Tyberos: But He Was Offering Too Much (Part 1)

"You may leave."

"The Raven Guard has no slaves, Shadow Lord."

After being welcomed back to his Primarch, the former commander of the Nineteenth Legion, Alkahas Phall, did not receive any recognition for his role as a general who had defended the honor of the Nineteenth Legion.

Rather, it was a thorough purge and exile.

After taking over the Legion, Corvus Corax quickly realized that the Legiones Astartes, which had his blood flowing through its veins, might not be as righteous as he had imagined—most of the Terra veterans and officers of the Raven Guard were pure slave traders.

This army was primarily used to suppress uprisings and resolve riots. With its power whips and other riot control weapons, as well as the extensive use of torture, fear, and culture within the legion, the Nineteenth Legion stood on the opposite side of the insurgents from its inception.

As Lycaeus's liberator, Corvus Corax never imagined things would turn out this way.

But as if fate were playing a cruel joke on him, his legion commander Alkahas Phall and the remaining Terra Raven Guard found themselves on his natural opposite side.

An entire legion of slave owners, paired with Primarch Corvus Corax, the liberator.

—It is extremely ironic from any perspective.

Unlike other Legion Primarch, upon their return, were still trying to reconcile the conflicts between Terra and the Space Marine their homeworld, Corvus Corax decided to use the simplest and most direct method to try to eradicate this legacy that once symbolized resistance, suppression, and occupation.

For Phall and several high-ranking officers of the Raven Guard, this purge also meant the removal of them from command; Corvus Corax saw in these Terra Legion warriors something similar to the slave traders he had recently overthrown on Licaius.

They are no longer permitted to remain with the Raven Guard.

Nevertheless, in consideration of his loyal service to the Imperium of Man, in carrying out missions to eliminate enemies, this former legion commander and a large number of his fellow Terra legion warriors were eventually assigned by Corvus Corax to serve his legion beyond the borders of the Imperium.

At the same time, a large number of "Ashen Blindness," that is, patients with Ashen Blindness, followed this group and Raven Guard, becoming a new legion—of course, according to the later provisions of the Codex Astartes, they were eventually defined as Chapter.

[Carcharodons]

This will be their current name.

Fully loaded with the former personnel, weapons, equipment, and supplies of the Nineteenth Legion, their fleet, led by former corps commander Alkahas Phall, disappeared into the vast void like a bloodthirsty shark.

Corvus Corax gazed at the ships sailing into the distance.

If he had not been taught and trained by the workers of Lycaeus, would he have thought, like those Terra veterans, that slaves were born inferior, only fit to grovel at their feet and work themselves to death?

Could he also become a slave owner like Alkahas Phall, bringing enslavement to more of the Imperial World instead of liberation?

Or rather, these offspring who have his bloodline are more likely to be what he originally would have become.

Corvus Corax didn't know.

The history of the Carcharodons predates all Chapter except the First Founding.

Since being banished by Primarch Corvus Corax, the Carcharodons have only roamed the borders of the Imperium of Man and the Warp, returning to the Imperium at appropriate times, either to complete missions or to "replenish" supplies. In any case, they have retained the dark style of the Nineteenth Legion, much like the Night Lords.

Because they often roam the Warp in search of prey, time is even more discontinuous for them—they may have only been in the Warp for a few months, but when they came out, it was a hundred years later.

Tyberos, a Terra veteran who was exiled by the Primarch alongside Legion Commander Alkahas Phall, could be considered a veteran of ten thousand years if counted in terms of the Black Legion's years of service.

However, when Tyberos was exiled by the Primarch, he was just a Legion recruit. He had never seen the legendary hero Kasgar before, and it was impossible for him to recognize who this unknown Red Scorpions was.

However, he could sense a familiar fluctuation in the other party.

I don't know who the other person is, but it seems like I've had contact with them before.

"You have great courage to challenge me, but I hope you have the strength to match that courage even more."

Crimson Scars Tyberos gestured with his two weapons to disperse the astonished space sharks watching the spectacle. These ancient relic gauntlets, known as "Hunger" and "Thirst Quencher," combined barbed power blades with serrated inner sides, and had once torn apart the throats of countless powerful and weak, soaked in the blood of the innocent and the guilty.

As he moved forward, Terminator Armor emitted a slight friction and a hum as his footsteps hit the ground.

Tyberos controlled his pace, his ancient Terminator Armour, studded with countless connecting rivets, was far more imposing than his opponent's ordinary Red Scorpions Power Armour.

Even before the two sides have officially clashed, this overwhelming momentum is enough to suffocate any opponent.

The Chapter Master of the Carcharodons was infamous throughout the Imperium for his ruthless methods.

Those who witnessed him in battle and lived to tell the story described him as a blood-soaked killing machine.

Tyberos was too fast to be seen with the naked eye, leaving only torn corpses in his wake. But unlike a warrior driven to rage, he displayed precise and deadly intent in battle, as if each slaughter was pre-calculated to achieve the best deterrent effect.

