[{"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-543":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},1511390,1962,"Chapter 543 - 542: Akurduana Abandons Instinct for the First Time, Emulating Nareth","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-543",543,"\u003Cp>Lucius ran like the wind. His desire to clash with powerful xenos and his obsession with witnessing Nareth's swordsmanship drove him faster and faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blade flashed. Xenos fell one after another. His pace didn't slow in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the gold and purple armor ahead constantly reminded him of the gap between himself and Akurduana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana moved calmly and gracefully, making Lucius suspect he was still holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius recalled the stories about Akurduana widely circulated in the Legion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Akurduana, before he even possessed the transhuman body of an Astartes, had humiliated his instructor, the battle-hardened old Thunder Warrior, Tariel Collins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana defeated his instructor again and again, effortlessly each time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His combat skill was innate, as natural as breathing. He needed no teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unparalleled swordsman would enter a battlefield and charge straight for the most powerful enemy, weaving through the heart of the foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never been defeated. He had never even suffered a scratch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the perfect swordsman, Fulgrim's proud firstborn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lucius pondered, a figure of black, reflected in gold, suddenly appeared in his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius's gaze immediately fell upon the gleaming blue-white light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Nareth's blade turned, swift as lightning. As its edge flashed, energy ripples turned the surrounding dust into clouds drifting across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius angrily kicked aside a xenos that barged into his view. The xenos he had just seen was already trapped in something like amber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He angrily slashed his blade, tearing the xenos apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius ignored the surrounding xenos. His gaze was fixed on the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he saw Nareth's racing blade, lightning-fast, severing a xenos' crystal greatsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a blur of rapid afterimages, he raised his power gauntlet. With a flash of blinding golden light, a Cerabvore, which he had only recently learned about, was bound in a prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana's twin swords spun. No xenos could block his view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He calmly observed the battlefield. Every move Lord Nareth made possessed a natural, artistic quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A perfect balance of swift movement and powerful force, as brilliant as a painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spark of inspiration burst within Akurduana's mind like fireworks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To preserve the inspiration and imprint the image of Lord Nareth's painting on his mind, he charged towards a Cerabvore that had circled around the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five meters from the Cerabvore, Akurduana's steps suddenly faltered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius, following close behind, rushed forward, but suddenly felt a bitterness in his throat and heaviness in his steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius involuntarily slowed. He squinted, not wanting to witness the unparalleled swordsman's first wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as his eyes were about to close completely, he forced them open, bracing for the shattering of the myth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Akurduana's arm suddenly raise. The straight blade of Athena parried the crystal greatsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curved blade of Timur followed, thrusting towards the curved arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the blades crossed, Lucius keenly noticed Akurduana's movements were slightly slower than usual, as if spider silk clung to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana's eyes shone. For him, combat had always been as natural as watching a sunrise or listening to a melody.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Effortless, yet after a while, it became somewhat dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The melody was suddenly interrupted, giving him a new opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Akurduana abandoned his combat instinct. Following the trajectory of Lord Nareth's blade, he swung his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timur and Athena spun rapidly. With his twin swords, he practiced the imprint the blue-white blade had left in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crystal greatsword was knocked away. The personal energy shield shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana slew the Cerabvore. His body trembled slightly. He felt his steps grow lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He abruptly turned his head, looking left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black-armored figure appeared and vanished in his vision in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Zahariel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one second, a Cerabvore's personal energy shield shattered, its body split into hundreds of pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In two seconds, hundreds of xenos' bodies were torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three seconds, Zahariel reappeared in view. His speed had noticeably slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zahariel's body grew cold. He saw a Cerabvore charging at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Midnight Poet\" opened his mouth and recited a poem inspired by the book Meditations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the work of the knight-poet and philosopher, Oreas, a favorite of his former mentor, Master Lamil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the ancient pulse of the hushed forest deep, a veil of mist wraps secrets that sleep. The knight's steed crushes the dream of fallen leaves, armor gleaming like stars the night weaves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At his waist, the sword's cold light shines bright, concealing legends of valor, yet to see light.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The knight's gaze, like a torch, pierces the forest's haze.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fearful knight seizes his faith, and loudly to the great beast he raises his challenge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soothing verses, softly echoing, brought a sudden daze to the minds of those who heard them, as if seeing tranquil moonlight, a calm, rippling lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cerabvore felt its body grow heavy, as if it could fall asleep standing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his recitation, Zahariel revisited the memory of facing the lion-beast. Afraid, he had slain the mightiest beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Cerabvore slow, the \"Midnight Poet\" continued reciting, simultaneously swinging his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sword and claw collide, like thunder's crack. The knight's faith, firm as rock, in the storm he stands unbowed, his conviction, stronger than steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fire lights the dark, courage makes the beast retreat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Cerabvore regained awareness, the poem's atmosphere abruptly shifted, filling it with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zahariel was already before it, swinging his sword down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Cerabvores attacked from left and right. Zahariel drew his sword, about to meet them, when two figures flashed out from beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Balsar Kurthuri, Librarian of the 19th Legion, raised his hand, conjuring a psychic shield. Green flames clashed with crackling lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gren Vosotho, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines 1st Chapter, raised his hand, firing a burst of bolts at a Cerabvore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's Honor Guard followed. With support, the knights looked into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed an evil will suddenly appear far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Zahariel's consciousness touched that will, he was struck as if by lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used his sword to support himself, just barely not kneeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, Balsar convulsed and knelt on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Librarian was struck down by the evil will. Fortunately, he saw the Cerabvore before him also wilt and fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vosotho casually killed the fallen Cerabvore with his combat knife, then looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Akurduana and Lucius had already pushed through the crowd, following Lord Nareth as they fought forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius struggled to keep pace with Akurduana, engaging a construct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The construct's tentacles casually extended sharp, bony blades, attacking like six swordsmen simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius's vision was filled with blades. Excitedly, he unleashed a storm of slashes and thrusts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades clashed continuously. Lucius was forced to use the shield on his left arm to block the attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the thunderous impacts, he suddenly leaped. His blade swept aside three bony blades. His shield blocked the other three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blade spun, severing the tooth-filled head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mid-air, Lucius finally saw the scene ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Akurduana spin, killing four constructs, and charge towards a worm-creature wrapped in a shroud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius's eyes widened in shock. He felt as if in a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the worm-creature swing its scepter. In the clash, it knocked Timur away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its other arm circled around Athena and grabbed hold of the power armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana was then sent flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana was wounded for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unparalleled swordsman was instantly defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Slaugth Destroyer's slime tentacles, like pythons, reached for Akurduana on the ground. Suddenly, a blue-white light flashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth flashed before Akurduana. He swung the Valhalla Sword, cleaving through a mass of worms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Slaugth Destroyer shrieked in pain. Its arm abruptly extended, swinging the necrotic scepter at Nareth's legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Baron of Corruption's\" eyes flickered. The worm-creature's extending arm suddenly slowed, retracted by the power of \"Distortion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akurduana stood, using Athena to support himself. He paid no attention to his wounds. His eyes were fixed on the spinning blue-white blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth flicked his wrist. His blade, like unstoppable starlight, left gleaming trails on the Slaugth Destroyer's body. Shreds of worms scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of Nareth's swings shone like a star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perfect painting, imprinted with a blue-white star.\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>",1380,"2026-06-06T05:05:27.510Z",1,"novelbin.me","e6d73622ef443a4a02fde8aa4369ac175f1e7ed7a6cf40cfe447a86aa9c95844","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-544","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-542",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]