Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

"The World Eater."

"Well... World Eater..."

"Sure enough, I still can't get used to this name. It's really too barbaric: but at least it's much better than their original [War Dog], and much stronger than those illiterate space wolves. .”

"It's a cultured name after all."

Amidst a low murmur, the psionic master lowered his head and continued to flip through the legion briefing in his hand: his eyes passed over the tofu news about the World Eaters, and began to focus on the sports section, focusing on Real-time updates on the Clan Tournament.

After stationed in the expedition fleet of the Dawnbreaker Legion for more than ten years, Azak Ahriman has become accustomed to starting every morning in this way like a mortal: he himself has forgotten that he is. When did you develop these habits?

Under normal circumstances, Ahriman would wake up on time at five o'clock, and then spend a period of time cleaning the house, wiping his sword, scepter, and display cabinet filled with alien skulls, and then soaking A cup of caramel macchiato, and he took the newspaper he ordered from the mailbox at the door: The mortal postmen on the "Lady of Dawn" have never made any delays or mistakes in the past ten years. Ahriman sincerely Thank you very much for their efforts.

While cleaning, he would focus on taking care of the speeches and lesson plans placed on the bedside: Perhaps for the Milky Way, the establishment and opening of the Imperial Subspace Technology Research Institute is not a big event, but Ahriman did find that Keep striving for it as a great cause from the bottom of your heart.

After the Lord of Avalon personally invited Ahriman to become a lecturer in this academy, the elite of the Thousand Sons could be said to have witnessed with their own eyes how a more complete psychic research system took root in the empire: around Angron In the third year after returning to the Empire, foreign students from the eleven legions began to arrive on the Dawn Goddess. Another year passed, and the think tanks of the Emperor's Children and the Iron Hands legions were also halfway there. Joined and started a fifteen-year study career together.

If you think about it carefully, that was only six or seven years ago. Nowadays, the top students among these students, such as Yesugei, Volias or Sevita, are already comparable to Ahriman in many fields. .

These students will not only have the most solid basic learning under Morgan, but also under the guidance of the original body, construct a safe subspace worldview, fully understand the dangers and necessity of the Sea of ​​Souls, and integrate every Keeping the red line that cannot be crossed in mind, the Primarch will also guide them on the battlefield to explore the limits of their own psychic power, letting them know how to effectively combine psychic power with combat, so as to create a powerful force that can turn the tide of the battle.

Ahriman was not sure what kind of mentality these students had when they first came to school, but after a period of study, they all treated the Primarch and her teachings with the simplest enthusiasm, and even treated Ali Man also developed a sense of respect between teachers and students.

It is this sense of pride brought about by being a role model that allows Ahriman to open his door with a smile every day and enjoy his happy day on the Dawnbreaker battleship: Today is the weekly rest day, He'll be happier.

The journey from Ahriman's private chamber to his favorite breakfast room took about twenty-five minutes, and he would savor the moment with the warglaive at his belt and the scepter floating behind him. Newspaper and coffee.

Thousand Sons likes to read the most, the sports section and the bulletin section, because the former will record the [Friendly Fighting Competition] in the Dawnbreaker Arena, while the latter will publish information about the Legion Psionics Seminar and the Imperial Subspace. News from the Institute of Technology: Ahriman is a veteran member and honorary professor of both organizations, and has a front row seat to every major event.

However, today's sports news attracted more attention: the Dawnbreakers finally successfully selected the last member of the Primarch Guard in the arena, bringing this long campaign that lasted for almost ten years to an end: Fortunately Morgan has not participated in any particularly fierce battles in these years, and she can acquiesce in allowing her heirs to behave in this way.

The story about the last seat that allowed two veterans with more than two hundred years of service to fight together, and after forty-eight neck-and-neck duels, the winner was finally decided by a sword, is destined to become Daybreak. A good story among the soldiers.

At the very least, it will dominate sports headlines for months.

In addition, the diplomacy section is also favored by Ahriman, especially every Tuesday and Friday. This section will systematically report major events that happened in other legions or expedition fleets: one of the tofu Block has even been tracking and reporting on the construction progress of [Perfect City], which published photos of Kor Phaeron, the adoptive father of Primarch Lorgar, preaching to believers in front of the construction site.

Ahriman was a little unable to understand the reason why the Word Bearers Legion spent so much energy and wasted on a city of wonders. Not only was he incomprehensible, but no one in the Far East border could understand this behavior. The empire was also because of the perfect As the city is being built, more and more bizarre rumors are brewing.

