Chapter 204: The Closing End
There was no doubt, he just wanted to use the Black Library to find the path to godhood.
The news of Vashtorr's intention to defect to the Empire was immediately sealed off. Only a few high-ranking Imperial officials knew about it.
"They are all untrustworthy."
Upon hearing the news, the Emperor had no intention of accepting Vashtorr's loyalty.
In his opinion, the only good daemons were those reduced to ashes. As long as a daemon was still breathing, it deserved to die.
"Why should we trust them?" Raven tilted his head, looking at the Emperor, a bit puzzled.
"We just need them, that's all. Unicron has countless minions, and we also need some cannon fodder to charge into battle. Warp daemons are evil, but they're definitely excellent choices as expendable forces."
"Use them as cannon fodder?" The Emperor looked at Raven, confusion written across his features.
Raven said, "The Warp is the other side of the materium; it cannot be destroyed. We can only suppress and utilize it. Sending these daemons to other universes would make them ready-made cannon fodder. We can also use them to dismantle the Chaos Gods' foundations and entice more daemons to serve us."
"Those daemons are insatiably greedy," the Emperor said. "They hunger eternally, craving always to devour souls."
"Let them go fight the beings in other universes, how many souls they can harvest is up to them," Raven said. "Are we supposed to provide them with food and lodging? Hmph, what great cannon fodder!"
"No need for logistics, just use them until they're spent. When we no longer need them, we'll just find an excuse and dispose of them all."
Raven had it all planned out. Once the daemons' value was squeezed dry, he would let them experience the treachery of humanity.
"Tomorrow, the Empire will distribute soul rations. You all gather, without weapons or armor."
The Emperor watched Raven for a long time, as if he saw his own reflection in the other.
After much hesitation, the Emperor nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to you on this matter."
For safety's sake, Valdor personally took the Emperor's order to the Night Watcher ship to meet Vashtorr.
Due to the suppression of the materium, Vashtorr manifested in the form of a tentacled mechanical being, his size and height similar to Valdor's.
"You said the Anathema, no, His Majesty is willing to accept me. But to enter the Black Library, I need to earn merit?"
Vashtorr's eyes, burning with Warp-flame, stared intently at Valdor, making the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes somewhat uncomfortable, and he kept his guard.
He also despised the denizens of the Warp. If not for Raven's repeated orders, he would have already acted.
"Yes, you must earn it with merit. The Empire is currently at war with mechanical life forms from another universe, and you might prove useful."
"Mechanical life forms from another universe?" Vashtorr inquired. "So, the Emperor is willing to let us accompany Imperial forces to another realm?"
Valdor nodded. "The Night Watchers will accompany you, and you will remain in the containment field ship throughout the journey until you reach the other universe. Only then will you be free to move. You are free to plunder and claim the souls of the xenos in that universe; the Empire will not interfere."
Vashtorr fell silent.
He had intended to pledge allegiance to the Anathema, gain access to the Black Library, embark on the path to godhood, and reach the pinnacle of daemonic existence.
To live a life where he could kick Khorne, beat Nurgle, make Slaanesh warm his bed, and have Tzeentch tell jokes.
Now, it seemed, that was probably out of the question. Going to other universes to charge into battle for the Human Empire was purely acting as cannon fodder.
But there were still benefits: he could harvest souls and knowledge from another realm, and perhaps even find an opportunity for godhood in other universes.
"Alright, I agree," Vashtorr nodded.
"Your decision is most wise," Valdor offered with measured formality.
"Your words are truly perfunctory enough."
Vashtorr could feel Valdor's disgust, but he didn't care.
Mortal beings simply couldn't understand him. He only cared about one thing: how to achieve godhood.
"I will return and gather my subordinates. Remember to prepare your ships, I'm already eager to taste the souls of other realms."
Vashtorr didn't waste words. After receiving Valdor's reply, he opened a Warp rift and departed.
"Truly vile filth," Valdor murmured, watching the closing rift.
After a moment, confirming that Vashtorr had truly left, he turned and departed, returning to report to Raven and the Emperor.
...
"Everything is as expected."
The news Valdor brought back did not surprise Raven. He knew very well that Vashtorr would definitely compromise.
The Arkifane had long been unwilling to remain subservient to the Chaos Gods and had always wanted to ascend to become a new Chaos God. The Black Library and going to other universes were all opportunities for him, all potential avenues to find a chance for ascension.
