"...Erebus is dead?"
Lorgar looked at the senior priest of the Word Bearers who was half kneeling on the ground in confusion. He even doubted whether he heard correctly.
But the high-ranking priest just nodded silently, and his trembling figure symbolized that his mind was as shocked as the Primarch.
"…this…"
Facing the shock and silence shown by his heir, Luojia became even more confused.
He couldn't understand the meaning of this news.
In his eyes, the devout and shrewd Erebus was undoubtedly the mainstay of the Word Bearers, and his sacrifice would almost symbolize the annihilation of the accompanying Word Bearers chapter.
In fact, as the chief priest of the Word Bearers, Erebus's status is not low.
Lorgar divided the Word Bearers' organization into regular warbands and priests led by himself, among which the priest's status was extremely prominent.
The two lines of power within the Word Bearers Legion often intersect and evolve. Although the two lines were theoretically separate, no low-ranking captain would question the authority of a high-ranking priest.
As the Chief Chaplain, Erebus symbolizes the center of the chain of command of the Chaplains of the Seventeenth Legion.
Apart from the Chapter Master, he is second only to the Primarch.
Logically speaking, Erebus is even qualified to dispatch an expedition fleet to accompany him.
And he died.
Lorgar had no memory of sending Erebus to some extremely dangerous heretic worlds.
Word Bearers casualties are usually not high.
The Seventeenth Legion has not accepted battlefield missions with extremely high combat intensity recently. Their mission is usually to recover some worlds that have not yet completely surrendered to the empire, and to use faith and the "Book of Holy Words" to conquer those uncivilized barbaric believers. They took them under their command.
After thinking for a moment, Luojia asked.
"How he died."
Facing the Primarch's question, the senior priest lowered his head.
"…in the Perfect City, the Chief Chaplain was executed as 'heretic' by the Primarch of the Twelfth Legion."
"The reasons...are 'Planning to betray the Empire' and 'Heretical Beliefs'."
The senior priest's voice was trembling, and there seemed to be an indescribable struggle in his heart.
"...?"
Luo Jia frowned.
He had heard a little bit about the Primarch of the Twelfth Legion...but why was 'betrayal' related to the death of Erebus?
Before Lorgar could think about the cause and effect, the Word Bearer trembled and told more important news.
"The Emperor...has personally arrived at the Perfect City."
"He asked...the Word Bearers' fleet to personally destroy the Perfect City."
…
…
The perfect city.
Figures of gold and scarlet paced the corridors, and the sounds of conversation echoed through them.
"...Can he understand what you mean?"
"He has to understand."
The white jade statue of the God Emperor was dyed with a warm color by the candlelight, and even the closed eyes seemed to show some kindness.
"...I thought you would change your choices a little after seeing that kind of future."
Elaine sighed slightly.
"Especially...after I kill the scumbag who will cause all tragedies."
Just as she expected, during that unprecedented war, time had passed by quietly for decades.
It was not until the end of the war that she was transported to a critical time point in the real universe by the subspace storm set off by the Blood God.
Not long after she killed Erebus, the Lord of Humanity's fleet arrived over the Perfect City.
And...sentenced the perfect city to death.
"..."
“The future does not change based on any subjective foreknowledge.”
The Lord of Humanity looked up at the majestic and sacred statue in silence and spoke slowly.
“But its existence is unreasonable.”
The majesty revealed in his words symbolized his determination and will.
"...You are still very strict with your religious requirements."
Regarding the attitude shown by the emperor, Elaine couldn't help but shake her head slightly.
In fact, since she returned to the living universe, she has clearly felt that there is some invisible push pushing her towards the inevitable and unavoidable future.
His empty right arm was still aching, and some invisible connection seemed to be connecting to the distant starry sky.
Although the Ultramarines fleet did not arrive with the Emperor as in history, a series of bizarre developments were gradually heading towards violence.
"Not harshly."
"Because I've seen too much tragedy and destruction."
There was a hint of regret in the emperor's voice, and his gaze shifted from the majestic holy elephant to Elaine's one arm.
His gaze became deeper and deeper, as if he was aware that Elaine's right arm was still aching, and he seemed to be aware that her right arm would bring an unspeakable fate.
"That's too insignificant compared to everything that's about to happen."
"Whether Lorgar's fate is irreversible or not, whether the Seventeenth Legion goes against the Empire, no matter..."
"Whether that mutiny really happened."
As if aware of the emperor's attitude and gaze, Elaine clenched her teeth slightly.
"——I don't understand."
"You should have seen... humanity's will to resist in that war."
"In fact, I see that fate is not an impenetrable enemy."
"Under this will... everyone's sacrifice is not meaningless, and everyone should not submit to the destined tragedy."
"Even if it's just a slim chance... there are endless possibilities."
Under Elaine's sonorous words, the Lord of Humanity's pupils flickered for a moment.
After he patiently listened to his daughter's rebuttal, he slowly closed his eyes.
"...the price, my child."
"The point...is the price."
"Maybe your will is enough to support this resistance, but you have to think carefully about the price."
The emperor's voice became colder and colder, and the dissatisfaction on Elaine's face was reflected in his pupils.
"Your legion has been almost lost in the war with Him, your country has been consumed in endless decades of war, and your life and will have almost been left in the highest heaven."
"...I do not deny the precious will you and your legion have shown, but you cannot impose this will on your other brothers."
"Especially... Lorgar."
"You presumptuously killed his chief priest, pouring the flames of rebellion upon the Word Bearers' head..."
"No one will ask for salvation from the future before the truth comes."
Under the emperor's cold and ruthless words, Elaine's fists clenched tighter.
"Even if he is really saved by your wishful thinking... none of your efforts will be remembered."
