That previous zombie monster—Rhodes intended to send that one to Nurgle as an infiltrator, but Nurgle had gotten its power and given it to Isha!
"Why hide things? Unless you want to face us all at once."
"You have to know how to share, my friend."
"You're the weakest among us, and you know it. If the three of us gang up on you, there's only one possible outcome."
The other three Chaos Gods all took turns criticizing Slaanesh—the message was obvious: hand it over, or we'll all attack you!
"You may be stronger, but we are all equals at the top of the warp. Even if you three join forces, you can't kill me—you know this," Slaanesh retorted coldly.
"You three are already hopelessly corrupted by Chaos; I'm not like you. I have a chance to break free from chaos' corruption."
"I'll become a god of order and gain a true physical form, surpassing you all."
"As for you fools, you'll be utterly destroyed by history."
"We can't kill each other, but together, we can seal you away," Tzeentch said.
The Chaos Gods couldn't kill each other, being deeply bound to the warp, but they could still imprison one another.
"Go ahead and try! As long as mortals in the world have emotions, there will always be joy, love, and art—my power is endless," Slaanesh shot back.
What was there to fear?
Slaanesh could always escape, or pretend to be sealed and use that to break free.
Hearing her words, Nurgle and Khorne fell silent; Khorne on his brass throne grew thoughtful, and Nurgle in his garden paused his brewing.
The Chaos Gods were the masters of the warp, able to watch events remotely through their champions and chosen.
It was true: as long as feelings existed, they were immortal—unless every mortal in the universe was wiped out.
"Or maybe there's another option—replace your power and let me be the new Chaos God," a new voice rang out, belonging to a minor god with mechanical innovation powers.
Chaos demigod Vashtorr was now only a step away from being one of the four.
"What are you? A demigod dares insert himself into our discussions? You think you can replace me?" Slaanesh sneered.
"He's not ordinary—Vashtorr's power grows rapidly. I once thought he'd surpass you and join our ranks first. I invited him here," Tzeentch said.
Vashtorr was no nobody, but a powerful candidate for a Chaos God, once equal to Slaanesh.
If the Eldar hadn't doomed themselves with excess, Slaanesh wouldn't have been born early.
The proper fourth Chaos God should have been this god of innovation and machines.
Recently, Vashtorr had grown even more powerful!
"You mean replacing Slaanesh with Vashtorr?" Nurgle asked.
"Why not? Vashtorr as a Chaos God benefits us all," Tzeentch said.
"A demigod has no right to negotiate. Let him become a god first," Khorne rumbled.
Though they disliked Slaanesh, only the four were equals in the warp; even the Emperor was only a potential equal, not a current one.
"You control life too—machine life. Maybe you and Isha have common ground," Nurgle said, stirring his stew.
For gods of life, he always hoped they'd join the Nurgle family, to share in viruses and fungi.
"You don't know, do you? Your flower vase was stolen long ago. Haven't you checked your garden for your goddess lately?" Vashtorr taunted.
Nurgle paused his candy brewing. He'd long suspected something, but couldn't believe anyone could steal from under his nose.
"Go check. Your little pet was stolen long ago," Vashtorr sneered.
Tzeentch looked on in satisfaction—finally, a colleague with brains, unlike the other three fools.
Nurgle stopped, dragged his filth-ridden bulk to Isha's garden, and called out.
He longed to hear Isha's voice, to sense life's presence, but was disappointed—there was only emptiness.
With a burst of power, he blasted open the garden—only to find it empty!
"No! Who? Who stole my Isha? Where did she go? Who took her? Who took my toy?" Nurgle's anguished roar shook the warp.
The other gods watched with glee at Nurgle's impotent fury.
"Want to know who?" Vashtorr asked.
"Was it you? Did you take my Isha, bug?" Nurgle demanded.
"Not me! If it were, I wouldn't tell you—without my tip, it'd be centuries before you noticed," Vashtorr replied.
"Then who? Tell me!" Nurgle howled.
He was ready to mobilize all his mortal and daemon followers to reclaim his favorite toy.
"I can tell you who, even help you bring her back—with a big surprise. Will you support me as a new Chaos God?" Vashtorr said.
"No problem! As long as you bring Isha back," Nurgle agreed.
"Deal! Khorne, will you support me?" Vashtorr asked, now with two gods' backing—three would be enough to topple Slaanesh.
"How will you convince me? I only care for war," Khorne said.
"Soon, your favorite god will be reborn—the Eldar God of War will return, and I'll help you capture him. You want him more than anything, don't you?"
"You say the Eldar god will return? He was shattered into pieces—impossible to revive," Khorne replied.
He did want the god of war, just as Nurgle wanted the goddess of life; Tzeentch's old target was Asuryan.
"No! There's been a change. Within a year, the god of war, Khaine, will be reborn, stronger than ever, with a body able to walk in realspace. Don't you want him as your right hand?"
As the god of innovation, Vashtorr could sense what the Ynnari were doing—gathering Khaine's shards. With the right circumstances, Khaine would be reborn, stronger than ever.
"You've convinced me, but don't try to trick me—if you do, Tzeentch can't save you," Khorne warned.
Slaanesh grew nervous. Seriously? All four were about to unite against her!
"Slaanesh, seems you're useless now," Tzeentch said.
"When do we act? And Vashtorr, how will you become the fifth Chaos God—by absorbing Slaanesh's power?" Nurgle asked.
"We'll seal Slaanesh first—then I'll perform my ascension. With Slaanesh sealed, we'll periodically siphon her power, weakening her forever," Tzeentch said.
"If you dare, come and see if I'm powerless! Come to my domain—my daemons, daemon princes, and champions await you," Slaanesh declared.
Let's fight! If not for Rhodes, she'd have been afraid, but now, she could always shed her godhood and hide, waiting for her son and his father to grow strong enough. (TL: The heck! Isha's goddess sister is Slaanesh?)
"Heh! That's more like it—let's all go!" Tzeentch and Vashtorr smiled at each other—their plan had worked.
Three Chaos Gods and Vashtorr all put aside their affairs and converged on Slaanesh's palace.
…
While the gods plotted in the warp, the war between the giants in realspace drew to a close.
Victory finally went to Horus. Even after fighting Abaddon and Sidonis, his strength and dark power prevailed.
The Dark Giant's potential far surpassed Slaanesh's, especially after absorbing the Dark Emperor's power.
This was a direct absorption; with Horus's host body, it was like an Ultra Warrior in their ultimate form.
When Sidonis was about to lose, Abaddon, fully recovered, joined him to attack Horus.
"Abaddon, this isn't a battle you belong in! Get lost!" Horus sneered, punching Abaddon away.
Now, with the Chaos Gods' power, Abaddon could fly through space, but he could only barely push Horus back—his speed was still far inferior, but his strength was comparable.
"Abaddon, hang in there—his transformation can't last much longer. In a minute or two, he'll revert," Sidonis said.
As an enemy of the Ultra Warriors, he knew their forms well. Even though this was a Dark Giant, he could tell it was an ultimate form, which never lasted long.
Hearing this, Horus's face fell.