40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 251 22. Phoenix falls from the sky ([-])
Conrad Coates stared at the sky with squinted eyes, silent.

The sky has darkened, and the sunset in the Laer world is as magnificent and disorderly as a scene in a dream. The sky is an almost illusory pink, and the clouds are overlapping and mixed together, and the swarms of Stormbirds and Thunderhawks have completely torn them apart. .

The Primarch's vision allowed him to see farther than an ordinary Astartes, and combined with the zoom function of the helmet's eyepiece, Curze was able to clearly see the markings on the gunship at this moment.

They don't belong to the Midnight Blades or the Emperor's Children, they belong to the Word Bearers.The paint was gray with a hint of dark red, and the scriptures were all over the wings, densely packed, like gnawing by a swarm of insects.

The Lord of Night made no comment on the matter, having learned early on the necessity of silence.After a few seconds, he simply lowered his head and stopped paying any attention to the sky.

The Night Blades were cleaning the battlefield. They had captured another Lar city in the past hour. Under the personal leadership of the original body, this time was not considered efficient.

The corpses of the aliens were thrown into the fire one after another, with four arms and snake tails, and they were extremely twisted.Curze looked at the fire closest to him and took a deep breath.

The breathing grille did not filter the air against his will, and he did not smell the stench of burnt flesh and blood.In fact, he smelled something fishy, ​​like old dead fish that had been placed in the cellar.

After a brief silence, Kurtz turned on the filtering function again.

He turned around and walked past the many corpses he had created with his own hands, and the broken limbs were ruthlessly crushed under his steps.He did not avoid their thoughts, his eyes were indifferent, as if he had stepped on garbage without any care or awareness.

A Night Blade without a helmet came up to him. This man had a fierce and gloomy face, and one of his eyes was a dull metallic gray.It was obvious that he had installed the metal prosthetic eye not long ago, and the rejection reaction caused the flesh and blood around the right eye to become red and swollen.

"What's the matter, Drasok?" the Lord of Night asked in a soft tone.

His fourth company commander lowered his head silently, his expression relaxed a little.It looked like he was mourning, but his voice was as heavy as swords striking each other.

"I apply for the Oath of Vengeance."

The Lord of Night narrowed his eyes.

"Have you thought about it?" he asked simply and clearly. "There's no turning back, Drathok."

"I've thought about it." The fourth company commander replied slowly. "My mind is clearer than ever, Primarch. I have found myself, I have seen the truth."

Konrad Curze slowly took off his helmet, not allowing himself and his heir to be separated by metal and eyepieces at this moment.

A vow of revenge.

After officially participating in the Great Crusade, a new tradition was born among the Nightblades.The Great Crusade was a war, a confluence of many, almost never-ending wars.Sacrifice or bloodshed are commonplace, and there is absolutely no way to avoid them.
After battle after battle, those who were still standing were determined to comfort the souls wandering in the darkness with more blood.

"In that case, I allow it." The Lord of Night replied majestically. "Dye your hands red with the blood of your brothers, Drasok, and you will not stop until the blood of your enemies has completely covered them."

"As you command," Karl Drasok hissed, and immediately turned away.

Generally speaking, not every Night Blade can apply for the Oath of Vengeance.Only those military officers or highly recognized killers can obtain this 'honor'. They usually ask people more senior than themselves to serve as witnesses of the oath.
Staring at the back of the fourth company commander who turned away, Konrad Coates put on his helmet and turned away silently.He stayed away from the battlefield and found a rather remote ruins to stay temporarily.

The sounds of Land Raiders and Rhino personnel carriers rumbled not far away. Curze listened to them casually and sat on a broken stone pillar.

His cloak moved automatically in the dark, with its crimson color floating slowly.The smelly sea breeze blows from the far side of the atoll city, very slowly, but not gentle.The Night Lord tapped his fingers on his knee armor, listening to its dull echo, and suddenly spoke.

"Did your investigation reveal anything?"

In the darkness, two bits of blue light slowly lit up.

A giant wrapped in darkness walked out heavily. The seawater under his feet immediately froze, and it was an extremely dark abyssal ice, which was extremely ominous.The pale skeleton exuded a cold aura, and there was a little blue light escaping from the eye sockets.

"The Lal cities are very interesting," said Khalil. "They did not build cities based on geographical advantages, but based on certain laws."

"Principle?" The Lord of Night turned his head, tilted his head and observed the skeleton.His actions are very intimidating, especially when he is wearing a helmet.Unfortunately, the people he stared at were already immune to most fears.

Khalil spoke softly and answered Coze's question.

"Your brother Fulgrim issued a battlefield overview to me from the Emperor's Pride. According to the existing information, the cities of the Lars can almost be regarded as a certain star map. All cities are fragments. Falling stars, just waiting for a clue or something to completely link them together.”

The Lord of the Night's face under his helmet became serious, and when he spoke again, his voice became deeper: "Is it them?"

"I didn't smell the stench, and I didn't see anything suspicious," the skeleton said calmly. "The Lars are indeed suspicious, but they are not paying attention here. Also, Conrad, do you know where the Word Bearers' gunships are going?"

"Did you see their gunboats too?"

The skeleton seemed to smile.

"With such an overwhelming formation, I think it's hard for me not to see it. They are going to the religious center of the Lar people, a city of temples, or in other words, a huge alien church. You don't need me to say it, you can probably understand the meaning. The speakers’ attitude toward alien gods.”

"Are they going to burn the place down? That's good, I'll applaud to show my support." Conrad Coates said this without interest. "I'm sorry, but I'm not very interested in the kind of ruthless attacks that exclude dissenters in religion."

"Me too. But they are the Empire's legions after all."

"You want us to get involved?"

