I'm playing chess with Jaghatai, how did I get "Corroded"?

Balthasar

871. M30.

Segmentum Pacificus, Chogoris.

The Jaghatai Fortress Monastery in Quanzhou, after more than five years of construction, has completed its main building.

It welcomed its first visitor before the building was even completed.

The Jade Hall, the magnificent hall at the heart of the Quanzhou Maze.

Flames danced between the stone steps in the deep pit, while incense smoke filled the air between the wooden ceiling.

The Full Moon -shaped lute played, and waiters dressed in fur-lined Khitan robes, or Kaftan gowns, or Sari robes, brought out large platters of food.

On the high platform, stone slabs taken from the ancient courtyard of the Katugou Sugou Palace on the east coast are laid out in front of Jaghatai.

A gold ring held up his braid, which ran down his left cheek to the scar near his eye, as he gazed at the chessboard before him.

Beside the Khan stood the Stormseer Togutai Yesugei, who was also revered as the Heavenly Shaman.

Standing opposite Yesugei were two psionicists: Artena Dunn and Balsa Kuturi, the strategist of the Nineteenth Legion.

Balthasar stared at the chessboard. During his time receiving instruction from Lord Nimrod, he noticed that the Shadow of Order had a habit of using Go to train officers. He never expected that the rugged Chogoris would have the same habit.

He watched the battlefield between his two masters; it seemed that Lord Nimrod had met his match for the first time.

"My Warriors train themselves with Go," Chagatai's Jaghatai voice carried an aristocratic air, "And they learn from it how to detect threats from all sides and deal with a variety of enemies."

"Coincidentally," Nimrod said calmly, "the Shadow of Order is also..."

Their eyes met, and they found common ground in their shared understanding of culture.

Balthasar saw Jaghatai Khan's gold-adorned fingers taking wine, and exchanged greetings with the composed Lord Nimrod.

At the same time, he reached out and, like a swordsman, took the piece, placing it down with precision and speed.

A liver-shaped territory took shape in the frontier region, and he opened up a brand new domain.

"I went with my father to Morlo to quell the rebellion in the Knight World. Horus, Fulgrim, and Vulkan were also with us."

"After the rebellion was quelled, Sepruan of the Divine Knight Houses was appointed governor, and his father stationed one hundred legions and three Titan Legions in Morlo."

"That world has secrets, and Father doesn't want anyone to know."

A hint of admiration flashed in Nimrod's eyes, and he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Morlo was the battle he least wanted to participate in. Fortunately, he launched the Battle of Thramas at that time, so he was lucky enough not to be chosen by the Old Man in Yellow in 869.

He knew that the Old Man in Yellow had entered the Chaos Realm from Morlo, where he obtained power and the Mystery of creating Primarch.

He erased all of the Primarch's memories, concealing the secrets of darkness.

Nimrod couldn't be sure whether the "Nation of Disorder" could conceal its existence and stop the Old Man in Yellow's brainwashing.

Jaghatai was able to detect the anomaly even with his memory erased.

[That alone makes you quite perceptive.]

Fulgrim reveled in walking with his father.

Horus, too, only regained his erased memories after being revealed by the Four Gods following his fall, and thus traveled to Morlo to obtain power.

Nimrod's eyes deepened as he pondered.

[Hmm... it's not necessarily just a matter of keen perception; Jaghatai has always harbored suspicions about the Old Man in Yellow.]

He revered truth, but doubted Imperial Truth, and detested civilizations built on Lies.

His relationship with the Old Man in Yellow wasn't exactly harmonious; they rarely even kept in touch.

As Nimrod pondered, he saw the formation of a brand-new white territory and immediately placed a black piece.

Balthasar gazed at the entire black territory that had formed in the center of the square chessboard, while also noticing that Lord Nimrod's gaze lingered on Yesugei.

"Your legion contains a group of powerful Psyker."

As Yesugei in return, Jaghatai said, "Of course."

"There have always been voices in the War Council and on Terra that believe Psykers should be imprisoned; these voices have never disappeared and are growing stronger."

Upon hearing this, Balthasar felt a shadow fall over him and looked at Lord Nimrod.

He knew that it was Lord Nimrod who initiated this movement and had always been at the forefront, resisting the attacks.

As Balthasar looked at Lord Nimrod with reverence, the calm voice resonated powerfully in his heart.

"We cannot sit idly by and wait to die; if we do nothing, we will pay the price."

In Balthasar's eyes, the black-armored, golden-winged figure confined within the palace suddenly broke free of its restraints.

Lord Nimrod stood like a mountain in Chogoris, overlooking everything.

Balthasar unconsciously lowered his head to avoid the glaring light.

"Now that you've found me," Jaghatai's voice suddenly turned sharp, "Let's be frank."

"Speak your mind."

Balthasar swayed slightly, feeling as if his body was being pierced by sharp swords. One could imagine the immense pressure Lord Nimrod was under.

