Chapter 80: Backstab
Jagatai Khan's figure stood poised like the wind itself.
He wore snow-white power armor with golden decorations inlaid upon the shoulder guards, the armor's edges adorned with intricate red and black runes symbolizing the traditions and glory of the White Scars. His face was stern, complex emotions flickering in his deep eyes.
"I once thought you the greatest of leaders. Now you are nothing more than Chaos's puppet."
Horus's laughter erupted across the battlefield, both mocking and filled with cold confidence. He stepped forward, his strides steady and measured, each footfall causing the earth to tremble beneath him.
"Chaos? It is merely a source of power, the ultimate truth that transcends flesh and void alike!"
"I control it. It does not control me."
"What of the False Emperor? Did he ever tell us the truth? Khan, do you know? He deceived us all!"
"Join me, brother. Together we will shatter the False Emperor's hypocritical throne."
"Consider it, a new galaxy, a future shaped by our will! That is humanity's true destiny."
Khan did not retreat a single step. His fingers traced lightly along his blade's edge.
"Horus, your words sound appealing, but I recognize they are not truly yours; they are Chaos's whispers given voice."
"I am the wind. I belong to freedom. The power of Chaos may be formidable, but it cannot bind the wind's direction."
"The Emperor may not be perfect, but this is already the best outcome for humanity."
"And you have surrendered everything to these corrupting powers. Horus, I will not betray humanity, nor will I abandon my warriors."
Anger flashed across Horus's features. He tightened his grip upon Worldbreaker and growled low in his throat.
"You understand nothing! Even Chaos will eventually bend to my will! Humanity shall not be confined to the galaxy—we must look to yet more distant horizons!"
Khan twirled his blade, laughing. "Come then, Horus. Let me see if your power is worth shaking my faith."
At this tense moment, the runes upon the Maw of Chaos began spinning rapidly, their glow intensifying until it stung the eyes. A distant, eerie shriek echoed forth, the sound of Warp entities responding to the gate's summons.
Horus frowned slightly. "Erebus, is this power truly controllable?"
Erebus bowed his head in supplication. "Of course, Warmaster. This is Chaos's gift to you. With but one step, you shall gain power surpassing even the False Emperor."
The nauseating sensation made Khan frown. His instincts warned him this was not freedom, this reeked of enslavement wearing a seductive mask.
The moment the Maw of Chaos activated fully, tremendous suction erupted from within the gate. Twisted Warp energy surged in all directions. Even Horus nearly stumbled, yet his gaze remained fixed intently upon Khan, knowing a single flaw could determine victory or defeat.
Erebus seized this opportunity, a wicked glint entering his eyes.
He suddenly drew a psychic dagger that glowed with unsettling black luminescence, runes writhing across the blade like living things. This was the weapon granted him by the Dark Gods themselves, crafted specifically to wound beings as powerful as Primarchs.
"Horus, you must surrender to Chaos! Obey Chaos!" Erebus roared, moving with preternatural speed to plunge the dagger into Horus's back.
The instant Horus felt the sting, his power armor's warning systems shrieked. He spun with inhuman reflexes, Worldbreaker sweeping horizontally in a strike that nearly obliterated Erebus.
However, a tendril of Chaos power seized Erebus and yanked him backward with impossible speed, leaving the dagger embedded in Horus's flesh. Its runes began burning, releasing corrupting Chaos energy directly into the Warmaster's body.
Horus unleashed a thunderous roar filled with murderous fury. He ripped the dagger free, blood gushing from the wound, but his movements were already slowed by the corrosive Chaos energy spreading through his veins.
"Erebus! You dare betray me!" Horus's voice resonated like thunder, yet he was weakened now.
As Jgatai Khan prepared to seize the opportunity and charge, several Hellbrutes and Greater Daemons materialized from nowhere, surrounding him completely.
"Horus! Flee! This must be their stratagem!"
Unfortunately, this could change nothing. Erebus laughed with wild, ecstatic abandon.
"Betrayal? No, Warmaster, this is no betrayal. This is Chaos's choice. You are merely their instrument."
"Hahaha~ And I am the true prophet!"
"Hahaha, What Primarch? You still got played like a puppet by my hand! Hahaha"
With that declaration, he raised his hand and unleashed a psychic shockwave, forcing Horus toward the Maw of Chaos. The wounded Primarch attempted to steady himself, but the gate's suction proved overwhelming. His body was dragged step by inexorable step toward the gateway's center.
Daemonic entities already surrounded this place. The loyal Sons of Horus had no comprehension that their Primarch had been...
"Erebus! This will not be the end!" Horus roared, attempting to shatter the gate's energy field with Worldbreaker, but it was too late.
