Emperor's Bane

Chapter 36 Zahariel
For Zahariel, the burning galaxy is not much different from the forests of Caliban.

This too-young Dark Angel loves Caliban, that is his hometown, he misses it, and he often thinks of the time he spent there: the mighty and majestic Knights' Hall, the sinister forest behemoths, and There are days when they fight side by side with brother knights. They often hunt down the giant beasts that have caused disasters, and occasionally fight other hostile knights, but this kind of brotherhood is always very rare.

Zahariel even remembers the day when he first met his genetic father: After joining the great Order Knights' alternate team, he went through two years of unimaginably arduous practical training and selection at the end , but in the end, he successfully passed all the tests. When Zahariel was nine years old, he entered the most sacred main hall of the Knights of Order.

Leon-Jonson was there.

He stood there, in the very center of the auditorium, the core of the ground shaped by bluestone.

Like a lost god.

The body of the most famous and greatest giant beast killer in Caliban is unusually tall and burly, and the dark green armor is covered with giant beast scratches and pale blood spots. For a Caliban knight , even the most luxurious medals are far inferior to these traces of battle.

He just stood there without saying a word, looking up and down the candidate with calm eyes. This great knight lord is not alone. Harrell's mentor Lemuel also gathered around him, but compared with the lion king, these powerful knights are like a group of clumsy retinues.

The memory that followed was fragmented and vague, and Zahariel could hardly remember how he faced Jonson's problems and trials. It was like a dream, an adventure that only existed in poetry, He seems to have gone through unimaginable mountains and turbulence, killed countless monsters and demons, and went to the lost temple alone, seeking treasures that have been buried for countless centuries. Holding a sharp blade made by the gods, he Killed the sky-eating dragon that only existed in the oldest legends.

But when Zahariel really raised his spirits and faced the reality, he only saw Jonson's plain but majestic eyes.

【he can. 】

He heard the lion's words, the shortest and most austere voice, but brought endless joy and success, and he could hear the affirmation, first Luthor, then the others, clapping and smiling , singing ancient knight ballads, the singing voice wandered among the murals describing the thousand-year journey of the knight order, all the way out of the skylight shaped by luxurious glass and crystal products, and spread into the endless dense forest.

Zahariel had imagined countless times what attitude he would use to face this moment: he might be unusually indifferent, or he might be full of ambition, making the greatest and most arrogant oath loudly, and he even worried that he would be in such a situation. Occasionally loses manners, becomes a buffoon, and so on.

But when all this actually happened, when he really got the acknowledgment and permission, none of the scenarios he envisioned came to pass.

He could hear Luthor's passionate words, he could feel his teacher Remiel and cousin Nemir shaking his body, shed tears of joy and blessing, he could even feel the cheers of the crowd, and the laughter A little jealousy buried in the voice...

But they are unimportant, all, unimportant.

He just looked forward, looking forward desperately, his gaze might be offensive, longing, even dangerous, but he couldn't care less, he widened his eyes, just watched.

Leon-Jonson was there.

He has long golden hair, a solemn face, and his pupils are filled with the majesty accumulated by countless killings and hunting. The greatest hunter is looking at him. Although it is still as cold as an iceberg, Zahariel It can be seen that he nodded towards him, as the affirmation and welcome of the great man to the beginner, the champion to the alternate, and the marshal to the soldiers.

This is enough!

A tear fell from Zahariel's eye socket.

He only felt that everything around him seemed a little too noisy, and it seemed just right. The congratulations from his mentor and brother were like vague trills, shocking his ears and thinking. He seemed to be able to smell the smell of blood Seeing countless battlefields and trials unfolding to him.

He will join the great Knights of Order, he will fight side by side with the greatest monster killer, he will become Leon-Jonson's comrade in arms, they will fight side by side under the same banner, kill monsters and demons, and fight together. Go to the future full of fighting and bloody.

He will become comrades-in-arms with the Lion King, and become a side-by-side knight in life and death.

This is enough.

At this moment, even the endless gifts of the gods seemed so pale.

------

"Before officially joining this war, I personally hope that you can have the most basic understanding of our enemy: no matter how dangerous you imagined Ran Dan before this, please forget this estimate, It will only be more dangerous and powerful than you imagine, perhaps ten times, perhaps a hundred times."

Zahariel's voice carried the pride and lightness of a young hero, of course he has the right to do so: not everyone will be personally affirmed by the Emperor, and at such a young age, they will find their own in the Dark Angels Legion. status.

Led by the son of the lion king, Ahriman and Morgan slowly walked into the depths of Geyamala, and behind the group, the two thousand sons stayed behind. They followed the too stiff mortal official and started Confirm some trivial details: station, supply and itinerary planning.

