Desire to Become the Imperial Warmaster

Kasgar will never laugh again.

If he had to pick the one he least wanted to work with among the Loyalist, he would definitely choose the First Legion Primarch, Lion El'Jonson Eljonson.

The Lion El'Jonson of the 30K era had just emerged from Caliban and possessed an almost explosive level of knightly chuunibyou (middle school syndrome).

As the First Legion of the Space Marine, the Dark Angels have always been a force to be reckoned with by the Emperor.

Whether it was during the first operation to wipe out the Thunder Warrior rebels, or later when the Primarch had not yet returned, the Emperor directly granted them a spiritual protection against Chaos corruption.

The presence of three Gloriana-class Battleship within the legion, along with a large number of powerful artifacts from the Dark Age of Technology, all highlight the uniqueness of the First Legion's Dark Angels.

As for Primarch Lion Aljonsen's experiences, they were even more bizarre.

While scattered across the universe by Warp Storm, the infant Lion was swept up onto this bizarre planet filled with a desolate wasteland.

Even though it was a feudal world that was not very advanced in terms of civilization, a delicate balance was inadvertently achieved through the interplay of various forces, including Xenos, Chaos, the Old Ones creations, and High-Dimensional Beings.

The Beast on the planet were corrupted by Chaos and turned into behemoths, which the inhabitants of Caliban then organized into Order of Knights to slay.

This also makes the civilizations on the planet always very much like monster hunters.

And it was on this planet, a place of outstanding people and abundant stars, that one day Warp Rift suddenly tore open, allowing the Lion El'Jonson's incubation pod to land inside.

Unfortunately, the landing point was a desolate, uninhabited territory of a giant beast.

In this dark jungle, a symbol of death, lurks an unimaginable, terrifying beast tainted with a murky aura.

But the three-year-old Lion El'Jonson was not afraid.

As the First Primarch, he was all alone in the dense forest, punching giant beasts and kicking Chaos, Tarzan-like and having a great time.

It wasn't until Lorgar, another genius of the Knights of Caliban, discovered this extraordinary being in the jungle and took him back to the Order of Knights' Fortress-Monastery to raise him.

[Additional Note: The exact duration of the Lion El'Jonson's solitary wandering in the forest remains a mystery. Although the knights judged him to be no more than ten years old based on his appearance when they first encountered Lion El'Jonson, the legend of "Humanoid Forest Spirit lingering deep in the forest and leaving mysterious marks" had already been circulating in Caliban for nearly a century.]

[The Primarch, isn't that amazing?]

Then, under the other party's careful guidance, Lion quickly grew into a giant and, with his own powerful strength, was promoted to the Grand Master of the Order of Knights.

Ultimately, he led the Knights of Caliban to drive all the giant beasts out of Caliban, until the true Emperor arrived.

In fact, when the Emperor first learned that the Primarch had fallen to a corrupt planet like Caliban, filled with evil Chaos, he was very uneasy.

Even the Emperor did not believe that the Primarch would have had enough willpower at such a young age to resist this level of Chaos corruption.

But Lion did it.

He recounted that he had struggled to survive among Chaos the Beast when he was young.

He was constantly tempted and threatened by demons, and his dreams were filled with endless storms and darkness, but none of this could shake his faith.

No matter how much Chaos tempts him, it's useless. In Lion's heart, he asks for nothing but loyalty.

Loyalty itself is the best reward.

This is indeed good news.

But the bad news is that, aside from loyalty, his character...

To put it simply, he is an autistic person.

Based on Lorgar's description of him remaining silent after adopting him, it is highly likely that the Lion El'Jonson has become completely withdrawn, wandering alone in the dense forest, battling the corruption of Chaos and the Beast.

The most crucial period of youth is lacking in human guidance.

This also means that the Lion El'Jonson was absent when it came to the most important moment in his life: shaping his values.

—Keep your mouth shut.

His emotional intelligence is comparable to his father's.

There's a reason why the Lion is called the "Firstborn Son of the Emperor."

In addition, he has a particularly fiery temper and an almost obsessive pursuit of honor.

He would resolutely cover up any secrets that could bring shame upon the legion.

