I'm Azak-Ariman.

Now, I'm going to show you what it takes to survive in some of the most extreme and dangerous places in the galaxy.

I'll have to face a series of challenges: legends of Terra, monsters who have single-handedly captured the fortress, and a host of fanatical believers willing to fight to the death for the honor of their original toenails.

In this kind of place, you can't even hold out for a day without proper survival skills.

——————

When Ahriman counted [946], the last psionic Astarte warrior belonging to the Second Legion finally slowly bypassed his side, and those silver-white armor bypassed Ahriman, silently passed through the tarmac, and finally arrived in the gloomy battleship corridor, and soon disappeared without a trace.

From beginning to end, they were ......

Quiet.

Yes, quiet.

There was no kind greeting, no imaginary malicious challenge, just like the rushing water bypassing the rocks in the river, and the silver-white torrent naturally bypassed Chiko.

It's as if there was some deadly virus from Prospero in him.

Thinking of this, in his heart, Ahriman laughed at himself helplessly.

Of course, he didn't care about these indifferent attitudes, he was never a vulgar person who cared about such small things, his vision would only stay on those things that were more practical or greater.

It's like......

Ahriman blinked.

For a brief moment, Ahriman stood alone on the empty tarmac, frowning slightly, and under the cover of the scarlet helmet, the eyes of the Achaemenids measured their strength, determination, and talent against the Dawnbreaker think tanks that were unscrupulously gazing into the distance, and the possible outcome of the battle between him and each of them.

……

Nothing strong.

Memories of all the Dawnbreaker Think Tanks sifted through his mind quickly, only to send Magnus's proud son a disdainful snort: just now, he didn't feel threatened by any individual.

One, none.

These Dawnbreakers under Morgan, they're experienced, they're not as good as they can be, they're loyal, they're ......

But mediocrity.

A contemptuous laugh came from under Chiko's armor and quickly disappeared into the cold air, and Ahriman moved his neck nonchalantly.

No, you can't think so, Ahriman.

At the very least, you can't express this attitude too obviously.

In his heart, the company commander of Chiko insincerely admonished himself: to be respectful to friendly soldiers.

And it was at this time, with a few slow and familiar footsteps, that he finally came to the tarmac, and Ahriman waited for the two figures he had been waiting for.

Zosimos, Milding.

Ahriman smiled and greeted him.

He knew that these two seemingly ordinary Daybreaker Psionic Masters were the two undoubted leaders of the Psionic Group under Morgan's command, and they were also the first two of Magnus's sons to default when he carried out his inventory of all the psionics in the Second Legion.

Although, their strength is still far inferior to that of Ahriman: it only takes a ceremonial handshake to express self-esteem, and Ahriman can clearly judge all this.

In the self-estimation and deduction of the son of Magnus, he can completely defeat one against two, and only need to pay some time and price to destroy the souls of Zosimus and Mirdin.

It's not that difficult.

By the standards of think tanks, these two Morgan sons are indeed very strong: their strength is the kind of mediocre power, the kind of power that anyone can achieve that has been slowly built up through repeated accumulation and conformity.

That's the power of mediocrity, but not the power of genius.

And Ahriman, it is a genius.

——————

Sure enough, just like at that time in Holy Terra, the only person in the Second Legion who really deserved his attention and awe was the self-proclaimed knight......

Monster.

——————

Zosimus and Mirdin also brought a third figure, one to the delight of Ahriman: Balek Uchisar.

This rising star of the Legion of a Thousand Sons from the Celestial School, a native of Prospero, is the companion chosen for him by the Father of Genes of Ahriman, and the one he will fight side by side for decades to come: together, they will spend a long time together in the Legion of the Daybreakers, under Morgan's Silver and White Throne.

After all, under Magnus's promise of all-encompassing, he agreed to Morgan's request almost without thinking: the two Thousand Sons would have a long-term mutual learning program in the Dawnbreaker Legion, and they would not return to the Thousand Sons battle sequence again until the moment the Fifteenth Legion returned to the Great Expedition.

At first glance, it may sound like nothing, but when you think about it, it's a long promise.

You know, it's only the seventy-eighth standard year of Terra since the beginning of the Great Expedition, and the timer in subspace shows that it's 876. M30

And although Magnus reunited with his Thousand Sons on Prospero thirty years ago, and succeeded in [saving] his children, the progress of the Thousand Sons in rebuilding the Legion has been very slow for thirty years, and their enthusiasm for the Great Expedition is not so high.

