Chapter 453 The Perfect City, the City of Dust
The pattering of light rain had a dull luster, solidifying in the cold air before falling to the ground, and then shattered on the dirt road of the country town. The smell of beech trees was blocked by the rain in a smaller space. When passers-by came close enough, the smell of vegetation suddenly burst out from the cold and penetrated strongly into the noses of passers-by.
Morse suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky, even though there was only a piece of cold rain clouds that remained unchanged in winter over the planet Ishtar.
He stood in a daze, still holding a crystal box that he brought from Erda and No. 11's manor.
Before leaving, Erda destroyed almost everything that could prove her private existence, but when Perturabo passed by, the crystal box suddenly fell out of the gap in the unclosed cabinet and fell into It is in the palm of the Iron Lord, and the only way to open it is to destroy it.
They were sure Eleven was going to say something to them, or the next best thing, it was just a beacon. Regardless, the mystery has yet to be revealed.
"What's wrong?" Perturabo asked carefully, "What did you find?"
"A message, from your flagship, from Terra, from the Emperor." Morse said, turning his head briefly to look at Perturabo, as if he was still in a daze.
He blinked again and immediately returned to normal.
"There is something going on," he said, "and not everyone can be trusted to handle it. The Emperor has several people in mind, including you, the Lion, and Angron."
"I am the Warmaster," said Perturabo. "If what is happening is so cruel that the Emperor would not consider sending Sanguinius there, then it is I who will do my duty."
"Lorgar. Aurelion burned Colchis"
"No—what?"
"Lorgar Aurelion burned the world of his birth," Mors said patiently. repeated.
“The few dissidents within the Word Bearers burned with Colchis in the scorching sun, and after he was done, he wrote a letter to the Central Center of Terra stating the matter, describing his alleged mismanagement. The rebellious tendencies caused by the incident, he apologized for accidentally burning the Memoirs together, and listed his methods to solve the rebellious tendencies, as well as future recruitment and base adjustments, etc..."
"No, Morse, what did he do?" Perturabo could not conceal his surprise.
He has never been to Colchis, but the evaluation of that planet has always been at a high level in all aspects, whether it is the stability of the planet's natural and human environment, or its surprisingly high surrender index ; This even earned it the reputation of the Golden Capital, the Perfect City, etc.
And Lorgar Aurelion, how could his fire ignite within the empire?
“He burned Colchis,” said Morse, “and the first thing he did when he got there was to give orders—that, according to himself, the rebels would be punished and the loyal Be saved after death and gain eternal life. Immediately afterwards, seventeen large cities were destroyed by weapons such as torpedoes and light spears, and a total of about 8 billion and 50 million registered people were killed, which should be about the same number. It seems that Aurelion is happy to report the number of people he slaughtered truthfully."
"But that was his home world-" The Warmaster looked like he was not entirely in reality, his shoulders pulled inward. Shrunk.
"Don't think that anyone treats the home planet the same way you treat Olympia, Perturabo."
"But..." Perturabo was stunned in place, "This is for..."
"No," said Morse, staring at Perturabo.
"You already know where the Tyrant Star will be born. The Emperor is willing to go to Colchis and teach Aurelion personally - but only if he has the intention. Even if his condition is too bad, Ni The Kaia Conference will also be hosted by you, Perturabo."
After a few seconds, the Lord of Iron answered in a deep voice, looking up into the distance: "I am the War Commander."
The light rain flowed into his robe along his unconnected neck, like water droplets clinging to the wall of the tomb, hitting the moss and lily of the valley on the ground.
——
When the Iron Warriors' fleet entered the air defense range of Colchis, not a single weapon was pointed at them.
Even though thousands of ships and hundreds of thousands of Astartes from the entire fleet of the Word Bearers are here, even though they have just burned their home planet to the ground and destroyed everything they created with their own hands, facing With the arrival of Warmaster Perturabo, this crazy legion showed amazing compliance and even welcomed it.
When Perturabo sat quietly in the manor of Ishtar, looking down from the high-altitude Thunder Eagle through the eyes of his own body, he witnessed Colchis burning in ashes. , he thought of the memories he had in the Iron Holy City many years ago, and the promise that the True Speaker made to him in the tiny light, "If it weren't for your existence," Aurelion smiled humbly, "If it weren't for that, I would be here My path may not be as determined as it is today.”