He yearned even more for the honors that the Primarch could attain—

Take Warmaster for example.

Warmaster.

And there's also the Warmaster.

Putting aside factors like popularity and political maneuvering, Lion's ability alone makes him a worthy candidate for Warmaster.

However, in a battle between the Dark Angels and the unknown Rangdan Campaign, the First Legion, which was originally large and powerful, suffered heavy losses due to the fierce fighting with the unknown enemy.

Since then, the legion's size has never been able to fully recover to its peak.

Just then, someone spread the word.

They said they would wait until all the Primarch returned before choosing a Warmaster, which greatly worried the Lion.

After the Rangdan Campaign, the entire legion was severely weakened, making it extremely difficult to compete for the position of Warmaster.

With Horus, Sanguinius, and Philus among the many powerful Primarch vying for the position, it seems that Lion and his First Legion's chances of becoming Warmaster are indeed slim.

But how could the determined knight give up so easily?

Since I'm not particularly close to the Primarch, I have to take the initiative to seek their sponsorship!

The Lion thought to himself.

The Dark Angels now operate in secrecy and have very little contact with the Primarch.

To gain the support of your other Primarch brothers and sisters, you must take the initiative. Help the Legions that are struggling in battle and build good relationships with other Legion Primarch.

That way, the other side will support him to become the Warmaster!

Support Lion El'Jonson, the Warmaster! Support Lion El'Jonson, the Warmaster! Thank you, Meow!

The Skathia System.

Kasgar stood on the deck of the Pride of the Emperor's Strategy Room, Image Capture Unit following him, ready to project his image into the flagship conference rooms of the other two legions.

The joint action meeting of the three legions has not yet begun, and Kasgar still has plenty of time to rest.

He closed his eyes wearily, his mind drifting back to the events on Nostramo, where he had dealt with the final state of Curze and the Night Lords.

After this battle, Curze finally gained some courage to make choices.

As long as he has the confidence to grasp the prophecy, the likelihood of his spirit being harmed by the prophecy in the future will be smaller.

In Nostramo, because the planetary defense forces on the surface could not be established in time, the order of the entire planet was gradually restored under the Solar Auxilia of tens of thousands of people [Agyt Court Guard] sent by Kasgar.

Despite the superior equipment of the Agyt Court Guard, bypassing the existing family system and directly managing the planet's tens of billions of inhabitants remains a challenge.

It is also an extremely difficult thing.

Kasgar's choice was simple—all he needed to do was carry a megaphone and advertise throughout the Hive City.

"Just tell them something simple and straightforward: the Night Lord has returned to Nostramo."

"If you dare to commit any more crimes, the Night Lord will come for you personally."

The security situation improved instantly.

In an instant, the area was transformed from a place teeming with homeless people and petty thugs into harmonious and friendly citizens.

Even the garbage piled up on the streets was swept away.

After doing all this, Kasgar ordered the Agyt Court Guard to remain in Nostramo to maintain order until the Night Lords could establish an effective control plan.

As for the concerns that Nostramo might return to its old corrupt ways after Curze left, Kasgar also provided him with a good solution.

The Night Lords do have very few Loyalist, but they are not entirely without any.

[Fer Zallotes], Chief Librarian the Terra Night Lords Think Tank.

Kasgar strongly recommended him, suggesting that he become the new Night Haunter to deter villains as the ruler and overseer of Nostramo Prime.

He also leads a Tactical Squad that secretly roams the new planetary Hive City as a recruit selector for the Night Lords.

On the one hand, it can exert an unpredictable deterrent effect on the evil forces in various Hive City; on the other hand, it can better select talents from around the world.

It's unlikely that the selection process will end up in prison.

As Loyalist of the Night Lords, he was also one of the few upright individuals who did not collude with the Nostramo within the Legion.

Trustworthy.

As long as his mindset remains sound and security on Nostramo is well managed, Curze's condition will not worsen.

Given his strong sense of justice and advanced understanding of the Warp, it's highly unlikely that Curze would succumb to Chaos unless his condition worsens.

The Night Lords naturally didn't need to worry too much.

