In the strategy hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could drip water.
Slaanesh's final whisper, filled with playfulness and a mad possessiveness, was like an invisible thorn piercing the heart of every Sister present.
"...Obtain you... all of you."
Bang!
Angronia slammed her fist onto the metal tabletop, creating a dull, booming sound.
"A bug hiding in the Subspace dares to spout such big talk!"
In the amber eyes of the Red-haired Valkyrie, a rage that was almost tangible burned.
"Sister, give me a fleet! I will charge into the Eye of Terror right now and tear that androgynous face of his to shreds!"
"Sister Angronia, please calm down."
Sanguinia frowned slightly, her sky-blue eyes filled with worry.
"The Chaos God is nearly omnipotent in the Subspace; charging in head-on is not a wise move. Moreover, his threat... does not come from the physical plane."
Her words hit the nail on the head.
That pervasive mental corruption was the trickiest and most impossible-to-defend attack.
Even a Primarch Sister like Fogremia had nearly fallen for it, let alone those mortal warriors whose minds were far less steadfast than theirs.
This was a plague capable of disintegrating everything from the inside.
"I have a proposal."
Just as everyone was at a loss, the silent Fogremia spoke up.
This perfect silver-haired sword maiden slowly rose. In her proud purple eyes, there was not a trace of fear, but rather a cold, sharp glint belonging to a hunter.
"Defense is always passive."
"Since he wants to play, I will play a round with him."
Fogremia's gaze fell upon Leticia in the main seat, filled with absolute trust and a request.
"Sister, I request to enter deep meditation."
"I want to proactively open my soul and lure him to descend once more."
What?!
As soon as these words were spoken, even the usually irritable Angronia was stunned.
"Are you crazy?!"
Angronia growled.
"That's the same as putting your own head under the enemy's blade!"
"No."
Fogremia shook her head, a confident curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
"That's called fishing."
Her voice was calm and clear, filled with the rationality of a tactician.
"With passive defense, we will never know where his attacks will come from or in what form they will appear. But if I take the initiative, I can force him to reveal more of his power and essence on a 'battlefield' of my choosing."
"I want to see with my own eyes what kind of counterfeit his so-called 'perfection' really is."
"Then, I will find his weakness and, once and for all, sever the claws he reaches toward the Sisterhood!"
This was an incredibly bold and dangerous plan.
If it failed, Fogremia's soul would be completely captured by Slaanesh, becoming his most perfect plaything.
Everyone's gaze focused on Leticia.
Leticia watched Fogremia quietly, observing the unquestionable pride and loyalty in her eyes.
After a long while.
She smiled.
"I agree."
Leticia walked down from the throne, slowly approached Fogremia, and gently lifted her chin.
"Because you are the most perfect creation I have forged with my own hands."
"Go."
"Let that thief see what true art really is."
Upon receiving approval, a radiance of ecstasy instantly bloomed in Fogremia's eyes.
She knelt on one knee and piously kissed the back of Leticia's hand.
"As you command, my Goddess."
In the center of the meditation room.
Fogremia sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.
Leticia stood behind her, hands resting gently on her shoulders, as a pure force of [Vitality] slowly infused, constructing the final line of defense for her soul.
Angronia held her giant axe, like a war god of fury, guarding the left side.
Sanguinia spread her massive, snow-white wings, like an angel of mercy, guarding the right side.
The three Sisters formed an absolutely defensive formation.
Fogremia completely let go of her mind.
Her soul transformed into a silver stream of light, voluntarily leaping into that turbulent sea of psychic energy.
Almost the instant she entered.
The entire sea of psychic energy changed because of it.
That violent, chaotic energy was instantly smoothed and reshaped by an invisible force.
A city rose from the ground before Fogremia's eyes.
A... perfect city.
Every brick and stone here followed the golden ratio.
Every statue was the work of a legendary master.
The music flowing through the air was the most harmonious symphony in the universe.
Even every change in the clouds in the sky composed a breathtakingly beautiful picture.
