[{"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-478":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},1510931,1962,"Chapter 478 - 477: Winning the Loyalty of the Ventrillian Nobility","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-478",478,"\u003Cp>\"I am certain.\" The Knight Lord's voice rang firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thierry held no doubt in the Black Emperor's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many nobles in the hall understood their conversation, murmuring amongst themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Justin Wattara's troubled expression, combined with the Black Emperor's information in the data-crystal and recent observations, Thierry guessed his dilemma over canceling the vital coming-of-age ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The ritual can still proceed, just in a different form.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin asked thoughtfully, \"What form?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your original ritual involves entering the lava lake, battling monstrosities, survivors becoming true nobles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This year, the lava lake offers no foothold, but combat can continue, merely changing the form.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Ventrilliam nobles relish dueling, why not use noble ritual duels for this year's ceremony? I will also dispatch elite swordsmen from my Chapter to participate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin looked at the superhuman Shadows of Order warrior opposite him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is feasible. They would take pride in dueling the Shadows of Order.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't believe Thierry's prophecy but couldn't refuse. Considering the suggestion workable, he agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, Ventrillia's coming-of-age ceremony commenced as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Consul proclaimed from the viewing platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honorable lords, ladies, and aspiring nobles participating in the coming-of-age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today, we witness this moment in a new form.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To commemorate Ventrillia becoming the Lord's domain, the Shadows of Order are invited. Duel victors earn the right to challenge superior swordsman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble youths drew their swords, raising them high with enthusiastic cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin raised his gleaming sword, then lowered it. The nobles immediately fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fourteen thousand, eight hundred participants. Those winning five duels become nobles and earn the opportunity to duel the great Shadows of Order warriors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre sat on the viewing platform, watching the aspirants below. Learning about Ventrillia's noble coming-of-age ritual had startled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Necromunda's hunting trial, the Ventrillia ritual was perilous, navigating a lava lake was hazardous enough, let alone battling various dangerous monstrosities within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he saw the noble youths below, each physically robust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feasts and wines hadn't made these nobles obese; each clearly underwent prolonged combat training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'At most, nine hundred twenty-five will become nobles, strict standards indeed.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Similar to the Trial of the Lava Lakes pass rate, the sole difference: those failing won't die.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Those passing will be excellent warriors. Though their age makes them unsuitable for Legion recruits, they'll be superb Auxilia, the first soldiers for the Ventrillian Army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pierre contemplated, Justin finished his address.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre watched with interest. Superhuman vision allowed him to observe all forty-five dueling platforms simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw pairs of nobles, right arms bent forward, sword points angled towards the ground, left hands over their hearts in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some Ventrillia nobles eagerly charged, thumbs and index fingers guiding sword points, middle, ring, and little fingers gripping hilts tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running with centre of gravity positioned between the feet, bodies slightly leaning, ready to launch a decisive strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defenders held palms outward at forty-five degrees, blades aligned towards incoming strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades clashed. Youths fought fiercely, yielding no ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Well-trained, with practical experience.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Though lacking a codified Elvira sword style system like us Kasaians, not mere showmanship. Their instructors are decent swordsmen.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duel after duel concluded. Winners stood proud; losers looked ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After announcing the first round's end, Justin quietly asked an attendant in Ventrillia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning the lava lake showed no eruption signs, he smirked inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'As expected, prophecies are unreliable. No signs of magma eruption.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days passed. Justin daily inquired about the lava lake region, receiving reports of no abnormalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and the Ventrillia nobles became convinced Thierry's prophecy wouldn't materialize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fourth day, as the final fourth-round victor was decided, a Ventrillia noble wearing a longsword hurried onto the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at the Shadows of Order, he addressed Justin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Consul, the lava lake for the coming-of-age ritual is erupting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\" Justin and surrounding nobles exclaimed, staring at the Shadows of Order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thierry calmly said, \"I said it would erupt. It was inevitable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sixth day of the ceremony, newly elevated nobles who earned the right to duel the Shadows of Order excitedly gathered around the dueling platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To perform optimally, they had spent considerable gemstones for recovery, some even purchasing combat stimulants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, Pierre, clad in black knightly attire, addressed identically dressed battle-brothers. \"You will use skill, the Elvira style, not strength or speed, to defeat Ventrillia nobles. This is today's training.