Hopefully, one day when Curze returns to Nostramo, the two sides of the Night Lords will accuse each other of being traitors, fight each other, and then blow up Nostramo.

Curze sealed himself inside the giant Adamantium the Rock that had been blasted out for ten thousand years. When he came out, his mental illness was cured, and he even learned teleportation.

That would be interesting.

Kasgar suddenly had a sudden, inexplicable thought.

With a notification tone sounding, the meeting officially began.

They were going to discuss how to deal with the next enemy in the Skathia System.

The enemy the Expeditionary Fleet faced was simple: yet another interstellar Pocket Imperium that considered itself the most legitimate human race.

During the Great Crusade, this arrogant and conceited fellow would appear almost every time the Imperium of Man was encountered.

Just like NPCs that refresh regularly, they appear every time.

But no matter how much nonsense they spout, they will ultimately be defeated in one fell swoop by the powerful Imperium of Man.

Although the human Pocket Imperium they encountered this time was not weak.

The fact that they were able to maintain a stalemate against the Expeditionary Fleet of three legions shows that the opponent, who has survived the raging Warp Storm until now, is certainly no ordinary being.

Ultimately, the fact that they have managed to hold out this long under the combined attack of the three Primarch Expeditionary Fleet is already a testament to the Imperium of Man's consideration for their compatriots.

—And there's also the craving for advanced, cutting-edge technology.

Both sides wasted too much time in the negotiations.

In the original legion cooperation arrangement, the Seventh Legion 'Imperial Fists, the Sons of the Emperor, and the Night Lords of Curze were originally supposed to act together.

During the expedition, while teaching Curze tactics and strategies, he also tried to counsel his Primarch brother, who was mentally unstable, so that he could have a chance to reintegrate into society.

However, only Kasgar understood that the root cause of the problems in the Curze Legion lay with Nostramo.

After Curze insisted on returning to Nostramo, the Expeditionary Fleet that was originally formed by the three legions was suddenly reduced to only two.

But it was precisely because of this that the ruler of that galactic Imperium believed he had an opportunity to break the agreement and rebel while the planet's armed forces were still in place.

This is causing quite a bit of trouble.

For both Rogal Dorn and Fulgrim.

With one less legion, the absolute dominance that the Pocket Imperium had previously enjoyed suddenly seemed much less significant.

Furthermore, in order to protect the various industrial facilities originally planned to be accepted, the two Primarch adopted a relatively conservative offensive and tactical approach.

This was obviously interpreted by the other party as a sign of weakness.

A direct assault would jeopardize the planet's infrastructure and population, while refraining from one would only be perceived as weakness.

A difficult situation to resolve, until another large Expeditionary Fleet arrived.

The Lion El'Jonson is coming!

As a strong contender for the next Warmaster, he would absolutely not let go of such a good opportunity to showcase himself.

He was willing to let the other two legions hide behind the Dark Angels for this operation, but he was determined to gain command of the campaign to capture the planet.

Merit and honor were precisely the purpose of his trip.

Lion Aljonson would not pass up any opportunity that could bring greater glory to the Dark Angels.

The Warmaster is in a hurry!

Let the brothers have the honor here first; when the time comes to compete, they'll definitely Warmaster!

"The Emperor's Children Legion's proposal is that our ground offensive needs a commander-in-chief before launching a general offensive."

Kasgar shared the same idea.

Appointing Lion as the interim commander-in-chief of the three Expeditionary Fleet is arguably the best solution.

Even though he may sometimes act recklessly, his strength is undeniable.

"The Sons of the Emperor is ready to deploy four raiding parties and a support fleet to airdrop into the three major cities at the southern tip of the continent," Kasgar continued. "Every minute we waste gives the enemy one more minute to prepare."

"The Dark Angels are willing to lead the charge."

The signal from the Indomitable Truth, viewed from a three-dimensional perspective, outlines the Lion's golden beard and long hair.

He strode forward with brisk steps and said.

Perhaps sensing Kasgar's good intentions, Lion El'Jonson, whose expression was originally stern, managed a slight smile.

By choosing to have their legion commanders attend the meeting in their place, Fulgrim was, in a sense, giving up his ambition to become the supreme commander.

