Chapter 458: Anlakael and Tarashin

Zhou Yun sat in his chair, rubbing the Dusk Spear that Konrad Curze had "stolen" from Prince Eriel.

Eriel's soul wailed and shrieked upon the spear, his skin stripped off by Curze and stretched over its shaft.

This was because the Dusk Spear was eternally bound to Prince Eriel's soul, and Curze was no master of psychic arts—he could only bring back Eriel and the spear together, in the most portable way possible.

Zhou Yun picked up the fourth Old Hag's Blade, its soul-ring intact, and handed it to the man beside him, Huang Daxiong.

The moment the Old Hag's Blade entered his hands, it naturally transformed into a brass bullet, which he slipped into the chamber of his revolver at his waist.

Then Zhou Yun turned his gaze around the room.

This room had once belonged to Macarius; compared to the quarters of his captains, it appeared plain, even cramped.

It was said that Macarius's mind constantly roamed the vast expanse of the stars, rendering him oblivious to the narrowness of his physical surroundings.

Whether true or not, Zhou Yun was somewhat satisfied with this room.

Like a hive city, this slightly cramped space gave Zhou Yun a sense of safety and warmth.

But such a room was too narrow for Sanguinius and Guilliman.

Especially Sanguinius's white wings, which seemed to have no place to rest.

Guilliman, seated beside him, had his cheek brushed by a stray feather—his expression suggested mild irritation.

Both had departed Terra earlier than Zhou Yun.

Guilliman led the Indomitus Crusade fleet, centered on Terra, beginning the reconquest of surrounding worlds—results were already visible.

The Indomitus Crusade fleet had broken through the Black Legion's encirclement and now advanced into the stars.

Sanguinius went to Baal, using it as a base to reclaim planets fallen into chaos on the Imperium's Dark Side.

He had already achieved some success—the Crimson Scar region was largely reclaimed.

They had arrived on the Lord of Light via the Gate of Passage to hold their regular three-man meeting.

Sanguinius was in good spirits, smiling faintly, his face softened.

Primarchs were forged for war, and war nourished them best—Sanguinius fought on the front lines of the Dark Side, so his condition was naturally excellent.

Guilliman still looked weary, no better than when he was on Terra.

This was because administration and logistics on the Dark Side were largely handled by Dante, laboring tirelessly on Baal—in truth, Dante was the true Regent of the Dark Side, while Sanguinius was merely Dante's General of the Dark Conquest.

Yet on the Imperial Holy Realm, the brothers Diggis and Karla still guarded Ultramar, and while Imperial bureaucrats led by Tiruien could shoulder some duties, they were still mortals—Guilliman could not escape administrative burdens.

Guilliman spoke in a tone like a cogitator outputting data—fast, concise.

"It's going smoothly. The Gate of Passage lets us bypass the Warp and strike the traitors' cores directly."

"The Adeptus Mechanicus now pray to Zhou Yun and Xiang Sheng Doraemon—honestly, their prayers work better than those to the Emperor or Omnissiah."

"Kor made a knight, naming it the Mini-Doraemon-class—though its size is anything but mini; he explained that compared to the glory of Saint Doraemon, even knights seem miniature."

"Honestly, watching that massive blue metal cat-thing crush the battlefield is a huge psychological shock—but it works wonders; enemy machine failure rates skyrocketed, and our machine spirits are delighted."

"The Imperial Guard performed well—those who farmed with Zhou Yun, I mean—they've learned humility and cooperate well with the Space Marines."

"The Emperor's original design of twenty legions was sound, and Kor's use of traitor legion gene-seed to create Space Marines was also justified."

Guilliman could not help but sigh:

"Many worlds never turned to Chaos—they simply had governors who believed the Imperium was finished, trying to seize independence amid the chaos."

"I sent several squads disguised as Dark Angels, posing as Konrad Curze's Primogenitors. Within a week, the governors and their entire families were skinned and hung from the spires of their governor palaces. Fearing this, those worlds quickly swore renewed loyalty to the Imperium."

"My affairs are much simpler," Sanguinius smiled gently, pulling out three thick stacks of documents, handing two to Zhou Yun and Guilliman.

"These are Dante's recent reports on Dark Side administration and military affairs—feel free to read them if interested."

Guilliman's expression froze. Sanguinius ignored it and continued:

"Let me tell you two things you might find interesting."

"First, the Conqueror has reappeared in the galaxy."

Zhou Yun and Guilliman both turned to Sanguinius.