Even the most optimistic estimates are that Magnus and his legion will be in the hundredth Terra standard year of the official start of the Great Expedition, which is 900 of the subspace timer. Around M30, you can truly return to the galaxy and fight for the great cause of the emperor.

In other words, even if it is estimated with a conservative mentality, Ahriman will have been in the Legion of the Daybreaker for more than ten or twenty years: this is not without precedent, don't you see that the second company of the Legion of the Emperor's Son is about to become a full-time employee of the Iron Hand Legion?

However, that was not something that Magnus would care about: he had neither the competitiveness nor the pressure of the Emperor's mission schedule in the Great Expedition, nor would Magnus even want to devote his experience and time to what he saw as barbaric and senseless conquest and destruction, if he could.

As for Ahriman: Magnus even hopes that his proudest child will be able to win glory for Prospero's ideas under Morgan, so that more people will realize that the path of a thousand sons is the right one.

But, that's after that.

For Ahriman, the most important thing now is to establish a relatively friendly relationship with the two mediocre Daybreakers around him, after all, he still needs the guidance of these people to help him get acquainted with the battleship.

Thankfully, although he was facing an unknown environment, there wasn't much he really needed to worry about: Barek was standing behind him with the self-awareness, led by the Terra veteran, and Ahriman's luggage was soon delivered by the enslavers: only a medium-sized package, not even a fifth of the large and small rolls of Barek on the side.

The pale-complexioned Barek was a very likable fellow, mild-mannered and courteous, and a rare diplomat among Magnus's children, which was quite satisfying to Ahriman: he could not imagine how he could spend more than ten years with a guy like Hathor or Phosis.

The rising star of the Celestial School was clearly not at ease: just a few days before Terra Standard Time, he was standing in the glorious light of Tizca, hosting the Dawnbreakers from afar, and in a matter of hours, he became a guest of the Dawnbreakers with an idea of his own genetic proto: and it seemed like a little longer.

Almost in a panicked manner, Barek packed up his belongings, and the liquor that was being brewed by his own hands could only be entrusted to his companions in the legion, and he even envied Ahriman: the only luggage that Ahriman had was his staff and ancient scrolls, which recorded spells and decrees from the ancient Achaemenid Empire, and Ahriman had been working to crack these sacred treasures.

The young Prospero stood behind Ahriman like a shy squire, constantly surveying the ancient and broken reliefs on the Polaris, and pricking up his ears to listen to the conversation between Ahriman and the two psionic masters.

And in private, through the special spell of the Thousand Sons Legion, he established a personal psionic communication with the Ahriman around him under the noses of the Dawnbreaker Think Tank, which he used to ask questions about the conversation.

For example, the name that Ahriman kept mentioning in the conversation, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Bayar."

"Why do you care so much about him? Ahriman? Is there anything wrong with him? ”

The words from Barek echoed in Ahriman's heart, and the commander of Chiko's first company only kept his smile and continued to talk to the two Daybreakers on the surface, but inwardly, his words answered Barek's question in a concise and clear manner.

"Because of the danger."

“…… Dangerous? ”

"Yes, dangerous."

A few glimmers of light flashed in Ahriman's pupils.

"Perhaps my next words are a bit alarmist and alarmist, Barek, but remember: if you find myself forced to go in and out of the arena for some time to come, don't have the slightest doubt."

"Most of those Daybreakers, or all of them, can't do anything about me, I'm the first company commander and Templar instructor of the Thousand Sons Legion."

"Except, of course, ......"

"Except for Bayar?"

“……”

"Yes, except for Bayar."

“……”

"He's a complete monster."

——————

Bayar.

In the ensuing chat, the young Owl was almost out of the air, thinking about the name that would make Ahriman feel taboo and fearful, as well as its owner.

And he himself, as if he had entertained this perhaps powerful figure in the dozens of Terra Hours that had preceded him: the Dawnbreaker seemed to have nothing to say about it in Baleck's impression other than his unusually kind and humble attitude, which was endearing, and at the same time a little strange in his manners.

Why should Ahriman be jealous of him?

……

Can't figure it out.

