Tyberos: This Is an Insult to Me!

Grey Knights: "."

He silently released his hand, erasing the mortal's memories of the past and present.

No.

He saw nothing.

He didn't see anything!

There is no such thing as Emperor's miraculous appearance here; it is all an illusion created by them to deceive others!

He denies it!

He absolutely refuses to acknowledge that this is their the God-Emperor of Mankind!

This so-called Emperor apparition is nothing but a scheme by a group of rumor-mongers, a group of Chaos Cultist, and a group of perverted lunatics!

They also blasphemed the great Emperor.

These idiots must be dealt with and eliminated!

No.

Actually, he wanted to get rid of himself.

As Grey Knights, he had endured countless trials and tribulations in a mysterious monastery over many years—neither the temptations nor the threats of demons could shake his unwavering faith in the Emperor.

But he and the other Grey Knights examiners seemed to have forgotten an important criterion—

He can indeed resist the temptations of the devil, but what about the temptations of the Emperor?

Have no idea.

Even the well-informed Grey Knights had never been trained on how to resist the Emperor's temptations, nor had they found any information on how to resist the Emperor's temptations in the Pandemonium.

Even the Grand Master of the Grey Knights would not make separate annotations for such entries.

This is a very dangerous idea.

What do you mean?

Are you saying that the tragic hero who bore the fate of all mankind, the great the God-Emperor of Mankind, was actually a Roman She-Wolf?

This is an utter disgrace to the great Emperor!

Therefore, even if similar concerns have existed.

Even the Emperor worried that he himself would be transformed into something he did not want to see due to the faith of countless people.

For example, in the arrangement of the Ultimate Edict, the Emperor chose the Grey Knights instead of the Adeptus Custodes because he did not want the Adeptus Custodes's blind loyalty to lead them further down the wrong path after they became some kind of terrible entity.

But the Emperor's prediction was wrong.

Should!

Could it be this kind of error?

!

At that moment, the Grey Knights felt as if he had discovered the significance of the Ultimate Edict.

He had once been incredibly puzzled as to why the Emperor would give them such an order.

In legend, the Emperor's power was so immense that the energy from a mere gesture could crush an entire planet. It was because of his protection that humanity was able to emerge from Chaos and perpetual peace.

If one day he is able to step down from the Golden Throne and walk among mortals—whether through resurrection, reincarnation into another body, or ascension into the Warp in some form of Warp entity—

If he (or she?) were to actually leave the Golden Throne, the Grey Knights would have to do everything in their power to bring him back to the throne and restore him to his terrible duties. In fact, the Grey Knights were Chapter specifically to deal with this possibility.

The problem is that this task is beyond the capabilities of any other faction within the Imperium of Man.

How could the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Adeptus Custodes, the Astartes, or the Astra Militarum possibly have the ability to bring the Emperor, who has already risen again, back to the Golden Throne?

But the Emperor gave the Grey Knights such an unrealistic order.

To bring the Emperor back to the Golden Throne?

Eh, me?

"It's clear that the Emperor didn't want us to stop him from becoming a being of destruction, but rather—to prevent more people from seeing him in his current state!"

"The Emperor... The Emperor doesn't want others to see this side of him!"

The Grey Knights immediately understood!

The Emperor's wisdom far surpassed that of all of them.

He must have had a deeper meaning in issuing the Ultimate Edict to the Grey Knights, which was impossible to fulfill!

"So that's how it is. So the Emperor foresaw what would happen today."

According to historical documents he once accessed in the library of the Grey Knights Monastery, the Emperor scattered fragments of his humanity throughout the world before his final battle with the traitor Horus.

These fragments of humanity all possess some characteristics of the Emperor himself. And what he just saw in the memories of the mortal crew members was very likely a part of the Emperor himself.

That was a very large... no, a very feminine Emperor!

The Grey Knights immediately understood the Emperor's deeper meaning.

Let alone the Emperor, even the Grey Knights himself wouldn't want to see the Emperor become like this!

I understand, I understand.

The Grey Knights understood why the Emperor had issued the Ultimate Edict, yet remained silent.

How can you say something like that out loud!

The Grey Knights silently disappeared from the Black Ship.

Immediately afterwards, he skillfully dialed the Psychic Power communication channel belonging to the Grey Knights.

"Investigation report on the so-called Emperor apparitions on the Black Ship of the Inquisition."

"Based on our investigation of the crew's recollections at the scene, we discovered what appears to be a depiction of the Emperor on the Black Ship, but..."

As he was reporting, the Grey Knights was pondering how to present what he had seen and heard to the Grand Master.

Never mind.

Let's just lay out all our concerns and speculations.

"Grand Master, I have a preliminary deduction."

Endymion System.

As a sub-cluster of the White Scars, the Mantis Warriors' Chapter Space Marine naturally retained some of the traditions of their former parent chapter.

As a Space Marine Chapter adept at rapid strikes, most of the planets in the Endymion System have a considerable number of grasslands that serve as their training grounds and racing tracks.

This place was once a Gogotan Badlands, but under the rule of Guilliman for seven thousand years and the current diligent governance of the Tyrant of Badab, it has transformed from an absolutely forbidden zone of life into a lush and verdant grassland.

