Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

Chapter 488 Thousand Sons

"The Great Library will be burned."

Ahriman walked forward, each of his steps was light and cautious, falling between the ancient drumbeats of all their heartbeats, like a light feather caressing the sedge, billowing in the hot air. Through the goggles of the helmet, he raised his eyes, and the Great Library of Tizca had already bloomed with lotus-like flames in the glow of the runes.

He blinked slowly and gently, and threw the manuscript paper used for calculations in his hand into the range of the burning Great Library, watching thousands of hieroglyphic patterns burn into dry ashes, and the flames jumped up, sending out a diffuse spark.

"Do you know what you are saying, Azak? I don't want to stop you, you are Magnus' most trusted student, but you must have a reason."

Amon's voice surged up from his memory, circle by circle, as if climbing up the long steps of the tower in his memory, and finding his will at the top of the Tower of Thought. The Primarch's attendant was much gentler in private than he was in the meeting. He was no longer the verbal representative of the thousands of troops stationed on Prospero, but just another Thousand Dust Sun.

A cluster of fire burned at the end of Ahriman's robe, a lens between the real and the unreal, reflecting where he was into the back of the world, imprinting a solidified and broken place in a place that did not belong to humans.

After the ritual is completed, the traces of the Great Library of Tizca will disappear from the real universe, transformed into a creation that will last forever beyond the Dream Sea, or a pile of wood, burning long and lonely in the depths of the Warp.

"We have saved the crystallization of our wisdom and the most honorable hall from the hands of the Luna Wolves. For many years, the status of the Great Library has even surpassed that of the Primarch's own pyramid. Look at the top floor, the golden sun supported by magic in the sky, that is the symbol of the Legion."

"I know, Amon, precisely because of its importance, the location must be chosen here. It will serve as a guiding beacon for the souls of the dead (Sah), and something must serve this role.

"Amon, you know we are about to leave, from our old place, far away among the stars... But when our souls of the dead return here, won't they find that the place where Prospero should be is empty? The resting souls should know where we have gone... We are leaving with most of the traces left by their souls. "

Ahriman stepped back, allowing the fire burning the Great Library to remain in its inherent position. Gradually, the material structure of the Great Library became blurred, and its shadow on the back of the world was etched by the powerful psychic wave, becoming clearer and more stable.

At the top of the Great Library, the light wheel they used to simulate the star lit up again, and the light that was originally evenly sprinkled around the world condensed into thin golden threads, penetrating the mist of the warp space, like a fine needle piercing the ocean.

A stinging cold touch poured down, piercing him, or their connected thoughts, bringing a squeeze dizziness. Above him, the spiritual layer used to resist the attention of the Dark Throne was vaguely slowly falling down the burned fragments, each fragment was part of their life essence.

Ahriman felt many words flying in his mind, and the faces of his brothers flashed in front of him, and the reluctance in their eyes was lit by the cold spiritual fire. He hoped that these brothers would wait for a while, or let them stay a little longer.

"I believe you, Azak. "He recalled a sigh, "Then do it, this is not the first time that the Thousand Dust Sun has burned a library... Is this ritual also engraved in the Book of the Primarch? What is it called?"

"It's not all my father's work, I'm honest with you. This is an unfinished spell, a ritual that has not yet begun."

"Just like I have never heard of the return of the dead." Amon said meaningfully.

"No... not a real return," Ahriman's heart was filled with a trembling helplessness, he carefully suppressed it, "That is impossible. There will never be a divine magic to bring the dead back to life, maybe there is, but I don't believe in those witchcraft. I imagine..."

"Words have power, Magnus told us. Every phoneme is crucial. Don't tell me what it is."

"No one listens, Amon."

"I am listening, don't give me hope. "

Ahriman closed his eyes in memory and opened them in reality. The cold wind surged up from the ashes of the burned Great Library, crushing the hearts of the Thousand Dust Suns, a part of them disappeared with the burial of the Great Library. Dust was blown up by the wind, covering his visor, like snow falling in the indentations of his blank cheeks.

He took a breath, continued to maintain the connection within the Thousand Dust Suns, and let the Great Library fall completely into the subspace, flashing a torch-like light in another void. All this happened just as every formula in his calculation , he did not make a mistake, and he could only believe that he did not make a mistake.

