seemed to proceed methodically, adhering to strict tactical regulations and the Codex Astartes.
However, deep within this steel torrent of order, in a mundane Sergeant's cabin, designated I-10-A, aboard the Macragge's Honour, some changes were quietly occurring that transcended the conventional, even defying Imperial dogma.
Within the cabin, an invisible yet immense power permeated.
This power was not the hard-forged physical strength of an Astartes Brother, nor the surging kinetic energy of a warship's engines, but a more profound energy, closer to the universe's origin—psionic power.
This psionic power was pure and potent, its intensity even enough to draw the attention of the Grey Knights, who specialized in countering Warp threats.
It enveloped every corner of the cabin like a gentle tide, softly caressing the cold metal walls, flowing over the simple furniture, and even permeating the spaces between every molecule in the air.
The source of this power was Kolesa, still sound asleep on the bunk.
As an Aeldari Autarch, her innate psionic talent, honed through rigorous training and the accumulation of life experience, had returned to its peak state after the inhibitor was removed.
It had even become more refined and... vibrant due to her profound emotional connection with Gaius.
Even more astonishingly, within this psionic field dominated by Kolesa, another being was quietly undergoing a transformation—Gaius.
After spending this time in close proximity with Kolesa, especially the unreserved intimate embraces and soul-level closeness during the nights, Kolesa's vast and pure psionic energy had, unconsciously, like the most delicate spring rain, quietly nourished and permeated Gaius's body and soul.
This was not an intentional infusion or modification, but a deeper form of symbiosis and sharing, born of love and trust.
Just recently, Gaius had been astonished to discover that he seemed to have... awakened his perception and rudimentary control over psionic power.
At this moment, he stood in the open space of the room, his gaze fixed on the "Hawkeye" sniper rifle leaning against the weapon rack.
He did not reach out to touch it as he usually would; he merely made a slight mental command.
The next moment, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded.
The "Hawkeye" sniper rifle seemed to be simultaneously lifted by countless invisible and nimble hands, floating in mid-air.
The stock, barrel, scope, trigger assembly, magazine... every component seemed to be imbued with life, automatically, precisely, and smoothly beginning to separate and disassemble.
Parts stained with faint dust and firing residue were meticulously cleaned by an unseen force, optical lenses were calibrated, energy conduits were tidied... the entire process was fluid, filled with an indescribable sense of rhythm.
Then, these thoroughly maintained parts reassembled in reverse, with the same dazzling speed and absolute precision, reforming into the "Hawkeye" sniper rifle, as good as new, even in better condition than before, finally settling lightly and silently back onto the weapon rack.
The entire process, from start to finish, took even... less than five seconds.
Gaius stood still, a flicker of disbelief in his azure eyes, which then transformed into a deep and complex emotion.
He felt no discomfort or burden, as if this ability had always been latent within him, only now quietly awakened.
He knew clearly that this was not a power an Astartes Brother should possess; it stemmed from the person he loved—Kolesa.
He buried this secret deep in his heart, guarding it like the most precious treasure.
This was not a heretical power, not a sin to confess to the Chapter; this was Kolesa's gift to him, a bond and a present unique to the two of them, transcending race and dogma.
A silent, powerful protection, existing only for him.
The faint light of dawn once again spilled into the cabin through the observation window's simulation system.
Gaius, like countless previous mornings, was the first to wake from his efficient shallow sleep.
He turned his head, looking at Kolesa, who was still deep in slumber beside him.
Her silver hair, like a waterfall woven from moonlight, lay somewhat disheveled on the pillow, and her exquisite face in sleep appeared exceptionally serene and tender, as if untouched by any worldly troubles.
Gaius's gaze was as soft as melted ice.
He carefully reached out, his movements as gentle as if fearing to disturb the morning mist, patiently smoothing her scattered strands of hair one by one, letting them fall softly.
Then, he pulled up the slightly slipped blanket, carefully covering her to ensure she wouldn't get cold.
Having done all this, he silently rose, performed a simple wash, changed into his combat uniform, and finally cast a deep glance at the sleeping Kolesa before turning and quietly leaving the cabin, heading towards the armory to begin his duties for the new day.
The power of an Aeldari Autarch was not only manifested in the immense strength capable of remotely destroying fighter jets but also in this subtle nourishment and change at the fundamental level of life.
After about another standard hour, Kolesa's long silver eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her purple eyes initially held a sleepy haze, like amethysts shrouded in morning mist.
She groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Just then, the vast, ocean-like psionic energy within her, as if possessing its own consciousness, began to operate automatically and precisely.
