Free Extra: Night Talk on End and Death (3)
+++The extra story about the reading of "End and Death 3" by the Primarchs in this article has nothing to do with the main text, and the last chapter mentioned 9 -Section 18+++
+++Appearing Primarchs: Except for the missing Primarch+++
+++No translated fragments without the permission of the translator+++
"Look, who is this, who has condescended to step their glorious feet into our shabby and pitiful house? It is really glorious." Conrad Coates opened the door inward When he said that, the other Primarchs also looked towards the door, looking at Leon El'Jonson, Jaghatai Khan, Mortarion, Lorgar Aurelion, and Corax Corax. Greetings from the twins of the Twentieth Legion.
"So, there are indeed two of you." Ruth said, his voice like the cold current surging under the ice when the seasons change. "All father indeed keeps some secrets from us. Alas, it was not unexpected."
The Primarchs greeted each other, and Lorgar and the Alpha twins calmly chose a place to sit down. Khan and Covos sat next to Magnus, making the Red Primarch a little flattered. Mortarion did not grab the Jaghatai in his seat, but sat alone and depressed.
The Emperor's eldest son sat calmly with Sanguinius, perhaps because it was far away from both Russ and Horus. The angel folded his wings, took the fruit plate to the side, and invited the lion to taste a few grapes.
"Yes." Leon said, "Baal's land improvement has been very effective."
"Oh, actually this is from Prospero." Sanguinius smiled. "We are talking about Malcador, let's listen together."
After his words fell, the original bodies put away their smiles one by one and returned to the serious atmosphere. Horus raised his head from his contemplation, his eyes dim, and nodded to Perturabo: "Go on, my brother."
Perturabo continued to turn the book back. "Verses 9-20, seal."
[Lightless.
Silence.
Nothing.
The guiding star has faded.
The voice of calling has gone away.
Terra descends into the night, and we follow it. I don't know what this night is about, nor what it holds. I just know that it is darker than the old night, darker than the long evening, especially the night that almost wiped out my kind. My king, my old friend, once led us out of the darkness.
And I no longer believe that he can save us from this disaster. 】
"Emperor," Vulkan sighed and said the word.
With each new piece of information revealed, the pressure on his mind increased. He already knew that he would be the final destroyer, and not long ago he also knew that millions of souls would burn in the Star Torch. And all of this is not enough to save the situation of infinite decline and collapse. Even the Imperial Regent had to lament here, and Malcador was never one who was willing to give up.
Silent whispers flowed between Lorgar's lips. He prayed silently, his hands folded together like shackles that bound each other.
Perturabo's reading paused for a moment, and then the Iron Lord's voice became heavier.
[Before my first death——]
“He is dead?” Horus said blankly. Even though he saw Malcador as an enemy to some extent, he never wanted him to die.
[No, before I die here, sitting on this futile throne, performing my unappreciated duty, I leave my last words to my chosen one. That was not a complete will. I act in a hurry. But I shared with them everything I could think of, my unfinished plans, my unfinished agenda, my hidden legacy, and the wisdom I had left behind in my long career of knowledge.
But at this moment, beyond the boundaries of mortal life, I find that I still have a lot to say. On this golden throne, I saw a lot and learned a lot. Horrors and miracles that I could not imagine have come one after another, such pure truth...]
"Is Malcador sitting in his father's seat?" Horus judged the situation and felt incredible.
If...if Malcador has died, why is he still in the throne; if he is in the throne, why is he suffering - what is the throne?
Is the throne that is always being repaired in Horus' memory the golden throne described in the text? The seat that his father made for himself seemed to be more than just a simple holy throne that showed imperial power.
[The throne is a curse. It is the poisonous Holy Grail...
Now everything is still. Everything was silent. The winds of Chaos raged wilder than ever, rumbling until they were no longer audible. The driving storm obscures my old friend, my Lord of All Ages... The Emperor and Horus face to face. The father and the returning son. Now, they may be at war. Or perhaps in conversation, a dialogue between wise men, as embodiments of harmony and discord, searching for common ground in order to reach agreement and end conflict. This is possible...]
"No." Horus spat out a syllable.
Chagatai Khan shook his head slightly. Before entering the room, they were informed of the story already told here, perhaps by their father's handiwork.
