Wanting to Become Human (Part 1)

Kasgar still remembered his conversation with the Emperor about Lorgar.

"I'm sorry, but I can't agree with your point of view."

After the Emperor showed him countless possible futures, he remained silent for a long time, but ultimately chose to stick to his own ideas.

Fate is by no means unchangeable.

Let's take the simplest and most direct point as an example.

Even if Angron's Butcher's Nails cannot be removed, as long as his and his gladiator companions' desire to overthrow tyranny is satisfied, wouldn't his anger be somewhat appeased?

Kasgar couldn't understand why the Emperor would choose to make a deal with the ruler of Nuceria at the last moment of the Red Sand Angel's rebellion, thus reaping the eternal wrath of Angron.

I think the only black technology that Nuceria is the development of a basic version of the Butcher's Nails, which isn't exactly a good thing either!

They all attacked the World Eaters, making the originally normal War Hounds even more ferocious, and then they were all taken away along with the Primarch.

What kind of operation is this?!

The Khorne the Second: "Wow, I can sit here and not move (pointing to the Bronze Throne) and the legion will still take me! How awesome!"

Buy Primarch and get a Legion free, plus buy one get one free!

If Angron's wishes had been respected even slightly back then, regardless of whether I voted for the mixed faction or not, at least the War Hounds would definitely have remained normal, right?

Even if Angron, the World Eaters, betrays the Empire in the end, the damage he causes to the Imperium will not be as great as when he was fighting with his legions!

Kasgar couldn't quite understand the Emperor's actions.

At that moment, Kasgar decided to go to Nuceria to rescue Angron and, through his actions, thoroughly humiliate the Emperor.

The Emperor did not answer Kasgar's question.

He remained silent.

Standing quietly with his back to Kasgar before the illusory Golden Throne made of Psychic Power, he slightly raised his head to look at the empty throne.

"Even if the fate of the other Primarch doesn't change, surely Lorgar, who is currently kneeling and praying, can't possibly repeat the same mistake again?"

Other Primarch will not be discussed for the time being.

Now, the biggest traitor affecting Lorgar, Erebus, has been exposed, and Lorgar is beginning to doubt its own religious ignorance.

I believe that before long, this guy will truly evolve from a nonsensical charlatan into a towering and virtuous sage.

No, it's far more complicated than that.

Lorgar's way of thinking has become fixed; he will eventually use his past experience on Colchis to understand and interpret the world.

Do you really believe he will change in an instant, rather than succumbing to an inevitable abyss, and transform into an absolutely loyal believer?

Lorgar was a devout person.

But he only shows his devotion to the strong.

He trusts whoever is stronger.

A deep sadness emanated from the Emperor, affecting Kasgar's thoughts.

"But I don't believe that in all those countless futures, he would be so foolish as to choose to support Chaos and participate in the rebellion every time!"

"In those futures where he did not betray us, wouldn't he become a devout and loyal comrade?!"

[The future of Lorgar has no betrayal]

The Emperor's tone became somewhat strange.

Kasgar could sense the mix of exasperation and amusement emanating from him.

He certainly won't remain a traitor forever.

In the future, as a loyalist, he will inflict greater damage on the Imperium than he did during his rebellion.

The Emperor's attitude toward other Primarch was quite complex.

Some felt indebted, some trusted the other party, and some genuinely appreciated the other party.

But for Lorgar...

I laughed in exasperation, really.

After this conversation, Kasgar thought of a Warmaster with a pointed head and golden eyes.

Return to the Kasgar squad that boarded the Nephilim ship.

What's going on?

"You Word Bearers, who are you? Why have you become a demon?"

"What kind of trick is this?"

As Angell Tai deactivated his demonic transformation and knelt down, the other members of the Emperor's Children Squad asked questions with great anger.

"I am Angell Tei, the Word Bearers. Not long ago, after completing the first step of implanting the Gene-seed, I became like this, perhaps because of a mutation in the Gene-seed."