The surroundings unconsciously formed a circular arena for them. Apart from Titus, who was still standing next to Kasgar, the only people in the remote grasslands who could see them were the two facing off.

The surrounding Carcharodons would occasionally let out a few mocking whispers.

A Chapter Master immediately thinks of challenging the Carcharodons is simply overestimating his abilities.

It's unclear why the Chapter Master chose to engage that guy in a proper duel instead of ending his life with a single blow as usual and then continuing their raids—but the final outcome seems to be much the same; that foolish Red Scorpions has no chance against the Chapter Master.

"You step aside for now, let me handle this battle."

Kasgar said helplessly to Titus was eager to try beside him.

Judging from his reaction, it seems that he also wants to have a life-or-death duel with this formidable enemy, as his first opponent after being imprisoned for a century, to test his skills that have been neglected for a hundred years.

However, under Kasgar's orders, Titus, as the adjutant, suppressed his fighting spirit, turned around and reluctantly took two steps back, making way for the two of them to have a battlefield where no one could disturb them.

"Tyberos, I am deeply honored that you are willing to have your men duel with me. Whether out of caution or goodwill, I accept."

"Peace between the two sides in Badab was hard-won. If you need weapons, supplies, and equipment, we are ready to provide you with enough support to last for a century."

"This is my request—go back and do not try to start a new Badab War."

At Kasgar's words, the surrounding space sharks booed and laughed again. As for Tyberos himself, he did not respond verbally, but crouched down slightly, staring at Kasgar as if locking onto prey.

"Let's begin."

Buzz!

No sooner had the words left his mouth than two figures, one in black and one in gray, clashed together like two ghostly phantoms.

At this stage, bystanders, even those who are elite Carcharodons Space Marine, can only see the clash of claws and blades formed by countless afterimages.

As the Carcharodons Chapter, Tyberos is not only more powerful than the average Space Marine, but he is also comparable to the Chapter Master of the First Founding, including the Chapter Master of the parent chapter Raven Guard.

(Shadowsun: Really? That's not that strong!)

But ironically, in this continuous clash, he, who was originally as fierce and swift as a shark, was unable to achieve any results against an ordinary Red Scorpions Chapter!

The two were fighting fiercely!

Of course, this irreconcilable conflict was the result of Kasgar its power.

Currently, Kasgar is not willing to reveal too much of his abilities.

He was only relying on his combat experience, which came after his senses, speed, and strength had been multiplied since he awoke, to clash with the opponent's claws.

Perhaps Tiberius is indeed very strong, but under the swordsmanship of Kaska, the second company commander of the Imperial Prince and a direct disciple of the Sword Saint Aqua, even the mighty Man-Eating Shark needs Kaska to hold back a bit in order to fight him on equal terms.

The originally ferocious and raging Carcharodons was unable to break through the giant protective net woven by Kasgar's Power Sword for a while.

As time went on, Tyberos's expression beneath his helmet grew increasingly grave.

Kasgar did not want to knock his opponent to the ground in this battle.

An unknown Red Scorpions Space Marine was able to defeat Tyberos —such a terrifying feat is truly astonishing. Upon learning that even Tyberos could be defeated, the High Lord will undoubtedly become wary of him.

Most likely, the next thing to arrive in Badab will be countless Black Ships of the Inquisition waiting to escort Kasgar to the capital.

It's better to keep a low profile.

When.

With one last swipe away from Tyberos's somewhat impatient attacking claws, the two separated once again.

That's enough.

A draw.

In the battle just now, neither side could gain the upper hand!

"Good."

Amidst the astonished gazes of many space sharks, Tyberos broke the silence in the arena.

"Your swordsmanship is very strong."

To outsiders, their movements appeared as light and swift as a dance, colliding countless times amidst the buzzing sounds of their afterimages and the Disintegration Field.

But only Tyberos, who had close contact with the opponent's swordsmanship, could sense that restraint.

Even when his attack was deflected, his opponent did not take the initiative to counterattack. Instead, he merely pointed at him a few times before pulling back the blade in his hand.

It didn't look like a duel at all, but more like a teacher instructing an apprentice.

This only made Tyberos more impatient.

No. If a single Red Scorpions could stop the Carcharodons's hunting advance, what face would the Chapter Master have to continue leading the Chapter?

This damn obstacle must be torn to shreds!

Silent, Tyberos's massive body moved once more.

At that very moment, even though the two sides had already created some distance between them, Tyberos still chose to launch a strong attack on Kasgar from the front.

"I have nothing left to lose but to spill my blood on the earth!"

Ashen Blindness.

The Nineteenth Legion's gene-flaw.

Those afflicted with this condition will gradually have the whites of their eyes completely replaced, and will develop an aversion to using the Raven Guard's unique stealth-based Psychic Power and Guerilla Warfare, declaring them "cowardly acts." They will then switch to frontal assaults, transforming into complete war maniacs.

