Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Office.
"He didn't even see me. Just told Vendraig to tell me to return to Caliban immediately and fulfill my duties."
Luther's voice was complex, pained and disappointed.
There was no conversation, no questioning, not even any inquiry about his obvious physical changes.
As a full-fledged "Lawyer," he had prepared his arguments, but they were not needed. Yet he felt no relief.
Nareth scrutinized Luther and Zahariel, who stood slightly behind him. They were sad and dejected.
'Hmm, the socially awkward Lion's handling of the situation is entirely within my expectations. I just didn't expect him to be so decisive. I had wanted Luther and the others to enjoy the victory celebrations.'
As Nareth pondered, Urian Vendraig said gloomily.
"Father... ordered me to Caliban."
Urian recalled the Lion's sharp gaze. He knew the Lion had sensed he was keeping secrets for Luther and Lord Nareth.
He was exiled.
"My Lord, I wish to swear fealty to You." Urian performed the Calibanite knight's salute.
Nareth rose and walked to the "corroded" Urian.
From the moment he chose to keep the secret, this outcome was already predetermined.
Nareth drew the Sword of Vaul, "Concept Swap" to transform it into a knight's blade, and rested it on Urian's shoulder.
"I accept your fealty."
"Wait outside for a moment." Nareth then went to the Kingdom of Disorder and ordered the Jokaero to concoct the "Briber," "Nightmare," and "Arbiter" potions.
Nareth wanted Urian and Luther's abilities to complement each other. Urian was also unsuited for the Visionary Pathway.
Urian, more suited than Luther to win over the Terran-born Dark Angels, would be a good "Arbiter" with compelling charm and sufficient authority to administer Caliban as his jurisdiction.
Moments later, Nareth slid the three potions before the three men.
With a thought, he sent the necessary common knowledge to Urian telepathically, and sent thought-pulses to Luther and Zahariel, revealing how to activate the "Euclidian Runes" and the ritual procedure for praying to the Black Emperor.
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift."
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift," Urian, after hearing their form of address, paused for a moment, then corrected himself.
Nareth nodded slightly, signaling them to rise, and sent another thought-pulse to Luther.
"Offer the Knights of the Sirius tomes you privately hoarded to me."
Nareth knew Luther's betrayal was partly linked to reading the Knights of the Sirius tomes.
Luther's body trembled. He looked at the Black Emperor with awe.
He had privately hoarded those tomes during the purge of the Knights of the Sirius, a secret unknown to anyone, including the Lion. Yet the Black Emperor knew.
Luther recalled the special symbols on those covers, octagonal symbols, circles, and arrows.
He had intended to read those books and gain power.
But now, having received the Black Emperor's bestowal, he had lost interest.
'Since my Lord is interested, I will use them to bribe Him.'
The "Briber" thought silently and bowed to the Black Emperor.
After the three departed, Arsena, holding a data slate, entered the Primarch's Office.
"My Lord, I have compiled the briefing on the Taxal decisive battle."
"Shadows of Order casualties: thirty-four thousand nine hundred fifty. Since the war began, total casualties nearly fifty-eight thousand one hundred."
Nareth felt the throne behind him grow cold. He thought silently.
'Including ongoing battles on other fronts, losses in the "Second Rangdan War" are nearly sixty thousand.'
'Compared to the original main force, the Dark Angels, who lost ninety thousand, that's thirty thousand fewer.'
'This is mainly due to finding effective means to counter the Cerabvores, Osseivores, and Slaugth before the decisive battle, and because I mobilized more Primarchs and Astartes to participate.'
Nareth also noted that, to the end, the Emperor had not released the Void Dragon shard from the Labyrinth of Night.
'The Emperor truly is unreliable. With the Void Dragon's help, the battle would have ended earlier, and Shadows of Order would have at least ten thousand more survivors.'
'After all, I could only use talismans to borrow the Silent Cry' power, not directly manifest the Void Dragon like the Emperor did.'
As Nareth pondered, Arsena continued.
"The Legion received fifteen thousand six hundred reinforcements during this period. Total strength is now two hundred forty-two thousand six hundred."
"The Chief Librarian reports that over one thousand eight hundred Librarians are expected to join the Legion."
After reporting on Shadows of Order's status, Arsena continued.
"Despite Urian's intelligence, the Dark Angels casualties at Taxal are still difficult to estimate, approximately twenty-nine thousand."
