Chapter 259: The Burning One: You, the One with Wings, Step Forward and Die!
"That really got the Wolves worked up," Karna, who was still clearing the way, remarked, noticing the interlude behind him and letting out a soft chuckle.
"It's normal. This universe has very little room for what could be called arrogant leisure anymore," Arthur replied, analyzing the surrounding environment and directing the Dark Angels to drill with the Space Wolves, deploying their weapons.
Logan was now numb after the Dark Angels' detailed explanation. Thank you for telling me you're going to blow up the house next door before you do it. The reasons they gave were quite sufficient. They had even shown him the video of the Dawnbreakers' battle with the World-Maker. They could give a reason for any question, and even let him send his own men to supervise. This combination of soft and hard tactics had left him at a loss for how to respond.
And the C'tan shard had to be dealt with. The Wolves would not accept having such a bomb in their pocket. They had the Primarchs' fleet to help them today, but what would they do on their own in the future? In short, it was very awkward. There was a sense of being outmaneuvered, but the Wolves' level of civilization did not allow them to be rude to guests who had come to help.
"The Prince's methods are still the best," Cypher said with his arms crossed, watching Logan, who was trying hard to find fault and lash out, but was left with a look of helplessness in the face of the Dark Angels' flawless response.
"Because the Prince is a truly civilized man," Gareth replied. Unlike the others, who were full of little secrets, the Primarchs were not stingy about showing themselves. What they said they would do, they would do. They would not resort to unethical, underhanded methods. Naturally, they had no dark and heavy secrets. It gave one a sense of walking on a wide, open road, and made one feel ashamed of one's own shortcomings.
"Indeed, all sides lack communication, lack mutual trust. Because no one is sure what kind of disaster their trust and candor will bring," Arthur said.
Speaking of which, Karna couldn't help but think of a future event on Fenris. In 886.M41, the Fool's Invasion. An Ecclesiarchy fleet, leading three Orders of Battle-Sisters, had attempted an armed landing on Fenris, on the grounds of investigating the heretical faith on the planet and the Space Wolves' increasingly severe Wulfen mutation.
Was there a heretical faith? Yes, and it was a proper five-gods faith. Was there a mutation? Yes, and the related witness reports were increasing. In the end, the two sides had come to blows, and the landing Ecclesiarchy force had been completely annihilated.
And then the Dark Angels had come sniffing around, and had found that it was just the Wulfen mutation, not their brother Chapter falling to Chaos, so they had not made a fuss. Not only had they not made a fuss, but they had silently assisted the Space Wolves in the aftermath, and had even sent back the Wolf warriors who had been scattered across the galaxy by a Tzeentchian spell. This was the significant difference between having mutual trust and not.
"To use various means to unite the various forces in the Imperium that are worth uniting is also what we are here to do," Arthur said in response to Karna's question. "While we still have time. The Four Gods are visibly ramping up their intensity. This attack to snatch the C'tan shard is unprecedented in history. While we still have the leisure, we should establish contact with the various Imperial factions. When a crisis arises, we can quickly reach a consensus, exchange the information we have, instead of everyone hiding their cards, and fighting an apocalyptic battle like the Vigilus campaign—"
The Vigilus Campaign, led by Abaddon's lieutenant, Haarken Worldclaimer, after the opening of the Great Rift, was an attack on the important Imperial planet of Vigilus. It involved the Imperium, Chaos, Orks, Aeldari, and other factions. It was a chaotic mess... In the course of the war, the Ultramarines, under pressure, had secretly allied with the Aeldari Craftworld of Saim-Hann. The Dark Angels had fished in troubled waters, secretly executing Fallen Angels, and had also fed their favorite stasis bombs to the White Scars. The Vigilus nobles had watched from the sidelines, and had only, at the last moment, under Calgar's pressure, brought out their secretly stored Deathstrike missiles. The Mechanicus Magos of Stygies VIII was busy continuing to excavate Blackstone, explore ruins, and watch the Imperial battle, ready to run at any moment.
Everyone was busy. Everyone had their own things to do. It was a chaotic brawl of demigods, and everyone had their own agenda. The most magical thing was that, even with all this, the Imperium had still won.
"Humanity does not lack the power to resist. But it is very difficult to put that power to practical use," Arthur said, silently calculating the time. It was only a hundred years until the galaxy really got lively. At that time, the Dawnlight Sector would likely have to act as a blood bag, transfusing blood to the various parts of the Imperium, and then take the opportunity to use their information advantage to gradually take control of the military and political affairs of the various important planets. The main purpose of this voyage was to connect the main artery of Cadia, and then to radiate outwards to the surrounding Segmentum Obscurus.
"I see. I thought this trip was just to establish a supply line. No wonder you came as soon as the Space Wolves said something," Karna said. He casually swung the flaming spear in his hand, shattering a frost-crystal that was blocking the way. The fine ice crystals instantly vaporized in the high temperature, turning into wisps of white mist. But the mist, after moving away from him, turned into a cluster of cold crystals and fell to the ground.
Karna turned his head, a hint of curiosity in his ice-blue eyes. "By the way, do the Necrons also research warp technology?"