In the end, the person with Ashen Blindness fell into extreme depression, completely stopped using ambush tactics, and showed a tendency to abuse the enemy and desecrate corpses in battle, while also having a lot of self-harm and self-mutilation tendencies, until he was naturally cured or died completely after the battle.

Kasgar's swordsmanship, which was full of provocation—at least in Tyberos's eyes, it was so provocative that it completely triggered his Ashen Blindness.

The fierce Chapter Master launched a relentless assault on Kasgar at an even faster pace than before.

Click.

However, just as Tyberos was about to rush forward and deliver the finishing blow to Kasgar, a slight cracking sound came from his right leg.

That was the sound of the rivets on the Terminator's shoulder armor breaking and falling off.

Perhaps due to Tyberos's excessive speed, his originally sturdy leg armor detached from his upper body in an instant.

Was the pre-battle inspection of the Carcharodons so poor that no one noticed the connecting rivets on the Chapter Master's long armor were on the verge of falling off?

Of course not.

Perhaps the Carcharodons is indeed very poor, but as the Chapter Master of the Carcharodons, Tyberos's Terminator Armor would never be loosened.

This kind of blunder is, of course, all due to Kasgar.

Kasgar —this mysterious fellow—loosened the screws that held him firmly in place during the battle just now, without him noticing, and secretly pried open his opponent's leg armor.

Just as Tyberos, suffering from Ashen Blindness, launched a desperate attack on him.

"FOOK!"

At that very moment, Tyberos, having lost his balance, pounced at full speed toward Kasgar.

Then, with the timely dodge of the opponent and Titus directly behind, the Carcharodons Chapter was launched into the distance like a cannonball and crashed to the ground.

"Tyberos!"

Kasgar shouted "unexpectedly," as if he had never expected such a blunder to happen in a serious duel!

While all the space sharks were still watching in confusion as their Chapter Master fell on the distant grassland, Kasgar led the charge ahead of them.

"Are you alright, Tyberos?"

With its speed far exceeding that of everyone else, Kasgar successfully closed in on the other Carcharodons before they could even arrive.

This finally gave him a chance.

Bear!

A tiny, golden-red flame, taking advantage of the moment, quietly burned through the armor of the person Kasgar was about to help.

Not long after.

The Strike Cruiser Nicor.

This rusty Strike Cruiser appears to be something the Space Sharks stole from a Chapter at some point in time.

Moreover, it seems that due to a lack of sufficient Tech Sergeant (Martians are afraid of bandits, or rather, even more afraid of them), the ship's original firepower was almost completely rendered useless, except for its use in transporting boarding personnel.

After all, if a problem can be solved by boarding, there's no need to open fire.

Most of the compartments have become difficult to access due to lack of maintenance and years of disrepair. They are like refrigerators that have been full of food but have been without power for two or three years; no one dares to open the doors to see what has become of them.

"Please come in."

This sentence seemed to have exhausted Tyberos's last remaining strength.

In the battle just now, the Chapter Master Tyberos and the mysterious Red Scorpions swordsman were locked in a fierce fight.

But just as the Chapter Master was about to deliver the final blow, a bizarre incident occurred because Tyberos's Terminator Armor was the Old Ones relic, and the Carcharodons lacked the Tech Sergeant to repair it. Due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance, this led to the blunder.

But the magnanimous Tyberos didn't take it to heart, believing that the Red Scorpions Swordsman had earned the Space Shark's respect through his own strength.

The Chapter Master decided to keep his promise and abandon the looting, and invited him to visit the ship.

"Is this report acceptable?"

"Chapter Master?"

". no problem."

Tyberos sighed.

Only he knew exactly how much sea the mysterious man before him had released.

Although the report states that the Carcharodons Chapter did not lose.

But in the end, he really did lose face big time.

"In that case," although the three of them, including Titus, were now in each other's private cabins, Kasgar still activated Psychic Power shield just in case.

"Then let's see just how badly you're injured, Chapter Master Tyberos."

"My wound, my wound is healed?"

"What kind of tricks are you using?"

Tyberos removed his helmet with a look of surprise and doubt, and tried touching his cheek.

Now, everything about his face has returned to its former peak condition.

Before the battle, half of his facial bone was exposed, giving him a bloodless, ghostly face, and his eyes were a soulless, unfathomable black.

That was the result of his self-harm caused by long-term Ashen Blindness.

But the moment the flames engulfed his body, all the problems were resolved.

This can no longer be explained by the concept of rejuvenation.

This is practically a miracle!

Moreover, he could even feel that the Ashen Blindness that had plagued him for countless years had been completely eradicated from his body.

The flames of Kasgar can completely eradicate genetic defects.

Back then, before Kasgar could even help Corvus Corax complete the cleanup, he was forced by the Emperor's orders to go to the front lines of Uranus to fight against the Orks Green Tide.

"Well, Chapter Master, are you interested in hearing my terms now?"

Tyberos remained silent, his eyes, now with the whites of their eyes restored, looking at the other person with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"You"

Who exactly are you?