40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 641 24. Absolution (II, 8k)

No one could have predicted it.

I mean, who could have thought? Who could? Watching him walk out from behind that shabby and ridiculous stone throne, dressed like a retired rich man. And all this happened ten minutes after we had arrived?

I am ashamed of myself.

I should have noticed it, right?

I am a superhuman, although I never think of myself as such, and even think this statement is a bit ridiculous, but this is the fact.

I am a superhuman, I have perceptions dozens of times beyond ordinary people, I can hear the slightest buzz of the gun when a person pulls the trigger of the gun in his hand, so I should have known that he was standing behind the stone throne.

I should have known.

Should have.

It's ridiculous, "should have", it sounds full of regret. ‘I should have improved’, ‘I should have been faster’, ‘I should have achieved more honors’.

Such statements as these exhaust me, and these clichés are just part of my self-comfort, the lie itself.

Repeat them ten thousand times, and then I will get another sentence.

‘What happened on Caliban should not have happened. ’

Is it possible? Of course not, some things are destined to happen. Caliban is destined to rebel, just as the existence of the lion is destined to be undetected by us.

He is the most difficult beast in the world, and he can hide anywhere without being discovered if he wants. I don’t mean that he is as good at hiding as Konrad Curze or Kolvus Corax, the lion is just patient.

Any top predator is patient when hunting, with sharp teeth and fangs, waiting for a certain moment.

I looked up at him, not sure if this was that moment.

His difficult deep green eyes made me tremble.

“Relax, Zabril,” said another person.

I didn't look back at him. I didn't want to, at least not now. His eyes were as cold as a wasteland. I could only see my own reflection in them, and I had refused to look in the mirror for many years.

I knew I was aging, but I didn't have a clear sense of it. What does it feel like to live for nearly four hundred years? Some people might call this longevity or immortality, but for me personally, this is not immortality, it's just slowly turning into a specimen.

"You're trembling."

The man continued to speak, and his usual calm tone was now filled with obvious concern.

I was grateful to him, but I couldn't help feeling painful - couldn't he see that I just wanted to indulge in my own world now?

Maybe he could see it, but he just didn't want me to do that.

But why?

I turned my head to look at him. I wanted to question him, or at least throw out a sentence like, why do you have to ask me?

But I didn't say anything in the end. In the final analysis, he did these things just out of good intentions, and I

I think I was just afraid.

The lion did this once before, appearing silently and coming in front of us. He did something similar, can you understand? He cut us to pieces, blood smeared his black armor.

He was killing, killing us, and we just stayed there, like lambs. I saw sheep on Caliban, good animals that eat stones, produce milk, wool and meat, all of which are good for civilians, and even convenient to kill.

They didn't even cry when the farmer walked towards them with a knife.

We didn't cry either, we just died.

I ran away, at that time. I think I started running when I came to my senses, and many people were with me.

We hijacked a ship, a destroyer, probably. After that, what I can remember is not very clear, most of the pictures are incoherent, jumpy and torn.

I was on the bridge of the ship arguing with people about where to go next, and then I was wandering alone in the desert, with no one around me. But most of the things are just nightmares. I haven't told anyone about this, but now there is probably no need to hide it.

In the end, there is only me here.

Yes, I have nightmares, dreams of burning Caliban, lions holding swords, scattered corpses and his bloody green eyes.

This dream tormented me for a long time. I couldn't meditate, couldn't close my eyes, and couldn't even keep quiet.

I shouldn't be so fragile, but the things in the nightmare were things I believed in all my life, and I fought for those things for many years. And they were overturned in just a moment, and I didn't even know why.

So please forgive me.

"Knight Zabril." The man called me again. "Don't sink."

There was a little warning in his voice, not obvious, but I heard it. I looked down at him, wanting to know the exact reaction, but his face was expressionless.

I looked at him, and after a while, he raised his right hand and stretched it towards me, with his palm naturally curved into an arc. I recognized this etiquette from my hometown of Terra-he was going to shake my hand.

I wanted to laugh a little, because the handshake is usually used when meeting or leaving, and he used it wrong.

But did he really mean it?

I looked into his eyes, the cruel wasteland itself

I held his hand.

"Thank you, my Lord," I whispered, hoping my voice wouldn't tremble.

He seemed not to hear me, and continued: "Hold on, knight."

I hope I can do what he wants.

A voice came from afar.

