Kazan, Be My Son!
The neighborhood where Nostramo Underhive.
The lights in the dim alley flickered on and off, casting a faint glow in front of the mountains of garbage.
There are more broken streetlights than working ones here.
As for the reasons for the damage, some were due to years of disrepair, while others were deliberately damaged by locals along with surveillance equipment, who then used the alley as a base for operations.
The garbage and debris that had been quickly swept away after the appearance of the Night Lord reappeared on the streets as the number of homeless people increased.
Even though the place was steaming hot and fermenting, emitting an indescribable stench, no one was willing to provide a solution for treatment and cleaning.
Those who are capable don't have the will, and those who have the will don't have the ability.
Unfortunately, everything in Nostramo seems to have remained stuck in the past, in its miserable state before the Night Lord arrived and no one was in charge.
Dirty, filthy, and filthy.
And that is precisely Kazan's destination.
It was time to reunite with those two Night Haunter.
Although there is no day and night cycle in Nostramo, the chimes of the towering tower in the center of the Underhive district still give this land, filled with deceit and betrayal, a semblance of a sense of time.
He was still clutching the Adamantium he had shaped into a ∧ in his hand—even he didn't know where he had obtained such power from.
But it seems that Kazan really did bend Adamantium with his bare hands in a state of extreme rage.
He later attempted to restore the gold coin.
Even though he used all his strength, it had no effect whatsoever; the hardness of the Adamantium far exceeded his expectations.
The Imperium's most durable material to date is no joke.
"Perhaps it's the work of Night Haunter? We'll ask them later."
With these questions in mind, Kazan spent his last day in his "home".
Then, I resolutely embarked on my journey to the meeting point.
He felt a little uneasy as he turned the corner.
After all, when you're about to be sentenced to death, you're still a little nervous.
—Until he saw his two other cronies in that dark corner.
"What a coincidence, friends."
Kazan smiled with relief, raised his arms, and stepped forward to give the two a light high five.
The Sawtooth Gang Triumvirate met here for the last time.
Kazan found this situation somewhat reasonable, even though it was unexpected.
Although people don't usually talk about their past, based on some snippets of information Kazan knew and what other neighbors said, it seemed that his two friends' backgrounds weren't much better than his own.
Those who could live in the Underhive were all poor people from Nostramo.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked being paraded around as a Night Haunter to join the Sawtooth Gang and rob people.
The hatred between their families has brought them together again today.
"Is it necessary for everyone to come?"
"What should we do then? I was just about to talk to you before you left when Night Haunter stopped me."
He said one must make choices according to one's own heart, rather than as a sacrifice for others.
"So? This is your choice? To die for no reason, it doesn't sound like you're willing at all."
"I gave my life for all of Nostramo, and after my death, other Nostraman will take me as an example and sing praises of my great sacrifice."
"Why do I get the feeling that you're afraid of the Night Haunter's revenge?"
"Every accusation is a self-narration, my friend. You are clearly making judgments based on your own petty mind—"
"They're all here?"
Just as the three were still bickering, the sound of a speedboat engine flying above the rooftops exploded in their ears.
Omega, with his pale skin, sat in the cockpit. The hatch next to him opened, and the other Night Haunter, whose skin was noticeably darker, jumped out.
"Brother Night Haunter, where are we?"
"We'll talk on the way. Get in the car first."
As he spoke, the other person pointed to the slowly descending, ornate Batmobile, then glanced at the three homeless-looking fellows and frowned.
The smell is a bit strong.
After all, under the oppression of their families and bureaucrats, they couldn't even care about their own lives, let alone personal hygiene.
Seemingly displeased to see the three homeless men stepping into the Batmobile, the dark-skinned Night Haunter reached out and pointed at them.
"Tsk, don't move yet."
"Let me go through the fire first."
Whoosh!
Kazan was the first to sense something was amiss.
It seems that the sudden burst of divine power yesterday allowed him to gain some hidden connections. He can even feel a golden-red light surging around Kasgar.
Then came the intense flames that all three of them tried to avoid, which covered their entire bodies with the speed of a flamethrower.
