Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

"Too long..."

When his boots stepped on the marble table, feeling the attention from all directions, Ahriman was brewing a sigh in his heart.

The passage of decades had never left such a clear scar in his mind, and now he really felt the power of time.

The scepter with the light of the arcane in his hand brought a heat different from the real universe, and the think tank coat worn outside the power armor pulled him back decades ago, back to when he was still a pure psychic.

That was a long time ago, so long that it seemed like a real dream: Ahriman had not stood in front of everyone as a pure psychic for a long time. At this point, even he himself felt unfamiliar with the robe on his body.

This feeling is like walking towards an old friend you haven't seen for decades in a crowd of people. You may not even recognize him at first sight, but after recognizing him, whether it is the mixed feelings in your heart or the spontaneous smile after a moment, it is a beauty that cannot be described in simple words.

At least Ahriman feels indescribable.

In his heart, he suspected that this feeling was brought by his genetic father: when he just passed by Magnus, although there was no verbal communication between the two, the bond between father and son was so deep that a glance at each other could speak more than a thousand words.

And it was after he passed by Magnus that Ahriman felt that the psychic control that had been dormant for a long time in his body seemed to be disintegrated in an instant: those psychic powers that were as peaceful as sleeping bears under Morgan's training were becoming restless again at an incredible speed.

He didn't like this feeling, but Ahriman had to admit that for any psychic, such an active and rich psychic atmosphere was a kind of enjoyment: Ahriman didn't dare to imagine what kind of invisible paradise his Thousand Sons brothers lived in on weekdays.

They probably didn't even imagine how terrible the real world was, and this naivety now showed its evil consequences: when Ahriman, as the most steadfast cornerstone of the Think Tank faction and Guilliman's winning trump card, walked to the podium with his head held high, his Thousand Sons brothers could only stand below and wait for him to save everyone's fate with words.

Of course, Ahriman was not the only savior dedicated to defending the Think Tank system: behind him and the Lord of Macragge, there were a full fifteen figures who were getting up one after another, rushing to the marble table from different directions, and together with them formed a small but powerful legion.

These figures all wore robes and held scepters, with the symbols of the Astartes Legions painted on their shoulder armor: Dark Angels, Dawnbreakers, White Scars, Night Lords and even Luna Wolves...

In fact, except for the Emperor's Children Legion, which has never been organized by the Think Tank (Fulgrim's descendants believe that psykers are a kind of physical mutation that does not conform to their creed of perfection), the Space Wolves and Death Guard Legions that clearly stand in opposition, the Alpha Legion that is like a shadow and cannot be seen by any outsider, and the 11th Legion that has long been erased: the think tank curators of each other legion, who can represent the symbols of all the psykers of a legion, all chose to rush to the battlefield of Nicaea at this time, and lined up with the two imposing Primarchs, the Wolf King and the Lord of Death, to face the warning.

"It's really interesting."

On the Primarch's viewing platform, far away from the sight of everyone present, Horus, wearing the Warmaster's crown on his head, showed a seemingly surprised smile, and his sea-blue pupils stopped between the fifteen different legion symbols one by one, and then belatedly looked at the eagle beside him.

"Even on the battlefield, it is rare to see so many legions united."

"There is no need to be jealous, brother."

Chagatai Khan focused on everything on the field, and he did not pay special attention to Yesugei's direction: long before the opening of the Nikea Conference, the White Scars' Primarch had found his think tank director and allowed his most trusted child to do his own thing.

"There are fifteen think tank directors, many of whom have never met before today, and the reason they choose to speak at this time is not because they have planned it in advance: the reason for their unity is not anyone present, not Guilliman and the Emperor, not even Morgan."

"They just temporarily fell into a trench for a common cause."

"You know this well, Chagatai?"

Horus raised his eyebrows. Of course, he was not so stingy, but the Khan's words still aroused his curiosity: In the face of his inquiry, Chagatai Khan did not answer him immediately. He remained silent, and his voice was as ethereal as the breeze on the grassland.

"To tell you the truth, I haven't worked with Morgan for long, Horus. It wasn't until the situation on Nikaea had developed to the point where it was unavoidable that I actually worked with her for the first time. But even though it was short, I could see through Morgan and know what kind of person she was."

"..."

The Wolf God came to his senses, and the inquiry on his face became more intense. At this time, even the tension on the field could no longer attract Horus's attention: to hear Chagatai Khan personally evaluate one of his most concerned sisters? Opportunities like this don't come every day.

"Tell me, Chagatai."

"In a nutshell."

Khan thought for a final moment.