A few playful strands of silver hair that had fallen onto her cheeks were gently tucked behind her exquisite, jade-like ear by an invisible, nimble force.
Then, her soft white nightgown, as if attended by the most considerate maid, automatically slipped from her shoulders, revealing a flawless body that was a masterpiece of the Creator—skin as fair as snow, lines fluid and graceful, every curve containing breathtaking allure.
A uniform dress, suspended nearby, specially tailored by the Chapter's Tech-Sergeant according to her preferences and physique, blending the simple style of the Ultramarines with the elegant elements of Aeldari attire, flew lightly towards her as if endowed with life by the psionic pull, automatically dressing her neatly, every fold perfectly arranged.
Barefoot, she walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, looking at the pair of hard, heavy black boots on the floor, so contrary to her Aeldari nature.
She frowned slightly, a hint of reluctance on her face.
She could never get used to the feeling of her feet being completely constrained.
But recalling Gaius's earnest admonition—that on a human warship, especially when there might be sudden situations, wearing proper boots was a basic safety rule—she hesitated, and finally let out a soft sigh.
Psionic energy flowed again, and the boots, which for her were a "torture device," were lifted by an invisible force, precisely placed on her fair, gracefully contoured, and quite delicate feet, and automatically laced up.
Having done all this, she stood up completely, and although "fully dressed," her eyes still held the haze of just waking up and a hint of disdain for the boots.
However, the next moment, an indescribable, intense longing and dependence for Gaius instantly surged into her heart.
She did not want to leave him for a single moment; even just watching him perform his daily work from afar filled her with immense peace and satisfaction.
She hesitated almost not at all, walking directly to the cold metal wall of the cabin and gently placing her slender, fair hand on the smooth surface.
The next moment, centered on her palm, a vast and precise psionic perception, like an invisible neural network, instantly spread out with astonishing speed, permeating, scanning, and analyzing the incredibly complex internal structure of the entire Macragge's Honour!
In her "perceptual vision," the entire warship was no longer a lifeless object composed of cold metal, pipes, and circuits, but an incredibly detailed three-dimensional model filled with various energy flows, life signatures, and structural information!
She "saw" Gaius in the armory, meticulously wiping down his Ironclad Pattern Terminator armor, which he had worn not long ago, his movements precise, his profile looking exceptionally resolute in the light.
She "saw" Dorian's massive body lying on the bed in the adjacent cabin, snoring like thunder, but his consciousness fluctuations were unusually active, as if he were experiencing some intense dream, his brain activity far exceeding normal levels.
She "saw" Tech-Sergeant Luna in the hangar area, leading several Tech-Priests and servitors in meticulous maintenance of a thunderhawk gunship, her movements precise and efficient.
She "saw" Airas in the Tech-Sergeant living quarters, sprawled out on her small bed, which was "cobbled together" from various discarded parts and soft fabrics, sleeping soundly, her light pink hair a mess, and surprisingly, she wasn't wearing any clothes, her small blanket long since kicked under the bed.
She could even vaguely "perceive" the soul-light of Chapter Master Marius Calgar in the core area of the warship, shining like a star but tinged with deep fatigue.
He was still seated on his obsidian throne, attending to what seemed like endless administrative duties, his mental fluctuations indicating that he had likely not had any real rest for over four hundred hours, relying entirely on his powerful willpower and the physiological limits of a Primarch's progeny to endure.
She also "saw" Captain Cassius in the First Company Captain's office, back at his post, once again surrounded by data-slates, but compared to his previous almost explosive state, his emotional fluctuations seemed... slightly more relaxed and stable?
It appeared that the forced rest earlier had some effect.
This vast and precise perception was completed almost instantaneously.
To find Gaius's location, she instinctively used the immense psionic power capable of "seeing through" the entire multi-kilometer-long giant warship.
In her view, this was no big deal, just the most direct and effective means to achieve her goal, without feeling it was an overreaction.
Removing her hand from the wall, the vast perception receded like a tide.
A look of relief appeared on Kolesa's exquisite face; she now knew Gaius's exact location.
Without delay, she began to walk in the direction of the armory.
The sound of her hard boots on the metal floor no longer seemed so annoying now.
She just wanted to reach the person who made her feel so incredibly safe as quickly as possible, even if it was just to quietly stay in a corner, watching him work, feeling his presence.
For her, this was the greatest happiness at this moment.