"You are all here." The lion said, speaking slowly and majestically, just like before.

We stared at him intently, and everyone was silent. The torches burned quietly on the edge of the stone pillar. The air became very heavy. It was not yet heavy enough for us to bear, but it was slowly approaching the limit.

I saw at least a dozen people twisting their fingers hesitantly. They wanted to put their hands on weapons.

I hope they will do it.

I don't know which broken part of my body this idea came from, but I do hope they draw their weapons - at least to show an attitude?

"If anyone wants to draw a sword, do it as soon as possible." The lion continued. "I allow you to talk to me with a sword."

I heard many swords being drawn.

"Very good, honesty, one of the virtues of a knight. Now that you have weapons in your hands and I don't, I think the conversation can officially begin."

Suddenly, someone shouted: "What does that mean?"

The lion looked at him: "What?"

"You said we have weapons and you don't--"

The man squeezed out of the crowd. He had a pale face, his hair was tied into a short warrior braid behind his head, and he was almost sweating. I remember him, Zark, an exile like me.

"-What does this mean, Primarch?"

His tone was aggressive.

The lion looked at him calmly, and then began to answer: "It means that I allow you to swing your sword at me."

After this sentence was spoken, we didn't speak for a long time.

I felt my throat tighten, and an unusual thirst swallowed me. Dryness of mouth was just the most basic symptom, followed by dizziness, dumbfoundedness and a series of terrible guesses that made my brain swell and ache.

What did he mean?

"Any other questions, Zak'el?" asked the lion. "If not, I want to get to the point as soon as possible."

Zakel stopped talking, holding his sword in a sullen manner, he retreated into the jungle of black armor and became a part of it again. So the lion nodded and wanted to continue the topic.

He had already opened his mouth, and the words were stuck in his throat waiting. However, by chance, a voice sounded almost at the same time as his.

I knew the person who was speaking, that was the Knight Sergeant Afka, who was my mentor. When I first entered the legion, he was responsible for training me and the other twenty or so people.

But he looks much younger than me now, and his long black hair is still draped over his shoulders like before. He used to laugh and like to joke, but now his face is serious.

He is also one of those holding the sword.

"What kind of topic, great lion? Kill us again?"

The lion looked at him and shook his head: "No, if I do this, you will be executed at the first time."

"Yes-ah." Afka said in a long tone, smiling a little meanly.

"You just sent a mortal to read some nonsense like the church prayer in front of us, and then you threw us out of the interrogation room and asked Zabril to take us to see the so-called Chapter Master."

"Honestly, Primarch, I really don't understand what you want. I didn't understand it ten thousand years ago, and I don't understand it now. Maybe I am slow or stupid, but you really don't want to explain it?"

The Lion ignored his bold sarcasm and just repeated calmly: "I said, if I want to kill you, I will kill you at the first opportunity."

"Then why don't you do it?" Afka raised his voice and asked. "Why don't you just kill us directly? Why bother, if you really want to do it? Do you want to kill us, father?"

He still maintained his aggressiveness, but I could see a very well-hidden pain on his face.

We had a conversation yesterday, and he said that he couldn't believe that he was on the Lion's ship, because the last time he saw him, the Lion was busy leading his men to charge at them.

I think I understand what Afka is doing now - in the final analysis, he just needs a reason.

I don't know why, but I feel a little pathetic.

Are we tamed? As long as the lion waves his hand, we can abandon the betrayal and pain we have experienced in the past and fight for him again? I don't know if I will do this, but Afka will.

He looked mean and stood there indifferently, but he was actually begging. He hoped that the lion would tell him "I never thought so", and then he would sheath his sword, kneel on one knee, and renew his oath of loyalty to the lion.

Emperor, what are we? Lambs? Slaves?

The lion used his cold voice to bring me back to reality again.

"Yes." He said slowly. "There was a time when it was like this, I wanted to kill all of you."

Afka's eyes widened, his hope was dashed, and he showed his disappointment very clearly. As for the lion. He was very perceptive, he knew what Afka wanted to do, but he refused, and refused very directly.

I couldn't describe how I felt about this - was it more joy or disappointment? I had no answer, only that Caryl Rohals was sighing.

I looked at him.

"Knight Zabriel, there are some people in this galaxy who just don't know how to speak properly, do they?"

He seemed to be joking, but I failed to laugh, and the lion continued again.