The curiosity of a thousand sons burned like this.

And when the two Dawnbreaker psionic masters temporarily left to deal with the business at hand, the Qianzi duo, who were temporarily resting in the corner of the main hall, finally ushered in the continuation of one question and one answer.

“…… Ahriman? ”

The commander of the company of Chiko, who was recuperating with his eyes closed, opened his eyes, he turned his head, and looked at the fighting brother on the side with some helplessness, as always, he did not use words, but used the psionic communication channel between the two.

"You want to ask about Bayar?"

"Yes."

"It doesn't really have anything to do with you, Baalek."

"I know, I'm just curious."

“……”

Ahriman sighed inwardly.

Curious.

Well, in all fairness, if he were in this position of Balek, he would not be able to suppress the curiosity in his heart.

Curiosity, this seems to be the most ingrained part of Magnus's bloodline, influencing every move of the Thousand Sons at every moment, giving them the unrivaled courage and decision to march towards the world of knowledge and the unknown.

The company commander of Chiko closed his eyes and was silent for a moment, as if reminiscing and taking deep breaths, and after a while, just when Barek's patience was running out, Ahriman opened his eyes again.

"Bayar."

"He's a monster."

"You're not from Terra, so you probably don't know how terrible he is."

“…… So, Balake, if you were asked to choose the strongest Astarte warriors in your heart, what would you say? ”

“…… Does not contain psionic powers? ”

"Of course."

"Hmmm......"

"Astran of the Dark Angels, Acudona of the Emperor's Son, Seyanus and Abaddon of the Shadowmoon Wolves, Santo of the Iron Hand, Gage of the Ultramarines, ......"

In the closed mouth of Barek, dozens of names of more than a dozen legions came out, each of which was a famous existence, a symbol of victory, conquest and legend.

Ahriman listened patiently, nodding from time to time: every character the young Celestial Owl exemplified was from Terra, or the earliest veterans of the Great Expedition, which was a matter of course, after all, those warriors from the original home planet, although they were also rising like meteors, they were too young after all, far less than the old and famous people of Terra.

But......

The corners of his lips curled as Ahriman looked at the somewhat dazed Barek with a kind of Terra arrogance, the son of Magnus recounting the figures his battle brother had put forward little by little, before he unhurriedly gave his own answer.

"The examples you have given are indeed the big names in the various legions."

"Invincible, unstoppable, inescapable, invincible......"

"But!"

Ahriman smiled and motioned for Barek to come closer, so that his words could echo in the ears of the young thugs.

"He, Bayar."

"He's beaten everybody."

"The characters you listed, those from Terra and Cthunia, those from the Dark Angels and Ultramarines, the proud sons of the various legions."

"Bayar has been defeated all, and he has lifted their swords to the ground, leaving their arms bleeding, and they can no longer hold on to anything, but swallow the bitter fruit of defeat."

"Yes, you heard it right."

"In Terra, that's what he did before the Great Expedition began."

"Except for Acudona, the head of the court swordsman of the Emperor's son, no one can be the match of Bayar."

“……”

Ahriman was very satisfied with Barek's current expression: the most vivid brushstrokes, the shock and the stunned, the absurd and the doubtful, the undoubted and the bewildered, skillfully blended into the same color, outlining the face of Barek now.

Obviously, his mind was filled with so many questions at one time that he couldn't even think, he couldn't talk, he couldn't pick out the one he valued the most, and he was also the most confused, to smash on Ahriman's well-groomed shawl.

He stammered and hesitated, like a dazed child, not a proud warrior under Magnus: this continued on him for a while, and then slowly subsided with the heaviest of deep breaths.

with more suspicion.

“…… Are you kidding, Ahriman? ”

Ahriman didn't speak, just pointed to his serious countenance.

This silenced Barek for a moment, and when he looked up, he involuntarily approached his fighting brother, as if he feared that his words would be heard by someone who might be lurking in the shadows.

"That ......"

"What about Sigismund? That powerful new star of the Fist of the Empire? ”

"Then I don't know, although Sigismund is also a native of Terra, but he has not been in the Legion for a long time and has not been famous, he has missed the heyday of the Second Legion, he and Bayar have no direct combat records, and the only few meetings they have have only met are only point-to-point exchanges."

"That'...... Then why, even though Bayar is so strong, the Second Army ......"