Deep within the massive and ominous hull of the Nightfall (Warship Name), the areas ravaged by corruption had become a bloody purgatory. Viscous fungal growths writhed like living things on the metal decks, while brightly colored but highly poisonous mushrooms and vines proliferated wildly. The air was thick with a cloying stench of decay and the nauseating roars of Nurgle Demons.
The booming of Bolters, the roaring of chainswords, and the scorching sounds of flamers purifying the filth intertwined into a symphony of death and destruction.
The warriors of the Night Lords, these sons of the night accustomed to spreading fear from the shadows, were now forced into the close-quarters, attritional trench warfare they most detested. They formed tight battle lines, using precise Bolter volleys to tear apart the shambling but resilient Nurgle Zombies and bloated Nurglings that emerged from the corrupt flora. More warriors, wielding flamers like grim scavengers, meticulously scorched and purified every inch of contaminated fungal growth and decaying plant life with searing flames, ensuring that this vile plague would not spread to other areas of the warship. Every step forward was accompanied by the smell of charring and rising toxic fumes.
In a relatively quiet compartment deep within the warship, heavily guarded by the Black Guard, the faint sounds of Bolter fire and demonic roars from outside still penetrated the soundproofing, waking the two sleeping girls.
Koreni huddled in the corner of her bunk, her purple eyes, similar to her sister Kolesa's, filled with fear and unease. She clutched the thin blanket tightly, her small body trembling slightly. These sounds reminded her of the chaos and despair when the Craftworld was breached by the Iron Warriors, and the helplessness she felt when she was taken away by those humans in their iron-colored, terrifying armor.
Compared to her, Otani appeared unusually calm. This girl, who had once struggled for survival on a savage world at the edge of the Eye of Terror, witnessed countless horrors, and was eventually brought back by Sevatarion, was long accustomed to danger and chaos. She gently moved closer to Koreni, extended her small hand, and held Koreni's cold fingers, attempting to offer a touch of comfort.
Then, Otani slowly closed her eyes, concentrating her innate, unique psychic abilities as a psyker. A faint but clear thought, like an invisible thread, penetrated the compartment's bulkheads and the warship's internal din, connecting to the distant psychic imprint of a soul she knew intimately and relied upon deeply.
Sevatarion, who was commanding operations on the edge of the corrupted zone while vigilantly observing the movements of the three Deathshroud Terminators, paused slightly. His armored fingers imperceptibly pressed against his temple. Otani's thought, carrying a hint of tension but more a plea for reassurance, flowed into his mind like a gentle stream.
"It's... very noisy outside... Koreni... is very scared."
A fleeting, extremely subtle softness crossed Sevatarion's face, usually filled with cold ruthlessness. He immediately sent back a brief but incredibly firm response through the psychic link, like the most reliable of bulwarks:
"Stay where you are. No one can harm you, I promise."
This thought, imbued with his characteristic, undeniable power, instantly calmed the last ripple of unease in Otani's heart and indirectly soothed Koreni, who had relaxed slightly due to Otani's stable emotions. The two girls huddled close, seeking inner peace against the backdrop of distant warfare, relying on this silent promise.
Meanwhile, on the surface of the barren, desolate planet, the battle between Konrad Curze and Mortarion had escalated into a brutal, fundamental struggle beyond mortal comprehension.
Stripped of his bloated, corrupted exterior, Mortarion now revealed the true form of the pale lord: solemn, majestic, and radiating a cold, pure aura of death. The pair of pristine, full wings on his back slowly flapped, imbued with a strange sense of "holiness."
Koz stood atop a scorched megalith, his cold gaze sweeping over Mortarion's striking wings. A merciless sneer twisted his lips:
"Put away your ridiculous imitation, Mortarion. No matter how big or white your wings become, you will never be Sanguinius. You are still, at your core, that pathetic wretch who crawled out of the swamps of Barbarus, drenched and reeking of graves. Now, you are nothing more than... a white-winged moth, fluttering about, smelling as if it's been steeped in embalming fluid for ten millennia."
These venomous words, like poisoned daggers, precisely pierced Mortarion's deepest, most unwillingly touched shame concerning his origin and essence. However, Mortarion, now in his true form, seemed to have become even more introspective and cold. From the shadows of his cowl, his placid voice emerged:
"Futile provocation... useless against me... Konrad... your treachery and cunning... end today..."
However, before he finished speaking, Koz's figure blurred like a phantom! In Mortarion's perception, Koz still stood in place, but in reality, his true form had already utilized shadow-jumping, silently infiltrating behind Mortarion!
The Lightning Claw "crow's talons (weapon name)", wreathed in destructive electrical arcs, shrieked as it tore through space, savagely striking at Mortarion's back, covered by his pristine cowl!