"I will not deny this. At that time, I did want to kill you. I searched half of the galaxy and brought Luther back, hoping that he would solve your political struggles and factions on Caliban. "

"I hope he can get you all to calm down and stop thinking about ridiculous politics and focus on the real dangers, but I never expected that my own hometown would come under fire."

"Who was on the battleship at the time? Who has the answer? Do you have any? As soon as we arrived on the ground on Caliban, the bombing happened at the same time, as if everything had been prepared and then there was an attack, a real attack that could not be concealed."

"The armored divisions of my own legion charged towards me, and in an instant most of the three companies that had returned to Caliban with me were killed or wounded. In the blood I saw my sons rushing towards me in full armor. "

The lion descended the steps of the stone throne and came directly in front of us all. The burning firelight danced on his expressionless face and faded blond hair, casting deep shadows, and his breath seemed to be filled with moist blood.

"Please tell me, what should I do then?"

What else can you do?

I took a deep breath of cold air and felt it flow through my three lungs, followed by a surge of bitterness.

He is still brave. I think.

During those days of exile, I saw all kinds of darkness. Until you see it with your own eyes, you can never imagine the price those people living in pain are willing to pay to escape reality.

If possible, people will be willing to pay anything to get rid of the current pain and present embarrassment, just like the lion at this time.

There is no doubt that he is in pain. His brows are furrowed, and his expression is somewhere between sadness and solemnity. For a person like him, this is the greatest degree of sadness that can be expressed.

He is not the kind of person who cries. What he would rather do than cry is fight.

He never runs away, you know? This is a rare quality, a sharp sword firmly held in the hands of a lion. However, any sword is double-edged. He never runs away, which means he never wavers.

In the gradually freezing air, I couldn't help but start to think about the possibility: if he accepted Afkar's advice, if he didn't say these words.

"I have no choice." My primarch's cold voice shattered my illusions. "It was Luther who caught me. He heard several precious call signals from the communication channel, coming from the orbit and the monastery."

"Some people were asking what was going on and why the weapons on the ship were firing without permission. So I changed tactics and rushed to the communications center with the remaining people."

"We contacted them, and then I recorded an audio message asking all those on Caliban who were still loyal to the Emperor and the Empire to be ready. And so the war began, and three minutes after we left, the entire communications center All were completely razed to the ground.”

"The electromagnetic bomb exploded in the city shortly after, and the communication channel was completely disrupted. We were unable to get in touch with anyone or communicate with anyone. I think you all know what happened next."

Yes, we all know

But I don’t know these things that Xiongxiong mentioned. I believe he won’t lie, and the things about the communication center he mentioned are also quite consistent with some doubts in my memory.

I went over the whole thing quickly again, and I had to do it regardless of whether it would lead to a more painful lesson. Fortunately, this time, my memory did not betray me, and I returned to Caliban that day with great clarity.

The burning sky and forest, the city blown into ruins, we are killing each other.

I quickly realized something.

"He was being hunted on Caliban," Khalil Lohars said flatly, emphasizing my conclusion.

Yes, this was all planned. Lion and Luther, two of the most important men in the Legion, bombarded them just as they were returning.

I pictured the scene - maybe within minutes of their feet setting foot on Caliban's grass, the sky suddenly changed color.

This simply makes me shudder, because whoever can do this must know their whereabouts well and must be fully prepared.

It was a very ridiculous and ridiculous idea to be an enemy of the lion, but the man did it anyway. Judging from the results he caused, he was definitely not a fool, so I believe he must have had some kind of support at the time.

This reliance made him very confident, and even made him think that he could kill the lion once and for all. But he's not an arrogant guy, and like I said, he's prepared.

The second round of bombing fell on the communications center immediately. The Lion said that it was razed to the ground. That place was a fortress strong enough for the Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors to unite to protest. So what happened to the ships in orbit? What weapons were used?

I don't believe there was a possibility of a fire breakout.

There are also electromagnetic bombs that destroy our communication capabilities, making it impossible for us to understand the situation and resolve misunderstandings. We can only sink deeper and deeper into the whirlpool of killing.

Until nothing can be undone.

Damn beast.

I'm going to kill him.

I gritted my teeth, and the strength that could chew metal was used on my own teeth. Soon, I heard a crisp cracking sound.

Itching and pain spread from my mouth, blood and saliva mixed together, carrying the broken teeth through my gums and tongue, and was swallowed by me.

