Chapter 193: Slauda and the Cabal's Plot (Three Chapters Posted, Requesting Monthly Votes)

Ninglu flicked his wrist, executing the second strike of the "Osberh-Vaya" Path with a backhand thrust.

The Dire Avenger Exarch parried the attack with his sword, then launched a ferocious slash.

In an instant, the two clashed over a dozen times.

The Primarch was astonished to find that after the enemy blocked his attack, they were still able to launch a violent counterattack.

From the enemy's ornate armor and the banners behind their head, Ninglu deduced their identity.

【Dire Avenger Exarch.

"War Mask"?】

Ninglu knew that the Exarch of every warrior shrine on a Craftworld must master the ultimate mysteries of their respective branch and permanently accept the "War Mask" to become an Exarch.

The "War Mask" is not a physical mask, but a state of mind.

Different Paths require different mind states; the Eldar immerse themselves in a certain mind state just as one would immerse themselves in an emotion, moving from mind state to technique.

Walking the Path is both a way to hone the walker's skills and a way to temper the walker's inner self using their mind state as a template.

Warriors need anger; they must learn to "switch to war mode" during battle, releasing their own fury and utilizing the arts of slaughter.

They must also learn to control their rage during peacetime and learn to hide it.

The "War Mask" is the warrior's wartime mode, allowing the Eldar to focus their energy on a state of anger and slaughter.

This state is not a second personality; they remain themselves and do not fall into a mindless, berserk state where they only know how to hack and slash.

They need to become the "warrior self," fully committing to the role of a warrior, thinking and acting like a warrior.

After confirming the identity of the Dire Avenger Exarch and the means to contend with them, an idea occurred to Ninglu.

【Although my Thales Mindset is only in its initial stages, its application is limited to confrontations in the mental realm.

I originally intended to wait for Magnus to return to discuss mind states with him before expanding into the combat realm.

Now is a good opportunity; at least in terms of melee combat, the "War Mask" is not inferior to the mind state Magnus comprehended, and perhaps even stronger.】

Thinking this, Ninglu decided to capture the Dire Avenger Exarch alive to obtain the mysteries of the "War Mask," the Path of the Warrior, and the Path of the Avenger from them.

After he thoroughly understood the mysteries within, he would improve them into a version suitable for Astartes and humans.

As the Primarch thought of this, his eyes remained fixed on the Dire Avenger Exarch.

The "furious" Dire Avenger Exarch felt a chill in his body; before he could react, the Primarch lunged forward without warning.

He dodged to the side, swinging the hilt of his longsword downward in an attempt to parry the attack.

The Primarch twisted his wrist to press over the Eldar's blade, using a derivative technique of the "Osberh-Vaya" Path he had deduced to strike directly at the Eldar's arm.

The deep blue power sword tip pierced the Dire Avenger Exarch's arm, raising a searing, agonizing pain like being burned by fire.

The Eldar warrior, wearing the "War Mask," used anger to suppress the excruciating pain of losing their right forearm.

The Dire Avenger launched a new round of volleys, relying on a spectrum analyzer to have the monofilament darts precisely distinguish between friend and foe targets in close proximity.

Taking advantage of the opportunity created by their subordinates' attack, the Dire Avenger Exarch dodged backward with all their might, drawing a power spear from behind with their left hand and thrusting it at Ninglu.

Ninglu raised his left arm to block his face as the monofilament darts pelted his black armor.

He felt the members of his Honor Guard approaching the battlefield behind him, the Order Shadows raising their bolters to attack the Dire Avengers.

The warriors of Biel-Tan ignored the incoming bolter fire; they were known as the "Swordwind," and their shared belief was that it was glorious to die for the Craftworld; their fighting spirit was superior to all other Craftworlds.

The Autarch Slauda told them that to recreate the glory of the ancient Eldar Empire, they must kill Ninglu and let the monkeys and the Great Enemy of Chaos perish together.

Ninglu keenly sensed that the Dire Avenger treated him as if he were a daemon of Slaanesh; their attacks were angry and ruthless.

Thinking of the Eldar's prophecies, his thoughts raced.

【Could it be that their target is not Arenis, but me?】

As the Primarch thought of this, light flickered in his eyes, and his black eyes also shimmered with light.

Massive Warp energy gathered, spreading toward the group of Eldar following the Primarch's consciousness.

The Primarch's consciousness first collided with the mental gate of the Dire Avenger Exarch, a burning, majestic phantom of a god.