But Mortarion, in his true form, had clearly gained a qualitative improvement in reaction speed and sensory abilities! Just as the Lightning Claw was about to strike, he suddenly spun around, the uniquely shaped alien pistol "Lantern" in his hand, flowing with an eerie green energy, already raised, its muzzle glowing green!
"Buzz—!"
A beam of dark green energy, imbued with annihilating properties, shot towards Koz's face like the gaze of death!
A red glow flashed in Koz's eyes, his reaction faster than imaginable! He did not dodge, but instead swung his other Lightning Claw, "Crow's Beak," precisely deflecting the beam outwards with a clever force! The beam, capable of annihilating matter, was narrowly "swatted" aside, striking the ground in the distance and instantly turning a patch of scorched earth into a void of nothingness!
At the same time, Koz's other hand, wielding "crow's talons (weapon name)", continued its trajectory, still thrusting directly at Mortarion's face!
Mortarion let out a low, cold snort. The scythe "Silence" in his hand, emanating a deep aura of death, appeared before him as if teleported, sweeping with a chilling arc to meet the Lightning Claw!
"Clang—Crunch!"
A grating sound of metal breaking rang out! Before the blade of "Silence," imbued with the fundamental death laws of Nurgle, Koz's Lightning Claw "crow's talons (weapon name)" was severed at the hilt like fragile glass! The broken claw blade, sparking with electrical arcs, spun away into the distance.
Koz seemed unsurprised. He quickly drifted backward, using the force of the collision. His gaze fell upon his broken weapon, and in his deep-set eyes, there was no astonishment, but rather a... knowing, chilling smile, as if a scheme had succeeded.
Mortarion was about to mock Koz's overestimation of himself when he suddenly sensed an extremely faint energy fluctuation beneath his feet, one that made his soul tremble! He instinctively looked down—
He saw an inconspicuous, cylindrical object, flashing with a dangerous red light, had been placed there at some point amidst the vibrant, corrupted flora beneath his feet!
Melta bomb!
"Boom!!!!!!!"
A terrifying burst of high temperature and energy, capable of melting a warship's frontal armor, erupted like a miniature sun! White, destructive energy instantly engulfed Mortarion's figure, vaporizing the carefully cultivated Garden of Nurgle around him, along with the ground beneath his feet! A searing blast of air, carrying the instantly purified remnants of corruption, spread wildly outwards, even pushing Koz's dark figure several meters backward!
As the blinding white light and thick smoke slowly dissipated, a gigantic molten crater, tens of meters in diameter, appeared at the center of the explosion, with dark red, boiling magma flowing at its bottom. The spot where Mortarion had stood was now empty.
However, there was no relaxation on Koz's face. His prescient eyes remained fixed on the briefly "purified" area.
Sure enough, in the next second, at the edge of the lava pit, the colors of space began to twist. Viscous, dark green fungal growths once again seeped out of the void like living things, rapidly covering the hot rocks. Vibrant, corrupted plants burst forth from the ground at an even faster rate. The area cleared by the melta bomb was, in a matter of seconds, covered by a larger, more luxuriant Garden of Nurgle, emanating an even denser aura of corrupted life!
Mortarion's pristine figure slowly emerged unharmed from the largest corrupted flower in the center of the garden, his gaze from beneath his cowl coldly locking onto Koz.
"Meaningless struggle, Konrad. Before grandfather's eternal power, your petty tricks are but dust."
Koz's expression became utterly grim. This guy... was even harder to kill than he imagined! Nurgle's blessings were simply unreasonably unfair!
Without the slightest hesitation, Koz raised his hand and, into his helmet's internal communicator, coldly issued an order: "Orbital bombardment, coordinates locked, saturation strike."
The main weapon arrays of the three Night Lords Strike Cruisers, already poised in orbit, instantly lit up with blinding light! Several lances of light, capable of tearing apart continental plates, descended through the atmosphere like spears of judgment cast by gods, carrying destructive power, precisely plummeting towards Mortarion and the vast, newly formed corrupted domain beneath his feet!
"Brother," Koz said, his voice flat as he watched the destructive beams of light descending from the sky, "I never intended to have a fair duel with you."
The speed of the lances of light far exceeded the speed of sound; almost the moment the order was given, the destructive light had already completely engulfed Mortarion and the Garden of Nurgle where he stood! The terrifying energy release once again tore and melted the earth, the dazzling white light making the entire area seem like the surface of a star!
