(Here another free chapter, keep throwing Power Stone at my face.😗)
While meeting the Legion of Excess and the Noise Marine Warband was a surprising obstacle, they never appeared anymore all the way to Gaul which is unsettling as a dead silent forest. None of the United Empire ambushes appeared either, giving them a smooth journey all the way.
When they arrived at Gaul however, the atmosphere immediately turned grim. The main purpose of the Expeditionary Forces is to reinforce the battlefront at Gaul and launch an attack at the United Empire. But when they arrived, the camp was in a tattered state.
Only a handful of survivors left, most are traumatized and laying on the ground groaning in pain and staring at the sky blankly. No doubt, the Daemons of Slaanesh had attacked the camp too.
Adam and the Servants immediately went to survey the site while Nero ordered her soldiers to rescue the survivors while asking them for information about the tragedy that took place.
But, any attempt to gain information is a futile attempt as those survivors either had lost their will to live or mind broken beyond repair. Left with only one option, Adam ripped out the information from the survivors' mind before giving them a swift mercy which Nero frowned upon as her soldiers and the Chaldean. But none stop him as they understand the necessity of this cruel act.
"They were attacked by the Daemon's we fought against. However, a few Servants were captured and dragged away by the Traitor Marines of the Emperor's Children." Adam declared his findings and those who are familiar with the modus operandi of the Emperor's Children marines, immediately made prayers for those who are captured as no doubt, they suffer worse than those who died in the battle and got off better.
Confused, Ritsuko voiced out her thoughts and asked Adam why they would react that way. Adam felt the topic was rather heavy to properly explain and simply just said, "They are the followers of the Prince of Pleasure for a reason and what sort of atrocities do you expect the followers of such God would perform?" He questioned.
Ritsuko paled, as did many others and Adam added other details.
"Also, they do not discriminate and neither do they care." He said and left the rest to their imaginations.
Ritsuko finds herself gagging at such a horrible picture in her mind while Mash comforts her despite the fact that she didn't come off much different than Ritsuko either.
"So, now. What are we going to do next?" Olga asked Adam for his thoughts since he is basically in charge right now with the matter up within his alley of expertise and experience.
"I would like to strike Slaanesh as quickly as possible before he could amass his power and become annoying to confront. After all, killing Slaanesh is the same as killing all others, Daemons." Adam replied and other Space Marines all agreed with him to strike as soon as possible.
"However, I also worried about the one that summoned Slaanesh into this reality in the first place which I suspect is related to the United Empire."
"The grail?" Rutsuko asked, looking slightly better than before but had seen better days.
Adam nodded, "Indeed, I suspect another Demon God is responsible for the summoning of Slaanesh and had been using the Grail to perform it. I can definitely sense its presence somewhere in the Singularity but unable to pinpoint it." Adam mutters with slight annoyance and looks at Malcador but the latter unable to help since he did not know the presence of a Demon God because he had never met one yet which limits his Divination effect.
"So, I presume we will split up into two groups?" Sigismund was looking thoughtful before shifting his gaze to Adam who nodded.
"The Gray Knights will be the perfect opponent for taking on Slaanesh with experience and mental fortitude to back up their capabilities. However, I can't say for you and the others." Adam turns his eyes to the others who are anticipating their upcoming role.
Normally, to talk like that is the same as belittling The Emperor's Champion. However, Adam's words carry no such intent and purely stated it with fact. After all, he and the Gray Knights had the most records of walking into the Realm of Chaos and challenging the Dark Gods to survive and tell the tale.
As such, Sigismund didn't place those words to heart and properly understood the reason for it. He nodded in acknowledgement and joined the Chaldean instead. After all, there could be other Daemons out there lurking and chances are, the Chaldean will encounter them. Adam will be more assured to have Sigismund accompanying them.
Beside Sigismund, Sif is also unable to participate and reluctantly joins Ritsuko after much coaxing from Adam.
With that, the group was split into two. Adam, Alina and Malcador will be the subjugation team to defeat Slaanesh while the rest will follow Nero and resolve the matter of the United Empire, along the way they will acquire the Grail.
