Chapter 506 Phoenix in the Mirror (3)
And at the moment when his thoughts were sinking, the surrounding mechanical gears made a low clicking sound, as if the entire maze was quietly approaching him. The fragrance in the air became thicker and thicker, and the silver mirror seemed to swallow him up. However, he just went to the memory.
There are always some people who are curious about why he and Ferus became the best partners. He knew that even some of the Primarchs had asked the Astartes around him behind his back, curious about the real reason. . Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus, they seem to be two different people...
No, that's too wrong, they are the same person. At least that's what Fulgrim thought. The same pursuit of perfection and the same similar qualities make their souls seem to be fused together in a furnace and quenched together.
He saw what he looked like in Ferus, or what he hoped to become. He had indeed seen it this way a long time ago.
In the early days, he always looked for his own appearance in every mirror to determine where he was. Otherwise, he simply cannot find where he should stand, or what kind of reality his existence is reflected in.
Purple Phoenix is a person who stands out from the ordinary world. However, his extraordinaryness comes from something God-given, a superhuman quality that suddenly increases with his growth or birth.
When his outstanding and persevering but few descendants waited for him, when the light of the Emperor descended on Chemos, or earlier, when he stepped up from the bottom of Chemos step by step Does he live in fear of being exposed when he steps up higher, into palaces and palaces?
When he was proud and satisfied with his achievements, was he worried that when he woke up one day, his workshop team leader knocked on his door and told him kindly that his gains were due to someone? Was it a mistake and now they have been properly taken away?
Because he is so otherworldly, he is so unusual... On the gray continent of Chemos, he lives like a beautiful dream of humble origin. He is a bird with gorgeous tail feathers. There has never been any flying bird as charming as him. He is proud of his achievements, but he can't help but wonder if his patterns are drawn with ink? He waited for a rain that would wash away his decorations...
Nearly two hundred years ago, when he returned to the empire, things changed... The world in Fulgrim's eyes suddenly became different, from a gray-white space to a vast and glorious sky - the world is so vast. , almost catching Fulgrim off guard. His heart of worry and pride still held these two emotions, but their source had changed.
He grew up on a very desolate planet. He unified it, but that was all. His extraordinaryness became so mundane among the brothers that the planets and legions he owned seemed ordinary in comparison with the other brothers.
Compared to Horus and Russ who returned early, he does not own time. Compared to Perturabo, Dorn and Guilliman, he does not own a kingdom. He is not a psychic master. His craftsmanship skills are not at the forefront, he has no natural affinity, his swordsmanship is exquisite but not invincible...
He is proud, but cannot find a foothold for his pride. He has achieved many achievements, but this achievement is no more than any of his brothers.
Does he have a piece of evidence that will always prove that he thinks as well as others? Will he reveal any flaws that might make him appear to be a mistake?
I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough. I'm not perfect. Do I deserve to be in this position. Are my flaws my hidden dangers? I cannot prove that I am irreplaceable in any aspect. I don't take my existence for granted. I don't want to fail. My imperfect existence was rewarded with more than I was worth.
Am I still a mortal in Chemos.
So he always looks for his own existence from the confirmation of the people around him. He is chasing perfection, chasing a mirror that can prove himself.
And Ferrus Manus - a legend from Medusa, a pure man who seems to be immortal forever. His planet is more desolate than him, but he has never been so wandering and panicked.
He is aware of his mission, he is a weapon of the Emperor, and he is loyal to his own existence and desires.
So Ferrus Manus was a shining and steadfast piece of steel, the mirror Fulgrim needed. His recognition seems to prove his perfection and the value of his pursuit.
What a strange mentality - one that should not be present in a Primarch. Thinking about it now, Fulgrim himself always wanted to smile... But at that time, who taught a proud man who looked brilliant to be a person who didn't need a mirror?
He shines a flawless shadow, a flawless face and a proud legion. While he's busy improving his legions and perfecting his Chemos, he needs the solace that he can safely claim his current success.
But...but. When he looks back, when he sees everything he owns, when time and love flow through him, is he still so afraid?
His descendants loved him, and Ferrus was his best friend. If he still used a mirror to reflect his gorgeous phoenix feathers, then the name of that mirror would have been mutual love. He kept flying, just like the people around him told him, and they were absolutely right.
Yes, why does he resist and dare not think? He had obviously figured it all out long ago. He clearly knew how to proudly listen to the true joys, sorrows, and sorrows in his heart, and trust his own choices - he just had to think about it, what was there that he couldn't figure out?
He chooses to fall, and he controls his own direction. He has such a belief, and enough joy and persistence to support him in doing so.