The air was silent, and the Thunder Eagle flew across the sky. The black wings corresponding to the Imperial Sky Eagle were stained by the ash and smoke in the sky. The sand was like obsidian lava, making a crisp sound around the still burning flame.
Perturabo stopped outside an unrecognizable city. The huge copper gate that was once strong fell outwards almost as soon as it was touched.
The large number of charred corpses piled up against the door surged out like a river of ashes that burst its banks. The scorched smell exploded like invisible gunpowder. The river of dried blood from the corpses covered the knees of the steel armor. Some skeletal hands slid down against the armored legs, driven by gravity, leaving behind a fingerprint mixed with gray and blood.
Thousands of Colchis civilians tried their best to knock on this bronze door with embossed icons before they died. After they burned it to death, this heavy door covered with bloody handprints was finally pushed open opening, leaving them with useless freedom too late.
Some Word Bearers were waiting just inside the door. After the orbital bombardment was over, they descended from the sky to destroy those who managed to escape, ensuring that nothing was left in Colchis.
The gray armor and parchment of these warriors were filled with flying ashes, as if they were some kind of human figures carved out of gray clay.
Some soldiers' heads wrapped in masks turned to the wreckage of the house, and some soldiers were talking quietly to themselves, their voices so low that no one could hear them clearly. When they saw the Iron Lord making a rare appearance wearing a full set of Terminator armor, a communication request sign sounded on the Iron Warriors' communication channel.
"Where is Lorgar Aurelion?" Perturabo asked first the moment the connection was connected.
"At the Temple of Colchis," one of the Word Bearers replied, "Aurelion awaits you, Lord Perturabo."
Perturabo carried He started and looked at the half-collapsed spire and the golden dome that was shattered like an eggshell. Ashes covered everything here, disfiguring the temples, the tall buildings collapsed, and the lingering smell of sulfur emerged from every crack and crater.
His combat boots lightly brushed against the dust on the ground. There were many colored glass fragments there, embedded in several bodies with small skeletons that were entangled together and indistinguishable.
“Take me there,” he said.
They walked straight through the rubble of rubble that had once been the outer wall of the plaza, his Iron Warriors guarding Perturabo, nervous at what they saw.
After they destroyed the surface of Colchis, the Word Bearers' banners were planted in cracks in the walls and piles of bones large enough to erect flagpoles. Some of the banners were burning quietly.
The Imperial Truth and the Book of Holy Words, which are fixed with chains on the eagle's ceremonial pole, face each other on both sides of the road, just as the eagle pole on which they are located is meant to hold the heavy books placed on the back of the eagle's wings. When facing each other head on, the eagles' heads must look in opposite directions.
When they got close enough, Lorgar Aurelion's back became clear. The Truth-Speaker also wears his full armor. His armor had obviously been severely burned. The outer armor was charred and dented. The blood and charred flesh were mixed with the iron armor, along with all the scripture tattoos hidden under the armor that were damaged by the high temperature and were cast into molten metal. The gray and black cage.
He knelt quietly on one knee in front of a half-collapsed stone statue of the Emperor. Next to him lay a charred skeleton, who knelt on the ground.
Even with his back to the Warmaster, Lorgar easily recognized Perturabo's footsteps. He stood up and tore off his helmet, ash and gravel crunching beneath his feet.
When he turned completely, Perturabo saw Aurelion smiling at him, and his tears were flowing for a long time.
"I'm sorry," Lorgar whispered, pain shaking in his voice, "I cannot stop crying for this desecrated land, my brother."
"You need to explain, Aurelion," Perturabo said, stopping at the edge of the square, his voice like blazing iron dipped in ice water. "By the Emperor's order, in the name of the Warmaster of the Empire of Man, I Come to inquire about your massacre."
"I have already explained, brother, there is a rebellion here, there is a heresy here," said Lorgar, his eyes flashing with sorrow." Like every world I've ever killed, even though this was my home planet, it had become a breeding ground for heresy. If I hadn't beheaded myself, the governor of this planet would have been with Korki. "He paused and said, "That's why I'm here, burned together with my planet, as a punishment for my neglect of duty... …"
"The Great Crusade also does not encourage indiscriminate killing and slaughter, Aurelion," Perturabo said, looking directly into Lorgar Aurelion's eyes, "How many people here have solid evidence? Traitor?"
"Thousands," Lorgar replied.
"How many people have you killed?"
"Eight billion and fifty million."
"Is there a standard for killing?"
"Everyone in Colchis Equality."
