“… Is Erebus dead? ”

Luo Jia looked at the high-ranking priest of the Whisperer who was half-kneeling in front of him suspiciously, and he even wondered if he had heard it wrong.

The high-ranking priest only nodded silently, his trembling figure indicating that his mood was as shocking as the genetic protogen.

“… This..."

In the face of the shock and silence shown by his heir, Luo Jia was even more puzzled.

He couldn't understand the meaning of the news.

In his eyes, the pious and shrewd Erebus was undoubtedly the mainstay of the Wai Blazers, and his sacrifice would almost symbolize the total annihilation of the accompanying Waysayers.

In fact, as the chief pastor of the Bearers, Erebus's status is not insignificant.

Loga divides the Whisperer's system into regular warbands and priests who are led by himself, and the priests are extremely prominent.

The two lines of power in the Legion of the Bearers often intersect and progress. Although the two lines are theoretically separated, no low-ranking company commander would question the authority of a high-ranking priest.

As the chief priest, Erebus symbolizes the center of the chain of command of the Seventeenth Legion's priests.

He is second only to the existence of the genoplasm except for the head of the war group.

It stands to reason that Erebus is even entitled to be able to send an expeditionary fleet with him.

And he died.

Lorgar doesn't remember sending Erebus to some of the most dangerous heretical worlds.

The casualties of the bearers are usually not high.

The Seventeenth Legion has not been on a battlefield mission of late, and their mission is usually to reclaim worlds that have not yet been fully subjugated to the Empire, and to bring under the command the uncivilized barbarians through faith and the Book of the Word.

After pondering for a moment, Luo Jia asked.

"How did he die?"

Faced with the question of the genetic protogen, the high-ranking priest lowered his head.

“… In the City of Perfection, the Chief Priest was executed by the Genoplasma of the Twelfth Legion under the name of 'Heresy'. ”

"Reason... It's 'plotting against the Empire' and 'heretical beliefs'. ”

The senior priest's voice trembled a little, and there seemed to be an indescribable struggle in his heart.

“……？”

Luo Jia's brow furrowed.

The genetic prototype of the Twelfth Legion, he heard a little... But why does the 'betrayal' have to do with Erebus's death?

Before Luo Jia could think about the cause and effect, the bearer trembled and said more important news.

"The Emperor... Arrived in person at the City of Perfection. ”

"He demanded... The fleet of the Bearers will personally destroy the City of Perfection. ”

……

……

The perfect city.

Golden and scarlet figures paced down the hallway, voices of conversation echoing through them.

“… Will he be able to understand what you mean? ”

"He has to understand."

The statue of the Divine Emperor made of white jade was dyed with a warm color by the candle flame, and it seemed that even the closed eyes showed a little kindness.

“… I thought you'd change your mind a little bit after looking at that kind of future. ”

Elaine sighed slightly.

"Especially... After I kill the scum who will cause all the tragedy. ”

As she expected, decades had passed quietly in that great war.

It wasn't until after the end of the war that she was sent to the key point of time in the real universe by the subspace storm set off by the blood god.

Not long after she killed Erebus, the Lord of Humanity's fleet reached the skies above the City of Perfection.

Moreover... The death sentence of the City of Perfection was pronounced.

“……”

"The future does not change by any subjective prediction."

The Lord of Humanity looked up at the majestic and sacred statue in silence and spoke slowly.

"It's that it exists, that is, it is unreasonable."

The majesty revealed in his words symbolizes his determination and will.

“… Are you still demanding of your religion. ”

Elaine couldn't help but shake her head slightly at the emperor's attitude.

In fact, since her return to the present universe, she has clearly felt that there is some invisible push pushing her into those inevitable and unavoidable futures.

The empty right arm was still aching, and some invisible connection seemed to be linking the distant starry sky.

Although the Ultramarines' fleet did not arrive with the Emperor as it was historically, a series of treacherous developments are gradually becoming more and more violent.

"It's not harsh."

"Because I've seen so much tragedy and destruction."

There was a hint of regret in the Emperor's voice, and his gaze shifted from the majestic icon to Elaine's one-armed.

His gaze deepened, as if he realized that Elaine's right arm was still aching, and as if sensing that her right arm would bring unspeakable fate.

"That's for what is going to happen... It's just too insignificant. ”

"Whether the fate of Loga is irretrievable, whether the Seventeenth Legion is against the Empire, no matter what..."

"Whether that mutiny actually happened."

As if aware of the emperor's attitude and gaze, Elaine clenched her teeth slightly.

"—I don't understand."

"You should have seen... In that war, the human will to resist. ”

"In fact, I see that fate is not an unbreakable enemy."

"Under this will... Everyone's sacrifice is not meaningless, and everyone should not submit to the tragedy of destinedness. ”

"Even if it's just a faint chance... The possibilities are endless. ”

In Elaine's sonorous words, the eyes of the Lord of Humanity flickered slightly.

When he patiently listened to the daughter's rebuttal, he slowly closed his eyes.

“… Price, my child. ”

"The point... It's the price. ”

"Maybe your will will will be enough to sustain this resistance, but you have to think carefully about the cost."

The Emperor's voice grew colder, and the indignation on Elaine's face was reflected in his pupils.

"Your legions have been nearly lost in the war against Him, your land has been consumed in endless decades of war, and your life and will have been nearly left in the High Heavens."

“… I do not deny the precious will that you and your legion have shown, but you cannot impose it on your brothers. ”

"Especially... Loga. ”

"Thou hast slain his chief priest and poured out the flame of rebellion on the heads of the speakers..."

"No one will ask for a salvation from the future until the truth comes."

Elaine's fists clenched in the Emperor's cold and unforgiving words.