"The Khan's descendants have never lost their love for racing, not even ten thousand years later."

Seeing another round of high-speed racing taking place at their encampment, the Red Scorpions Chapter...

As guests of the Mantis Warriors, after both sides ultimately chose to make peace, the Space Marine and mortals residing in the Endymion System offered them local food, drinks, and performances.

The performance was excellent.

But a crisis is looming.

"Wait, in the sky."

What is that?

"Has our ship returned? After we wiped out all the pirates?"

"It's our hero! Our heroes from the expedition have returned!!!"

People cannot hear any sounds outside the vacuum, but the shadows cast by the Strike Cruiser in the void seem to indicate the arrival of some kind of predators roaming the void.

That's not our ship.

"The Mantis Warriors have never associated with Chapter that bears this symbol."

At the camp, the Mantis Warriors, who was about to start his Anti-gravity Bike again, shut down the roaring machine beneath him.

The markings on the Strike Cruiser were very old and worn, with gaps and signs of age that suggested they had been made during the Horus Heresy.

It was a fish-shaped pattern, and even in the distant near-Earth orbit, the unique vision granted to them by their genes allowed the Mantis Warriors to see the tiny details on this Strike Cruiser.

He felt an instinctive fear about it.

The intuition of the Mantis Warriors.

Immediately following, as if in response to his tension, the Strike Cruiser, which was rushing at high speed from the outside towards the planet's near-Earth orbit, simultaneously launched countless torpedo compartments from both sides of the barge toward the ground.

As a defensive planet for the Mantis Warriors, and the home of the Mantis Warriors, one of the guardians of Badab, this place has never been a weakly defended territory.

Before the torpedoes launched in scattered bursts could even hit the ground and explode, an almost invisible force dissolved them all.

The surface defense Void Shield intercepted these unexpected attacks.

Although they had no idea why the other side would release torpedoes to strike the Void Shield.

But the Mantis Warriors remained restrained, attempting to communicate with its opponent.

They had a feeling that these guys were purgatory agents sent by the Imperium of Man.

Others may not understand the paint scheme on the Strike Cruiser, but the only Mantis Warriors captain left to guard the planet's surface still vividly remembers the name Carcharodons.

After luring the main force of the Mantis Warriors into the Maelstrom, they finally couldn't resist tearing up the agreement.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen this time to launch an attack on them!

Moreover, the main force of the Mantis Warriors is not here; only a small Astartes company remains on the planet's surface.

How could they possibly stand against an entire Strike Cruiser of Space Marine on their own?

However, in response, all they could hear was an extremely low, hoarse roar, like that of a deep-sea predator.

[Tell those cowards: The Carcharodons is coming.]

The torpedo was just a probe.

Because the Carcharodons Chapter was really poor, even the torpedoes they used for probing were nearly scrapped "stock".

To prevent waste, the antique rain, which had been stored for countless years, poured down at this moment.

They didn't care whether this thing would explode or not; it was just a trial balloon to test whether there was Void Shield.

Countless landing craft and airships simultaneously launched a surprise attack on the planet's surface—aside from the roar of the Carcharodons, no one knew what kind of terrifying creatures they were or why they chose to descend upon the planet at this moment.

The Carcharodons excels in close-quarters combat.

Despite their poverty, each Carcharodons is equipped with a large number of chainsaw weapons for close combat.

Because chainsaw weapons are easy to obtain, have a large kill radius, and produce a more intimidating and terrifying effect of splattering blood, they also do not require charging like Power Weapon.

—At the same time, not using ranged attacks also makes their combat very conserve ammunition.

As a member of the Carcharodons Chapter, you have to be careful with everything.

They were indeed a very, very poor legion.

Not only were there no suitable mortal crew members (slaves) to replenish them, but despite acquiring artifacts and relics that other legions could hardly imagine during their raids, they were also extremely lacking in the most basic Power Armour, ammunition, weapons, equipment, energy, food, and water.

It's like a top-of-the-line computer not lacking a high-end graphics card and processor—it simply runs out of power.

"They're coming. Be prepared, Nullus. We are about to face an entire Chapter of invaders. Are you afraid?"

Looking at the Drop pod that were crashing down on the planet's surface like meteors in the distance, Kasgar asked.

"Only joy, sir."

Titus answered as he walked.

"An entire Chapter of invaders?" The Mantis Warriors asked suspiciously as two Red Scorpions Chapter Space Marine walked straight toward him. "Do you know something? Or are they one of your accomplices?"

"No. We're here to stop them from looting."

"For this, I need your motorcycle."

The Mantis Warriors were the best Guerilla Warfare group in the Badab War. Their guerrilla mobile tactics, inherited from their mother group White Scars, had given countless headaches to the Maelstrom Chaos and the Imperial Navy.

Correspondingly, the Carcharodons also has a solution to this problem.

Scorched earth policy.

Clear and plunder all the population, resources, and supplies on the Endymion System, turning this region into a scorched wasteland from which the Mantis Warriors cannot obtain supplies.

