The Third Heart

"You just mentioned the Justiciar Legion? What are the specifics?"

Lion El'Jonson looked at Magnus; he needed more detailed information to plan his actions.

For example, the Son of Night Legion.

Magnus was briefly lost in thought.

"The Justiciar Legion, they're like clones of Curze, each with their own personality, but each one an excellent Judge."

Judge?

"Don't be so surprised, brothers. To paraphrase Uncle Han, teaching is the same whether you're teaching alone or with a group of people. And indeed, he teaches very well."

But they are a group of criminals.

Lion El'Jonson was right; the very first members of the Son of Night Legion came from Terra's prison.

An Inquisitor with a group of Judges, and then a bunch of criminals?

This is more hellish than a hellish joke.

"Perhaps we should do something," Mortarion said.

Swish.

Lion El'Jonson stood up.

"I advise you not to do this, Lion El'Jonson," Magnus said.

"This will be a secret, and all the brothers present are the Keeper of Secrets."

"I'm almost glad Perturabo didn't come; I should have stayed home too," Russ said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Relax, Lion El'Jonson. Curze is capable of organizing his Legion; we can't overstep our bounds."

"Hmm, it's an old way of expressing it, but I can still understand it," Mortarion said.

"This is called an idiom. It would be more accurate to say it in Old Terra Language, but given the linguistic differences, we'll use High Gothic to paraphrase it."

"Is it that Uncle Han again?" the Khan asked.

"Yes, Uncle Han's influence in Nostramo is multifaceted."

"Military affairs, culture, politics, people's livelihood—he taught Curze everything, Curze used these to build Nostramo."

"This is truly something to look forward to," the Lord of Drakes said calmly.

Lion El'Jonson eventually sat down but did not make a move.

As for what happened today?

This is a secret.

After several days of sailing, Han Mingxuan and his group arrived in near-Earth orbit on the ship Terra for Terra.

Looking at this Planet, Han Mingxuan felt a tightness in his chest.

This is Terra, Earth, the Homeworld of humankind.

Like an old person overwhelmed by burdens.

We've arrived.

Curze listened to Han Mingxuan's words, his voice carried an unprecedented heaviness.

It was a heavy, melancholy feeling, like a moldy, damp rag from the kitchen covering one's mouth and nose.

Curze was also looking at the Planet, and he thought of the New Nostramo.

"Is this... definitely not hell?"

Environment... well, there's no environment to speak of here.

From space, not even a tiny speck of vegetation, no bigger than a mung bean, can be seen.

"Curze, this is the fate of humanity today."

Yes, the fate of humanity today is just like that of this Planet.

The buildings there soar into the clouds, and the city is bustling with traffic.

The people above are residents of the Throne World.

But what about from a cosmic perspective?

This Planet is made of reinforced concrete, a living hell.

If you set up in the old Nostramo, this place would be paradise.

In modern terms, this would be the eighteenth level of hell.

"It's so suffocating, Dad."

"Yes, the situation for humanity is not optimistic."

Curze looked at his father, feeling grateful.

He is grateful to his father for giving him an education that brought his heart to life in this universe.

"Curze, I know that in a universe that's practically a living dead, having the heart of a living person is a painful and difficult thing."

"Perhaps I've over-educated you on this point."

"No, Father, your education of me was never excessive; it instilled in me a beating heart."

"I'll do everything I can to get this living dead's blood flowing; I should wake her up."

"As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement." - Father.

Yes, we must strive for self-improvement.

And then, life goes on and on.

Thump, thump, thump.

Just then, Han Mingxuan heard Curze's heartbeat.

Normally, a person's heartbeat is inaudible, even for Space Marine with two hearts and three lungs.

But now, Han Mingxuan heard that voice clearly.

That wasn't a physical heartbeat; it was a heartbeat from the soul, originating from the depths of consciousness.

Deep within Curze's consciousness, the Night Haunter arrived before the original door.

The area was shrouded in the Mist, with only a corner of the Mist visible.

The heart on the scales began to beat, and a faint golden light flickered in rhythm with the heartbeat.

What's this?

Even the well-informed Night Haunter couldn't be sure.

Because he had never seen such a Warp Essence before.

The heart was beating, but the longsword remained unharmed; the contrast between stillness and movement created an eerie scene.

"Curze?"

"I'm here, Dad," Curze said. "Perhaps my Warp Essence is awakening."

Curze placed his hand on his chest, and the heart on the scale entered his body, causing a golden light to appear in his eyes.

He saw it.

I foresaw a dark future.

And in the dark future, there is that soft yet dazzling golden light.

"Dawn has broken, hope is at hand, the darkest night has fallen." Curze uttered these words unconsciously.

Swish.

Suddenly, a sword appeared in Curze's hand.

That was a sword forged by Han Mingxuan.

It was jet black, radiating a cold light.

But at this moment, the blade of the sword began to emit a ghostly blue starlight, and a golden line appeared on the spine of the blade.

At this moment, the scales deep within Curze's consciousness were completely empty.

As if sensing something, Curze took out the Code that Han Mingxuan had given him.

Immediately afterwards, the Code disappeared and appeared next to the scales.

With another reach, the Code appeared, and at the same time, a scale appeared in Curze's left hand—the scale from the depths of his consciousness.

At this moment, the Night Haunter saw everything clearly.

The Mist began to dissipate from one corner, revealing the whole scene.

The being shrouded in the Mist is none other than Konrad Curze himself!

"Incredible," the Night Haunter murmured to himself.

Curze's Warp Essence himself.

His Warp Essence is that of a... person.

A truly upright and honorable person.

Congratulations, my brother.

At this moment, the Night Haunter crowned Curze, placing the Crown of the Night on Curze's head.

Congratulations, Curze.

Curze turned around, and the Emperor and Malcador appeared before him.

"Thank you, but I think there's still a lot I need to do."

Curze looked at the Planet, his heart pounding; he was determined to bring about Planet.

This is also what the Emperor desired.

Konrad Curze, Lord of the Eighth Legion, will become the first Grand Inquisitor of the Imperium.

"Go, go see your brothers, and announce your arrival to the world."

Shortly afterward, the Emperor's fleet landed on Terra. At the same time, people from all walks of life and Primarch who had been waiting for a long time looked towards the hatch.