"Casualties at the Fortress of Resilience: nineteen thousand forty."
"Gren Vosotho provided precise numbers: thirteen thousand eight hundred fifty at Taxal, and previously four thousand seven hundred sixty."
The Primarch's transhuman mind instantly calculated the figures he needed.
'The Dark Angels currently number approximately one hundred fifty to two hundred thousand. Luther and Urian will control at least fifty thousand of them, and at least half of future recruits.'
'The Ultramarines currently number about one hundred thousand. Gren can influence only the twelve thousand Terran-born.'
'Hmm, as the main force after the Second Rangdan War, Shadows of Order remains the largest Legion. It hasn't been crippled like the Dark Angels.'
He reined in his thoughts and instructed: "Star chart."
Arsena immediately picked up the control rod and displayed the hololithic star chart.
"Except for the Seventh Chapter, the remaining eleven Chapters are tasked with cleansing the xenos."
As he spoke, Nareth outlined twelve routes centered on Taxal and numbered them.
"The remaining task forces under my command will form the Seventh Joint Fleet."
"All xenos that invaded Imperial territory must be completely purified within three years."
After quickly recording the orders, the Primarch's Aide put away his data-slate.
"My Lord, the Emperor has summoned a War Council in five days."
After the Taxal decisive battle ended, the black-terracotta ships were the first to depart.
Luther and the others, aboard Urian's ship, were also exiled back to Caliban.
Lion El'Jonson did not even wait for the war council before ordering his fleet to leave.
Omegon departed after a brief exchange with Nareth.
Guilliman, with ten newly selected Honor Guard members, came aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty.
At the same moment Nareth met with Guilliman on Macragge in the Ultima Segmentum.
On the summit of the highest peak, a magnificent black structure had been erected.
Amidst the swirling clouds, the cries of griffins echoed.
Ethan, promoted to Codicier, reported to Chief Librarian Thomas.
"My Lord, the first batch of candidates to pass the trials totals one thousand nine hundred sixty. They can become official apprentices."
"They have all mastered the unique psychic technique you created, the Griffin's Roar."
As he spoke, Ethan stroked his griffin.
As one of Thomas's trusted aides and a Court Knight, he had his own griffin.
Though the "Beast Tamers" among the Apothecaries had entered Mancora to provide implantation support for the Librarian candidates and had begun breeding griffins, most Librarians could only use the griffins in rotation.
The apprentices could only interact with them during instruction, using their limited time in group sessions to comprehend the "Griffin's Roar."
"I have compiled the Codiciers' records and made some observations."
"Nine hundred thirty of the candidates are from Mancora . They also mastered the 'Griffin's Roar' more easily than other candidates."
"I also found that all Librarians stationed on Mancora have mastered the 'Griffin's Roar,' while only 11.6% of those stationed elsewhere have."
Thomas nodded slightly. He issued the order.
"Dispatch apprentices, according to the allocation plan, to join the various Chapters. Rotate Librarians to Mancora for training."
He looked at Ethan. "Your next duty is to go to Prospero to study, and to hunt Psychneuein for my Lord."
Thomas patted Ethan's griffin's pelt. "Make the most of your flight time."
"Serving Father is my honor." Ethan thought of serving the Father who had saved him from Mortarion on Barbarus, and excitedly accepted the order.
Ethan swung onto the griffin, stroking its thick golden fur.
Its eagle head held high, it stepped forward like a proud lion.
Its wings beat. Its hooked beak issued a sharp cry.
Wind whipped against his psychic hood. Ethan took a deep breath, gathering psychic energy, and let out a roar.
Those with aetheric vision could clearly discern the layered sound waves converging inward.
They would also be astonished to find this roar echoed not only in reality, but also howled through the Warp.
A kilometer ahead, three of six wolves collapsed; the other three fled in panic in different directions.
Ethan felt the "Griffin's Roar" and thought to himself.
'Mancora is truly a magical world, home to magical creatures like the golden griffin.'
'The "Griffin's Roar" is a magical psychic technique. It causes greater damage to beings more closely linked to the Warp.'
'It harms psykers more than ordinary people, and Warp entities more than psykers.'
Ethan recalled the Chief Librarian's words: Mancora was the Father's chosen recruiting world for the Librarians.
"Father is wise."
.....
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