A Hug, Brother! (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Horus awoke in the Serpent's Lair, looking at strange symbols drawn on the ground.

The floor was covered in shattered corpses, the remnants of their clothing suggesting they were local priests.

Looking at the flesh and blood, tentacles had already twisted and deformed, and bizarre patterns were carved into the skin.

Horus knew he had been tricked!

Horus looked up at the giant snake's eye, filled with immense disgust.

As he faintly heard voices from outside, he walked towards the sound.

And then he saw the scene from before.

"Hmph!"

Horus let out a cold snort, a tide of oppressive pressure surging towards the Word Bearer Erebus.

In an instant, Erebus was bent over by Horus's terrifying aura.

However, Erebus still proudly lifted his head and chuckled, "Hehehe, welcome, Warmaster, embrace Chaos."

Abaddon and the others wore expressions of confusion. Horus glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, then coldly replied a few sentences.

"Heh! You're just a dog at the beck and call of those things!"

"If you keep barking like a dog, I don't mind cleaning up a stray that only knows how to yap for those guys."

"Hmph, Lord Warmaster, you have such great..." Erebus hadn't finished speaking before Abaddon and the other three had their weapons aimed at his shoulders.

"Show me your worth, Erebus."

"Otherwise, we'll have to settle the score for all the dirty things you've done."

"Get lost!"

Hearing this, Erebus clenched his fists, not understanding where he had failed.

The four men, Abaddon and the others, had terrifyingly cold eyes. If Horus hadn't ordered Erebus to leave, Erebus deserved to die just for turning his Primarch into this strange state.

Alas, Erebus eventually lowered his head and left.

When no outsiders were present, Abaddon and the other three excitedly dropped their weapons and rushed to Horus.

"Primarch, what happened to you?"

"What happened?"

Facing the concern of his sons, Horus hugged the four of them and said, "I have received a prophecy, and I have received power."

"The power to change fate! This appearance of mine is merely a small price to pay."

"Perhaps, we can rest for a while first."

Horus said as he walked out, leaving the four of them exchanging bewildered glances.

They looked at each other, certain that this was Horus, yet he seemed changed.

Horus, who had always shouted about fighting for the Emperor, was now suggesting they rest for a while.

On Prospero.

Before Francis and Kelbo lay two mutated creatures resembling chickens, and each held a piece of yellow paper.

This greatly puzzled Kelbo. "What is this?"

"I saw this in a book when I was bored. It's an important ritual from the ancient human era, specifically for becoming sworn brothers," Francis rubbed his nose.

Kelbo was greatly impressed, Francis was truly a knowledgeable person.

"What do we do?"

Francis thought for a moment and said, "It's simple. We just need to write our vows on the yellow paper, then cut the chicken's head, and burn the paper."

"Like this, just follow my lead. Think of your vows as being spoken to your own faith."

Although Kelbo didn't quite understand, he could only reply, "Okay."

Francis picked up the yellow paper and shouted, "Today, I, Francis."

"Today, I, Kelbo."

They both said in unison, "Vow to become brothers with each other!"

"We don't ask to be born in the same year, month, and day."

"But we ask to die on the same year, month, and day!"

Suddenly, Francis interrupted the ritual and asked, "Brother, how long have you lived?"

"Too long, I can't remember. What's wrong, does this ritual have age requirements?" Kelbo felt confused, ancient human things were so troublesome.

Francis was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "Let's do it! Continue!"

"But we ask to die on the same year, month, and day!"

"If there is betrayal, you will be cast out by the Emperor (Machine God), and forever lose the Emperor's favor (the Machine God's knowledge)!"

After speaking, the two of them severed the mutated chicken head before them, its blood splattering onto the yellow paper.

Finally, they burned the yellow paper to ashes with a boltgun!

Having completed all this, the two stood up, clasping their hands tightly.

Francis said sincerely, "Big Brother!"

"Second Brother!" Kelbo's gaze became even more resolute.

"Big Brother!!"

"Second Brother!!"

Francis felt tears welling up, feeling a pang of guilt for deceiving him. After all, the Emperor was still alive; he could just go back and act spoiled with him.

