"Enough... to destroy an entire Stars system."
Trazyn's flat, emotionless statement fell like a block of cold metal into the deathly silence of that forgotten, colossal metal hall, sending a deep and dangerous ripple through the still waters of Lorgar's mind.
Temptation crept upward like a vine reaching silently out of the darkness.
What did that mean?
It meant that the Word Bearers, the Legion of Lorgar Aurelian, might gain another terrifying "tool of persuasion" beyond unwavering faith, iron discipline, and faithful execution of the Emperor's will—one capable of settling everything at the most critical moment.
When faced with certain obstinate xenos worlds, or planets so thoroughly corrupted by Chaos that they could no longer be saved, it would offer an exceptionally efficient solution.
Not only could it greatly reduce casualties among the Legion's warriors and shorten the process of conquest, but it could also proclaim the will of the Imperium of Man and the Word Bearers to the entire galaxy in a new way.
Those not of our kind must all be slain.
It would be a hidden trump card, one never to be played except as a last resort, but one that could completely reshape the board once deployed.
Within the Emperor's grand yet blood-soaked blueprint for the Great Crusade, amid overt and covert maneuvering against other Legions and powers, the value of such a card was immeasurable.
Something like this... must never fall into anyone else's hands.
As those thoughts raced through his mind, Lorgar's gaze had already changed.
His initial wonder and assessment of the unknown Ruins quickly faded, replaced by a sharp light, cold yet burning, that mingled overwhelming desire with absolute possessiveness.
His fingers whitened slightly around the sword hilt as his grip abruptly tightened, and even the precision pressure sensors in his power