Lorgar offered up Honsou

Nimrod gazed at the golden light that suddenly appeared, Crimson Light crashed against it like waves.

The golden light, apart from those Beyonder using the "Sun" Pathway, was only the Psionic Energy radiance of the Old Man in Yellow.

After all, in this era, the Ecclesiarchy had not yet risen, and the Imperium's Sacred Word Psyker were not yet capable of projecting Psionic Energy light into the Ruinstorm.

Nimrod even believed that only a very few bishops with extremely firm faith, or an unlucky Living Saint chosen by the Old Man in Yellow, would be capable of doing so.

With a thought, the "Fallen Count" caused his eyes to converge into a giant eye in the illusion.

As his field of vision rapidly rose, his gaze pierced through the scarlet light and peered into the golden light.

It was a broken box containing eleven test tubes and one test tube of ashes.

A familiar name comes into view: Honsou.

Nimrod's heart skipped a beat: eleven test tubes and one broken one—originally there were twelve.

Honsou – Fabius Bile's research]

Nimrod recalls that Bile conducted a series of studies during the Great Birthday Celebration that included attempts at gene fusion.

He created twelve fused Gene-seed, but the Imperial Fists, captured and used as an experimental subject, never submitted to Bile's will.

His resistance to the blasphemous fusion experiment triggered Catastrophe experimental accident.

Fortunately Lucius happened to arrive and intervened before the cryogenic storage chamber was destroyed, ultimately saving one of the Gene-seed.

This Gene-seed is the Gene-seed Bile extracted after murdering the "Iron Warriors" Apothecary, Sorcerer Soltarn.

It also incorporates the Gene-seed of the Imperial Fists, most likely originating from Felix Cassander, the commander stationed at the Heart of Hydra.

After Akurduana reminded Perturabo, he still went to the Heart of Hydra to meet with Fulgrim.

Cassander may have been captured, killed in battle, or had his Gene-seed taken by Bile.

Soltarn —given his position, might not know Perturabo's thoughts, and could potentially be murdered by his ally, the renowned old Chinese medicine doctor.

Nimrod figured out who created the box in his hand, and then looked around.

Where did it come from?

I am caught in Ruinstorm, but this is not Khorne's style.

He recalled the sudden appearance of the golden light, and roared in fury— Khorne's rage, seemingly directed at others—

Golden Stream of Light — the Old Man in Yellow's energy is now entirely focused on the War of the Webway, and Bile's research hasn't reached the point of affecting the overall situation.

Aside from him, the only other source of golden light was— Lorgar Aurelian's Psionic Energy radiance.

Nimrod's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Could it be that my "Forever Unchosen" Lorgar had offered up Honsou?

Hmm... that's not bad either.

In Nimrod's memory, Honsou possessed both the outstanding tactical skills of the Iron Warriors and the bravery of the Imperial Fists, becoming one of the three champions under Baben Falk in the 41st millennium.

During the Second Siege of the Heart of Hydra, his counter-charge routed the Jouran Dragoons, and at the cost of having his right arm severed by Power Sword, he killed Colonel Vauban, the Imperium.

While Falk ascended to demonhood using the Imperial Fists Gene-seed, Honsou secretly kept a portion of it and used it to develop an evil production system Daemonculaba.

He rose to prominence rapidly through this, and forged his infamy by conquering Tarsis Ultra, Huron's Feast of Skulls, and Ultramar.

He even gained special treatment from Perturabo, who patiently taught him.

Astartes, nurtured by Honsou, will undoubtedly be a valuable asset.

The other ten, even those slightly inferior to him, possessed greater potential than the Astartes cultivated from other Gene-seed.

They would have perished in the flames, but now they shine brightly under my command.

As the "Fallen Count" pondered, he took a step forward and appeared out of thin air before the golden light.

His body blurred into a shadow, then he raised his hand and reached into the golden light.

A hand formed from wisps of shadow grasped the damaged cryogenic cooler. With a thought, the cooler vanished into thin air, falling into the "Nation of Disorder."

Tenacious.

"Father, a wise choice." Ignatius Grulgor bowed deeply, his swollen body bowing.

"The corrupt rule of the Plague God governs all things in the world—"

"I will not—" Mortarion was about to try to repeat the names of Lorgar and Grulgor, but "Nurgle" turned into a stream of bile that rushed into his throat, forcing him to swallow his question.

"You are my son, my Second Company Captain, you must continue to be loyal to me."

The Nurgle Daemon Prince let out a grumbling laugh. "My father, I'm sorry to tell you..."

"The oath I swore to the Plague God, the most wicked ruler, is greater than any agreement I have made with anyone else."

"As I said, the corruption of Nurgle governs all things, including you."

Lorgar Aurelian retracted the Illuminarum, "My brother, based on our friendship, I send the champions of Khorne back to the Empyrean."

"But your choice has angered the Blood God."

"You now have only one path: accept Nurgle's blessing."

The trefoil-shaped blister on the back of Mortarion's left hand burst with a bang, and dirty air rushed into the respirator.

The respirator melted like a candle, and mucus filled his nasal cavity and flowed into his throat.

He felt as if he were atop the despairing mountain of Barbarus, enveloped in poisonous fog.

At that time, Nimrod descended from the sky and offered an exchange that helped him defeat the Overlord of Barbarus, including his adoptive father Necare.

Now, he and Nimrod are enemies.

The Warmaster, though on the surface, was powerless to save him from the Abyss of despair.

Mortarion looked at Lorgar, his eyes conveying a silent message.

"You said you loved every brother, that you even befriended the brutal Angron and the tyrannical Russ."

"Are you just going to stand by and watch your brother fall into trouble?"

Lorgar gazed into Mortarion's eyes and understood his brother's unspoken words.

"Mortarion, I just helped you."

"Now, you must face reality; you have no other choice."

"You have angered the Blood God. Your fleet will be torn apart by the Blood God's wrath when it enters the Empyrean."

He looked up and gazed upwards, "And your offspring await you."

"Go out and see for yourself what they are going through."

Ultimately, you will make the decision to merge with Nurgle's power and be New Life.

After speaking, Lorgar waved the Illuminarum.

The illusory gate has opened.

The Blood Red storm entered Mortarion's eyes, instantly engulfing the golden light that enveloped Lorgar.

Thump thump thump----

A deep, resonant drumbeat resounded, and a ghostly green light rose, paving a path lined with flowers.

The flowers bloomed profusely, only to wither away just as quickly.

Lorgar, stepping on the ever-repeating flower of life and death, disappeared from Mortarion's sight.