After all, the idea of having a Space Marine like Kasgar command two Primarch in battle is still rather absurd.

Now, the only one who can compete with Lion for the position of Commander-in-Chief is Rogal Dorn.

"Our fleets have all fought bloody battles in the Void, Dark Angels will certainly not be relegated to the edge of orbit in this crucial battle."

"My fleet is breaking through to the equatorial defense sites to completely eliminate any potential threat to the Imperial Fists and the Emperor's Children Legion."

"Although my knights are willing to land first, I assure you that the honor of this battle will belong to each and every one of us."

With great power comes great responsibility.

The greater the responsibility, the greater the chance of being selected as the Warmaster.

The Dark Angels will serve as the vanguard and main force in this battle.

Conversely, those who conquer the planet will also receive the most credit, which makes perfect sense.

After all, they were the First Legion of Astartes.

Even though Horus claims to be the First Returned Son every day, the title of the Firstborn Son of the Emperor will forever belong to Lion Aljonsen.

Who is qualified to be the commander-in-chief of the campaign?

Who is qualified to be the Warmaster?

Of course it's me!

Lion's brows revealed a subtle confidence.

He was determined to get it.

"A reasonable suggestion."

But as the other side of Kasgar's model flashed, another giant appeared before him, with short, white hair as sharp as steel needles.

The Legion Primarch, the Imperial Fists, Rogal Dorn, stepped forward.

He stood firmly in front of the Image Capture Unit, clad in a magnificent suit of pure gold armor (a typical Emperor aesthetic), his expression serious and unsmiling.

Regarding Lion's attempt to take credit, Rogal Dorn stated—

Be opposed to.

"The Seventh Legion has cleared the enemy's strike zone in the north."

"We are ready to launch a large-scale deployment. Forty thousand soldiers from the Seventh Legion will work together to attack the ground and crush their morale within minutes to avoid further investment and risk."

Although Rogal Dorn did not explicitly state who should be in charge of the ground operation.

But since he agreed to all the tactical deployments, the implication was self-evident.

The Seventh Legion will be responsible for the most important main attack position in conquering the planet.

Dorn said that even if the Lion El'Jonson himself came, it wouldn't make a difference.

Compared to social niceties, Dorn only believed in rigid principles.

Lion's Dark Angels is indeed very strong.

But he has Mount Array.

[Mount Array]!

The Mount Array is a massive interstellar spaceship built entirely by hand (yes, by hand), and is one of the most outstanding legacies left by humanity during the Dark Age of Technology.

Its size is comparable to a small satellite or a large asteroid; compared to a spaceship, it's more like a terrifying space Hive City, capable of supporting a population comparable to that of a planet, with its foredeck large enough to accommodate more than a dozen Imperial Navy cruisers.

The ship is thousands of kilometers long, with a triangular cross-section, and its upper surface is covered with weapons and sensor domes.

Two wings swept backward from the hull, trailing directional blades like long, gilded feathers. Every surface was covered with robust armor, and every angle was covered by torpedo tubes and Lance cannons.

Everyone who sees this terrifying cosmic fortress will marvel at the brilliant civilization that humanity must have created when it was still in the Dark Age of Technology.

Unfortunately, all of this has been lost.

All the Radiance has faded away, leaving only this terrifying warship with incredibly powerful firepower.

"The Mount Array is currently the largest warship in this theater of operations."

Seeing the Lion frown at his suggestion, Rogal Dorn explained carefully.

"As a demonstration of Imperium authority, its appearance, along with the airborne offensive of 40,000 legionary soldiers, will inevitably convey an undeniable message to the enemy—only in this way will they understand the strength of our army."

The Expeditionary Fleet carried a clear mission—to use any means necessary to force various worlds to submit as quickly as possible and with the lowest possible casualty ratio.

If we follow the Lion El'Jonson's method, we can crush all the defenders on the planet even more decisively.

But war-torn societies need repair.

Building new infrastructure requires a large amount of additional resources, and resource scarcity will hinder the Great Crusade's outward expansion.

Although both sides made tactical choices, it has nothing to do with right or wrong.

But Rogal Dorn's suggestion was indeed more reasonable—the reason these foolish pseudo-government bureaucrats surrendered and then rebelled before was because they did not understand the strength of the Imperium.

