Serious People, Who is Learning Magic at Marvel?

What is Astarte?

It is the Emperor's killing weapon and the protector of mankind.

The Emperor once said: "They are the warriors I am most proud of, and they are willing to give their lives for me. They are like pure ore, which I put into the furnace of war, and tempered like iron will and body."

"I will put on them indestructible armor, and match them with divine soldiers that will never go anywhere. Plagues and diseases will not harm them. They will learn the tactics of war, master the ingenious skills, and no one can match them."

"They are my bulwarks against fear, the defenders of all mankind. They are my Space Marines, and they will have nothing to fear."

However, is it really so?

Maybe, maybe 30K 10,000 years ago. Indeed, the Astartes are defenders of all mankind, beloved by mortals across the galaxy. But after that war, everything changed - once seen as protectors and heroes, they became feared by mortals, and themselves...

Also different from before.

This change has an extremely intuitive contrast.

Some of the surviving, sparse 30K veterans don't see the Emperor as a god. They believe in science and firmly believe in imperial truth. Follow the Emperor because he can bring humanity to a bright future in this dark galaxy.

But at 40K, the Empire had to implement the state religion. Claiming its people with foolish religion and fanaticism, the Astartes are naturally among them. Otherwise, how can there be such a position as a pastor?

There is no right or wrong in belief itself, in this day and age. Faith is even the only option to keep the minds of mortals free from chaos. In the face of threats from the warp, only the chanting of the Emperor's Prayer and His Name can give mortals a hint of courage. However, faith itself is a double-edged sword.

Even the elite Astartes of the Iron Snakes Chapter will feel reverence and fear because of the arrival of a living saint-they are the Chapter after the Second Army, and the parent group is the Ultramarines. Because of this, belief in the Emperor has almost become something that runs in their blood.

Deep-rooted, firm, and inexorable.

They got down on one knee, their armor polished. No one even dared to look up at him, only the pastor was still reciting prayers aloud, and the sincere belief in his words could even be heard by the sound alone.

The Iron Serpent was stationed next to the 3rd Company of the Crimson Blades, not far from the two. But the size of the land is very different. After all, there are only seventeen people left in the third company. But the Iron Snakes are a whole battle group, and they have a total of 470 Astartes. Across the empire, this is not a negligible number.

With such a vast territory, the Empire has fewer than one million Astartes. Sounds like a lot, but looking at the galaxy as a whole... just a drop in the bucket.

Half a month is not enough for the Iron Snakes to make the transformation they like in this place. The station still maintains the original appearance of He Shenyan's design.

Smooth silver metal floors and white walls are constructed of a mild sound-absorbing material. The ceiling bears the imperial double-headed eagle logo, and even a small glass dome is made. The sunlight simulated by the magic circle and some precious green plants flutter on the dome. After photosynthesis, they will produce a special fragrance.

This fragrance will gradually spread to the entire Iron Snake Chapter through the ventilation system, which can make their sleep more stable and their psychological state more stable. The latter did not seem to work. He found through mental perception that most of the steel snake warriors present were more or less injured.

"Please stand up, brave warriors."

He Shenyan put on an impeccable reserved smile, which not only made people feel his sincerity, but also did not smile too frivolously. His voice was low, but it was enough to be heard by the Astartes in the entire station.

The sound of the friction of the armor sounded, and the warriors of the Iron Snake found,

An inexplicable force was holding up their bodies, forcing them to stand up from the ground. Unlike the power armor's built-in servos and artificial muscles to push, this particular power impressed them.

"I have heard of your behavior in recent days."

After he stepped onto the podium prepared by the Astartes, He Shenyan's first words made Insel stunned - his tone did not sound like he was going to do a morale boost. Preaching is like asking a teacher to ask for guilt.

"You are loyal, there is no doubt about that. No one can deny that, it is an amazing achievement that you resisted traitors for thirteen days on a hive world with a group of Cadians. Heartfelt sadness to those who have died heroically in the process, but I must also pay my respects to them."

"Without your sacrifices, the Empire cannot accomplish anything."

He said solemnly: "But I have to point this out - whoever came up with the idea, you're fighting each other with broken bones and bleeding inside. It's not an act to advocate, on the contrary, it's stupid. ."

The priest's face turned pale.

"You are loyal by nature. Loyalty itself is a reward, not an emotion that can be deepened by follow-up. Who can say that you are not loyal? Tell me, has anyone said this? I will go there myself. Find him, and I'll question him, what gave him the courage to make a whole chapter of Astartes think he's not loyal enough!"

His questioning echoed throughout the station, and the priest looked ashamed and was about to faint. At this time, he was actually supported by a pharmacist who had quarreled with him many times.

"Yes, the Empire advocates sacrifice, and sacrifice is the cornerstone of the Empire. But we do not advocate unprovoked sacrifice. Your life is the Emperor's currency and must be used wisely. If I don't come, will you Continue this folly until someone in the Chapter dies?"

"Dying at the hands of your own brother?!"

The atmosphere became extremely dull for a while, and no one made a sound or breathed a little presumptuously. There was only silence in the entire resident hall - the purest silence.

After a while, the pastor stood up.

He took off his helmet, revealing a weather-beaten face, then pulled out the tactical dagger from his waist and scratched the image of the Chapter on his helmet with the knife.

How harsh the sound of metal friction.

The priest said hoarsely, "Sir, I instigated my brothers to do this stupid act. I don't think I deserve to be among my brothers anymore."

He Shenyan stared at him sternly, and then he slowly shook his head.

