PS: Some of Archaon's settings in this chapter are inspired by storytelling and the content of the YouTuber "Double-tailed Comet." I want to clarify that this book is a fanfiction novel, which inherently includes my personal preferences, adaptations, and dramatizations. It does not strictly adhere to the official lore. Novels are not academic papers; entertainment and logic take precedence over strict accuracy. Otherwise, wouldn't Luo Guanzhong (author of Romance of the Three Kingdoms) be guilty of a thousand crimes? There are many Warhammer fanfictions out there, and if this doesn't suit your taste, feel free to explore others.
PS2: Similar adaptations will not be explained further in the future. Suggestions and lore explanations are welcome, but I won't accept overly aggressive comments. Even official lore and novels often contradict each other, and I've seen enough to not bother nitpicking.
Unlike the other Chaos Gods—Khorne, Tzeentch, and Nurgle—Slaanesh does not shy away from welcoming visitors into its domain. Khorne enjoys challengers, but only if they are strong enough to catch the Blood God's attention, like Count Ryan, who once slew Khorne's former champion, "Red Eye" Egil Styrbjorn.
Tzeentch is outright hostile to outsiders, which is why it hides behind the Crystal Labyrinth. Knowledge is reserved only for those who can navigate the maze or find the correct path.
Nurgle welcomes all followers, but only if they are willing to become its children. Those who refuse to embrace the Grandfather's love are only fit to become fertilizer in Nurgle's garden.
Only Slaanesh truly opens its arms to all who wish to enter its realm.
When Archaon stepped into Slaanesh's domain, the Everchosen was filled with caution. He knew how devastating Slaanesh's corruption could be for mortals. Great warriors, wise scholars, battle-hardened generals, and artists—those who fearlessly faced combat and resisted corruption—often fell to Slaanesh's temptations once they tasted the pleasures offered by the Prince of Excess.
Slaanesh does not confront you directly. The Dark Prince slowly guides mortals, gradually eroding their minds, bodies, and souls until they are consumed by insatiable desires, emptiness, and darkness.
The scenery shifted rapidly as Archaon cautiously but fearlessly entered Slaanesh's trial.
The landscape transformed, and the world turned upside down.
Mountains of gold, waterfalls of diamonds, oceans of jewels, and peaks of silver—endless wealth surrounded Archaon. The floor was made of gold, and the rain falling from the sky was diamonds. Archaon knew that the wealth here could buy the entire Empire if brought to the mortal world. Countless Slaanesh followers and corrupted souls were greedily filling large sacks with coins and treasures. Their faces were twisted with greed, picking up one thing only to drop another, forgetting what they had just collected. Yet, no matter how much they gathered, the wealth was endless. The sacks would burst under the weight, or the collectors would collapse under the burden, and everything would start anew.
Archaon ignored it all. The Everchosen cared nothing for wealth. He disregarded all invitations and treasures, pressing forward.
The scenery changed again, and the second trial unfolded before Archaon.
A massive lake hung in the sky, perhaps tens of thousands of meters wide and long. The lake was filled with the sweetest, most intoxicating wine, its aroma irresistible, surpassing even the finest vineyards of the Old World. On either side of the lake, millions of golden chains hung, each bearing a sumptuous feast. The food was exquisitely cooked, tender and juicy. Hundreds of thousands of people were immersed in the lake, drinking the wine and feasting endlessly. They swam in the wine, drinking from below and eating from above.
The aroma of the food made Archaon's mouth water. The Everchosen recalled his past. Though his need for food had diminished since falling to Chaos, he still required sustenance. For decades, he had survived on mutated beasts, rats, and other filthy creatures. Delicious food had been a luxury.
Yet, this temptation was not enough for Archaon. The Everchosen pressed on, ignoring all invitations from mortals and daemons to join the feast.
The third trial appeared.
A golden sky, a wealthy estate, and a grove of trees covered with soft blankets and straw. Here, men, women, and other beings wore only thin veils. They frolicked happily among the trees and bushes, enjoying the pleasures of the flesh.
Soft music and seductive dances filled the air. Daemon dancers moved between the trees, their movements mesmerizing and maddening. Beasts sang sweet, intoxicating songs, driving people deeper into madness. They embraced, indulged, and lost themselves in primal desires. The estate was a scene of unbridled debauchery.
It grew more insane, more perverse.
Archaon couldn't help but recall his intimate moments with the nun Giselle. The Everchosen admitted that, despite the endless arguments and conflicts, their intimacy had been one of his few comforts.
When a woman who looked strikingly like Giselle, clad only in a thin veil and stockings, reached out to invite Archaon into the estate to join the revelry, the Everchosen hesitated for a moment.