In just a moment, the three of them were completely ignited.
But there was no pain.
Or perhaps nothing happened at all; apart from being thoroughly cleaned from head to toe, even the worn parts of her clothes were made brand new.
"Get in the car."
The Alpha Night Haunter offered no explanation, simply lowering his hand that had been spewing raging flames, turning around, and boarding the Batmobile (which was actually a modified speedboat).
It was a strange feeling.
Kazan's flavor lingers.
He clenched his fists, seemingly more sensitive to that energy.
The scenery whizzed past the Batmobile window.
No one uttered a word in the silent Batmobile.
The two Night Haunter remained silent, and the three thugs dared not utter a word; a silent atmosphere filled the entire carriage.
"Three people, not one is missing, right?"
Alpha Night Haunter finally spoke.
It was as if he was talking to the three of them, and also as if he was talking to Omega Night Haunter (Sevitar) beside him.
This left Kazan speechless.
"But I didn't expect you to be willing to risk your lives to carry out this final punishment for the family."
"Tell me—is it because of fear of being hunted by the Night Haunter, or is it because hatred for one's family outweighs any hope of survival?"
Under the words of this self-proclaimed "Alpha Night Haunter," even the Omega Night Haunter beside him seemed to listen attentively.
They all seemed very interested in Kazan and the others' answers.
"I don't know, but I don't want those people to continue like this."
"They must be punished for what they have done. The thought that if I were to choose to run away one day, they would continue to lord it over Nostramo makes me..."
"Their behavior is intolerable, so they must be punished—in the words of the Night Haunter, by 'justice,' right?"
". Um."
For the sake of justice, even a morally corrupt and unscrupulous Nostramo thug in Sevitar's eyes would sacrifice his life to uphold it.
"So, Omega Night Haunter, what lessons did I teach you?"
"Snort."
Omega Night Haunter, sitting in the driver's seat, snorted coldly, as if somewhat unwilling.
"But, brothers, what exactly are we going to do this time? Is there anything we can do for you as a final act of service?"
"No."
Kasgar replied quickly, "Or rather, from now on, you will all be fighting for yourselves."
As he spoke, he pointed ahead to the luxurious city shrouded in faint neon lights—this must be the Hive City Upper Hive, Kazan thought.
Kazan, who had never been to Upper Hive, could only rely on his imagination and the height the Batmobile rose.
"We've arrived at the Scola Vore Family Mansion."
Kasgar stretched out his hand and pointed to the most prominent golden building in the city.
Amidst a sea of black, pointed-roof buildings and haphazardly placed billboards that obscure each other, the gleaming Adamantium- decorated tower in the heart of the bustling city stands out starkly.
That's the symbol of the Scola Vore family.
Kazan stared intently at the house.
There are many families and many Hive City throughout Nostramo.
But Kazan always remembered the name Scola Vore.
He was very familiar with it, or rather, he was too familiar with it.
An existence that you can never forget, no matter how hard you try.
"Now, let's burn it to ashes together."
Kasgar smiled and opened the hatch behind their seats.
The main entrance to the Scola Vore Family Mansion.
Two tall, well-dressed guards stood on either side of the gilded gate, their eyes fixed on the front with a fierce glint in them.
As the most powerful and prestigious family in the local Hive City, no one dared to trespass on Scola Vore's mansion.
As for the passersby, they hurried along, not daring to linger even for a moment in front of these fierce guards.
People feared that the other party was using their intelligence to steal the Scola Vore family's secrets, and then they would be beaten to death in the name of the Night Lord.
But it seems there's an unusual guest at the main entrance today.
A thin, malnourished young man.
Although his neat and clean clothes and appearance prevented the guards from mistaking him for a beggar, as a resident of the Underhive under the rule of the Scola Vore family, his current situation seemed to be no different from that of a slave or a beggar.
"Hey kid, stop right there."
"This is Scola Vore family territory."
Perhaps seeing that the boy dared to walk straight towards the family compound, one of the two guards extended his right hand to signal him to stop.
