40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 179 4. Preparation

Felzalost lowered his head, trying to ignore some things and enter the state of concentration he needed now.

But he failed, he couldn't do it - he could clearly hear his breathing and the whistling wind in his ears. The sound was so loud that he almost doubted whether he was on the top of a certain mountain. superior.

He could also hear his own heartbeat and the sound of his blood flowing, all of which made his senses so tense and sensitive.

He held his breath angrily, trying to resist one of those sounds in the most primitive and simple way, and this incident seemed to turn on a switch - next, his hearing, vision, smell and even the skin's All tactile sensations disappeared.

In just an instant, everything left him, leaving only a soft darkness and a flame in the darkness.

Dark at the edges, red on the inside, burning quietly.

After a few minutes, Fair's eyes shot open.

His body began to twitch, his arms moving strangely and his feet kicking due to violent muscle spasms. His body rolled on the iron bed and finally fell to the ground.

So, Jairzinho Guzman, who was waiting on the side, immediately helped him up and forcibly injected him with a light sedative. After more than ten seconds, Feier calmed down and breathed heavily. , two hearts resounded heavily, resounding in the quiet room.

"I failed." Feier said with difficulty. "I can't take the ceremony any further, I'm sorry, instructor."

"Your apology is unnecessary," Khalil said.

He stepped forward and looked carefully into Feier's eyes. The latter's eyes were tired, as if he had just experienced a big battle. His arms were still shaking, and the beating of the muscles could not be stopped by himself.

Jairzinho Guzman took out a note on the side and began to record some new observations.

They have been back to Nostramo for more than two months, and everything is being created from scratch in an orderly manner, whether it is the plan for future recruitment or the bloody discussions among the company commanders over the past two months. This is true for 'differentiation of responsibilities'.

So, the same thing happened with what just happened.

It has been going on for three weeks, and it will not be discussed publicly or recorded - even the report in Guzman's hands actually needs to be burned after a period of time.

"There must be something wrong," Fair said.

The third company commander and chief think tank was thinking, but could not come to any conclusion. He couldn't find what went wrong, and he didn't know what it was that was keeping him from completing the ritual—until Khalil spoke.

"That's true, but the problem shouldn't be with you."

The instructors of the Night Blades lowered their heads, a cold light flashed in their eyes, and the fine lines outlined around the iron bed lit up in an instant.

The dense blue light slowly advances on those misty lines, forming a kind of alternative flesh and blood for those characters and lines like a liquid, and suddenly changes color after it is completely formed. The blue glow of psychic energy disappeared, replaced by dark flames, dancing silently on the floor.

The medical officer and think tank looked at this scene solemnly. No matter how many times they saw it, they would never ignore what the flame represented.

Feir spoke in a low voice and asked, "So, what do you think the problem is?"

"This ceremony is used for people to make a vow." Khalil raised his head and looked at Feier. "And you've already made your oath, Fell. You can't step into the same river twice."

He shook his head and chuckled, seeming a bit self-deprecating: "I didn't find out about such a simple problem until now. I'm really sorry for wasting three weeks, Phil."

"Don't rush to apologize now, instructor-" The chief think tank stood up straight, his expression finally no longer so lost. "——In other words, the crux of the problem is that we need to find someone who has not sworn an oath to participate in this ceremony?"

"I think so," Khalil said, not paying attention to Fair's choice of words.

"So." Feier licked his lips nervously, his eyes longing. “Can we?”

Khalil did not immediately answer Feier's words.

Of course he knew what Fell wanted to say, but, as Conrad Coates said - it was too early to draft.

Each Astartes is a superhuman being, becoming a finely tuned killing machine within a matter of years. Therefore, one must be careful in selecting candidates, especially for a legion like Midnight Blade.

Their role in the Great Crusade was more than just conquerors. They also need to walk on the extreme side of human nature, serving as judges and executioners. These two jobs require many qualities, otherwise there is a certain risk of falling.

Furthermore, even if these considerations are excluded, they still need to pass the ceremony.

And passing the ceremony requires more than just a strong will.

Khalil couldn't help but sigh - witchcraft is troublesome enough, let alone this kind of witchcraft that has half a foot in the realm of sacrifice. Malcador was indeed of the same lineage as the Emperor. After dumping the relevant books on him, he ignored everything.

So, judging from the current situation, if they want to have a complete understanding of the 'Twentieth Surgery' before the official recruitment, they must 'destroy the situation'.

"Instructor?" Jairzinho Guzman raised the note in his hand, interrupting Khalil's thinking. "What do you think? By the way, I think Captain Fell may still be in a state of confusion."

"What do you mean, Jairzinho?"

"I mean, Captain Fell, that inference you just made almost scares me to death."

Guzman replied expressionlessly, the same expression the medical officer had had since returning from the Macragge's Glory. It was fine on weekdays, but now, when Feier looked at this face that was as pale as his own, he felt the urge to punch it.

And, Guzman even continues.

"Find an innocent child of school age, then throw him on that iron bed, let him lie on it, and face the darkness we have seen before?" The medical officer shook his head. "The Primarch is above, Terra is above, my life is above"

"Didn't you throw me up many times too?!"

"That was at your request, and you are an adult." The medical officer shook his head and said no more, but it seemed that he had said everything.

Khalil stared at them silently, with a smile on his lips.

——

Conrad Coates frowned silently.

