The Primarchs each chose different targets and decided to defect, breaking through the Imperium's defensive network to seize the Vigilant Star. The loyalist Primarchs each confronted their traitorous brothers, marching out to stop them. However, being one man short, they weighed their options and ultimately decided to ignore Lorgar for the time being.
Lorgar had been the first Primarch to fall to Chaos, but it was clear his destructive power was not as overwhelming as that of the others. Dealing with the other daemon Primarchs first before turning to Lorgar was the best way to minimize losses—the wisest decision.
At that moment, the edge of the Vigilant System was torn open. Threatening warships poured out of the Immaterium one after another, heading toward the war-torn void battlefield.
The newcomers were the World Eaters under Angron's command. They moved like a pack of hyenas. Wherever the scent of blood lingered, blood would surely follow.
Their commander was none other than Angron. Controlled by the Butcher's Nails, he could barely contain his thirst for blood and roared endlessly.
…
Inside the star fortress, screams of agony rose and fell.
Lorgar crushed the head of the last elite warrior. Blood dripped from his hammer, forming small craters of blood on the ground. The Word Bearers collected the blood of the dead and carved blasphemous runes onto the walls.
The moment the runes took shape, space itself twisted. Twisted claws emerged from the void, gripping the boundary of reality and tearing it open with tremendous force. A rift opened, and Warp energy flooded in like a flood breaching a dam, solidifying in the corridors of the star fortress.
Countless-eyed flying insects, tentacle-covered crawling creatures, and floating beasts with gaping maws and razor-sharp teeth appeared. The instant they manifested, they madly tore into the corpses lying on the ground and began devouring the fresh meat.
Lorgar looked around, but Guilliman, Sanguinius, Lion El'Jonson, and Ferrus Manus—none of the Primarchs were present.
Clearly, they had chosen to eliminate Fulgrim and Mortarion first, deciding that Lorgar could be dealt with later.
"They will regret underestimating my decision."
Lorgar was furious. He silently swore he would make Guilliman and his foolish followers pay the price.
The star fortress was heavily fortified, with every passage equipped with crossfire points and guarded by elite Astartes units. Automated turrets protruded from the walls, capable of unleashing storms of deadly explosives. Fully armed Primaris Space Marines stood ready to provide support at any moment.
However, these measures were still insufficient against a Primarch.
Lorgar easily destroyed the high-density barrage turrets using his psychic energy. The elite units were either torn apart by daemons or slaughtered by the Word Bearers. The original Space Marines who came to their aid were also devoured by daemons and lost their lives.
Lorgar, who had already ascended to daemonhood, led the charge at the forefront, swinging his mace and mercilessly crushing any enemy that stood in his way. He wanted to seize the star fortress as quickly as possible and make those who had underestimated him—starting with Guilliman—pay the price.
As they attempted to break through an Imperial defensive position, more than twenty Ultramarines burst out from a side passage to support the defenders.
The lead Ultramarine held a heavy shield in one hand—tall as himself—and a power sword in the other.
Upon seeing Lorgar, he immediately roared, "Traitor! Prepare to die!"
Shield and activated power sword in hand, the Ultramarine charged furiously toward Lorgar. It was an extremely foolish act. Even a Chapter Champion was no different from an ordinary human before a Primarch.
The other extremist warriors raised their guns and opened fire on Lorgar, trying to eliminate the greatest threat.
Lorgar raised his hand, and glowing runes flew out one after another, forming a powerful psychic shield. A barrage of explosives struck the shield and exploded in flames, but none penetrated the thin barrier.
The charging warriors rushed toward Lorgar. The power sword thrust from the side of the shield aimed straight for Lorgar's throat. These were techniques honed through countless hours of practice—perfect execution of shield deflection and longsword thrust.
However, Lorgar did not defend. He simply swung his hammer downward.
The heavy hammer struck the shield with a dull thud, sending ripples through the surrounding air. The Ultramarine spat blood and was hurled sideways, his power sword flying off somewhere. His legs trembled, bones groaned, and his organs bled internally.
Yet he remained standing, blocking Lorgar's hammer with his shield and buying time for his comrades behind him with his own body.
"Fire!" he shouted, more blood spraying from his mouth.
