Chapter 442: The Dark King: The Unbound Twisting and a New Era

Near the region once known as the Eye of Fear,

profane, sacred, dark, and mighty warp energies are ravaging this area,

the heavens have shattered, all things have dissolved, and the boundary between reality and the warp has grown blurred,

Cadia, once the bulwark against the might of the Chaos Powers, lies in ruins, shattered utterly by the Hammer of Blackstone, leaving only a few large fragments adrift in the warp's torrent,

the surviving Cadians still wander upon them, waging desperate, futile resistance,

Erebus mocks them all,

foolish mortals, always blind to the path of fate, clinging to meaningless resistance,

their best choice now is to lay down their weapons and devoutly pray to the Chaos Gods for mercy and forgiveness, rather than remain loyal to the False Emperor.

Standing on the bridge of the Abyss-class battleship Lady Blessed, gazing at the chaotic Cadia system, Erebus's lips curled in a scornful smile.

He walked upon the ancient vessel beneath his feet, whispering softly: "Gods are real, and they hate us."

These were the words spoken by the only human survivor of the destruction of the Perfect City—the Blessed Blind Woman—and the Abyss-class battleship beneath Erebus's feet was forged in her memory.

The Abyss-class battleships were forged in the shipyards of Jupiter, just before the Great Betrayal, as colossal vessels exclusive to the Word Bearers,

shaped like blades, their prows piercing the void like tridents, their size rivaling that of a void-city, even surpassing the Glory Queen-class battleships, matched only by the Mountain Array,

only three such terrifying vessels were ever forged; after their completion, the shipyards on Jupiter were utterly destroyed, all servitors, workers, and Tech-Priests burned to ash, ensuring none could ever replicate them.

Of the three Abyss-class battleships, the first, Abyss Surge, was destroyed near Macragge; the second, Three Sacred Prayers, became Primarch Lorgar's flagship,

and the third, the Lady Blessed beneath Erebus's feet, was grievously wounded during the Shadow Crusade ten thousand years ago, hastily fleeing into the warp and vanishing,

until after the Thirteenth Black Crusade erupted, Erebus, through horrific sacrifices, won the favor of the Gods, found the lost Lady Blessed within the warp's torrent, and barely repaired it as his own flagship.

"Such a powerful vessel—what a waste to let this ugly, dull, feeble creature wield it."

A voice like a serpent hissed behind Erebus, thick with envy and malice, as if it sought to kill him just to seize the great warship.

"I still need him," a low, cold, serious voice warned. "If you kill him, I will torture you, then kill you."

"Torture me? Like the Dark Angels once tortured you?" sneered the serpent-voice. "No torment could ever please me more—the Hunger Lord loves me."

"And if you kill me, I will rise again from within your flesh. Giggling."

"I understand the power of Chaos better than you. Killing you would bring me no pleasure," replied the solemn knight.

Erebus, gazing out the viewport, let a cold smile touch his lips: "No need to worry—he cannot kill me. I am the Hand of Fate."

"Is that so? How laughable, weak Erebus—I still remember our days aboard the Soul of Vengeance, how you never bested me in duels. Perhaps I should kill you just to see if I can."

This stirred a flicker of anger in Erebus.

"Killing me serves no purpose," Erebus said, voice edged with threat. "The Lady Blessed's machine-spirit answers only to the Word Bearers. Her power is beyond your control."

The serpent-voice laughed bitterly.

"I'm surprised you'd help me," Erebus said, still not turning. "Isn't the Hunger Lady lost in love with Saint Dora?"

"But the One desires Saint Dora to pursue godhood, and ascend as the Fifth."

The serpent-voice replied with irritation, clearly jealous that Saint Dora had stolen the Hunger Lady's affection:

"So the Hunger Lady permits me to act freely, and permits you to guide Saint Dora beyond the limits of the material universe."

"But that is all. She will offer no further aid."

"And instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself—you've already been noticed, and watched."

"I heard the One has a staff that can find anyone. Giggling."

Erebus's face darkened; his fingers brushed the ceremonial dagger at his waist.