As he spoke, he slowly took off his helmet.

It was a face that was transitioning from human to demon.

His fangs had begun to extend outwards from the corners of his mouth, and parts of his face were being replaced by patches of dark red keratin, large and small.

And a small devil horn grew out of his head.

The helmet looked strange just now because these horns were pushing it out.

"What kind of monster is this?!"

What the people saw was utterly blasphemous.

Humans, under some supernatural force, were transformed into demonic entities, unleashing combat power far exceeding that of ordinary Space Marine.

It can even switch back like a toggle switch!

If such information came from someone else, their statement would soon be considered blasphemous by the Imperial Truth Propagandists.

I myself will be burned alive by the Imperial Army in the name of religious belief.

Lorgar can be superstitious because he is the Primarch.

What level do you have to dare spread such nonsense that doesn't conform to "Imperial Truth"?

All the Sons of the Emperor held absolute faith in the contents of the Imperial Truth and the principle that ghosts and spirits would not appear in the real world.

But having witnessed it firsthand, with the deep claw marks on the Boarding Shield, how could they possibly refute this obvious fact?

"What kind of monster are you?!"

The Emperor's Children Telma, standing beside Kasgar, let out a shout of extreme distrust.

Monster!

This guy isn't Astartes, he's a complete monster!

He raised his Power Axe high, ready to chop it down on the head of the kneeling Angell Tai.

Who cares if he's a demon or not.

Once you're dead, you're nothing!

"Stop."

The order came from Commander Kasgar beside him, and even though he distrusted him, he had no choice but to withdraw the weapon he had been holding high.

"Angell Tai is a Word Bearers Space Marine; he is not our enemy."

To everyone's surprise, Kasgar signaled the Emperor's Children to stop.

Instead of killing the extremely abnormal Astartes, he went forward and helped him up.

"He didn't look like a Space Marine at all just now."

Telma turned off the Disintegration Field in his hand as he spoke, his eyes filled with distrust.

The other Emperor's Children were the same; they always harbored a deep sense of vigilance towards this Word Bearers.

"You believe me?"

"But."

Even Angell Tai himself, who was being helped to his feet, felt insecure about his complete trust in Kasgar.

"No need for explanations, I just want to know the whole story."

Kasgar calmly said, "Maintain vigilance around the area and don't let any Xenos interrupt our conversation."

He gave the order.

This is a very unusual story.

Ever since the last attack on the Word Bearers warship by the Nephilim, a demon named Raum, who claimed to be his brother, appeared inside his body.

Angell Tei awakened the superpower of transforming and fighting.

At the critical moment when the Xenos were about to invade and destroy the central control system of the Law of Faith, while the other Word Bearers Astartes were still anxiously trying to contact Lord Lorgar and his departing gunboat on the surface.

He charged into the bridge like a demon, tearing apart all the Xenos that dared to intrude to the astonishment of everyone present.

Then, he, covered in Xenos blood, went to the terrified surviving crew members.

Angell Tai should have completely silenced everyone who saw him.

Only in this way can his secret of being able to transform into a demon be preserved.

No, Raum. Let's go.

Angell Tai chose to spare these innocent people.

Immediately afterwards, in order to protect the entire ship from being taken over by Xenos, Angell Tai used this legendary demonic power to assist the valiant Imperial Army crew in retaking the upper decks.

Seeing that the invading Xenos had been temporarily cleared out and the Astartes forces on the surface were gradually returning, Angell Tai went back to his original Stasis Pod to prepare to deactivate his transformation.

"This is."

But Angell Tai was horrified to discover his own abnormality.

Even after the transformation was deactivated, a dark red, raised keratinous growth still seemed to have appeared on his head.

His skull has undergone completely irreversible deformation.

In other words, according to the Imperium's definition of humanity

He can no longer be considered human.

Sorry, brother, I didn't know Warp would affect you so quickly.