Explosives rained down continuously. Laser beams poured like rain. All firepower concentrated on Lorgar, trying to break through his psychic shield.
Lorgar frowned.
Guilliman's sons… truly despicable. They clearly couldn't win and were fated to die in the next moment, yet they charged forward without hesitation. They wanted to risk their lives to buy time and create a chance for their comrades.
"You should die just like your real father."
"Do you think you can stop me?"
Thinking of Guilliman, Lorgar's rage intensified. He swung his hammer with even greater force.
The hammer struck the shield again. This time, the heavy shield shattered like glass, fragments flying in all directions and piercing the bodies of nearby soldiers.
The Ultramarine was struck in the chest by the hammer and sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the wall behind him with a dull thud. His body slid down the wall, leaving a long trail of blood. His power armor was completely deformed—chest caved in, limbs twisted at unnatural angles. Cracks ran across his helmet, revealing a glimpse of his refined face through the fissure.
Lorgar charged toward the extreme warriors who were still firing and began slaughtering them. The Word Bearers behind him also opened fire, wiping out the Extreme Warriors completely.
At the defensive position at the end of the corridor, dozens of ordinary soldiers trembled in terror, their tongues quivering. Yet they continued to perform their duty, constantly pulling triggers and firing. Even as the Emperor's Angels were slaughtered before their eyes by the enemy, they did not stop.
An officer covered in dust and bloodstains on his uniform, with a weary expression, shouted in a hoarse voice, "Today is the day we face death!"
"For the Nameless One! For the Emperor!" the soldiers shouted, expelling their fear.
"Through sacrifice, the Nameless God and His Majesty the Emperor will be pleased, and we will all enter their supreme divine kingdom!" the officer cried. "Do not fear. Do not falter."
As the soldiers pulled their triggers, laser beams rained down on Lorgar, exploding as points of light on his psychic shield.
Lorgar stood amid the downpour of light, gazing at the humans with a look of pity.
"Poor, deceived fools."
The soldiers continued firing energy beams at him, but none penetrated his shield.
The Primarch advanced step by step. His heavy footsteps pressed down on the hearts of the pitiful humans.
Lorgar walked up to the fortress and raised his hammer.
One swing shattered the welded steel bunker into pieces. The hammer came down again, striking three soldiers. They were sent flying like dolls, crashing into the wall and falling silent.
The Word Bearers followed suit. They revved their chainswords and sliced through the soldiers' bodies. Blood sprayed everywhere, and screams of agony echoed throughout the area.
Shouting the names of the Nameless One and the Emperor, the soldiers charged at them—and were all slaughtered.
In less than a minute, only the officer remained standing in that defensive position. Surrounded by corpses and bodies, it was a truly horrific scene.
The officer kept his pistol aimed at Lorgar, continuing to pull the trigger until the battery ran out and only empty clicks sounded.
Lorgar walked over and looked down at the officer. The aura of the daemon Primarch was as heavy as a mountain, making the officer's knees tremble and nearly forcing him to kneel.
Lorgar noticed the officer's wavering and smiled faintly.
"Poor fool. Thanks to the blessing of the Gods, I am invincible."
"Surrender, and I will show mercy and let you live."
The officer's lips trembled, but he remained silent.
"Abandon the hypocritical Emperor and the Nameless One," Lorgar continued. "The Gods are generous. As long as you are willing to believe in the Gods, you can receive gifts. Immortality, power, glory—you can obtain everything."
The Primarch's voice was seductive, trying to shake the human heart, corrupt it, and turn it into a slave of Chaos.
The officer slowly lowered his head, as if about to kneel.
Lorgar's smile widened—until the next moment, when the officer casually drew a short dagger from his waist. With the sound of metal clashing, it pierced Lorgar's armor and scattered toward him.
"Dream on, you vile traitor."
Lorgar's smile froze, rage burning in his eyes.
"Fool."
He reached out, grabbed the officer's head, and squeezed hard.
Pop.
Blood sprayed everywhere. The body collapsed limply to the ground.
"Slaughter all these fools, seize this interstellar fortress, and break through the Imperium's void defensive line."
Lorgar spoke with fury and strode forward over the corpses.
…
Lorgar and his forces advanced rapidly. None of the fortresses along the way could stop their march.
