Chapter 160

Kabanha, Likate, Kadia, Primarchs, entities of the Warp, Chagatai Khan

Chaotic, disordered, almost unreal terms wove through Dante's mind, temporarily churning his millennia of experience into a tangled mess.

Dante had to tell the Chief Librarian before him: "I thought our enemy was only the Swarm."

"I wish it were, my lord," said Mortis, a bitter smile crossing his face—bringing a flicker of life to his corpse-like visage.

"Are you certain of everything you've said? This isn't the first time you've brought me prophecy, but never so clear or forceful."

Dante stared at Mortis, questioning him—those words were too bizarre, making Dante wonder if he was merely recounting symbolic, metaphorical visions from the Warp.

Mortis said nothing—neither confirming nor denying.

Yet Dante could feel that his old comrade believed every word he'd spoken.

Dante had to suppress the chaotic thoughts in his mind, sorting them into more grounded questions.

"Let's start with Kabanha—will the Angel of Ruin soon descend? As far as I know, he was only recently banished." Dante asked Mortis.

The Angel of Ruin was Kabanha's title—a Greater Daemon of Khorne whose history was entwined with the Blood Angels.

"Chaos's servants rarely follow rules," Mortis shook his head. "So many sons of Sanguinius gathered together, nearly all the Blood Chapters assembled, and the Warp's tides are so violent—Kabanha now has the potential to re-enter the material realm."

Dante understood the implication in Mortis's words.

The Blood Angels' Librarians even believed Kabanha had already formed some bond with Sanguinius's descendants—that Greater Daemon longed to lead the Blood Angels to corruption, and to slaughter them.

So many sons of Sanguinius gathered together were like a summons to Kabanha.

Dante let out a laugh: "We are at our strongest moment—and our weakest. No wonder Kabanha comes."

"The Blood God covets us. Our fury draws the servants of the Brass and Skull Thrones," Mortis nodded slightly. "If Kabanha descends upon the battlefield unopposed, it will be catastrophic—he will seek to awaken the rage and madness within our blood."

"These undead do not understand that even rage has distinctions," Dante's face beneath Sanguinius's golden mask was weary. "Nor do they comprehend that mastering one's own rage is true nobility."

"The undead possess eternity. We may resist with nobility a thousand times, but they need only succeed once," Mortis uttered words that could enrage any Blood Angel.

Dante felt uneasy, yet he had to admit Mortis's vigilance was correct.

"How do we deal with Kabanha?" Dante asked, knowing Mortis was a master of combating Warp entities. "This is your specialty."

Mortis had always offered Dante reliable, prudent counsel on Warp matters.

"I will perform a ritual," Mortis said calmly.

"Hmm, a ritual," Dante nodded slightly.

"This ritual will actively summon Kabanha into the material universe," Mortis waited for Dante to comprehend.

"Hmm, actively summon…?" Dante froze suddenly. "You mean actively summon Kabanha into reality?"

"Then I and my Librarians will beat him senseless and seal him in a cave somewhere on Baal—once and for all."

Mortis proposed a method Dante found wildly unreliable.

Actively summoning a Greater Daemon of Khorne into reality—if anyone else learned of this, Mortis would be suspected of treason.

But Dante knew the loyalty of the Chief Librarian before him.

"Is this the only way?" he asked.

"Better than letting him appear on the battlefield uninvited," Mortis admitted he had no absolute confidence in sealing Kabanha.

If the Blood God paid sufficient attention to Baal, Kabanha might be stronger than ever before.

Dante closed his eyes slightly, considering the remaining matters.

"Is the Likate Swarm attempting to infiltrate Baal first? I'll notify all Chapters and prepare defenses."

Dante said:

"But I don't think defenses will hold, Mortis. I need you to determine how Likate will infiltrate Baal, where they'll hide, and lead the Librarians in a purge."

Mortis nodded slightly—Dante was hinting that Mortis could employ extraordinary means.

Baal was too vast; finding a single insect was too hard.

"Captain Kadia and his company of Terminators have already departed there. We have no more forces to spare for reinforcement—we can only pray Kadia holds firm."

Dante sighed, then turned his attention to the most shocking of Mortis's revelations.

Primarchs,

The Primarch of the White Scars, Chagatai Khan, brought word to the Blood Angels: the Primarchs are returning.

Who? Could it be the Archangel?

This puzzled Dante slightly—the Blood God and His servants were now focused on Baal.

Why would Mortis dare speak this aloud? Didn't he fear drawing the Blood God's notice?

Dante studied Mortis, realizing he had no intention of explaining—or perhaps could not.

Mortis's eyes, as if burning, stared silently at Dante.

A Primarch is returning. Those were Mortis's exact words.

Dante's mind erupted with thoughts.