This powerful weapon possessed extraordinary effects: it granted its wielder immunity to fatal blows, enabled the casting of terrible sorceries, could kill or corrupt the greatest heroes, and could slice open reality itself to traverse the warp across the galaxy,

for this ceremonial dagger was forged from one of the eight fragments of the Blade of the Foe,

the Blade of the Foe, the Sword of Murder, forged at the moment of humanity's first murder, later wielded in countless pivotal assassinations throughout human history.

Merely holding the ceremonial dagger, Erebus could feel the weight of each murder embedded within it:

Cain slew Abel with it, Brutus used it to kill Caesar, Jing Ke tried to stab Qin Shi Huang with it, Akechi Mitsuhide swung it at Oda Nobunaga, Gustav III was slain by it—and Horus, Warmaster Horus, was killed by it, wielded by Governor Dai Wen.

These murders granted the Blade of the Foe immense power,

during the Horus Heresy, Erebus shattered the Blade of the Foe into eight fragments, forging them into eight ceremonial daggers, sharing its power,

the eighth fragment was reforged whole by the Emperor, infused with His own might, used to utterly kill Horus, now a vessel of the Four Gods—in a sense, killing Himself as well.

Erebus now relies on the power of this ceremonial dagger to move between the warp and the material universe, attempting to confuse Saint Dora's pursuit,

and if he cannot evade detection, if Saint Dora tracks him down, he will use the dagger's power to carve a tear in reality and flee.

Though inwardly terrified, Erebus spoke with devout fervor:

"If I can lure the One onto the path of Chaos, some risk is acceptable."

As he spoke, Erebus turned his head—

the sound of a blade slicing air rang out; the razor-sharp edge of the Stinger Blade pressed against Erebus's throat.

Erebus's soul froze; he stood rigid, staring at the scarred face inches from his own.

Slaanesh's Chosen, Lu Xiusi, licked his lips, eyes filled with murder and envy as he gazed at Erebus.

"You—" Erebus glared at Lu Se, seated motionless. "You let him—"

"If he meant to kill you, I would have severed his head before he could strike yours," Lu Se said, expression unchanging.

Lu Xiusi sneered, withdrew the Stinger Blade, and sat back in his chair.

"Tell me your plan," Lu Xiusi asked, legs crossed. "How will you make the One accept the warp and pursue godhood?"

"I originally intended to guide Saint Dora toward Chaos as gently as I once guided Khaen,"

Erebus said, regretful:

"But the One's mastery over life and death exceeded my expectations—Lu Se had already annihilated that woman, yet Saint Dora still resurrected her."

"Gentle means will not suffice. Only blunt, absolute measures can drive Saint Dora back to Chaos."

"I don't care how you do it," Lu Se said coldly. "But you promised me: once Saint Dora breaks free of the material universe, you will resurrect Lian, and make him forgive my sins."

"I can do it," Erebus smiled. "I've resurrected a Primarch before. When Saint Dora ascends as a god, Lian will be reborn as his Demon Prince, and you, as one who freed Saint Dora, will become his Chosen."

"How?" Lu Xiusi licked his lips. He didn't truly understand warp matters.

He was here only because Slaanesh permitted it, because he envied Saint Dora's share of Slaanesh's love, because of Erebus's payment, and because of the promise of a thrilling slaughter.

"I will replay everything that happened aboard the Soul of Vengeance. I will complete what I failed to do to Horus."

"I will defile Saint Dora's material body, forcing His essence to return entirely to the warp's torrent."

"I will kill Zhou Yun, liberate Saint Dora, and make him replace the Emperor, ascending as the Dark King—the Fifth."

"How?" Lu Xiusi stared at Erebus. "You said before—the Dark King's throne belonged to the Emperor. Didn't He ascend and destroy everything?"

Erebus had spent many days explaining this to Lu Xiusi.

"It belongs to Him now—but it didn't belong to Him before."

"As long as the Emperor has not truly become the Dark King, He has not pierced time to become a true god existing simultaneously in past, present, and future."