Kazan could feel the disdain in the other person's eyes behind his sunglasses.
Dog,
Two loyal family dogs.
"I know this is Scola Vore's territory, and that's why I'm here."
"What did you say?!"
Although Kazan's voice was a little soft, the two guards' crisis response, honed through long battles, made them pick up the Stun Hammer beside them.
Something's off about this guy!
Strike first and pin him down!
In that very next instant, Kazan, his face streaked with tears, looked up and stared at the two family lackeys with his indescribably crazed eyes.
I said.
"Scola Vore, I came for you!!!"
Battle is imminent.
According to Alpha Night Haunter's combat strategy, the three members of the Sawtooth Gang will fight at different entrances to the mansion, thus scattering the Scola Vore family members.
This way, the two Night Haunter can make a better move and wipe out all the family members in one fell swoop when the enemy's central defense is weak.
The other two Sawtooth Gang "Battle Brother" have begun to scale the Scola Vore family's high walls from another direction to create momentum, while Kazan has been assigned to the front gate, directly attacking the strongest defensive force on the front.
Kazan's only equipment consisted of an automatic rifle.
After this battle, he will most likely, no, he will definitely die by the guns and knives of the Scola Vore family. This is probably the final death in the ten-day countdown that Night Haunter mentioned earlier.
However, this is far more glorious than dying on the streets as a gang member, unnoticed by anyone, without encountering the Night Haunter!
Long live the Night Haunter!
Kazan couldn't help but shout in his heart.
Before I die, let me do some more things for you!
He picked up the rifle he had been hiding and began firing at the two security guards.
The bullets did not penetrate the enemy's defenses.
Even a guard in the Scola Vore family wears armor made of a composite alloy of Adamantium, forged by layering it with other rare metals.
It is hard in texture and its weight can even be borne by an average human, so it does not require a powered backpack.
Therefore, were they equipped with security personnel in Scola Vore?
That's right, it was on the security guard.
Even the Solar Auxilia might not have such good alloy armor, but the Scola Vore family simply gave it to their security guards.
Automatic rifle bullets simply cannot penetrate this lightweight yet sturdy alloy armor.
"Sizzle."
Perhaps having grown accustomed to such fools who overestimated themselves and dared to provoke the Scola Vore family, the guard, despite the crackling sound of bullets ricocheting off his body, let out a natural sneer.
—After all, the family's influence in the lower levels of the Hive City never amounted to anything significant, and there are quite a few people who come to the family seeking revenge.
Unfortunately, despite so many Nostraman wanting to destroy the family, Scola Vore still stands today.
These fools, blinded by hatred, have no idea what power a family can possess.
Some even thought that their families would be afraid to retaliate after they launched an attack, so they were a little more lenient with the lower classes.
Pfft.
That's ridiculous.
Thinking of this, the guard raised the Stun Hammer in his hand, which crackled with electricity.
Let's quickly kill this idiot who doesn't know his own limitations and call it a day.
We'll report this to higher authorities and find out which neighborhood this guy came from.
Cleanse that neighborhood with the Night Lord's Terror Tactics, make them tremble at the mere mention of Scola Vore's name!
It must be said that the Night Lord's method is really effective.
Having served as a guard for a long time, he was very familiar with some of the procedures.
The next moment, facing Kazan's frantic barrage of ammunition, the electric Stun Hammer swept towards him.
When!
An unbearable blow, accompanied by an electric shock, sent Kazan flying several steps before he collapsed to the ground in agony.
They are easily defeated.
No matter how deep his hatred was, what could he do under the absolute suppression of the other party's power?
My vision gradually blurred, and all reality and existence slipped away and disappeared from my gradually darkening consciousness.
You are not Night Haunter.
They had absolutely no ability to save Nostramo.
But the Night Haunter can. He can, and that's enough.
He will avenge me. I have done my best, and he will help me complete everything that follows.
Even if I can't see it.
No!
Not enough!
With a force as strong as if he were grinding his own teeth, Kazan managed to keep his consciousness from fainting.
