Skarbrand's Cleverness

As the pointer and dial shattered completely, Kasgar stared intently at the broken incubation chamber before him, his expression flickering.

Time has been disrupted!

The situation was worse than he had anticipated.

It's less a disaster and more the end of it.

Khorne's plans were earlier and more meticulous than Kasgar had imagined.

In Kasgar's original plan, even if Khorne god like Warp extended his reach, he would only spread his blessings, making the Nuceria more bloodthirsty and warlike.

Just as Nurgle did to Barbarus, he subtly covered the entire planet with poisonous gas, thus influencing the Primarch's way of thinking through the mother planet.

That makes sense.

After all, no matter how powerful the Warp God is, he cannot break through the barriers of the real world.

It is clearly unlikely that humanity would extend its reach into the real world thirty millennia later, when it is still on the Great Crusade and believes in the Imperial Truth.

But is it really impossible?

Some things seem to have been part of the Warp god's scheme even before Kasgar came to this world.

Khorne's control over the planet was far more alarming than Kasgar had imagined.

"You mean--"

"The ability to manipulate time itself is enough to serve as irrefutable proof that Nuceria does not fully exist in the real world."

Manipulating time is no easy task, especially manipulating a planet for a period of hundreds of years.

This level of catalysis can only be achieved in Warp, where the laws of time and space are unstable.

Nuceria was not simply "affected" by Khorne.

Instead, He dragged the entire planet Nuceria into the Warp!

"Our understanding is all wrong!"

"It's not that the passage is blocked by the Warp Storm, but that the entire galaxy has been dragged into the Warp!"

Nuceria has always been a Daemon World!

"A world that has entered the Warp?"

This was somewhat beyond the Angel's comprehension. "You mean, when we landed on the planet, we were pulled into Warp along with Nuceria?!"

Her understanding of Warp was limited to the perspective of space travel.

Just like a normal sailor trying to understand the ocean route he is navigating—he knows there will be tsunamis on the surface of the sea, but he absolutely does not know, and could never believe, that there is Cthulhu in the sea.

And this Cthulhu would not swallow a city into a submerged city.

But that's exactly what happened.

"The Thinker Array has been damaged, making it much more difficult to investigate any further information."

The extent to which Angron was affected during this distorted time, and how the Craftworld Aeldari broke through Khorne and destroyed Angron's incubation—all of this remains unknown.

But what Kasgar knows now is that he, the Angel, and Angron are all trapped on this planet, which lies the Veil the Warp and the real world.

There is no way to escape.

"In other words, it's like we're trapped in a multi-layered dream—we thought we had escaped that Red Sand World, but it was just that one layer of their Multiple Illusions had been broken through."

"From the moment we set foot on this planet, we have always been under each other's control."

It was only then that Kasgar truly understood the depth of Khorne's schemes.

As the god of war and tactics, He was never a mindless brute, especially when it came to the championship He so desperately craved.

The Blood God's dedication will far surpass that of the Blue-feathered Bird treats planning as a game of change, thus insulting the strategic significance of overall planning.

Not only did Angron fall into a trap when he set foot in Nuceria, but Kasgar and the Angel did too.

Based on Kasgar's deductions, the reality is very likely as follows—

First, after Angron landed, Nuceria used a series of rituals performed by its Cultists or High Lords rulers to envelop the planet in Khorne Warp.

In the Warp, Khorne attempted to corrupt the slumbering Angron, but his efforts were largely unsuccessful due to the protection of the enemy's intact cultivation chambers.

Khorne decided to try a different approach—spreading a message to the Aeldari Farseer that since Nuceria had been dragged into Khorne's territory, Angron was definitely doomed.

In a situation where they were being used as pawns, the Eldar broke through the protection of the cultivation chamber, thus exposing Angron to the direct influence of the Blood God.

(This also explains why these troublemakers only appeared in the story of Angron.)

After learning that Kasgar was preparing to go to Nuceria, He spat the planet out of the Warp as bait.

The dispatched Yriel completed the landing and intelligence reconnaissance smoothly, with everything disguised as usual, without any hindrance or unusual activity.

Khorne used this as bait to lure Kasgar to go there in person.

The Psychic Power prophecies of Angel also largely originated from the prophecies and guidance of Khorne.

At the same time, based on the flow of time in the Warp, just as Kasgar was about to conduct an investigation before landing, the scenario of Angron being nailed was brought forward, thus forcing Kasgar and the Angel to make an immediate decision.

