Chapter 249: The First Among Primarchs in the Early Days of the

After reaching an agreement with Ferrus Manus on cooperative development, Ninglu returned to the ancient ruins and found Gabriel.

"I have decided to dispatch you to lead a portion of the Techmarines, remain on Medusa, and subsequently follow the Tenth Legion in their operations."

"There are things to be learned from them."

"As you command, Father," Gabriel said.

Three hours later, a transport ship from the Shadow of Sovereignty delivered the armor originally worn in the Primarch's private armory, which he had kept as a memento.

The armor crafted for him by Wojciech Berek could not compare to that of the supreme Master of Casting Malevolus, but there was no issue with wearing it for a time.

The golden armor, controlled by the mixed C'tan essence and living metal in the other parts of Ninglu's body, flowed toward the golden wings on his back.

Afterward, Gabriel used the mechanical arms on his back to adjust the armor for him, allowing the wings to move freely.

Ninglu then headed to the location where Manus was holding the clan assembly to attend the celebration where he would announce his return to the Imperium and his allegiance to the Emperor to the Medusan people.

He did not choose to fly at his maximum speed; his wings folded, and he took a Stormbird with Gabriel and Arsena Dunn.

As the gunship arrived at the site of the clan assembly, Gabriel looked at the dense, endless iron land-crawlers below and exclaimed.

"The iron land-crawlers of the Medusans are at least a hundred meters long, and their families, mechanical equipment, and daily necessities are all kept inside."

"They are nomadic tribes that drive iron land-crawlers."

The "Reasoning Student's" blue eyes looked down, his gaze profound.

"Medusa's sky is in a state of eternal darkness due to pollution, and the planet's geological structure is extremely unstable; earthquakes and volcanic eruptions constantly create and destroy mountains and oceans."

"This world reminds me of Fenris; without a doubt, according to the Administration Department's classification standards, Medusa should also be classified as a Death World."

With his silver hair fluttering, the Primarch Attendant said in confusion.

"What I do not understand is that Lord Manus is called the Gorgon by the various clans and treated as a demigod; he could end the disputes and place the entire world under a unified government, yet he has not done so."

"His approach is different from all other Primarchs."

Ninglu spoke, clearing up the confusion for the Primarch Attendant.

"This is the philosophy of Manus; he believes that limited competition is beneficial to overall development."

"This is the result of his calculations, and the people sacrificed in this process are an acceptable cost."

"In the vast majority of moments, the decisions he makes after calculation yield the best results."

Manus had the "Storm Walker" thrown to Medusa for reshaping, and the contradictions between the Terra-born and local-born common in other Legions were fused into one under his thunderous methods.

This was different in method but identical in logic to Ninglu sending "Lawyers" and "Arbitrators" to the moon's training and transformation center to begin changes from recruit training.

They both used the culture of the Legion's homeworld to change the thinking of the Terra-born recruits.

The final effect was the same; only a very small number of people still held onto their past beliefs, but they were all loyal to the Legion and loyal to the Primarch.

"The cold, hard exterior is merely the surface of Manus; a fiery side lies hidden within his heart."

"Gabriel, you will see in the future Tenth Legion that Manus will treat his sons with an almost harsh attitude, yet he will defend his sons on any occasion."

"This is also something you need to be mindful of; when you interact with them in the Tenth Legion, maintain respect and learn from them the mysteries of mechanics and calculation."

"Father, I understand," Gabriel noted the Gene-Father's reminder.

Gabriel had no doubts about the Gene-Father's words; in terms of defending his sons, he believed the Gene-Father's attitude was the same as that of Manus.

The Stormbird landed slowly, and Ninglu walked toward the iron land-crawler of Manus.

"Lord Ninglu," Gabriel Santo, who was waiting to receive him, said respectfully in the High Gothic he had just learned.

After Ninglu smiled and acknowledged him, he opened the gate.

After the hissing of steam and a wave of dry heat, the entrance to the Iron Forge opened.

Ninglu stepped inside and saw a relief carving occupying the entire opposite side, depicting a hammer striking an anvil, with the cracks caused by the impact outlined in silver veins.

On one side of the gate were mythological creatures of Medusa such as the Garuda.

Santo led the way, arriving before a gate made of gleaming diorite, white marble, and steel.

After the guards at the entrance saluted respectfully, they opened the gate.

After Ninglu walked through the gate, he saw Manus standing before his personal banner in the iron hall.

It was a work created with velvet and a large amount of silver, depicting the scene of him defeating a silver dragon named Asinos.

The Imperial Eagle stood in the center, Alpharius stood beside the banner, and before him, the Emperor stood in the center.

Ninglu also saw on the left side of the high platform a banner forged with velvet and gold, depicting the scene of him slaying the Garuda.

The image on the banner was vivid, clearly from the hand of Manus; among the Medusans, only his silver eyes could pierce through the flames of the burning ones.

Manus looked toward Ninglu, his silver-coin-like eyes instantly liquefying.

In a single breath, he recorded Ninglu's body data in his mind to be used for forging armor.

Ninglu ascended the high platform and stood before his banner.

He saw that Ahriman and his brother Ormuzd, and his good friend Apophis, were also attending the celebration as representatives of the Fifteenth Legion.