No! If I die so soon, the Night Haunter will be besieged by the family guards.
Kazan never thought he could go back alive, but he was determined to get his revenge and watch Scola Vore die before his eyes!
Not only for his deceased relatives, but also for his own shattered life, and for his fellow members of the Sawtooth Gang who also suffered the same fate.
It was the sight of the clear streets under the Night Lord's intimidation of the villains that inspired his heartfelt following.
For--
Justice!
"Roar!"
The air temperature around Kazan suddenly dropped, and an unimaginable power was filling his body, repairing the damage from all parts of his body bit by bit.
He stood up again.
It was as if all the trauma they had just suffered had been erased, and even a tremendous power that they dared not imagine filled their entire bodies in that instant!
He wants to see Scola Vore burn!
"Witchcraft. You're Wizard!?"
The guards' expressions shifted from disdain to shock. After a moment of surprise and uncertainty, they used their superior combat skills to cover each other and quickly moved forward.
Finally, he swung the Stun Hammer in his hand.
"Freak!"
"Go to hell!!!"
The bursting frost and eerie light were omens of Wizard, and the two guards were deeply wary of such a person with supernatural powers.
They certainly should be wary of them.
Kazan could feel that his body, his reactions, and even all his abilities had been significantly enhanced in that burst of power.
The heavy, fast -Stun Hammer suddenly slowed down in his eyes, allowing him to dodge it immediately.
The next moment, he was standing in front of another guard.
"Give me electricity!!!"
A bioelectric power he could never have imagined surged from his fingertips, and as he caught the Stun Hammer with one hand, he also grabbed the helmet of the other guard.
With a series of violent convulsions, Kazan released his grip.
The guy collapsed to the ground and didn't move at all.
He died.
They died incredibly easily.
"What kind of witchcraft is this?!"
"Help! There's a witch doctor—"
The next moment, in the same flash of lightning, he was easily crushed to death by Kazan.
This was Kazan's first kill, but his mind was frighteningly calm.
Kazan did not understand the source of this power.
But this is not the time to think.
Kazan turned around and strode quickly toward the center of the mansion where the shouts were deafening.
He wanted everyone to know— the Night Haunter had arrived!
Too many people stood in Kazan's way.
Beams of laser light, bullets from rifles, and a host of family guards dressed in tin cans.
The Scola Vore family's defenses are many times stronger than those of a simple Planetary Governor.
Even though Kazan's mysterious power could slightly heal his injuries, his advance eventually came to a halt as he was surrounded and intercepted by an increasing number of guards.
Before the gates and halls of the mansion, as Kazan lay dying, he cast the last bolt of lightning from his hand at the damned family lackey beside him, then collapsed weakly to the ground.
Hiss.
After the power they called "witchcraft" was exhausted, that feeling of weakness returned to him.
Pain and soreness returned to all of Kazan's muscles, and the unimaginable, intense pain caused him to collapse onto the ornate marble floor in the next instant.
It hurts so much, it's so uncomfortable.
Is this really the end for me?
With blurred vision, after exhausting his last bit of potential, Kazan felt a true sense of impending death.
Perhaps, this is really the only way.
He thought helplessly, feeling as if the guards around him were slamming heavy hammers down on him with a whooshing sound.
Faced with death, Kazan calmly closed his eyes.
Perhaps, he was never Night Haunter.
But as long as they don't give up, the Night Haunter will eventually be able to return to Nostramo.
For example, right now.
When!
A barely visible, high-speed moving black shadow deflected the heavy hammer at a speed impossible to discern.
I came for you.
That voice sounds so familiar.
Kazan remembered hearing it during an execution livestream; it was the voice of the Night Haunter, the voice of the Night Lord.
Is he already dead?
Wait, that's not a hallucination!
Kazan slightly raised the muscles of his neck and looked around—among the almost invisible black phantom, a spray of blood mist appeared, and a crowd of people moved about.
In an almost artistic way, he wiped out all the guards surrounding Kazan in an instant.
As for the rest of the group, they abandoned their armor and fled faster than anyone else upon seeing the dark figure descend.
