Research into the Target Acquisition Mechanism of Two Bolter Rounds (Part 2)

"Are you ready?"

Kasgar chuckled, raised the magazine of his Bolt Pistol, and began to eject the bullets one after another while standing in front of him.

The sound of the bullets from the Boltgun hitting the marble floor was very crisp.

The ticking sound was like the death knell of Erebus.

This long wait, accompanied by the unknown, is the prolonged fear and pain that Kasgar inflicts on the other party.

It's too lenient of him to let this thing die so quickly.

"OK, two- Bolt Pistol."

Kasgar smiled through his helmet.

"Stand up, Erebus."

Kasgar's words echoed in Erebus's ears like a death knell.

Erebus, whose legs were riddled with holes, remained silent.

You might as well just kill me.

His expression said it all.

"It's not that easy."

Kasgar laughed and pointed his Bolt Pistol at the other man's little Erebus.

Snap!

"Tsk, boring."

After several tests of the Boltgun's ability to attract targets, Kasgar could only arrive at a conclusion he did not like.

It's a real shame.

The Two-Bolt Shell Conjecture does not hold true in this world.

The Two-Bolt Shell Conjecture comes from a consensus among people in the world, and in this world, very few people would know Erebus, and there is no trace of hatred for such scum.

So whether it's Bolter or a laser, a pistol or a rifle, there's not much difference.

Two shots are two shots; once they're fired, that's it.

There is no automatic locking system either.

If you actually told them that both shots were aimed at Erebus, they would just be surprised and ask you—

Who is Erebus?

"A despicable and incompetent man who colludes with Chaos to harm living beings."

All I can say is that the Two-Bolt Shell Conjecture is simply a manifestation of the most basic and righteous aspirations of ordinary people.

Snap!

With Kasgar's nonchalant tone, another Boltgun followed, and Erebus's lower body was completely reduced to minced meat.

It seemed that some of the minced meat had been charred by the high-speed Bolter and lasers, revealing a sizzling aroma.

The room was filled with a strong smell of blood and the smoke of Bolter.

But he still didn't die.

For some reason, perhaps it was the blessing of his powerful life force bestowed upon him by his Grandfather Nurgle, that Erebus was still alive at this moment.

Not only was he not dead, but he was also still conscious.

Possessing a powerful blessing of immortality, Erebus once deeply revered the god who granted him such power.

But now, it seems he can't laugh anymore.

Blessings are not always a good thing.

In particular, he did not yet have the ability to transform pain into pleasure under the influence of Slaanesh.

Most people wouldn't be willing to accept such a blessing; it would burn their brains.

"Stand up, Erebus."

Kasgar continued to urge Erebus, whose legs had been knocked down, to get back up.

True strength lies in inspiring others to stand up.

Just like Kasgar.

Even though Erebus's legs had been completely pulverized, Kasgar continued to encourage him not to give up.

You must persevere!

If I could die so easily, how would I ever get to target practice?

But at this moment, Erebus seemed unable to answer him anymore.

Even with life force at the level of Nurgle's blessing, Erebus, who had not yet undergone Space Marine modifications, was at this moment just a slightly stronger mortal.

At most, he's just a little bit fatter than the others.

That's at the level of Cultists.

It's impossible to be confident that you can survive in the face of so many bullet holes.

Erebus felt his life slipping away.

"Damn it, it really can't be torn off!"

Kasgar stepped forward, his fingers, hidden under his Ceramite gloves, tentatively tracing a few lines across Erebus's face.

How can you be so shameless?

"Do you know my true identity?"

Despite being in an extremely weak state, Erebus's tone was still filled with absolute disbelief.

No one should know that.

Erebus, the first thing he did after seizing Erebus's identity was to kill his parents, who knew everything.

How could the secret he sacrificed to preserve his parents be exposed by someone he didn't even know?

You have no right to know.

Kasgar turned around and walked toward the monomolecular dagger stuck in the wooden table, and pulled it out.

"Try this."

"I refuse to believe that only Horus can peel off your face."

With a flick of his wrist, Kasgar switched the short knife he was holding in his back hand to his right hand.

Then he stepped forward, like a meticulous master craftsman, and began to carve in front of Erebus.

After several attempts, Erebus only had a few more small cuts made by the knife on his face.

"Tsk, still not working."

Kasgar reluctantly tossed the monomolecular dagger aside.

His technique wasn't actually that bad.

Even when he went out for actual combat training, he also learned some of the art of sculpting and painting during the time he spent with Fulgrim on Chemos.

But they just couldn't manage to tear off the face that this guy was hiding under the real Erebus's name.

"Did you manage to fix this thing in place?"

Kasgar frowned and asked with some skepticism.

"No. I am Erebus."

For once, he grinned and smiled.

However, amidst the numerous wounds and bloodstains, the smile was truly somewhat eerie.

He may not be Erebus.

But when he successfully stole the other's face and name, he proved that only a ruthless guy like him could truly be called Erebus.

"Whatever, whatever."

"Stand up, Erebus."

He continued.

Kasgar didn't dwell on it too much.

Instead, it acted like a human machine, urging Erebus, whose lower body had been shot off and whose upper body also had several bullet holes, to stand up.

"Is that enough? Is that enough?!"

"You beat me up like this, how am I supposed to stand up?!"

In a fit of rage, feeling hopeless about surviving, Erebus shouted in despair.

"Can't you stand up?"

Kasgar asked the question knowing the answer already.

Not satisfied, he used the butt of his gun, whose magazine was already empty, to deliver another hard blow to the other man's face.

Erebus didn't know why.

But whenever this Purple-Gold Giant finishes firing his gun, he always has to smash it like this first.