"There are no longer rivals in the universe to challenge the domain of corruption and destruction—but the Emperor himself severed His authority and gave it to Saint Dora, exposing a flaw."

Erebus spoke softly:

"We will not let Saint Dora ascend now, in this moment. We cannot let Him ascend burdened with ten thousand years of human self-destruction. We will let Him ascend in a gentler, better age."

"Then He will become a relatively mild Dark King—not destroying the galaxy at once, but lingering in the domains of self-destruction, ruin, and death, maintaining a dynamic balance with the other Gods."

"This was the fate the Gods had planned for Horus—but sadly, Horus failed, becoming the sacrifice to the Dark King."

"How?" Lu Se asked, voice low.

Erebus could not suppress his smile.

"That is why I brought you here," Erebus chuckled. "Lu Se—have you heard of the Ouroboros?"

The shadows of Chaos were heavy, gray and cold, unbearable,

after concluding his meeting with Lu Se and Lu Xiusi and making certain arrangements, Erebus descended deep into the Lady Blessed,

to meet his true ally,

Lu Xiusi was arrogant, reckless, childish, and merely a plaything in Slaanesh's hands,

Slaanesh desired only that Saint Dora begin pursuing ascension; permitting Erebus's actions was already the extent of His indulgence,

and even then, the One might not approve of Erebus's methods,

so Erebus would not reveal everything to Lu Xiusi,

and frankly, Lu Xiusi was too weak to be Erebus's true ally.

Lu Se, however, was immensely powerful—he had indeed mastered the power granted by the Four Gods more thoroughly than Abaddon, the current Chosen of all Four, walking further along the path of Chaos,

yet beneath his calm, composed exterior, he was even more insane than Abaddon, his actions often self-contradictory, bordering on the madness of late-Horus during the Heresy,

he was not yet a worthy ally.

Black wings unfurled before Erebus; the Lord of Shadows stepped from the darkness and stood before him,

"I hope you have planned everything."

The Lord of Shadows, Bila, spoke in a low voice.

"Of course, my ally—blessed and cursed by the Four Gods," Erebus smiled.

Before Erebus stood the first Chaos Prince, the one blessed by all Four Gods,

once the eldest son of the Gods, but Bila was so arrogant that he lost the Gods' singular favor and was punished by them,

Bila could only submit to those chosen by the Gods, never gaining a true, independent place within the tide of Chaos,

in other words, Bila would never have the chance to ascend, never become a truly great being.

That was why Bila was always filled with envy, hating all others who received blessings from Chaos.

But Erebus had persuaded Bila with his words,

Only one person can lift the gods' curse: a new god.

If Bilak aids Airebas, then on the day the new god ascends, Bilak shall become the Demon Prince chosen by the Five Gods.

And he shall gain the power to carve his place in chaos, and the chance to ascend.

"Of course, my ally."

Airebas said softly:

"As I promised, the Unfixed Twisted Throne shall be yours."

A look of relief crossed Airebas's lips,

though it was a lie.

Bilak was his true ally, but that did not mean an ally could not be betrayed.

The eighth seat—the Unfixed Twisted Throne—was reserved by Airebas for himself.

The metallic body unfolded, and Qufu-87, self-proclaimed messenger of the Great Sage Belisarius Dora Kao, opened his arms before Zhou Yun, Saint Guilliman, and a host of Space Marines from the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, and Imperial Fists.

Speaking in the same flamboyant, showy tone as Kao, he proclaimed to Zhou Yun, the Primarchs, and the Astartes:

"My lords! Rejoice!"

"Blessed by Omnimessiah and Saint Doraemon."

"The savior of the Human Empire, the new weapon of the Indomitable Crusade, is within reach."

"The Great Sage invites you all to the Explorer-King to witness this moment."

"The fate of the galaxy has turned elsewhere; a new age has arrived."

At the same time, the bell tolled for the final day of the 999th year of the 41st millennium of humanity.

Zhou Yun, seated beside the two Primarchs, lifted his head slightly.

He knew: humanity had entered its 42nd millennium.

(Volume End)

(Chapter End)