———
Sigismund wasn't the most talkative sort of person, preferring action over words. But that is in the past Universe. In the current one, Malcador advised him to leave behind his perspective and have a fresher one. After all, he had already died and everything after that no longer mattered.
Not like he could return to the Imperium to continue his crusade. The universe already moved on from his death. He is just a bystander now, a bystander of his Universe summoned to aid another Universe from the similar threat of Chaos and saving humanity.
While Sigismund is willing to adhere to Malcador's advice, he does underestimate how talkative his new companions are. Most of the time, it's either the red head, Ritsuko or the enigmatic 'Doctor' who ask questions on Olga's or Da Vinci's behalf.
Most of the questions asked are about Imperium, the Horus Heresy and history in general and Chaos. The scope is quite big and there are plenty to talk about which is perfect because he dislikes the fact they lack transportation that can allow them to march faster and instead have to do it over foot. So, talking does help pass the time faster.
"Adam… we never once met during my lifetime. However, I heard many tales and rumors about him. He is the one The Emperor trusted the most after Malcador and the second person who he ever confides his secrets to." Sigismund replied when he was asked of his impression and experience of Adam.
Sigismund told about the general impression of people on Adam during his time being alive. Like most, he is one of many that is jealous of Adam and even his Gene-Father did as many other Primarch. After all, too many. They fought for the recognition of The Emperor and to see an outsider hogging all of that attention filled many with jealousy and envy. Part of the reason why Horus rebelled is also due to that same reason. Dissatisfied that Adam gained more recognition from The Emperor while he who fought hard to impress his Father gained lesser.
Sigismund himself would too if he was in Horus' shoes. But that changed when hearing the truth from Malcador's own mouth, the reason and purpose of Adam's existence, The Emperor's only hope to overturn the grim future, Imperium Nihilus from tearing the Imperium apart. For this reason, The Emperor invested a lot in Adam and distanced himself from those known traitors and even the loyal Primarch in his preparation for the future. Which only drove the wedge deeper between the Primarchs and The Emperor.
He knew it fondly as even his Primarch, Rogal Dorn, expresses his dissatisfaction about Adam, an outsider able to enjoy all the attention and even personal tutoring from the Emperor. Although that was it, Rogal Dorn only expresses dissatisfaction but understands there is a deeper underlying reason for the Emperor's action. Even more so later after learning about the secret of Gray Knights being a special Legion created specifically to counter Daemon.
That is all he knew about Adam which left the Chaldean and Nero disappointed.
""What about The Emperor?" Romani asked, as the title had been mentioned many times but never did anyone explain deeper about him.
"The God Emperor?" Someone questioned why the addition of 'God' is added.
Sigismund cringed slightly at it himself. After all, while perhaps the rest of the Black Templar worship The Emperor as god. He himself knows the truth behind it. That The Emperor wasn't a God and never wished to be one as that is becoming what The Emperor swore to destroy. Yet, the Black Templar worship The Emperor like the mortal would and adhere to the teaching of the Imperial Cult, revolving their entire chapter around the concept of Holy Crusaders, bringing the light of The Emperor to reclaim lost worlds and destroy those who refuse.
All this is caused by him, desperate to prove his loyalty and succumbing to such a method that is against The Emperor's will.
Sigismund is part of earlier members of the Legiones Astarte, knowing the Imperial Truth preached by The Emperor himself, that The Emperor wasn't a God and never claimed to be. Yet, those who witnessed his miracle and feat find it hard to believe so. The Emperor is God in all but name.
Sigismund talked about The Emperor's achievement. From the Reunification War to the Great Crusade. From the beginning of civilization, The Emperor hid amongst men and tried to guide humanity. From being a humble scholar enlightening humanity in the way of science to a hidden figure that leads humanity from the shadow. His ultimate goal is the abandonment of superstition and faith to promote scientific intelligence, an atheistic belief.
