Chapter 454: Preface to Nicaea
“Why did you say that, Dantioch?” Perturabo stood in front of the crystal wall and turned his head, opening like the ribs inside a sea fish. The circular edge opened the passage behind him until it reached a parallel vanishing point hundreds of meters away. "Why do you guide my behavior, my war blacksmith?"
Not long ago, Perturabo secretly returned to the Cheorwon and completed the handover with his other body. All he brought back was a crystal box, which was sealed directly in his own workshop and strictly prohibited anyone from exploring it.
Judging from his serious expression, he did not achieve satisfactory results - to be more precise, after Nikaea, the Lord of Iron has decided to go to that unknown planet again.
Dantioch clenched his fingers nervously inside his armor.
He bowed his head to the Iron Lord: "This goes against what you have always taught, father. If you take over all the power of Colchis to the side of the Iron Warriors, fill the void above the ashes of Colchis with immigrants from the Olympia Star Cluster. Vacant, how will the world view us, father? This is your first major decision since becoming Warmaster."
"Isn't this the result of Lorgar Aurelion's decision?" Perturabo replied expressionlessly, "The moment he burned Colchis, he lost all control of the planet. The Emperor gave Colchis to me, and I Fulfilling my duties, Dantioch, I am rebuilding Colchis."
"But after all, it is not the area bordering the Olympia star cluster, Father. Colchis and Olympia are located in the Milky Way. Both sides."
"Do you want me to stand by, Dantioch?"
Dantioch took a deep breath, "Your accusation hurts my heart."< br>
Perturabo was silent for a moment, "Speak your advice, Warsmith. It is your right, and I will listen."
"No offense, father, but I just want to tell you that we People from the planets around Colchis can be moved nearby, so that the entire process will be easier to complete, the cost of migration and adaptation will be greatly reduced, and your reputation will be improved.”
"It's not feasible." Perturabo said, the cables he integrated into his black hair merged with the darkness in the dim light of the tunnel. "First of all, the planets around Colchis are deeply affected by Lorgar's religious and cultural radiation. I don’t want the second vicious incident to happen after we leave. Secondly, if Luojia has no psychological burden for slaughtering his followers, I don’t believe he would dare to wipe out all my people.”
“But. ——Why, father?" Dantioch couldn't help but say, "With all due respect, the original body Aurelion is not rational enough at all."
"His rationality only exists. In the world he sees, I believe he will not offend me because I am his eldest son, his morning star.”
Perturabo said coldly, and when Dantioch showed a surprised expression in his armored mask, a smile gently passed over the corner of his resolute mouth, and the frozen atmosphere was instantly relieved.
"Lorgar Aurelion will not continue to have Colchis, and this is his own request - made under my gaze. Rest assured, Dantioch, I know what I am doing "
The Lord of Iron stretched out his hand and put it on Dantioch's shoulder. He turned his gaze to the outside of the tunnel, as if he could see the embers still burning on the land of Colchis through this building structure. .
Within a week, the Iron Warriors took down nearly ten thousand Word Bearers banners, and hundreds of thousands of other symbols. The Olympians will then rebuild everything on this planet, according to Olympia's own way.
No Word Bearers will be left, and as the Great Crusade draws to a close, "the Word Bearers will not be in a hurry to replenish their ranks." Warmaster Perturabo once said in the Embers of Colchis. "Live by the laws of your faith until the Emperor agrees to allocate a planet to you as your second home."
"Feel the air, Dantioch," he said, "see the bullets hammering into the bricks, and the shards of glass scattered on the ground. For those who believe in Lorgar's words, what happens here They will always exist. The air here is scorched and dry. It has been filled with hatred and anger, as well as the glory of sacrifice floating in the air like dust, and the broken hatred of heresy. This smell is so strong and lingering in the air. It will last too long before it is forgotten.
"Kyle went to ask the three governors nearby for their opinions. Do you want to hear them? "
"Please tell me, father. "Dantioch lowered his head, feeling Perturabo's fingers tighten powerfully on his shoulders, stopping restraint before hurting him.
