Chapter 484: Even Leman Russ??

Did the Emperor and the Eldar Elder Seer go to Golm not to acquire Eldar technology for the Great Crusade?

Could it be that Erebus's answer was incomplete? Did the Emperor go to Golm for reasons beyond acquiring Eldar technology for the Great Crusade?

Erebus bowed his head, pondered for a moment, and felt this might be the greatest possibility.

The Emperor was cunning, treacherous, vile, ambitious, utterly inhuman—a veritable beast.

He excelled at calculation, having laid countless contingency plans long before the Great Crusade began, anticipating every possible scenario.

For instance, the Foe-Blade and the Ritual Daggers—Erebus had once believed their emergence was coincidence and his own brilliant insight, only later to learn they were also one of the Emperor's ancient plans; Erebus himself had shattered one of the eight Ritual Daggers forged from the Foe-Blade, which ultimately became the weapon the Emperor used to kill Horus.

Perhaps the Emperor's visit to Golm alongside the Eldar Elder Seer was also one of his plans! It was the Eldar Elder Seer who desecrated the Ark Eldar tombs, stole the crystallized corpses of all past Eldar Seers, and used them to awaken the Eldar Death God Inard.

Inard later became bait under the scheming of Saint Dora, helping Saint Dora truly occupy a small portion of the position of Corruption and Destruction, thereby relieving some of the Emperor's divine ascension pressure—ha, remember, there was also a manifestation of the Laughing God within Golm.

Erebus's mind suddenly conjured a vast, millennia-spanning chessboard: the Emperor, the Eldar Elder Seer, and the Laughing God conspiring to use Inard as bait, driving Saint Dora to seize a portion of Corruption and Destruction, easing the Emperor's burden.

The Emperor is truly cunning and resourceful.

Erebus steadied himself and voiced his conjecture as his answer.

Then, a thousand thick, electrified needles pierced Erebus's body, blood gushing forth; the pain sent his head spinning, his body uncontrollable, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Erebus spat out a mouthful of blood, glaring hatefully at the lock before him.

Of course, the Emperor's calculations extended beyond this—he truly is a beast. What else has he planned?!

Erebus merely suspected the Emperor had more schemes; he never once considered the possibility that the Emperor went to Golm merely to wander and enjoy himself.

Though Erebus had slandered the Emperor to the utmost, it was precisely because he was the one who slandered him that he knew best what manner of man the Emperor truly was.

The Emperor never indulged in such impulses—he sought no rest, bore none of the desires ordinary beings possess: he found no joy in slaughter, no delight in knowledge, no satisfaction in salvation, no pride in honor; he did not even desire godhood.

Throughout the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, the Emperor never once sought a moment of pleasure or desire; his only driving impulse was the salvation of humanity—cold as a machine bound to fixed programming.

Yet Erebus did not fixate on this lock; after all, the injuries from his third failed attempt could not be healed by ordinary means. Of course, Erebus had ways to heal—even the fourth, certain-death punishment he believed he could endure. But Erebus sensed the Nine Birds granted by Chaos God Tzeentch coiled within his body and decided it was not yet time to waste them.

He acted decisively, shifting immediately to the next lock—the thirteenth.

A light screen flickered from the lock, emitting a low, gravelly voice:

"He possesses a simple beauty, almost delightful now, when facing unforgettable enemies, the Emperor sends him. He is not always right, but he is certain he is—this alone makes the path ahead clearer."

"He possesses a calculated fury capable of destroying all, yet he controls it strictly, releasing it only when permitted. Every action he takes has one purpose: to defeat his enemies with maximum efficiency."

"When I see him, I am comforted, I am joyful."

"Please answer: Whom among the Primarchs do these words evaluate?"

Erebus's spirit lifted, for he saw hope in answering correctly.

First, these are Leman Russ's words evaluating a Primarch—yes, all praise; this eliminates all Traitor Primarchs and Leman Russ himself.

Simple beauty, controlled fury, comfort and joy upon seeing him—this also largely eliminates Guilliman. When facing unforgettable enemies, the Emperor sends him; he is always certain he is right; he excels at efficiently defeating enemies—Ferrus Manus, Sanguinius, and Dorn all fit.

But Ferrus Manus was not close to Leman Russ, and died early in the Heresy; "comfort" and "joy" would hardly apply.

Considering all, Erebus judged that Sanguinius's beauty did not quite match "simple," while Dorn favored defense over efficient annihilation.

"Sanguinius," Erebus ventured.

A suffocating, drowning sensation flooded Erebus's lungs—excruciating pain; he coughed violently, spewing water, nearly choking into unconsciousness.

Wrong? Then it must be Dorn?

"Dorn."

Still wrong. A searing, acrid liquid poured into Erebus's three lungs, burning him fiercely, nearly knocking him out.

Wrong again? Why is nothing right?!

Erebus began to consider others: Corvus Corax? Jaghatai Khan? Vulkan?

But none of them seemed quite right either.

"Could it possibly be Leman Russ?!"—perhaps driven to fury, perhaps blinded by pain, Erebus blurted out without restraint.

Instantly, he froze in terror, flinching away, fearing punishment—but no pain came. No reaction at all.

"Correct answer!!!"

The lock vanished with a bang, and the door before Erebus swung open.

Leman Russ?! Even Leman Russ?!

Erebus stared, stunned, disbelieving—but he had no time to dwell on it.

The door was open, but behind it lay only a hazy light screen—a portal, not the passage this door was meant to lead to.

Erebus hesitated, then extended a leg; the shadows clinging to him shifted with him, entering the portal together.

In an instant, Erebus found himself standing in a corridor aboard the Blessed Lady.

The corridor was piled high with the corpses of the Word Bearers, all clutching their heads, as if they had heard something horrific before death.

Erebus saw a broad, muscular figure turn toward him. The man's round, muscular face split into a brutal grin—and then—

"I'm Fat Tiger!! I'm the King of Kids~"

"The invincible!! Manly man~"

(End of Chapter)