He ordered close monitoring of Warp activity, awaiting news from Vashtorr. Once the Lord of the Soul Forge was ready, he would be sent to the Transformers Universe as cannon fodder.
After finishing these matters, Raven originally intended to resume his lazy ways.
Just as he lay down, he remembered that he hadn't visited some of the Primarchs in a while, and Corvus Corax still hadn't been found.
So Raven decided to visit the Primarchs first, to show the Emperor's concern for them, and incidentally bring Corvus Corax back.
After all, the Great Crusade was nearing its end, and the intergalactic and cosmic wars were about to begin. Corvus Corax also needed to return and adapt to the Empire before he could lead troops into battle.
After much thought, Raven decided to visit Horus first and also see the well-known figures of the Sixteenth Legion, Abaddon, Loken, and the others.
"I was there, the day Horus slew the Emperor."
Garviel Loken, Captain of the Luna Wolves Tenth Company, always used this iconic opening when recounting the story of the Battle of Sixty-Three Nineteen.
The Battle of Sixty-Three Nineteen was just an insignificant battle in the Luna Wolves Legion's campaigns across the galaxy.
But with Loken's excellent storytelling skills, it always left people wanting more, eager to hear it again. The remembrancers also loved this story.
So whenever he had free time or at gatherings, Loken would tell it.
As time passed, the Human Empire grew increasingly powerful, with various new technologies emerging rapidly.
Unimaginably huge structures and instant communication networks capable of connecting every planet. Abundant resources, flourishing commercial trade, and the Empire's perfected system of profit distribution visibly improved the lives of its citizens.
Desolate planets were transformed into beautiful garden worlds.
Prosperous industrial planets boasted countless towers reaching near-orbital heights, making space travel as convenient as stepping out of one's home.
This was a glorious era, an era where gods guided mortals and coexisted with them, just as described in ancient myths.
Gods descended from their heavens, came among their people, bestowed knowledge upon them, guided them to the path of happiness, and built a heaven on earth.
Even though the Imperium repeatedly reiterated that there were no gods in the universe, people still regarded the Primarchs and Astartes as gods and demigods.
Horus also became one of the focal points of attention throughout the galaxy. The Luna Wolves became a focus of attention for many Imperial citizens, who constantly followed the movements of this legion, anticipating that they would bring more victories to humanity.
And the Sixteenth Legion never disappointed those who trusted them. To date, they had never failed. It could be expected that they would not fail in the future either.
The Battle of Sixty-Three Nineteen erupted in the late stages of the Galactic Conquest War.
The Rangdan race was annihilated.
The Greenskin Ork Empire was crushed; any significant forces were swept away by the Empire, leaving no organized Greenskin power.
The C'tan were successively captured and sent back to Terra to serve as energy batteries.
The Craftworld Eldar surrendered, and the Laughing God, Cegorach, offered the Black Library and promised to fight the Drukhari jointly.
The Necrons fought individually, were discovered and annihilated, causing no significant harm whatsoever.
The Galactic Conquest War was slowly drawing to a close.
Many discerning people could see that the galactic war would soon end.
It would either move to other galaxies or to other universes. The Primarchs would achieve even more incredible feats in the future.
As the territory expanded, the Human Empire, with Terra as its capital, would become the suzerain state.
And the Primarchs were highly likely to become independent, managing and arranging the territories they had expanded themselves.
Currently, the ongoing war activities in the galaxy were merely a mop-up operation, clearing out the xenos to allow humanity to fully control the galaxy.
The Sixteenth Expeditionary Fleet planned to encircle a Necron Overlord who called himself Trazyn the Infinite.
This fellow had always been dedicated to collecting various artworks and collectibles that should not have belonged to him.
Rumor had it that he possessed biological specimens of the Old Ones, ancient Orks, and ancient Eldar, as well as various miraculous creations from humanity's Dark Age of Technology.
As for why he attracted the encirclement of the Sixteenth Expeditionary Fleet: this fellow was audacious enough to publicly raid a human fleet and even abduct high-ranking commanders as part of his collection.
When this matter spread on the network, it ignited the fury of the Imperial people.
Currently, the Imperial network was filled with cries of "Those who offend humanity, no matter how far, shall be exterminated." Countless people petitioned Terra to make Trazyn the Infinite pay for his foolishness.
"Are the second-generation battleships built just for show?"
"Collecting so many taxes? Not sending troops, is it for reparations?"
"They keep saying humanity has risen. Is this what rising looks like?"
"Questioning the system, the Empire is doomed."
[End of Chapter]
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