When the Mount Array is about to crush him, these two-faced bureaucrats will naturally bow and scrape once again to welcome the great rule of the Imperium of Man.

"I cannot accept this!"

The Lion El'Jonson's green eyes flashed with anger, but it vanished in an instant. His demeanor eventually calmed, settling into a sincere plea.

"If our offensive is spread out, our legions will have to risk suffering even greater losses—we really don't need to do that."

According to Rogal Dorn, the deployment of 40,000 Imperial Fists Space Marine across the planet's vast expanse, in conjunction with the Mount Array, could indeed achieve a widespread effect.

The massive and heavily armed Mount Array also dealt the greatest psychological blow to the enemy.

However, there are also potential risks.

The Lion growled, "If the inhabitants here are not as willing as you say, then weakening the attack could have a disastrous impact on our goal of a swift victory."

"Us--"

When explaining his tactical strategy, even the Lion himself seemed a little stuck.

Forget it, I can't keep making this up.

Brother.

Give me some, give me some.

Seriously, we've come all this way to help you deal with the troublesome enemy on your expedition. Even if we haven't done anything meritorious, we've certainly put in the effort, right?

When the Lion El'Jonson arrived, he was still fantasizing that he could use the Dark Angels's powerful strength to decisively win the battle at a crucial moment when both sides were locked in a fierce struggle.

By then, Rogal Dorn and Fulgrim will surely consider the Lion a powerful and reliable ally.

Only when the mighty the Lion Lion becomes the Warmaster will the Great Crusade of the Imperium of Man be truly glorious!

The two Primarch quickly reached a consensus.

"Lion, you played very well. I think you're a qualified candidate for Warmaster. You've earned my respect, brother."

"Also, I will vote for you when I run for Warmaster."

"No, no, Brother Dorn, it was just a small thing I did while passing by. It's not necessary, really not necessary."

Isn't this ridiculous Dorn? Dorn is just too passionate!

"Brother Lion, with your help, I will have the artists of the Sons of the Emperor paint, write poems, and compose music for your heroic battle!"

"We must ensure that all of humanity in the Imperium remembers the bravery and selflessness of the Dark Angels, and the might of human hero, the Lion Lion Eljonsson!"

"Also, I will vote for you when I run for Warmaster!"

Oh dear, I'm so sorry!

Fulgrim is so incredibly enthusiastic!

The fantasy time is over.

The reality is that Lion couldn't gain any advantage against a truly stubborn rock.

They really didn't give them even the slightest chance!

Bro, there's really no need to get hung up on a tactical arrangement!

What difference would it make if, as Lion requested, we gathered at one point and launched an attack on the enemy?

Not only is it safer and faster, but from Rogal Dorn's perspective, the Imperial Fists would also suffer fewer losses!

Why sacrifice so many Space Marine of the Imperial Fists just to claim credit?

"No, we will not sacrifice ourselves; they are finished."

Rogal Dorn seemed completely oblivious to the Lion El'Jonson's hint, and simply continued speaking slowly.

"We must give the enemy a chance and encourage them to surrender. Reports indicate that the fleet is their strongest military force. Once their main force is wiped out, their resistance will not last long."

"Although I am not as battle-hardened as Horus, I have had my share of bloodshed."

"Lion, as one of our brothers and sisters, perhaps your vision is still limited by the war on our home planet."

Click.

As Rogal Dorn finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into a deathly silence once again.

That's such real harm.

Rogal Dorn's words were always so honest, but lacked tact.

Like a sharp, precise blade, piercing straight into the heart of the Lion.

What would happen if you put the most talkative Primarch of the Imperium of Man together with the Primarch of the Imperium of Man has the most explosive temper (questionable)?

Have no idea.

All Kasgar could do was hold his breath and try to minimize his presence in the tense atmosphere, as if he were trying to avoid the Image Capture Unit.

Even though Kasgar wasn't looking at any of the other screens, he could still feel that everyone in the Expeditionary Fleet was focused on the Lion.

What did the Lion the Lion say?

His lips and eyebrows were already furrowed in a knot.

