998.M30.
Within the source domain, aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, in the Primarch's office.
Nareth leaned back against his throne, listening to the report of Chapter Master Santiago Borgkamp of the Fifth, the "Scribe."
"My Lord, I have, as You commanded, established special coordinates within the source domain."
"Excellent." Nareth nodded.
He addressed the daemonologist and Arsena, who stood to the side. "We shall undertake an Aetheric Voyage."
"By Your will," Santiago and Arsena replied in unison.
The three of them instantly ascended to the Second Level of the Enumeration. Their light bodies, freed from their physical forms, rose.
They avoided the doorway where Etrich stood, flying in the opposite direction.
In an instant, the three shimmering forms reached the lower deck, passing through the breach in the Jokaeron Force Field caused by the Khrave web-ships, and flew out.
The daemonologist Santiago surveyed their surroundings, remarking, "This is the most unusual Aetheric Voyage I have ever experienced."
"No Warp-predators, like blood-sharks, but there are countless shrieking wraiths..."
As he spoke, a multitude of voices spoke in unison.
"Nareth! Shadows of Order!" The voices merged, like multiple channels tuned to the same frequency, a dense rustle of papyrus, laced with endless venom.
"We are world-destroyers! We have devoured the souls of countless lives!"
Tendrils of cold shadow reached for them. The "Mentor of Disorder," Nareth, hardened his gaze.
His spirituality projected outward, amplifying his will.
Ah!
A chorus of startled cries. The Khrave wraiths scattered in panic.
"Adams and his Fourt Chapter will need a long time." The Primarch's gaze was deep, surveying the area.
Tens of thousands of Khrave wraiths lingered in the web-ships before them, circling.
The daemonologist Santiago took the lead, his body formed of arcane symbols, following the majestic, light-and-shadow-wreathed form.
The "Mysticism Magister," Arsena, his narrow blue eyes scanning, recalled the records in the Fra'al texts.
"This place is strange..."
"It is filled with the stench of decay and rot, yet feels like a spider's den."
The daemonologist Santiago nodded in agreement. "Exactly."
"The source domain is essentially a special dimension of the Warp; the characteristics of the physical world should not be so pronounced."
"But the Khrave, in destroying countless worlds and devouring countless minds, have brought the rot and decay of reality back to their dimension."
His right hand blazed with light as he swept it forward.
Whoosh!
As if a curtain had been drawn, elegant structures materialized.
"This complex of buildings is a trophy from a Khrave Progenitor's devouring of an Aeldar city."
"As for the feeling of a spider's den, that is a racial trait of the Khrave, an imprint of their collective consciousness upon this dimension."
"It is also closely tied to their connection to the material world, and their method of Warp travel."
The daemonologist Santiago passed through the wreckage, stopping before a shadowy throne, unsupported and floating.
It had once belonged to a War-Crowned Progenitor.
"Though the source domain is a Warp dimension, it is directly connected to the material world."
"I don't mean just their homeworlds in the six systems of the Ghoul Stars, that is a specific entrance."
"I mean that a Progenitor, seated upon his throne, can, by his immense psychic power, lock onto a location in the material world. Once he successfully parasitizes an individual, the destruction of that world begins."
Arsena immediately thought of the Hrud mycelial scrolls, and what had happened on Muspel and Indra-Sul.
"The Khrave follow the 'spider's silk' spun by the Progenitor, seeping into reality, parasitizing and devouring the minds of all."
"This devouring typically takes centuries, depending on the population and the number of psykers, or sufficiently strong minds, to serve as psychic focal points."
The "Mentor of Disorder," Nareth, stared at the shadowy throne, his obsidian eyes filled with threads of rules.
He traced the blue threads, following them into the distance.
Beyond the source domain.
Void-ships passed. Towers rose. Industrial smoke hung over the world like a stifling lid.
An Imperial Hive World, Sussex.
His gaze was deep, his mind racing. The plan in his mind grew more refined.
'Hmm... the chance to secure Mortarion's foster father Necare's head has grown significantly.'
Though he had already gathered the potion ingredients, they were not the optimal combination. The best head for a "Tyrant" was Necare's.
Knowing it would take time to kill a Primarch during his ascension and complete the ritual, he would naturally try to secure Necare's head.
He had already experienced the benefits of using superior ingredients.
The Queen Bee had given him command of the Psychneuein.
Recently, the Slaught King had allowed him to effortlessly overwhelm the Progenitors and Khrave with "Will Supression," though the Khrave King had resisted.
Only with his full power had he overcome the King.
Without the Slaught King, using a lesser Slaught, he might not have succeeded.
As Nareth pondered, the daemonologist Santiago's light body blazed with aetheric light.
Colorful light flashed around them. In an instant, they stopped.
Nareth looked out. A Splinter-Web floated before him.
On the shadowy throne sat a mummy-like Progenitor.
At its center, like a spiderweb, extended four dim, needle-like web-ships and a thousand silent pods.
"My Lord, I have found fourteen Progenitor corpses within the source domain. They must have died over the past tens of millions of years."
The "Mentor of Disorder," Nareth, examined the withered corpse upon the throne. Spiritual luster still clung to it.
'Hmm... spiritual essence is lost more slowly here than in the material world.'
'They can still be used as potion ingredients, though their quality will be lower.'
'Counting the previous fifty-two, that means I can cultivate up to sixty-five 'Earl of the Fallens' besides myself, far more than I expected.'
He stared at the web-ships, addressing the daemonologist and Santiago, who would be advancing to Sequence 5 "Traveler" of the "Door" pathway in a year's time.
"The Khrave's method of Warp travel has its merits. I will extract their secrets from the Progenitors' minds. You will study their web-ships."
"And the Exterminator Carbines."
"Additionally, I have another task for you. Let us return."
A flash of light, and they were back in the office.
After settling back into his golden form, Nareth opened a desk drawer, retrieving a glowing data crystal.
"You will lead a team to the special dimension where the Wyvachs live, and establish a special coordinate there."
Using the recharged Dice of Prophecy, Nareth had divined the Wyvachss' homeworld, discovering they lived within a pocket dimension.
He was delighted. A single divination had yielded three benefits: Wyvachs, excellent psychic familiars; one of the four special coordinates required for a "Traveler," and a permanent one at that; and the completion of the advancement ritual for "Dreamwalker," Sequence 5 of the Visionary Pathway.
"Pat's Chaplain team will accompany you."
"You will also bring me at least four Wyvachs."
"By Your will." Santiago bowed, accepting the command.
After he left, the Primarch's attendant addressed the throne.
"My Lord, I have compiled the casualties suffered by the various parts of the Legion in this campaign."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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