"How would you explain the deaths of the remaining dead?"
"The Emperor will judge them after death—"
"But they died." "Passed through my hands."
"Indeed! "Perturabo said loudly, gripping the warhammer in his hand, "Aurelion. This is not what the Emperor wants to see."
"They will die one day, brother, and the entire family will die one day. Erchis will fall into the dark end, and then judgment will come to punish all sins before the Day of Judgment
"And Colchis is willing to sacrifice his life today, so that the doomsday bell will be closer, and they will not have additional opportunities to commit potential evil deeds in the future - they will die of pure and meaningful sacrifice, Instead of betrayal, disease, crime, blasphemy..."
"This is not what the Emperor wants to see!" Perturabo said expressionlessly, with the anger and disappointment underneath it being the steely one. Rarely found in the original body.
Logar shook a little. He was in a very weak state. It is not difficult to suspect that he indeed accompanied the entire Colchis and survived several days of burning and destruction.
Now, the stiff body of the man who holds the truth is only hung by the painful will burning in his eyes. He stands with some despair flowing in his veins. His eyes are wide open and he looks directly at Perturabo , stumbled towards the Iron Lord, and grabbed one of Perturabo's gauntlets.
"Father really doesn't want to?" Lorgar said softly, his breathing heavier than his words. "Really?"
"Without a doubt, Aurelion!" said Perturabo, letting Lorgar grab his arm and look down at him. "You shouldn't be like this, torturing others and torturing yourself. What will you use to repay the lives of eight billion and fifty million loyalists, Aurelion? What will you use to repay it?
"Yes, I will tell you that the Emperor will not completely abandon you because of this, and I will tell you the truth, because you and I both know the weight of the Primarch. But this does not mean that the massacre can be approved by the Emperor or me! "
"Do you think I'm torturing myself? Lorgar asked, seemingly holding his breath.
"Yes," Perturabo said without hesitation, "you should not do this, Aurelion." Look at the blood on your hands! "
"That is indeed my own blood," Lorgar said, tilting his head, and the breath was exhaled. "But I thought you understood, Perturabo, this is not torture. ”
His fingers tightened and his body slid downwards.
"I feel - so relieved, brother. I feel like I've done something for the Emperor again, I feel like my pain is going to him, and it makes me - it makes me feel good . I thought... you understood, I thought you knew our father's spirit was born of pain and destruction, brother."
"How could he-"
"Don't lie to me, I beg you," said Lorgar, his tears rolling over his chapped lips, nearly draining all the moisture from his body.
"You know the Tyrant Star, you know that our father will become it, when all people will pass through destruction from earth to heaven. Don't deceive me, brother, the Emperor will tell this It’s given to you, you are His war commander and His most trusted Son. You know the nourishment He needs——”
"What are you talking about!" Perturabo's voice sounded in shock under the iron helmet.
“What I say is true, and you know I have not told a single lie—if you have known it from His mouth, I have heard it from enlightenment. I have seen His city, and so have you You know it, you know it too, right! You know where the Second Primarch went after death, you know where all the souls of Randan go, you know they live forever in heaven, Perturabo!" I——"
"Don't lie to me, Perturabo. I am willing to listen to everything you say, and I am willing to believe it."
A piece fell from the church steeple far away. The stained glass collided against the tower wall, ringing crisply. After a burst of shattering sound like a prayer bell, it was suddenly drowned in the ashes on the ground.
Perturabo stared at Lorgar, "You are wrong, Lorgar, people do not go from earth to heaven. Death is death, sacrifice is sacrifice, and massacre is massacre. You must realize from now on. This point. The Emperor is not a god, and the Tyrant Star you are talking about cannot really be born -"
"If he is not a god, shouldn't I burn this city?"
Lorgar smiled, and iron shavings fell from him like tinder from a tattered, twisted, charred shell.
“If He is not God, it would be wrong for me to worship Him. Sooner or later, Colchis, for whom I exist, will be destroyed by the Emperor’s order, just as the Iconoclasts destroyed Terra. Same as all the churches on earth.”
“If He is God, then my Colchis is a burnt offering to Him, so the Colchis in this world will also be destroyed. , brother?”
"No matter who the Emperor is, the last thing he needs now is unnecessary death, Aurelion. He has never ordered the destruction of your city, and your actions are undoubtedly self-inflicted——"
Lorgar fell to the ground, his body blending into the tragic blood and smoke in the background. Pertura curled her fingers.
