Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

In the eyes of ten million people, the Emperor of Mankind may look like ten million people.

He may be a majestic giant with sallow skin and long, shiny black hair. He wears the most luxurious golden armor. The light on his face alone is enough to illuminate the deepest darkness.

He may be a short and wise scholar, wrapping himself in a gray-white fully enclosed dust-free garment. Only the memories and rationality from the great era can be seen in his eyes that are a mixture of dark blue and brown.

He may be a king who shouts and fights fiercely. He has the appearance of a barbarian, but he uses the laurel wreath and the eagle flag to tell his invincibility. Standing there, he is more impressive than a million legions. fear.

But in the eyes of the Lord of the First Legion, these are misguided fallacies, sad illusions caused by insufficient ability and vision. What these statements depict is far from the true appearance of the Emperor.

Only what he saw was the true appearance of the Emperor.

——————

Jonson was waiting. When his brothers returned to the Emperor's Dream due to the Emperor's order, under some unspoken tacit understanding, he followed the guidance of instinct and came to a dim place. In the cave.

The ancient door may not have been truly opened for thousands of years. Zhuangson's intrusion awakened the automatic lights that were still functioning. Under the dimmest illumination, he could clearly see the paintings on the walls on both sides: those from The paintings from the ancient glory days are in black and white, telling how the first colonists drove away the herds and miasma, wiped swamps and snow-capped mountains from the ground, and built glorious cities.

In the subsequent paintings, there were also movements of conflict, conspiracy and war, but Zhuangson was not in the mood to watch it. He walked through here quickly, opened a door, and finally stopped under a bright light. .

This is a naturally formed patio. The light from the sky pours in from the crack, opening up a dazzling kingdom in the endless darkness.

Zhuang Sen stood in the light. In his sight, in the looming shadow in front of him, a shadow slightly taller than him was slowly appearing.

The Emperor is here.

The Lord of Humanity is wearing an emerald armor, and the scales are inlaid with gold edges and connected with gold and silver threads, shining with soft dark green light in the dim shadows.

He covered himself with a robe that was also golden. The robe was a bit shabby and dark, with patterns of eagles, swords and laurels woven with black silk threads on it.

His eyes were invisible to outsiders, and his tall nose and smooth chin told of his youth, but when he spoke, it was with a kind of natural stability and vicissitudes.

This is what the Lord of Mankind looks like. When Jonson met his genetic father for the first time in the deep woods of Caliban, he was sure that what he saw was the true side of his father.

What his brothers witnessed were nothing more than false masks, but he was the only one who witnessed the truth.

[Jonson, my knight. 】

"Father."

The Lord of the First Legion performed the most standard knightly etiquette. The Emperor waited quietly and politely until the etiquette was completed before speaking slowly again.

[You have a question, even if it spans the interstellar world and the universe, you still want to get the answer? 】

Jonson didn't reply. He waited for the emperor's permission.

It wasn't until the Lord of the First Legion felt a silent permission in the air that he raised his head, hesitated slightly, and then spoke cautiously.

"Yes, Father."

"This may involve a secret, but I think it is necessary to report this matter to you."

The Emperor closed his eyes, as if sighing silently.

[Say it. 】

Zhuang Sen raised his head, and his pupils shone with a light that was like a breeze blowing through the pool water, showing that he was more or less nervous in his heart.

"I would like to know……"

"When you formed us, did you create one... or more... female individuals."

——————

The air seemed to be quiet for a long time.

It's been a long, very long, incredibly long hard time.

The tiniest dust slowly fell in the ragged rays of the sun, flying in irregular dance steps in the air. They floated, falling on Zhuang Sen's head and at the emperor's feet.

The Emperor just closed his eyes.

Finally, Zhuang Sen seemed to hear another sigh, but he didn't seem to hear it.

[So, you met her? 】

"Morgan."

After getting an accurate answer, Zhuang Sen whispered the name in a trembling tone.