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred Third Company warriors acknowledged. Pierre led them into the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ventrillia nobles applauded immediately. Unarmoured Shadows of Order appeared less imposing than before but commanded greater respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Challenges commenced. After injecting high-grade combat stimulants worth eighty gemstones, a young Ventrillia noble felt power surge within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roared excitedly, single-handedly swinging a heavy two-handed sword, charging the Shadows of Order warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Kasaian Shadows of Order calmly drew his longsword, infusing minimal psychic energy, igniting the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energized blade raised horizontally, blocking the noble's fierce assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without exerting further force, he leaned left, then leaped, slashing diagonally downwards from right to left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade halted above the noble's head. A spark flashed; several hairs drifted down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble youth froze; other Ventrillia nobles also froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hadn't expected a Ventrillia elite noble to be defeated by pure sword skill in one exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre watched his warriors successively defeat Ventrillia nobles using Yursa and Vira-Bey Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Observing the astonished nobles, he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every Kasaian trains with swords from childhood. Before becoming Shadows of Order, we underwent numerous trials. We fought Ogryns in the Ape-Man star system, slew nameless dangerous mutants aboard space hulks at Islington.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After becoming Shadows of Order, we fought over a hundred battles, against Rangdan xenos, tenacious Squats in a life-and-death struggle. Our combat experience far exceeds that of newly adult nobles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, I suggest you arrange multiple combatants. This will make duels more engaging. Trust me, as a former noble from Kasai, similar to Ventrillia, I mean no disrespect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Justin didn't precisely know what Ogryns, Rangdan, or Squats were, he understood Pierre's meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment's thought, he announced to the nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You may form teams, challenging the Shadows of Order collectively.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several more crushing defeats, Ventrillia nobles finally realized Shadows of Order couldn't be overcome singly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre noted nobles swiftly accepted reality, cooperating in teams to challenge Shadows of Order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fared less poorly, engaging elite swordsmen for longer periods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre looked at his Lord. Both understood the same sentiment from each other's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ventrillia nobles valued honor but weren't vain\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the finale, Pierre accepted a challenge from fourteen finest Ventrillia swordsmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ventrillia nobles made a clear division of responsibilities. Five formed an arrowhead, charging Pierre first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four each flanked Pierre. The strongest swordsman lurked behind, seeking an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre drew his longsword, setting the blade ablaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently ascended to \"Weapon Master,\" he fully unlocked his psychic longsword's potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pierre swung, tracing a figure \"8\" in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Weapon Master\" moved swiftly. He almost simultaneously swung, outlining a burning pattern to block five ancestral dueling swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eight noble combatants, injected with stimulants, roared in unison, attacking the Shadows of Order warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Weapon Master\" remained composed, flicking his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The psychic longsword felt like part of his body, slashing diagonally left and right to parry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang-clang-clang...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst a series of impacts, the \"Weapon Master\" used Usa Form to deflect attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baron Wattara, seeing others successively repelled, knew he must seize the sole opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Injecting his family's treasured combat potions into his neck, his eyes gleaming brilliantly, he gripped his ancestral sword, charging the Shadows of Order warrior swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, his eyes were illuminated by even brighter light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dazzling radiance rushed towards him instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baron Wattara couldn't react. His ancestral sword was knocked away; a crackling, shining blade halted before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death's threat chilled him; surging power within warmed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing internal power, overcoming fear, Baron Wattara strained to see past the brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Weapon Master\" controlled the lethal strike with ease, dissipating the Erka Form's power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin paled, relieved seeing his heir unharmed, eagerly announcing the conclusion of the challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In subsequent detailed negotiations, Ventrillia nobles ceased haggling, accepting all Shadows of Order terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thierry knew he had won the Ventrillian nobles' loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>",1356,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.771Z",1,"novelbin.me","ba5731f70e0aedb7f13462a1d0ad1c543b2d895a80eb8e7903eeecf8a7dade3d","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-155","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-154",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]