Why We Fight

Angron and Horus's first meeting was filled with the smell of gunpowder.

When Angron said, "Are you going to duel me?" Horus charged without hesitation.

"Good."

After years of slaughter in the gladiatorial arena, battle had long since become Angron's instinct.

When Horus rushed at him, he showed no fear at all. Instead, his expression filled with excitement and anticipation.

They were both perfect creations of the Emperor, fused with the dual qualities of reality and the Warp.

They possessed unimaginably great strength.

Neither used weapons. They fought with nothing but fists and feet.

Their powerful bodies made every punch terrifying, carrying savage destructive force.

Angron took a punch to the cheek. The tremendous force sent him flying, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

"Looks like you're a little weak."

Horus looked at his fallen brother and smiled.

He desperately wished his father could see this scene.

That way, his father would surely think he was the strongest.

Angron spat out blood, climbed up from the ground, and rolled his neck a few times.

"It's too early to say that."

He grew more excited.

Horus's terrifying combat strength made him realize this would be a truly satisfying duel.

"Even if you get back up, I'll only knock you down again."

Horus strode forward and launched another attack.

Whoosh!

His heavy fist sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.

Angron shifted one step to the side, dodging Horus's punch.

Then he reached out, grabbed Horus's elbow, and pulled him forward, throwing him off balance.

"This move is ancient. I learned it from a dead gladiator. I hope you like it."

Angron seized the chance while Horus was off balance.

He raised his right leg and, with lightning speed, kicked Horus in the abdomen.

The blow sent him flying.

Angron charged at the fallen Horus, leaped up, and brought down his massive fist.

"I have never tasted defeat in the gladiatorial arena. No matter who my opponent is, I will win. You are strong, but I will still be the winner."

Horus rolled away, avoiding Angron's attack.

He scrambled up, lowered his body, and charged into Angron, knocking him flying.

"Then today, you'll learn what defeat tastes like."

The two tangled together, trading brutal, bone-shaking blows.

They used every method they had and fought to a draw.

Neither could overcome the other.

"Enough."

A majestic voice rang out, interrupting their duel.

The Emperor, wreathed in radiance, emerged from a corridor to one side.

Waldo followed behind him, along with a squad of Adeptus Custodes clad in golden armor.

Powerful Psionic Power forcibly separated the two unwilling fighters.

Even after Angron and Horus were pulled apart, they continued glaring at each other.

Their eyes held defiance and barely restrained desire to fight.

Given the chance, they would surely fight again.

"You are brothers," the Emperor said. "You should stand united and devote yourselves to humanity's great cause."

The Emperor walked between them.

"Horus, this is Angron, your brother, lord of Nukeria, and an undefeated king of the gladiatorial arena."

The Emperor pointed at Angron as he introduced him to Horus.

Then he pointed at Horus and said to Angron, "Angron, this is Horus, lord of Kossonia."

"You were both woven from the same genetic strands and created to save humanity."

Horus extended his hand, looking utterly sincere.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Angron. We will become good brothers."

Angron smiled as well and extended his hand, clasping Horus's tightly.

It looked as though the two had cast aside their grudge and acknowledged one another as brothers.

Yet the force they put into their handshake made it clear to everyone that neither accepted the other's superiority.

"Appropriate competition is a good thing."

A hoarse voice spoke up.

Only then did Horus and Angron notice a Raven perched on the Emperor's shoulder.

Confusion rose in both their hearts at once.

Neither of them had seen the Raven before.

How had he suddenly appeared??

"Nice to meet you, Bald Horus and Chop King. Let's go get some fries and ketchup together."

The Raven greeted the two Primarchs.

After Angron's destiny changed, a third orb of light appeared in Misty Space.

The Destiny Nodes of the Warhammer universe had changed by more than 30%.

The protective measure that originally allowed only the chosen to see the Raven had also been lifted.

Misty Space had established that protection to safeguard weaker chosen ones.

It prevented them from being captured and dissected by powerful figures after their identities as travelers across countless worlds were exposed.

For someone like the Emperor, however, such protection was somewhat unnecessary.

Even if he shouted to everyone that he was a traveler across worlds, who could do anything to him?

Once the conditions for removal had been met, the Raven lifted the protective measure.

But his inherent forgetfulness trait remained.

Those who had not been acknowledged could only remember anything related to him while looking directly at him.

The moment they looked away, they would unconsciously forget.

"Who is this?"