"Morgan is the kind of person who, at first glance, seems to have done nothing and doesn't seem to care about the direction of things. But in fact, she seems to have done everything, and the direction of things has not exceeded her expectations and means. : Even if she occasionally makes a mistake, she will use her amazing on-the-spot reaction ability to force things back on track. "

"At least it won't be too bad."

"And, let me tell you: the ability to react on the spot is actually one of Morgan's weaknesses."

"An amazing weakness?"

"Yes, her on-the-spot reaction ability itself is amazing, but compared to her real advantages: such as her analytical ability and the preparatory work based on this analytical ability, it is only This is something Morgan should really pay attention to.”

"Sounds like Guilliman?"

"Same, but also different."

The Khan shook his head.

He thought again.

"Both Morgan and Guilliman possess strong operational and logical thinking abilities, which is the fundamental reason why they were able to build a great nation, but in terms of details, their respective focuses are different."

"Can you give me an example?"

Horus touched his smooth forehead: he regretted not bringing a pen and paper.

"I can't give you examples: but I can describe it to you in general terms."

"Guilliman's strength is that he can always make others overestimate his power and use an advantage that does not exist to frighten the opponent's actions: once the opponent lags behind, Guilliman is given enough time to operate and react. Macragge is invincible."

"He's always been like that."

Horus nodded.

"What about...Morgan?"

The Shepherd God didn't notice that his tone had become a little heavier at this time.

"Morgan is the other extreme."

Jaghatai Khan turned his gaze sideways, and his eagle-like vision allowed him to easily see every detail in the palace of Nicaea: whether it was Leman Russ behind his back, his hands that were constantly clenching and soothing. , or the lips that Morgan covered with his curved fingers and seemed to be mumbling something.

"Morgan is better at, or in other words, she prefers to make others underestimate her power, turning her opponents' arrogance or carelessness into her own invisible advantages, thus inducing her enemies to make wrong judgments and causing them to continue to divide. The power in her hands allows her to destroy her opponents at the lowest possible cost."

"I see."

Horus is revealed at one point.

"Essentially speaking, Morgan's legion is still too thin. She doesn't like to have a main showdown with any opponent that requires all her strength. Instead, she prefers to use various methods to divide her opponent's strength, and then take small bites. Eat her targets?"

"That's right."

The Khan nodded.

"In that case, aren't the rumors about Morgan all wrong?"

Horus chuckled.

"At least the aspect of [Xiaojiaziqi] still looks very realistic."

"I don't think so."

The Khan shook his head, and he quickly rejected Horus's judgment: Under the surprised gaze of the Wolf Shepherd God, Chagatai Khan first closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. When he opened his eyes, He made his point with cool emphasis.

"I don't think Morgan's pity for the lives of the Dawnbreakers is purely emotional: essentially, she is a very rational person, so rational that it is almost ruthless. The reason why she cares so much about the death rate of the Second Legion is just Because her legion can’t afford to die, it needs to avoid more casualties as much as possible.”

"That's all."

"And if in her eyes, the victory of the war is worth more than the lives of soldiers, then she will also become a Perturabo-like figure, squandering the lives of the Dawnbreakers at will: the reason why she has not done so yet is just Because there is no target of such high value in the current galaxy.”

"..."

"What a... scary conclusion?"

Horus's lips twitched, forcing out a dry smile.

"Why do you think so, my brother Jaghatai Khan?"

"I remember that you had a very high opinion of Morgan, didn't you?"

"That's right."

The Khan glanced at him.

"Don't get me wrong, Horus, this kind of cold and ruthless rational thinking is exactly one of the best impressions that Morgan has left on me, and it is also the most outstanding thing about her. This kind of rationality is too rare among our brothers. And, do you know how I became aware of Morgan's cold nature?"

The Shepherd God thought for a moment.

"Because of Magnus?"

"That's right."

Khan's expression was a little touched.

"Do you remember my evaluation of Morgan at the beginning? She seemed to have done nothing, but in fact she had already controlled everything. It was when I was working with Morgan that I realized this in her attitude towards think tanks. A little bit: I was there to witness the whole process.”

"What did she say to the think tanks?"

"Nothing said."

The Khan shook his head.

"She allowed them to play freely and vowed not to interfere with the will and behavior of the think tanks in private: but when the think tanks gathered in private to discuss how to act, I found that Morgan's influence on them was actually terrible."

"Our sister is the mentor of almost every think tank director. Among all the fifteen think tank representatives, more than half of them obviously acted according to her ideas, and the remaining half often regarded her as a great figure second only to the Emperor and their own Primarch."

