Magnus's sharp gaze had locked onto the metallic cube held by the 2nd Company captain the moment the latter had stepped out of the Thunderhawk gunship.
Even from afar, Magnus's immense psychic sensitivity allowed him to feel the restless energy sealed within the containment unit—a Chaos artifact, no doubt, and one possessing a soul.
His natural reaction was to heighten his vigilance. The slightest abnormality, and Magnus would not hesitate to unleash a psychic shockwave capable of obliterating the cube and its tainted contents entirely.
The 2nd Company captain, clad in his shimmering Terminator armor, strode confidently down the ramp of the gunship, accompanied by a dozen of his honor guard. The reflective metallic surface of their armor gleamed coldly under the light of Pandora's sun, their heavy footsteps reverberating across the base like the drumbeat of an impending storm.
Reaching the two towering Primarchs—Horus and Magnus—the captain halted his advance, his squad following suit in perfect unison.
Raising his right fist to his chest in a crisp salute, the captain then stepped forward and slightly raised his left hand, presenting the sealed containment cube. His voice was solemn and unwavering:
"Father, the 2nd Company has fulfilled its mission without failure. We have secured this artifact, a heretical tome that was discovered in the possession of the Chaos-corrupted Na'vi.
The item has been contained within this specialized unit to prevent its influence from spreading. Additionally, I assure you that within six hours, every remaining Na'vi tribe on Pandora will be eradicated. No threat will remain."
Horus's piercing, stern gaze lingered on the captain for a moment before he gave a small, cold nod.
"Very well."
Horus extended his left hand and took the containment unit. Though his movements were calm, his expression carried a deep gravity.
"Good work," Horus said, his voice a low rumble that conveyed both command and finality, like a boulder grinding its way down a mountainside. "Remember: no one is to be spared. Not the elderly, not the children. They are heretics, an affront to the Emperor's light and an insult to the Empire itself.
There's no need to waste time collecting biological samples; the Departmento Biologis already has comprehensive records on the Na'vi.
Your task is simple: purify Pandora. Leave no heretic alive. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father." The captain's response was resolute, his tone carrying the conviction of someone who would follow this command to the letter.
"Good. Now go." Horus's steely eyes swept across the captain and his honor guard. "Destroy every last one of them."
With another precise salute, the captain turned on his heel and marched back toward the Thunderhawks, his honor guard following closely behind.
Horus and Magnus remained where they stood, watching silently as the three pale Thunderhawks sealed their cargo bays and lifted off. The roar of their engines filled the air as they ascended into the sky, dwindling into mere specks before disappearing entirely.
As the last trace of the Thunderhawks vanished, Magnus tilted his head slightly, his eyes shifting toward Horus. His tone was measured, carrying an air of inquiry:
"Brother, may I examine the artifact they retrieved? I'd like to personally analyze its structure and assess any potential threats it might pose."
Horus, without a moment of hesitation, handed the containment unit to Magnus.
"Of course. But," Horus added, his tone growing more serious, "we should move to the underground defense facilities before we proceed.
We still don't fully understand the potential danger this thing represents, and I won't risk an incident on the surface—especially not one that could compromise the 2nd Company's base or the nearby settlements."
"You're absolutely right, brother," Magnus replied with a nod of agreement, carefully taking the containment unit into his hands.
The moment Magnus's fingers brushed the cube, he felt the chaotic energy sealed within it more acutely. It was like a caged predator, restless and unrelenting, clawing at the walls of its prison.
If the artifact were opened here, on the surface, the resulting psychic backlash could devastate not just the base, but the surrounding cities as well.
With that in mind, Magnus and Horus led their respective honor guards toward the base's subterranean entrance.
The group descended via a massive maglev elevator, its walls lined with reinforced plating and complex hydraulic systems. Thick armored conduits ran along the walls, humming faintly with energy.
Horus was the first to activate the control panel. The elevator hummed to life, its powerful mechanisms carrying them steadily downward, deep into the fortified core of the base—more than a hundred meters below ground.
When the elevator came to a halt, the group stepped into a high-security shelter.
The shelter, designed to withstand even the direct impact of an orbital bombardment, featured walls made of multi-layered composite armor several meters thick. Despite its utilitarian design, the room was equipped with an advanced command console that emitted a soft blue glow, its minimalist interface stark against the fortress-like surroundings.
"This should suffice," Horus said as he surveyed the room.
Magnus nodded, carefully placing the containment unit on the console.
The two Primarchs stood side by side, their imposing forms bathed in the cold white light of the shelter. Their honor guards—Gehsthalin, Sekhmet, and others—remained at the perimeter, weapons drawn and ready.
As the containment unit began to open, its mechanical plating unfolding like the petals of a flower, a strange tome emerged from within.
The book, encased in nanometal, radiated an unsettling presence. Its surface shimmered faintly under the light, the twisted patterns of its runes hinting at something far darker beneath.
Both Horus and Magnus stared at the artifact in silence.
Though their minds were fortified by the genetic gifts of the Emperor himself, even they could sense the weight of its malevolence.
Magnus extended his hand cautiously, his psychic aura manifesting as a faint golden glow around his fingers. He glanced at Horus for confirmation, receiving a steady nod in return.
"Let's proceed," Horus said, his tone firm but watchful.
Magnus focused his power, and with a sharp gesture, he commanded the nanometal casing to release its hold.
Zzzzzzzt—
The metal retracted smoothly, flowing like quicksilver to one side and reforming into a solid sphere.
Now fully exposed, the book revealed its true form—a grotesque volume covered in intricate, writhing sigils that seemed to shift and writhe under scrutiny.
Even the air around it seemed heavier, vibrating faintly with an ominous resonance.
Magnus leaned closer, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the artifact. Horus, standing by, could not shake the sense of deep revulsion the object inspired.
"Brother," Horus said quietly, "this thing... it's an abomination. Its very existence mocks the Emperor's vision."
Magnus, however, was not so quick to dismiss it.
"True," he replied, his voice steady, "but within its corruption may lie answers. If this tome holds any intelligence regarding the Chaos incursion here on Pandora, we must uncover it—no matter the risk."
His right hand hovered just above the book's surface, golden psychic energy shimmering faintly as he prepared to delve into its secrets.
Horus's jaw tightened, but he gave a reluctant nod.
"If you sense any danger," Horus said grimly, "I will act immediately. No hesitation."
Magnus smiled faintly, appreciating his brother's resolve.
"Thank you, Horus. I'll rely on you to do what must be done, should the need arise."
With that, Magnus lowered his hand, letting his psychic energy flow into the book.
As his fingers brushed the cover, the runes flared to life, emitting a burst of blue-gold light that illuminated the entire room.
The atmosphere shifted drastically as the artifact responded, a wave of unnatural cold spreading through the chamber.
For a brief moment, it seemed as though Magnus had succeeded in establishing a connection.
But then, his expression changed.
The light around him dimmed, his eyes becoming vacant and distant. His posture slackened slightly, as though something unseen had gripped his mind.
The room fell deathly silent.
It was clear to everyone present that Magnus's consciousness was no longer with them.
He had been pulled into the tome's hidden depths, into an otherworldly dimension where Chaos reigned supreme.
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