"Because he was only an Astarte warrior: although, it is said that he was the first Astarte soldier of the Second Legion, he was not a genetic prototype after all, and he could not ...... Use personal force to save the overall situation. ”

"No one can do that."

"Except for the genoplasms."

As if expected, before Barek's question could be finished, Ahriman waved his hand casually and answered his battle brother's doubts.

And then he came to the last question, a question that he had been prepared for.

"Ahriman, you just said ......"

"Except for Acudona?"

Barek's pupils glowed, flickering with a quest for blade and glory.

They are a thousand sons, they are the wise sons of Magnus, and it is true: but underneath this façade they are also Astarte warriors, and war men who will yearn for any great duel.

This is common to any legion: strength, victory or defeat, real sword duels......

To date, no Astarte fighter has been able to completely reject these words from the heart.

Chiko is no exception.

And this is also the reason why Aliman remembers Bayar so deeply.

Because of that duel.

The duel he witnessed with his own eyes, he was the only one who watched the whole situation from beginning to end, and was fascinated by it, and remembered it to this day.

Bayar's duel with Acudona.

——————

It was on the eve of the Great Expedition, and the years when the War of Unification of Terra was coming to an end.

The agreement with Mars has been signed, the power of Luna and the Jupiter Federation has also bowed to the power of the emperor, and Terra, the human mother planet of the former bulls, ghosts, snakes, and gods, full of mutant warlords and technological barbarians, has long been under the emperor's throne.

Only a handful of recalcitrant rebels, hiding in the chasms and shadows, shivering, became the first prey of the newly recruited Astarte Legion.

It was a tense time, as preparations for the Great Expedition were in full swing, and unimaginable logistical supplies and weapons were flowing into the Emperor's grand plan every day through the furnaces of Mars and the docks of Jupiter.

But it was also an easy time. For more than a dozen standard years of Terra, the Astarte Legion had no opponents worthy of their full effort, and many warriors were at a loss in the face of this sudden idleness, and it was clear that training and rest could not drain everyone's energy, so. It was at this time that the competition and competition between the legions became popular.

Which legion has the strongest warriors under the Emperor's command?

This has become a topic that everyone is very concerned about.

It was also at that time that the Legion of the Emperor's Sons, who were selected from among the noble heirs of Europa, welcomed a special group of guests.

They came from one of the two most powerful Astarte regiments of the time: the Second Legion.

The purpose of their arrival was to participate in a real sword duel tournament organized by the Third Legion, which was held by the elite warriors of each legion.

The conference lasted for several months, and hundreds of legendary warriors competed with each other under the cheers and eyes of everyone.

The competition between Astarte is as fierce as a beast, but it always maintains reason and modesty, and in the neighing of metal collisions again and again, the atmosphere in the arena is infinitely close to the real bloody battlefield, but it is always separated by a thin red line.

And a few months later, only two fighters stood on the stage of the final.

Bayar of the 2nd Army.

Acudona with the 3rd Army.

At the time, they were recognized by all the Astarte fighters present as well-deserved top men.

In fact, as one of the hosts, Acudona did not devote himself to competition at the beginning, until Bayar played a rather exaggerated record in the arena of the Emperor's Son.

He single-handedly single-handedly knocked out almost all the court swordsmen in non-stop sword duels, and those who made a name for themselves in the war were only a matter of one night or a few rounds under Bayar's twin swords.

And when the number of court swordsmen defeated under the sword of Bayar was about to approach three digits.

Acudona came out.

He first gave Bayar a real break, and the two greatest Astartes warriors chatted in the arena until they realized at the same time that the other was at their best.

Then they drew their swords.

For the next twenty hours, everyone was hooked.

Silent confrontations, fierce battles, unimaginable skill and determination, and sword dances that were complex and swift enough to confuse the Astarte warriors: in the hands of two of the most elite Angels of Death, it was so easy and so natural.

At that time, Ahriman was in the crowd of onlookers, and he watched the whole duel with meticulous care, almost with a pilgrimage and reverence, his eyes widened, and he let the fierce sunlight sting his skin, and let the storm of tigers and blades pass in front of his eyelids and nose, but only the slightest distance.

He didn't even want to avoid it, because that would make him miss the excitement of the next second, the eternity of the next second, and the possibility of missing the next second...... Winner or loser.