Angell Tai was plunged into despair at that moment.

Lord Lorgar, who firmly believes in the "Imperial Truth," will not tolerate the existence of a mutated Space Marine.

Knowing he could not return to the Word Bearers, he had been lying in wait on the lower deck of the Law of Faith for the past few days.

He even managed to acquire someone else's Power Armour and voluntarily completed his own armor-granting ceremony.

Incidentally, the helmet can also temporarily conceal the extent of one's mutation.

After learning that the Legion would be launching a boarding action against the Xenos ships, Angell Tai chose to infiltrate one of the Drop pod, dedicating his efforts to the Legion one last time.

"Fart!"

Impatient Telma was unwilling to believe the horned monster's story.

"Demon, I won't believe a single word of your nonsense!"

"You are not trustworthy, nor is the Colchis you possess."

"It's normal that you don't believe it."

Angell Tey gave a wry smile, "I don't even believe what I've been going through these past few days."

"If you don't trust me, then end it here."

Since she could not return to a life as a human, Angell Tai decided to die as a human.

No! Brother!

"Quickly, give me control of your body! I'll lead you out of here!"

As Angell Tai lay about to be executed, the demon within him continued to scream, trying to save him.

But that doesn't change anything.

"I didn't expect that the mutations you've undergone beneath the helmet have reached this level."

"It seems we can't keep you here."

Kasgar said coldly, as the golden-red flames reignited on the longsword in his hand.

"Bring it on."

Facing the enemy's raised weapon, Angell Te closed his eyes.

Thank you, Raum. Although I don't know you, it was with your help that I survived the Xenos attack and saved the entire Law of Faith.

Brother, you really don't need to pursue mutation or anything like that! Trust me, you won't become a demon! In the Empyrean, you will always be you!

Don't let this physical change affect you! Please! Please!

I know you are not a demon.

None of us are. But now, it's time to say goodbye.

He smiled as he watched the golden-red flames engulf his entire body.

But the imagined agony of being burned alive did not come.

Even though Angell Te was covered in flames, he did not feel the slightest bit of pain.

Even the demon in his heart who had always called him brother was gone.

No, brother. I'm not leaving.

Wait! What kind of power is this? I feel like I'm...

[Raum?]

At that moment, amidst the burning flames, it seemed that Angell Tai saw again the shimmering Golden Centaur beneath the claws of the Nephilim he had faced.

The moment you're willing to die to protect your comrades, you've already earned the right to join us.

The words seemed to come from the Centaur's mouth, but like a message from Raum, they were directly transmitted to Angell Tai's heart.

"This is.?"

As the golden Guanghua burst forth before him, Kasgar's eyes widened in astonishment.

He only intended to use the Warpfire in his hand to treat Angell Tai's mutation.

Unexpectedly, the moment the flames engulfed the opponent, the Centaur gold ring on his right hand suddenly underwent a strange change.

The flashing light attracted the Centaur Spirit that had appeared out of nowhere.

It seems that it was the friendship between Raum and Angell Tai that moved Him.

Upon its arrival, the Centaur's golden Guanghua did not cover Angell Tai, but rather the golden phantom that now floats in mid-air within his body.

Raum is undergoing conversion.

As a top-tier SSR Chaos Undivided Demon chosen by Chaos through careful selection, Raum's moral character is even higher than that of most Astartes in the world.

After all, in Raum's eyes, Angell Tai could be considered Xenos.

If an Astartes were to choose to die to save Xenos, the likelihood seems quite low.

Perhaps it was because Raum was of such high caliber that the Centaur Spirit by his talent.

In short, he is now undergoing a transformation that is extremely peculiar and seems to have no precedent in history.

If the only way to become Chaos Daemons is for humans or other Warp Entity, then that would be too boring.

As the golden Guanghua emanating from Raum grew ever stronger, the demonic bone spikes and thin membrane wings on his body gradually melted and transformed.

"My God, could he have fallen from grace and become Living Saint?!"