However, just an instant before the lances of light struck, Mortarion had already reacted! He plunged the scythe "Silence" in his hand into the earth beneath him, and the cold, pure death energy around him, along with Nurgle's twisted vitality, erupted simultaneously!
The newly formed Garden of Nurgle beneath his feet seemed to be infused with infinite vitality. All the corrupted plants—mushrooms, vines, gigantic flowers—expanded, intertwined, and hardened wildly in an instant! They formed an immense, living shield, tens of meters thick, composed of countless twisted plants, radiating a dense, dark green glow, directly blocking the path of the lances of light!
"Rumble—!!!"
The lances of light violently collided with the living shield! Blinding energy currents shot out everywhere, illuminating everything around them in a bizarre, shifting light! The shield made of corrupted plants rapidly carbonized and disintegrated under the terrifying energy of the lances of light, but subsequent plants surged forward relentlessly, frantically consuming the lances' energy!
When the aftermath of the orbital bombardment finally dissipated, the colossal living shield had been reduced to a charred, ash-covered expanse stretching for several kilometers. However, at the center of the ashes, Mortarion's pristine figure still stood tall! Although the Garden of Nurgle around him had shrunk significantly, he himself remained completely unharmed! Only the aura beneath his cowl seemed to have grown a little colder.
Koz watched this scene, taking a deep breath of the cold, thin air of this planet, mixed with the smell of charring and sweet decay. He knew that conventional methods would probably truly be unable to kill this Daemon Prince, highly blessed by the Chaos God. This battle seemed to have no end in sight.
Meanwhile, in the armory of the distant Macragge's Honour, the atmosphere was in stark contrast to the death match on the barren planet, filled with a reassuring warmth and tranquility.
The armory was brightly lit, the air permeated with the faint scent of weapon oil and the inherent coldness of metal. Several First Company veterans were meticulously inspecting and maintaining their power armor and weapons at their respective equipment racks, with occasional low conversations and the soft clinking of tools.
Gaius had just finished the external cleaning and joint lubrication of the Ironclad Pattern Terminator armor. He put down the soft cloth and was about to check the power pack's energy lines when his peripheral vision caught sight of a familiar, slender figure rapidly approaching from the armory entrance.
It was Kolesa.
She seemed somewhat eager, even with a hint of imperceptible unease. Her purple eyes, the moment she entered the armory, precisely locked onto Gaius's figure. She almost didn't hesitate at all, completely disregarding the presence of other warriors in the armory, and jogged directly through the neatly arranged equipment racks to stand before Gaius.
Under the slightly surprised gazes of several veterans, Kolesa, like a fledgling returning to its nest, gently yet incredibly firmly, threw herself into Gaius's broad and solid embrace.
Gaius had already slightly bent down when she ran over; now, he naturally opened his arms and steadily caught her. He squatted down, bringing himself to her height, and then, with the arms that could steadily control the "Hawkeye" sniper rifle and also easily tear apart enemies, he gently and firmly wrapped them around her slender waist, which he could barely encircle, drawing her small, cool body completely into his embrace.
Kolesa buried her face deep into Gaius's warm and strong chest, covered by his blue jumpsuit, greedily inhaling his familiar scent, a mix of weapon oil, cleaning agents, and his own masculine aura. All the external noise and her inner unease seemed to melt away in this embrace. She only needed to feel his presence, his warmth, his steady and powerful heartbeat, to find the greatest peace and contentment in the world.
Gaius said nothing, only quietly held her, silently telling her with his presence—I am here, you are safe.
At this moment, the steel-forged armory seemed to be imbued with a warm and soft glow because of these lovers, who transcended species and embraced tightly amidst war and fate.
Throughout the vast galaxy, war was endless, and darkness continued to spread. Primarchs and daemon princes fought battles that would determine the course of destiny beneath distant stars, while mortals and warriors guarded their beliefs and cherished possessions within steel warships.
But at this moment, in this armory filled with cold metal and the scent of weapons, the embrace of an Astartes Brother and an Eldar Autarch seemed to pierce through the barriers of race and fate, becoming a faint yet incredibly resilient... light of hope and warmth in this dark universe.
This light might not illuminate the entire galaxy, but it was enough to warm their souls, becoming the most precious strength to sustain them as they continued forward and faced all unknown challenges.
On the barren planet, the battle situation took a sharp turn.
Mortarion began to emanate a cold, pure white light around him, completely different from the previous foul stench of corruption. This light was not holy, but contained an extreme, ultimately annihilating aura of death. The pair of pristine, full wings on his back fully unfurled, each feather seeming to be composed of solidified pale flames, radiating a chill that froze the soul.