"That will depend on your opinion." Khalil raised his head and glanced at the darkening sky. "Darkness is our hunting ground after all."

"Let me think about it for a minute," said Conrad Coates.

He took off his helmet again, and with the sound of mechanical operation and gas release, he turned his helmet over.

The eyepiece is scarlet, with stubborn touches of gold and midnight blue on the edge.Everything is so eerie and terrifying, but with an elegance and nobility that comes from nowhere.

Midnight Ghost bared his teeth in disgust and said in Nostramo: "Do they have to add such complicated patterns with unknown meanings?" Khalil didn't speak, just smiled.

"I can see you smiling even through the mask!"

"Well, then, congratulations?"

Coze sighed visibly, and poked the bat wings on the edge of his helmet with his finger: "You should know that I don't really want to stand with the Word Bearers."

"why?"

"I don't like religion," the Primarch said bluntly. "This has nothing to do with Luo Jia. I just simply hate believers, especially such fanatical believers. Standing with such people, I will have trouble breathing."

"It sounds like you have some kind of religious allergy." Khalil also followed Coz's example and tilted his head. "But you should be healthy, Conrad, and you're unlikely to get sick."

At this moment, in the near-inverted vision, he could clearly capture every bit of helplessness on Conrad Coates' face - it was an expression that he was convincing himself of, quite helpless and quite
interesting.

"Are you laughing again?" Cozz asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes." Khalil nodded. "I can't help it, I can't help it."

"tsk"

"What do you mean by tsk?"

"meaning is--"

Konrad Curze slowly stood up from the stone pillar, his cloak being blown by the wind and making a sound.He raised his hands and put the helmet on himself.The movements are ordinary, but they are as solemn as if the king himself is wearing the crown.

"—You succeeded in annoying me, Khalil."

"I can't afford this honor."

The Lord of Night ignored these words.
-
Fulgrim solemnly looked down at the burning ground through the porthole of the transport plane.The sky is already dark, but the burning alien city can light up half the sky.The Primarch looked away, closed his eyes, and contemplated for the last time.

In 15 minutes, he will go to the battlefield in person, throw away the cumbersome restrictions of strategizing, and once again slash the enemy as a warrior.He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time. With the Emperor's Children participating in the conquest, how could he not go to the front lines in person?
If it weren't for the fact that the three legions must have a commander who can see the overall situation and issue orders, Fulgrim would not have forced himself to stay on his flagship for so long.However, among the three original bodies, who else besides him can shoulder this responsibility?
Lorgar Aurelion was an excellent speaker, but other than that, his military talents were not outstanding.

Konrad Curze was a very formidable commander, but that was only based on the fact that he commanded his own legion.He is a partial general.

Fulgrim is different. On the road to pursuing perfection, he has already unknowingly knocked on the door of omnipotence.Under his command, the joint operations of the three armies were very successful.

In just two days, they completely plunged the Lar people's world into a sea of ​​fire.If we attack alone, it may take a month. Thinking of this, Fulgrim couldn't help but feel grateful that he had found help.

He wasn't ashamed of the thought, maybe he had been before, but now there was no need for it.Refusing help from others at all times is essentially just paranoia, especially in a war.

If he wants to use the blood of his own children to build a ladder leading to the door of perfection, how despicable must he be?

The Chemos would never let themselves become like that.

With these thoughts in mind, he slowly opened his eyes.The specially-built transport aircraft was subtracted in many places in order to fit his figure, but some decorations that were considered 'necessary' remained.

For example, an eagle's claw flag and an eagle's wing flag are gifts sewn by a group of grateful civilians, representing a world's gratitude.The texture is not precious, and the craftsmanship can be said to be cheap.

However, for so many years, Fulgrim has never let these two flags truly stay out of his sight.To him they were beyond honor.

"Kasuolong." Phoenix suddenly called out.The person he called was his first company commander, Julius Casoron, who was also the captain of the Phoenix Guard.I have followed him for many years and am very loyal and skilled.

"Primarch, I am here." Kasolon responded immediately. The golden eagle face on his helmet fluttered against the purple background, and his scarlet eyes stared closely at his original body. "What are your orders?"

"How should we win?" Fulgrim asked softly a question that should not be considered by Kasolon at all. The captain was stunned.

He had recently returned to the Emperor's Pride using a shuttle, and as captain of the Phoenix Guard, he was required to accompany the Primarch when he went on a campaign.Over the years, he has learned a lot about war.

However, what the original body was asking about at this moment was beyond his expectation.

"This does not seem to be a question I should think about, Primarch." Kasolon answered cautiously.

"You are one of my most important commanders." Fulgrim seemed to smile. “How to win should be at the top of your list of things to think about.”

Phoenix's gleaming lips and his half-smiling expression were supposed to be attractive, as countless men and women who had screamed for him could attest.

However, his eyes were so calm and powerful.

Kasolon was speechless for a moment. He had no idea how to answer the original's question, which made the moment a little more awkward.Fortunately, Fulgrim did not continue to stare. He quickly looked away and turned his attention to the two eagle flags again.

"My brothers' legions have all rushed towards the religious center of the Lar people, Kasolon. According to some survey results, the Lar people are not a society where technology dominates the mainstream of thought. They believe more in religion."

"Such regimes are more cohesive, but also have more obvious weaknesses. Typically, their religious center is their center of rule. This is the decisive battle, my son."

Phoenix stretched out his hand and touched the two flags affectionately. His violet eyes truly began to burn, beautiful and intimidating, radiant and extremely sharp.

"And we will prevail," he declared. "We will completely eliminate the last chance of survival of the Lar people and drive this alien form from the human galaxy!"

　One more chapter. ,
　　I'm late because I'm not in good condition, sorry.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)