None of my brothers spoke anymore, each one venting his rage in some way.

Some people hold their swords tightly, some take deep breaths, some gnash their teeth like me, and some people can't control themselves at all, and their whole bodies are tense and they throw out indescribable roars from their throats.

Khalil Lohars let go of my hand.

"Logically speaking, I shouldn't be here, Knight Zabriel. I think you also have questions about this matter?"

He asked an inappropriate question about which I didn't really care. But I need this to distract me, otherwise I will drive myself crazy. So I followed his question and asked.

"Yes," I answered vaguely, the fragment of tooth lodged in my throat, creating a sneaky pain.

"Actually, the answer is very simple. The lion invited me here." He replied calmly.

His voice echoed in the hall, no longer limited to softness, but full-bodied, making people unable to help but believe it as soon as they heard it.

Everyone started to look at him. Not everyone could recognize who he was at the first glance like me, but the medals hanging on his chest were genuine, and no soldier would ignore what they represented. What.

Soon, with their help, the name Khalil Lohars began to circulate among my slightly duller brothers.

They looked at him in disbelief, as if they were looking at a pharaoh who had lived from the time of Ancient Terra to this day or something similar. It didn't look like he was looking at a human being anyway.

"You have missed many things after Caliban's Rebellion. I have no intention of discussing them. I just want to point out that when we were on Terra, Leon El'Jonson made an oath."

He walked forward, his back straight, and passed us, walking to the front of the stone throne and standing next to the lion.

He looked much smaller than the lion, which I don't remember him being that way. The shadow cast by the dancing firelight continued to spread on the medal, but his shadow shrank under his feet like a needle tip and did not extend back.

This is against the laws of nature. The lion is standing with him, but his shadow has been lengthened.

I vaguely heard some strange echo.

"The specific content of this oath is actually very simple." He continued, seemingly unaware of our suspicions.

"Leon El'Jonson swore that one day he would execute all the masterminds and accomplices behind Caliban's rebellion in the name of law and justice. And, if he could, he would ask a Midnight Blade to record the trial ”

He raised his right hand, caressed it on his chest, and nodded seriously to us.

"That's why I'm standing here." The instructor of the Eighth Legion said coldly. "In the name of the Emperor and Konrad Curze, I bear witness and record."

As soon as he finished speaking, the wind suddenly rose, and a darkness as slimy as a living thing rose from under his feet, swallowing him up in our horror. And this is not the end, the darkness continues to stir, extinguish the light, swallow the fire

Even the temperature began to be taken away.

Yes, my subconscious tells me that the temperatures have been taken away, that there is some force that does not allow them to exist here. Immediately afterwards, a ferocious claw tore through the darkness and stood in front of us in the completely extinguished hall.

The first thing I noticed was that he was four meters tall. The second thing is that the armor is still terrifying.

The last thing is his face, that pale, ferocious bone surface

The lion spoke slowly.

"Judgment begins from this moment, my knights."

"You were coerced into a conspiracy and became accomplices, but those who didn't know it were not guilty. During your escape, you did not abuse the power entrusted to you by the Emperor. You even acted righteously, which is noble. You opened your eyes to me in the interrogation room. Showing your heart, even if you are still dissatisfied, don’t hide it, this is honesty.”

"Therefore I declare that you are not guilty."

His words made me stand for a long time.

"but--!"

Suddenly, a roar echoed through the hall. The male lion looked at us with his hair and beard spread out. The hands behind his back were hanging at his sides at some point, and veins popped out on the back of his hands. I was familiar with his scowl, but this time, I didn't feel intimidated.

"The real criminal, the real murderer, is still at large," he said lowly. "Therefore, I recruit you to join the Legion again and hunt them with me. Those who are willing, please raise your weapons. Those who are unwilling, I also swear that I will not force you to do so."

With a bang, I pulled out my long sword without hesitation, and together with the other seventy-four sharp swords, pointed directly at the sky.

But I was so excited that I forgot one thing - the Lions were referring to the Legion.

Which legion?

——

"I didn't expect you could change back, Khalil."

The tall skeleton chuckled, and with a flash of blue light, the mortal in formal clothes stood where he was.

Leon El'Jonson frowned, stared at him and took a deep breath: "I don't care how you did it, don't do it again next time."

"Why? That gesture is obviously more convincing to them."