His hands tightly gripped the scythe of finality, "Silence," raising it high, then, as if performing some blasphemous ritual, he plunged it fiercely into the already partially corrupted earth beneath his feet!
"In the name of grandfather, with this land as foundation, sow the seeds of eternal stillness, and let the flowers of tranquility bloom."
A low, solemn chant arose, not a roar, but carrying a terrifying power even greater than a roar. With his words and actions, an indescribable, primordial power of corruption from the deepest reaches of the Warp, like a breaching flood, spread wildly from him as its center, engulfing the entire planet!
"Om—"
The earth groaned, and the sky twisted.
The fungal growth, originally confined to the combat zone, now surged like a dark green tide imbued with life and will, spreading wildly to the horizon at a visible speed! Charred rocks were covered, dry riverbeds were filled, and mountain ranges were stained a sickly green. Countless brightly colored, grotesquely twisted flowers of corruption burst from the ground, blooming in a riot of color, emitting a sweet, putrid stench so dense it was dizzying. Even more chilling, towering, terrifying jungles of writhing vines, swollen fungi, and twisted tree trunks, like a scene from a nightmare, rose from the earth, rapidly forming a dense and deadly forest of decay!
The sky was shrouded in dark green spore clouds, and the thin atmosphere was completely transformed, filled with poisonous miasma and Nurgle's "blessings." This already dead planet was being forcibly dragged into the domain of the Warp by Mortarion's supreme power, transforming into an eternally rotting paradise belonging to Nurgle!
Countless Nurgle Demons—shambling zombies, bloated laughing Nurglings, massive foul-smelling Beasts of Nurgle, and even more powerful Plaguebearers—sprang forth like mushrooms from the newly born corrupted flora and fungal growths. They emitted various horrifying growls and gibberish, roaming and reveling in this nascent hell.
The environment around Koz instantly deteriorated to the extreme. Beneath his feet was a viscous, writhing fungal growth, all around him were wildly dancing, poisonous vines attempting to entangle him, and the toxic miasma in the air even began to corrode his shadow energy shield. The omnipresent law of corruption was frantically squeezing and repelling his very existence, as if the entire planet had become an extension of Mortarion's body, intent on completely devouring and digesting him, this "foreign object"!
The situation for him was already precarious. To continue fighting Mortarion in this completely corrupted domain was tantamount to being in his opponent's home ground, a divine realm, with slim chances of victory, and even the possibility of being trapped here for eternity.
In Koz's sunken eyes, crimson light flickered rapidly, and countless fragments of the future surged like an avalanche; almost all possibilities pointed to failure and oblivion. But his ten millennia of accumulated resilience and unwavering dedication to his goal made him utterly unwilling to retreat.
"Roar—!!!"
A terrifying shriek, as if from an ancient abyss, tore through the clamor of the corrupted domain! Koz's body underwent another violent transformation; shadow energy erupted like a volcanic eruption, muscles bulged, bones stretched—he once again transformed into that terrifying giant bat with wings that blotted out the sky and eyes burning with spectral blue soul fire!
The giant bat did not hesitate, like a moth to a flame, with an unyielding determination, it fiercely lunged at Mortarion, who was guiding the planet's corruption and emanating a pale light. Its talons, capable of tearing through warship armor, dug into Mortarion's shoulders and chest beneath his pristine white armor like the hardest alloy steel hooks! The talons even pierced through the armor, deeply embedding themselves into his flesh, which contained the primordial essence of plague!
"Foolish!" Mortarion let out a cold sneer, seemingly indifferent to Koz's dying struggles. The pale light around him and the corruption power of the planet beneath his feet instantly boiled, like billions of invisible, intensely corrosive spikes, they counter-eroded the giant bat's talons and body!
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!"
A grating sound of corrosion! The giant bat's talons, composed of pure shadow energy and powerful flesh, emitted thick black smoke upon contact with that ultimate primordial power of corruption! The originally solid shadow energy was rapidly disintegrated and contaminated, the adamantium-hard claw tips began to show signs of corrosion, and even started to spread up the bat's arm! A burning sensation, penetrating to the soul and mixed with extreme filth and the pain of decay, traveled along the talons to the depths of Koz's will!
This pain far exceeded physical damage; it was erosion and contamination at the level of fundamental laws!
But the giant bat, into which Koz had transformed, showed no sign of releasing its grip; instead, it let out an even more ferocious shriek, its wings unleashing their full power, dragging the tightly clutched Mortarion like an uncontrolled giant plow, and furiously charging through this nascent, vast Garden of Nurgle!
