With the help of Sidonis, Abaddon had a backup plan—even if he failed, the two of them together could handle Horus.
"Then, let's cooperate happily, Sidonis," Abaddon said with great satisfaction, nodding.
Everyone present from the Chaos factions knew that the newcomer was Horus himself.
Although the reason was unclear, Horus had gained the ability to grow gigantic, and able to battle in space—rumor had it, he could take on an entire fleet solo.
But all Chaos Space Marines understood one thing: this Horus was no longer the Dark Warmaster corrupted by the Four Chaos Gods over ten thousand years ago.
His true goal was likely to disrupt the entire Chaos Astartes organization and weaken Chaos itself. Unless Horus was willing to once again accept the power of the Four Gods, reconciliation was impossible.
To become the new Dark Warmaster by only accepting a part of undivided Chaos? Impossible. One must be a champion chosen by all four gods.
At the very least, he needed to become a direct Demon Prince of the Four.
Horus was not worthy of their trust; only the Red Corsairs, those already fallen, would believe in him.
After the plan was discussed, Abaddon immediately had half the Black Legion subjected to memory cleansing—a simple task for a Chaos Sorcerer.
The Tzeentch cult now fully supported Abaddon, allowing him to act without hesitation. These Space Marines were implanted with new memories: Abaddon was now their gene-father.
With memory cleansing, Abaddon quickly quelled dissent within the Black Legion, silencing all calls to defect to Horus, while the true veterans understood the reality.
Those who survived the retreat to the Eye of Terror ten thousand years ago had seen it all. Over the millennia, only Abaddon had proven he could lead them to greatness.
Days later, Abaddon and Sidonis chose a suitable planet for negotiations with Horus.
"Horus has returned—do the other traitor Primarchs really intend to ignore this?" Sidonis asked.
"Even if they show up, they're useless. Their power is nothing compared to ours now," Abaddon replied.
Lorgar was trapped at home by the Raven King and couldn't leave. Magnus had already betrayed Chaos and rejoined the Emperor.
Mortarion seemed to be plotting something, but his true hatred was reserved for the Ultramarines' master.
As for Angron, he was a brute, and Fulgrim, since being defeated by this very demigod, had fallen into decline—rumor had it even Slaanesh had abandoned and exiled him.
Most importantly, Abaddon's fighting strength now far outstripped any Primarch's—even those promoted to Demon Princes.
After being reforged in the Furnace of Souls, Abaddon had gained unimaginable power, able to crush those he once considered untouchable.
The Primarchs had also received upgrades—rumor said that Guilliman in realspace had gained the ability to grow gigantic.
Female Primarchs like Elena, and new male Primarchs like Rhodes, along with Magnus—all could become giants.
The resurrected Horus too possessed this size-changing power.
It seemed giant-size transformation had become a standard feature among Primarchs. If you didn't have it, you'd be embarrassed to admit it.
"If we defeat Horus, what do you plan to do?" Sidonis asked.
"Sidonis, by Chaos law, the loser has no right to survive. And I intend to absorb his hundred thousand Red Corsairs to strengthen our forces," Abaddon replied.
Abaddon already intended to subjugate the Red Corsairs. Huron Blackheart had once been a match for him, but not anymore.
As a Demon Primarch, Abaddon's power had soared beyond any ordinary Astartes' comprehension.
Once Blackheart was dead, those fickle Chaos Marines would rally to Abaddon at his call.
Abaddon suspected Blackheart had disappeared with his core followers precisely because he realized he couldn't beat Abaddon and didn't want to serve him. So he abandoned most of his forces and ran.
Unexpectedly, after Blackheart fled, Horus emerged out of nowhere and took control of those hundred thousand Chaos Space Marines.
But no matter—those who wavered would follow whoever killed their leader.
"I'll be watching. Just focus on fighting Horus. I expect you'll look forward to this duel," Sidonis said with a smile.
Lucius, standing by Sidonis, also grinned. He'd followed him for six months, gaining new powers in the process—if he only had the ability to grow gigantic, he'd join the fight himself.
Soon, a fleet of over a hundred Chaos ships descended on the barren world, facing Abaddon's Black Legion fleet across the void.
A small landing craft touched down. A man who haunted Abaddon's dreams—once revered—stepped out.
He stood 4.5 meters tall, clad in dark gold armor, a massive power sword at his waist, and a new power claw on his fist.
It was not the old Talon of Horus, but a new one, forged from Rhodes' interdimensional and regenerative metals.
"Long time no see, my son, my former company commander. You've done well leading my Sons of Horus. Now I'm back—your Warmaster has returned," Horus declared in a commanding tone.
As if Abaddon was still his Captain, and the Black Legion still his Sons of Horus.
His tone instantly enraged Abaddon.
"Shut up, impostor! My great father died heroically in battle with the Emperor. You're just a fake! I know where you came from! Fabius Bile cloned a bunch of Primarchs—you're just a leftover!
Somehow you got lucky and gained this power, but now you dare defy the Dark Warmaster's orders?" Abaddon shot back without hesitation.
Everyone knew the truth, but Abaddon would never publicly accept this man as Horus. Horus had died in his final duel with the Emperor, his soul utterly destroyed.
"You can't even recognize your true gene-father, Abaddon? The moment you saw me, you knew the answer," Horus replied.
He had looked forward to meeting Abaddon, who had once worshipped him as Captain, but a millennium had changed Abaddon's attitude to hostility.
Ah, my good son. I'd even planned to return to the Imperium with you. Rhodes had done much recently, proving Chaos Marines weren't beyond redemption.
Maybe Rhodes could save his old Captain, for Abaddon had never truly rebelled against the Emperor—he only followed Horus.
But time changes all. Seeing Abaddon again, he had become something else entirely.
Now, Abaddon was a true Warmaster—one of the Imperium's most troublesome foes.
"You're just a fake, a clone. We don't need to talk. I'll kill you here and take your army. The only thing I should thank you for is gathering the Red Corsairs for me," Abaddon said.
This battle of the Dark Warmasters would be watched by the Four Chaos Gods. Abaddon had to defeat Horus to prove himself the true chosen of Chaos.
With that, Abaddon's body swelled to a 70-meter giant. His daemon sword and Talon of Abaddon glowed with Chaos power. The strength of the Four Gods and the Furnace of Souls raged within him.
"Looks like my son needs discipline. Time for Dad to teach you a lesson," Horus sneered. He too grew, becoming an 80-meter-tall, massive, dark red-armored giant.
In sheer presence, Horus's dark giant form was far more oppressive—his terrifying muscles and crimson armor radiated a pressure Abaddon could barely describe.
But the appearance of this crimson giant immediately drew the eyes of the Chaos Gods. Why did this figure look familiar?
Wasn't this the giant who had thrashed Angron and blocked the Chaos army in the Webway War? Back then, the Chaos Gods thought this giant was a daemon created by the Emperor's dark side. But now it seemed otherwise...