Malcador, he once taught mankind to deceive themselves in the face of the enemy. Now, does he really believe what he says in his heart? If that was the case, then he almost felt pity for the tragedy. The Milky Way has burned, and the scar of raging fire stretches across the world, and there is no room for turning back.
[Horus Luperkar was a reasonable man, a good man, who loved his father. If my king could reach the emotional core that he was sure still existed in the heart of his beloved son Horus, Horus might listen, no matter what. They might still be able to emerge from the eternal storm side by side, with peace and understanding. From this seat, knowing what I know now, I can see how within reach this understanding is, and how easily the clutches of Chaos can be pried open, freeing Horus Luperkar so that he can see clearly Lies and deceptions that deceive him and reject them. But they don’t know what I know.
Always let the old man have a dream...]
"Makado..." Leman Russ was rarely moved. This wild wolf in the cold wind will finally reveal his true feelings one day.
Horus only felt stinging ice flowing in his veins. He told himself every time that this was not what he would do, and it would never happen at any time. Regaining strength from comfort, new plots will once again tear apart the psychological defenses he has established.
Don’t the imperial prime ministers distrust him? Aren't there always conflicts between them? Why couldn't he accuse him more, scold him, curse his shameless betrayal, so that he could make up for one thousandth of the punishment he deserved?
No, Malcador praised him, missed him, and hoped that one day he would repent. What he saw in his eyes was such a good returning son, a Wolf Shepherd who was too trustworthy and pitiable. But all that was long gone, no, no more, all that was left was a crazy body and a demon that had died thousands of times and brought torture to the Emperor.
It was so rare that Horus Luperkar felt a drop of guilt towards the regent of the Human Empire, and this guilt immediately poured out like a spring, wrapping up more people. The Emperor, Malcador, even Constantine Valdor, the brothers betrayed by him, the Astartes whose lives were ruined by his actions, and even all mortals...
This is Everything that was essential to the Emperor's dreams, and he destroyed it all.
That's not him.
No, really?
Taking a step back and thinking... Horus's heart began to tremble again. Even if he would rather die than hurt the Emperor now, did he really not hurt anyone else? Malcador, Custodes, Brothers, Astartes, and mortals. Did he never arrogantly consume their lives and ideals? Have you never looked at them from a high position based on your own identity, power and responsibilities?
From this perspective, even if he will not betray, how different is he from the fallen Horus Luperkar? The mistakes he has made to get to this day will not only exist in the future.
【They may both die.
Or, a person dies, and the winner stands next to the body, enjoying this joyless victory.
Forgive me, I think the winner will be Horus. 】
"It can't be you," Leon said, staring at Horus's lost face. "You can't defeat father. You can't do it, Horus Luperkar." Horus weakly squeezed out two words. , not even wanting to refute a word: "I know."
Leon was a little surprised. The current Horus was far from the high-spirited commander in his impression. He looked away silently, took off the golden ring that Horus gave him to tie his hair, and put it in his hand.
"Is Horus the winner?" Dorn asked directly. "What you are holding is a book, Perturabo. We can read the ending first."
Peturabo paused: "You are right."
Curze sneered, stood up, walked behind Corvus Corax, and pressed his arms on the top of the back of the chair behind the Crow King to support his body.
"Listen to my word, brothers," he said softly, as if singing a ballad, "The Emperor has prevailed, the great Imperium of Mankind has defeated the fallen Emperor's Angels, and this is the end. , what other surprises could there be? No more. Just continue reading in order, dear Perturabo."
The Terran Guard looked at him thoughtfully. He glanced at Night Ghost Xuehou thoughtfully.
"There should be a reason for Curze to say this," Sanguinius sighed, "I support him."
Perturabo nodded slightly. There was an uneasy undertone in Curze's words, and everyone - anyone who understood people's hearts well enough - could hear his hidden advice. Of course this includes Rogge.
He continued to read, and the Seal Holder once again mentioned his pain, his destruction, and everything about him being swallowed up by the throne.
He couldn't help but think, if Horus had never betrayed him, would the Emperor have to sit on this instrument of torture one day? From the first day he stepped on stage, was he already prepared for his own dedication and death?
Malcador continued his narration, mentioning that Vulkan, the child with the purest and best conscience among the Primarchs, was still with him.
He advised Vulkan in his heart, comforted him, and told Vulkan that they still had a future, and that everything had not fallen into an irreversible state. But he knew that Vulkan couldn't hear him. He begged and comforted in his heart, telling Vulkan that he still had one breath left and not to give up his last hope.