The next second, the Slayer of Kings was drawn, and the woman was cut in two.
"Don't think this can stop me."
"Tsk tsk tsk, my dear, it seems you don't like this," Slaanesh's voice echoed from afar, filled with amusement.
The fourth trial unfolded before Archaon.
The Everchosen found himself standing on a high platform, atop a massive castle hundreds of meters tall.
Below him were millions, perhaps an endless sea of people, praising Archaon's great achievements. They cheered and revered him, comparing him to a god. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, countless legions, awaited Archaon's command, ready to conquer the world at his word. This was the poison of power and arrogance, something few mortals could resist.
Archaon's heart was briefly filled with satisfaction. This was what he wanted. But the Everchosen allowed this feeling to last only a few seconds. Having such a vast army was a means, not the end.
His goal was destruction.
The fourth trial was easily passed, and the scenery changed once more.
A grand temple appeared before Archaon. Inside, statues, murals, poems, tapestries, and scrolls all depicted Archaon's great deeds. People worshipped him, revered him, and made him their sole faith. As Archaon walked through the temple's courtyard, fragrant flowers and swaying grass greeted him. The breeze carried his name, recounting his achievements and glory. Memories of victories echoed in the Everchosen's mind, telling him how great he had already become.
You've done enough! You are already great.
The fifth trial was the least significant. Archaon's ultimate goal was still unfulfilled. He felt no satisfaction from his past achievements, believing they were far from enough.
As Archaon's thoughts shifted, the courtyard changed. The fragrant flowers turned into sharp thorns, the swaying grass became daemonic disguises, and the breeze carried the despairing whispers of mortals trapped in their past glories.
The sixth and final trial arrived.
It was a sea. White jade-like sand gently shifted under the waves, and the salty sea breeze brushed against Archaon's cloak and his armor, the Armor of Morkar. The endless sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air, and the warm sunlight bathed Archaon.
The Everchosen paused. This seemed like a paradise. Archaon couldn't figure out what the trial was. There were no temptations, no pleasures, no physical or mental indulgences—just a sea, a beach, and a sun.
It was too quiet. Where was the trial?
Archaon silently walked along the beach, unable to find the answer or the exit.
Everything was so peaceful. The waves lapped against the shore, and the warm sun made Archaon feel at ease.
It's so quiet here. There are no Slaanesh daemons around. This trial is so different from the others.
Yes, perhaps Slaanesh has sent all its followers to the first five trials.
But that doesn't matter anymore.
Archaon gazed at the endless sea, suddenly recalling his long journey.
I'm so tired, so very tired. The weight of his armor suddenly felt unbearable, and the Slayer of Kings seemed to bend his back. His scars ached.
Now, the Crown of Domination is within reach. All my efforts have not been in vain. As long as I keep moving forward, the path will continue.
I'm so tired!
Archaon couldn't help but sit down. He even wanted to lie down.
A century of war had exhausted him. The sunlight soothed his soul, and the waves gently caressed his heart. His eyes grew heavy, and the Everchosen collapsed onto the sand.
Sleep, sleep, my darling~
Just as Archaon was about to fall asleep, a figure clad in golden armor, wielding the hammer Ghal Maraz, flashed through his mind. The Everchosen jolted awake as if bitten by a snake!
He's not dead yet! I haven't exposed his lies! I haven't overthrown his Empire! I haven't destroyed the world!
How can I fall here? No! Absolutely not!
Archaon forcefully shook off his drowsiness. He understood what this trial was!
It was sloth! The instinct of humanity!
"Is this part of your plan, Slaanesh? Show yourself!" Archaon roared, drawing the Slayer of Kings and shouting at the sky.
"Ahahaha! Darling! You always surprise me!" The scenery faded, and Slaanesh's form emerged from the darkness. The Prince of Pleasure was utterly delighted, even blushing with excitement, and approached Archaon with a swaying gait. "Won't you consider becoming my Daemon Prince? I'll grant you the highest status and the greatest pleasures. You are my love!"
"Enough nonsense!" Archaon coldly demanded. "What other trials do you have? Bring them on."
"The trials are over, congratulations, my dear~" Slaanesh's avatar danced around Archaon. "Congratulations, you big bad wolf, you pervert, H! Won't you really consider becoming my chief Daemon Prince?"
"I refuse!" Archaon replied.
"Wait, let me dance for you first!" Slaanesh's avatar threw off its clothes and began to dance before Archaon, its graceful and seductive movements captivating. It sang a song as it danced.
Hundreds of Slaanesh daemons played instruments made of human skin, bones, faces, and sinews.