What? Only the Chaos Gods can transform the Primarch the Ascension Demon, but our golden Centaur Spirit can't transform the Chaos Undivided into the E Greater Daemon?

Why should I?!

We are all Warp entities, so why is it that you can recruit people to join us while we can't hire them with high salaries?

That makes perfect sense!

However, if Raum were transformed, what kind of being would it become?

"Wait. Demons are all Unliving; they have no gender."

Fun fact: Demons have no gender, but Living Saint do.

If Raum E had fallen and become a sister like the Living Saint...

Tsk tsk tsk.

Kasgar thought to himself.

When Raum possesses Angell Tai, won't he grow wings on his back like Sanguinius?

Even more Blood Angels than the Blood Angels?

It's hard to imagine how anxious I would be if things really went according to this script, seeing the Blood Angels of Angell Tai who resembled Sanguinius even more than I did.

"Commander, what exactly is this?"

We don't know how angry the Blood Angels will be, but Kasgar's Emperor's Children teammates are completely dumbfounded.

What they were seeing was so bizarre that even Telma, who had seen such "Warp Xenos" before, found it hard to believe the twists and turns and dramatic events unfolding before him.

From demons to demons becoming humans, then to the appearance of a golden Centaur elf, and finally the demons undergoing transformation under a golden glow.

What kind of world is this?

None of them conform to normal human thinking!

He looked silently at the Boltgun and Power Axe in his hands.

Did I travel through time?

Unfortunately, nothing like that happened, and Telma was unable to cross over from this cesspool to another world of swords and magic.

The golden Guanghua faded, Raum returned to Angell Tai's body.

However, perhaps it was because the Centaur were not strong enough, or perhaps it was Raum's own choice.

Of course, it's also possible that the demon form looks cooler than the Living Saint form.

This transformation doesn't seem to be as thorough as Kasgar had imagined.

Raum retained its previous demonic appearance, but compared to the sulfurous demon filled with evil and Chaos power, it now seemed more slender and natural. Its streamlined silhouette looked more like a well-built sculpture than the hideous flesh monster it had been before.

At the same time, the mutation on the head of Angell Tai, who had been restored by the flames in Kasgar's hands, gradually disappeared.

Angell Tai, saved by the flames in Kasgar's hands, becomes human again.

[Raum? Are you still there?]

[I am here, Angell Te; I feel power filling my body.]

[And this power doesn't seem to change your body! Not even if you transform multiple times!]

From now on, we will never have to worry about this problem again! Brother, Angell Tey!

Raum's way of addressing him seemed to have changed slightly, but Angell Te, who was focused on feeling his body taking shape and returning to human form, didn't seem to notice it.

"Are you alright?"

This.

Such a miraculous event unfolded before the eyes of the many Emperor's Children.

Sometimes, you really can't blame others for being too superstitious, Emperor.

When real miracles happen right before everyone's eyes, theism is often the choice that best aligns with materialism, science, and reason.

"Welcome back, Angell Tey."

Kasgar stepped forward and handed him back the helmet that had just fallen to the side.

"I've turned back into a human?"

"You have always been human, Angell Tey."

Kasgar responded with a smile and helped the other person put the helmet back on.

Now, join our team, and for now, don't use your demon transformation. Let's act together.

Looking at Kasgar's exquisite red helmet, Angell Tai hesitated for a moment before finally nodding firmly.

"Yes!"

[This is the Sons of the Emperor α-1 squad, calling upon the Word Bearers to rendezvous and synchronize information.]

[Received. The Word Bearers Gamma-1 squad is deploying Melta Bomb. Please move away from the wall and prepare for detonation.]

[Received. Safe area has been evacuated. Explosives can be detonated at any time.]

Boom!

With a loud explosion, the Astartes warriors on both sides completed their initial rendezvous.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Lorgar, wielding the [Erebus] hammer, stood out conspicuously.

A boarding squad personally led by the Primarch.