The reddish signal lights of the "Unyielding Truth" illuminated his golden beard and long hair, making him appear especially fiery.

The Lion El'Jonson remained silent for a few seconds, without uttering a word, but simply reached out and pressed the tip of the sword at the waist of his ebony black armor.

It was a huge sword, even for someone of Primarch's size, it seemed like a giant sword.

Is he about to draw his sword?!

No.

The First Legion's Primarch lowered his head, still stroking the sword in his hand.

The Lion, you are closing the gap between yourself and the Primarch, the Lion, you must be patient, be patient!

The overall situation should be prioritized. A Warmaster should not get angry over such trivial matters!

The Lion!

I am the War General! ...

I am the Warmaster!!!

Call.

The pent-up emotions in my heart instantly vanished.

How could the Lion that has already become Warmaster bother with a smelly and hard rock?

The next moment, the Lion El'Jonson straightened his back slightly, and his cloak slid down his shoulders. Instantly, a tense atmosphere filled all the conference rooms of the three flagships.

"Please forgive my impulsive words, my brothers and sisters."

"I meant no offense," said the Lion El'Jonson. "If my eagerness to carry out the Emperor's will has led to this consequence, then please accept my apology."

The Lion El'Jonson admitted his mistake and apologized.

Call.

Although no one uttered a single word during the entire meeting, Kasgar could still hear people breathing a sigh of relief.

"Our expedition is for the unity of mankind, not for enslavement."

Seeing this, Kasgar rushed over and added with a smile, "Diehards may only succumb to the threat of the sword, but I believe that most people will join the Imperium freely from the bottom of their hearts."

"This is also the goal we strive for."

"Good."

"Gidoreth," said Rogal Dorn.

He called out to his company commander.

The other person stepped forward, raised his hand and pressed it against the Fist Emblem embedded in his breastplate, ready to obey orders.

"Notify the fleet that all ships depart to carry out ground bombing."

"Yes!"

The meeting has yielded results, and now it is drawing to the Veil, marking the beginning of the war.

Lion and his Expeditionary Fleet had lost communication, leaving only Dorn, Kasgar, and the two fleets' observers on the channel.

Previously, it was Fulgrim participated in the discussion at the Kasgar location.

Kasgar could sense how difficult it must have been for her to manage the relationship between Rogal Dorn and Lion.

However, Kasgar felt a pang of sympathy seeing her so busy, worrying about Curze's illness and preparing for the Expeditionary Fleet.

Thanks for your hard work.

This is really tough.

He mediated between Rogal Dorn and Lion, who argued almost daily, to ease the tension.

It's hard to imagine how much mental stress she must be under.

However, Fulgrim endured a lot during the time Kasgar was away.

However, according to the testimony of one of her favorite offspring, Adrol, her mood improved dramatically immediately after Kasgar returned from Nostramo.

"It seems that the turning point was after Kasgar returned to the Pride of the Emperor after a long absence, and she hugged him and kissed him passionately."

"And then? What happened next? Do you even need to ask?"

That is of course—

"Fulgrim hasn't arrived yet."

"Kasgar, I think you need to be more restrained."

Perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere, Rogal Dorn suddenly spoke.

Click.

The already quiet communication channel fell into a deathly silence once again.

This is even more awkward.

"Okay, maybe it's not up to you to decide."

"Never mind what I said."

Seemingly realizing that his words had not achieved the desired effect, he added another sentence without expression.

Kasgar: "?"

This is even more awkward.

Is this some kind of lame joke?

But why can't I see even a hint of a smile on his face?

Kasgar felt as if the temperature around him had suddenly dropped by several degrees.

Dorn not be Psyker, but he can still create frost around him.

Very impressive ability.

Since it's not a joke, how should I respond?

His face remained expressionless.

Perhaps he knew that this was a formal military meeting and not the place to discuss this, hence his awkward silence?

Who cares!

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Quickly change the subject!

"Dorn, I've heard rumors that Lion Ryan seems to be keen to compete for the next Warmaster."

Kasgar said with an awkward laugh.

"Warmaster?"

Rogal Dorn's eyes were filled with doubt.

"What Warmaster?"