"No, go back to the ranks, Priest. You did make a mistake, but it's up to me to punish you. Do you have any questions?"

"This..." The priest stammered, of course he knew what it meant, so his eyes quickly turned red. "I have no problem, Your Excellency."

"very good."

At this moment, the pastor was sure he saw a smile.

"Your punishment is simple, pastor. Your punishment is to fight for Him until the end of your life—I want you to be the worst nightmare of heretics and traitors, spreading death and blood on their heads. You must make them whimper and suffer. Die in endless regret."

His eyes suddenly lit up, and the pure golden divine brilliance lit up again, and soon filled the entire resident hall. The golden wings congealed behind him, and his voice became thunder: "Do you have any objection, priest?"

"...No, Your Excellency, I accept my punishment."

The priest lowered his head and said so.

-------------------------------------

"That counts as punishment?"

Angron looked at He Shenyan with an unbelievable face: "You call that punishment? It's simply a reward! If there was such a fool in my legion who did such a thing, I would have beaten him myself long ago. Immediately, the rank was revoked!"

"...customs are different within each Legion, Angron. You may be able to enforce that within your Legion, but I'm dealing with a Chapter, a Ultramarines Subgroup. They have their own independent traditions, and of course I have to take a compromise. They have to understand the stupidity of doing so, but they don't necessarily have to punish the priest."

The primarch slowly shook his head: "Don't be funny. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that you are rewarding him."

He Shenyan said noncommittally: "Perhaps, but the Insel chapter leader has already told me. The priest asked him something."

"What's up?"

"He thinks he's guilty...and ashamed of his brother, so he decides not to talk anymore, not to show his true colors. And he wants to be able to fight in the most dangerous places in every battle, using The blood and death of the enemy to wash away his sins."

A smile appeared on Angron's face that was as cold as a knife and axe: "Yes, yes."

He Shenyan glanced at him, then lowered his head and started simulating psionic spells. There were two miniature psionic spells condensing between his fingers at this time, one of which was a psionic lightning chain, and the other was a simple psionic storm. Although the size has been reduced a lot by the mage, it still has dangerous power.

In this gap, he asked casually: "So, who won the battle between you and Fulgrim?"

"What battle?" Angron asked suspiciously.

The mage looked up at him, as if looking at a talking stone. After a moment, he shook his head.

"Why are you shaking your head?"

"Because you lost." He Shenyan said firmly.

Angron's face twitched: "...I didn't lose!"

"Your reaction and the suspicious silence just now have given me the truth, Angron."

"...Well, I did lose. But I let him, after all, I really shouldn't test him with his son."

"If you insist on saying that, it's not that I can't believe your words. But I don't think it's that simple, Angron."

With a strange smile on He Shenyan's face, he raised his head again. This time, even the psionic simulation was removed. Lightning and storm annihilated between his fingers, making two soft snaps. He chuckled and said, "You are guilty."

This time, Angron was silent for a very long time.

"...I admit, I did go too far this time," Angron said. "I just, a little bit. Just like him."

He sighed: "In this universe, there is a traitor me. Most of my descendants are traitors, and I don't know how to face them. Just kill them? Even Fulgrim will gather their corpses, what shall I do?"

"You can emulate Fulgrim."

"No, that's too weak." Angron closed his eyes.

"Although they have rebelled, they are also warriors. I will not burn their bodies with flames, they will lie on the battlefield, so that anyone can know that they are fighting to death. The sand will blow their bodies, When the flesh is gone, the bones will lie in ruins. When the breeze blows over their empty ribs, that is the last sound they leave the world."

"This is also the last kindness I leave them." Angron said slowly.

"There are two sides to everything, Angron. I don't know if you've heard that, but it's true."

He Shenyan took out a glass bottle from his arms, and a golden shard was circling in it. He tapped the glass bottle with his fingers thoughtfully, and then told a story.

"I was obsessed with interstellar travel for a while, Angron. In my universe."

He said leisurely: "Most people travel knowing the destination, but I don't know. Because I prefer a special way of traveling, I will throw myself into an acceleration circle and let that circle launch me. Get out. The laws of physics and luck dictate where I end up."

"Once, I was launched near an unfamiliar planet."

Angron listened quietly.

"The planet was blue and black, and there were no other planets around it. It floated alone in the universe, spinning silently. I found no life on it—until fifteen hours after I landed, life was born ."

"Imagine this picture."

"The blue is the ocean, the black is the reefs. There are no lumps of land, just these things. And fifteen hours after I landed, the reefs started to glow."

"I thought it was a natural phenomenon at first, and then I found out that it is indeed a natural phenomenon, but it is rather special."

"The reefs were washed by the ocean and turned into some pale blue smoke, which glowed mesmerizingly under the fluorescent light. They floated in the air like smoke, and I was floating above the ocean, overlooking the scene, Just shocked."

"Sounds like a beautiful planet, so those creatures are born life? You witnessed the birth of a species?"

He Shenyan looked at him and shook his head: "No, I witnessed the death of a species."

"They rushed into the ocean with unprecedented hatred and anger, and I was chilled all over. Because the overwhelming silver smoke all rose from the ocean at this time, and with their anger, they continued to pounce on the ocean. "

"The smoke and the ocean are blended together, I don't see any meaning in this behavior. I don't know where their hatred comes from, but, fifteen hours later, the smoke condensed in the ocean again and became reef."

Angron frowned and asked, "What's the point of this... story?"

"It doesn't make sense, I'm just telling you there is such a thing. Like I said, there are two sides to everything, remember that."

The mage smiled mysteriously.