His thoughts quickly flew back to reality, and he seemed to faintly hear the powerless curses in the darkness... He should be filled with resentment and never return, so why did he go so frivolously...
It simply made Fulgrim Want to laugh.
“So why are we friends?” Fulgrim coughed and asked on a whim.
"I don't know, it's already." Ferus said coldly, as if this was something he was very proud of. "Which of us defeated whom?"
"Oh, the victory and defeat are often interchanged. Sometimes I catch up with you, and sometimes you catch up with me." Fulgrim said, "Your steel My hands are my mirror, and my wings of fire are the source of light that shines upon me, which always makes me feel great."
"I don't understand the second part of your sentence, Fogg. Rim."
"Because you have lost your memory, my brother," Fulgrim said softly, feeling tired. The artillery controlled by Ferus Manus also relied on his own strength, but it was Ferus's brain. "Sooner or later I'm going to have to find out why you're here," he said.
"I'm sorry." Ferrus said dullly, "I have made it more difficult for you."
"Oh, you did."
"You lost part of yourself."
"Yes."
"An arm and part of a leg?"
>
"Next time you are deceived by something, think of my hands and legs, Ferus!" Fulgrim teased. "I'm really here to fight for you, my friend."
Ferus said nothing.
“Say something.”
Ferrus said slowly: “You start telling me why I am here.”
“Yes. Ah, because this is the trouble you caused me, Lord Iron Hand. Although I don't know what happened, you were trapped in a bunch of sacrifice rituals when I found you."
< br>“I’m sorry.”
"You said that."
"Okay. It's my fault (Meaculpa)."
"High Gothic...better not to let me know what it is. I used an excuse to trick you here, otherwise I will be in trouble with that excuse." Fulgrim snorted and couldn't help but say, "Take good care of your heirs."
"I understand. "Ferrus paused, "What are my descendants?"
"Your clan, your warrior army, I now doubt that you came to Cadia and have something to do with them. ”
"Really?" Ferus quieted down thoughtfully.
The sharp laughter hidden in the darkness seemed to be much quieter during their conversation, only returning to Fulgrim's spirit during those gaps, and the fatigue of the battle and the pain that he deliberately ignored were very real. The ground surged up into his torso, clutching at his heart as if he was suffering from a mortal heart attack. The darkness continued to deprive and erode him, and he relied on his superb battle memory to maximize his strength and avoid staggering - he fought as freely as if he had drunk alcohol, or it could be called staggering.
After a while, his mood calmed down.
"I feel a little tired, Ferus." He said, sharing with Ferus seriously, "Fortunately, it doesn't hurt much, my senses are dulled. But I can't keep fighting. ."
"No one can do it." Ferus replied very objectively, "Do you have a way to get out?"
"I'm just waiting for our companion, Rogal Dorn, a very serious guy, betting that he can find someone to solve the problem. For example, he might be able to summon the Golden Throne. It was the Emperor who found me last time . "
Ferrus did not answer for a moment, either he was considering various possibilities, or he was thinking about who Fulgrim was talking about. "I always feel that I don't have time to discuss everything with him. Tell me, if I come later, will you still wake up?"
"I'm not sure."
"Just think that I saved you at the last second, Ferus, so that I can be happy."
"Okay." Did Ferus smile? Maybe.
Fulgrim complained: "I feel like my bones are going to break, my knees are so weak, Ferrus, you'd better not laugh."
"I don't. ."
Ferrus was quiet for a while, "I can't make any suggestions. You don't need my help in melee combat."
"Talk to me and help me refresh myself. A turning point, I believe it will come.”
"Before that, do you want to keep fighting?"
Fulgrim took a breath and heard the glassy parts of his body crackling and shattering, like sparks exploding in a furnace. The silver flowing steel covered him in an instant, filling his entire mouth. He seemed to have become a living candlestick, with a skeleton made of steel.
“Who can defeat us—Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus!” Fulgrim said, seeing the mirrors again, but this time, there was no phantom in the mirrors. There was only a hint of cold light from the steel monster.
He turned around suddenly and failed to resist the next thrust. His speed had slowed, he was no longer as nimble as he had been at first, his steps were weighed down, he was exhausted and tired.
The machine's claws pierced his abdomen and dug an empty hole in the middle of his body.
"It'll be okay." Ferus growled.
The backpack on the back flickered, and a slender mechanical claw was accurately detected. The tip accurately penetrated the shoulder screw of the headless mechanical monster. An armor plate made a sharp metal friction sound. In an instant, Falling, the damaged machinery sank into the shadows.
Almost at the same time, Ferus groaned.
Fulgrim stepped back, barely feeling the warm pulse of his bleeding belly, and could only feel a void-like feeling of emptiness and passage.
But Ferus remained silent.
