Chapter 1021 - 1020: The Bolters and Power Swords of the Sons of Horus All Failed Simultaneously

Dixon, First Captain of the First Chapter of the Shadows of Order, strode into the Governor's palace.

The Honor Guard spread out rapidly, conducting a room-by-room search.

An "Interrogator" raised his fist and smashed open a door on the top floor.

Debris exploded, he stepped inside.

He swept the room with his Spirit Vision, finding nothing, he turned to leave.

Suddenly, he paused, his gaze falling on the burning fireplace.

From the perspective of a "Judge," he stared at the crackling flames.

He walked to the hearth, raised his left arm, and gently probed around the mantel.

After a moment, his gauntlet stopped at a niche above the fireplace, where a statue of a giant wolf under the moon stood.

Click!

With a mechanical grinding, the fire abruptly died, revealing a gap.

He opened his comm: "Captain, at the fireplace in the guest chamber, I sense an environmental dissonance."

"I've opened a passage and am about to enter."

"I understand, I'll be there shortly."

After Dixon ended the transmission, the "Interrogator" stepped into the passage.

Before him stretched a corridor wide enough for three abreast, winding downward.

His gaze fell on a surveillance camera mounted on the wall.

He stepped forward and smashed it with his fist.

Crackle!

Sparks flew, the "Interrogator" pressed on.

His heavy footsteps echoed in the deep passage as he descended.

His tactical visor's depth reading dropped rapidly, within moments, he had descended three kilometers.

Suddenly, a squad of guards appeared before him, raising lasguns at the "Interrogator."

The "Interrogator" ignored the oncoming volleys of beams, twisting his body to face the Sons of Horus closing in from both sides.

Blazing beams struck his thermal field, bending and refracting into dissipating smoke.

Twin bolts of lightning flared in the "Interrogator's" obsidian eyes, lancing toward the Son of Horus on the right.

The Son of Horus grunted, his head jolted as if struck by lightning, stars dancing before his eyes.

He pressed a rune, activating his power fist.

The "Interrogator" drove his fist into the Son of Horus's chest, the disintegration field shrieked as it tore through Mark IV power armor, erupting in a spray of blood.

Bang!

The other Son of Horus's eyes widened, a single blow had killed his battle-brother.

He spun his power sword, slashing at the Shadows of Order's abdomen.

He felt those obsidian eyes fall upon him, an unimaginable pressure bore down on his body.

Currents of electricity crackled through his mind, linking into a chain that lashed at his soul.

'A psyker.'

His fingers trembled, he could barely grip his sword hilt.

He watched the Shadows of Order approach, las-beams detonated around him, the red glow making him appear almost terrifying.

'Terrifying.'

The word flashed through the Son of Horus's mind, and he found it absurd.

He was an Astartes. He was a Son of Horus. He should not, and would not, feel fear.

"Sorcery!" he shouted.

"You took Gonzalo, what is your purpose?"

The Shadows of Order stepped forward. From the "Judge's" perspective, following this passage would lead to the Planetary Governor, but he was more curious about the Sons of Horus's objective.

The "Judge" gathered his spirituality in his right hand, slowly shaping a red-hot brand.

He raised his hand and struck the Mark IV power armor, the armor crackled but showed no damage.

The Son of Horus grunted, the brand had struck his soul.

The searing pain and the coursing current mingled.

His body convulsed violently, his sword clattered to the ground, his scalp tingling, hair standing on end.

The "Interrogator" raised his arm, the spiritual implement of torture struck mercilessly, accompanied by lash after lash of "Whip of Pain".

"Answer my question."

Bang!

The Son of Horus collapsed in agony, convulsing, unable to muster any strength.

His two hearts pounded wildly; his hands clenched uselessly.

'He's a psyker... but there's only one... below, there are two hundred and ninety-eight battle-brothers led by my lieutenant…'

'If he recklessly pursues... he'll surely die.'

'If he goes back to report... and then returns... it'll be too late, I... I am also... buying... time...'

His thoughts grew dimmer; his mind shattered under the relentless soul-lashing.

"We... want... Gonzalo... prestige... rally... people... rise... make you... never... know peace..."

"Thank you for your cooperation." The "Interrogator's" right hand implement slowly dissipated. He raised his hand and gripped the helmet.

With a squeeze, bang, the Son of Horus's head burst.

The "Interrogator" opened his comm: "Lord Dixon, I have interrogated a Son of Horus captive."

"They took the Planetary Governor, they plan to use his prestige to incite rebellion."

"Continue pursuit, I am only one kilometer away," Dixon ordered.

The "Interrogator" immediately quickened his pace, tracking the enemy's trail.

After two more turns, the passage opened up.

He was about to step forward when a hand pressed his shoulder.

"Lord Dixon."

Dixon nodded, and with twenty-three Honor Guard members, moved forward.

The "Disciplinary Paladin" activated his Spirit Vision, and immediately caught the shapes beyond the exit, their auras flickering with crimson killing intent, grey-black hatred, and pale blue scrutiny.

An ambush, bolter fire concentrated.

The "Disciplinary Paladin" Dixon paused a step before the door. He extended his spirituality, raised his right arm, and declared in Dungan: "Subjects of punishment, Sons of Horus."

"This place forbids, bolter attacks."

Dixon stepped through, scanning his surroundings, the Sons of Horus raised their bolters, aiming at him.

Click...

Triggers pulled, no rounds fired. As if the machine-spirits had collectively refused.

The Sons of Horus stared in disbelief. Their bolters had always been reliable, this collective failure was unprecedented in nearly two centuries of warfare.

The "Disciplinary Paladin" raised his right arm: "Traitors shall be restrained!"

Bang bang bang!

Over forty nearby Sons of Horus dropped to their knees, the "Interrogators" activated their power fists in unison, their disintegration fields ruthlessly tearing their bodies apart.

"Power swords."

At the lieutenant's command, the Sons of Horus cast aside their useless bolters and activated their power swords.

"This place "prohibits" the use of power swords!"

The "Disciplinary Paladin" declared, the shrieking blades crackled, and with a series of short bursts, the blue light died out together.

The lieutenant saw the Sons of Horus's bolters and power swords all fail at once, while the enemy's power fists blazed with brilliant blue light.

He drew his combat knife and lunged at the Shadows of Order Librarian.

To break the psychic power, he had to kill the psyker first.

Crackle!

Dixon's massive fist crackled with blinding blue energy, he stepped forward, his fist howling through the air.

"Traitors shall be punished."

The Son of Horus sidestepped to dodge, but the fist struck with irresistible force, impossible to evade.

Bang!

The Cataphractii Terminator was torn apart like a thin sheet.

Thud!

Planetary Governor Gonzalo watched the black-armored giant approach, his legs trembled.

When the Sons of Horus had taken him, he had known the Warmaster intended to use him to bleed the Shadows of Order.

But he had no choice, only to accept.

Trembling, he drew an autopistol and aimed it at his head.

He closed his eyes, just as he was about to pull the trigger, a rush of wind swept past, and with a whoosh, he was knocked to the ground.

'I chose wrong... my lord...'

....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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