His figure was finally consumed by the gate, leaving only a resounding echo hanging in the air.
After devouring Horus, the Maw of Chaos emitted dazzling radiance, then slowly sealed itself. A low, mocking chuckle emanated from within, a sound of cruel amusement and triumph.
Having completed his work, Erebus drew a deep breath and turned to address the assembled warriors.
"The Warmaster has been chosen to receive the Gods' blessings!"
"His final command to me was clear: we are to retreat to the Eye of Terror and await his glorious return!"
On another section of the battlefield, massive sparks erupted continuously, accompanied by the clangor of blades and hammers colliding.
"Fulgrim, have you not eaten in seven days? Why are your strikes so weak!"
Ferrus Manus roared, swinging his hammer in great arcs, constantly parrying his brother's slashes.
Fulgrim, wielding his daemon blade, hacked continuously at his opponent. Unfortunately, striking the silvered flesh produced only cascades of sparks, leaving no scratch. This infuriated his once-beautiful features, twisting them into something ferocious.
"I'm not playing anymore! This isn't fun at all! I'm leaving!"
With that petulant declaration, Fulgrim hurled aside his blade. His serpentine purple tail lashed violently as he burrowed into the Warp.
"Don't go! Strike me again! Just one more blow!"
Ferrus removed his helmet, peeled back sections of his power armor, exposing more silvered flesh, daring his brother to attack.
But Fulgrim fled without looking back.
Ferrus regarded his entirely silver-transformed body and couldn't help but wonder: "Didn't he say one bottle lasts a day? How come after I drank that last one, it's been half a month, and I still haven't changed back?"
On yet another section of the battlefield, the perpetual Vulkan was once again struck down by a psychic assault from the shadows and then stood up again, as always.
However, Lorgar, who had been before him moments ago, had fled to parts unknown.
When Vulkan rose this time, he witnessed countless traitors fleeing rapidly toward their waiting warships.
Mortarion, having been defeated by Khan, encountered the Raven Guard once more. The outcome was predictable. The Death Guard had already extracted Mortarion from the battlefield, and under the command of First Captain Typhon, the Terminus Est and the Endurance translated into the Warp.
The fleet entered the Immaterium, the massive Death Guard armada sailing through the void's tempestuous currents. The distorted vistas of the Warp unsettled every warrior aboard.
"What are you doing? Why are you restraining us?"
"Without us Navigators, you won't be able to escape the Warp!"
"Lies! You are all spies sent by Malcador! Don't think I'm ignorant, you merely wish to deliver us back to Terra!"
"Execute them!"
The roar of manreaper scythes, the screams of Navigators, and the thunder of bolter fire echoed continuously throughout the ship.
Mortarion, deep in comatose recovery, was awakened by the sounds. He dragged his weary body from the medic's chamber.
He witnessed Typhon commanding the Grave Wardens to execute the few remaining Navigators. With wet, final sounds, heads bearing their distinctive third eyes fell to the deck one by one.
"Cough cough cough~"
"What are you doing! Without Navigators, how will we navigate from the Warp?"
Mortarion roared, vaguely sensing something was wrong, though he could not articulate precisely what troubled him.
Typhon, who had worn a cruel expression moments before, instantly beamed with apparent warmth upon seeing Mortarion.
"I can navigate, can't I?"
"Rather, I should say we. I've already prepared new Navigators, and they will surely lead us to sanctuary."
"Ah, Primarch, you're injured. You should rest and recover your strength."
Things had reached this juncture, and Mortarion had little choice but to accept the explanation. He tentatively believed Typhon's words; after all, this was aboard the Endurance, and any ill-considered action would see the other Death Guard turn against him.
What Mortarion did not know was that Typhon had already established a secret connection with the powers of the Warp. This voyage was his opportunity.
Through concealed altars and runes secreted throughout the vessel, Typhon subtly exposed the fleet to Nurgle's influence. An imperceptible scent of pestilence began permeating the recycled air. The warriors' bodies gradually corrupted. The warships' metallic surfaces developed a biological, writhing patina.
Mortarion noticed these changes.
He stood upon the flagship's command bridge, observing the condition of his warriors with growing alarm. His heart burned with fury and conflict; he could not tolerate his Legion's corruption, yet simultaneously, he realized Chaos's power was infiltrating every corner of his domain.
"Typhon!" Mortarion demanded coldly. "Why have we become thus? This is no normal Warp phenomenon! Tell me, what exactly have you done?"
Typhon lowered his head, concealing his expression, and spoke with feigned concern:
"This must be the Emperor's trap. He knew we would choose this path and planted a canker within our ranks beforehand."
"But rest assured, my Primarch. I will locate the source and eliminate it, clearing our way forward."
[End of Chapter]