He stopped in front of Kazan, and this was the first time he had seen the other man's face.
Pale skin, jet-black eyes, and terrifying height.
And his appearance!
That Primarch-level elegant appearance was the Night Lord that Kazan had once seen.
Night Haunter?
It wasn't those two Bat-Man, nor was it someone as weak as myself who couldn't even see Scola Vore.
The real Night Haunter returned!
He wanted to be ecstatic, to scream, to shout.
But it seems that Kazan no longer has the strength.
He lay on the ground, watching the other man approach him step by step, holding a blood-dripping claw in his hand.
Coming towards me? Could it be that I—I'm right.
I think I've done some bad things too.
Kazan thought of his first and only failed heist.
That time I was interrupted by those two who called themselves Alpha Night Haunter and Omega Night Haunter.
"Pfft."
Then he laughed in exasperation.
Kazan never expected to be redeemed.
But now that the great Night Lord has descended upon Nostramo once more, his vengeance will surely be fulfilled.
It's just a pity he can't see it.
With that thought in mind, Kazan resignedly closed his eyes.
The original Night Haunter, also known as Curze, looked at Kazan in front of him and stopped in his tracks.
He originally didn't want to take action.
To be precise, as an enforcer of justice, he did not want to act simply to save people.
Especially since the other party is a robber, the kind who should be sentenced to death.
But he still moved.
He quickly wiped out those damned family henchmen, and Curze stopped what he was doing when he saw Kazan riddled with holes.
Logically speaking, I should have killed the criminal with one blow.
But— Curze saw another hallucination.
It was almost the same future, and even the name Kazan was exactly the same as the vision that Curze had once seen.
Curze envisioned many possible futures—whether the person he helped would truly accept salvation, or not.
"Well."
"Is this the lesson you're giving me, Kasgar Sherlock?"
He sighed deeply.
Since his secret landing in Nostramo, Curze has spent most of the last ten days following Kasgar and Sevitar.
He was very curious: what was the purpose of this guy coming to his home planet and dealing with three thugs?
Does he really have so much free time that while the Sons of the Emperor is still fighting desperately on the front lines of the Great Crusade, he comes to Nostramo to play house?
Curze had been observing quietly all along.
Curze listened attentively to everything, including Kasgar's arguments about his fear tactics and the religious debates that the Emperor so despised.
As someone who also hated religion, Curze wanted to rush up and refute Kasgar's statement, but deep down he knew the truth.
Actually, Kasgar is the correct one.
He feared that Nostramo would go astray.
The Night Haunter itself is also afraid of the Night Haunter.
The illusion of Curze moved.
Just as he had seen it before, Curze extended a helping hand rather than a killing hand to Kazan.
Then, the other person smiled and was helped up, becoming one of the parties—no, this time the prophecy has changed.
He became a recruit of the Night Lords, eventually joining the Librarian, and then... some interference and noise came in, making it difficult for him to see clearly.
But it seems that in the end, he donned a more powerful and magnificent silver-gray Power Armour, covered with mysterious runes, and wielded a halberd to fight against various demonic enemies.
Khyron is his new name.
This is a hopeful and beautiful ending for the Night Lords.
But there are still many more possibilities for the future—
No, there won't be any more.
Curze mustered his courage and reached out to help the young man who had collapsed to the ground.
He dispelled all illusions and mysteries before him, and for the first time, acted according to his own will, not the guidance of prophecy.
Fear is indeed a powerful enemy.
While others were afraid of Curze, wasn't Curze also afraid of himself?
But ultimately, everyone has to face fear.
Perhaps their future will be even bleaker, and the future pointed to by those prophecies he did not see will be even more distorted and terrifying than it is now.
But it's also possible that an unimaginably vast future awaits Curze, the Night Lords, and Nostramo.
He had lost his courage before, but this time, he would seize it.
That was a hand.
Kazan did not face the inevitable death he was destined to endure.
Those were hands of aid and redemption, grasping his hand in a way that left him somewhat incredulous.