Horus widened his eyes. He had met the Emperor many times, but this was the first time he had seen this Raven.

The Emperor said, "He is Mr. Raven, another leader of the Empire. If I am absent, his words represent my will."

The Raven spread his wings. "Come on, children. Call me Second Father."

The Emperor: "."

Waldo: "."

Horus and Angron both widened their eyes.

How had they suddenly gained another father for no reason?

"I was just livening up the atmosphere. You two carry on talking."

Seeing the Emperor's dark expression, the Raven immediately sensed trouble.

He hurriedly flapped his wings and flew onto Waldo's shoulder.

As the Raven left their field of vision, Horus and Angron unconsciously forgot everything related to him.

"I have said these words to Horus before, and now I must say them to you as well."

The Emperor looked at Angron. "Under the original plan, your mission was to lead the Twelfth Legion and conquer the galaxy."

"But not long after your birth, you were stolen by the great enemy and cast onto Nukeria."

"I bear some responsibility for your loss in the galaxy, but it was never my intention."

"At present, it remains unclear what the great enemy left within you. To rashly have you command the Twelfth Legion according to the original plan would be profoundly irresponsible toward the Empire and humanity."

"You may choose to temper yourself among the expeditionary forces until you prove that you are still qualified to command the Twelfth Legion."

"Or you may abandon the mission I gave you. Given the immense power you possess, you must still remain under the Empire's supervision. Only after the Great Crusade ends and the Human Empire is fully secured will you gain true freedom."

Horus looked at Angron with a hint of expectation.

This mission was far too heavy. Angron, just give it up.

Go back to Nukeria and reunite with your brothers and sisters.

Let me bear this mission alone.

And enjoy all of Father's love alone.

Angron fell silent for a moment, recalling his unbearable past on Nukeria.

On the way here, he had learned that humans on many worlds throughout the galaxy were still suffering.

Whenever he thought of it, his heart ached with pain and burned with anger.

He desperately wanted to do something, to change the present situation.

"What are we fighting for?" Angron asked the question that mattered most to him.

"Obviously, for delicious fries and ketchup," the Raven cut in. "How can a world where people cannot even enjoy delicious fries and ketchup be called a happy world?"

The Emperor smiled and said, "For humanity's manifest destiny to rule the galaxy, to restore humanity's glory, and so that everyone may enjoy delicious fries and ketchup."

Waldo's mouth twitched slightly.

The thing he feared most had happened after all.

Under the Raven's devilish whispers, the Emperor had already fallen.

How long until the Empire's armies began shouting, 'For delicious fries and ketchup'??

Angron nodded and made a decision that disappointed Horus.

"I am willing to accept this tempering until I earn Father's recognition."

After the meeting ended, Angron was arranged to study alongside Horus.

The moment the Emperor left, the two unyielding Primarchs agreed to go to the dueling grounds and continue their earlier duel.

When the warriors of the Twelfth Legion learned that their Primarch had returned, they surged over in a flood.

The Sixteenth Legion refused to be outdone and also went to the dueling grounds to cheer for their Primarch.

Without any surprise, the duel that should have belonged to the two Primarchs eventually turned into a massive brawl between two Legions.

"For Angron, for the Emperor!"

Kharn, who had only just become a recruit, smashed a fist into Abaddon's face, then pinned him to the ground and pounded him.

"For Horus, for the Emperor!"

After turning the tables, Abaddon grabbed Kharn by the head and repeatedly slammed him into the dueling ground's wall.

The massive brawl came to an end when the Adeptus Custodes and enforcement troops intervened.

Every Legion member who participated in the brawl was punished and sent to solitary confinement to reflect on their actions.

But no one regretted it. Instead, they bragged about it to their companions as a battle record.

Rather than taking pleasure in their misfortune, the other Legions became jealous.

Their anticipation for their Primarchs' return became stronger than ever.

The First Legion was even more so.

They had been the first Legion created, yet their Primarch had not been the first to return.

When the Emperor learned of the brawl between the two Legions, he did not pay it much attention.

That was because something more important had drawn away his attention.

Malcador delivered a Quantum Induction Array communications tower improved by the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars.

Faster-than-light communication that did not rely on the Warp had become reality.

PS:

Angron, Kharn, and the female captain who has yet to appear.

I couldn't find an image without the nails. Sad.

As always, please keep reading, brothers.

Turning to the final page every day is the greatest support.