Nimrod walked through the spiral passage and entered the dim apothecarium.
The cooling units beneath the metal deck rumbled, releasing freezing mist that spread through the operating room.
A suspended surgical array rested upon Chief Apothecary Mikel's shoulders, like a bizarre set of multi-jointed arms.
The Mechanical Arms clicked as they danced over the charcoal-black body.
"My lord." Mikel bowed.
"Lord Vulkan has not yet awakened."
The Crimson Scholar licked his lips. "I have drawn ten liters of blood for testing and extracted thirty-eight tissue samples for analysis."
"Lord Vulkan's samples are more active than Omega's. He has already begun repairing his own wounds."
"A Primarch can mend physical injuries, but his mental wounds are more severe."
Nimrod nodded. He knew that Vulkan was not yet a true Perpetual. On his own, he would struggle to recover from the damage Konrad had inflicted upon both his body and soul.
In his memories, the Cabal had sent an agent, the Perpetual John Grammaticus, to give Konrad a spear forged from lightning stone, allowing Konrad to kill Vulkan completely.
But the Aeldari Farseer Eldrad Ulthran had appeared and persuaded Grammaticus to personally kill Vulkan.
Amid a terrifying psionic explosion, Grammaticus resurrected for the last time and sacrificed his Perpetual nature in exchange for Vulkan's mental recovery.
In the end, Artellus Numeon sacrificed his life within the volcanoes of Nocturne, allowing Vulkan to be reborn in the flames.
*Although I saved Vulkan ahead of time, I also affected a chain of changes. Even Grammaticus never went to Calth.
Vulkan's future may change.*
The Fallen Count quietly rose to a higher vantage point and looked down upon Vulkan.
A trace of golden light curled amid the charred ashes.
As expected, Vulkan is vital to the Old Man in Yellow's plan.
Nimrod knew that Vulkan