What a heinous scheme—countless citizens of the Imperium did not die at the hands of the Mantis Warriors, whom the Imperium of Man accused of treason, but at the hands of Loyalist Space Marine the High Lord directly ordered to be eliminated at all costs.

"And this planet is the starting point of their plunder—we must minimize the losses as much as possible, so as to nip any potential conflict in the bud."

"That's why I need to borrow your motorcycle, is that enough?"

In fact, Kasgar doesn't need to argue with this Mantis Warriors at all.

At such close range, Kasgar could even Psychic Power instantly to the opponent's landing site to intercept the Carcharodons.

But if that's really the case, then the remaining Magic Immunity Titus will likely only be able to run wild in this wilderness.

"No, I still can't trust you— Red Scorpions's envoys. You're on the same side as the Imperium of Man. I can't trust you."

"Alright then, it seems we need to find an even faster motorcycle—"

"Etc!"

Before Kasgar could finish his long monologue, the Mantis Warriors appeared before them with a mid-air spin.

"Brother, I think this is an insult to us."

The deep anger in the voice of the Mantis Warriors beneath the helmet was palpable.

For a Mantis Warriors, one can mock their fighting skills, equipment, or even their character.

But you absolutely must not mock them for not driving fast enough!

This is the most severe insult he has ever suffered!

"Get in the car."

Racing is so exhilarating!

Racing is so exhilarating!

Racing is so exhilarating!

"Thank you for your help, Mantis Warriors. That's all for now."

"This place is very close to the landing point of the Carcharodons, please be careful."

Kasgar spoke, he and Titus dismounted from the motorcycle and began to speed away.

The two, clad in Red Scorpions Chapter Power Armour, rushed towards the designated landing point for the Carcharodons.

"It's alright, we're brothers!"

"How could those brainless idiots possibly keep up with my speed?"

"Come find me again next time you're racing!"

"Alright, Nullus (Titus's disguised name)."

They also had to conceal their identities within the Red Scorpions Chapter to avoid arousing suspicion.

As for Kasgar, no one in the entire Red Scorpions Chapter, except for Chapter Master Otis, knew that he was the ancient Hero Kasgar who once walked the world alongside the Emperor.

The warriors of the Chapter had only heard that a powerful champion had joined the chapter, who had no name, but no one could defeat him.

"Go and make some noise nearby to attract the attention of the Carcharodons. I'll try to get through to its communication system."

After hearing Kasgar's command, Titus nodded silently.

As the two raced deeper into the man-eating sharks' landing point, many sharks that were preparing to advance and plunder in all directions spotted them.

The two lone members of the Red Scorpions Chapter were likely their allies.

But when faced with a starving shark, the concept of friendly forces simply doesn't exist.

In particular, the Red Scorpions Chapter is a traditional Chapter that inherited the Emperor's Children's legacy, and it is extremely wealthy from top to bottom.

It has all kinds of weapons and equipment, and the Power Armour is polished to a gleaming shine.

Although Kasgar chose a plain Power Armour suit as his Psychic Power disguise and Titus's temporary armor in order not to be too flashy, it seems that even this level of suit is still comparable to the most effective bait in the eyes of the Carcharodons.

Which shark wouldn't be envious of this?

Needless to say, even before the two got close, more than a dozen sharks, attracted by the smell of blood, rushed straight toward their location.

Fine armor and fine weapons!

What I grabbed is mine!

Ding!

However, in the next moment, the two Red Scorpions moved.

They showed not the slightest fear when faced with the encirclement of numerous space sharks.

Carcharodons cannot smell fear, even when they have surrounded their two prey.

One never felt fear, the other just wanted to laugh.

Their explosive speed instantly surpassed that of the battle-hardened attackers.

It didn't even use much force, just gentle bumps and elbow strikes, to incapacitate the surging Carcharodons and their desire to rob them.

Is that enough?

"Crimson Scars Tyberos, we need to talk."

"If you're willing."

"Certainly--"

As he spoke, Kasgar slammed the hilt of his sword into the wrist of the Carcharodons he had knocked to the ground in an instant, and the shark let out a muffled curse.

He's more likely to feel sorry for the shattered Ceramite gauntlet than for his bones.

"You can just watch me slaughter your people, whatever you want."

As he spoke, Kasgar deliberately stomped on and crushed the seemingly old Chainsword.

Where did this junk come from? Seriously.

"Waste should go to the recycling center as soon as possible, don't you think?"

Click.

As he spoke, Kasgar smashed another finely crafted Chainaxe.

This was even more heartbreaking for everyone in the Carcharodons organization than simply killing the other party.

This is the simplest and most direct insult to the Carcharodons!

Stop.

"I have never heard of Red Scorpions having such a brave and powerful warrior."

"Hehe, now you can hear it, can't you?"

Kasgar replied with a smile.

At this moment, Titus had just as swiftly dealt with all the sharks surging towards the front of space, stood side by side with him.

"State your names and the purpose of your visit."

"I have no name, Tyberos, and I don't want your plundering to become the fuse that ignites the entire Badab War."

As he spoke, Kasgar drew the Red Scorpions Legion Power Sword that had been in its sheath.

"Now, come and fight me."