[{"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-70":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},1511169,1962,"Chapter 70: Conquering the Crystal Mirage","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-70",70,"\u003Cp>Deep within the mountain, a colossal statue rose, piercing through the upper half of the crystal peak, its head towering above the summit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its base was a smaller crimson altar, surrounded by six massive circular ritual altars, evenly spaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of these ritual altars was constructed from psychic-reactive crystal, their runes drawn with the heart's blood of captives from other tribes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six Heart-Eater priests, robed in purple and wielding crystalline ritual daggers, chanted loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The 666th offering, may it draw our Lord's gaze!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They raised their daggers and plunged them downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart-Eater followers kneeling before them did not flinch. With exposed chests and serene smiles, they welcomed this \"glorious\" moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath their feet lay 665 still-beating hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bodies were hauled away by fellow believers to feed the kin of the Heartpiercer, the monstrous creatures they lived beside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the central altar, the final ritual began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chieftain of the Heart-Eaters drove a ritual dagger into the chest of the last sacrifice, then tore out the still-beating heart with his bare hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First offering, nourishment for our Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sixth offering, bless us, O Lord!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that very moment, Nareth was just a kilometer from the mountain chamber's exit when a ghastly, inhuman screech echoed from ahead, equal parts pain and ecstasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Warp Insight flared, and he sensed the veil between realspace and the Warp had been briefly torn, allowing a power from the Sea of Souls to seep in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking forward, he saw a grotesque creature, bloated, blood-red, with six pairs of tentacle-like arms twitching behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its neck bore six heads, each with snake-like tendrils dangling from its lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Erlin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena gasped, recognizing the one normal-looking head as a once-human friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How… how did he become this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver-haired psyker began to truly believe that some supernatural being, perhaps even the Heartslayer itself, was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloated Erlin shrieked, and the six priests echoed in unison:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twelve tentacles lashed out with crystal daggers, curved blades, and ornate longswords, aimed at Nareth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth instantly recognized that the chieftain of the Heart-Eaters had likely been fused with six others by their \"god\", almost certainly the Greater Daemon of Slaneesh, into a single chaos creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn't withstand the \"blessing\" and were turning into a Chaos Spawn of Slaanesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever consciousness remained now only sought to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a swing of his heavy halberd, Nareth unleashed the 6th stance of Otsberg-Vaya, carving a perfect arc through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All twelve tentacles were severed in a single blow, crashing to the floor and writhing before going still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The abomination screeched again, equal parts pleasure and agony, as its body began to mutate further. Its six heads twisted and stretched in different directions, transforming into a prism-like creature with a head on each corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the eyes of a Primarch, Nareth saw through the Chaos Spawn's weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The source of its ritual power was Erlin's head, which had now sunken into its neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a powerful leap, Nareth struck downward using the 23rd stance of Otsberg-Vaya, cleaving straight into that head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head shattered, and with a howl of terror, the creature's body melted like wax, collapsing into a disgusting, sludgy heap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Purify it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping out of his daze, Arsena raised his right hand. Flames engulfed the corrupted mass, reducing it to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now fully convinced that Nareth could wipe out the Heart-Eaters, Arsena stood tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attack!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth charged into the mountain chamber. The 'Warrior' Gul'gul led the 8th regiment behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was immediately greeted by dazzling light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's eyes lit up. All along the path, the crystals were of high purity, free of impurities. Perfect for crafting data crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, deep within the mountain, he saw vast fields of psychic-reactive crystal. His Warp Insight confirmed they were largely pure, ideal for forging psyker staffs and other mystical gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unexpected bounty. The only obstacle, these damned heretics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared down the onrushing Slaanesh cultists and charged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena watched in awe. Nareth cut through enemies like vegetables, whether agile cultists or mutated beasts; none could slow him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also noticed the officers, one of whom raised his left hand, a precise energy beam shooting a swift cultist meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another dodged a lunging, water-based mutant, his humming sword slicing through the creature in a single blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the soldiers stunned him. Their long, rod-like weapons fired blasts of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the wide expanse of the mountain interior, they had a clear firepower advantage. Their concentrated volleys annihilated the Heart-Eaters in waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though each soldier's firepower didn't match Arsena's flames, there were over two thousand of them, and each bore these incredible weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Even with a telekinetic shield, I couldn't hold against them for long…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena silently marveled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Divine-level combat strength… elite commanders… advanced weaponry…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is King Nareth's true power. No tribe can resist him.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As more companies joined the fight, the Heart-Eaters realized they were surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle ended within one solar day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Nareth stood before the giant statue, an image of what might have been a Heartslayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly noticed the sculpture was incomplete. It seemed the Heart-Eaters lacked proper psyker craftsmen; its shape was so vague, it was hard to tell if it truly represented the Heartslayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's being carved from a massive, naturally-formed psychic-resonant crystal… No wonder communications were disrupted.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Some Warp daemon energy had seeped in, but not stabilized. It's still usable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as no more rituals are performed, the energy will fade. In a few decades, it'll be safe to use.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This massive crystal wasn't top-tier, but it was enormous, and Nareth was delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and approached the silver-haired psyker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arsena, will you serve me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena knew he had no power to refuse. But more than that, this was an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He's destroyed the evil Heart-Eaters. He's a hero to all tribes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsena bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My king, I pledge my loyalty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four solar months later, Nareth had conquered all the tribes of the Crystal Mirage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With guidance from Vostroyan engineers, 16 mining bases were under construction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearing future xeno raiders, Nareth stationed the frigate Piszczek and the destroyer Termalica in orbit. The surface was defended by ten full regiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, he ordered the fleet to return to Vostroya\u003C\u002Fp>",1043,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.768Z",1,"novelbin.me","971fad3c4852b29cc5457b93711688e5bb1c42afbf91908e7f2e3f863c9af4be","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-71","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-69",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]