"Mortarion and Russ are firmly opposed."

Although Russ promised not to comment on him or the "Shadow of Order," he would not change his opposition to Psionic Energy.

He and Mortarion, who had received his aid, would likely direct their attacks more at Magnus and Sanguinius.

Chogoris's trip was for the league, not just for himself.

"Manus and Dorn also objected."

"You can't stand idly by; you must stand with us and defend them."

Lord Nimrod's voice remained calm, as if he felt no pressure whatsoever.

Balthasar felt a golden light enter his soul. He looked up and saw the two Primarch gazing at each other.

They seem to be conducting a silent test of willpower in the realm of the mind.

They simultaneously placed their pieces rapidly on the chessboard, without needing to look down or think, as if they already knew how the other would place their pieces.

The Khan looked away first, then the two of them laughed simultaneously.

"Of course," he said calmly, removing his hand from the white piece, "You won."

Nimrod laughed. Their chess skills were evenly matched, but his willpower overwhelmed Jaghatai, causing him to reveal his true, concealed thoughts and disrupting his chess strategy.

[Hmm?] His eyes suddenly twitched.

Nimrod keenly noticed the way Balthasar was looking at him.

His eyes, his posture...

[I played a game of chess with Jaghatai, how did Balthasar get "Corrosion"?]

Nimrod did not leave immediately; he waited for Jaghatai to lose patience.

Day after day, the Khan mediated conflicts among the tribes and engaged in lengthy discussions with the Adeptus Mechanicus regarding the construction of the Quanzhou Fortress.

His brows furrowed more and more, and his face twitched from time to time.

Five days later, at dawn, he, who was locked in the palace, rose from his the Throne.

"Enough!"

"I've been trapped here for too long; I've forgotten what this world is really like."

Nimrod removed his armor and, as was the custom, changed into Dier robe and leather boots.

Chogoris is a powerful beast, but even it is unable to bear the weight of the armor after carrying Astartes.

In reality, this had no effect on him; even without flapping, the golden wings were enough to dissipate the power.

Changing into a long robe is simply to respect customs and culture.

Nimrod, Jaghatai, Yesugei, Arsena, and Balthasar rode their magnificent steeds out of the Fortress and headed west along the ancient pilgrimage route to Ulaf.

Above the blue-green sea of grass, a Raptors rode the high-altitude air currents, circling directly above them.

Its eyes scan the earth in search of prey, locking onto their target in perfect stillness.

"Many people now call you that, Khan," Yesugei said, "Warhawk."

"That's right, I shouldn't be confined to the palace."

"I have an invitation," Nimrod seized the opportunity, "A hunt."

"The Xenos Homeworld of Rangdan, which has launched a massive invasion of the Imperium."

After all, he didn't know much about the Xenos Homeworld, and the Rangdan Homeworld was outside the range of the Astronomican.

More importantly, in order to resolve the problem of Russ, he was forced to use the Dice of Prophecy, which also meant that there were nearly five years between the "Battle of the Thramas" and the planned launch of the extermination war.

Although it will only take half of Rangdan's original recovery time, it will still be a major battle.

Nimrod decided to also include Jaghatai, as well as Perturabo, who was unable to participate in the "Battle of Thramas".

Even though the battle against the Thramas was more perilous, it couldn't compare to the glory of conquering the Xenos Homeworld.

Nimrod knew that Jaghatai was considering the matter since he did not answer immediately.

The 5th Legion, scattered across the Galaxy, is still assembling, and Jaghatai awaits the gathering of all his descendants in Chogoris for the "White Scars" founding ceremony.

Nimrod looked calmly at Jaghatai, knowing that he would definitely agree.

Because it took him ten years from his return to the Imperium in 865 to gather his descendants scattered throughout the Galaxy to Chogoris.

Jaghatai would obviously realize that that day is still far away.

Borgel, the company Nimrod of the "Corrosion" Star Hunters 33rd Company, and his Apothecary Stah, who were promoted to "Telepathist" two years ago, may still become Sequence 7 "Psychiatrist" before meeting Jaghatai.

To avoid being detected by the keen-eyed Warhawk during a brief encounter.

While Nimrod was pondering, Jaghatai spoke up.

"I am willing to join the hunt for Xenos, but my legion will operate independently."

Nimrod nodded in agreement, respecting the customs of Jaghatai and his legion.

"Of course, in November 873, the Carium Gate assembled."

Three days later, the Shadow of the Throne departed the orbit of Chogoris.

Nimrod pushed a bottle of Black Serum in front of Balthasar, "Drink it."

He chose a "Lawyer" for Balthasar, who was the most difficult to "Corrosion," and he would become the founding Grand Master the "Grey Knights," keeping him away from him for a long time.

Nimrod did not choose the Pathway suitable for Psyker, such as "Hermit," but cautiously chose the Pathway he was on.