The virulent poison, potent enough to turn even a Space Marine into a heap of rotten flesh in an instant, erupted the moment it touched Horus's skin, like boiling oil splashed onto ice.
Indescribable agony swept through Horus's left arm, accompanied by an itching numbness and a sense of decay that reached deep into his marrow. Black markings resembling livor mortis appeared on his skin, and his muscles began to wither visibly.
It was not merely physical pain, but an erosion of his very soul. An overwhelming urge to give up everything spread through his mind like a virus.
"It's over," Mortarion pronounced, his voice carrying the finality of a sentence.
"Over?"
Horus kept his head bowed, hiding his expression. His voice was slightly hoarse, yet unnaturally calm.
"No."
He snapped his head up.
There was no pain in those eyes, no despair, only... a blazing golden flame, ignited and roaring!
The passive ability [Glory of Bloodshed] erupted at that moment with unprecedented intensity!
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
Horus unleashed a roar that shook the heavens.
An aura several times greater than before burst from Horus's body. He seemed to grow taller, and visible arcs of golden lightning coursed over his black-and-gold Power Armour.
"You..." For the first time, genuine shock and disbelief entered Mortarion's voice. "What have you done?!"
"Me?" Horus smiled, his grin brilliant and savage. "I've just... finished warming up."
"Mortarion, do you know? Back where I come from, there's a saying..."
"Thanks for the rocket, boss!!!"
Before the words had finished leaving his mouth, Horus vanished again.
This time, he was several times faster than before! So fast that he left a string of golden afterimages in the air!
Even Mortarion's daemonic vision could barely track his movements!
BOOM!!!
Worldbreaker slammed squarely into Mortarion's breastplate.
This time, there was