Among them, the most widely circulated one is that the emperor wanted to become the living god of the entire empire, combine the monarchy and the divine power into one, and achieve eternal rule. Therefore, he acquiesced to Luo Jia's crazy worship behavior: This statement was also reported in newspapers Got a small tofu cube.

It was in this section that Ahriman learned that the Thousand Sons Legion was recently recalling their fleet and auxiliary forces, preparing to officially join the Empire's Great Crusade: Since Magnus returned to the Empire, he has suffered from flesh and blood abnormalities. The 15th Legion, which has suffered from changes, has been resting on its home planet for too long, and the empire has almost forgotten that there is such a force.

Similarly, the Thousand Sons Legion seems to have forgotten about Ahriman [an exchange student stationed in the Dawnbreaker Legion]: As a member of the Thousand Sons Legion, Ahriman actually learned about his identity from the Dawnbreaker Legion's newspaper. News that the Legion is about to return.

Balak, who was communicating and studying with him in the Dawnbreaker Legion, didn't even know the news until now: because he didn't order the Dawnbreaker Legion's newspaper.

Thinking of this, Ahriman couldn't help but smile evilly, but his eyes never broke away from those rigid words: Times have changed, and these useless things that Ahriman would not even look at before can now be seen. He discovered the secrets inside, and even enjoyed it himself.

The atmosphere of the Dawnbreaker has visibly changed the Thousand Sons elite: Ahriman has learned to savor every prosaic word in the official newspaper for the meaning behind it.

After all, although there are more than a dozen newspapers published at the same time on the Dawn Goddess alone, ranging from government-run comprehensive publications to tabloids that only circulate among the mortal sailors on the bottom deck, they can be used by Ava The only publication designated by Lord Long is this legion briefing, which has the best sales.

Of course, this newspaper has a strong political flavor, especially the first few sections, and every word in it is worthy of scrutiny: Ahriman even heard that Holy Terra and the Five Hundred Worlds would order Legion briefings to analyze Ah The direction of the Lord of Wallonia's rule is an important part of the intelligence collection on the Far Eastern frontier.

As for whether reading while walking will cause trouble to others, Ahriman does not need to worry about it: Thanks to the vast space of the Dawn Goddess and its intricate internal transportation network, this ship with nearly one million people Members, and mortals can [mix] with the Astartes battleship, but there has never been any blockage. Moreover, Ahriman was already familiar with the path he was walking on.

He clearly remembered at which intersection he should stop and make way for the children who were lining up to go to school. Many of these children would politely greet this [Uncle Astartes], because Ahriman also It’s like watching them grow up: the appearance of these children from babbling to the cheerful teenagers they are today is vivid in Qianzi’s mind.

He was thinking secretly whether he should accept the two most talented little guys as his disciples and teach them some real skills: However, this kind of thing needs to be reported to the relevant departments, and private teaching is considered dangerous, and It may lead to personal intervention from the Primarch.

After sending these children away, Ahriman will spend the next ten minutes greeting his more than twenty mortal friends one by one: among them, there are mortal officers who have fought alongside Ahriman, and some who have served as Mortal psykers who were his students, and office clerks who had known him for a long time.

He would walk side by side with two or three of them to the breakfast room, listening as they discussed work and family matters, complained about their children's play at school, or discussed where to travel during their next paid vacation.

Then, at the door of the breakfast room, Thousand Sons put the newspaper into the automatic recycling machine and let it enter the recycling system inside the battleship. This simple environmental awareness is the obligation of everyone in the battleship, and the Primarch is starting to Gradually promote it to the entire Legion: Packed with this simple environmental awareness, Morgan subtly makes every mortal feel that the Dawnbreaker fleet is their second home.

This meticulous mother of the Dawnbreaker Legion always seems to like to work hard on these insignificant things, but there is one thing Ahriman has to admit: after Morgan's series of "wasted efforts", the Dawnbreaker fleet The atmosphere is indeed more likeable than any expedition fleet he knows.

Even if it's...Qianzi's...

Ahriman lowered his eyebrows. No one knew what he was thinking, and few people heard this elite member of the Thousand Sons Legion boasting about Magnus's legion in conversation as he did more than ten years ago. : The changes that the Dawnbreaker Legion brought to this psychic master may not be obvious, but they are as subtle as flowing water, and they never stop.

Just like now: when Ahriman takes the last sip of coffee, he will see his good friend and meal partner Hector, who has already prepared breakfast for the four of them and is sitting in the same position that they have not changed in more than ten years. , there would often be a few recruits sitting next to him whom Ahriman didn't know, and their faces would be filled with that nostalgic youthfulness and restraint.