"They seem to be discussing, but in fact, half of the representatives are reciting the plan given to them by Morgan in advance, secretly forming a group, and guiding the other half of the representatives to agree to this plan: but everyone is absolutely voluntary."

"They...can't see this?"

"They don't care, Horus: Remember what I said, they are all Morgan's disciples."

"No wonder..."

Horus looked at a think tank director who stood silently behind Ahriman.

"Is my think tank the same?"

"You let him act freely?"

"Yes."

The wolf god affirmed.

"That's right. I don't doubt the loyalty of any Luna Wolf to you, my dear brother Horus, but if you let your Librarians act freely, then they will automatically understand that acting according to the method given by Morgan is the best solution at the moment: anyway, it will never violate the interests of you and the Luna Wolf."

"Tsk..."

The Wolf God snorted lightly, and then remained silent for almost two or three minutes: when Malcador sang loudly on the marble table to chant the clichés of the meeting starting again, Horus was not listening at all, and no one knew what he was thinking during this time.

Only his whispers could be heard.

"In other words: I need a psychic power that can be completely controlled in my hands..."

"After all, even my Librarians are not so reassuring now..."

"What are you talking about, Horus?"

"Nothing: what about her ruthlessness?"

"How do you see Morgan's ruthlessness?"

"One thing."

The Khan's voice was silent for a while.

"Guess: who made us finally decide to abandon Magnus completely?"

"Although this is everyone's tacit consent: but someone has to bring it up first, right?"

"..."

The wolf god widened his eyes.

"This is ridiculous: I remember that she and Magnus had a close relationship..."

"Maybe in the past, but now..."

The Khan smiled.

"Let me tell you something, Horus."

"Is it a secret?"

"I guess so: but it won't be soon."

"Did you see that person?"

Following Chagatai's guidance, Horus clearly saw the fiery red figure on the black marble table: he stood in front of the fourteen think tanks like a king, and when his colleagues were silent, he would speak as their only unified will.

"Ahriman: What's wrong with him?"

"You know who he belongs to, right?"

"The son of Magnus?"

"Wrong."

Chagatai chuckled. He was so confident that the Wolf God doubted his own brain for a moment: until he realized belatedly that Ahriman was indeed the son of Magnus.

"He used to be."

Khan saw through his brother's confusion, and his eyes gradually became cold.

"But wait and see, brother."

"Just wait and see: in the following verbal battle, this son of Magnus in your mouth, the only representative of the Thousand Sons Legion who can speak on Nikaea, the savior that Prospero has high hopes for."

"Will he speak for his father?"

"..."

The Wolf God was stunned for a moment before he realized what the Khan meant.

He immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"Chagatai, my brother, you are assuming a terrible crime."

"You think it's an assumption?"

"No Astartes warrior will betray his gene father, just as no Primarch will betray the Emperor: this is the truth of the galaxy. How can you shake these truths in front of me?"

"Ah, Horus, my Horus."

The Khan shook his head repeatedly, and he glanced at his brother as if he was pitying a child.

"I admit that some concepts of loyalty are absolutely noble in your hearts."

"But you have to see clearly."

"Even the greatest loyalty, in front of some cunning pupils, in front of some smiling lips that utter evil words to harm the people, will be like a stone dripping with water: without everyone knowing, it will be slowly but firmly shaken and shaped until it becomes what the owner of the pupils and lips wants to be."

"And now."

The Khan patted Horus on the shoulder. He stood behind the wolf god: when the fight on the marble began again, Chagatai was guiding the wolf god's vision and quietly glanced at the silver-white figure.

"Look, Horus."

"Look at her: now is the moment when she is not paying attention to anything else and releasing her true self."

"Look at her and tell me: what is going on in your mind?"

"..."

"That's right."

The Shepherd God did not speak, but the slightest change in expression on his face gave Chagatai Khan the answer he wanted.

"Do you know now? I only confirmed this not long ago."

"If she wants to: she can be the devil to each of us, the bane of all of us."

"Whether it's you or me."

"Still...ah, that person..."

"This is not the power of the real universe, this is the same power as our father."

"With this power, our sisters can even trample the sacred blood between the Astartes and the Primarch: look at the high-spirited Ahriman, who was most proud of Magnus when he didn't know it. The descendant has devoted all his loyalty to another person."

"Our father should be surprised: this power was originally his only."

"But then again: Maybe this is what our father wanted to see happen?"

The Khan was silent for a moment.

"What do you think, Horus?"

"..."

"Jaghatai."

"What's wrong?"

"Do you know... is there any way for me to become a powerful psyker?"