Chapter 534: Lies! Absolute Lies!

"You traitor." Zabriel picked up the chainsword on the ground and snarled through gritted teeth.

"Lies." The hooded man spoke coldly: "No one has ever dared call me a traitor."

"I dare." Zabriel gripped the chainsword tightly and growled: "You betrayed us, you betrayed Caliban, you even abandoned the Imperium."

"Absurd."

The hooded man slowly raised the practice sword in his hand:

"You even killed my loyal offspring and stole his weapon. That chainsword in your hand does not belong to you."

The hooded man held a blunt metal block, heavy and incapable of inflicting real harm on an enemy,

yet Zabriel had no doubt that sword could kill him—after all, the one holding it was sharper than any weapon.

"Laughable. Your 'loyal' son tried to kill me."

Zabriel laughed bitterly, his voice icy:

"For ten thousand years, they've only sought to bury the truth. When I first awoke, several loyal sons of Sanguinius walked beside me—yet my loyal little brothers killed them without hesitation, just to conceal my existence."

"But I turned and killed those traitors, avenging the truly loyal. This chainsword was taken from those traitors hiding within the Imperium."

"My dear lord, if you believe those are your loyal sons, then you are truly an excellent teacher."

"Utterly absurd!!!"

The hooded man growled, and Zabriel seized that fleeting moment, swinging his chainsword at the man before him,

knowing the opportunity lasted only an instant—either kill the Lion, or be killed by the Lion,

he could only hope this sudden strike would catch the Lion off guard, expose an opening,

closer!!!!

The chainsword pressed against the hooded man's throat, nearly severing his head,

but suddenly, Zabriel's chest exploded in pain—as if struck by a general's cannon—flinging him backward, the chainsword slipping from his grasp and rolling across the ground.

The hooded man had merely flicked his sword lightly against Zabriel's chest, obliterating Zabriel's meticulously planned attack,

Zabriel spat blood, staring with hatred at the hooded man,

the man stood beside Zabriel, as if observing, studying him,

slowly, the man lifted his hood, revealing his face,

aged—age had reshaped that once-majestic face,

the Lion was nothing like Zabriel remembered. Once, Leman was so proud, so terrifying; now, Leman's face was lined with wrinkles and streaked with white beard—but when Zabriel focused his spirit, he still saw the boundless glory and power behind that face.

"I know nothing of what you speak. I slept for ten thousand years; when I opened my eyes, the galaxy had changed utterly."

"My father was worshipped as a god, and another—who claimed not to be a god—awoke me and healed me."

"The last time I awoke, I carried out the Emperor's will and executed Luther. Now, having awakened a second time, I have come to see you."

"The Dark Angels you speak of hunting you—I have not seen them, nor do I understand them."

Zabriel's mouth opened slightly; he realized with astonishment that the Lion was explaining to him,

this—if not for the trembling of his blood telling him this man was the Lion, Zabriel would have suspected some warp entity had taken Leman's form,

though it was an explanation, Leman's tone remained unquestionable, and Zabriel instinctively believed every word the Lion spoke.

"As for ten thousand years ago, when I returned from Terra to Caliban, you fired upon us without any warning."

"And Luther—Luther was corrupted by the Chaos entities of the Warp, hideous and mad."

"Ha. When I returned to my homeland, I saw only betrayal."

"When I awoke from my ten-thousand-year slumber, I saw only betrayal again."

"You still seek to kill the Dark Angels—do they call you that?"