Aboard the Vengeful Spirit's training deck, Erebus had removed his grey-stone Mark IV Maximus power armor.
The armor was engraved with the script of the Word Bearers' Chief Chaplain, recording his many deeds.
Erebus, his corded muscles bared, walked into the training cage. He looked at Lucius, blade in hand, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Without his armor, Lucius was as tall as Solomon Tarvitz, whom he had recently defeated. His muscles were solid and powerful, like a Salamander's, yet with the lean agility of a Space Wolf.
He entered the cage, exchanged a bow with Lucius, and both lunged for the other, beginning their duel of honor.
Blades clashed in rapid, ringing impacts that echoed through the deck.
Tarvitz stood not with Lord Commander Eidolon, but with Loken and Torgaddon.
He watched the blur of Lucius's blade, unable to follow the fluid forms.
Erebus had taken a defensive stance from the start, lowering his body, parrying left and right.
'Erebus fought me for a long time before finally beating me. Lucius is better than me, he'll certainly...'
Tarvitz's eyes widened. Lucius hooked his broadsword around Erebus's hilt and flicked his wrist.
Erebus's sword flew from his hand. He stumbled back, crashing against the cage.
Lucius's blade followed, aiming for his throat. Erebus rolled desperately.
His head hit the ground, and he rolled like a canine.
"Lucius!" Aximand opened the cage.
"Enough! He's lost!"
"My apologies." Lucius stood, blade lowered, his head held high, without a trace of apology.
Erebus rose, unsteady. He felt a chill seep from his throat, spreading through his body.
The great head, blessed by the Gods, had nearly been severed by a single stroke.
"Lucius, your swordsmanship is truly peerless." Erebus's usually calm, soothing Chaplain's voice was now laced with a rasp.
'Peerless? Not yet. Akurduana and Thierry are still my goals. I am not as good as my father either, and even less so...' Lucius glanced at the Black Emperor with awe.
"This is the first time I've seen Erebus lose, and so completely," Horus said, staring at the blood beading on Erebus's forehead and throat, his gaze fixed on Lucius.
"Lucius, truly one of the finest swordsman of the Emperor's Children."
Nareth nodded, glancing at the timer above the cage: three minutes and eleven seconds.
'The "Weapons Master" Lucius is much stronger than he was. A vast improvement over the fifteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds of my memory.' As he thought, a laughing voice called out.
"Erebus, get out here! It's Garviel's turn." Torgaddon, in his usual joking tone, mocked Erebus's defeat.
"Oh, no," Loken shook his head.
Aximand shouted, "You're the best swordsman among us! Show Lucius what the Luna Wolves can do!"
"Swordsmanship isn't everything." Loken refused again.
"For the Legion's honor, get in there," Ezekyle Abaddon, his topknot high, pushed Loken from behind.
He looked at Lucius's powerful, sweatless form. "Can you manage another bout?"
"Of course." Lucius looked at Loken.
"As many as you like."
"Loken, let's see how the Luna Wolves fight."
Erebus, exiting the cage, tossed his broadsword to Loken.
"Garviel, your turn."
Loken caught the weapon, giving it a few experimental swings.
He looked at Lucius, knowing he had no chance in a sword duel.
"I'm not a swordsman. Swordplay is only part of fighting."
"Whatever you want. It's up to you," Lucius said confidently.
Loken stepped into the cage. The two halves of the training cage closed around him.
"I've watched your moves. I can read you."
"Enough talk." Lucius lunged, his blade thrusting.
Loken bent his knees, his eyes like a hunting wolf, locked on the approaching Lucius.
His swordsmanship was far inferior to Lucius's, but he still had a chance.
Only one chance.
The blade hissed through the air, ruffling his hair.
Loken raised his blade, meeting Lucius's.
Clang!
The blades clashed. His arm went numb.
Lucius's attack was swift and fierce, combining power and speed, almost disarming him.
He let his sword fly from his hand.
Loken deliberately abandoned his weapon, stepping forward, swinging his fist in a powerful blow aimed at Lucius's face.
'Lucius, this is how the Luna Wolves fight. Read your opponent, and use any means necessary to win.'
'I'm sorry, Lucius, but this isn't a sword duel.'
Bang!
Loken's face changed. Lucius had raised his hand, blocking the blow.
"This is how the Luna Wolves win?"
"I'm not just a swordsman either..."
Loken knew he was in trouble, pulling back to retrieve his abandoned broadsword.
Lucius was on him in an instant, giving him no chance.
He swung his fist, connecting with Loken's face.
Boom!
Loken was sent flying, crashing to the ground.
He coughed up blood, mumbled something, and lost consciousness.
Abaddon, Torgaddon, Aximand, and Sejanus stared, stunned. Loken had lost even faster than Erebus.
Clap, clap, clap...
Applause broke the silence.
Nareth clapped with satisfaction. Lucius, who had honed his skills as a Sequence 8 "Pugilist," was no longer obsessed with the sword, and had not, as in his memory, been knocked out by Loken's first punch.
'Hmm... This is not just a victory. My teachings have steered Lucius away from his obsessive pursuit of perfect swordsmanship.' He also mastered the Third Level of the Thelema mindstate. Even if he sees Fulgrim draw the Blade of the Laer, or hears Bequa Kynska sing, he will not be corrupted by Slaanesh.'
Nareth was pleased with Lucius's transformation. Abaddon and Torgaddon silently entered the cage, lifting the unconscious Loken.
Abaddon stared at Lucius, his fists clenched.
He felt Torgaddon's strain as Loken slipped from his shoulder.
He silently unclenched his fists.
Ten minutes later, Loken awoke. He opened his eyes, finding himself on a surgical bed.
"Loken, I didn't expect you to go down so fast," Torgaddon said, arms crossed, laughing.
"Torgaddon, did you come just to see me embarrassed?"
"Of course not. I was afraid you wouldn't wake up," Torgaddon laughed.
Loken's eyes were deep as he replayed the fight.
"I misjudged Lucius. He's not the typical Emperor's Child I imagined, proud, obsessed with swordplay."
"It's a warning. I'm not as perceptive as Lord Dorn."
Loken laughed self-deprecatingly, rising silently. He ignored Torgaddon's further jokes and walked towards the flight deck.
The proving ground for the Luna Wolves was the battlefield, not the training cage.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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