Naturally, this offended a few, namely the Saints and those that have believed in the Divines amongst the group, causing them to see The Emperor in a darker light. However, Sigismund explained the Imperial Truth is not created without reason. He explains what the Chaos Gods really are, born out of such belief, feeding upon the emotions of sentient beings. The Imperial Truth is a necessity to weaken the Chaos Gods and kill them but it was ultimately a failure as The Emperor was struck with a devastating blow that left him enshrined on the Golden Throne. It was no longer a viable method as the Chaos Gods had grown too strong. However, that might change with Slaanesh as being in this Universe means he is being cut off from his worshippers and the Warp, weakened and hopefully possibly to be slain.
———
On Adam's side, since Malcador already knew where Slaanesh was hiding. But it was located on an island cut off from land. They do not have the necessary transport to reach the island. However, it wasn't a problem.
At Malcador's lead, Adam and the others channel their Psychic power to rip open a portal directly to Slaanesh in hope to catch him off guard. However, neither Malcador or Adam is optimistic about their thought to launch a surprise attack at Slaanesh because he probably already knows they are coming.
When a Warp Rift tore open in reality, Adam led the charge to immediately rush into the portal with their weapon drawn and mind prepared for an immediate and arduous battle ahead of them.
"Charge!" Adam bellowed at his mens and charged with his blade and bolters drawn into the portal.
———
Slaanesh wasn't very happy with his… or rather, her situation.
When the strange Daemon from another Universe opened a channel into the Warp in hope to summon someone, he sensed the presence of that hateful man. The only being that his power could find no purchase against. Not even The Emperor could shrug off his corrupting power like it's nothing.
Yet, there he is! The being that is seemingly immune to his and other Chaos God's influence and the Warp too.
As the Prince of Pleasure, God of Excess, The Master of Excess in All Things, could never possibly tolerate being unaffected by him. He felt compelled by his existence and power to remove Adam. To erase him out of existence. To eliminate the eyesore that she could never possibly tolerate the existence that undermined him.
As such, the moment the opportunity presented itself. Slaanesh jumped at the opportunity and even overjoyed to find him weakened. Not to mention deprived of his Legion. This is a perfect opportunity to erase his insufferable existence once and for all.
However, not everything went as planned. Especially when the vermin who declared itself a Demon God, Raum, tried to control him through an unknown method but soon found itself kicking a steel plate when he overpowered the Command Seals and devoured the vermin that tried to impose its will on him and used that Demon God as energy to facilitate his manifesting in this Universe.
But, Slaanesh encountered one problem. He could not find a suitable body to possess. After all, Daemon and Chaos Gods alike manifest in reality through a summoning ritual that either provides a vessel or the summoner uses a vessel.
There is one vessel, the most suitable one as if made just for her. However, due to the proximity of it with Adam. Slaanesh reluctantly settles for the second best one because she is in no shape to resist Adam if she tries to possess the vessel.
Then, for the past few days. He slowly possessed and took over the vessel of a Goddess which is somewhat decent compared to the actual vessel he was eyeing for. A goddess, although very weakened, had a divine charm which he corrupted and twisted it into his own. After he succeeded in taking possession of the body, Slaanesh also devoured the other two companions of the Goddess to increase his power while using the body as a vessel to summon his Daemon to aid his goal.
With two Greater Daemons, he ordered one to convert the locals and turn them into his worshippers while another spread corruption and created an army of Daemon at his service. However, he also faces obstacles in the form of an unusually powerful human capable of even slaying one of his Greater Daemon although not without a price of succumbing to their death which crippled the United Empire after losing all of their leaders like a chicken with head cut off.
The soldiers of the United Empire were turned into an army of Daemons and marched towards the capital with two purposes. One is to kill Adam and another is to seize the perfect vessel so he can descend in an even powerful form to kill Adam himself.
Although, from the look of it. He had to act personally because both of the useless Greater Daemons had been slayed. However, when Slaanesh was about to leave the isle. A Warp Rift suddenly tore open.
Slaanesh was obviously shocked because he purposely obscured his location yet Adam still managed to find him.
Currently, he is no match for him with this paltry vessel. So, instead of staying and fighting a useless battle. He immediately fled through another Warp Rift of his own.
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