As he began to process the blueberry jam sandwiches and ham-thick egg yolks on the dinner plate, Occasionally, Ahriman would observe these new blood of the Dawnbreakers, and secretly lamented in his heart that his friend had changed from the raw and unprepared one back then. The newcomer has become the mainstay who can teach other newcomers.

But most of the time, he would only concentrate on talking to Hector, discussing interesting anecdotes inside and outside the legion: as a highly valued son of Morgan, and also a confirmed future member of the [Sword Fence Council], Hector was the channel for information. Far richer than Ahriman's.

Many times, it was the Dawnbreaker who spoke, while the Thousand Sons listened silently. It was in this wonderful atmosphere where chewing and discussion gradually intertwined and finally merged into one, that the day belonged to Ahriman...

It just officially started.

——————

"Did you read the news about the World Eaters Legion in today's newspaper?"

Hecht stacked the five cheese and bacon sandwiches in his hands together, forming a tall tower filled with rosy aroma. The mellow cheese and the perfectly toasted bread edges were glued together under a slight squeeze. , the fragrant juice flowed in the fine lines, and finally disappeared into the huge mouth of the Dawnbreaker.

Morgan's pride squeezed his cheeks to bulge, and he did not forget to scribble a symbol of the World Eaters Legion on the table with his fingers: it was a fanged maw, about to devour a chained and shackled person. The abominable world of slavery. Since Angron took charge of the Legion, this symbol has become a lingering nightmare for countless slave owners and warlord leaders who resist the human empire.

"I saw it."

Ahriman nodded: Information about the World Eaters has continued to emerge over the years, and it seems to be one of the most popular legions. However, what is quite strange is that apart from constant attacks, battles and victories, the Twelfth Legion has nothing at all. It’s your own [featured content].

The entire World Eaters legion is like a ruthlessly operating war machine. In addition to the arena on the [Fortitude Resolve] that still attracts experts from all legions, the World Eaters' boring level is comparable to that of the Imperial Fists. And their Primarch rarely showed up on weekdays, and there were no interesting stories.

All of this made this apparently prosperous legion seem quite marginalized during the entire Great Crusade. However, the World Eaters had no complaints about this. They spent several years in the southern part of the galaxy. He circled a vague sphere of influence and found several cooperative worlds for himself to recruit people. With the increasingly abundant resources at hand, under Morgan's introduction, he boarded the production capacity express train of the Far East Industrial Complex. The replacement of major equipment was completed at an extremely fast speed.

Although compared with the Ultramarines or Dawnbreakers, these changes in the World Eaters are just a drop in the bucket, but for ordinary medium-sized legions, everything the Sons of Angron have done is enough to ensure their success in the Great Crusade. It continues to operate healthily.

The Twelfth Legion is expanding its strength at an alarming rate. Whether it is troops, equipment, logistics, or their uncomplaining silence and clean combat style, they have become a trustworthy force in the eyes of the empire: Naturally, such a drastic change cannot be accomplished by the World Eaters alone. It is obvious that their Primarch, who does not always show up, has been fulfilling his responsibilities as the Lord of the Legion conscientiously.

But from another perspective, he failed to fulfill his responsibility as the father of genes.

The atmosphere within the Twelfth Legion always contains a hint of indescribable weirdness. This is a similar comment given by every visitor: although they are not worried that the World Eaters will have feelings for their original body Dissatisfied, but the attitude of these warriors towards Angron is not very... healthy?

"I have to say that the performance of the Twelfth Legion in the battle to pacify the Machlian Federation region was really outstanding. I remember that they only used thirty-three Terran standards to capture the enemy's main star: the War Council. They thought this would be a siege that would last at least five months, and they couldn't even believe the World Eaters' reports."

"It seems that someone is about to be awarded a medal."

Ahriman whispered, but he had no feelings about the achievements of the World Eaters. Over the years in the Far Eastern Frontier, Ahriman had already known the weakness of the so-called achievements: Look at the Dawnbreaker Legion, even if you look at the miracles they have created in the Far Eastern Frontier, In the entire Great Crusade, only Guilliman's Ultramarines could rival it. However, the outside world never seemed to regard the establishment of the Far Eastern Frontier as the great achievement of the Dawnbreakers. They would rather give all the glory to Morgan alone. body, thus allowing the Dawnbreakers to continue to be mediocre in the Great Crusade.