After the two descended in the Landing Pod, they completed the formal encapsulation of the planet and dragged it into Warp!

Let's close the net!

All I can say is that Kasgar underestimated this guy's determination to draw cards.

They've gone to such great lengths even now, when the Warp barrier is still very stable, all in order to wipe out the Angel, Angron, and even the three of them Kasgar.

Even Kasgar.

Are you not even going to spare me?

Hagikhor, you bastard

"Your speculation may be correct, but I still have questions—deep questions."

"We are complete strangers to those Warp Xenos, so why would they go to such lengths to lure a Primarch into joining their cause?"

Good question.

Perhaps he developed PTSD from the last attempt to steal Be'lakor, so much so that he has to secure the Primarch firmly in his grasp before considering anything else.

"I am not them, and I do not understand what they are thinking."

"Kasgar replied."

"But you can also see that the guy named Kabanhah keeps sticking to you."

"Although I don't know why these Warp Xenos all seem to be looking for Angel, but—"

"Perhaps it's because your charm is just too great?"

"No matter what kind of person they are, even Xenos, they cannot resist your charm."

Kasgar said, half-jokingly.

For example, right now.

Seeing another tear open before his eyes—it's not surprising that Khorne can open Portal at will on Nuceria.

After all, this is the Warp itself.

The familiar crimson demon emerged from the Portal once again.

"We meet again, Little Angel."

He let out a shrill laugh, his expression suggesting he had been waiting for this moment.

"I have nothing to say to you, Xenos!"

Faced with the strange creature that had reappeared before him, the Angel's originally kind expression froze once more.

She never gave a kind look to these wealthy people who were constantly trying to recruit her like stalkers.

The tenderness for humans and the rage for Xenos coexist within her; this is Sanguinius.

"No, you will join us, Little Angel."

"The last defeat made me understand you better, Sanguinius."

"No matter how you reject me, I will find a new way to get you to join!"

The clever Kabanhah learned to summarize his experiences.

Compared to the foolish and utterly unintelligent former chief Greater Daemon Skarbrand, Kabanhah, as the current Blood God's favorite Greater Daemon under his command, possesses a brain that other Bloodthirsters lack!

(As mentioned in Eternal Echoes, Kabanhah had already been Khorne Skarbrand he was ordered to capture the Angel.)

Which chief Greater Daemon would be so stupid as to be easily swayed by a few words and then turn around and stab their own boss in the butt?

After stabbing him, seeing the situation was not good, he immediately kowtowed and admitted his mistake?

That fool probably still thinks that the Blood God was so angry because he dared to attack him, and that's why he banished it.

According to Kabanhah's observations, this is not entirely true.

The reason for the Lord of Skulls's anger is actually only one—

He is really, really, really stupid!

Just because of the little instigation of that blue-feathered bird, he actually turned the axe blade towards the Brass Lord, using his laughable power to provoke the great Blood God!

How embarrassing!

This has truly made the great Lord of Skulls lose all face!

If others find out, they'll think that all of us Old K (Khorne) are just muscle-bound brutes with brains full of nothing but brute force!

But Kabanhah is different.

It's a Bloodthirsters with a brain.

After failing to persuade his opponent with the promise of an eternal and endless battle, Kabanhah immediately went back to summarize the lessons learned from the failure.

The reason the Angel resolutely rejected Kabanhah eight days ago without the slightest hesitation was because...

Actually, Kabanhah knew.

The Angel Sanguinius didn't dislike it; it's just that, you know, she was a bit arrogant.

Because Kabanhah was furious at her lack of understanding.

As long as Kabanhah can offer her something impressive, something that makes her understand that even in Khorne's Brass Realm, there are people who care about her little hobbies.

Its previous plan to seduce the Angel relied too heavily on Black Rage.

I know everything you cherish and love.

"And these you will enjoy only in the embrace of our Blood God —amidst endless strife."

So much so that after Black Rage was cured, Kabanhah, now without any leverage, was left completely helpless.

But after some study, the clever creature successfully figured out what Sanguinius cherished and loved most!

It was not an eternal, endless war, nor even the Blood Angels.

Instead—

"What exactly are you trying to say, you idiot?"

The Angel frowned slightly, raising her spear in front of her, ready to thrust at any moment.

She had a very ominous premonition.

Seeing that she was on guard, Kabanhah changed his movements and adopted a stance that was extremely incongruous with his demonic body.