"Thanks to the Emperor's guidance, I am able to meet you in this critical moment."

"How is the situation on your side? For some reason, I haven't encountered a single Nephilim during my campaign with my legions."

These damned Xenos, terrified of the Emperor's divine might, all tucked their tails between their legs and fled, daring not to confront him head-on!

"Have you not encountered the Nephilim either?"

Kasgar's expression was somewhat serious.

If it were just a small squad of Emperor's Children who hadn't encountered the Nephilim, it could be considered a coincidence. But now that even Lorgar and all the Word Bearers haven't met them, it's highly likely that the other side is plotting something.

"The answer will only be revealed when we break into their control room."

"By the way, Lord Lorgar."

As he spoke, Kasgar shifted to the right, revealing a Word Bearers Space Marine standing behind him.

"On the spaceship, we also found this recruit Angell Te, who was fighting alone."

"It is said that when the Nephilim invaded the warship, his Stasis Pod was attacked."

"At the critical moment, he sensed the Emperor's Light and fought his way here under the guidance of this light."

"The Emperor's Light"

Lorgar seemed somewhat skeptical that the Emperor's radiance would shine upon an ordinary recruit.

He approached with suspicion and touched the other's armor.

Finally, the devout man nodded and smiled with relief at Angell Tey, who was at a loss for words.

"Angell Tai, that holy aura, return to the ranks."

"The enemy's Central Control System is just ahead. If there are no Xenos to stop us, we will soon be able to take over the entire Xenos Flagship."

After Kasgar and Lorgar's teams reunited, their destination became the control room of the empty Xenos Warship.

Their operation went so smoothly that they began to suspect it might be a trap.

"How is the battle going in the Void Naval Battle outside?"

[Intense firefight underway; the enemy's shields are about to overload under our firepower.]

The damage inflicted on our forces by the Xenos boarding troops is also within control.

For some reason, the flagship that boarded your ship doesn't seem to be firing, so our Void Shield is under very little pressure.

It wasn't because the Xenos dispersed their forces that the flagship was left unmanned.

It seems as if the Xenos simply abandoned this flagship.

Did you encounter any resistance from Nephilim within the flagship store?

[Could this be part of Xenos conspiracy? Why don't you come back first, and we can discuss this further?]

Fulgrim was somewhat worried.

Since the Xenos are plotting something, now is the perfect opportunity for us to join them and thwart their scheme.

Kasgar and the others can go back, but there are still Blood Angels on the ship.

With two Primarch in charge, there shouldn't be any problems.

Let's ask the Blood Angel.

Or perhaps the Xenos forces have gathered at the tail, where the Blood Angels are located?

But if they were in crisis, why didn't the other party seek any help during this time?

I wish that were really the case.

The communication system transmitted complaints from the Blood Angels of extreme disappointment and anguish.

Why! Damn Xenos! Why won't you let me show myself to Mother! Why?!

[Damn Xenos! Why did they disappear just when it was my turn to be Mother's bodyguard?! Aaaaaaahhhhhh—]

A painful roar came from the other end of the communicator.

But when it was his turn, all the Xenos disappeared.

That must have been very painful.

[What! Mother! This is what I should do! Haha. You don't need to say that, it's my duty, hehe]

[Haha! Mother praised me! Did you all hear that?! Sons of the Emperor and Word Bearers?! You all—]

Kasgar: "."

He cut off the communication.

Can you hear me?

Just then, a message suddenly appeared in Kasgar's mind.

[Raum?]

[It's me. I sense something's wrong with the fluctuations ahead.]

[What?]

[Warp fluctuations, it seems the Nephilim are performing some kind of summoning ritual, or perhaps some other Warp ritual, I'm not sure.]

As Warp Entity, Raum is most sensitive to the ripples generated by the Empyrean (a name for the Warp).

Nephilim performing Warp ritual?

That would make sense.