【His devotion to the War God Khaine and the burning anger of the "War Mask."】

Ninglu was thoughtful; his consciousness bypassed the "hard bone" that was difficult to crack and spread toward the other Dire Avengers.

Immediately, his consciousness seeped into the gates of the Dire Avengers, which were burning with the flames of anger.

A flash of surprise crossed Ninglu's eyes as the name of the Autarch Slauda appeared in his mind.

He remembered that Slauda had resurrected John Grammaticus, granted him the ability to become a Perpetual, and appointed him as a Cabal Agent.

Ninglu then saw another scene.

【What? I will obtain the Spear of Dionysus, and I have influenced the realization of the plan for humanity and Chaos to perish together?】

The "Horus Heresy" was not just a battle between the traitor and loyalist factions, nor just a game between humanity and Chaos; all forces in the galaxy were involved.

The Cabal believed that the Chaos Gods had invested heavily in humanity, and the four gods had allowed the Emperor to steal the "Fire Seed"; as long as humanity perished, Chaos would perish along with it.

Grammaticus was a pawn the Cabal relied upon, persuading the "Alpha Legion" for their cause.

Grammaticus also disguised himself as an archaeologist named Kallen Sebaton and discovered a mysterious artifact known as Fulminite.

Carrying the Fulminite that could kill a Perpetual, Grammaticus was ordered to kill the Primarch Vulkan, who might disrupt the Cabal's plans.

The Eldar Farseer Eldrad Ulthran convinced Grammaticus to believe that prophecy was not absolute and that humanity was the front line against Chaos.

Grammaticus ultimately stood on the side of his own race.

And the beginning of all this started with the Autarch Slauda.

Ninglu's thoughts raced; he did not want the Spear of Dionysus, and he especially did not want to face the four-god version of Horus.

According to his thinking, Huang Laohan sitting on the Golden Throne was more in line with his long-term interests.

He would preserve his strength during the "Horus Heresy" and seize as many benefits as possible.

But if the Cabal's prophecy came true, then he would have to take the Spear of Dionysus and do something that would influence the situation.

Ninglu suddenly had a bad premonition; for a Primarch, this was almost equivalent to a prophecy.

【Huang Laohan didn't give me a chance to choose, and shoved the Spear of Dionysus into my hands?

During the "Horus Heresy," he would use Sympathetic Magic to formulate plans, assign me a role, and have me destroy the vessels of the Four Ruinous Powers.

If I were to voluntarily or be forced to display corresponding strength at that time, even without considering the prophecy, Huang Laohan might actually do it.

And this is possible, depending on what Tier I have ascended to by then, and what Tier one must be to wield the Spear of Dionysus to rival the vessel version of Horus.】

A cold light flickered in Ninglu's pitch-black eyes; being manipulated and treated as a stumbling block to be cleared away both made him feel furious.

After being dragged into the Warp by the Four Ruinous Powers and feeling powerless, he once again deeply realized that he must control his own destiny.

【I will not be a chess piece; I want to become the chess player.

I must become the "Black Emperor," I must ascend to Old One, I must become a Pillar!】

The Primarch's eyes erupted with fury, and he flashed before the Dire Avenger Exarch.

Even the mortal avatar of Khaine, wearing the "War Mask," could not keep up with the Primarch's speed.

A flash of blue light, and the left arm holding the Power Spear was severed at the shoulder.

Weiershier and the other members of the Honor Guard keenly sensed the Gene-Father's anger.

They accelerated their charge, launching a fierce strike against the "Swordwind" of Biel-Tan.

Even filled with rage, the Order Shadows did not lose their composure; the conviction forged in the Legion by the Gene-Father allowed them to transform their anger into strength.

Having regained his calm, Ninglu mobilized his Spirituality and activated his Power Fist, golden light enveloping the body of the Dire Avenger Exarch.

As the light faded, the viscous, transparent liquid flowing out seemed to form a massive amber, "Imprisoning" the Dire Avenger Exarch.

The Blood-Colored Chain wrapped around the little finger of Ninglu's right hand flickered with light, and his depleted Spirituality was rapidly replenished.

He cast his gaze toward the Governor's Mansion; he knew Slauda was there.

Slauda had paid a huge price just to lure him into an ambush.

He still had to think about how to deal with the future, but the urgent matter was how to handle Slauda.

【The viper's trap, the Sword of Vaul.】

(End of this chapter)