[{"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-165":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},1510954,1962,"Chapter 165: “He and I Are Not Brothers”","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-165",165,"\u003Cp>Seeing the Emperor agree so readily, Leman Russ's eyes lit up with a fierce gleam, the savage glint of a Fenrisian ready for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two giant wolves sensed their master's combative spirit and stepped forward from both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adult Fenrisian wolves were at least the size of horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smaller silver one's head only came up to Alpharius's shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black wolf curled its lips back, revealing sword-like fangs. A bare, raised pink scar marred the top of its head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stared down the cat-like creature with ginger fur and black eyes, barely a meter in length.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the gyrinx was fearless. Its pitch-black eyes flashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, terrifying visions overwhelmed Freki and Geri: hunters armed with poisoned arrows and blades assaulting their wolf pack. Their mother lay dead in a pool of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their brothers fought valiantly, sustaining countless wounds, but were ultimately overwhelmed by the hunters and captured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freki and Geri trembled under this induced nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leman Russ placed his large hands on their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his warmth and strength, the wolves snapped out of the nightmare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They snarled and crouched low, ready to pounce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gyrinx stepped forward elegantly, its black eyes glinting coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wolf King rose, placing his massive frame protectively in front of the two wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A psychic blast struck him. His huge body wavered slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russ's eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Witchcraft!\" he growled coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he raised a leg to kick the gyrinx.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening sound rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His leg was blocked, by a towering warrior in black armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-armored giant stepped forward, bowing his head slightly, locking eyes with Russ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should've killed the two behind you first,\" said Nareth coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over the two men in dark furs. Their heads were shaved, capped with plain leather hats, unlike typical bearded Fenrisians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bone charms hung from their bodies. They held staffs carved from bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're not shamans. They are Gothi,\" Russ said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the earlier clash, Russ had realized that this black-armored warrior was no weaker than himself. He now regarded Nareth with wariness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Changing the name doesn't change the essence,\" Nareth replied, eyes icy, voice scornful. \"That only makes you seem hypocritical.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fury burned in the Wolf King's eyes. He swung a fist at Nareth's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth started to raise his arm to block, but stopped when he sensed movement beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor appeared instantly between them, stopping Russ's brutal punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disputes like this are born of cultural differences,\" the Emperor said. \"Russ, this is your brother Nareth. You are brothers, you shouldn't fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keeping a witch for a pet is disgraceful. I am not his brother,\" Russ spat in disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth responded coldly, \"I won't try to wake a man pretending to sleep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Primarch, Leman Russ could surely perceive that the power used by the Fenrisian shamans was essentially the same as the so-called \"witchcraft\" used by the gyrinx.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point arguing with someone so obstinate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor frowned. This meeting had gone worse than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The duel hadn't even begun, and the Primarchs were already at odds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I must find a way to resolve their conflict, at the very least, enough to ensure effective cooperation in battle. But first, I need to win this challenge against Russ.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, the Emperor asked, \"Russ, shall we proceed with the challenge now, or are you ready to return to the Imperium?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had come to understand Russ well enough through observation and conversation, he knew how to provoke the Primarch and shift his focus away from sibling conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not,\" Russ said, pulling his gaze from Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short time later, the group arrived at a massive circular ivory gate, upon which a giant serpent coiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its mouth was clamped tightly around its own tail, clearly trained to form a ring, imitating the Ouroboros.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Terra revered the Ouroboros as a symbol of eternity. That belief had spread to Fenris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the ivory gate, the chill receded. The air filled with smoke and strange mixed odors:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stink of bad cured meat, herbal scents, scorched fat, damp fur, and the musky warmth of sleeping beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place resembled an animal den far more than a palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flickering resin torches and table candles cast dancing shadows. The walls were coated in soot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Braziers between tables emitted stifling heat, burning animal fat that coated the ceiling in a layer of oily residue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Russ strode ahead to a throne covered in thick animal pelts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat, with Freki and Geri lying on either side of his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor took a guest seat at the high table, with Alpharius standing behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fenrisians brought out a spare royal throne and pushed two tables together so Nareth could sit beside the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once seated, Leman Russ declared: \"The first challenge, a feast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Food is Fenris's gift from nature to its people. The more you eat, the more you are blessed, the stronger you become!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well,\" the Emperor nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feast and the competition began simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dish after dish of meat was served to Nareth's table. In the frozen wasteland of Fenris, crops were scarce, and meat from hunted game was the main fare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaves soaked in fruit oils had carbonized into thin, crispy shells. When lifted, they cracked like glass, revealing rib meat with a gem-like luster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Superheated stone slabs had scorched the surface with brown fissures, as tiny oil bubbles squirmed in amber fat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the blade sliced through, rose-colored juices trickled down flint-carved grooves, releasing an aroma of minerals and smoked wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closer to the bone, the meat fibers shifted hues, from honey-browned crust to juicy crimson, and finally to the light pink exclusive to rock-roasting. Every layer was steeped in the bitterness of pine needles and the sweet-sourness of wild berries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth dug in without hesitation, forking a rib into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first bite met a crispy crust speckled with salt crystals, flavored faintly by the volcanic stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came the fat layer, melted into a buttery stream across his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his teeth sank into the central meat column, juices exploded with fruitwood smoke, and a clean, icy sweetness lingered from the meat's natural water content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the joints had a translucent membrane clinging to them, like solidified amber in the candlelight. His fingertips were left with the rough texture of salt and meat juices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Though the cooking technique is simple, it preserves the ingredients' true flavors, Fenrisian cuisine isn't bad.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three ribs, Nareth slowed his pace, ignoring Russ's provocative glare, and shifted his attention to the Emperor and Wolf King's own eating contest.\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>",1123,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.769Z",1,"novelbin.me","17e3ad5820ea2f921dfeebe2bc2886d8a4b03472518c3dd2dfba4b09cc568870","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-166","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-490",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]