[{"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-236":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},1511035,1962,"Chapter 236: Nareth’s Proposed Contest","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-236",236,"\u003Cp>Ferrus Manus turned his silver eyes upon the warrior called Nareth, who stood slightly taller than himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His black hair flowed in the wind, his face chiseled like marble, and his dark eyes held fathomless depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferrus's gaze, by habit, shifted to the armor. The armor was jet-black, every surface hand-forged, every contour wrought with care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who had forged Nareth's armor was Tech-Priest Malevolus, the same master craftsman of the Mechanicum who had forged Horus's armor, counted among the very finest of his order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, to Ferrus Manus, gifted by birth with unmatched talent in metallurgy, the armor's fittings and curves had not reached perfection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced next at Nareth's left hand, where a silver power gauntlet gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your gauntlet… the polished steel shines with a flawless arc.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he lifted his own silver hand, which caught the light in brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My hand too is silver. I wish to know, which hand is stronger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's dark eyes glimmered. The \"Hand of Order,\" Sequence One of the Justiciar pathway, against the iron hand suspected of bearing a shard of a C'tan? Interesting, but he saw something even more valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity aside, the ancient relics of Medusa drew him far more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cast his gaze to the mountains, to the frozen layers beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From Azhek Ahriman's report, I've learned Medusa is littered with relics of the Dark Age of Technology.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, Gorgon, often lead expeditions into these underground ruins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let us test ourselves with an exploration. Each of us will lead a team to uncover an ancient ruin. Whichever of us recovers the greatest sum of relics by value shall be the victor. The winner will claim all spoils of the loser.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the Emperor's brows knit slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In countless strands of possible futures, he had foreseen Nareth defeating one or more of his gene-sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But always, Nareth's victories came against primarchs who betrayed the Imperium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen Leman Russ in similar roles, but not with such frequency as Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor had already resolved: at the Terra Celebration, he would bestow the Dionysian Spear, personally forged, as the prize of the Wheel of Fire campaign, granting it to either Nareth or Russ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Ferrus Manus, with his immense strength, was the ideal test subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Nareth could defeat Manus, the spear would be his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Nareth had disrupted the plan, rejecting trial by combat and proposing a contest of relic-hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor stood in silence a few moments, then spoke before Manus could reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nareth, this is not a fair contest. Manus knows Medusa far better, and I have given him gifts in forging and technology that grant him a clear advantage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferrus's mind raced, weighing his knowledge of ruins, his training of the Iron Fathers, all against the Emperor's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From every angle, he was certain of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is right, you cannot defeat me in the exploration of ruins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's eyes flickered. His sharp senses caught a fleeting change in the Emperor's emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Not fear that I will lose and Manus will not return to the Imperium… but a startled dismay, as though I have disrupted some hidden design of his.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Emperor is no idler. If he sent me here, it was with purpose beyond mere victory.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That can only mean… to measure my strength?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's gaze deepened. Whatever the Emperor's reason, he would not reveal the full scope of his beyonder abilitites before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This only steeled his resolve to contest Manus in the exploration of ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Even in defeat, I lose nothing that was mine. Yet in victory, I gain two hoards of relics.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Besides, I may not lose at all. I have my \"Mystery Pryer\" and \"Archaeologist.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, he allowed confidence to overflow in his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was raised on Vostroya, I am not ignorant of technology.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To preserve relics during an excavation requires a team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Among my sons are those well-versed in such arts. I will make full use of their strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferrus Manus's silver eyes bored into him, measuring the confidence radiating from Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, so be it. We shall each lead a team into the ruins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor sighed inwardly. Events had already slipped beyond his design. Nareth and Manus were in agreement, and to intervene now would seem suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Manus summoned the Iron Fathers, Nareth's consciousness extended outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ion storms and wreckage surrounding the planet disrupted communication, forcing him to reach Arsena through telepathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as his mind pushed through the thick clouds, he felt greater resistance than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once he ascended into the third layer of the Thelema mindstate, overlaying psychic strength upon thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His awareness pierced the clouds, crossed the ion storms, drifted through wreckage, and reached the black warship in orbit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Arsena sat at his console, reviewing data slates of reports from the chapters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden presence made him look up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-haired psyker recognized the consciousness at once. He did not resist, letting the thought pulse resound in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, Adams, and Gabriel, come to the surface immediately. Bring the exploration squads.