Blessings of the Four Gods
Angron struggled to his feet amidst the ruins.
His face and body were covered in dust and his own blood, his eyes were still bloodshot and dark, blood was still flowing from the wound on his waist, and a large dent was in the side of his head. He looked extremely miserable and wretched.
But strangely, his signature, deafening roar of anger did not ring out.
He just stood there, breathing heavily, each breath hissing like a broken bellows, his muscles convulsing and trembling uncontrollably.
Deep within his consciousness, a Chaos roar and a chilling Whisper were locked in fierce combat.
The eternal rage brought by the Butcher's Nails still burns, but now, there are four more ancient, more majestic, and more evil wills.
It forcefully poured in through the Psionic Energy link that had been severed by Cato Sicarius's sword.
Attempting to suppress, guide, and even... dominate this Primarch- level berserk body.
Khorne's ferocious fighting spirit, Nurgle's unwavering tenacity, Tzeentch's icy calculations, Slaanesh's extreme focus...
The four distinct yet equally powerful forces of Chaos Gods are not simply superimposed, but rather fused and intertwined in some bizarre way.
It forcibly increased the body's power limit and began to take over its combat instincts and some of its actions.
Angron's remaining self-awareness, under the crushing weight of these four forces, was like a lone boat in a storm, struggling and howling, but quickly being submerged.
He could "feel" his hand holding "Slaughter" automatically rise.
Four colors of blasphemous aura began to swirl around the axe blade—crimson, dirty green, eerie purple, and demonic pink.
Angron is no longer merely the Khorne Daemon Prince of Khorne.
Under the temporary "blessing" and control of the will of the four gods, its level of danger has infinitely approached that of Warmaster Horus who gathered the power of the four gods ten thousand years ago and once drove the Emperor to the brink of despair!
In some respects—such as the body's inherent pure violence and indifference to pain—it may even be superior!
"Calgar!!!"
A piercing, furious roar drew everyone's attention back.
Cato Sicarius's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Calgar, who lay motionless on the ground in the distance, and at the horrifying fractures.
For the first time, his proud face was completely distorted by extreme anger and panic.
"You piece of trash!!!"
He roared at Angron with a blood-curdling rage, but the next second, boundless self-blame and regret were poured over him like ice water.
Why?!
Why did I let my guard down just now?!
Just because the opponent is a "Ultimate Sword Saint," are you so confident that you think the battle is already won?
Is it because they're basking in the false sense of victory of joining forces to severely damage the Primarch?
He should have kept a close eye on Angron; he should have anticipated any unforeseen events!
He is the Sword Saint, and his duty is to spot every weakness and protect his comrades' flanks!
But now... Calgar has fallen, his fate unknown!
The camaraderie and self-reproach entwined around Cato Sicarius's heart like poisonous vines.
He's not a good comrade-in-arms!
He betrayed his father's trust and his comrades' expectations!
"How dare you... harm my respected Chapter Master!!!"
However, even faster than Cato Sicarius's inner turmoil came action.
Malum Kaido, raising his Chainsword, once again launched a desperate charge against that terrifying enemy!
The sword was lowered, but the flame in his eyes had not been extinguished!
Angron seemed unresponsive to this, or perhaps, this was exactly what they expected.
The giant axe, wreathed in four-colored spiritual light, struck out with a precise and cruel angle, arriving first despite being behind!
Malum Kaido twisted his body with all his might, displaying a final, astonishing agility, and narrowly avoided being struck by the head.
But the trajectory of the giant axe was also slightly adjusted accordingly.
Snap—Pfft!
The sickening sound of bones shattering and flesh tearing.
The giant axe cleaved into Malum Kaido's right shoulder, slicing diagonally downwards, severing his collarbone, ribs, and spine before finally stopping at his left waist and abdomen!
Malum Kaido's charge came to an abrupt halt.
He stood there, looking down in astonishment at his body, which had been almost cleaved in two, at the enormous, terrifying wound that spewed blue blood and energy.
The Chainsword in his hand clattered to the ground.
The Power Armour, along with the torso beneath it, was deeply cut open; one heart was barely beating, and another had been severed by one-third.
Blue blood and shattered internal organs were clearly visible.
He tried to lift the Chainsword, but his arm could only tremble helplessly.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only a stream of foam mixed with blood and pieces of internal organs came out.
The light in his eyes dimmed rapidly, his body swayed, he fell forward, crashed heavily to the ground, and remained motionless.
Only the faint glow of Smart Atoms at the wound site is still futilely trying to repair the almost impossible wound.
The Space Marines's powerful vitality prevented him from dying immediately, instead causing him to fall into the deepest state of suspended animation.
However, without immediate and top-level emergency care, death is only a matter of time.
"No...!!"
Cato Sicarius felt a sudden darkness engulf him; boundless anger, grief, and regret instantly shattered his last shred of pride and composure.
But he didn't have time to dwell on his emotions.
Save them!
We must save them!
An incredibly clear thought cleaved through his chaotic mind like lightning.
Calgar and Malum Kaido are only seriously injured and feigning death!
As long as they bring the Macragge's Honour back immediately and receive the life support and repair technology that their father might possess, or that is the most advanced Adeptus Mechanicus, they still have hope!
My father's teachings seemed to echo in my ears, "Your lives are more important than any glory."
No matter the circumstances, only by surviving can one continue to fulfill their mission.
Yes!
Their lives belong to their father!
Their value far exceeds the outcome of a battle, far surpassing Cato Sicarius's laughable pride as a "sword saint"!
Escape!
This word, which had once been more humiliating to him than death, had now become the only, and mandatory, order!
Cato Sicarius.
He swung his sword with absolutely no artistry!
With all his might, he hurled his "slash" like a javelin at Angron.
Then he ran away!
He didn't rush towards Angron for revenge, nor did he even pick up his fallen sword, "Slash."
He lunged at the location where Calgar and Malum Kaido had fallen, at the fastest speed Ultramarines could achieve!
He rushed to Calgar's side, grabbed his still-intact shoulder armor with one hand, and with a forceful lift, tucked the almost broken Chapter Master under his arm.
Without pausing, he rolled to Malum Kaido's side, picked up his severely injured and unconscious brother with his other hand, and hoisted him onto his shoulder.
The movement was executed in one smooth motion, without the slightest hesitation.
Then, he turned around and frantically poured the remaining Smart Atoms energy in his body into his legs, heading away from Angron and away from the center of the battlefield.
Deep within the ruins, far from the possible rescue route of the Macragge's Honour, it sprinted at full speed!
He fled.
The Blademaster of Ultramarines, the proudest warrior, holding his two dying brothers in his arms.
Abandoning the fight, abandoning glory, even abandoning the sword forged by his father, he fled in panic like the lowest of deserters!
He trampled his pride, which he valued as life itself, underfoot and crushed it into the mud!
All for that sliver of hope of saving his brother's life.
This is Cato Sicarius!
Before the supreme bond of brotherhood and the life entrusted to them by their father, pride and dignity can both be cast aside!