But the Dawnbreakers didn't care, because Morgan, in turn, bestowed all the glory on her descendants, and for her descendants, the approval of the original body was far more attractive than Terra's meritorious deeds. people.

Ahriman, who had witnessed all this, naturally had some other ideas about the so-called meritorious deeds: He sometimes thought about whether he should persuade his genetic father to use Prospero after returning to the Thousand Sons Legion. Copy the results of Far Eastern Frontier for the core, even if it only includes dozens of worlds.

"yes."

Hector nodded and drank the chocolate milk in his glass.

"I remember that when Angron just returned, there were still people outside who doubted the next performance of the Twelfth Legion. As a result, you see, in the past few years, the World Eaters Legion has regained its reputation. If you only look at If Angron returns within a year, the record of the Twelfth Legion will be the best among all expedition fleets."

"Including this pacification operation, I am afraid that even the Luna Wolves and Iron Hands will feel a little pressure: After all, Horus had previously declared that it would take at least four months for his legion to win It only took the World Eaters two months to defeat the entire Federation."

"After all, the World Eaters don't like the tricks of negotiation like the Luna Wolves."

"And...their casualty rate is also very alarming."

Ahriman shook his head.

"To be honest, I personally don't quite understand their fighting style. Angron himself is obviously not a violent original body, so why are his subordinates so reckless? Especially in this pacification battle, I heard It is said that the World Eater officer responsible for commanding the ground operations even gave up his command post twenty-five hours after the battle and personally led the entire army to launch an all-out charge."

"Most of the casualties of the World Eaters Legion were concentrated in the next eight hours, soaring exponentially. A large number of soldiers, including three company commanders, died: but this was originally just a matter of spending more time. .”

"That's true..."

Hector curled his lips: The problem Ahriman mentioned is almost universally recognized within the entire empire: the casualty rate of the World Eaters has always been eye-catching and disturbing to outsiders, if not for the abnormal performance of their gene seeds. If it is strong, it will be impossible for the Twelfth Army to achieve steady expansion.

"I think this may be the price for their pursuit of [Thirty-One Hours of Glory]."

Hector picked up the iron kettle and poured himself another drink. His words were not actually loud and disappeared into the noisy cafeteria almost instantly, but Ahriman caught it keenly and challenged him with interest. He raised his eyebrows.

"You mean: is the legendary thirty-one hours of glory true?"

"Can we still have a holiday?"

Hector leaned forward and revealed his secret to his friend who tilted his ears.

"You know, Ahriman, just about a few months ago, the World Eaters Legion sent us an exchange team, led by a company commander named Mago, with whom I have fought side by side. Experience: Before a battle, he once proudly told me that the greatest achievement he had ever achieved as a World Eater was the Thirty-one Hours of Glory."

"According to them, their genetic father Angron will formulate combat plans based on intelligence and legion conditions before the war, and will engage in combat in situations that require his personal action: But in most cases Under such circumstances, Angron would not be on the front line at the very beginning of the battle."

"Although the Lord of Red Sand does show rare happiness in battle, he has always been very cautious in joining the battle and suppressed this happiness: As for the specific reason why he did this, it is even those who A mystery even the World Eaters don’t know.”

"Probably PTSD."

Ahriman touched his chin and gave his guess.

"Considering Angron's experience as a gladiator, this is not impossible."

"But what does this have to do with the thirty-one hours of glory?"

"This is where the problem lies."

Hector smiled.

"According to Mago, if the battle situation is still anxious thirty-one hours after the battle breaks out, and there is no way to open up the situation in a short time, then Angron will personally join the ground battlefield and take over Command of all fighting forces: although he would not punish previous commanders for this, it is often considered a shame by the World Eaters themselves."

"On the contrary, the World Eaters pride themselves on being able to successfully end the battle within thirty-one hours: no matter what the opponent is, no matter what the specific situation is, they will pursue victory in thirty-one hours."

"Although Angron has never issued any similar request, this is just the active pursuit of honor by the World Eaters: they are eager to be like the City Eater in Angron's mouth, in thirty-one hours, for Their Primarch ravages any enemy."

"In other words, this is a habit formed by the World Eaters' active agreement, and it has nothing to do with Angron: The World Eaters actively regard thirty-one hours as their glory?"

Ahriman nodded suddenly: As an Astartes warrior, he didn't think there was anything strange about this habit. On the contrary, if the World Eaters were punished for being unable to complete the task within thirty-one hours, , then Ahriman would feel strange.

After all, not every Primarch is Perturabo, right?

"That's right."

Hector nodded.

