The flames in the fireplace crackled.
Mortarion felt something strange. Rationally, he desperately wanted to speak with Hades, but emotionally, what he felt now was far more nauseating than when he had first faced Calas Typhon after he had devoted himself to Nurgle.
Who knew why Mortarion and the other primarchs here could coexist so peacefully with the Underking—
Mortarion could understand why another version of himself had accepted Hades, but what about the other primarchs? Shouldn't they have stared at Hades in horror before opening fire on him?
Or had all that already happened, with the Underking emerging as the victor?
"Since you've remained silent, I'll take the liberty of asking first."
Hades swallowed the cookie in his mouth and looked at the somewhat unfocused Mortarion.
He did not intend to start with sensitive questions, such as what side this Old Morty was on. Better to make small talk first. Besides, Hades was curious about another timeline created by that old bastard Emperor.
"Would you be interested... in telling me about Barbarus over there in detail? And was there a version of me in your world?"
Hades blinked.
"Judging by your reaction... there was another me over there, wasn't there?"
For a moment, Hades felt as though Mortarion across from him had died.
An utterly pale and powerless aura radiated from Mortarion, but in the next instant, that soul, dead for so long, struggled back out of hell and sat before Hades, barely clinging to life.
[As for that...]
Mortarion felt his hands trembling. He could use lies and sophistry, feigned submission, to disguise himself, but on this subject, before a familiar "old friend," he wanted to follow his heart for once.
[I will tell you the whole truth... You have the right to hear it, Hades.]
After seeing