"In other words, if we want to figure out everything about the ceremony and minimize risks before the official recruitment, we must find one or several children of appropriate age to come over?"

"One is enough." Khalil squinted his eyes, feeling the cold wind blowing in his face and shook his head. "It is impossible to conduct a large-scale conscription now, Konrad, so we only need one. But I suggest you think carefully before making plans. After all, after taking the oath, he will join the Legion anyway."

Konrad Coates was silent and thought. After a while, he nodded: "Then do it. This matter must be resolved."

Khalil nodded to him and closed the window of his office - yes, they were not on the Nightfall, but in Nostramo.

This is Conrad Curze's office and study, located in the center of Quintus Hive. It is newly built, but there are some old things in it. For example, a chair, and a heavy door.

However, compared to the heavy door with the gleaming Imperial Fist symbol, the chair's treatment was much stranger. Conrad Coates placed it in an inconspicuous corner, which is puzzling.

However, despite this, no one asked the reason.

"Indeed, this matter must be resolved - but not before I leave," Khalil turned around. "I have one more thing to discuss with you, Conrad."

"What's the matter?" The Lord of Midnight raised his head from the mountain of documents and asked calmly. He seemed unfazed by the exaggerated number of documents.

"Don't tell me that their company commanders are fighting each other again. I don't want to deal with similar things again. The last time I found eight company commanders fighting with real swords in the duel cage was enough to give me a headache. "

"No, it has nothing to do with them this time - of course, they have indeed been quarreling with each other recently, but as of now, the intensity is not high." Khalil replied noncommittally.

Cozz snorted softly: "Isn't the intensity high? Doesn't it mean that the intensity is not high if you don't take a real sword into the duel cage? The high-ranking officers under my command are actually fighting each other over a matter that has not been officially drafted. No matter what. ”

He put down the pen in his hand with a headache, stood up and took a sip of the cold water filtered by the water filter. It had a slightly bitter taste, not much different from the one he remembered liking.

"What do you want to say, Khalil?" Conrad Coates asked, tilting his head while holding a black water glass in one hand.

"I'll be leaving soon." Khalil said slowly - he was not surprised to see Conrad Coates change his expression quickly in the next few seconds, even standing The posture has changed.

He originally stood in a relaxed and natural posture, but now he looked as if he was threatened, with his eyes narrowed and his shoulders raised.

"Where are you going?" Cozz asked.

"Go support one of your brothers, or in other words, prevent him from doing something in advance." Khalil spread his hands and replied in a gentle tone.

"who?"

"Perturabo—ever heard of that name?"

"Fulgrim mentioned it." Konrad Curze put down the water glass, folded his hands, and began to pace in his office. "He said that Perturabo was not a bad person, but had a weird personality. I asked him why, but he didn't say more. He just said that I would understand later."

Weird personality. Kalil couldn't help but think of Malcador's evaluation of the son of Olympia whom he had never met before. A subtle feeling arose in his heart, making him sigh involuntarily.

"It seems that my guess back then was indeed correct." He chuckled. "Among your brothers, there are only a few normal people, and the level of normality is also limited."

"You can just say Rogal Dorn." Curze said angrily. "But you just mentioned support, so this will be another war in which we join?"

"Probably so."

"Then, this is legion business." Coze nodded crisply. "In other words, you need human support - don't shake your head just yet. I know you want to shake your head. You glance to your left every time you want to deny me."

"Is there any?" Khalil raised his eyebrows and deliberately glanced to the right.

Konrad Coates covered his forehead angrily and sighed: "Stop joking, Khalil, I'm not in the mood to joke now. God knows how you will come back this time? I don't want to see you again. Once your bones, I'm sure Jairzinho doesn't want that either."

The instructor of Midnight Blade calmly looked away and did not answer Konrad Coze's words.

"Anyway -" Conrad Curze said seriously. "——This is legion affairs, and I have the final say in legion affairs. I will allocate you three large companies, no, five, and you can go directly on the Nightfall."

Khalil turned his gaze back in surprise.

"What?" Coz picked up the water glass again and actually smiled.

"You think I will ask you to go with you, right? I won't, Khalil, I know what I should do now. Besides, the order didn't mention me, right? Otherwise you won't I will just say that I will support you.”

Khalil raised the corners of his mouth and deliberately lengthened his tone: "Okay then."

"Wait a minute, what do you mean?"

"I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go with me," Khalil said. "However, since the consciousness of the leader of the legion is so high."

"You-" Conrad Coates frowned suddenly, but in the end he didn't say anything. He could see the smile and another emotion in Khalil's eyes. Even if there was a bit of anger before, it had disappeared without a trace now.

At this moment, Conrad Coates did not feel angry or any other negative emotion, he was just slightly sad.

And he didn't even know where the sadness came from.

"Go." He whispered. "There's no need to try to comfort me. I'm no longer a midnight ghost. I can't possibly leave Nostramo during this time."

He raised his head, looked at Khalil, and stared at him. The latter stood quietly, smiling still.

"But I have a request."

"Speak, Lord of the Legion."

"You are not allowed to leave us to fight alone like last time." Conrad Coates said seriously. "This is all I ask, Khalil."

"Okay." Khalil nodded obediently. "As you command, Lord of the Legion."

There is another 3k chapter. I originally tried to write a two-in-one, but it failed. I feel better today. I’d better not talk too much. I may write a very long next chapter. I’m a person who sometimes I can't stop writing