"Actually, the Lord of the Red Sands rarely punishes his subordinates. Even if the officers make big mistakes in the war, he will only hand them over to the military courts managed by the World Eaters themselves for trial. : The most severe punishment is often outright demotion or a suicide mission, and the Primarch would never have a hand in such a thing."

The Dawnbreaker Captain slowly stuffed the last sandwich into his mouth.

"This is what Margot told me. He also told me that the company he led had all accepted Ange after they had won thirty-one hours of glory in the previous Krepkes Alien Destroyer decisive battle. Long’s review: He said that was the only time they were able to see their genetic father in private.”

"Although the Lord of the Red Sand has never acknowledged the Thirty-one Hours of Glory in public, any company or officer corps that can achieve this glory will indeed receive his review and praise: I don't know if he is Learned from our genetic mother, this is also the fundamental reason why this kind of thirty-one hours of glory is so popular among the World Eaters."

"I think Angron probably learned it from your original body."

Ahriman dealt with the snacks on the plate nonchalantly. He handed the empty plate to the mortal employees who were pushing the cleaning cart back and forth, and gave them a smile of thanks. Hector also did the same thing: he The new blood behind them are following suit, understanding the unique way of getting along between the Dawnbreakers and mortals.

"I have been paying attention to the rumors of the Twelfth Legion, and I can see the shadow of Lord Morgan in many of Angron's military and management measures: Although these measures of Angron are not like Lord Morgan at all... The human touch.”

As soon as he said this, pride began to spread on Hector's face. He and Ahriman picked up drinks, clinked glasses, and began chatting about trivial matters in the last hours of breakfast. The center of the topic naturally shifted from the World Eaters Legion to the Dawnbreaker Legion.

"I heard that Mother does not intend to send Mago's team to the Salamas sector. She plans to take this team with her, just like she did with the Night Lord's Savita before. Same."

Hector sighed softly.

"Speaking of Savita, that kid has really become more and more powerful in the past two years: I remember he came here eight years ago. Before the opening of your Subspace Technology Research Institute, he was given by Mr. Conrad. Forced over. After that, His Excellency Conrad directly led the entire Eighth Legion into the ghoul stars for an exploratory expedition, and Sevatar settled down on the [Dawn Goddess]. The original body We even gave him the room that Sir Conrad used to live in."

"I heard he learned a lot."

Ahriman shook the coffee in his cup. He was deeply impressed by Sevatar. This was a character who was gifted in all aspects. His appearance seemed to prove that there was a species of "genius" in the galaxy.

"More than a lot?"

Hector snorted.

"It is said that Mother first took him with her as an auxiliary military attache. After all, it was recommended by His Excellency Conrad himself. He must take extra care of him. As a result, the boy became prosperous in the arena within a few years. Li is already a well-known figure: his status in our arena is like that of Sigismund in the World Eaters Arena."

"Sigismund, that guy also rose very quickly: it only took two years."

Ahriman raised an eyebrow.

"It is said that just a few days ago, the original body sent him to the Sword Council to let him learn how the legion operates: the council's final evaluation of Sevatar was [a promising future], and they felt that he was fully capable of shouldering a legion. .”

"...Tsk..."

Hector shook his head and sighed.

"Tell me, why haven't we, the Dawnbreakers, encountered such a good seedling?"

"..."

He is the Night Lord.

It's no different from you Dawnbreakers.

Ahriman drank from his cup without saying these words.

"So, does Mr. Morgan plan to let Margot also serve as her aide-de-camp?"

"of course not."

Hector shook his head.

"What Mother means is that she will take these World Eaters to join the next battle: we will soon have a big operation, haven't you heard, Ahriman, even the Dan in the Salamas sector Lord Tiok has brought people here specially, and it is said that he has brought hundreds of Iron Warriors this time."

"Dantioch is here?"

Ahriman's eyes widened.

"That's really a big move: Is the Far East border going to expand again?"

"no."

Hecht denied it: He apparently had reliable inside information.

"It is a war order from Holy Terra, requiring us to conduct an expedition to the northern part of the galaxy to eliminate an independent human regime that colludes with aliens: This will be a war involving several star sectors. We need to fight Another legion joins forces to fight, and if the situation goes unfavorably, the emperor will personally send a third legion as a support force."

"Another legion?"

Ahriman thought for a moment: he remembered Dantioch, who had just been mentioned.

"Could it be that……"

"That's right."

Hector nodded: his face looked a little complicated, and he seemed not to be very optimistic about fighting side by side this time.

"Another legion."

"Another Primarch."

"Perturabo."

"The Lord of Steel."