After a horrific massacre, they arrived outside the star fortress's bridge. If the bridge was seized, the star fortress would cease to function. This once-impregnable fortress would become a Chaos stronghold and an altar for sacrificing the Gods.
The final defensive force had gathered before the castle gates. All automated turrets were active, their barrels aimed at the entrance of the passage. Dozens of original Space Marines formed a battle formation, loading bolt guns and drawing power swords. Behind the bunkers on both sides of the passage were thousands of ordinary soldiers scattered about.
When Lorgar appeared, every type of weapon opened fire simultaneously. A concentrated barrage of bullets rained down like a storm. The deafening roar of bolt shells and the whistling of laser beams sliced through the air, constantly weakening Lorgar's shield.
But in the next instant, daemons emerged from the shadows of the guards and madly attacked them. The defensive position instantly descended into chaos.
Seizing the opportunity, Lorgar led his subordinates in the attack. He raised his hammer and swung it down with tremendous force. Armored automated turrets were shattered by him. Towering Primaris Space Marines were smashed to pieces. Ordinary soldiers died instantly from even the slightest contact and were pulverized upon direct hit.
The slaughter under Lorgar's command was one-sided. Wherever the hammer fell, nothing could stop it.
Blood. Blood. Everything was drenched in blood. The corridor had become a slaughterhouse, severed limbs scattered everywhere.
"Pathetic weaklings—taste despair!"
As Lorgar reveled in the slaughter, a dark shadow fell over the battlefield. The shadow had a wing-like outline—massive, blocking all light. It fell from the ceiling, erupted from the walls, seeped from every gap, and condensed into a gigantic form on the battlefield.
The newcomer was none other than the Raven Lord, Corvus Corax. He was much taller than the original Space Marines, clad in black power armor, with refined yet cold features. He wore sharp power claws, their blades covered in bright electrical arcs that crackled and sizzled.
Lorgar's pupils contracted sharply in terror. He nearly cried out.
What the hell is he doing here?!
The intelligence reports never mentioned that Corvus Corax had returned! Only Guilliman, Sanguinius, Lion El'Jonson, and Ferrus Manus were listed!
Damn it—it must be that traitor Guilliman. They located Corvus Corax in advance and hid him in the shadows for an ambush!
He knew Guilliman was full of malice and always targeting him.
Corvus Corax surveyed the horrific battlefield and, without a word, charged forward and attacked the Word Bearers who were still slaughtering. One swing of his powerful claws slaughtered the Word Bearers before they could even react. Like a harvest of wheat, the field collapsed in an instant. Their power armor was as fragile as paper before Corvus Corax's claws, easily torn open to reveal the flesh and bone beneath.
Someone tried to counterattack, raising a chainsword and slashing at him. Corvus Corax transformed into a black shadow, vanished instantly, and reappeared behind his opponent. His electrically arced claws stabbed from behind and emerged from the chest, a still-beating heart dangling from the tip.
Seeing his children being slaughtered, Lorgar hesitated for a moment but still charged forward with hammer in hand.
"Corvus Corax, it's time we settle our score."
Corvus Corax vanished into the shadows, and Lorgar lost his target. In the next instant, sharp power claws attacked Lorgar from the side at incredible speed. Lorgar blocked the attack with his hammer, and a loud metallic clang echoed through the corridor.
He took a step back to regain his footing and was about to counterattack when Corvus Corax vanished again—only to appear from another direction and strike once more.
Lorgar gave his all and barely managed to withstand Corvus Corax's fierce assault.
Too fast. The Raven Lord is too fast. The moment I try to counterattack, he vanishes, and the next attack comes from another direction.
He couldn't use his psychic powers at all. Even if he managed to use them by chance, they would cause no damage.
After an extremely intense battle, Lorgar could no longer hold on. Corvus Corax's powerful claws tore through his shield and armor. A deep wound from shoulder to waist exposed bone, and blood gushing from it stained half his body.
Lorgar screamed and swung his hammer, forcing his opponent back, but staggered and retreated.
Corvus Corax kept his distance, gazing at his fallen comrades. Blood dripped from his power claws.
Lorgar realized he could not defeat Corvus Corax. After a moment's hesitation, he chose to activate teleportation and escape the battlefield.
