After confirming Arkhan Land was alone, Nareth pulled him into the Kingdom of Disorder.
"My Lord."
Nareth instructed the already "corroded" Arkhan.
"The Emperor found the Twelfth Legion's Primarch, Angron, on Nuceria."
"Slavers implanted the Butcher's Nails, a Dark Age technology, into his brain to control gladiators and force them to fight each other."
"After the Emperor brings him back to Terra, He will ask you to remove the Nails. Study them then, and record your findings on a data crystal."
Hearing the Black Emperor foretell the Emperor's future actions, Arkhan instinctively analyzed with his logical faculties.
'If the Emperor were truly the Omnissiah, He could not be foreseen.'
'The Black Emperor foretells the Emperor's future actions. He is the Omnissiah.'
'My belief in the Emperor as the Omnissiah was a mistake, a blasphemy.'
Arkhan decided to serve the divine commands more devoutly in the future, to atone for his sins.
"By Your will."
In the final month of 899, as the people of Terra celebrated the return of the Twelfth Legion's Primarch, Angron, deep in the Himalayas, amidst the pungent chemical smells of high-temperature machinery and glass, in a laboratory,
"Arkhan, I want you to help me remove the Butcher's Nails from Angron."
Arkhan, already prepared after receiving the Omnissiah's command, heard the Emperor make the request.
'Indeed, the Black Emperor and the Machine God are two sides of the same coin. Lord Nareth is the Omnissiah incarnate.'
Despite the Black Emperor's command, he still looked with disgust at the creature on the examination table.
This creature called Angron, his bloodshot eyes filled with crimson, his ragged breath more repulsive than a beast's.
The Butcher's Nails hummed. Angron's eyes were a sea of red.
The Emperor, Arkhan, and the surrounding people in sealed suits became the slaver and his evil minions.
The restraints became shackles. He let out a roar of rage.
The roar drowned out the clanking machinery. Several researchers spat blood, staining their white masks red.
Arkhan looked at the creature on the table with disgust. There was no trace of civilization about him. He was a monster.
"Subject 12 is not worth saving. Nor should he command humanity's Great Crusade." Arkhan said bluntly.
The Emperor was used to Arkhan's dislike of the Primarchs.
Even the beloved Horus and Sanguinius were only called Sixteen and Nine.
Only Nareth, Ferrus, Perturabo, and Vulkan, who had shown varying degrees of technological affinity, were called by name.
He respected Nareth most, for having recovered several important STCs and being considered favored by the Omnissiah on Mars.
What pleased the Emperor was that Arkhan's attitude had changed considerably.
In the past, whenever he saw the Emperor, he would say the Primarchs were cruel genetic creations, and the Astartes their clone monsters.
Humanity's Great Crusade should not be carried out by them.
To secure Arkhan's loyal service, the Emperor always told him the Primarchs and Astartes were useful tools.
Though Arkhan's words were harsh, he saw the Emperor as the Omnissiah and had always served the Imperium.
Arkhan's talent was indispensable.
The Emperor was willing to use words Arkhan would accept to make him carry out his commands.
He was pleased that since Arkhan went to the galactic center to study Squat technology, then to Vostroya, he had not voiced his dissatisfaction with the Primarchs and Astartes.
Without needing intervention, Arkhan had reached an agreement with the Fabricator-General of Mars to standardize and equip the Legions with the recovered Land Speeder and other equipment.
The Emperor marveled at how Arkhan, so untamed, had come to accept someone other than himself, judging from the favorable terms he had secured for Nareth and "Shadows of Order."
'My Pegasus is indeed capable. It's just that...'
He thought of the silver serpent entwined around the Dionysian Spear, the endless cycle of restart, and frowned.
After a few seconds, his brow smoothed. He smiled reassuringly at Arkhan.
"He is a Primarch. He can contribute to the Imperium."
Arkhan frowned at the roaring, raging monster.
'The Omnissiah would never have such a monstrous son.'
'The Emperor is indeed not the Omnissiah.'
Thinking of the true "Omnissiah's" command, he took a deep breath.
"I will cooperate with You in studying the implant in his brain."
At the same moment the Emperor and Arkhan were studying ways to heal Angron, in the Serpent's Cradle in the northwestern galaxy, under the moonlight, Nareth looked at Santiago, Chapter Master of the Fifth, kneeling before him.
Over the past months, he had performed the Perpetual conversion rituals for most of his chosen candidates.
Except for Anacharis Scoria, who was fully mechanized and had no need for modification, and Arkhan, who was on Terra and unable to travel to the Serpent's Cradle.
"Assemble the fleet. Return to the Kalium Gate." He instructed.
900.M30.
In the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, Arkhan respectfully reported to the 'Omnissiah.'
"My Lord, the Emperor's assessment was correct. Subject 12's Butcher's Nails are a variant of the ancient Core Driller."
"I found records of this technology in the texts of the Sixfold Vault."
"I have recorded the ancient texts and my recent research findings on this data-crystal."
He produced a gleaming data crystal.
The brighter the crystal's glow, the more information it contained, the greater its value.
Nareth nodded with satisfaction. The crystal appeared in his hand.
"The Nails have been implanted for too long. Subject 12 has completely merged with them. They cannot be removed."
Arkhan said coldly, indifferently. In the past, though he loathed the monster Primarchs, he would still have felt some regret at failing the Emperor's command.
But now, he knew the Emperor was not the Omnissiah.
The true Omnissiah had not commanded him to remove the Nails.
Nareth nodded slightly, instructing.
"Continue researching the Nails. Aim for two functions."
"Build in a control switch to manage rage, or at least allow autonomous control of the noise in the head."
The Aeldari who walked the Warrior Path could harness the power of rage while keeping their minds clear.
Achieving a "control switch" technologically was not impossible. But the original Angron had not demanded it.
Moreover, through role-playing, he was nearing digestion of "Mentor of Disorder." When he unlocked the remaining half of the Sequence 5 recipes, he could advance Arkhan to "Astronomer," further enhancing his abilities.
Combined with Gahlan Surlak, who would advance to "Potion Professor," even if they couldn't control the rage, they should be able to control the noise.
He spoke of the other requirement.
"Research a backdoor to affect the implanted."
Since he couldn't "corroded" all World Eaters, most would be his enemies. If he could embed a backdoor in the implants, he could weaken them in future battles.
"Report your progress to me periodically. I will also share the results of another researcher with you."
Arkhan frowned. He was about to refuse, thinking few could help him.
But then he recalled how, at Vigilus, when he had made a mistake, the gyrinx beside the Omnissiah had led them to the Vigilus fortress.
The Black Emperor could grant unique abilities to people, even to creatures of limited intelligence.
Those He granted abilities could certainly assist him.
"By Your will."
"Also, find a chance to leave Terra and come to the Kalium Gate. I will grant you eternal life." Nareth instructed.
Hearing this, Arkhan said excitedly.
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift. Then I can serve You forever."
Black mist churned, sending him back to reality.
After quickly reading the data-crystal's contents, with a thought, a blank crystal appeared in his hand.
After recording the information, he extended his psychic energy, touching the orb of Gahlan Surlak, Chief Apothecary of the World Eaters, and bestowed the crystal upon him.
He then returned to reality and went to his office, where Arsena Dunn was waiting.
Drawing the Sword of Vaul, "Concepts Swap" to turn it into a ritual sword, he tapped the runes, activating the "Euclidian Runes."
After creating a space isolated from the Warp, he began a meeting with his Aide to summarize the Legion's development since his return in 811.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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