One-Eyed Magnus

When the Shadow-pattern Stormbird was still two kilometers from the surface of Tizca, some of the bustling residents noticed the shadow in the sky.

They looked up and, after a moment, recognized the eternal Nightmare — the Soul-Eater Bee.

The Psyker screamed in terror and turned to run in panic.

As Magnus's most trusted Temple Master, Amon was in charge of overseeing the construction of the new city of Tizca when Magnus was away dealing with a succession crisis.

Amon immediately realized what was happening and rushed toward the slowly descending black aircraft.

He looked up and immediately recognized the wings draped over his body in the net.

Its six slender limbs, bound by metal rings, passed through the net, swaying helplessly.

Those were the terrifying creatures that had killed several of his Apprentice and implanted Invisible Egg into the brains of more than a dozen of Apprentice —the Soul-Eater Bee.

Amon instinctively clenched his fists; every real and illusory nightmare in his life was accompanied by a shrill scream.

But unlike the other Tizca, he wasn't terrified or panicked; he could briefly see the future.

He no longer felt the burning premonition of danger in his mind; he clearly sensed that the three Soul-Eater Bee had fallen into a coma.

Amon also confirmed that the aircraft belonged to the visiting Shadow of Order, and he frowned, wondering to himself.

Lord Nimrod, why do you want to capture the Soul-Eater Bee?

Moments later, the Shadow-pattern Stormbird landed.

Amon walked up to the aircraft and spoke solemnly to the giant who was stepping off the deck.

"Lord Nimrod, the Soul-Eater Bee you captured are not pets."

"It is a dangerous monster; it destroyed Prospero's civilization."

"Amon, I know he's dangerous," Nimrod said seriously, "But defense is not a sustainable solution."

Amon was taken aback. Faced with the terrifying Soul-Eater Bee, should he not defend himself but instead actively hunt them?

Just as he was about to ask further, he noticed Nimrod's gaze shifting behind him, and a scene flashed through his mind.

Amon turned his head and saw hundreds of figures clad in Scarlet Armor appearing on the streets of Tizca.

Most of the Thousand Sons had no memory of arriving in Prospero.

They were placed in Stasis Field to prevent the Flesh Mutation from continuing to spread within their bodies.

Even powerful Psyker like Azek Ahriman, who suppressed the mutated power within their bodies, fell into a state of blurred consciousness.

The memory that flashed through Ahriman's mind was of the Primarch Nimrod, who boarded the flagship and provided them with assistance, and Shadow of Order was not infected with the Flesh Mutation due to contact with the Thousand Sons.

He was lost in his memories for a dozen seconds, confirming that his last recollection was of Lord Nimrod boarding the flagship the Fourth Sun later, when he was listening to the Apothecary's briefing.

After that, I became embroiled in a struggle against the Flesh Mutation.

I didn't even enter Prospero's memory; at that time, I was enduring intense Affliction and struggling to maintain my balance.

Ahriman recalled the comforting voice, the voice that had awakened him from the darkness, the gentle and soothing voice of a father comforting his sick children.

Ahriman gently stroked the silver oak leaf embedded in the armor; it belonged to Ormuzd.

The Flesh Mutation completely destroyed Ormuzd's body, and he could not be saved.

As Ahriman forced himself to pull himself out of his grief and, along with the other Thousand Sons, curiously surveyed their surroundings, Hathor Mhat's eyes cleared.

He and several Thousand Sons who did not undergo the Flesh Mutation possessed complete memories.

Mhat knew that it was the magical power of Lord Nimrod, to whom he served.

His eyes also glanced at his father, Magnus.

Most people don't know the price Magnus paid, and his father warned everyone who knew.

But he knew that their father had lost his right eye while saving a thousand survivors.

[One thousand people!

Naming our legion "The Thousand Sons" would be more appropriate at this moment, but why did the Emperor name us "The Thousand Sons" so long before we arrived in Prospero?

Did he foresee the suffering we would endure, and did he know that Magnus would save a thousand of us?