+Smooth. +He said in the telepathic language, and the leaders of various schools responded to him one by one.

For the subsequent large-scale ceremony, they stepped up their defenses and made sure that there would be no interference from the Luna Wolves for a certain period of time.

When they sneaked into the warp, the invaders still on the surface of the planet would go with them, including the imprisoned Cyjanus. It was an additional difficulty to separate the Luna Wolves from the outside, and after discussion, they determined that it was unnecessary.

The next ceremony will follow the aftermath of the destruction of the Great Library and proceed as quickly as possible. Every second of delay will further shatter their defenses against the Dark Throne, and the frightening danger will gradually press down on them, and there is also the interference of the unknown - the unknown change slaves who may or may not have left.

Time extends infinitely in the universe, but it is not owned by them.

Fuxisitaka's eyes looked at him through the drooping flag, Tubek's hands were surrounded by bright flames, and Haselmat's raised robe passed over the flames, casting trivial, jumping black shadows on him... There were also many Thousand Dust Suns, many inconspicuous dust particles, flying around his body, they examined each other, protected each other, and occupied each other.

Ahriman's throat was a little dry, his heart sank, and he suppressed the words he wanted to say.

+We are also ready. +The voices were engraved on Azak Ahriman's life, one after another, whispering that he was fragile in comparison with this huge force, and even at the top, he could be completely destroyed at any time.

Compared with the will of the entire Legion, he was just a mortal shadow. He was not Magnus, not the Emperor of Mankind, not any great transcendent being, he was just Azak Ahriman.

There was no turning back.

The staff in Ahriman's hand became heavier, and his head was throbbing. Tens of thousands of minds were under his command. He closed his eyes stiffly, urging his mind to imprint the prepared talismans on the surface of the world. His eyes seemed to burn hot behind his eyelids.

Azak Ahriman's ears rang with a long, sharp scream, which gradually expanded and stretched into a continuous flute sound, carrying a thousand chants one after another, their broken sentences and words all belonged to him, and he belonged to them.

The sound of the flute was still expanding, rolling into a boiling river of fire, with too many glittering fragments in it.

The harbor of the old Tizca city, the waves splashed up, crisply beating out sweet white foam, the sunlight of the Sanctuary Mountain spread on the silver wings of the flying birds, the sparkling Sesostli Canal rolled over the Palatine City, and the Skemis Hill fell into the deep pit left by the shattered Secret Eye Square. The flames of the soul licked everything they had built with their own hands, even the Great Pyramid of Tizca, which echoed in their minds, leaving a long and curved echo.

All the fragments flashed their most dazzling moment, melting into a collection of consciousness like an active volcano. The vortex of the soul continued to spread, and circles of invisible spiritual wisdom spun red ripples on the surface of the planet, which were both surging storms and solid shields.

+It's time to go,+ Ahriman said to them. +Let's go. +

The drumbeat of the heartbeat accompanied the long ringing in the ears, trembling and vibrating completely, dragging the souls that gathered together to rise. The river of fire overturned the sky and the earth, and wave after wave pushed higher and higher, covering the earth, surging through the trees and pyramids, and impacting the atmosphere of the planet in the foreshadowing of destruction, reaching the vast starry sky in the distance.

In a flash, the violent power wove a secret web covering the world, the "Ka" of the Thousand Dust Sun was disassembled into ten million tough silk threads, and the "name" was broken into countless strokes and syllables. Ten thousand minds burned into a blazing rage under the dark sky covered with haze, and ten thousand tongues of fire that stretched out of hope violently tore at the dark shadows condensed in the sky, and then gathered into a hurricane of power, surrounding the eye of the hurricane, Azak Ahriman, and stirring within the entire world.

They were ready.

Azak Ahriman thought about saying something, but words were no longer necessary. They are one, no longer a person, no longer existing or not existing, their marks are melted into a brand new heart, and the ocean will give way to them.

Get out of the way.

He raised his staff and stretched his hand forward.

The star map emerged in their will, and the location of each star corresponded to the name and the location on the map one by one. There were also countless broken star dust, and the emotions of sentient beings condensed into stars of various colors, illuminating their way forward.

They need a channel.

In the depths of this endless sea of ​​stars, they saw a distant star, a star field with a dim projection of the warp... Even if there is still danger there, there are still lurking shadows on the edge of time, maliciously spying... It seems far and near, and it seems to be there and not there.