The Conqueror—a Glorious Queen-class battleship of the World Eaters, once Angron's flagship.

Zhou Yun instantly recalled the Emperor's prophecy:

"The Red Sand Angel shall guide the way."

"Now the Conqueror belongs to the Oathbreaker Kosolax."

"Who?" Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow: "Ko-something-something?"

He'd never heard of him! Did such a person even exist?

Zhou Yun pondered—he vaguely remembered hearing the name in his past life, but couldn't recall clearly.

"The Oathbreaker Kosolax."

"A minor figure. A Chaos Lord who, during the Great Crusade, was merely a common soldier in the World Eaters' Third Assault Company. After Istvaan III decimated their officers, he rose to deputy commander of the Third Company—but remained an obscure, underused junior officer."

"He assumed everyone who knew his origins was dead—but he cannot hide from my prophetic sight."

Sanguinius explained:

"Around the time of Cadia's fall, he somehow seized the Conqueror and, taking advantage of the Great Rift's opening, absorbed vast numbers of World Eater warbands and assorted traitors."

"Now he calls himself Regent of the World Eaters, raiding the Dark Side aboard the Conqueror—but it's all petty skirmishing. If I happen to cross paths with him, I'll capture the Conqueror and give it to you as a flagship."

Zhou Yun nodded slightly—Sanguinius was right; this was no real threat.

Just a minor Chaos Lord who got lucky and seized the Conqueror.

If Sanguinius didn't happen to encounter him, Zhou Yun could send Khaen to reclaim it when he had time—after all, if anyone was the true Regent of the World Eaters, it was Khaen. Besides, the ship still held one of Khaen's old acquaintances.

"And the second thing?" Zhou Yun asked.

"Another minor matter—from the Underworld System," Sanguinius said in a clear voice.

"Underworld?" Zhou Yun frowned. That entire system had been turned to glass by Dante's Necron artifact, Starflame—no living soul remained—

Wait. Zhou Yun suddenly remembered: within the Underworld lay a Necron tomb world ruled by the Necron Overlord Zalasusa, the "Unnameable One" of the Mephrit Dynasty.

"The Unnameable One's emissary visited Baal, claiming it was a gesture of neighborly goodwill, asking us not to disturb their slumber and to respect their lands and property."

Sanguinius said softly:

"They also brought two warrants of arrest, requesting our aid in capturing two disgraceful, vile thieves who dishonored the Unnameable One's glory and betrayed the Overlord's kindness."

"The Necron Traveler Anlakael and the Endless one Tarashin recently visited the Underworld. Zalasusa, as Overlord and ruler of the Mephrit Dynasty, hosted them."

The Mephrit Dynasty's Pharaoh had been assassinated by passing Eldar before awakening; the remaining Overlords, leaderless, descended into civil war. Zalasusa awoke to find himself the sole surviving Overlord of the entire dynasty—somehow, he had become its ruler.

Zalasusa was relatively normal among Necrons—besides hating being called by name, he had no other quirks and no expansionist ambitions, content to remain sequestered in his tomb world.

"After the hospitality ended, the Traveler Anlakael and the Endless Tarashin departed the Underworld System. But soon after, Zalasusa discovered the Starflame—the Mephrit Dynasty's central stellar energy harnessing machine—had vanished."

"Who's the culprit? Hard to guess!" Zhou Yun couldn't help but mutter.

Tarashin was infamous among Necrons as a thief; Zalasusa, if his cogitator still functioned, would immediately suspect Tarashin.

But what of the Traveler Anlakael?

How did he end up with Tarashin?

In Zhou Yun's memory, these two had no connection.

"Should we assist Zalasusa in capturing Tarashin and Anlakael?" Sanguinius asked Zhou Yun and Guilliman.

"According to Kor's report, Tarashin is a highly valuable ally."

"Anlakael has also demonstrated his value as a collaborator."

Guilliman said in a rational tone:

"Zalasusa, by contrast, holds little value."

"Not capture?" Sanguinius asked.

"No—we assist Zalasusa in capturing them, provide him every convenience—but we do not directly intervene."

Guilliman smiled:

"Then we help Anlakael and Tarashin escape Zalasusa's pursuit."

Very Guilliman-style.

"Find out why they're together—I suspect there's a reason," Zhou Yun said to Sanguinius.

But he wasn't paying it much attention—he had other, more important matters to attend to.

"Since your crusades are underway, I should go hunt Erebus."

(End of Chapter)