[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor":3,"chapter-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-121":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1511070,1962,"Chapter 121: A Crushing Victory in the First Duel","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-121",121,"\u003Cp>Despite the Relic-Keeper's full efforts, the Shield of Daxos still failed to arrive in time to suppress the beast tide's rampage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lost the evaluation for repair speed, Sol fell silent for a moment before realizing that Gabriel was a formidable master of technology, an opponent difficult to defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanting to reclaim some measure of victory, the Relic-Keeper decided to add a logical advantage to his side. He contacted Bowen, a knight apprentice from the Delisha family, through the comms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bowen, House Derisha is a loyal servant of Vextrix, and among the many families sworn to the Knight King, yours is the most honorable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are the finest among the knight apprentices. Thus, I have decided that you shall pilot the sacred Shield of Daxos to victory in this duel and uphold the honor of knighthood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knight and their war machine are one. An exceptional knight pleases the machine spirit within the Throne Mechanicum, allowing the suit to perform at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, I am at your service,\" Bowen replied resolutely. \"I will pilot the Shield of Daxos to victory for you, and for House Vextrix.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the remaining forty-two knights assembled in their suits at the knight training grounds west of the Vextrix family's mountain stronghold. They watched nervously as two newly anointed knights stood ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training ground was nestled in a deep valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Knight King stood between the Shield of Daxos and the Sacred Mars. He glanced at Nareth and his entourage, his gaze lingering briefly on the black-armored warrior whose servo arms extended with mechanical grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he addressed the two knights standing tall before him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your duty today is to verify the repair efficacy of your suits on the training grounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must adhere to the Knightly Code and give your all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you command, my lord,\" the two knights responded, bowing with the formal gesture of master and vassal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After coupling with the neural interfaces, they activated the motive systems and guided their suits to stand within two glowing red circles inscribed with diagnostic runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Campbell turned to Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless you have anything to add, we shall begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Knight King immediately issued the order: \"Initiate the test sequence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Relic-Keeper's mechadendrites tapped across the control panel. Moments later, with a deep rumble, two mountainous test targets rose, each five meters wide and long, with a thickness of sixteen meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Campbell pointed to the targets and explained to Nareth,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These test targets are forged from the toughest jade of Daxos Alpha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only a knight suit's thermal cannon can destroy them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alvarez immediately complied. Though Bowen had always been the most talented knight apprentice, Alvarez's pride as a knight drove him to perform at his best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As power surged, the Sacred Mars' right-arm thermal cannon activated, making the ground tremble beneath it. Data from the target two hundred meters away flooded his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash tore through the valley as a superheated explosion vaporized the test target in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the Shield of Daxos' thermal cannon also annihilated its jade target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second test, prepare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third test, prepare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three times in succession, both knight suits' thermal cannons completed the trials successfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, it seemed a draw; both machines appeared in perfect condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Nareth's lips curled into a smile of absolute confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His perception had already detected it: the Shield of Daxos' power systems were overheating. Its weakness had been exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Proceed to the next test: the Reaper Chainsword.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roaring chaiswords on the left arms of both suits activated as they charged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, they reached the first jade target. A single swing reduced the massive stone to rubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without pause, the two knight suits advanced toward the next target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after just two strides, Bowen suddenly noticed warning lights flashing across his control panel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Temperature critical.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Cooling system failure.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bowen hesitated. He should halt immediately and let the Relic-Keeper conduct repairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew the consequences. Before the duel, his father, the patriarch of House Derisha, had urged him to secure victory at all costs, to defend the honor of Daxos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, he heard it, the roaring voices of ancestral spirits in his ears:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boy of Derisha, fear not. It is stronger than you think.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whispering ghosts of his ancestors gave him strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roared forward and smashed through the second test block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Just one more to go'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the thought crossed his mind, the control panel erupted into a frenzy of red alerts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young knight's cry of defiance was cut short as the Shield of Daxos' power systems failed mid-stride. The towering war machine crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound struck the hearts of every knight and squire present. None had expected the Relic-Keeper to fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stunned, the Relic-Keeper stood frozen for a moment before reality set in. He rushed toward the fallen Shield of Daxos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Campbell's expression darkened. He stepped before Nareth and said solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've won the first duel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Relic-Keeper had suffered a total defeat in his own field of expertise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His repairs had taken ten solar hours longer than the Techmarine's. The weapon systems he restored were less stable, and the suit's operational duration was far shorter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth turned to Gabriel, eyes filled with approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel smiled proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, I have not failed you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth then looked to the Knight King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the second duel, how shall we compete?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Campbell was silent for a moment. Having reassessed the black-armored warriors' capabilities, he adjusted his strategy and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I propose a team battle. A knight of House Hitra and his two squires will face three of your sons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On Daxos, knights and squires typically fight in coordinated units.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Astartes were formidable, the Knight King had observed that one-on-one, they were still no match for a knight suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ensure fairness, he had initially considered pitting one knight and ten squires against them. But after witnessing the Astartes' combat prowess, he settled on a trio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three or ten squires made little difference; the knight suit was the core of their strength, with squires merely covering flanks or providing support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But according to recent tactical reports, three Astartes and ten squires were very different beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth glanced at the number of knight suits and immediately understood: their mixed formations of knights and squires were born of necessity; they simply lacked enough suits for full knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well,\" he said, turning to Bukayo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'll lead the team. Choose two others to join you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you command, Father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Nightmare\" bowed in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[email protected]\u002FDaoistJinzu\u003C\u002Fp>",1125,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.769Z",1,"novelbin.me","709f61f32a2e30e479f7b884e9ed5a0856ce101d6bd80399a276079d9839db37","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-122","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-120",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]