"Rumble—!"
The giant bat, clutching Mortarion, carved a massive trench several kilometers long and hundreds of meters wide through the dense, twisted corrupted jungle, the sea of vibrant, deadly poisonous flowers, and the viscous, writhing fungal earth! Wherever it passed, corrupted plants were uprooted and shredded, the fungal growth was flung aside, and the deeper, rapidly corrupting rock layers of the earth were exposed! Countless newly born Nurgle Demons were pulverized under this terrifying impact!
This was undoubtedly a massive destruction and desecration of Mortarion's nascent divine realm!
Mortarion was completely enraged by this mad act; he no longer maintained his cold dignity, letting out an angry roar, and the pale light and corruption power around him surged like a tsunami, impacting the giant bat! The giant bat's body trembled violently amidst the intertwining black smoke and pale light, the corrosion of its talons worsened, and even wisps of dark green corruption energy could be seen, like venomous snakes, spreading up its claw-arms, attempting to invade Koz's essence!
"I can't continue!" Koz felt his own power being rapidly contaminated and consumed; if he persisted, he feared he would not be killed by Mortarion, but utterly eroded by this power of corruption, becoming a puppet of Nurgle!
The giant bat suddenly released its talons, its massive body tumbling in the air, rapidly shrinking, and transforming back into Konrad Curze's human form, landing unsteadily at the edge of a corrupted jungle, not yet fully plowed, covered in vibrant giant flowers.
"Puff—" As soon as he landed, Koz couldn't help but fall to one knee, spitting a mouthful of blood, faintly tinged with black energy, onto the viscous fungal growth beneath his feet. His face was shockingly pale, his eyes, once as deep as ancient wells, were now much dimmer, and his left arm—the very arm that had clutched Mortarion so tightly when he transformed into a bat—was now trembling uncontrollably. On the armor of his arm, clear, dark green corrosion marks, slowly writhing as if alive, remained, and wisps of corruption energy were still trying to penetrate the armor, eroding his flesh and soul. Mortarion's corrosion had truly, substantially wounded him.
However, when Koz raised his head and looked at Mortarion, who had just risen from the trench nearby, his aura slightly disordered due to the violent destruction of his divine realm, there was no sign of defeat in his eyes; instead, a fiercer, more resolute light burned within them!
Just as Mortarion attempted to mobilize the power of the entire planet to deliver a fatal blow to Koz—
Koz moved!
His figure once again merged into the shadows like a ghost, not retreating, but moving at a speed beyond the limits of visual capture, along the seams of shadows, appearing as if teleporting to Mortarion's left side! And in the spot where he had originally stood, a phantom formed of shadow slowly dissipated, capturing Mortarion's attention for a fleeting moment.
Mortarion reacted extremely quickly, his "Silence" carrying a cold arc of death, slashing towards the shadow at his side! But he was ultimately a hundredth of a second too slow!
Koz's already broken Lightning Claw, "crow's talons," like a viper that had lain dormant for a long time, avoided the scythe's blade and, at an extremely tricky angle, fiercely stabbed into the connection point of Mortarion's left shoulder blade, which held "Silence"!
"Crack!"
Accompanied by a grating sound of bone shattering and energy tearing, Koz unleashed all his remaining strength and yanked downwards!
"Pfft—!"
A pale arm, covered in pristine white armor and still tightly gripping the terrifying scythe "Silence," was actually torn clean off Mortarion's body by Koz! Viscous, dark green blood, emanating a rich mixture of life and decay, gushed like a fountain from the severed limb!
"Ugh ah—!!!" Mortarion let out an incredulous roar, mixed with intense pain and fury! He could not have imagined that, even when he had control of the situation and had severely wounded his opponent, Koz could still unleash such a vicious counterattack and successfully seize a vital symbol of his status as a Daemon Primarch—his arm and weapon!
Koz grabbed the wrist of the severed arm, feeling the cold, deathly aura of the scythe "Silence" attempting to resist and corrode him, as well as the nauseating yet immensely powerful sensation of the severed arm itself. He did not hesitate, nor did he even glance at Mortarion, who was temporarily frozen by the pain of his severed arm and his rage; his figure once again merged into the shadows, as if completely evaporated, vanishing without a trace from the surface of this planet, which had now fully become Nurgle's domain.
"Konrad Curze!!! I swear you will pay!!! Your soul will wail in the plague pits for all eternity!!!"
Behind him, Mortarion's roar, echoing across the entire corrupted planet and filled with endless malice and madness, like an oath, resounded.