"Even if he is really redeemed by your wishful thinking... But any of your efforts have not been remembered. ”

“…… I don't care! ”

Elaine roared and interrupted her father's sneer.

"Perturabo, Loga, Koraks... These brothers, my brothers, they all have a chance to be redeemed! ”

"I never cared about the price, and I never cared about any remembering..."

In Elaine's roar, the closed eyes of the Lord of Humanity slowly opened, but there was no longer any indifference.

"The empire could have been better, and humanity could have been better!"

Yes, she never cared about such a thing... Remembered or not, whether her struggles made sense or not.

She just wants to make up for all her regrets, she just wants to make up for the tragedy that shouldn't have happened.

Ever since Elaine was born as a genetic prototype in this dark and terrifying universe, the endless shackles of fate have surrounded her—there have been so many tragedies and regrets played out in that illusion from the gods, too much too much pain and hatred have been engraved on her body by thousands of visions of despair, and all of them are not just illusions for her, and all of them are not just falsehoods for her.

Every betrayal, every painful struggle, left a huge scar on Elaine's heart, and even though she was redeemed by the Emperor's divine golden rays, the past of these sufferings brewed by the endless bitter wine still existed in her heart, and the boundless darkness that lurked in the sea of hearts merged with the cursed knowledge.

So much so that this heavy pain has been united with her soul, like Angelon's butcher's nail that symbolizes tragedy.

Even though her resilient soul is strong enough to shield her from all the heavy suffering, it also subconsciously influences her choices all the time.

… And she herself never thought of rejecting such a choice.

Father and daughter confront each other in silence.

The cold moonlight shone on the face of the God Emperor, and the luxurious marble reflected a little dazzling luster.

The Lord of Humanity stared at the blazing flames that burned in Elaine's gilded pupils.

In it, he saw too little hope.

But in the midst of the terrible darkness that stretches as far as the eye can see... It's enough to shine enough.

Just like himself.

"So..."

"Be prepared to take on this hardship and responsibility..."

The Emperor whispered softly.

"My child..."

In Elaine's shocked gaze, too dazzling fiery psionic energy burst out from the emperor's majestic figure, and the entire church was illuminated by this dazzling light comparable to that of a star, and even the night sky was torn apart by this miraculous scene.

Until Elaine's vision returned to normal in the extreme dazzle, until... Sensation came from her right arm again.

She looked at her right arm in amazement: the extremely rich gilt armour and scarlet satin covered the entire right arm, and a dazzling golden glow revealed through the cracks in the armor, and if you looked closely, you would see that it was not any flesh inside, but a being composed of pure energy.

However, this flexible touch that allows for free movement means that this existence is not false.

"This..."

Elaine looked at the Lord of Humanity with some blankness, but there was only endless pity and lamentation in his eyes.

It's like watching a sad opera that is about to come to a shattered end.

"Now, I know... Your burning will, your precious courage to confront the indisobedient. ”

"So, in line with... Heavier, more difficult responsibilities to bear. ”

In the soft voice of the emperor, the endless lamentations from ancient history echo leisurely.

He turned slowly, leaving Elaine with only a majestic back.

In this back, Elaine sees everything: Augustus, Jesus, the first emperor, the last saint, the woman who walks by the river, the hunter who walks in the woods...

Everything is Him.

He is also reuniting with the icon of the Emperor of God.

It's as if it's never changed.

"My child. You're going to give everything on this long journey..."

"Whether it's the responsibility of the Great Expedition, or the price of changing fate."

"Until you're exhausted... Until everything you know and cherish is inevitably destroyed on the way to your fate. ”

At this moment, the majestic figure in front of Elaine seemed to be gradually blurring.

As if the man in the golden armor was not the lord of humanity with a laurel crown on his head, as if the being who shimmered with the cold sun was not the emperor of a great empire.

It is an old sailor who has been suppressed by time and time, but still stands, old and strong.

……

The waves of the High Heaven tossed in the whispers of the power of destruction.

Cowardly souls drift through it, and stubborn wills struggle tenaciously in it.

On the dark, sparkling sea, there was only the playful gaze and mocking whispers of the gods, only the dazzling rays of the icy golden sun.

The old chess game has been broken in the miraculous struggle of the brave.

A new chess game unfolded again in the whispers of many chess players.

Their gaze passed through the Sea of Souls, at the fleet of the Seventeenth Legion, which was moving at full speed in the subspace channel, and caught a glimpse of the vague uneasiness in the heart of the Great Shore Primordial.

They saw his adoptive father furious.

They saw his faith flickering.

They saw that his mind was shaking.

Oh, yes... Everything has changed, but everything seems to have not.

Indigo's strings of fate were lamenting and playing with it, and he saw a myriad of strange and strange changes intertwined in this instant.

The lilac shadow let out a coquettish sigh, expecting more heavy, hysterical desires to be unleashed.

The deep green courtyard of decay echoed with a sigh of pity, and he lovingly embraced all the unnourished souls, blessing love and despair.

And the Scarlet Skull Throne has only His wild laughter and roar.

The severed arm, stained with sacred blood, was the reward he had won in the last game, and it was a new bet in this game.

He looked forward to her retaking it, and to whether she would fall in the next moment.

Heavy axes from the past and the future tear apart all the loot that covets it.

They all looked at her.

They all looked at the wolf shepherd gods and angels.

The intricate galaxy chess game has been stepped down in the whispers and murmurs of the gods, and the successive endings of the clowns have long been foreseen by them.

A tide of chaos was accumulating in the deep purple pupils, and countless futures were waiting to be released in them that even they had not foreseen.

Her majestic and small figure flickered in the mist.

And the over-burning fireflies... Naturally, it will usher in the end of extinguishment.

……

……