"……I do not care!"
Elaine roared, interrupting her father's sarcasm.
"Perturabo, Lorgar, Corax...my brothers, they all have the opportunity to be redeemed!"
"I never care about the price, and I never care about any remembrance..."
Amid Elaine's roar, the Lord of Humanity's closed eyes slowly opened, but there was no longer any indifference.
"The Empire should be better, and humanity should be better too!"
Yeah, she never cared about that kind of thing...whether she was remembered or not, whether her struggles had meaning or not.
She just wanted to make up for all the regrets, she just wanted to undo the tragedy that shouldn't have happened.
Ever since Elaine was born as a Primarch in this dark and terrifying universe, the endless shackles of fate have surrounded her - there were too many tragedies and regrets in that battle from the gods. Played out in a fantasy, there was too much and too heavy pain and hatred engraved on her body by thousands of desperate visions. To her, everything was not just a fantasy, and everything was not just a lie to her. .
Every betrayal that was too heavy, every struggle that was too painful, left huge scars on Elaine's soul. Even though she was redeemed by the emperor's sacred golden light, these sufferings brewed by endless bitter wine The past still exists in her heart, and the boundless darkness lurking in the sea of soul merges with the cursed knowledge.
So much so that this heavy pain has been combined with her soul, just like Angron's butcher's nail that symbolizes tragedy.
Even though her tough soul is enough to block all heavy suffering, it also subconsciously affects her choices all the time.
...And she herself never thought of rejecting such a choice.
Father and daughter faced each other in silence.
The cold moonlight shines on the face of the God Emperor, and the luxurious marble reflects a dazzling luster.
The Lord of Mankind stared at the blazing flame burning in Elaine's gilded pupils.
In it, he saw too little hope.
But in the endless terrifying darkness...it shines brightly enough.
Just like himself.
"So…"
"Just be prepared to bear this suffering and responsibility..."
The Emperor whispered softly.
"my child…"
In Elaine's shocked eyes, overly dazzling fiery spiritual energy burst out from the emperor's majestic figure. The entire church was illuminated by this dazzling light comparable to a star, and even the night sky was illuminated by this miraculous scene. Tearing out unimaginable light.
Until Elaine's vision returned to normal in the extreme glare, until... she felt sensation in her right arm again.
She stared at her right arm dumbfounded: the extremely luxurious gilt arm armor and scarlet satin covered the entire right arm, and a little dazzling golden light emerged from the gaps in the armor. If you look closely, you will find that there is nothing inside it. Physical body, but an existence composed of pure energy.
However, this flexible touch that can move freely means that this existence is not false.
"this…"
Elaine looked at the Lord of Humanity blankly, but there was only endless pity and lamentation in his eyes.
It's like watching a sad opera that is about to come to a shattering end.
"Now, I know...your burning will, your precious courage to face the irresistible."
"So, correspondingly, there is... a heavier, more unbearable responsibility."
In the soft voice of the Emperor, endless lamentations from ancient history echoed leisurely.
He turned around slowly, leaving only Elaine with a majestic back.
In this back view, Elaine saw everything: Augustus, Jesus, the first emperor, the last saint, the woman walking by the river, the hunter walking in the forest...
Everything is Him.
He is also constantly overlapping with the sacred image of the God Emperor.
It seems like it has never changed.
"My child. On this long journey, you will give everything..."
"Whether it's the responsibility of the Great Crusade or the price of changing your destiny."
"Until you are exhausted...until everything you know and hold dear is on its way to inevitable destruction."
At this moment, the tall figure in front of Elaine seemed to be gradually blurring.
It was as if this man in shining golden armor was not the lord of mankind wearing a laurel crown, as if this being shining with the icy rays of the sun was not the emperor of a great empire.
Rather, he is an old and strong old sailor who has been weighed down by years and time, but is still standing tall.
…
The waves of the highest heavens roll in the whispers of destructive power.
Cowardly souls drift with the tide, while strong wills struggle tenaciously.
On the dark and sparkling sea, there are only the playful gazes and mocking whispers from the gods, and there is only the dazzling rays of the cold golden sun.
The old chess game has been completely broken by the brave man's miraculous struggle.
A new chess game unfolded again amid the whispers of many chess players.
Their sights passed through the sea of souls, watching the Seventeenth Legion fleet traveling at full speed in the subspace channel, and glimpsed the vague uneasiness in the heart of the majestic primarch.
They saw his adoptive father fly into a rage.
They saw flickers of faith in him.
They saw his mind wavering.
Yes...everything has been changed, but nothing seems to have been changed.
The indigo string of fate was lamenting and fiddling with it at will, and he saw countless weird and strange changes intertwined at this moment.
The graceful lilac figure gave out a charming light, looking forward to the release of more heavy and hysterical desires.
The dark green decaying courtyard echoed with sighs of mercy. He pitifully embraced all the souls that had not been nourished, and blessed them all with love and despair.
As for the scarlet skull throne, there is only His laughter and roar.
The severed arm stained with sacred blood was the reward He won in the last chess game, and it was also the new bet of this chess game.
He was looking forward to her regaining it, and also looking forward to whether she would fall in the next moment.
The heavy ax from the past and future will tear into pieces all those who covet this loot.
They all stared at her figure.
They all looked at the faun and the angel.
The intricate chess game of the galaxy has been played out in the whispers and murmurs of the gods, and the Joker's successive endings have been foreseen by them.
A chaotic tide is constantly accumulating in the deep purple pupils, and countless futures that even they have not foreseen are budding in it.
Her majestic yet small figure kept flickering in the mist.
And a firefly that burns too much...will naturally end up extinguished.
…
…