"I'm sure they don't need any extra convincing," the Lion said deadpan. "Besides, I almost wanted to stab you again with the Spear of Dionysus."

".Isn't that necessary?"

"I think so." The lion spat out a few words from between his teeth. "Leman Russ would also agree."

Khalil sighed, wisely not commenting on the incident, but he was still surprised by the Lion's acuity. Not only did he know the true purpose of the 'blade', he even guessed why Kalil allowed the Spear of Dionysus to pierce his chest that day.

This can no longer be explained simply by the so-called ‘intuition of the beast of Caliban’. From this point of view, the changes in the Lion may be much greater than they appear on the surface.

"in addition."

After careful consideration, Khalil spoke again.

"I believe you mentioned the word 'Legion'. Can I get a little explanation, Leon? After all, this report is to be given to Malcador. Even if you are the Primarch, you can reorganize the Legion without giving any reason." , I’m afraid it will also attract criticism.”

The lion turned around, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his beard. The torches in the hall have been relit, but the two of them are now standing far away from the stone throne, as if it is something that needs to be taboo.

"I never said it was the Legion Astartes, Khalil. Also, where do you think the fallen angels we captured before went?"

This sentence made Khalil silent for thirty seconds, and then he said: "Please tell me this was Ruth's idea."

"not mine."

"You should know that I will put these words in the report, right?"

The lion chuckled, folded his hands, fell back, and leaned against the stone pillar: "As you wish, Your Majesty the Grand Inquisitor. Anyway, this matter does not violate any imperial laws, Saint Astartes The same is true for Dian, isn’t it?”

"Those people are all on the list of missing or dead, and they are not Dark Angels. Even if I really let this unorganized fallen angel army appear in front of the world, what can they say? Anyway, everyone knows that we have the ability to understand the Holy Scriptures. Final interpretation."

"The high lords, nobles and officials will riot." Khalil said quietly.

The lion laughed loudly: "Unless I do this, they will. However, if this day comes, then this is what you need to worry about, Lord Inquisitor."

Khalil understood but nodded helplessly, and the lion looked more and more happy.

He chuckled, and a few words of Caliban slang mixed with the dialect of the Fenris tribe poured out, followed by several gestures, complex and changeable, and he made them with a sense of majesty and elegance.

Put aside those slangs and dialects, they are all positive and positive, but those gestures...

Khalil looked at him inexplicably.

"What's wrong?" the lion asked belatedly, his brows furrowed.

"Those gestures—you learned them from Ruth, right?"

"Yes, what's the matter? Russ said that he learned it from Conrad. A few years ago, when I met Iago Severtalion, I greeted him with this. This is not what you Noster said. One of Rameau’s native languages?”

Khalil took a deep breath, smiled, and spoke slowly.

"Number one, Leon, it's not a native language. It's a way of communicating, but it's not a language, it's a gang gesture."

"Second, Russ never learned anything from Conrad, and all his knowledge of the Nostramo gang was bought from Yago in exchange for a few Glock steaks."

"Third, you just 'greeted' me about my good health and wished me good health in the future."

Ten minutes later, a furious Leon El'Jonson burst into his personal arsenal and seized a spear.

With the help of Khalil, an illusory soul briefly appeared in the world through it, and took on a form that could be touched. This soul is named Leman Russ, the Wolf of Fenris, the Primarch of the Wolves.

In ten thousand years, this was the first time he had experienced the world without possessing him.

The first sensation he got came from the Lion's right fist.

"Bastard!" the Caliban yelled in his armory. "How could you do such a thing! Let me tell you why that bastard Yago Savitarion has a bad face every time he sees me!"

"What have I done!" the Fenrisian roared, and then he rolled very alertly, avoiding his brother's subsequent pursuit, and grabbed a shield and began to resist. For a moment, the heavy, muffled sound of fists hitting the shield was endless.

The lion roared angrily and demanded: "Khalil! Tell this bastard what he has done!"

He got no answer from Khalil Lohars, only a vague chuckle.

The lion frowned, raised his fist and looked back, only to find that Khalil had disappeared. Instead, what stood there was a slender black figure wearing a moonlight-like crown.

"Hi." Conrad Coates smiled at him and winked. "Long time no see, brother."

The lion was stunned. Before he could say anything, he heard a wolf howl. Leman Russ ran after him, almost knocking him to the ground.

"I knew you weren't dead!" the Fenrisian laughed.