This news would not escape the Blood God's notice unless the Blood God already knew.

The Primarch the Blood God knew of returning could not be Sanguinius—otherwise, even the mere possibility would have triggered action, not just Kabanha's descent.

The Angel of Ruin was dangerous, but the Blood Angels, if willing to sacrifice, still had hope of defeating him.

A Primarch other than Sanguinius returning? No—Mortis was hinting at something far more complex.

More than one Primarch might return!

The Primarch the Blood God knew of returning was not Sanguinius,

but the Blood God did not know that Sanguinius himself might also return.

Dante suddenly realized—this was what Mortis wanted him to understand.

Doubt and confusion surged in Dante's mind; his gaze toward Mortis turned sharp and dangerous.

"Reliable?" Dante asked softly.

Mortis broke into a cold sweat—Dante's tone carried clear suspicion and wariness.

Even after ten thousand years, the Horus Heresy still chilled every Astartes to the bone.

And Mortis, deeply entwined with the Warp—even Dante could not help but grow wary.

"I don't know," Mortis gave the perfect answer.

This, strangely, eased Dante slightly.

"Do not let anyone else know of this."

!. read

Dante warned Mortis:

"Find out exactly what is happening—and where it will lead."

Mortis slowly nodded, glancing at the five hundred empty seats beside him.

Every warrior seated on the Crimson Council was theoretically equal, each entitled to know.

But could they really be told everything?

Noticing Mortis's glance, Dante's eyelid twitched slightly.

Equality was not the goal—it was merely a tool.

The Crimson Council's purpose was to make the warriors feel united; what Dante and Mortis spoke of would only breed division.

Even the mere rumor that the Archangel would return could spark conflict among Battle-Brothers—Mortis might even be killed by a power axe.

"Finally, what did you mean by 'Warp locations'?" Dante asked, puzzled.

The phrase "candidates among many Warp locations" felt alien to him.

"It concerns knowledge of the Warp so obscure few have ever heard of it."

Mortis carefully chose his words:

"During my soul's journeys through the Warp, amidst tangled chaos, Eldar dramas, and mad laughter, I learned that the Warp contains many locations."

"Each location embodies a domain; some are occupied, others remain vacant."

"Of these, eight domains are most significant and powerful—four of them are already claimed."

"Four?" Dante felt a faint understanding stirring.

"These four are the ones most familiar to us."

Mortis nodded slightly, confirming Dante's guess, then continued:

"The first is 'Hellstorm,' symbolized by prismatic firestorms, formless flickering arcs of phantom lightning, and jagged shards of twisted crystal—an erratic primordial tempest."

"The second is 'Ecstatic Perception,' symbolized by intoxicating sensory feasts, dazzling flashes, ecstatic leaps and deaths—a scream of madness, pleasure, and wild impulse."

"The third is 'Corrupting Decay,' symbolized by disease within living flesh, noxious miasmas, and evil gifts—a slow corruption, the rot of body and soul, eternal torment."

"The fourth is 'Heartless Killing,' symbolized by flowing blood, plundered skulls and death, conquerors and executioners—dark rage and a crimson flicker of joy."

Mortis spoke each word precisely, hiding the most dangerous knowledge behind simple phrasing:

"These are the four familiar domains. Four others remain unmanifested—their positions still vacant. I've only glimpsed fragments in the Eldar's shattered prophecies."

"Of these four vacant positions, the Eldar call two 'Dark King' and 'Eternal Dragon'—not true names, merely fearful, taboo terms from the Eldar."

"One remains entirely unknown, its position yet to produce a true candidate."

"The last one has already begun to manifest in the Warp—and is currently the most contested. I have learned its name."

Mortis paused, then looked at Dante:

"That domain symbolizes twisted creativity, supreme craftsmanship, the most superior design, and terrifying mechanical entities—in the Warp, that position is called…"

"'Malicious Artifice.'"

"Achoo!!!"

Outside the Second Fardia City, in the desert, inside a moving vehicle,

Zhou Yun couldn't help shuddering, his nose twitching.

Though the surroundings were scorching hot, Zhou Yun suddenly sneezed—strange indeed.

Danton, beside him, was startled by Zhou Yun's sneeze; he had clearly been lost in thought.

After a moment of silence, Danton seemed to make up his mind and spoke to Zhou Yun:

"Brother Huang Daxiong, since we've nothing else to do, would you care to learn about our Salvation and Hope, the great Saint Doraemon?"

Today might only have one update. My sleep schedule has been completely shattered since I got sick—sleep comes in fragments: I nap from two to six in the morning, then again from two to six in the afternoon, sometimes sleeping three hours from seven to ten in the morning, then another nap in the afternoon. I haven't had a full night's sleep in days. It's agony, and my sleep quality is terrible—I keep dreaming.

(End of chapter)