[Morgan, she still chose to accept the name, which is good. It erases a trivial worry for me. 】

The emperor's tone was like discussing a book that had been lost for a long time. He was a little relieved, but that was all. The Lord of Mankind's eyes were still closed, and only the smile on his lips was faintly visible on the edge of the hood.

[She took the initiative to find you? 】

"She came to my Legion as a mortal advisor to the Fifteenth Legion, a confidant of my brother Magnus."

[...Magnus? 】

——————

The Emperor's eyes opened.

——————

Jonson heard footsteps, wandering footsteps.

His master seemed to be thinking about something. The human master raised his head and looked at the crack where light was constantly pouring in. He reshaped his thoughts and deduced what he wanted from the short words.

[That brother of yours sent her to your legion as a member of his legion that could replace him? 】

"Yes."

The emperor turned his head and faced the darkest shadow, seeming to be thinking about something.

Zhuang Sen raised his head and looked at his father: the Lord of Humanity stood at the junction of light and darkness, his dark golden robe shining in the light, but his face was completely hidden in the darkness, more The dust haze continued to fall and rise under his feet, like a dirty snow wave.

"Are you worried that she will be misled by Magnus, father?"

[...No, I'm worried about the opposite. 】

The emperor turned around and looked at his heir. In his pupils obscured by the shadow of the hood, Jonson felt that his secrets and thoughts had nowhere to hide.

He doesn't get angry about it.

[In your eyes, what kind of person is she? 】

"As a mortal?"

【As a mortal. 】

The Lion of Caliban thought for a moment.

"Capable, calm, cautious, a little eccentric and hidden, but also has a greedy and reckless side."

[… Let’s talk about it in detail. 】

"She is indeed calm and cautious, and is used to making many preparations and plans, but this caution is actually for the recklessness deep in her heart."

"She has an almost beastly instinct for exploring remote lands at the edge of her abilities and consciousness. She always wants to know more, but she will not blindly move forward in unknown areas."

"She won't rush in, but she won't stop either."

"She won't lose her mind, but she won't stop either."

"She carries out adventurous and exploratory activities within the scope of her abilities. Even if she is injured, it is only the smallest flesh wound. She has the most careful protection of her will and will not voluntarily get involved in dangerous situations. , but also unwilling to give up adventure and exploration.”

"In general."

"Be careful, your desires are hard to satisfy."

“Step by step, be bold.”

——————

The Emperor listened quietly.

Then, he asked Jonson to tell more, telling all the information that the First Legion had about Morgan's past, telling what Morgan did during his time in the First Legion, telling every move, word and action of Morgan, some of which Maybe even Morgan himself has forgotten.

The Emperor listened carefully and carefully to every word, then fell into a deeper and longer silence.

Until Zhuang Sen asked with an inexplicable anxiety.

"Do you need me to bring her, father?"

【...No, no need. 】

【Being not. 】

[I don’t have extra time or energy. 】

The Emperor thought for a while and then looked at Johnson.

[For now, let her stay by your side until this war is over. 】

[Until Ran Dan is erased, I will let her come back at a suitable time. Before that, just treat her as learning everything about being the original body by your side. 】

[It’s time for you to have an assistant, Johnson. 】

[I hand over this war with Ran Dan to you, because you are the only one who can complete it. This war is destined to be unknown and will disappear in misunderstanding and forgetfulness. Its winner can only live in the desert. In the shadow, you get rewards that belong only to you, that is, trust and loyalty. 】

[Some people always need light and applause. 】

[But some people don’t need it. 】

[But... mark my words, Jonson. 】

[One day, she will leave us. 】

[This is an established fact. My will, your will, and even her will cannot change this. It cannot be changed at all. 】

[You must be aware and prepared. 】

[She will eventually leave the human empire, leave me, and will also leave you. This separation is destined not to be a reluctant farewell between friends, it will be played in blood and fire, and it will move towards something that will not be recorded in any epic. Killing and the end. 】

[Remember it, remember it, implement it. 】

[My knight, this is your mission. 】

Jonson breathed silently and lowered his head.