Then it spoke in its voice, which had been Khorne by Khorne.

"Sanguinius. You will always be my Centaur."

"Die--!"

Unimaginable energy surged wildly from Sanguinius's body, rushing towards the location of the Bloodthirster Kabanhah like a meteor in a ferocity unimaginable to Kasgar.

He was furious.

If the Blood Angels performed for her with utmost respect and reverence, Sanguinius could temporarily suppress her anger and comfort herself that her offspring were striving to learn art and love, abandoning their original ghoul nature, which was something to be encouraged.

But now, even a Xenos can use this thing to make fun of her!

Can we tolerate this?

Tolerate?

I'm not going to put up with this!

The light emanating from the Spear of Victory in Sanguinius's hand was especially brilliant at this moment.

Kill!

Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill!

Enraged, the Blood Angels pierced the chest of the demon who couldn't dodge in time with a single blow.

Although injuries sustained within the Khorne's Realm can heal extremely quickly, the lost power must be replenished by hunting other demons or devouring souls.

"Xenos, you're courting death."

The Angel seemed to calm down and spoke to the other party, word by word.

But only Kasgar knew that the calm Angel was still in the rage at its peak, with a cold, burning fury still rising within her.

From the perspective of trying to provoke the Angel, Kabanha was indeed very successful.

Perhaps this wasn't what Kabanhah intended, but it seems to have achieved quite a good result.

"Little Angel, are you shy?"

Seeing that the other party attacked him in a fit of shame and anger, Kabanhah also let out several hoarse laughs.

For the Khorne Daemons, the closest thing to the concept of love is to fight the other to the death.

Fighting for a lifetime!

How interesting!

I never expected this Angel to be such a tsundere.

Just as it was speaking, another precise stab pierced its chest.

"You may be very powerful, but within the Blood God's Domain, my power will far surpass yours!"

With a shriek, as if tired of dodging and no longer wanting to perform, Kabanhah held his giant axe across his chest to block, easily catching the Angel's next attack.

With a casual flick of his battle axe, he sent the Angel flying dozens of meters away.

It was only by relying on the balance of its wings that it regained control of its body.

"This is."

Feeling the powerful tremor in his hand, the Angel was incredulous.

How did this Xenos Kabanhah gain such immense power in an instant?

"Can you feel it, Little Angel?"

"This is the supreme power that comes from Him, from the Lord of Skulls!"

Perhaps in the real world, Angel could easily take Kabanhah's head twice.

Those were merely projections of the Warp Greater Daemon in the real world, and their strength varied, falling short of the original demons' level.

(Even Dante could kill Skarbrand under the most extreme circumstances in the real world)

However, in the Warp, especially in Warp realm like Nuceria, which has been swallowed up as part of the Blood God's domain, the combat power between the two sides will be reversed once again.

If Kabanhah were truly blessed by the Blood God, defeating or even Angel be an easy task.

But it didn't do that.

After demonstrating his power, which surpassed that of Angel, Kabanhah did not continue his pursuit. Instead, he gave Kasgar a meaningful and wary look.

"Little Angel, and you over there, listen up."

"You and that Angron are all champions admired by the Blood God. In this world, we have endless time, and the only way for you to leave is to submit to the great Blood God."

"Only after sincerely worshipping and shouting 'Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne,' will countless passionate battles await you outside!"

"Otherwise, you'll be lost forever beneath this Red Sand!"

Kabanhah wasn't in a hurry.

The Angel may not be willing to join Khorne's ranks right now, but that doesn't matter.

What if you stay here for ten years? Or a hundred?

What about a thousand years?

For millennia, they have been unable to save their own legions, only able to watch as they are torn to pieces and dissolved into biomass by powerful Xenos, such as Greenskin or Tyranids.

When that time comes, will she still be able to stick to her belief that the only trustworthy power of the Blood God cannot save them?

In Warp, all time dimensions will be distorted.

Kabanhah, on the other hand, has a long time to lure them into depravity.

Nuceria's transformation may have been minor, but this almost infinite time was enough to turn them from staunch supporters of a Cowardly God into loyal servants who craved blood and battle.

"Perhaps you will still support us now, but hundreds or tens of thousands of years from now, will you really remember who you are?"

(I am Rogal Dorn)

"Just a heads-up— Angron's forces have been attacked again."

"Little Angel, good luck to you."

As he spoke, Kabanhah stepped into the void Portal on its side, preparing to leave.

They've slipped away.