Countless beautiful and elegant inhabitants bowed to her on the streets, their eyes filled with the purest adoration, addressing her as—"Queen of Art."
This was the ultimate paradise that could be constructed for the concept of "perfection."
Any soul pursuing art would have only one ending here.
That is, eternal sinking.
Fogremia strolled through this "City of Perfection."
She looked at those perfect buildings, admired those perfect statues, and listened to those perfect pieces of music.
Yet, there was no expression on her face.
Neither joy nor resistance.
Just watching calmly.
Then, another image surfaced in her mind.
That was a long time ago, in the ecological garden of the genesis.
To make her happy, Leticia had once reached out a finger, using the power of [Vitality] to urge the growth of a most ordinary, inconspicuous nameless flower by the roadside.
That flower was not perfect at all.
Its petals were uneven in size, and the color was somewhat mottled.
There was even a leaf with a notch bitten out by a bug.
But...
The corners of Fogremia's mouth curled up slightly, unconsciously.
"That flower is alive."
"It is growing, breathing, and striving to bloom toward the sunlight."
"Its imperfection is precisely the proof of its Vitality."
Fogremia raised her head, looking around at this magnificent city, in which not a single flaw could be found.
She finally understood.
Everything before her, seemingly perfect, was actually a dead silence.
The perfection here was static, eternal, and unchanging.
It was a... tomb built from the most magnificent gems and gold.
Slaanesh's "perfection" was the "end" after the pursuit of the extreme, a magnificent funeral returning to nothingness.
And Sister Leticia's "perfection" was the "beginning" during the process of creation, a birth filled with infinite possibilities and Hope!
The former is a tomb.
The latter is a cradle.
Having understood everything.
Fogremia smiled.
Just then, in the central square of the city, light and shadow converged.
Slaanesh's androgynous, exquisitely beautiful avatar slowly emerged.
With a victor's smile on his face, he reached out a hand toward Fogremia.
"Come, my most outstanding work."
His voice was full of endless temptation.
"Admit it, this is the world you truly desire. Come to my side, and I will make you the... eternal ruler of this perfect kingdom."
Fogremia looked at him, the smile on her face becoming even more brilliant.
The next second.
Hum—!
A psychic blade, condensed from the purest loyalty and pride and shining with silver radiance, appeared in her hand.
The tip of the blade pointed directly at the center of Slaanesh's brow.
"My perfection has long since been entirely dedicated to my Goddess."
In Fogremia's beautiful purple eyes, there was absolute disdain and contempt, as if looking at trash.
"You, this counterfeit, piled with vulgar colors and filled with the stench of rot..."
She enunciated every word; her voice was not loud, but it exploded throughout the entire illusion like a thunderclap of creation.
"Do not even have the qualification to discuss art in front of my Goddess!"
As the words fell.
The sword slashed out!
A sword beam of ultimate purity, representing "rebirth" and "protection," streaked across the sky!
Boom!!!
The entire illusion world, like a shattered mirror, was instantly covered in cracks!
The perfect buildings were collapsing!
The perfect statues were shattering!
The perfect music turned into piercing shrieks!
"No—!"
Slaanesh's avatar let out a roar of disbelief; his body, along with his proud perfect world, was completely torn apart and annihilated by that sword light!
In the meditation room.
Fogremia snapped her eyes open.
In her purple eyes, all confusion had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented, star-like brightness of determination and radiance!
"I have returned, Sister."
She said with a smile.
"Done." Angronia grinned.
"Welcome back." Sanguinia also breathed a sigh of relief.
Leticia looked at her, a gratified smile appearing on her face.
However.
Just at the moment when this joy of victory had just begun to spread.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A rapid communication request, representing the highest priority, suddenly rang throughout the room.
The light screen unfolded automatically, revealing the face of Commissar Valeria, which was filled with shock and disbelief.
"Goddess!"
Her voice even carried a trace of trembling that she herself had not noticed.
"A... a signal from the Macragge system!"
"Encrypted with the highest level of Imperial Navy encryption!"
"It is... requesting to establish formal... diplomatic communication with the genesis!"
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