With that done, Francis removed the "Beast Brain" from the incubation pod.

"I have no battleships, nor custom armor; I truly have nothing worth presenting.

So, I can only give this to you, Big Brother."

Saying this, Francis handed the "Beast Brain" to Kelbo.

Kelbo received the "Beast Brain" with both hands and, with utmost reverence, placed it onto his specially made artificial nerves.

The moment the nerves connected, the Ork face on the "Beast Brain" opened its eyes and softly whimpered, "Waaagh~"

Instantly!

Kelbo received all the button information from the sub-brain, and the console that had been wildly fluctuating moments ago fell silent.

Accompanied by the rhythmic clicking sounds, the Ork Warship began to move.

When the last button was pressed, with a hum, the entire warship lifted off.

"Haha! I did it!"

"Great Machine God! I did it!!"

"Hahaha~ I can use Ork Technology!!"

Kelbo shouted madly, utterly ecstatic, his body trembling with intense tremors.

Until Kelbo could no longer control this feeling.

With a BOOM!

His deep crimson robes completely shattered, Kelbo's humanoid form began to contort and deform, countless mechanical tentacles erupting from within, constantly spewing steam!

Hiss~~

To Francis's eyes, Kelbo now resembled a giant, metallic centipede Mukade.

It was at this moment that Kelbo turned his head, his face stretched taut and terrifying, supported by the now-liberated mechanical tissues.

"Second Brother, thank you. You must also be an envoy sent by the Machine God!"

"Don't worry, I will personally forge you a top-tier battleship and armor."

"If you wish to leave, you may go first. I need to study this thing further."

At this sight, Francis felt his scalp tingle. However, to be safe, Francis still said, "We are brothers; there's no need for such politeness. But I recall hearing that you had some conflict with Horus before, even indirectly causing the death of his adoptive father."

"He is now an Imperium Warmaster, and we are still brothers. If there's anything difficult to handle, you can let me do it."

"Even if I get beaten up by Horus, I will help you!"

Hearing this, Kelbo clearly paused, but quickly regained his composure.

"Good brother!"

"Yes, when the 'Beast Brain' has issues, let me know, and I'll make you a new one. I must go and complete the Emperor's mission now." Francis waved his hand.

He began to walk outside, but before he had gone far, Francis heard the chanting of the Adeptus Mechanicus from within.

"0100100101001101010011010100111101010010010101000100000101001101..."

Francis walked away with increasing helplessness, sighing, "Ah! Emperor, I have made such a great sacrifice!"

To prevent the Adeptus Mechanicus from splitting into a Dark Mechanicus, he had paid a heavy price.

He was now somewhat anticipating what would happen when Horus tried to turn Kelbo.

"No! I'll have to pick out some good stuff from the Terra dungeons later!"

"This is all owed to me by him!"

As soon as he emerged from the warship, Francis saw Magnus circling Leman Russ, muttering as he did.

"What to do?"

"What to do?"

"What to do?"

"..."

Leman Russ, who had lost all will to live, suddenly saw Francis before his eyes.

Leman Russ quickly rubbed his eyes, then found that the other person was still there. His mood instantly improved, and he clapped a hand over Magnus's mouth, saying.

"Francis, you're finally out!"

"How is it, can we set off now?"

Francis nodded, and Leman Russ immediately organized everyone to board the ship at once, preparing to return to Terra.

Just as the others were busy with various voyage preparations, Magnus saw Francis standing on the observation deck, saying nothing.

"Francis, what's wrong?"

"Do you want me to show you the new Psykers knowledge I've mastered!"

Looking at Magnus's single remaining beautiful eye, Francis quickly replied.

"No need!"

"You should focus on adjusting your state so that our Warp voyage goes more smoothly."

"It's not too late to show off when we get to Terra."

Thinking of seeing his father soon, Magnus was very excited!

However, at this moment, Leman Russ ran over, looking at the two with a strange expression and saying.

"The previous order to bring Magnus back has now turned into a full-scale war against the Thousand Sons Legion."