"Don't even think about running!"

Enraged at the sight, the Angel brandished her spear and charged toward the enemy. In a mere fraction of a second, she was already in front of Kabanhah.

The spear in his hand was poised to strike.

Stab!

But when Kabanhah's body was hit, it vanished as if it didn't exist in the world.

"Hehehehehe"

Only a harsh, hoarse laugh remained, still echoing in the wind.

"The cunning Xenos"

I'm in the open while the enemy is in the shadows. Angel and Kasgar, currently in the enemy's home turf, aren't having an easy time.

Even time is manipulated by the enemy.

And Kabanhah is indeed one of those rather sleazy Bloodthirster.

He either breaks the opponent's legs by sneaking up on them, or he completes the Blood God's KPIs by picking up the heads of Blood Angels on the battlefield without fighting. He is dark and doesn't seem like a Bloodthirsters at all.

"We don't have a way to deal with them for the time being, so we can only take it one step at a time."

Kasgar stepped forward to comfort him, saying, "Now is not the time to be sullen. Judging from what he said, something has probably happened to Angron again."

"Quick, we have to get back!"

Angron has indeed run into trouble again.

After Kasgar told the Angel that they were going to the place where their Slavers had found them, they never returned.

During this time, Angron gradually learned to lead his gladiators to complete their tasks, establish and expand their strongholds, and attract rebels from other city-states to join the counterattack.

Under Angron's construction, the outposts deep in the forest were well-managed, and the various underground infrastructures and cultivated land were basically able to ensure self-sufficiency.

They even repelled several search parties from Slavers from the city-states.

Compared to a brute who only harbors anger and hatred towards High Lords and can only feed himself when hungry, Angron can now be considered a wise, charismatic, and resourceful rebel leader who knows how to resist.

Even though Angron poured his heart and soul into establishing bases for the gladiators, trying bit by bit to wrest the hope of survival back from the nobles.

But under the power of Dark Age technology, Angron's resistance, though poetic, was still futile.

After the rebel army had gradually grown in size, seven slave-hunting teams from various city-states of Nuceria joined together to carry out a large-scale cleanup of the mountainous region where Angron was located.

Trees were felled, and the land was plowed.

No detail, no matter how small, will be overlooked.

Even the land beneath the Northern Mountains, which the Nuceria consider sacred, was destroyed without hesitation.

As High Lords, what troubled him even more was the rebellious slave gladiator Angron.

He must die!

Under the siege of seven well-equipped and numerous Nuceria armies, no matter how brave and skilled Angron was, or how united his gladiators were, he could not escape his fate of destruction.

This time, however, no Emperor sent a teleportation spell from the sky to save him.

"Failed again."

Angron, who had fought to the last moment and fainted, awoke in a prison wagon filled with shackles and chains belonging to the slave-catching team.

For some reason, the High Lords did not kill Angron in the final battle, but instead kept him alive as a prisoner.

At this moment, the only one captured along with Angron was the old gladiator Oenomaus, who had always been by his side. They looked at each other helplessly on the shaky prison cart.

"Oenomaus, you're still alive?"

"Yes, but that won't happen for long."

Faced with Angron's surprised question, he smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Stop talking, it's all because of my poor command—"

"No, Angron, you have done enough. It is not your fault that you lost the inevitable war."

This time, perhaps Angron has lost.

But his loss was by no means shameful.

"But what's the point of saying all this now?"

"Oenomaus, where are we going?"

"Desia, the capital of Nuceria."

"They said they wanted to crucify us all."

The carriage continued to creak and groan as it traveled along the country lanes.

High Lords have their own ways of traveling, so these poor little paths are not maintained by them.

Finally, the enormous city gate, the gate through which Angron had charged out countless times, appeared before his eyes once more.

"Arrive."

"If I'm not mistaken, the only thing capable of breaking through the crimson mist for us can be Angron."

Kasgar, who was taken to the sky by the Angel, analyzed it this way.

After coming down from the Snowy Mountains, they also felt a significant difference in the flow of time.

That's another kind of day in heaven, a year on earth.

"Kabanhah was afraid that we would change the fate of Angron, so he dragged us into the Red Sand World."

"Now they've changed the flow of our time. This shows that they really don't want us to interfere with Angron's fate."

Khorne seemed quite afraid of Kasgar and the Angel interfering with Angron's fate.

Perhaps this is the key to their escape.

Kasgar analyzed.

"As for this, I have a bold guess."