Corvus Corax transformed into countless black ravens and pursued him into the Warp.
The abandoned believers looked at each other in confusion.
No way… Is our father really that useless? Did he already lose? Did he just abandon us?
"Slaughter all the traitors and drive away the daemons."
Realizing that the Word Bearers no longer had Primarch support, the Ultramarines immediately launched a counterattack and captured them all.
The escaped Lorgar first teleported to a Chaos warship. However, Corvus Corax pursued him closely and used his special ability to teleport inside the battleship. The Raven Lord slaughtered all the Chaos traitors who tried to stop him. He was determined to relentlessly hunt Lorgar down, tear him apart, and make him pay for his sins.
Cornered, Lorgar had no choice but to use teleportation again. He fled toward the location of the other Primarchs, hoping they would help stop Corvus Corax.
…
A fierce battle raged on the bridge of an armed space station.
Fulgrim swung all four arms simultaneously, four longswords tracing deadly arcs in the air. Guilliman wielded the Emperor's sword wreathed in golden flames, engaging in a fierce duel with his opponent.
Besides the two Primarchs, the Emperor's sons and Ultramarines were also locked in intense combat.
"Roboute, brother," Fulgrim mocked. "Ten thousand years later, your swordsmanship is still as terrible as ever!"
Guilliman gritted his teeth and said nothing, calmly searching for his opponent's weaknesses.
At that moment, part of the bridge tore open, and a blood-soaked figure rolled out.
The newcomer was none other than Lorgar. He had lost the intimidating presence and dominant aura he once displayed while slaughtering humans. The moment he landed, he looked around. Upon seeing Fulgrim, his terrified expression transformed into one of joy.
"Fulgrim, help me!!"
Fulgrim turned and saw Lorgar—and the black figure following right behind him.
Corvus Corax! When did he return?!
Guilliman looked toward the sound and saw Corvus Corax appear. He froze for an instant, then a rapturous, joyful expression spread across his face.
"Corvus Corax, welcome back."
"Help me, Fulgrim!" Lorgar shouted again.
Fulgrim frowned and cursed under his breath.
"What a pathetic wretch. He hasn't accomplished anything and is being chased, yet he has the nerve to ask for help!"
Considering that Lorgar might be needed in the future, Fulgrim had no choice but to launch a fierce attack, forcing Guilliman to temporarily retreat. Then, with a flick of his serpentine tail, his entire body sprang forward like a coil and instantly appeared between Lorgar and Corvus Corax.
Four swords thrust out simultaneously, blocking all of Corvus Corax's attack paths. Corvus Corax had to stop and use his power claws to defend, drawing both into a fierce battle.
Guilliman was overjoyed to see Corvus Corax. However, he also understood that now was not the time to reminisce about the past. Dealing with the Primarchs was the top priority.
Guilliman looked at Lorgar, who stood a short distance away, breathing heavily. Blood still flowed from his wounds, and his face was pale.
"Lorgar!"
Guilliman let out a furious roar and charged at the other man. Seeing the Emperor's sword descending, Lorgar's expression changed drastically. He barely managed to raise his hammer to block.
Guilliman launched a ferocious assault, swinging the Emperor's sword repeatedly. Lorgar screamed in pain. Feeling the power of the Emperor's sword, Lorgar felt a chill run down his spine.
If I'm cut by that, it's truly over. I should retreat.
Gritting his teeth, Lorgar used his last strength to push back Guilliman's sword and activated teleportation once more.
Guilliman, who had just sliced through empty air, frowned slightly. Instead of pursuing, he turned and looked at Fulgrim and Corvus Corax, who were locked in fierce combat. Poison-infused cursed swords clashed violently with power claws, sending dazzling sparks flying with every strike.
Fulgrim's serpentine tail slid across the ground at astonishing speed. Corvus Corax's wings fluttered behind him, making his form elusive. Both were evenly matched—power and speed nearly equal.
However, Guilliman knew that if he joined in, the balance would shift. He gripped the Emperor's sword and charged toward Fulgrim.
"Fulgrim, it's time we settle this."
Fulgrim's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He was already struggling against Corvus Corax. If Guilliman joined as well, defeat would be inevitable.
Lorgar, you useless wretch—are you trying to drag your brother down with you?!
....
…
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