On the cold bridge of the Nightfall (Warship Name), the air seemed to solidify. All the remaining warriors, through observation screens or viewports, nervously watched the distant planet, now completely engulfed by dark green clouds of corruption. They saw the night haunter's and the pale lord's earth-shattering battle, saw the terrifying sight of the planet rapidly corrupting, and their hearts were in their throats.
Suddenly, the shadows next to the main throne platform on the bridge twisted, and a tall, gaunt figure in black power armor staggered forth—it was Konrad Curze.
As soon as he appeared, all the Night Lords' gazes instantly focused on him. Their great gene-father, the night haunter, who was like the embodiment of nightmares, now had a face as pale as paper, his left arm armor bore shocking, dark green corrosion marks that writhed as if alive, and his aura was visibly disordered and weak.
However, what drew their gaze even more was the object tightly clutched in Koz's right hand—a severed arm, covered in ancient yellow and blue armor, with pale skin, still tightly gripping a massive scythe emanating a deep aura of death!
From the severed arm's cut, viscous, dark green blood was still slowly dripping, emitting chilling fluctuations of corruption energy.
No words were needed; everyone understood—that was the arm of the Death Guard Primarch, the pale lord Mortarion!
Just as everyone was stunned into silence by this sight, Koz, back on the bridge, seemed no longer able to suppress his internal injuries and erosion. He suddenly stumbled, and under the horrified gazes of his many sons, he fell heavily to one knee on the cold metal deck! He lowered his head, supporting himself with the hand holding the severed arm and "Silence," while his other hand clutched his left arm, which was constantly throbbing with corrosive pain, letting out suppressed, painful gasps.
"My Lord!" Sahar, disregarding his own injuries, rushed forward, supported by a warrior.
Koz suddenly raised his hand, stopping their approach. He laboriously lifted his head; though his sunken eyes were filled with exhaustion and pain, deeper within, a nearly obsessive determination burned, and... a hint of cold satisfaction.
"It's nothing..." His voice was dry and hoarse, yet carried an undeniable authority, "A little... corrosion... cannot harm me." He looked down at the severed arm and scythe in his hand, which contained terrifying power, his tone resolute, "But this... is the 'pledge of allegiance' we need!"
He forced himself to endure the soul-level agony and physical discomfort brought by the corrosion, slowly stood up, and raised the severed arm along with the scythe "Silence," allowing all his sons to see it clearly.
"Sahar!"
"Present!" The head of the Black Guard immediately bowed.
"Seal this item... securely! Isolate it with the purest shadow energy and anti-psyker metal! No one is to approach without my command!" Koz ordered, knowing that this thing was both a trophy and an extremely dangerous source of contamination.
"Yes!" Sahar solemnly accepted the order, immediately signaling two of his most reliable Black Guard to step forward and carefully take the ominous-looking severed arm and divine weapon.
Koz's gaze turned to the viewport on the bridge, towards the planet now completely enveloped by dark green clouds of corruption, its surface faintly showing giant twisted jungles and writhing fungal growths. His eyes became incredibly cold.
"As for that planet..." Koz's voice was like something from the cold abyss of the Nine Hells, carrying a complete, merciless will to destroy, "It has been defiled, beyond redemption. Execute... Exterminatus."
"All warships, target the corrupted planet, Cyclone torpedoes... all fired. Ensure no... vile remnants remain."
The order was swiftly relayed.
In orbit, the weapon ports of several Night Lords Strike Cruisers opened. Cyclone torpedoes, capable of tearing through crusts and causing global geological disasters, descended like harbingers of death, trailing long plumes of fire, towards that nascent Nurgle paradise.
No warning, no mercy.
The next moment, dazzling white light erupted consecutively on the dark green surface of the planet, like blooming flowers of hell. The Cyclone torpedoes penetrated deep into the crust, triggering chain reactions of supervolcanic eruptions and continental plate fragmentation... Amidst the destructive light and impact, the planet, which Mortarion had just forcibly transformed into a Garden of Nurgle, along with all the vile life born upon it, met its utterly final, physical end under the Imperium's most extreme purification methods.
Koz stood silently before the viewport, watching the expanding, then slowly dissipating, ball of destructive light in the distant star-filled sky, his pale face devoid of any expression.
He had paid a price, suffering the wounds of corruption. But he had also obtained what he wanted—a "gift" from a Chaos Daemon Primarch, enough to shake the High Lords of Terra and force Lion King to seriously consider, a gift that would make the Lion King seriously consider it.
The road to atonement was still long and dark, but at least, he had taken this bloody and firm first step.