In the vastness of space, the battleship "Blade of Truth" was traversing the Warp, like a lone boat floating at the junction of the Warp and the physical universe.
The Blade of Truth was the pride of the Thousand Eyes warband; it was once a battle barge. After a Warp Storm, Captain Marcog lost his loyalty to the Imperium and pledged allegiance to the Warp Lord Serafax... or rather, the Fallen Angel Serafax.
However, First Mate Bella was wary of Marcog's loyalty. He believed that blind obedience would lead to loss of control, and subsequently, disaster.
Bella stepped onto the bridge of the Blade of Truth. Serafax sat on his throne, Marcog stood beside him, and three Corrupted Guards stood at attention on either side.
Serafax: "Bella, any news from Calmas?"
Bella: "Calmas has fallen. The forces of the Imperium, while we were away, returned and recaptured the planet."
The bridge immediately fell silent, then erupted in roars. Yuranezz, the Chief Warp Advisor, asked:
"Then did you destroy them?"
Bella coldly replied: "The strength of the Eye of Malice was insufficient to conquer the entire planet. A frontal assault would only lead to total annihilation."
Valkan the Crimson roared, "You dare to return?" Before he finished speaking, he lunged at Bella, swinging his chainfist.
However, Bella was prepared, striking Valkan's armor joints with precision, finally aiming his weapon at Valkan's face. Just as Bella was about to fire, a golden light froze both of them.
Serafax spoke to stop them: "Bella, I didn't allow you to kill him."
Bella: "You also didn't stop him from attacking me."
Serafax calmly replied: "If he truly had a chance to kill you, I would have stopped him."
Serafax questioned: "Bella, what intelligence did you bring back from this trip?"
Bella: "The defenders claimed they were fighting 'for The Lion'. I listened to the communication records; the phrase they used was 'for The Lion', not 'in The Lion's name'."
Serafax pondered: "A planet's militia shouting The Lion's name? There might be a greater significance behind this."
Yuranezz scoffed: "Imperial nonsense. They always seek courage from dead heroes."
Bella calmly explained: "I also participated in the conquest of Calmas. No one mentioned The Lion back then. They had no connection to The Lion."
Jatana the Unforgiven questioned: "Why do you care so much about a dead spirit?"
Bella retorted: "I have seen The Lion's face with my own eyes and fought alongside him. You don't even know who your own gene-father is."
Serafax stopped their argument: "Brother, why are you so eager to quarrel today?"
Bella lowered his head: "Because I failed you, yet I cannot tolerate others' accusations."
Serafax looked around at everyone: "The enemy shouts The Lion's name. This might mean the return of our father, Lion ElJonson. No matter how absurd it sounds, we cannot rule out this possibility."
Valkan the Crimson grumbled in dissatisfaction, clearly the Battle of Cadia announced the return of the Primarchs, and even those Primarchs who'served the true powers' were captured or even killed directly... "The Corpse Emperor's Primarchs... they... shouldn't... be very strong, right?"
Serafax sneered: "Is that so? Are you sure? Let me tell you, The Lion in his prime could urinate and single-handedly take down any Astartes."
He continued: "No evidence doesn't mean it's impossible. The Warp Storm when Caliban was destroyed didn't follow the laws of time. The Lion might have experienced a similar event."
Everyone fell silent. Yuranezz asked incredulously: "You think Lion ElJonson has truly returned?"
Serafax nodded: "It's too early to conclude, but we must take this possibility seriously. If true, everything will change."
Thinking of this, Serafax laughed, making everyone present look at each other, not understanding why their superior suddenly laughed.
Valkan the Crimson questioned again: "Why does the Lord laugh?"
Serafax slowly said: "Because this might be an opportunity. If father hasn't been corrupted, his return could change the tide of battle... we might even try to corrupt him."
Bella added: "In the communications, The Lion's own voice was not heard. He might not be on Calmas."
"We should lead our forces back to Calmas," the Dark Apostle said to Serafax.
"We must let the Corpse Emperor's followers know that resistance only increases suffering, and we can also have time to verify the truth of these rumors. The Empyrean is even more unpredictable for them. If he has already left there, then there are only a few other star systems nearby---"
"Wizard Lord! Wizard Lord!"
This goat-like bleating did not come from a Chaos Space Marine. Bella turned around in surprise to see a grey-furred Beastman charging onto the bridge, hooves clattering.
He had four horns on his head, two spiraling upwards and two curving down along his cheeks. One eye was filled with ancient grey film, while the other glowed golden, possessing a narrow, dark horizontal pupil.
He wore tattered robes stripped from an Imperial scribe, but this was not why he drew attention. His name was Kasanz, and he was responsible for overseeing the corrupted Astropath choir Serafax had left on the Blade of Truth.
"Silence!" Several junior Chaos warlords had already raised their weapons, ready to kill this inferior creature who dared to interrupt their meeting on the spot.
But Serafax sharply commanded, "Kasanz, do you need me for something?"
"Astropaths across the Imperium are speaking, my Lord," the Beastman's twisted kneeling posture seemed awkward to others,
"They say the Imperium's high song comes from a world called Avalon's, new and clear. That world is now garrisoned by an Imperial Prince and the Imperial Guard, and simultaneously, the 'Starlink' in all Imperial occupied territories has begun to transmit a message, and this message comes from Imperial Prince Li Feng himself!"
"What is the content?" Serafax asked.
Kasanz looked up, his intact eye filled with inexpressible anxiety.
"The Lion is here!"
At this moment, all the Chaos Lords slumped back into their chairs, their eyes bitter and despairing. They had just intended to corrupt a Primarch, but he had already been claimed by that "Great God."
"...And... and..." Kasanz stammered at this point, clearly having more to say. This made Serafax half-dead with anxiety, and he angrily roared:
"Speak if you have something to say! Fart if you have gas!"
Kasanz took a deep breath, swallowed, and loudly declared:
"At the same time, those Astropaths are all transmitting Li Feng's command to the entire Imperium..."
Serafax and the Chaos warlords: "What is it?"
"Imperial Prince Li Feng himself has personally appointed and ennobled the Primarch of the First Legion, the Dark Angels, the Emperor's eldest son, Lion ElJonson, as... 'Imperial Warmaster'! Overseeing all military affairs within and outside the Imperium!"
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