Matt is saddened by Magnus losing his right eye, and also horrified by the fateful coincidence.

A phrase Ahriman had uttered countless times flashed through his mind. "There are no coincidences in this world."

[If one day in the future, the Flesh Mutation erupts again.]

Did the father lose another eye?

Or perhaps he was powerless to stop it.

As Mhat pondered in fear, he suddenly saw a giant clad in black armor in his eyes, and his gaze gleamed.

No! It was not Magnus who saved me, but my Lord.

Without my lord, I might have died before even reaching Prospero.

Moreover, our lord paid almost no price.

Mhat subconsciously compared the price Nimrod and Magnus paid.

He preferred to believe that Nimrod would save him then, so that he wouldn't feel guilty for pledging allegiance to Nimrod rather than his Primarch.

Nimrod's gaze swept over the group of Thousand Sons, their emotions of relief at surviving the ordeal were obvious.

No one, including Magnus, knew that the Flesh Mutation had only been temporarily resolved.

Even before the Great Birthday Celebration, the number of "Thousand Sons" reached a peak of 85,000, seemingly having escaped the Flesh Mutation, but no one knew that the Change Power was still lurking.

Nimrod's gaze then swept over Mhat, whom he had "Corrosion" and who had pledged allegiance to him.

Not only is Mhat the company commander of the Third Fellowship, but as the Temple Master of the "Pavoni," one of the Five Cults, he must have more than ten Thousand Sons under his command than the other company commanders of the Temple Master.

He, along with Ahriman and Amon, were the only three survivors among the eight company commanders who participated in the "Burning of Prospero," but they only had about a hundred loyal followers left under their command.

Hmm... I do have a chance to get Mhat to bring some people out.

Nimrod knew that although Magnus had ordered the entire legion to return to Prospero after the "Council of Nikaea," several Thousand Sons units were still scattered throughout the Galaxy.

Thor Ramée of the Ninth Fellowship, leading two thousand men, was massacred in their camp by Ultramarines whom they considered allies.

The main force of the Fourth Fellowship, about five thousand men, did not return to Prospero, so only eight company commanders resisted the Space Wolves invasion.

Given this situation, it's possible, perhaps, to find an opportunity to have Mhat bring out some of his loyal men.

As the Temple Master and Company Commander, he has his own loyal followers, but I can also "Corrosion" those who are disloyal.

Better to die at the hands of Space Wolves or fall into Chaos than to follow me.

While pondering this, Nimrod walked over to Magnus and asked in "surprise".

Magnus, where is your right eye?

Before Nimrod spoke, Magnus had already foreseen it; his Psionic Energy spread out, creating a barrier around the two of them.

"I paid a price to save my offspring."

"I don't want them to know about my sacrifices; it would make them feel guilty."

"A considerable price to pay," Nimrod said meaningfully, thinking to himself, "[Part of the reason is that you don't want them to guess that you made a deal with Tzeentch.]"

The more information one knows, the more likely one is to predict it. Others may not be able to do it, but Ahriman might.

Hmm... After Magnus, he should use his telekinetic abilities to make the Tizca residents, who know he once had two eyes, forget about it, since losing one eye is quite obvious.

Ahriman always believed that it was important how Magnus saved them, and he explored this question.

The fact that it wasn't discovered means that Magnus must have used some means.

Nimrod knew that the Old Man in Yellow had done this kind of thing a few times before.

Not long after, in 869, in order to cover up the dark secrets of Morlo, the Old Man in Yellow immediately erased the memories of Horus Carl, Lion El'Jonson, Fulgrim, and Jaghatai Khan, who had fought alongside him.

"It's worth it," Magnus said with a broad smile, his single eye shining like emerald. "Please keep this a secret."

"Alright," Nimrod agreed to Magnus's request.

Magnus removed the Psionic Energy barrier, his eyes transforming into a deep blue. "I heard from Ahriman that you suggested to Father that the Librarian tank be established."

"I think we'll have a lot in common."