Chapter 999 - 998: I Will Sulely Present Magnus's Soul Fragment to You

In the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, Nareth sat high upon his throne.

He had successively granted the promotion potions to the "Notaries" of the Second Chapter and other Chapters, ensuring that every part of the Legion had a varying number of "Priest of Lights."

On one hand, they were the backbone of the fight against Chaos.

On the other hand, compared to the "Mentor of Disorders," they could also purify items corrupted by Chaos.

The purification efficiency of teams led by "Priest of Lights" was far higher than that of the current Mechanicum.

Nareth remembered that the Ultramarines had seized the Chronicle of Ashes from the Word Bearers and spent five years completing the equipment purification and technical exorcism of the Gloriana-class battleship.

Of course, if it were a battleship blessed by the Four Chaos Gods, like the Vengeful Spirit, then even with the combined efforts of Ecclesiarchy priests and tech-priests, purifying it would be extremely difficult.

'Hmm... Perhaps it would require the infusion of a new soul through the "Alchemist", Sequence 4 of the Paragon pathway, to replace the ancient machine spirit. Then, combined with the Sun Pathway Sequence 4 "Unshadowed's" power over domains such as the purification of corruption and degeneration, it might be possible.'

Nareth gathered his thoughts. He was about to return to realspace when an illusory prayer suddenly sounded in his ear.

He extended his spirituality, touching the constantly expanding and contracting red-black spiritual orb, and then saw Hasik Noyan-Khan of the White Scars kneeling at an altar.

With a thought from Nareth, he drew Hasik into the Kingdom of Disorder.

Hasik gazed reverently at the Black Emperor enthroned on high. "My lord, by Your revelation, I discovered an outpost established by the Alpha Legion and reported it to the Great Khan."

"The Great Khan acted swiftly, destroying the outpost. Our efforts to eliminate the remaining Orks of Ullanor have progressed significantly faster as a result."

"Afterward, we broke through the Alpha Legion's interception and reestablished contact with the Imperium."

The Alpha Legion had established numerous space stations in the void. The psychic arrays they deployed interfered with the Astropaths' psychic communications, isolating Chondax.

"Upon learning that the Space Wolves had destroyed Prospero, Jaghatai was greatly shocked. He immediately led his fleet there to investigate the truth."

"After reaching Prospero's orbit, the Great Khan ordered us to remain in orbit while he led Qin Xia and the other members of his Honor Guard down to the surface to investigate."

Hasik finally raised a data-slate with both hands. "Following the revelation You bestowed upon him, Torgun has already devised a plan to capture Magnus's soul fragment."

Nareth raised a hand and beckoned. The data-slate fell into his hand.

His fingers flicked through it, reading rapidly, and then he gave a slight nod.

"Good. Proceed according to his plan."

A bronze mask appeared out of thin air in Nareth's hand. With a thought, the mask and the data-slate fell into Hasik's hands.

Hasik caught the bronze mask and immediately felt his fingers turn icy cold. A piercing shriek sounded in his mind.

"The countless Psychneueins on Prospero died under the Space Wolves' orbital bombardment. After death, they became ghosts."

"Even Jaghatai would face a considerable threat from them."

Nareth remembered that the attacks of Jaghatai and Qin Xa and the others had little killing power against the ghostly Psychneueins. Jaghatai had even fallen in battle, buried deep underground.

There, he encountered a fragment of Magnus's soul. The latter revealed the truth to him and told him that the time had come to make a choice.

Jaghatai did not side with his friend Horus Lupercal, choosing to remain loyal to the Imperium.

Returning to the surface, he and Qin Xa, with the help of Revuel Arvida, managed to escape the ghostly Psychneueins and return to the flagship.

"This mask is the bane of undead creatures. Contain all the Psychneuein ghosts you encounter within it."

Once the Sequence 2 "Death Consul" mask was opened, it would affect those around it and could even deprive Astartes of their lives. Ordinarily, he rarely used it.

But on Prospero, it was precisely the time for the Death Consul mask to be used.

"Magnus's soul fragment is similar to a vengeful ghost state. It can also be contained within."

As Nareth spoke, light and shadow flickered in his eyes, transmitting the relevant information to Hasik.

"My Lord, with the miraculous item You have bestowed upon me, I will surely present You with Magnus's soul fragment."

"You have one more task." As Nareth spoke, a data crystal appeared in his hand.

"The survivors of the Thousand Sons, led by Sul Kontep, are hiding in the underground facility the Shadows of Order opened for them in the wilderness. You must find them."

"Tell them you are acting on my orders, here to help them."

Hasik caught the data crystal. "By Your Will."

The black mist surged, wrapping around his body.

When Hasik came to, he found himself back at the altar aboard the Qingzha.

Whoosh!

The entire altar was stained with a eerie green glow. An icy cold seeped into his body.

Hasik quickly picked up the ritual dagger forged from paired black-gold.

Spirituality overflowed from his fingertips. As the ritual dagger swung, it wrapped the bronze mask in layer upon layer.

Bang!

Amid a short, sharp boom, the overflowing cold aura was contained.

Hasik left the altar and pushed open the door, immediately seeing Torgun Khan standing guard before the door, a curved power sword at his waist.

"Lord Hasik." Torgun glanced at the spirituality-wrapped mask.

"This is?"

"A powerful wondrous item granted by Lord Nareth. It must be sealed and can only be opened when used," Hasik said.

"Remember what I told you?"

"The task Lord Nareth requires you to plan is a ritual task you must complete to gain new power. This is both a test for you and a necessary process for obtaining higher-level power."

"Of course, Lord Nareth also considered the danger involved in capturing a powerful being alive, in your case, Magnus's soul fragment. That is why he bestowed this mask upon us to help us accomplish the task."

When Torgun heard "Nareth," his two hearts beat rapidly.

Hearing that Lord Nareth had specially granted an item, his breathing could not help but quicken, his eyes shining.

"Thank Lord Nareth for his concern. I will never betray his trust."

Hasik recounted the mask's abilities and precautions to Torgun, then said.

"First, refine the plan."

"I will go assess the situation and look for an opportunity to go to the surface."

After parting with Torgun, Hasik came to the bridge.

He seated himself on the throne woven from ancient strips and leather cables, swept his gaze over the twenty-three Khans of the horde under his command, and finally settled on Shiban.

"Shiban, any word from the Great Khan?"

"No. One standard hour ago, I sent a message to the Swordstorm inquiring, but I still have not received any valuable information," Shiban said worriedly.

"The auger matrix scans the surface uninterrupted, but apart from blackness, nothing can be seen."

"The entire planet is battered and bruised, like a dead world."

"Crustal movement remains violent. Radiation levels are very high."

He walked to the cogitator and brought up the holographic image.

"Additionally, the aetheric readout has just confirmed that there is a barrier wrapping the upper atmosphere."

"It is composed of some kind of aetheric field, extremely large in scale."

Hasik's eyes lit up. "We must go to the surface and support the Great Khan."

....

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