Deep in the maelstrom, on a red planet, stands a huge and deformed city, and the magnificent arena in the center of the city is bustling with people, because its shape is like a skull with its head dug out, so it has to be Pirate Arena - A common mantra among the Maelstrom pirates is to use the opponent's skull as a bowl.
But today the arena welcomed a distinguished guest, the ruler of the Red Pirates, the true master of the Maelstrom, the Black-Hearted King, Huron.
Generally speaking, the champions of the Red Pirates are chosen from the Skull Feast, but besides that, there is another way, which is the death challenge.
This challenge is mainly aimed at those Chaos Space Marines or Renegade Space Marines who have just arrived and want to gain high status and their own power, and the challenge items are formulated by Huron himself.
This time, the challengers were two dark angels of unknown origin. Although their armors had almost no markings, Huron guessed that the two of them were members of the dark angels in the past, but whether they were from the first batch of rebellious fallen angels. It's not easy to say, because the fallen angels seem to still retain the ability to create new recruits.
As for the loyalty of these mysterious former Dark Angel members, to be honest Huron doesn't care too much. He has taken in guys who are more mysterious than them. In fact, talking about loyalty with strangers in the Maelstrom is a very luxury thing. , everyone is nothing more than an exchange of interests. I give you benefits, and you do me a few favors. This is the relationship.
Even if these challengers get rich rewards from Huron and leave, Huron won't say anything. It's not too bad to make friends. After all, even the worst Chaos Space Marines will face favors. You will also consider one or two things when you are in debt.
Some people think that Huron is stupid and is often used for free, but Huron knows his abilities very well and understands where his limits are. This is why he does not have as strong a desire to control as Abaddon. He does not Don't expect to hold everything in your hands, it's like playing a dangerous game with the four gods. Balance is what he needs, although it is similar to dancing on an egg.
His philosophy of life is very simple, existence is everything, and everything is for existence.
This is why Huron escaped from the empire with a half-dead body and an equally dilapidated battle group, but decades later he was able to personally create a power that was enough to crush an entire sector.
Abaddon's military may have been stronger than his, but it took Huron less than a century to build his power, while Abaddon's took ten thousand years to reach its current size.
The former Legions were arrogant about their history and mocked the Red Corsairs as latecomers to their so-called Ten Thousand Years of War, but where was their Primarch? Whose legacy are they clinging to?
"let's start."
Huron's seemingly broken body sat on the huge throne, in a position where he would not be directly looked at by any eyes. The bodyguards wearing Terminator armor with horns and fangs set up a cordon around him.
After giving the instruction, Huron's hand gently brushed the scaly head of the pet next to the throne, and the subspace monster also purred comfortably.
Although he is the ruler of the Maelstrom, apart from his own pets, the only people Huron can trust wholeheartedly are the former Starclaw warrior brothers around him.
Even though the limbs of many Terminators were affected by the mingling of flesh and metal caused by the desecrated warp energy, Huron demanded efficiency and obedience, and he would not let his followers get lost, so he always Try to keep these Terminator bodyguards away from sorcery that is too depraved.
Many people have thought about using Chaos as their own tool, and most of them ended up reaping the consequences of their arrogance. Huron still maintains a balance on the edge of the sharp blade, not leaning towards any destructive power, but still from them Benefit from the gift.
He knew very well that he was a powerful trophy for any god, and it was his cunning that kept him from being caught in any god's trap - at least for now.
Therefore, Huron would never allow himself to become overconfident and superstitious.
With the sound of a heavy drum, all the audience fell silent. They were all mutant mercenaries or pirates living in New Badab, as well as Chaos warbands.
Huron moved his body, and then picked up a filled goblet from the plate held by the servitor on the side.
In the yellow sand of the arena, two unruly black figures walked out first. They were wearing ancient armor, one holding a big sword and the other holding a sword and shield.
Then, with a defiant roar, a hulking creature entered the arena leading a horde of profane mutants and Chaos Space Marines.
The leader of the beast is impressive. He is bigger than a Chaos Space Marine wearing a Terminator, with huge muscles, a bloated waist, hands like shovels, hooves like anvils, broken Space Marine armor and intricate Marks covered his furry body.
With every movement he made, the patterns on his body changed. At the same time, his left hand held a black iron spear inlaid with a screaming coat of arms.
His name is Gonzalo Parker. He was once a member of the Word Bearers, and later became a possessed warrior. Due to various reasons, he finally broke away from the original warband, defected to Huron with those who were willing to follow him, and became He took part of the schooner and launched plunder on the empire many times, causing several massacres.
However, today, they were designated by Huron as the challenged party in the death challenge, which made Gonzalo quite angry, because in his eyes, this was what a bastard should do, not a strong man like him.
So, he poured out his anger on the two strangers in black armor in front of him.
“Today’s prayers are not yet complete.”
Gonzalo made a deep voice, and his eyes shone with a light of wisdom that was different from ordinary possessed warriors. This is also a special point of the Word Bearers Legion - there are many more possessed warriors among them who can preserve wisdom than other legions. :
"I have performed a divination, and the gods are willing to offer two sacrifices today."
"That's your beastly god, not mine."
The fallen angel holding the big sword made a contemptuous sound, and then raised his sword to signal.
"Come on, you lost dog of the 17th Legion, I can fight you one on one."
Gonzalo laughed, a strange echo coming from his twisted throat.
"Why? You're dead. I never duel with the dead."
But the other party's response was equally sharp.
"Dead? That's not necessarily the case. I can kill all of you beasts by myself."
The possessed warrior's spear hit the ground, and then the mutants and several possessed warriors in his warband rushed forward with wild beast-like roars, their eyes full of violence and killing intent, and Gonzalo also showed his sharp sword. Fangs.
"Tear out the hearts of these two rats, I will eat half of them! Sacrifice half of them!"
The beasts immediately let out terrifying howls and swarmed forward.
