[{"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-295":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},1510844,1962,"Chapter 295 - 294: Arm Wrestling with Vulkan","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-295",295,"\u003Cp>832.M30, Orbit of Nocturne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth boarded the Emperor's Stormbird, accompanied by Alpharius, disguised as a regular Astartes bodyguard, as they flew toward Nocturne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the viewing port, Nareth gazed at the world below and its moon, Prometheus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that one Nocturne year equaled fifteen Terran years, and when the moon drew closest, Nocturne itself was almost torn apart by gravitational stress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Nocturne called that moment the Time of Trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Colossal waves rose from the oceans, tens of thousands of volcanoes erupted in fury, and earthquakes ravaged the land without end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his return to the Imperium, the kind-hearted Vulkan used his authority to build massive city walls of adamantium and ceramite around Nocturne's seven great cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also installed void shield systems provided by the Imperium, protecting them during the Time of Trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Vulkan will surely be interested in fortress-grade energy shields,' Nareth thought. 'Perhaps I should offer some help, provided he's willing to pay for it. He and his Salamanders are excellent smiths, after all.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Stormbird descended onto a vast plain on Nocturne's surface. Nareth and his companions saw a hunting party attacking a massive lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast roared, raising its claws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hunter was swatted flat, only for a gigantic scorpion to burst from the jungle, pincers clamping onto the lion from both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Nareth immediately recognized the Aridia Plains, Nocturne's great hunting ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Fenris of the Space Wolves, Medusa of the Iron Hands, and Nocturne of the Salamanders, three death worlds scarred by quakes, volcanoes, and beasts.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Each Primarch treats his homeworld differently: Russ sees Fenris as a hunting ground to train warriors; Ferrus Manus views Medusa as an arena to weed out the weak; Vulkan values life, protecting the people of Nocturne.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden wings flared. Nareth dove between the lion and the scorpion, his living metal turning into a storm of blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of golden light, and both monsters crashed lifelessly to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With another beat of his wings, Nareth rejoined the Emperor and Alpharius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strong beasts, he mused, but not useful alchemical materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come,\" said the Emperor with a nod. \"It's time to meet your brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The predators of the plains seemed blind to the trio's presence as they passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, a settlement came into view, crowned by tall wooden towers. People streamed toward its center, yet none noticed the newcomers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extending his mind, Nareth absorbed the local language and their thoughts: these were citizens of Nocturne's seven refuge-cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the world's constant volcanic eruptions, the people had built their cities from local basalt to withstand the devastation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Vulkan's leadership, the seven city-states had once again repelled the Shade Wraiths, Nocturne's name for the Dark Aeldar raiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For centuries, the people had hidden during such raids until Vulkan's heroism inspired them to unite and fight back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three travelers reached the village center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, amid the crowd, stood a towering black-skinned giant clad in emerald armor that covered his chest and legs, his dark skin gleaming like obsidian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A golden crown rested upon his brow, gold ornaments tracing his limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark-skinned noble raised his voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"People of Nocturne! Citizens of the seven cities! Vulkan has led us to victory over the Shade Wraiths!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let us praise the great Lord of Fire, Vulkan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth knew that the Promethean cult of Nocturne had foretold a savior-child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Vulkan fell from the skies, the blacksmith N'bel, who found him, believed the prophecy fulfilled and named him after the first Fire-Drake King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderous cheers followed. Nareth could feel the people's genuine devotion for the leader who had freed them from terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire-born!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They chanted his title. Nareth watched Vulkan's eyes blaze like volcanic fire, one reason he bore that name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was more literal: heat shimmered from his skin, crackling like searing meat, and a wave of burning air rolled outward whenever he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have spoken with the councils of the seven cities,\" Vulkan declared, his voice booming. \"We will hold a grand contest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted again. After years of war, they longed for celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Vulkan was about to announce the first event, a pale-skinned stranger appeared before them, standing out starkly among the dark Nocturnians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An interesting competition,\" the stranger said. \"Allow my son to participate. He will surpass all others, even you, Vulkan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let us make a wager. He represents me in this contest. The loser shall serve the victor forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If he loses, I will serve you. If he wins, you will swear fealty to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the people notice the enormous black-armored figure standing behind the pale man, golden wings glinting in the firelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stared, awestruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible… even if he's as tall as the Fire-Drake King…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vulkan cannot lose!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vulkan's fiery eyes lingered on the two newcomers. After a moment of silent analysis, he spoke with confidence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I accept your challenge. The victory will be mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in his deep, resonant voice, he added kindly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are welcome to join our contest, stranger. What is your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air shimmered with heat, but Nareth remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After facing Russ and Ferrus in similar duels sent by the Emperor, he was used to this game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The Emperor really does love winning by proxy,' he mused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nareth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first trial,\" a dark-skinned elder announced, \"is a test of strength, arm wrestling!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd roared in excitement. Forged by high gravity and hardship, the Nocturnians revered strength above all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contestants placed their arms on the table, muscles bulging as they strained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Vulkan was not meant to participate; no one on Nocturne could match his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a day later, a black basalt table was dragged into the arena. Nareth and Vulkan stepped forward amid the crowd's cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth removed the ring from his middle finger and the blood-red chain from his little finger, then placed his elbow on the polished basalt and clasped Vulkan's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark eyes met burning eyes. Both Primarchs could feel the other's immense strength through their palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Begin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power surged. The basalt trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of the sequence 8 \"Barbarian\" within Nareth flared, amplifying his body's latent might, enough to rival even Vulkan, the strongest of the Primarchs in sheer physical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd was dumbstruck. Someone could actually stand equal to Vulkan in raw strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They strained again and again, each surge shaking the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eighteen bursts of effort, Nareth frowned slightly. Vulkan's strength was beginning to edge out his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He considered briefly using the living metal in his body, or the shard of the Star God within him, but dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued, relying purely on his own muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sharp cracks rang out as both their elbows fractured the stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The basalt split with a web of fissures before collapsing entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The presiding elder stared for several seconds before stammering,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A… draw.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Nareth said calmly. \"I lost. If we continued, Vulkan's strength would overwhelm mine; the stone simply wasn't strong enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vulkan's raw strength was greater, though only slightly. The original enhancements from the Emperor had not completely bridged that natural gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's power rivaled Leman Russ's, but was still a shade below Vulkan's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Had I called upon my living metal,' he thought, 'I could have overturned the difference, but I chose not to.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we kept going, I'd lose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are honest,\" Vulkan replied approvingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The second trial,\" another elder proclaimed, \"is a test of speed, a race!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed toward the southern side of the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eighteen kilometers from here, ten gemstones have been placed. The first ten to return with one will earn their reward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Volcanic eruptions had not only brought death but also rich minerals to the surface, gemstones among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the elder turned to the two giants:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the Fire-Drake King and the honored challenger, the prize shall be a molten heart-gem from the planet's core, ten meters wide, a supreme material coveted by every smith.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoever brings it back,\" he announced, \"wins the contest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, he shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let the competition begin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1349,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.769Z",1,"novelbin.me","31d783499f68759d8e9c9d183e475caca2ba894018ab935a21d4c0f0820d6bc6","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-296","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-294",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]