The footsteps of two Astartes and a mortal gradually left the port in the void, they went deep into the interior of the star port, trekking in the areas that have been repaired and maintained, and these areas that have been put into use are darkened The uniform painting of the angels became a simple mixture of black and scarlet red, and the only decorations were the snow-white sword and six wings, as well as the golden yellow imperial double-headed eagle.

Morgan saw some soldiers who did not belong to the First Legion wandering in the outer area. Their armor painting and completely different behaviors told their respective affiliations:
Those savage warriors dressed in beast fur and blue-gray armor wandered around aimlessly. They were curiously observing everything on the left and right. Colliding with all delicate objects.

Occasionally, they'll be lucky enough to activate them, but more often than not, they'll just rudely break them, causing howls and laughs of horror.

Morgan's eyes wandered over the huge black wolf heads on their shoulder armor, and she heard Ahriman's low sigh.

"That's the Space Wolves...bear with it, as a philosopher in a city-state puts up with a savage who drinks blood from his fur."

And next to those rude warriors, there are often a few silent warriors sitting. Their armor is a fusion of light green and dark green, with large areas of peeling paint, which looks too old.

These Astartes often have scars and wounds on their bodies, but this does not affect them sitting upright, allowing their breath to echo dully in the countless pipes connected to the helmet.

"The No.14 Legion, the Twilight Raiders, the descendants of Albia, suffered a lot of losses in the previous battle to defend Shana. Be cautious and careful when fighting alongside them. Their favorite chemical warfare is often There is no distinction between the enemy and the enemy, and there will always be indicators of erroneous damage."

Zahariel's whispered reminder was wandering in this small group. He waited patiently and cautiously until the last soldier of the No.14 Legion disappeared from sight, and then spoke slowly.

While the dark angel was talking, they passed a rest area, where stood a few warriors in mottled armor. They were not many in number, and they seemed to have no interest in outsiders. The warriors surrounded them, and Morgan noticed that the latter looked at her with an almost natural contempt and arrogance.

"The Fifth Legion and the No.19 Legion, they are the first defenders of Shana in the Forge World. I don't know much about them, but the No.19 Legion has always been... not very friendly to mortals."

Zahariel spoke with deliberation, but Ahriman's words appeared even more unscrupulous.

"You can stay away from them, Morgan, the No.19 legion's conscription targets are mainly the heirs of the evil slave owners at the foot of the palace. They brought the bad habits of the mortal era to their own legion, and they are keen on brutal and terrifying killings. Even worse for mortals than the Iron Warriors."

In Ahriman's words, they quickly left these Astartes warriors behind, and as Zahariel entered the code at the end of the corridor, a huge door made of alloy slowly opened, here It is the real core area of ​​Geyemara, and it is also the part that belongs exclusively to the Dark Angels Legion.

Morgan was a little surprised, but Ahriman, who had heard about it for a long time, was already familiar with it: it was nothing more than a trick of interlocking layers, with one ring within another, which could even be regarded as a unique feature of the First Legion.

If the outer area of ​​Geyamala is decorated with simplicity by the sons of the Lion King, then the real core area is simply shabby: as far as the eye can see, there is a deep blue ocean, which is the most basic spliced ​​steel plate. Only the dim light can make people barely distinguish the difference between the wall and the ground.

And on the left and right sides of the corridor, groups of dark angels gathered in twos and threes, divided into small groups. They were all dressed in pure black armor, but they were as cold as strangers to each other.

Morgan and Ahriman kept their eyes straight as much as possible, but this did not prevent the mortal female officer from using her consciousness to observe the situation on the left and right. She soon discovered something very interesting: Although the soldiers of the First Legion were all wearing The same armor, but the logos and honor symbols on their armor are different, and they don't look like the same legion at all.

And the discussions between them are even more interesting: Even the dialogues between small groups are extremely obscure and complicated, often using some riddle-like tone and special terms, and when they talk about other small groups , the attitude of his speech seems to be discussing strangers who have nothing to do with or even slightly hostile.

But this interesting scene didn't last long, because soon they came to the end of the corridor, where a solemn gate stood, and a huge imperial sky eagle spewed from the gate.

"Lord Luther is inside."

When mentioning Luthor, Zahariel's tone couldn't help but carry some kind of respect from the younger generation.

"He is the most trusted person of our gene father, a great diplomat, coordinator and warrior, and an experienced monster hunter. Lord Johnson authorized him to hand over the reinforcements of various legions and coordinate All the materials and data needed for this war."

"If you have any questions, you can ask him for advice."

Before the Dark Angel finished speaking, he saw several Astartes coming out of Luthor's room and turning into another passage beside them. Under the dim light, Morgan couldn't see the color of their armor clearly, but they The leader was unusually striking: an overly tall Astartes warrior, perhaps a quarter or so taller than his compatriots.

[Who are those people? 】

"Ah, they."

Zahariel just glanced at it and gave the answer casually.

"They are representatives of the Second Legion."

"It's also part of this war."

(End of this chapter)