It's like some kind of ritual where Adeptus Mechanicus awaken and please the Machine Spirit.

But no matter what, the torment is finally coming to an end.

No matter how much hatred the person in front of Erebus harbors towards him, the pain caused by the torture will naturally disappear after he dies completely.

"Erebus, guess what?"

"I had already thought of this when I came to find you."

Should we simply let Erebus live to receive his punishment?

Or should we just give him a quick and painless death, and let him personally experience the ways those evil Warp creations play?

This is indeed a problem.

"Let your soul, a worthless loser, taste the amazing skills of your gods."

Sometimes it has to be said that in dealing with Erebus, the Love Domain God, Slaanesh, is far more ruthless than a greenhorn like Kasgar.

"But I'm also afraid that those people will take your dark soul secondhand and then put it into someone else's body to be reborn."

"That's not a good idea."

"You're right, aren't you, Erebus?"

Bear!

The instant Kasgar finished speaking, the Warpfire that had been burning faintly around the room to prevent the transmission of Erebus's Psychic Power suddenly increased in size and engulfed the entire room in flames.

Under Kasgar's control, the Warpfire first burned away all the scattered flesh and blood in the room.

No environmental pollutants will be left to harm Colchis.

Then, as Kasgar's fingers twitched, they climbed onto Erebus's riddled body.

"Ah!"

An unbearable, intense pain instantly enveloped his mangled body; an unbearable, terrifying agony melted his flesh at that moment.

The scorching heat from the Warpfire.

The terrifying flames, which even the leaders of the Dark Eldar could not tolerate, were instantly turned up to their maximum setting by Kasgar.

Burn!

Burn it fiercely!

Erebus screamed in agony amidst the flames.

But at the same time, it also carries a sense of relief.

After all, he was about to die.

After death, his soul will return to his god to receive a new arrangement.

A hint of madness flashed in Erebus's eyes.

He believed that his ability to act without any moral boundaries was worthy of the favor of the Dark Gods.

When that time comes, he will return laden with blessings and surely seek revenge against this purple-gold Space Marine!

Must!

No matter what price he has to pay, he will return and, with the help of the Dark Gods, complete his mission—

Etc.

In his extreme pain, Erebus sensed something was wrong.

It seems he doesn't need to come back.

My body is healing at a speed that can be seen with the naked eye!

The flesh and blood of Erebus are coming back to life.

"My legs! My body! I'm healed!"

Apart from the memories of the pain and fear of Kasgar, Erebus felt that everything in his body had returned to normal!

There is no difference!

"Okay, isn't this a great thing?"

Before Erebus could even react, another kick sent him flying towards Erebus, who was lying on the ground and just about to get up.

Clang!

The powerful impact bounced him back and forth several times before he finally landed on the ground again.

The pain caused his eyes to roll back, and he could no longer speak.

Of course, before he could speak again, Kasgar's other foot came at him.

Thump!

"You! What exactly do you want to do?"

He curled up on the ground, coughed violently a few times, and then said in a trembling voice.

This time, true fear gripped Erebus's heart.

If my body could be regenerated from the flames every time, wouldn't that mean I would face endless, terrifying torture?!

"Of course, I'll take you to a great place."

Originally, Kasgar could have used the Warpfire to incinerate this newborn soul, erasing him from the world forever.

But that would be too easy on him, wouldn't it?

Kasgar smiled and switched to the communication system.

"Notify Tavitz Squad to bring up what I prepared."

Soon, with several heavy metallic clangs on the marble floor and the scraping sound of similar behemoths being dragged across the ground, a whole squad of purple-gold Space Marine appeared before Erebus.

Then, the enormous coffin they were dragging, the one used to imprison Psyker, was pulled in by another purple-gold warrior behind Kasgar using chains.

"Put this beast inside, and make sure he has no chance to resist."

As he spoke, Kasgar never relaxed the Psychic Flame in his hands.

"Also, put all these documents in here as evidence."

As Kasgar spoke, he looked at one of the many exquisite gilded leather books hidden among them, a scarlet book with a horrified human face stretched across its cover.

Blasphemy!

Even Kasgar seems to want to call the Inquisition.

"Forget it, don't touch these things yet. I'll take care of them myself."

But he doesn't need an Inquisition now.

Thinking of this, Kasgar looked out the window towards the sky.

"With Old Man Huang around, who needs Inquisition? Really."

[The Pride of the Emperor]

"My child, your pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty is admirable, but your blind pursuit will lead you into an abyss of no return."

"Perhaps the lost sheep will take the wrong path."

Lorgar replied with a smile.

"But I believe that under your guidance, my faith will stand the test of time, and my wisdom will be enlightened by you."

"I will not be blind—for following your path is the broadest thoroughfare."

"Your idea is not true, child. Human achievements are not solely due to me."

"Wisdom and achievement come from every human being who possesses scientific and rational thinking. They are the ones who inspire everyone's wisdom and drive them to strive for progress, and I am merely their student."

"And among these, there is no place for religious believers; this is a spiritual stain that people must discard."

Actually, there are some.

However, all the documents were burned by Old Man Huang.

So that's all.

"But I still firmly believe in God's teachings. Only enlightenment from God can give me wisdom."

"This is a weak and irresponsible mindset, child! As the Primarch who needs to lead an army, you cannot remain weak!"

"You're right."

"I am a fool. Only enlightenment from God can give me wisdom."

"I am not a god, and you must learn to master it through practice!"

"This is precisely God's teaching!"

The Emperor fell silent in the face of Lorgar's words.

Broken.

How come even the Primarch possesses some of his characteristics has become a charlatan?