A sweet yet twisted song began, and the Prince of Pleasure reached out to tilt Archaon's chin upward.
"No matter how I fly~"
"I can't escape this world of flowers~"
"For I am but a~"
"Drunken butterfly~"
Swaying behind Archaon, Slaanesh's hand slid under his armor, tracing his spine.
"Your vow~"
"So lightly spoken~"
"Has bound me~"
"In an eternal knot↑"
The Prince of Pleasure embraced Archaon from the front, then, to the envy of all the Slaanesh daemons, extended a barbed tongue to lick Archaon's neck.
"Flowers bloom in spring~"
"The moon wanes in autumn~"
"For I am but a~"
"Drunken butterfly~"
Archaon remained unmoved, simply closing his eyes and waiting for it all to end.
"Flowers bloom and wither~"
"The moon rises and sets~"
"For I am but a~"
"Drunken butterfly~"
As the song ended, Archaon showed no reaction. Slaanesh, displeased, gestured to the daemons and changed into a new set of furisode kimono, beginning a lively dance.
"As the moon rises~"
"Red lanterns in hand~"
"The festival's signal sounds~"
"Dance lightly, flutter lightly, entice and enchant~"
"Take a closer look~"
"Once entranced, there's no escape~"
"If you seek joy and freedom~"
"Welcome to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!"
...
Archaon remained expressionless throughout. As the song Gokuraku Jodo (Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss) ended, the Everchosen simply said, "Is it over? Can we proceed to the next trial?"
"Oh, I'm truly defeated by you, my dear~" Slaanesh's avatar was both excited and disappointed. It planted a passionate kiss on Archaon's cheek. "Fine! You've passed my trial!"
"Don't forget me, my love! I look forward to our next meeting!"
Slaanesh's avatar dissipated into the void.
The final trial was the simplest, most direct, and purest.
Khorne's trial, compared to the other three Gods', was straightforward. The Bloodthirster Skarbrand the Exiled was summoned to face Archaon in direct combat.
The Everchosen took a deep breath and engaged Skarbrand in a titanic battle. To be fair, Archaon's current strength was no less than Skarbrand's, but Archaon had one advantage—the four artifacts he possessed, aside from Dorghar, the Steed of the Apocalypse, granted him immense power and blessings.
As the Slayer of Kings absorbed the flames from the Chaos shrine, Skarbrand fell.
The Crown of Domination was within reach.
It rested on the desiccated corpse of its previous bearer.
Today, nothing could stop Archaon from being crowned the Everchosen!
Not even Be'lakor, who arrived too late to possess Archaon, nor Giselle, who finally revealed her true identity and made Archaon understand the whole truth, could stop him!
After a fierce battle, Archaon, upon seeing the Chaos star mark on Giselle's body, finally understood who was behind it all. He breathed heavily, looking at the dagger in his chest, and asked his lover's phantom, "So, it was all a lie?"
Giselle, under Be'lakor's control, twistedly smiled. "Indeed! I've waited so long for this day!"
"Have you forgotten something, Be'lakor?" Archaon drew the Slayer of Kings.
"You're no match for me now, Archaon. Hand over your body!" Be'lakor laughed maniacally. "In your current state, you can't defeat me with the Slayer of Kings!"
"True, I can't defeat you," Archaon gasped. Be'lakor's power as a Daemon Prince was indeed overwhelming. "But have you forgotten that before the Slayer of Kings was a sword, it was a vessel?"
"What?!" Be'lakor's expression changed dramatically.
"Come forth, U'zhul!" A Greater Daemon emerged from the Slayer of Kings!
In the end, Be'lakor was defeated. Archaon acknowledged Be'lakor's immense strength, but the six artifacts he possessed granted him power a hundredfold.
After defeating Be'lakor, the Everchosen looked at his lover, the nun Giselle. He knew Giselle had long been dead—perhaps her very existence had been a lie.
There was nothing left to cling to. Archaon calmly cut Giselle in two with the Slayer of Kings and walked toward his destined fate.
The power of the Chaos Gods flowed into Archaon from all directions, from the void, from the stars, from the distant corners of the universe.
"Ten thousand years later, we shall grant you the same mission we gave Horus—to slay the False Emperor and bring about the ultimate destruction!"
"Now, accept our blessings, the final Everchosen, Archaon!"
His wounds healed, and his body grew stronger.
Be'lakor was forced to crown Archaon, completing the coronation. He officially became the Lord of the End Times and began gathering an unprecedented army from the north.
From this day forward, humanity's last spark of hope was extinguished. The world would now face its inevitable fate.
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