"The Emperor's primary intention in sending me here is not to punish. He does not want you to kill anymore," Warmaster Perturabo said, the blood on the ground reflecting on the iron surface, "You must know today At this point, in your language, this is his infinite kindness. In my language, this is an inevitable requirement for the maintenance of the human empire in the future."
"Then why can't I hear the emperor's own words. What do I mean, brother?" Luo Jia asked stubbornly, with an incredible light on his face.
“The Emperor has no time to manage everything in the entire vast empire.”
"Want to hear my thoughts, brother? Listen to everything I have seen these days. I am waiting for you to correct me. I am willing to listen to whatever you say."
Perturabo looked at him , looking at his unblinking eyes, looking at the blood overflowing from his breath, and his face stained with ashes, for a moment he couldn't tell what he saw.
This is Lorgar Aurelion, Aurelion, leader of the Word Bearers. He may have killed eighty times eight billion people, but he still has the ability to shed tears, just like He never realized that he was killing, as if he was living in a space that was too light and strange. The tears of the deceased were the holy oil in the incense candles, the burning scriptures were the frankincense in the stove, and the flying sparks were his The fireflies that light up the world. He seemed to see him clearly, but also seemed to have never known him, not now, not before, not in the future.
"Say it." He said.
"Okay," Lorgar said with a smile that contained neither hatred nor a need for pity. He said: "I want to tell you about everything I saw, or what I was forced to see, my brother."
"A year ago, you went to Interrex, Horus went to Ullanor, and I went to the Holy Grail Expansion. Not long after, I heard that Horus was victorious in Ullanor, and you conquered I also found the clues to the Tyrant Planet, how happy I was, Perturabo, how good everything was then!"
"Then, after that, I saw you. When you were rescued by the Illuminati of No. 11, I saw you briefly, and then you disappeared. There was no news for a month. I was thinking, do you know your craftsman from No. 11? His silversmith, because they said he saved you. I don't know, I always don't know."
"Then I sent Eleven back to Terra, I did it wrong, I always do it. Wrong. I sent No. 11 back to Terra, but your craftsman also happened to send the enemy blade to Terra. No. 11 went to the shadow prison, and the enemy blade also went to the shadow prison.
"I prayed. , and then I found out that Magnus was on Terra when the Nemesis Blade was stolen, because he came over to tell me not to pray. But where was Magnus when the knife was stolen? Why was he so late?
“I know he is arresting the silversmith, but didn’t the silversmith save you?”
"Then Horus was assassinated, and my men betrayed me. So you were crowned, and we never saw the Emperor again, we never saw Him again.
"Then, you go find Number Eleven ——Then you found where he was directly, right? You had a conversation with him, right? You were in the homeland where he grew up before you came to Colchis, right?
"Even you are here now, because I can't feel you, I can't feel your breath in this armor - can you take off your helmet, brother? Let me see you?"
Perturabo felt that it was extremely cold around him. "You doubt me?"
Logar shook his head: "I just want to hear your answer, Perturabo. I know that there are many evils in the world that are eyeing the human empire, and I know that the devil can always take advantage of it. , seducing our differences from lies and deception. I know that everything I see is limited. Maybe everything I say is false. Only you can know the complete truth.
"So I only want your answer, and then I will find a thousand reasons to prove your loyalty and greatness. You are the brightest morning star among us, the child of the Emperor's morning. Let all the gloom between us As the ashes disperse, I implore you, Perturabo."
After a moment of silence, Perturabo replied: "What is your question?"
"You want to stop it. Will the Tyrant Star take us into heaven? "
"It won't," Perturabo said seriously, feeling helpless in his heart. "Wake up, Aurelion, it will destroy everything. The power is not a ladder to heaven. You must believe that the Emperor has his own plans for it. He just cannot tell everyone the secret. Maybe you can wait until the Nicaea Conference. ——”
He suddenly choked, because the Emperor may not be able to attend the Nicea Conference.
"Is the Emperor a Tyrant?"
Lorgar said, but his expression was already saying that he knew he would not get an answer.
"You have to believe the Emperor, Lorgar," said Perturabo. "I have not lied to you a word today. I don't know what else I should say to you, Lorgar..."< br>
Logar shook his head, gasping for air in the scorched air, nearly suffocating in tears.
"That's enough. Thank you, Perturabo, thank you, thank you, thank you, my brother, thank you. No. Thank you..."
(End of this chapter)