"...What's wrong with you?" Fulgrim asked softly. "Tell me."
"That's me." Ferus said seriously.
“What do you mean?” Fulgrim chased, “What did you say?”
“That is my existence, my essence. I feel him. He is My body, the labyrinth is an extension of him."
"I know, but it is just a body. You are not in my body now..."
"It's not just a shell. I cannot exist apart from my essence, Fulgrim." Ferrus replied. "When it weakens, I weaken. I am not truly separated from him. We are all within my essence. We are The same."
"No, Ferus, you are not the same thing - it is killing me, but you are helping me."
After a while, Ferus. Answered: "I can feel it. It doesn't want your life. It wants you. I can't help you. My existence consumes your strength."
"Don't say that, Ferus. Fulgrim replied. "Compared to running to find you, this cost is nothing to mention."
"Then I won't say that anymore."
The flowing liquid continuously gushes out from the damaged wound on Phoenix's abdomen. It is no longer a pure golden-red brilliance, but a time matrix mixed with traces of purple light. In his dulled body, he once again found overwhelming pain.
The texture of the mechanical monster that continues to grow from mirrors and shadows has changed. Its silver surface has become smoother. Each section is a small mirror. As long as Fulgrim and He fights, and he can't escape those images.
It doesn't matter, Fulgrim doesn't care at all how he looks in the mirror. He has his own figure in his heart, and he knows what he looks like - however, it is no longer his own appearance in the mirror. .
A new trap, a new plan, built around his mind.
The man he saw became Ferrus Manus...not a reflection taken from him, but an internal projection from the depths of the machine itself, refracted into its outer shell image on.
This is a thing of the past... Under the control of the dark power, he saw Ferus appearing silently in this long cave. Originally the Key of Hel's satellite that sealed the chamber, it was Ferrus's attempt to exorcise the demon. Then, uncharacteristically, he continued deeper underground. There was faint pain and anger on Ferus's face. Something induced him to set foot on this otherworldly space that was obviously not within the realm of Medusa.
What is that?
While Fulgrim was staring at the mirror image, the mechanical monster suddenly made a harsh sound of metal friction, and the mechanical claws struck like lightning, straight into his chest. Fulgrim reacted quickly and swung his flaming sword to block the blow. The huge impact made his arm slightly paralyzed, sparks flew everywhere, and a harsh collision sound erupted between the metal spikes and the sword blade.
The colorless liquid flowing in the cold machine flowed to Fulgrim during the battle. Fulgrim's blood fell on the machine. Their battle became more and more entangled, and the bloody light illuminated the surface of the machine. Every ridge is coated with a layer of cruel glaze, and the boundaries between the two become increasingly blurred.
Fulgrim finally removed one side of the machine's rib armor. On the fallen armor, he saw Ferus in the mirror hesitating on the edge of darkness. Compared to fighting, his heart couldn't stop. Offset: What makes the Iron Hands' tenacity waver?
The claws slammed into the ground, causing a cloud of steel fragments and flying sparks. Fulgrim quickly regained his footing, and while breathing, his eyes were still locked on the monster. Every blow, every collision made him aware of the connection between himself and Ferus, as if the mechanical monster was tearing not only his flesh, but also the bond between him and his brother.
Darkness stole Ferus' body... Fulgrim's eyes suddenly turned cold, and the golden-red flames burst out instantly, burning the mechanical body. With the sound of metal twisting, the monster's lower body was The burned flesh and blood let out a roar of pain, began to retreat, fell into the darkness again, and lurked away.
Among the scattered fragments, he saw the image of Ferus taking a step forward. Because an arm stretched out from the darkness, a very white and slender arm, and Ferus's face rose with such vigorous anger——
Fulgrim seemed to recognize that arm The owner seems to dare not recognize it. His relaxed heart picked up again.
Meanwhile, outside the frame, in his own body, Ferus's voice was feeble: "If I return to my existence..."
Fulgrim stole his voice: "How dare you do this? Why do you think I'm here, Ferrus!"
"Listen to me, I won't give up. You do it for me I see everything clearly. I am its mind and it is my body. As long as my mind is still there, you will not destroy us together. "Then let me control it while you wait for our rescue."
The debris fell, and among the falling debris, he saw Ferus raising his warhammer and hitting the arm in the darkness. He saw that the arm was shining with silver, but covered with blasphemous purple patterns.
He looked at his steel hand again, ah, it was indeed so. It turned out to be so.
It wasn’t for the trouble of his heirs, there was another reason for Ferus’ wrong step. The voice in the darkness actually imitated the purple phoenix's gifted arm.
And the arm suddenly stretched out, piercing Ferus's chest like a poisonous snake...
(End of Chapter)