Chapter 40: Revenge! Erebus, Avenge Me!
The Great Crusade had begun.
First, they had to return to Terra, and second, they needed to delegate the affairs of Colchis to others.
Aboard the ship, Erebus looked at the "special products" he had brought from his office—documents. Two entire chambers filled with them. His face turned grim. He smashed a hole through reinforced metal.
"Damn it!"
There definitely weren't this many documents on Colchis. What kind of cursed planet produced so much paperwork? How could a world like that even attract the attention of Slaanesh?
Erebus now seriously suspected that he had been cursed by the "Seal Master"—the Emperor of Mankind.
Thinking of this gave him a headache.
However, when the first batch of recruits was sent to become Space Marines, Erebus felt even more exhausted. When would he ever become a high priest or bishop, living a leisurely life and waiting for death?
It would take about three months to return to Terra. During that time, Erebus had already begun communicating with Lorgar Aurelian, preparing to send wandering preachers to other Legions for training.
Of course, learning was one aspect.
Observation was another.
And perhaps… stirring trouble as well.
Three months later, Erebus walked out of his office, dragging his exhausted body. He saw Lorgar and Magnus the Red talking with the Emperor.
He walked over expressionlessly and handed both of them duel requests.
They declined.
No time.
The Emperor, however, seemed eager.
Erebus' face darkened.
You just want to beat me up again!
He looked at the Emperor's faint smile. Why was this "golden lord" so different from what the scriptures described? The brighter His smile, the more human He seemed. When would He return to His throne?
If things continued like this, even Horus Lupercal might not rebel.
Such thoughts made Erebus uneasy. If he ever had to choose, he would rather die buried in paperwork than fall to Chaos.
Soon, a withered, yellow-brown planet appeared before them.
No oceans.
Covered entirely in hive cities.
Erebus narrowed his eyes.
"This is Terra?"
"This is Mars," the Emperor replied.
"…."
Erebus' expression darkened further. He now felt the Emperor talked far too much.
Not long after entering lunar orbit, the Adeptus Custodes arrived at Erebus' quarters and dragged him away while he was washing.
"I have served the Imperium loyally! I am faithful! You have no reason to detain me! I want to see the Emperor!"
Erebus struggled violently, dragging several Custodians step by step toward the Emperor's chambers. Four or five Custodians tried to restrain him, but his immense strength made it difficult.
Only when a golden psychic strike knocked him unconscious were they able to carry him away.
The Emperor watched Erebus being taken away, shook His head, and sighed.
"Get some rest, Erebus. You'll be fine when you wake."
Erebus opened his eyes.
A strange ceiling.
His body ached all over. He seemed to be in an operating chamber. Instinctively, he tore away the covering over himself.
"It's fine… everything's still there."
He let out a long breath.
But something felt different.
Stronger.
Faster.
Sharper.
Only one question remained.
Why had he been modified?
Erebus fell silent.
Then spoke through gritted teeth.
"Emperor…"
As he tried to rise, a mechanical arm pressed him down.
"Praise the Omnissiah. I am Magos Zero of the Adeptus Mechanicus. I performed your procedure. It was a success."
Erebus looked at the cybernetic figure—a heavily augmented female Tech-Priest, her metal mask hiding her face, multiple red lenses fixed on him, surrounded by surgical apparatus.
He took a deep breath.
"…Can I leave now?"
"Yes, Lord Erebus. However, I must observe you for a time."
"…Heresy."
The Magos fell silent.
Erebus sat up.
"Bring me clothing. Then take me to Lorgar Aurelian."
When Lorgar learned that Erebus had awakened, he was currently in the arena—
Being beaten.
His opponent:
Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists.
Silent.
Unyielding.
Relentless.
"You call that strength?!" Lorgar shouted. "Have you even eaten? Imperial Fist? More like an Imperial infant!"
Magnus stood nearby, watching and sighing.
Even after returning to Terra and growing stronger, Lorgar still could not match his brothers in combat.
But his words—
Those were dangerous.
At first, Dorn had ignored him.
Now—
He simply wanted to beat Lorgar into silence.
Others improved through combat.
The Word Bearers improved through their mouths.
Magnus frowned.
Where exactly were their "skills" being invested?
Remembering his own recent exchanges with Lorgar, Magnus nearly lost control.
But he restrained himself.
Lorgar was weak.
But another was not.
Erebus.
Magnus almost smiled.
He could not wait to introduce Erebus to his brothers.
When it came to verbal warfare—
Erebus stood alone.
"My lord! My lord!"
Garrulek, now newly inducted as an Astartes, rushed into the arena.
"Lord Erebus has awakened! Lord Erebus has awakened!"
Lorgar's eyes lit up, even as he was pinned down.
"Good!" he shouted. "Just wait, Dorn! My brother is here! I'll have him deal with you!"
Dorn struck harder.
Lorgar saw stars.
But he smiled.
Because now—
He had someone to rely on.
He had endured long enough.
Now—
It was time.
For revenge.
"Erebus…" Lorgar muttered.
"Avenge me."
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