"They said, emigrate to Corchi Sri's will be the offspring of sinners, and only soldiers of holy war will emerge from it. After selection, one out of a hundred people will survive in order to save the resources given to them by the God Emperor in future wars. "
"As long as believers of the Holy Word live here, hatred and fanaticism will inevitably be passed down from generation to generation, from parents to their children, to their children's children, and to subsequent generations that will continue for thousands of years in peaceful times. All will remember the destruction of Colchis because of imperfect faith, and they are the descendants of bystanders. ”
Dantioch took a breath: "I understand, father."
Peturabo nodded slightly, removed his hand from Dantioch's shoulder, and said calmly: "Here's When this is over, call for the Council of Nicaea. Be prepared for the Emperor to be unable to come, Warsmith."
Does this mean that Perturabo will host that meeting himself? Dantioch wasn't sure.
The Iron Warriors personally built every brick of the Great Hall, reserved seats for all Legions, and inlaid gold and silver on the podium to welcome the Emperor with the emblem of the Aquila.
As for the entire meeting process, it was originally planned that the two Primarchs Magnus of the Thousand Dust Sun and Mortarion of the Death Guard would jointly preside over the standardization of the entire Empire's Space Marine think tank system, and the The merger of the Yuting Court and the Star Torch Court, as well as the initial adjustments to the Black Ship system, and other matters, may also include more specific arrangements for the Astartes Legion after the expedition, and even - the Webway.
Perhaps, if the time is right, perhaps some of the secrets will gradually be revealed.
But the year has seen so many unexpected events that the Warsmith can no longer feel any certainty about the planned future.
The War Blacksmith moves his old body. Over the years, he has often been quietly satisfied in his heart that although he is old, his body and will are still strong.
But here, in the gray world of Colchis, behind Perturabo's stride, he smelled the smell of blood and earth, simmering in the windless furnace. The remaining ash settled in the airtight airtight atmosphere, slowly and silently brushing against the Iron Lord's armor-clad steel body.
And a silent, unidentifiable sigh was rising from the Lord of Iron in the opposite direction of the falling dust, rising towards the infinite pale dome, until it passed the twins of the Astartes. It reaches the limit that the ears can reach, and then disappears into the silence of gray smoke.
-Nikaea was not an ancient world. When the Emperor detected it from the galaxy, it was still tumbling in unformed lava and storm.
Ahriman knew that Perturabo, the primarch who was familiar with Magnus, had shaped it, reshaped it, carved and polished it, and placed it in the cracks of the rolling magma. Filling it with solid stones, standing steel under the broken sky, reborn Nicaea into a new glorious palace, a world of art through and through.
The chief think tank can easily imagine all this, because he has personally witnessed the construction miracles created by countless Iron Warriors, even though that was more than a hundred years ago, and his regrets have never been made up for.
Ahriman looked away from the window, knowing that in the next few hours of sailing in the real universe, the scenery outside the window would remain unchanged, as if time had frozen here.
But what is really solidified is spiritual energy. This is a special area where spiritual energy is almost forbidden. Only navigators and astropaths have the necessary limited spiritual authority, and only those who are powerful enough can control this suffocating layer. The artificial curtains parted, but Magnus would not do so.
Because the Crimson King personally created everything related to Nicaea and psychic energy.
Beside Azak Ahriman, there was an old man in the middle, separated from Mahavas. Magnus was leaning on his seat, with his long purple hair tied into a copper wire. The thread-like braid covers the golden red robe and the golden outer armor covered with lapis lazuli and amber. The ends of the braid are braided with several peacock green gradient eagle feathers.
The monocle covered one of his eyes. Not long ago, this noble eye was damaged due to a disaster. Otherwise, Ahriman could not imagine that if Magnus could use two bright eyes The golden and beautiful eyes glanced at everyone at the Nicaea Conference at the same time. What a beautiful sight it would be to cherish.
On his lap lay a thick book, fastened with a dark brown leather belt. The corners of the book were wrapped with fine gold horns, which were specially given to him by Conrad. Packaging materials.
Ahriman knew that it was the Book of Magnus. His Primarch had poured countless years of effort into it for this large conference, and during the final revision deadline, almost blocked all outside interference, except for those with him. Mortarion's necessary communication.
This will be a comprehensive holy book, sufficient to provide guidance on the use of psychic powers for generations of Astartes to come.
