"When the first Chaos storm ripped apart the ship's hull, the Wolf Priests could barely maintain the Codex ceremony."
Havar stretched out his hand to support Alloy Cage on the solid base.
The palms of his hands clenched unconsciously, and Talon plowed deep grooves into the heavy metal.
"But the smell of this forest - the metallic blood flowing under the bark of the trees, is simply Living Warp Filth. As soon as we set foot on the surface, Canis Helix was like a fire poured with heavy oil, burning through every nerve starting from the root of the spine."
Logan Grimnar, who was also paying attention to the situation here on Titan Ship, let out a low roar.
The knuckles of this Logan Power Armour are turning white. Of course he knows what "Canis Helix" means to Fenris Progeny -- It was a curse engraved in the genes, an abyss that every Space Wolves warrior was afraid of touching when he dreamed back at midnight. But the scene Havar described at this moment was far more desperate than he imagined.
"We watched the brothers take off their helmets, their resolute faces began to twist, and fine long hair grew on their exposed skin, but they didn't even have the strength to lift Boltgun."
Havar suddenly raised his head and glanced at the Werewolf warrior who was still roaring in the cage in the distance.
"Wolf Priest Ulrik tried to smash his skull with a power stick, he said... He said he couldn't let his brothers see him become Monster, who even Daemon despised."
Diego noticed that Havar's shoulders were shaking. It was not fear, but the shame engraved in the bone marrow - human nature had succumbed to animal nature.
The warrior in front of me is telling a truth that is crueler than history - when Genetic Curse resonates with Warp filth, even the toughest Space Wolves Chapter can only collapse in Beastification.
"Then... we saw Russ, in this Warp forest."
Havar's voice suddenly sounded as soft as Warp's whisper.
"His armor was split in two, Dionysian Spear was stuck around his waist, and his hair was covered with tree sap and blood scabs. But his eyes were still the same, like Fenris's eternal day aurora, so bright that it could burn through Chaos's fog."
Logan took half a step forward, and Power Armour's joints made a harsh friction sound.
As Chapter Master, he had imagined Leman Russ's situation in Warp countless times, but he never thought that he would hear news about Primarch from a Beastmen.
"He knelt in front of us and touched our foreheads one by one."
Havar suddenly smiled, and that smile was more terrifying than crying.
"Our paws were still dripping with our brother's blood, but Russ didn't flinch. He said, 'My children, forgive father,' and then... Then he cried."
The cell area fell into dead silence, with only Servitor and Data Link making a tiny buzz in the air.
The data fed back by the scanner showed that the newly generated gene sequence of Havar did not completely merge with the genome of Leman Russ, but copied part of it and fused with itself.
This may cause Havar and Russ to resonate. It is not the connection between ordinary Progeny and Primarch, but some deeper resonance catalyzed by sub-Spatial Energy.
"When he stood up, Dionysian Spear's spearhead was dripping with blood."
Havar's gaze seems to be able to pass through countless obstacles and see the back that never bends.
"He said that the roots of Tree of Life are deep in the forest, and there is Relic that can save Emperor. When he returns, he will come to cure us. Then he turned around and walked into the space between the 'breathing' Giant Tree, and never looked back."
Diego suddenly pressed Havar's shoulders, and the power of Sanctified Terminator's armor made the latter's Beastification body sway slightly. Grey Knights's Psychic Power quietly penetrated, but when it came into contact with the Psychic Power veins in Havar's body, it was like being struck by an electric wire.
"The Psychic Power field in your body is consistent with the Warp frequency in this area."
The mechanical synthesized sound of Iax suddenly sounded.
"It's not pollution, it's closer to symbiosis. The flesh and blood of the creatures you have eaten, the sap absorbed, and the mutations of Canis Helix have together transformed you into... part of this Warp ecology."
"Even Panacea is too late, your nature has changed."
Havar turned his head suddenly, and Talon almost brushed Diego's visor.
"So we are not beasts? We are... parasites of this forest?"
"It's Beastman."
Iax's answer was coldly precise.
"The mutation at the genetic level and the materialized product of sub-Spatial Energy. But your memory proves that Leman Russ has entered deeper into the forest, where there is a power that can interfere with Genetic Curse."
Logan on Titan Ship turned around and walked towards the passage without saying a word. He must go to that weird continent immediately.
Jaghatai noticed Logan who turned around and tried to leave but still extended his hand.
Logan glared at a Primarch for the first time.
"I want to go there. I want to follow Russ's footprints. Even if I can only find his body, I want to let the wolf soul of Fenris know which snowfield their king died on."
"No." Jaghatai forgave Logan for his overstepping behavior and reached out to hold his shoulders.
"Every breath of air there may catalyze your Genetic Flaw. Although you have been injected with Panacea, you are not sure--"
"I am Sons of Russ too!"
Logan's roar was so loud that it made your ears buzz slightly.
"You think I'm going to hide in a tin can like those wild dogs with their teeth pulled out? Russ is bleeding, my ancestors are chewing on the Alloy bars in the cage, and you want me to wait?"
"Access is allowed. It is expected that after Panacea cures Genetic Flaw first, their stability will not be affected. As for the irrational 'beasts', they will be treated. Gene fusion can no longer be separated, but Panacea can restore their sanity. Here, these Beastman may have unexpected advantages."
A Machine Intelligence Servitors emerged from the corner.
"Jaghatai, you and your Progeny can also log in, if you want?"
Jaghatai looked at Servitor's emotionless electronic eyes, then glanced at Logan, and nodded slowly.
"Then let's set off together. Sons of Russ's temperament is admirable."
Logan bared his teeth inexplicably.
Just when Logan and Jaghatai as well as Kheshig and Wolf Guard were thrown out of the Torpedo launch tube.
Havar walked towards the many cages, and then stretched out his hand next to Werewolf who was imprisoned with Power Armour and had a vague Apothecary mark.
Using an unimaginable and amazing skill, he forcibly tore open the storage compartment on the opponent Power Armour, and deftly took something from it.
Beastification's palm slowly opened.
"He left this behind when he left."
Havar opened his palm, and a Wolf-Fang Pendant embedded in the flesh rolled down to the ground, with clear tooth marks on the edge.
"Bite it off with his own teeth. Just like when he taught us how to hunt Snow Spider when we were children."
Diego picked up the pendant, and the moment Psychic Power swept it, countless fragments flooded into his mind like a volcanic eruption - Leman Russ slashed between Giant Tree, and Dionysian Spear splashed juice mixed with metal and flesh with every slash.
Primarch was kneeling in front of Altar, which was made of metal and bones. The wolf head tattoo on his back was leaking golden blood; and... a vague female voice, whispering like a melting glacier.
"Tree of Life is not a tree, and the one who desires it cannot get it."
Diego suddenly turned around and looked at Havar.
"Can you feel the breath left by Russ?"
Havar Close your eyes, and the silver-white hair will move automatically without wind.
"Can be like North Star, always bright in the turbulence of Warp. But..."
He suddenly frowned.
"There is something growing there, older than Chaos, colder than Palace of Emperor."