As Hogg's words fell, the brightly lit bridge instantly darkened. The Eldar elders who had been attending them filed out one after another, leaving only Hogg, Lorgar, and Belial.
In the blink of an eye, the old clan leader's back straightened and the wrinkles vanished from his face. The old geezer who'd looked half-dead transformed into a gigantic Joker who took up half the bridge.
Colorful face paint concealed his expression, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. His unconventional outfit had a distinctly postmodern feel, and he'd even put on a human military uniform to get chummy. Add in his mango-like face, and Hogg felt as though he were meeting one of ancient Terra's former kings.①
Sillago hadn't sent an avatar; he'd arrived in person. By comparison, the dog and the weasel on the throne looked so tiny. But Hogg wasn't nervous at all. Instead, he and Lorgar sprang up like startled cats and started furiously stomping on Sillago's little toes.
"Why'd you get so big? You're blocking our view. Keep showing off, and I'll make you fly."
"Big Bro's right. How dare you put on a spooky act in front of us? Even if you're the Great Unclean One, you're leaving here with your ass covered."
Even weakened as they were, Primarchs couldn't be underestimated. Besides, Lorgar was shameless enough to grab the little hammer smeared with Hogg's brains and smack Sillago with it. It was even more satisfying than swatting someone with an iodine-soaked belt.
The sudden beating made Sillago let out a Tom-like scream. His huge body instantly shrank, and he even threw in a dedicated 720-degree Thomas the Tank Engine spin before crashing headfirst to the floor along with the illusion he'd created.
"Ah! Martha, I feel like my heart is bleeding. Bruce,