——————

"And then? And then what! ”

The abrupt halt of Ahriman clearly made Barek feel a sense of dissatisfaction, the young warrior of the Celestial School, his eyes widened at this time, just as Ahriman had seen Bayar and Acudona in the first place, his face was occupied by an emotion called longing, staring at his fighting brother tightly, waiting for the end of the story.

"So, who of them won?"

"Who's the one who's still standing twenty hours later?"

Ahriman smiled.

"Nope."

"None of them lost."

"Clearly, their strength, skill, and will are so strong that their blades are not worthy of the noblest qualities of theirs."

"In another collision. Four swords broke at the same time, and the four most shining edges fell to the sand at the same time, making the duel come to an abrupt end like my words. ”

"Draw."

"Or rather, it doesn't matter who wins or loses."

"Or, in other words, all together."

"It's like the life-and-death duels and legends between countless great heroes in history."

"It's a regrettable, but no regret."

"They were tied."

"No one won."

……

"However, after that, the two of them had countless duels."

"If I'm not mistaken, there are forty-nine games in total, and if you count the first, twenty-five are draws, and of the remaining twenty-four, each of them has twelve wins."

"Then, the process of the Great Expedition has spread to the point where the various legions have to act separately, and the Second Legion has also fallen into their lonely history."

"As far as I know, Bayard and Acudona haven't had their fiftieth duel since then."

"Someday, though, in the future, if any."

"Then I'll definitely go and see it."

——————

The tracing of history and the emotion of the legend were carried out just rightly, and when the last character in the mouth of Ahriman quietly landed, Josimos and Mildin also broke away from their temporary duties and reappeared in the field of vision of the two warriors of a thousand sons.

In this way, the group continued to move forward, and Balak silently followed behind Ahriman as he had just done, playing the role of his silent follower, and he could also rightfully immerse himself in the emotion and remembrance of the legendary stories he had just heard.

Ariman strides forward, he and the two psionic masters are almost side by side, and the common study of psionic energy and the common desire for rich knowledge have greatly narrowed the distance between him and the two novice acquaintances.

As they approached Zosimos' room on the North Star, their discussion had expanded to include academic issues and personal views on psionic abilities.

And in this field, there is no doubt that Chiko's recklessness must be more dazzling, more radiant, and more triumphant than the caution of the Dawnbreaker, and with the loud discussion and loud exclamation of the Ahriman, he seems to be the dominant player in the conversation.

The proud son of Magnus picked out one or two of his dangerous but also supreme valuable ideas and theories from his endless learning, and casually threw them to the Dawnbreakers beside him, and awaited their feelings and longings with great anticipation.

But this time. He had to be disappointed.

For when Ahriman's triumphant words finally reached the ears of Zosimus and Mildin, the Morgan sons just looked at each other, and their eyes flashed with a light that Ahriman had never seen before.

This light clearly symbolizes a certain message, a message that only the legionnaires of the Dawnbreaker understand and use each other.

A moment later, Mildin whispered to Ahriman in a convincing tone.

"I have to admit that you are a distinguished guest from the Thousand Sons Legion, you have come quite far in terms of psionic energy. Far ahead of every psyker in the Dawnbreaker. ”

"The suggestion you just made is of great practical value, and may be a very good research goal and direction."

"We will set up the project for this project, but before that, we must first prepare a report document for this project, as much as possible to indicate its main research content, main purpose, research direction and possible dangers, and then hand it over to our genetic protogen, ask her to approve the project, and allocate resources and manpower to set up a project team."

“…… Project? ”

"Debriefing documents?"

"Approval?"

"Project team?"

——————

What are they talking about?

——————

For the first time since Ahriman officially boarded the Polaris, he was visibly stunned.

Because, although he could understand every word spoken by the dawnbreakers in front of him, why did these words make him so ...... when they were connected

Dazed?

——————

"Polaris, Polaris, this is Mayflower, can you hear me?"

"Mayflower, Mayflower, this is Polaris, I can hear you, is there anything you need to report?"

"We have come across a ship that belongs to the Cult of the Mechanicus, claiming to be an envoy of the Foundry World, with the most important things and the most precious gifts to give to our Mother of Genes."

"Casting the world? Which casting world? ”

“……”

"Reza."

(End of chapter)