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth had already made preparations, selecting from his honor guard, the Fourth Legion, and techmarines, those Shadows of Order with aptitude in exploration and technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena swiftly relayed the command to the Death Lord and the techmarines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One stellar hour later, Arsena and fifty-four Shadows boarded a heavy transport and descended toward Medusa IV.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they neared wreckage, the captain reported:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, we are about to enter Medusa IV's ring. Prepare for collision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The psyker's blue eyes shone. He pressed his hand to the bulkhead, his telekinesis wrapping the ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encased in his psychic grip, the transport glided through debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes into the flight, Arsena spotted the first automated defense turret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached with his telekinesis to shut it down, only to find it already deactivated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another, he discovered every weapon platform dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in them, he sensed familiar traces of telekinetic power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Ahriman's report said nothing of disabling weapons. Was it the Emperor?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'To permanently silence so many weapon platforms, astonishing.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I could never wield such force. Only a Primarch could.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the guns and mines neutralized, the only danger left to face was the ion storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After five hours, the transport descended at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Arsenna, Adams and Gabriel among them, wiped sweat from their brows as they stepped onto the deck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the roar, black exhaust, engines thundering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the distance, an iron leviathan approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steel land-crawler stretched nearly three hundred meters, its body black as night, its prow etched with the emblem of a great silver hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brakes screeched a kilometer away, slowing the massive vehicle with ear-splitting noise, until it halted exactly ten meters before Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a hiss of hydraulics, its side-hatches rose. Men of Medusa emerged, many bearing augmetics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had silver eyes, others silver arms, flesh replaced by steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's gaze swept them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Iron Fathers.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Ferrus Manus had established and trained the Iron Fathers long before returning to the Imperium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were part tech-priest, part shaman, responsible for the spiritual and technical needs of each clan, and for exchanging ancient secrets preserved across generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through this system, Manus ensured every clan forged better weapons and stronger machines, even without direct rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Iron Fathers, following his will, kept the clans in disciplined conflict, preventing decadence despite growing prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'They are Manus's pride as much as his confidence. Masters of the machine, and veterans of countless ruin-excavations beside him.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ferrus Manus himself descended from the crawler, striding straight toward Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel Santor and the Medusans looked on, seeing their Gorgon approach the black-armored giant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stranger's form was no less titanic than Manus's, like a demigod striding among mortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manus's eyes swept Nareth's black-armored retinue. The cold gleam of his silver gaze bore down on each court-scholar in turn, forcing them to steel their wills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rose into the First layer of Thelema, resisting the urge to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Manus's eyes lingered on the eleven warriors whose mechanical arms extended from behind, before settling on Gabriel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel felt as if a mountain pressed upon him. Sweat streamed down his brow, his temples throbbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by rising into the Second layer of Thelema, newly mastered, did the weight ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of surprise crossed Manus's eyes. He withdrew his gaze and spoke to Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your sons are impressive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. I have confidence in them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Azhek Ahriman, after invoking the astropathic relay, had already transcribed the Medusan tongue and knowledge gathered by the Fifteenth Legion into a data slate, which was placed in Nareth's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the voyage, Nareth's chosen sons had all learned basic Medusan speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They understood the two primarchs' words, and their spirits blazed with pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are ready. Then we begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth answered Manus simply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, watching the two primarchs depart with their forces, turned to Alpharius and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who do you think will win this 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>",1516,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.769Z",1,"novelbin.me","6b18291c829584436dbe2b43ce5678cffe329f6538b0a18c7e7d26a7f6de61ba","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-237","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-235",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]