I'll Kill Him

"You've torn off a part of your essence, a small piece of your essence that's purely about 'destruction' and 'end,' and it's slipped out like a viper."

The price is that you are not truly complete, but merely a fragment imbued with intense obsession.

Am I right, Your Majesty?

The Dark Emperor remained silent for a moment, his dark eyes expressionless, but the surrounding "dead silence" field rippled slightly, indicating that his heart was not entirely unmoved.

"... So what if it is?"

He finally admitted frankly, his tone returning to its cold arrogance, "As long as there is enough human suffering and death, and enough despair, what I have lost can be quickly made up for, and I will become even stronger."

As for you, Bluebird--"

He stared in the direction where Tzeentch's will was:

Shut your incessant mouth.

Now, let's talk about 'help,' or you can continue using that brainless mad dog Angron to repeat Magnus's failures."

Upon hearing the word "help," Tzeentch's will quickly shifted from mockery to seriousness and efficiency.

Faced with the unprecedented common threat of Guilliman.

Even he, who symbolizes eternal change and cunning, understands that he needs to temporarily suppress his instinct for "ever-changing" and pursue a definite "result".

"Say what you want to help."

Tzeentch's will was like a cold, flowing stream of logic. "If your target is Guilliman, then perhaps we have a basis for cooperation."

The Dark Emperor laughed, a pale and cruel laugh:

"My help is this part of my essence, and... my understanding of my other descendants."

He specifically emphasized the word "understand," carrying an uncomfortable sense of intimacy.

"You continue to nurture Angron, infuse him with power, the more the better, don't worry that his already limited sanity will be completely destroyed."

In any case, all he needs is a one-time, powerful impact.

The Dark Emperor's plan was clear and ruthless. "Send him to distract Guilliman and draw the attention of my perfect offspring, even if only for a moment."

He slowly drew the sword from his waist.

That was not the radiant form of the Emperor's Sword, but a longsword with a similar design, but its entire body was wrapped in pale, deathly black flames.

The flames burned silently, as if devouring every tiny bit of energy and sound around them.

The blade faintly revealed countless human faces, contorted in pain, numb and desperate, their silent screams merging into the darkness flowing along its edge.

"This is a portion of my essence that I specifically separated and condensed."

The Dark Emperor gently stroked the sword, as if caressing a lover's face, his movements terrifyingly tender.

"The essence of humanity's suffering, numbness, despair, and death over the past ten thousand years is gathered here."

He looked up, his dark eyes seemingly piercing through the Warp, and saw the blue figure soaring across Terra:

"Even Guilliman's Material Universe of C'tan, would have no chance of survival if pierced by this sword."

Its inherent concept of 'end' would 'deny' its perfect cycle and powerful vitality from an existential perspective.

He proposed a cooperation plan:

"You've given Angron the opportunity."

When the time is right, Guilliman's attention is diverted, and his power momentarily weakens—I will personally strike and deliver a fatal blow to my 'distinguished' offspring.

This plan stirred up the will of the Four Gods once again.

With the Dark Emperor personally intervening, coupled with that evil sword clearly designed to target Guilliman's "perfect life" trait, the success rate undoubtedly increased significantly.

But... what about the risks and costs?

Seemingly sensing the four gods' doubts, the Dark Emperor offered an unusually detailed explanation, his tone carrying a complex and enigmatic meaning:

"The other 'me' once challenged the largest fragment of the Void Dragon with a wooden spear that wasn't even tied with a rope and was just naturally wedged into a stone."

That fragment devoured countless souls, almost equivalent to a complete C'tan, symbolizing the mechanical laws of the universe.

He paused, as if recalling that inherent strength that he both loathed and couldn't help but admire:

"Any tool that shows signs of 'processing' will be controlled and backfired upon by it."

And he, relying solely on pure Psionic Energy and physical strength, used that primitive and laughable 'weapon' to defeat and seal it beneath Mars.

He looked at the executioner's blade in his hand:

"Although my sword embodies negativity, the level and specificity of its 'existence'... are sufficient to kill."

The wills of the four gods communicated rapidly.

Ultimately, Tzeentch spoke on behalf of the group, "We can cooperate."

But you need Angron to create a sufficiently precise 'flaw'.

We will strengthen him, but seizing the opportunity and carrying out the final assassination are your responsibility.

We... will ensure the battlefield 'environment' is 'suitable'.

An agreement was temporarily reached, between the dark side of the Chaos Gods and the Emperor, with the goal of killing Guilliman.

The Dark Emperor nodded slightly and slowly sheathed the "End of All Things".

However, deep within his pitch-black eyes, no one could glimpse a fleeting, extremely complex, almost painful struggle.

"My beloved offspring..."

"Go in peace..."

Deep within his heart, he Whisper to the figure he was about to destroy, his voice carrying a twisted, chilling 'tenderness'.

He really liked Guilliman, very, very much.

As the only one among all the Emperor's children to perfectly inherit the extreme 'tyranny' that belonged to the ruler.

And Lesser God are closest to the essence of war in terms of highly efficient destruction.

In the eyes of the Dark Emperor, Guilliman was almost the perfect "creation" and "successor".

Countless times, amidst the turmoil of evil thoughts churning under the Emperor's own suppression, he fantasized about bringing Guilliman under his command.

He will personally carry out a "transformation" of it, washing away those boring "sense of responsibility," "sense of honor," and "pity for mortals."

Only the purest will to rule and the power to destroy remain.

He will make Guilliman his most powerful divine messenger, tasking him with eradicating all "imperfect" life in the Material Universe and establishing a "pure" world with only ultimate order.

Just as Horus was the Emperor's most beloved son, Robert Guilliman was the Dark Emperor's most favored 'son'.

"If it weren't for being forced to..."

The Dark Emperor glanced one last time in the direction of Terra, feeling the increasingly strong, and irritating, fluctuations of "life" and "hope" there:

"I really... don't want to destroy you with my own hands, my most perfect creation."

But in order to rise from the throne, to become the sole "Dark King," and for that ultimate silence... some sacrifices are inevitable.

Even his "most beloved" son.