"No. The crystal should have been developed in the Dark Age of Technology," Arthur replied.
As Karna continued to advance, the once-dense ice-crystal barrier gradually thinned, replaced by a large number of jagged black stones. The surface of these stones was covered in radial patterns, as if they had been in a molten state and had been instantly frozen by a sudden extreme cold, solidifying into a twisted form.
Arthur's gaze swept over the Canoptek constructs scattered on both sides of the passage. These once-diligent repairers were now silent, prostrate on the ground, the living metal that made up their bodies in an unnatural state of decay, as if they had been disintegrated from the inside by some force.
"According to Trazyn, Fenris was a 'Norse theme park' for humanity in the Dark Age of Technology," Arthur said, his voice unusually clear in the cold tomb. He followed behind Karna, an invisible field stabilizing the reality around them, raising the temperature by a few degrees. "So perhaps it was because of the appearance of the Burning One's shard. To re-seal it, they developed the frost-crystal, a warp-construct that can reverse entropy, which completely changed the local climate and led to the current state of Fenris."
"They just developed it?" Karna couldn't help but smack his lips, the fire of his spear reflecting off his twitching lips. Even with Trazyn's help, the Dawnlight Sector's technical team was still unable to completely crack the underlying protocol of Necron technology, nor could they create a new system to replace the protocol. The precision components made of living metal could lose control at any time and return to the Necrons' control.
And the humans of that era could casually create a construct that could seal a C'tan shard, and even had the leisure to build theme parks. This almost arrogant confidence made him shake his head. "That era is truly fascinating. What kind of era was it?" Karna murmured, the firelight of his spear casting a swaying shadow on the wall.
"Trust me, you wouldn't like it," a metallic voice suddenly came from the shadows. Trazyn appeared silently at the corner of the passage, his emerald optical lenses flashing slightly. Seeing the two's slightly surprised expressions, the Necron Overlord felt a strange sense of gratification—so there were things these demigods didn't know.
Hearing this, Karna thought for a moment and then nodded. True. With the state of the Unification Wars on Terra, where all sorts of demigods had appeared, perhaps the Dark Age of Technology, while more advanced than the present, was not necessarily better. He had been too naive.
CLANG!
As the spear fell again, Karna felt the force on his arm lighten, as if he had cut into an empty space. They had arrived.
The disintegrated ice-crystal dust floated into the empty space, but did not re-form into a crystal cluster. Instead, it drifted as a low-temperature mist. As it entered the inner part, it turned into water droplets, and little by little, gathered in front of a metal statue.
This tall metal statue was different from the body of a normal Necron Overlord. It radiated a red, not green, light, as if it were an eternal flame, preserved in a container. Trazyn recognized the shard's true form at a glance. "Found it. The Burning One," he said in a low voice, but he could not hide the awe in it. He also secretly made a note of the humans' counter-measures.
As one of the few beings who could look at any race with an equal eye, Trazyn was not arrogant. He would reflect after a plan failed, and he recognized the efforts made by other races. Although human technology, from a scholar's point of view, was too unrestrained and difficult to replicate, in terms of practical application, Trazyn did not mind learning. In terms of warp-shenanigans, they never disappointed.
'I'll order a batch of frost-crystals later. I remember that Anrakyr the Traveller over in the Phalanx Sector also has a Burning One's shard. If worse comes to worse, I'll just recover my collection from him.' The King of Figurines thought to himself.
"Should we start?" Karna ignited the flames on his body.
"Yes. Just go in and break the balance," Arthur replied, beginning to deploy the accompanying energy-generating devices. Although the presence of a C'tan would stabilize reality, Karna could maintain his state in the material universe by burning psycho-materialized fuel. So even when facing a C'tan, there was no need to worry too much. Just like when they had faced the World-Maker.
And compared to the seriousness and tension of their first encounter with a C'tan shard, they were now much more relaxed. First, this shard was really not very strong. The Burning One, because of its fiery temper, had made a lot of enemies. The largest shard was still on the throne of the Silent King Szarekh, enduring an eternal torment. The remaining shards were very scattered. Second, they also had a shard of the World-Maker, and it was a shard that was completely under their control. A confrontation was not a problem.
As Karna entered, flames poured out, and the high temperature instantly cleared the surrounding cold. Fissures began to spread along the ice crystals that covered the body. A bright, dazzling fire suddenly rose from the cold, living metal head.
BOOM!
With the sound of a fire-blast, this towering machine slowly raised its arm. It visibly admired its new body. Hmm, a good feeling. Those slaves are not completely useless after all. To be able to create a metal that can contain this flame. A metal that can bear eternal life.
The surroundings were in ruins. The self-righteous slaves, who thought their dynasty could be eternal. The arrogant humans, who thought their seal could be perpetual. But they had all been defeated by time.
The Burning One wanted to grin. The living metal began to change under its will, forming a burning human-shaped shell. It then laughed wantonly. "Hahahaha! How long has it been! How long I have waited for this day! Come! From now on, let me take revenge on this galaxy, on those slaves, on those traitors!"
