The Iron Men Legion had won its first battle, even forcing the Thousand Sons to abandon their proud flagship, the Gloriana-class vessel. That was an immense humiliation for any Astartes Legion.
But that was precisely the Iron Men Legion's victory.
Yet in order to preserve his brothers, Ahriman had still made the difficult choice to cut off the tail to save the body.
His decisive retreat also made Lox abandon the idea of deliberately going easy on them. Perhaps keeping this group of wavering traitors alive would instead become an even greater problem for Horus.
At the thought of the "elite generals" under Horus's command, Lox nearly laughed out loud.
But he had received professional training, so he generally did not laugh.
There was the ambitious grand Word Bearer, Lorgar; Angron, who had completely given up after ascending to daemonhood; Fulgrim, lost in debauchery; Konrad Curze, who had become an infiltrator; and Magnus, whose mind was filled with recovering fragments of his soul.
The only ones truly willing to work were Mortarion and Perturabo. After the Lord of Iron, who had seemed almost invisible to the Emperor, had exhausted every last shred of loyalty in endless miserable battles and quagmires of war, he had resolutely joined the Warmaster's camp.
But from Lox's perspective, the rebels still looked down on the Iron Warriors. The Fourth Legion's work was no different from before, and the pressure and casualties they endured were even harsher than in the past.
After all, while the Imperium had once ignored them, it had at least not stabbed them in the back. But now?
"Perturabo, Perturabo. Before you rebelled, you did all the hard work. After you rebelled, you still do all the hard work. Wasn't your rebellion for nothing? Your Legion and sons were even screwed over