Manus looked down at the representatives of the various clans, his leaden voice ringing out.

"Warriors of the clans of Medusa, today we gather here to welcome a new era."

"My father, the Master of Mankind, has descended since the eternal night."

The forge roared, and flames flashed.

"I, Ferrus Manus, in the name of my Iron Hands, with the forge and the flame as witnesses to my oath, serve the Emperor forever!"

The members of the various Medusan clans, led by Gabriel Santo, knelt on the ground.

"We follow the Gorgon, serving the Emperor forever, with the forge and the flame as witnesses to my oath!"

The Emperor smiled: "I accept your allegiance; rise!"

After the banquet began, Manus said to Ninglu.

"The banner was made by me for you, recording the scene of you slaying the golden Garuda."

Ninglu did not feel surprised; Manus was cold and hard on the outside but actually had a fiery heart, and many of the weapons he crafted were given as gifts to other Primarchs, not just Fulgrim, with whom he was on good terms.

"Manus, it is a work of art. Thank you; I will take it back to my palace and hang it in the highest place."

He gestured for Gabriel to step forward and introduced him to Manus.

"My progeny, Gabriel; only my Master of the Forge, Rosicky Cech, has superior mechanical abilities!"

Gabriel stepped forward and said respectfully.

"Gorgon of Medusa, Gabriel pays his respects to you."

Manus looked at the progeny of Ninglu before him, seeing the servo-arms on his back and the chainswords and various combined tools upon them.

They were all finely forged, their craftsmanship not inferior to the tools created by the Iron Fathers he had painstakingly cultivated.

"Gabriel, you are an excellent artisan; you will be welcomed in my Legion."

On the tenth solar day after the celebration on Medusa ended, the fleet of the Tenth Legion, the Storm Walkers, arrived at Medusa.

Ninglu returned to his flagship, the Bucephalus, accompanied by Huang Laohan.

The Emperor's flagship held a grand welcoming ceremony for yet another Primarch.

The Scribes did not receive permission to board the transport ships to pass through the dangerous rings surrounding Medusa.

They stood among the welcoming crowd, recording diligently.

"822. M30, the Emperor, accompanied by the Primarch Ninglu, has recovered the Tenth Primarch..."

"The King of Vostonia, representing the Master of Mankind, engaged in a contest of excavating ancient ruins with the Gorgon of Medusa."

"The two Primarchs ultimately excavated ancient ruins of similar value; in the name of the Emperor, they joined forces to develop them..."

Ninglu stood with the Emperor on the circular observation gallery surrounding the Dome of the dining hall.

Ninglu looked down; the Medusans were seated in the dining hall, unlike the uninhibited, boisterous Space Wolves.

They sat meticulously, looking at everything around them with a scrutinizing gaze.

The Emperor's eyes flickered as he spoke.

"Storm General Amadeus Ducaine has arrived. He created the 'Storm and Hammer' tactic; I believe it will become a precious military asset for the Imperium."

Ninglu looked down; it was his first time seeing Dukaien, who in his memory was arguably the greatest individual beneath the Primarchs during the early Great Crusade.

Dukaien wore thick MKI Thunder Power Armor, covered in litanies of squads and battles.

Platinum was etched onto the cheek guards of his towering helmet, engraved with the proud emblem of the Eye of Horus.

Ninglu knew that Dukaien, hailing from Albia on Terra, had ultimately created the Imperium's classic tactic—the "Storm and Hammer"—during the Battle of Rust Star after experiencing thousands of battles.

He kept the Storm Walkers in reserve, personally led the Auxilia as the Tiechen to stir up a storm, and waited quietly for the Orcs to pour out in full force.

Dukaien's forces resisted the attacks amidst the tide of the Orks with the Order of Iron, and only after the last Ork had rushed out of the fortress and was sufficiently dispersed did he bring the Storm Walkers down like a Hammer.

The Tenth Legion's small amount of armor and air power scattered the Orc forces in an instant, completing the battle first with only minor casualties.

They supported other battlefields, winning the respect of many Legions, and the Fourth and Thirteenth Legions spontaneously learned from them.

Huang Laohan himself personally led the Tenth Legion in battle after that.

Horus was even more full of admiration for Dukaien, granting him the emblem of the Eye of Horus.

He also dispatched Ezekyle Abaddon to serve temporarily as Dukaien's attendant to learn from him.

Ninglu recalled what he knew of Dukaien.

【"Storm and Hammer" is a tactical system that looks simple but is actually extremely complex and precise; it is also the source of the future Iron Hands' tactics. Manus further developed this tactic.

He was appointed as a Legion Commander, his status equal to that of the First Captain Santo; they were also the highest-ranking commanders beneath Manus.

The previous Reapers disdained this tactic and did not learn from the Tenth Legion; I can propose to Manus that we conduct joint military operations.】

As Ninglu pondered, Dukaien and Manus locked eyes for ten seconds before he knelt to pledge loyalty to his Gene-Father.

Huang Laohan nodded with satisfaction and spoke.

"Follow me; it is time for me to know about the series of glorious achievements you attained at the Wheel of Fire."

(End of chapter)