——————

"I will reserve a sword for her, father."

"I'll make sure this sword suits her best."

——————

The leader of the First Legion had forgotten how he left that cave.

In fact, apart from the Emperor's words and instructions, he could not remember any details of that meeting.

He remained silent, left, and boarded the Emperor's ship to catch up with the belated meeting between the brothers.

His brother Horus was still as hopeless as before, eager to imitate the sun's torch. He thought that the lion did not know his little thoughts and the somewhat ridiculous entanglements and annoyances in his heart.

There was another brother, Chagatai Khan from Chogolis. Zhuangson didn't communicate much with him, but from those brief words and clear pupils, he saw a sincere person worthy of respect. This is extremely rare among his brothers.

As for Fulgrim...

Not everyone deserves to be analyzed and remembered.

Jonson declined more invitations. He thought he had expressed respect to Horus as tactfully as possible and asked to leave.

Although in the eyes of others, the Lord of the First Legion simply stood up and looked directly at Horus, expressing that his legion's military affairs were urgent and did not allow extravagant behavior to kill time.

His green pupils glared at everyone, allowing the three brothers to see that even if they continued to invite Zhuang Sen to sit down and chat, although he would not refuse, he would not participate in any more topics.

He still remembered the flickering color in Horus' pupils, which seemed to be an emotion called [embarrassment]. He somewhat understood Horus's situation, but he really had no more reason to stay there and do nothing.

As a result, the fleet of the First Legion became the first imperial team to leave the Moro Galaxy.

The Lion of Caliban drove his sons and crew almost harshly. He refused any reason to stay except for necessary supplies. The Dark Angel's fleet operated at its most efficient posture and returned to the front line non-stop.

Jonson was worried about the front line. He was worried about handing over the power of war and command to anyone. Even Coswayne, his most trusted heir, had never truly proven his ability.

Jonson's ship returned from Moro at a speed that no one had imagined. The Dark Angels who gathered on the Indomitable Truth to greet them were even in a hurry, but fortunately their genetic father did not care about this either. As soon as he landed, he grabbed Coswein and asked about the situation on the front line during his absence.

After repeatedly confirming that Ran Dan did not take the opportunity to launch any offensive that could reverse the situation, Zhuang Sen put down the biggest stone in his heart. Then, he turned his head and saw his disguised blood relative walking in an embarrassing way. He walked towards her at a slow pace.

She stopped in front of him, saluted and saluted him, and addressed him respectfully as "Your Excellency Zhuangson".

The Lion of Caliban even felt an absurd emotion.

Then, she turned sideways and stood aside, and then he noticed another creature lingering at her feet.

It was a cat-like creature, about the length of a mortal's forearm, with fluffy snow-white hair, and a pair of ocean-like blue pupils. There were wisps of brown and black light scattered around the pupils. It extends all the way to its nose, forming a kind of decoration that complements the brown-black ears.

It was as lazy as its owner. It rubbed against the toes of Morgan's boots slowly, then simply shrank into a ball and gathered at her feet domineeringly.

Zhuang Sen's eyes stopped on Morgan's face, but he only saw an insincere smile.

[I decided to pay a return visit to Sisyphus to reflect on the relics and insights from our battle, and it is just a wonderful souvenir: a once wild strong-brained cat, which is beneficial to a psychic like me. of. 】

Jonson's eyes shot to Asmodeus again.

The poor think tank unconsciously took a step back under this gaze, and then nodded cautiously.

Caliban's giant cat turned his head again, his eyes lingering on Morgan's face long enough, but there was nothing but a bland smile without any hint of sincerity or provocation. get.

In the end, Johnson simply gave up.

Now, he should think about other things.

About that sword.

About Duran.

About his brother he has yet to meet: Leman Russ.