"No... this is impossible... absolutely impossible..."
Apophis's voice, which echoed directly through the mind, now trembled with shrill, near-breaking terror.
It stared fixedly at Lorgar, clad in golden armor of light and holding a flaming Greatsword, like a sacred god of war resurrected from ancient myth. Its body, veiled in flowing nebular light, began to tremble uncontrollably.
The long staff in its hand, set with a ghostly blue Psychic Crystal and once wielded with such graceful composure, now shook faintly along with its body, giving off a soft hum like a mournful cry.
The nebular radiance flowing over the staff rippled violently beneath the surging pressure of the golden divine might before it, blazing like the sun. It flickered uncertainly, like a candle guttering in the wind.
The sight before it utterly defied its understanding and shattered everything it knew.
Blackstone... that cosmic wonder capable of isolating, suppressing, even negating Warp energy and psychic energy... had failed?
The nature of this power, its absolute purity, its order and cleansing, its supreme majesty and boundless favor toward humanity...
Apophis had encountered descriptions like these only in the oldest, most secret records and forbidden whispers.
"All right, Apophis..."
"Spread yourself open."
Lorgar's voice rang out.
It was still that majestic sound blending his own voice with some supreme will, but the emotion belonging to "Lorgar" seemed a little clearer.
His voice was calm, even faintly amused.
He flexed his wrist lightly, and the Greatsword formed entirely from burning golden flames traced searing arcs that slightly warped space.
Molten-gold runes flowed along the blade, their light shifting as though they were breathing.
"Now..." Lorgar tilted his head slightly. His eyes, burning with golden fire, watched the trembling Apophis calmly and intently, as though inspecting an insect caught in a web.
"Without that annoying