【He can't hear my voice.
I lost my words.
I can't hold his hand anymore.
The empire of humanity ends here. 】
The Fire Dragon Lord's nostrils twitched, and a trace of water slipped from his bright red eyes, soaking his dark face. Angron connected with him emotionally. He breathed deeply and slowly, trying to convey some basic comfort to him.
"We will prevail," said the Lord of the Red Sands.
Mortarion nodded and said his first words after arriving here: "Yes."
A low response sounded in the room, and Lorgar recited some hymns in a low voice, Ever since he entered the room, he had not wanted to look at Horus, nor the other brothers who had been confirmed to have committed treachery, nor even Perturabo for a moment. The violet eyes of the man who holds the truth word are always lowered, and the angry storm is engulfed in it. He can only rely on his precarious sanity and the emperor's order before he came here to restrain him.
"9-20, shards," Perturabo continued as they prepared themselves. "The Great Rebellion and Our Father are still at war."
[Other things are breaking, too, and they are harder to define. All the ties of blood, loyalty, and past history that bound these two beings together snap like overstretched cables, and with them the edifice of family, empire, and legacy they held up collapses like a tower. Or a house of cards, crumbling and shattering.
None of them care. Not paying attention.
Things explode or disappear in an instant, completely annihilated as if they never existed: compassion, restraint, respect, sympathy, love.
In the blood-red eyes of the Returned Son, the Emperor watched all his sins being dismembered, all his dreams, plans, all arrangements and configurations, all the painstaking efforts of thousands of years. obliterate. But He didn't say a word and felt nothing in his heart, because the humanity that could have allowed Him to feel the loss had been abandoned and disappeared by Him.
Under his father's blazing gaze, Horus Luperkar watched his dreams and imagination of recognition and victory torn apart, for there he could not taste pain, anger or hurt, There was no shock or despair either. He met it all with chaotic rage, the resentment of an abandoned child, and insane joy. Because he will seek his own satisfaction. 】
“A child.” Ferus said, this word was unexpected but also reasonable. A person's body can grow over time, but mentally it's a different story entirely. Psychology changes, but not necessarily growth.
“And love is collapsing,” Fulgrim said sadly, his face dimming.
[...Four people, the Ancient Four, retreated from the conflict. Their bones trembled and their flesh blistered as they were whipped at the brutality before them. But they leaned forward and stretched their necks...]
"Heresy!" Lorgar shouted, and gritted his teeth to suppress his emotions. A furious and violent look burst out from his golden skin, and his hands Tore his own sleeves to pieces. He closed his eyes suddenly, teeth chattering.
Horus wanted to say something, but he felt that he did not have the position or qualifications to comfort the True Speaker on this matter. Finally, Luojia calmed down and said slowly: "Pagans deserve death." There was venom in his eyes.
In Perturabo's description, Loken, Litu, and the Custodes were overturned by these explosions, but still tried their best to do something. Kekartus Dusk recalled the many years he had spent at the foot of the Golden Throne. As long as he could move a finger, he would transcend the boundaries of death and move closer to his lord. Strive to witness the transformation of Horus Luperkar, a man twice as tall as the Emperor, savage and terrifying, but with superb martial skills.
Trying to look for traces of the other two people around, but found nothing. Then, amid the fierce winds of the Warp, he saw angels.
Countless lifeless beings appeared around the angel's corpse, trying to gnaw at the angel's relics. He immediately began to guard the remains of Sanguinius, trying to prevent the desecration from happening.
"I thank him," Sanguinius said softly.
As for Loken, he saw the struggle between the Lord of Mankind and the Great Rebellion, but the scene was fragmented and distant. Then he saw fire crackling on the throne.
["...When my father saw me, his face turned pale instantly. I can hurt him, so I was chosen by you."
"...Are you still alive? The one who holds the seal? ”
There is no answer. He raised his sword and pointed the blade at the fire leaping on the sitting man. After a second or two, the blade shone brightly and the flames shifted. When Lorcan retrieved the sword, the entire Rubio Sword was on fire. 】
"He is right," said Horus, "he can harm me. He will fulfill the Emperor's mission better than I can. He will be the blade of the end, piercing the great The flame of the reverse heart. Gavir Loken, he is worthy of trust"
(End of this chapter)