Kasgar recalled what he had witnessed on those Xenos planets that had been conquered.

In those caves, those caves Nephilim used to sacrifice humans, there were altars of the same kind.

The altars that could transform humans into mind-controlled slaves did indeed seem to contain remnants of Warp energy.

The Nephilim did indeed master the use of Warp power to some extent.

It is highly likely that this method of mind control over humans originated from some kind of Warp Entity.

Warp rituals often require a large number of sacrifices. The Nephilim, feeling hopeless in their retaliation, might choose this method of sacrificing themselves to perish together with humanity.

"Hurry! We need to go even faster!"

Kasgar quickened his pace.

"Is this the place?"

More squads from the Sons of the Emperor and the Word Bearers squads completed their assembly during this period.

What was initially thought to be an extremely dangerous mission has become more tense as the overall level of tension has shifted after no one has encountered even a single Xenos.

Some Space Marine were more relaxed, but many more were more vigilant in this unusual situation.

"This is it."

Lorgar stepped forward, holding the [Erebus] in one hand and pushing open the heavy Xenos door with the other.

The iron gate was quite different from the smooth, clean, silver-white interior of the Xenos Warship. It was made of a rough-looking black iron-colored mineral, with reliefs of Nephilim figures carved on it.

As for the content of this relief...

"The altar, it's still the altar in that cave."

Kasgar pointed to the relief pattern and said.

Such altar patterns and artifacts have appeared many times on previously reclaimed planets.

It seems that for the Nephilim, this altar must have symbolized something, or some kind of Xenos belief.

But there's no time for Kasgar to conduct archaeological research right now.

This is

After Lorgar pushed the door open, what was behind the door of the Xenos control room left all the Astartes warriors bewildered and uncertain.

It was neither a high-tech control center nor the site of some kind of evil ritual.

It was a cave.

An ancient and primitive cave appeared inside the spaceship.

"I've been here before."

Lorgar spoke after a moment of silence.

This was the cave he had previously visited, the one where the Xenos used to convert human believers.

"Here."

He could even find his own handprints in the dusty cave.

He pointed out the traces he had left behind.

But that's absolutely impossible.

They are currently inside a Xenos Warship. It's already bizarre enough that a cave would appear there, how could it be the same cave that Lorgar once set foot in?

"We've also seen similar caves and altars on Xenos planets."

Kasgar is also very familiar with this place.

"Reporting to Lord Lorgar, the way back is shrouded in darkness! It seems as if the journey we came by has no end!"

A kind of Warp trick.

Kasgar thought to himself.

Here, the length of time and space has changed to some extent.

With a sense of vigilance, his arm was instantly covered by golden-red flames.

He had no idea how this was set as a trap.

But it seems there is only one solution to this dilemma.

"Quick, to the altar!"

As the group walked briskly forward, the entrance to the cave gradually narrowed.

The altar, standing at the top of the steps with a large mural painted behind it, was now in front of everyone.

The arched stone half-door was radiating a five-colored Guanghua.

At this moment, it seems to be radiating a spiritual attraction that draws people in.

Wait! Don't go in! This is a suction force!

Raum suddenly reminded him.

The Portal in the center of this altar is not used to teleport demons out.

To be precise, the intention was to use this Warp Gate to teleport the entire Xenos Warship into the Warp!

Without the protection of the Geller Field, what would they become after the teleportation?

Even with the protection of flames, it would be virtually impossible for Kasgar to return to the real world without a navigation beacon.

"But it's alright, I still have fire."

Kasgar stepped forward with a smile.

Under the scorching heat of the flames in his hands, all Warp Entity and magic would be reduced to nothingness.

He lit the flames on his right arm and confidently took a few steps forward.

Once the Portal on this altar is completely burned away, this level of illusion will have no effect whatsoever.

But then, in the very next moment...

Lorgar raised the [Erebus] in his hand and blocked his way.

"Damn Xenos creatures!"

"Come here and face your judgment!!!"