No, maybe it is a trap there, maybe they will face the next war. Maybe war and dust are their destiny, but it will never be a battle with the Shadow Moon Wolf again. No longer will I be alone and helpless, dying in the dust with the Iron Warriors.

You will yield.

The vast red power roared, and the fierce anger ignited by thousands of thoughts burned through the ocean in an instant. This was not a single will, nor was it scattered debris. Everyone was together, looking forward to their future. What was burning was life and will, energy and essence. Burning to the last fragment, what could be turned into the last wisp of dust left in the fire was their hope.

The power of the Thousand Dust Sun was singing and roaring, rushing into the sticky and filthy invisible world, on the back of the sky and the earth, forcing the soul sea to retreat to both sides. Gradually, the ocean was burned dry, and a wide and dustless nothingness was opened up.

Prospero sank into the subspace, in the empty nothingness left in the vast ocean, moving forward... forward, to the deepest point.

The planet rolled over the two-part ocean, and the fireworks flowed from the surface into condensed lava, which dried up in the ocean, leaving an infinitely long trail. They sang, sailing the planet-based ark, leaving the ocean behind. This is all they have, and they won't throw away any of it.

The existence of the Great Tizka Library sunk in darkness still remains in place, echoing the planet they have in reality. Only a Prospero, only a Prospero who has already etched the Great Tizca in his soul, can feel the connection between these two places. No matter where they were, Tizca's sun was still with them.

Gradually, they came to reality. How long had passed during this voyage? There is no time, no space, everything exists in a non-existent moment, it seems that nothing is lost, and it seems that no cost is worth mentioning. They've done a great job, this is where they're going, and wherever they are, they're still where they came from.

They raised their heads again and stretched out their hands towards the vast ocean, and the ocean flowed back to its original place. Some of the ships chasing them, the tangible traces, and the evil spirits native to the vast ocean were all crushed in the returning ocean. Broken. They handled it cleanly. The enemy is nothing but dust.

A new starry sky has accepted them... The gravity of the orbit still needs to be adjusted, but the relationship between the stars has been solved in the initial calculation. In the future, adjustments will be needed year after year, but the empire's technology is enough to solve this small matter. …The next task was to speak to the Interexians, and the Iron Warriors promised that, just waiting for them to recover from their voyage.

Ahriman, holding his staff, knelt on the ground. His skin prickled and he was confused. He was back within himself, but the world was still spinning. Did they succeed? Success... His heart started beating again, and the blood in his body resumed flowing, even slightly colder than before. There was a sharp pain in his veins.

Their thoughts separated quietly, without much obstruction, and the entangled threads swung away easily, as if the tight connection between them suddenly disappeared...or, it was no longer enough to support the previously huge connection network.

He heard the sound of falling to the ground. Not far away, a soldier fell. He fell lightly and quickly, as if it was just an empty metal shell.

Azak Ahriman's breath stopped.

He opened his eyes, and the ashes were falling all over the sky, like heavy snow, and the vast white land covered Prospero cleanly.

He was stunned for a moment, then fell into silence.

"Yes," Azak Ahriman said, even though no one asked him whether their exit from the valley was a success.

He paused and spoke again: "No." Even though no one asked him whether this was the ending he sought and whether his plan came to an end.

It's not time to rest yet. Never.

He paused for a moment, waiting for his consciousness to clear up again, and then took stock of the remaining will on the planet. The only voice inside him was breathing itself.

Ahriman... some voices called him, Ahriman, whose name was sung and remembered by Prospero, whose name was the last sigh of countless wills, Ahriman... he felt their last In one word, listen to their voices, their gasps, screams, songs, whispers... Ahriman...

He burned them, yes he did, for Prospero, for their home, for their will, for the Sun of Thousand Dusts, for Magnus, for the Tizcans, for all that is worth cherishing Yes, that's everything...

He counted them one by one, and his counting gradually stopped, too fast. He would rather count for a while, but he had already counted to the last person. The sound has disappeared. it's over. There was only dust and embers all over the sky, and it was snowing all over Prospero.

So, Magnus has a thousand children left.

Thousand Sons.

Thousand Sons.

Thousand Sons.

So Azhak Ahriman did the only thing he could do.

In the ashes, he stood up.