"We're almost there," Magnus said, blinking slightly, his pearly red fingers resting on the Book of Magnus in his arms. He focused on the void, and the scenery that was more distant than anyone could see existed in his eyes, and then, his eyebrows frowned.
"What's the matter, my lord?" Ahriman asked.
Around the Nicaea galaxy, he could not see the surging waves in the ether environment. All that appeared in front of him was the void and the holographic projection of the Nicaea Theater on the star map: lined with white marble columns. , the exquisitely carved capitals are painted with golden curly patterns. The dome hangs high, and the sky is filled with countless glorious conquests during the Great Crusade. It is extremely solemn and spectacular. Even within the Royal Palace of Terra, there is no such magnificent large-scale venue.
"No," said Magnus, "he has not come. I cannot see his etheric brilliance piercing the sky, or the golden sunlight like a star torch - we are already very close to Nicaea, not even a few. Hours later, the Storm Eagle will fly out of our flagship, penetrate the atmosphere of Nicaea, and fall towards the starting point of the empire's next destiny. However, he has not yet appeared, and his light has not yet arrived."
The Crimson King stood up from his seat. His huge body stood in the center of the ship's command room, like a golden-red tower. The light emitted was so bright that it almost transcended the psychic curtain. As for it was enough to show the surging waves in his heart.
"Perhaps the Emperor will come after the Council begins, my lord, the Council of Nikaea cannot be driven by the Legions Astartes alone," Ahriman said, his heart beginning to tremble quietly. Hesitation grew in both his and Magnus' minds, varying in level of apprehension.
“We need a host, there is no doubt about it.” Magnus said, “But none of us have witnessed the day when Perturabo was promoted to Warmaster, so naturally we are not interested in his role in us. The prestige he possesses has been underestimated."
He paused.
"My brother's majesty is enough for him to step onto the rostrum in the name of the Emperor and take charge of the glory of the Sky Eagle. But this majesty is still short-lived and has not been accumulated deeply enough for him to truly hold his position. The emperor sat down and gained the absolute conviction of everyone."
Ahriman lowered his eyes, Magnus's worry led to his worry, and he knew what Magnus said. is right.
The Warmaster's majesty grows with his achievements. For example, the Iron Warriors' recent treatment of the Word Bearers - the gray city of Colchis shocked all Astartes legions, and Ahriman knew that , at least Magnus and Mortarion both approved of Perturabo's decision.
But the Warmaster's majesty will also be taken and weakened as the number of times he rises above his brothers and acts as a higher judge, until everyone is accustomed to Perturabo's existence. Or the Warmaster's existence may come to an end.
"Mortarion, the Primarch of the Death Guard, is waiting in orbit, asking if you would like to fly with him on the Storm Eagle." A communication came.
Mortarion has never set foot within the territory of the Thousand Dust Sun, and every time he sees Magnus coming out of his flagship full of psychic instruments, there will be a silent and sincere sigh in his eyes—— The next step was mercy, and Mortarion knew Magnus would never accept it.
Magnus held his Book of Magnus in his waist, "We can meet again on the ground. Before the conference starts, we will have enough time to prepare what we need next. The way of reason."
His attention was suddenly attracted by another group of souls not far away. The ashes seemed to float slowly on the surface of pain, setting off some kind of wave that brought sad omens in the etheric ocean. .
Magnus listened carefully to the sound of the tide.
Then he heard the tired rings of ashes praying face to face in the hermitage; then he heard the lightless sanctuary barely lit by burning candles; then he heard the wordless silence, no prayers There was no begging, just a strange absolute coldness without thought, as if he were not the one who was looking for answers, but some empty spiritual agent, or an empty shell that had fallen into ashes.
Then he heard a soul kneeling in pain, the charred black armor that had not been removed locked his once beautiful golden skin and became his cage and shell.
"No," Magnus breathed out a breath of surprise. An astonishing pity passed through his soft heart, but he was quickly overwhelmed by what he had done to Lorgar Aurelion. replaced by anger and chilling.
“No.” The second negative became stronger and the meaning changed. The Crimson King took a deep breath and ran his fingers over the gold edges of the Book of Magnus. "Lorgar has disobeyed the Emperor, and he can no longer cross the line."
(End of Chapter)