Curze's hands were a little cold, but not bloody at all, Kazan was sure of it. The other man was never a bloodthirsty person.
"Night Haunter?"
That was an unbelievable question from Kazan.
"Snort."
But the other party did not reply.
As if dissatisfied with his own kindness, his expression suddenly turned from gentle to cold.
After snorting, it instantly transformed into a gust of black wind and left the place.
"?"
The other party's reaction made Kazan want to laugh.
For the first time, he sensed that the Night Lord was not just a killing machine.
He's a human being with flesh and blood, too.
Kazan thought to himself.
After Curze left, Kazan, trembling, leaned against the wall and slowly walked toward the central hall where Scola Vore was.
He saw the half-open hall door in front of him.
"Hey, welcome."
That was Kasgar, who had already taken off his mask, and he was waving to Kazan was trying his best to open the door.
And there Sevitar had been waiting behind the door for a long time.
And a large number of Solar Auxilia troops.
And there's Scola Vore, pinned to the ground, awaiting execution by Curze himself.
And there's also Night Lord Curze.
They all looked in their direction.
This is
This is the result of the raid.
The whole process ended very quickly.
Or rather, the Scola Vore family simply had no chance to fight back.
The Agyt Court Guard, from the 28th Expeditionary Fleet, is an auxiliary force under the command of the Emperor's Children Legion.
This auxiliary army was mainly composed of men from the old military aristocratic families of Europa, and was made up of respectable young men whom Curze dreamed of having.
The moment Kasgar gave the order, they surrounded the entire mansion except for the front gate.
Excluding the main gate where Kazan is located.
"Why is that?"
"It's to awaken your own power, and also to make these two fanatical justice fanatics lose their bet with me."
Kasgar smiled as he looked at the two Night Haunter beside him, one big and one small.
"Some things cannot be achieved by simply talking about them."
"Only practical proof can convince people. Kazan, you did a great job."
Kasgar hadn't expected that he would be able to perform beyond his awakened Psychic Power.
"The Night Lord has pardoned your crimes, why don't you quickly thank him?"
Ah! Oh!
Somewhat belatedly, Kazan immediately knelt down: "Thank you—"
"Stand up."
Curze spoke even faster than the other person, "I'm not doing this out of pity for your plight."
"After this, you will join the Night Lords Legion and become a son in my shadow."
Although he was a bit arrogant, Curze's statement was also very simple and clear.
—Kazan, be my son!
"Well!"
"Puff."
Upon seeing this, Kasgar let out a barely suppressed laugh.
(Only Kasgar dares to laugh)
"Disperse the auxiliary troops throughout the Hive City and command all subordinates to capture members of the original family's forces."
After executing his family members, Kasgar commanded his auxiliary troops to help Curze manage everything in Nostramo.
"It seems your people aren't that afraid of you."
Inside the family mansion, Kasgar spoke to Curze beside him.
"What they fear is a tangible Night Lord, not an abstract Night Haunter. That's why their fear will only rise and fall with your arrival and departure."
"In this way, the government will only exist as long as the people are alive, and cease to exist when the people die."
"If possible, I would like to establish a permanent, abstract concept of Night Haunter, only in this way can corrupt officials feel a deep-seated fear forever."
"You make a lot of sense."
Curze nodded in agreement.
He had no objection.
Anyway, he's just the Night Lords Champion.
He didn't care who the real commander of the Night Lords Legion was, whether it was Sevitar or Kasgar.
"Furthermore, Fulgrim said she misses you and hopes you can return to the Great Crusade as soon as possible."
"The Combined Fleet of the Emperor's Children Legion, in addition to the Imperial Fists, seems to be cooperating with another Primarch Legion in recent times to attack the Xenos."
On his long, thin face, a smile crept across Curze's lips.
"Which Primarch Legion? If possible, I'll set off immediately."
Kasgar also gave a confident smile.
The Curze issue was resolved smoothly.
With the toughest nut to crack gone, the remaining Primarch will only be the easier ones to talk to.
"His name seems to be Lion Aljonsen."
Kasgar's smile vanished.