[{"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-91":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},1511190,1962,"Chapter 91: Failed Replication – Horus' Ignited Competitive Spirit","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-91",91,"\u003Cp>\"Father,\" Mikael began, holding his data slate and reporting a string of cold numbers. \"So far, 342 candidates have undergone augmentation surgeries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Among them, 58 failed during the first stage of the procedure, resulting in a failure rate of 24.39%.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of those 58, five survived and were converted into the legion's servitors. The other 53 died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikael paused, then explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ascension from mortal to Astartes is a trial beyond measure. Many cannot withstand it; they fall at the very first trial.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once they pass through the Gate of Ascension, the surgery failure rate drops significantly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To illustrate his point, he continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only six candidates failed during the second stage, and all of them died. The failure rate dropped to 4.52%.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the third transformation stage, nine candidates failed. The complexity increases at this point, so the failure rate rose to 7.94%.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated, then added with a hint of surprise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Until just now, all eight who previously failed the third stage died. The one saved by that 'Doctor' was the first to survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth remained silent, but in an instant, he calculated that the overall failure rate across the first three stages was 33.54%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the best-case scenario, around 40% would fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Marlena, most of those would have perished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth realized this was the right moment to express his intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marlena Scala is not only a 'Doctor.' She's a biomancy psyker who can preserve a failed subject's life during surgery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, do you wish for her to join the transformation program?\" the Chief Apothecary asked, grasping his intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mikael only pondered for a moment before agreeing with Nareth, he was also curious about the mortal \"Doctor's\" skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is this a native Vostroyan technique? Or is it the fusion of medicine and psychic discipline that yields such a unique effect?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Apothecary turned back to his data slate and continued updating the Primarch on the transformation process:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are currently 103 candidates undergoing the first stage. 51 are in the second stage, and 36 in the third.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seventy-nine candidates have completed the first three transformations. Among the 23 regiment commanders, only Roslov has died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Notably, the three with the fastest progress, Howard Fender, Bukayo Arshavin, and Thierry Vieira, have all completed the fourth stage. They show no signs of rejection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth nodded in approval, mentally analyzing the three:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hmm… 'Sheriff' Howard has the strongest will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Midnight Poet' Bukayo is the youngest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Pugilist' Thierry possesses the best physical condition.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pleased, he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your work is impressive. I'm satisfied.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I need more Apothecaries. I want you to train more Apothecaries, apprentices, even attendants.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is vital for the future of the legion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth's minimum target for the Shadow of Order, pre-Horus Heresy, was 200,000 troops. The current 23 full Apothecaries and 10 assistants were far from enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More Apothecaries meant more could undergo surgery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth was planning for broader reforms. He needed loyal warriors embedded in every company, every squad, to influence their battle-brothers through everyday example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his way back to the strategy chamber, he sent a communication to another psyker, Arsena Dunn, summoning him to the bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Nareth sat on the command throne, looking down at the silver-haired psyker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their past interactions had been brief, limited to the Crystal Mirage, as Nareth had kept his distance due to Horus's teachings and the Emperor's distaste toward psykers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had merely handed Arsena a data crystal containing information on the Fra'al xenos fire and telekinesis disciplines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arsena, how is your research into the data crystal I gave you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, I've read and fully digested its contents. I've gained many insights from the Fra'al's aetheric techniques,\" Arsena replied in flawless Vostroyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I now understand aetheric forces more deeply and have learned over a dozen new aetheric spells.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth raised his brows slightly. Every psyker spell took time to master, to draw from the Warp, shape energy precisely, and execute it efficiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By human standards, mastering a dozen new spells in such a short time was outstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factoring in that Arsena had also learned the Fra'al language, along with Vostroyan, Gothic, and other knowledge, his learning ability was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth tapped the back of his throne chair, recognizing the man's potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you read books?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of surprise crossed Arsena's eyes, but he answered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, my lord. The library on the officer's deck is where I spend most of my time. It holds a vast collection of ancient tomes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth was aware that this relic-class battleship had a massive book archive. His private library alone housed over 10,000 books, some dating back to the Golden Age, or even earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also caught the excitement in Arsena's voice when the library was mentioned. It was clear the man loved reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He's a great fit for the \"Reader\", a scholar-attendant by my side. But his loyalty still needs to be tested.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting a better understanding of Arsena, Nareth said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My private library holds many more books. I grant you permission to read them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, aboard the Vengeful Spirit…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horus wore no armor, only a tight training suit and a fur-lined cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside his private training cage, he charged forward explosively and smashed his fist into a training servitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servitor exploded under the force of the punch. But Horus frowned, muttering to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something was different about his punch… it contained a strange force. Or rather…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It followed a rule, impossible to dodge, impossible to resist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He signaled for a new servitor to be brought in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After over a dozen trials, Horus destroyed each one with a single blow, but still couldn't replicate the feeling he got from Nareth's strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Primarch shook his head, exiting the cage and looking through the viewport toward the Void Hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's see what other surprises you have in store… brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While working through official reports, Nareth received a message from Horus via the Master of Vox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother, there are two planets ahead. Let's each take one. Let's see who conquers theirs first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth sensed the hidden battle intent behind the message and replied simply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One is an ocean world. The other is mountainous. Which will you choose?\" Horus offered generously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luna Wolves, both in number and strength, outmatched the Shadow of Order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horus expected Nareth to wisely choose the ocean world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Astartes legions with landing craft, oceans posed no great obstacle. Mountains, on the other hand, slowed everything down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Horus's surprise, Nareth replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I choose the mountainous world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nareth had realized that different environments yielded different potion ingredients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had already conquered the Symphony of the Sea, he was now more interested in a mountain-rich world.\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>",1130,"2026-06-06T05:05:10.768Z",1,"novelbin.me","0d601bd0b3e962316a5d12628ea4f56075bd27522c1a7e1c28c703717bc7420d","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-92","warhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-chapter-90",698,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwarhammer-the-11th-primarch-the-black-emperor-cover.jpg"]