The Dionysian Spear pierced through the side of Horus's armor and drove into his abdomen. Bright red blood immediately streamed down.
On the surface, the wound Russ had inflicted on the Warmaster did not appear severe. For a primarch, an abdominal puncture like this was a minor injury, one that could heal completely in the time it took to catch a breath.
But the Talon of Horus had torn through the Wolf Lord's shoulder guard, nearly cleaving him in two. Its sharp barbs and disintegration field were ripping apart Russ's flesh and bones, bringing agony that pierced to the marrow.
Yet after his revelation, Russ understood that victory was not what he needed. As long as he drove the Dionysian Spear into Horus's body, he had achieved his purpose.
The light of clarity and the power of Chaos clashed endlessly in Horus's eyes. His body went limp, and Worldbreaker, held in his other hand, dropped weakly and struck the deck with a dull thud.
The Warmaster had originally intended to restrain his brother with the Talon of Horus before using Worldbreaker to directly burst Russ's head. Lethal wounds might not mean much to a primarch, but having one's head blown apart definitely counted as one.
After all, the primarch of the Iron Hands had only truly died after his head was severed.
The Dionysian Spear shone as the Emperor's immense power entered Horus through that tiny wound, driving away the Chaos power that clung to him like maggots on bone.
Ever since he had been assassinated on Davin, Horus's body and soul had been torn apart and seized by the four gods of the Warp. At last, the fragments of his soul regained their free will.
The Wolf Lord felt the resistance against the spear in his hand rapidly weakening.