He suddenly turned his head, the flames on his body overflowing his battle-plate and spreading out, like a flaming cloak. This was the Burning One's mantle. As the only 'free' Burning One now, he had naturally put on this suit that had once accompanied him, and had then been stripped from him, along with his living metal skin, by the Silent King Szarekh, to be used as a decoration for his cloak in his revenge against the C'tan.
This wasn't just for show. It was to make a statement! He wanted revenge! Because right now, in front of him, in this building that had been re-opened from its icy seal, there were many, many objects of his revenge.
Humans! These beings who had re-sealed it just after it had escaped. They were so arrogant, without a shred of fear for a true god, even worse than the Necrontyr slaves. They even dared to ignore the gifts of a god. And their descendants must also bear the suffering their ancestors had brought upon them!
A mysterious being in human form, who was not afraid of its power, but had instead chosen to approach. The Burning One's gaze fell on Ramesses, who was nearby. At this moment, he was studying the changes in the Rubricae's dust in his hand and observing the Burning One. This unpleasant curiosity, this ability to arbitrarily construct a soul... it was an Old One, no doubt! Although it could not perceive the other's soul, which was a little strange, that did not stop the Burning One from including him in its objects of revenge.
As for those cans that had been tainted by the warp, like chocolate that had been dipped in shit, these new faces, the Burning One didn't even look at them. He turned his gaze directly to Trazyn. "Slave! Traitor!"
Damned slave! Don't think you can deceive the eyes of the Burning One with a little clumsy disguise! You and that damned Old One who is editing a soul, you both just wait. I will recreate the War in Heaven with you!
After a brief burst of anger, the Burning One began to observe its surroundings. So, which one to start with?
The Burning One was not a fool. Although it had a fiery temper, among the C'tan, it was also a researcher, second only to the Void Dragon. The Dolmen Gates that could hack into the Old Ones' Webway had been created by it. So it was very clear about its state. It had just been resurrected. It was not yet familiar with its body, and its strength was greatly reduced. Although, from its observation, the strength of these ancient enemies had also been greatly reduced. But everyone had been reduced, so by that logic, no one had been reduced. To rashly start a war with these ancient enemies was truly not rational.
As for the insignificant humans, since they had helped in its resurrection, the Burning One wanted to leave them for last, to let them witness the power of the great being they had resurrected. To let them die in the flames.
That C'tan shard of the World-Maker, which was controlled by the other party. Gazing at the knight, the Burning One was a little wary. Although the World-Maker was no match for the Nightbringer, Aza'gorod, or the Void Dragon, Mag'ladroth, and even in terms of professionalism, the Burning One also looked down on this 'unlearned' compatriot, its power was not to be underestimated.
And the Old One. The Burning One looked at Ramesses again. Their individual abilities were not strong, but their strange warp-constructs could easily trigger an inexplicable chain reaction. Even the Burning One, back in the day, did not dare to underestimate the traps laid by the Old Ones in the Webway.
So— the Burning One finally turned its gaze to Karna. This was its first battle since its return to the world. It had to be impressive, had to show its power, had to show its dominance. And then it would be convenient for it to run away. It wasn't that it was a coward. It wasn't one of those brain-dead ones who had eaten their own kind and had gone insane. The situation before it was clear. These guys were here to take it down. It was better to talk tough, and then take the opportunity to run and collect its shards.
Unfortunately, the Dolmen Gates of this dynasty were already destroyed. Otherwise, it could have hidden a card up its sleeve, and then drilled into the Webway and gone anywhere in the world. But now the Burning One had to cautiously analyze the situation and suppress the anger in its heart.
And as the saying goes, pick on the weak one! This guy with wings. A warp-entity!
The Burning One stared at him, observing the image under his human skin. He had dealt with things like this before. Some were born naturally, and some had appeared after the intervention of the Old Ones. They had abilities similar to the C'tan, able to manipulate concepts, and had absolute dominion in the warp. In the War in Heaven, in the Webway, the Burning One had faced many of these beings. And its way of dealing with these enemies was to break the Webway's lockdown in close contact, drag the other party into the material universe, and then suck the psychic energy that made up this entity dry.
In the material universe, the barrier was more stable, and the strength of these beings was weaker. This was a lesson learned from experience. And the C'tan itself was the personification of reality. Their existence could make the barrier between reality and the Sea of Souls extremely strong. The Burning One could still remember the screams of those warp-entities as they died, and the deliciousness of their souls. They were so self-righteous, not knowing that the C'tan were also learning, that the C'tan could also master the use of the Webway.
Then it's you!
"A slave, an Old One, a C'tan shard, and a warp-entity," in 0.00013 nanoseconds, the Burning One made its judgment, stripping everyone present of their humanity. Flames ignited in its hands, a burning vortex of fire. The surrounding temperature began to rise, and in an instant, it had been heated to the temperature of the sun's surface.
"Filthy slave, weak enemy, pathetic kinsman—"
"I will teach you what fear is!"
With the raising of its right hand, it pointed at Karna. Karna could also feel the Burning One's aura instantly lock onto him.
"Dregs of the Sea of Souls!"
And in the next second, the rising temperature and the Burning One's declaration confirmed this guess. "My revenge begins with you!"
Karna: "...?"
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