With a shrieking plume of flame from his jump pack, Lucius leaped down from the scaffolding.
After the landing operation began, he had suppressed his battle-lust and lain in wait at the rail station in the underhive of the Lupercal's Gate, following the Black Emperor's orders.
Lucius had conducted his war deployment according to the intelligence on the data-slate bestowed by the Black Emperor.
Lord Commander Vespasian had drop-assaulted all critical facilities, especially the augury network and power nodes, to thwart the traitors' sabotage plans.
After Nathaniel Garro of the Dusk Raiders breached the main gate, Lucius had waited for his target, just as the Black Emperor had foreseen.
The "Dawn Paladin" Lucius materialized a two-handed greatsword from thin air.
He raised the blade high with both arms, pure, radiant dawn-light swirled around him, illuminating the dark tunnel.
The holy light seared Boros Kurn's eyes. He pressed a rune and stepped back.
His body swayed, he was startled.
The enemy's blade had not even fallen, yet the force of its passage had already made him stagger.
Kurn's contracted pupils suddenly widened, through the blazing light, he saw a two-handed greatsword.
He had never seen an Astartes wield such a massive blade, nor had he ever seen a warrior larger than the giant descending upon him.
Even the great First Captain Abaddon was smaller than this colossus.
Kurn rolled backward in haste, foul sewage poured into his respirator grille, and for an instant he regretted not activating the purification system.
Scrape!
With a harsh grating sound, reeking filth splashed against his green armor.
Lucius bent low, changing his downward slash into a thrust.
This move was one he had devised specifically for enemies who liked to roll.
Kurn clasped his hands together, swinging his sword to meet the blow.
The moment the blades clashed, his power sword flew from his grasp.
Kurn staggered back, his numb right arm had lost all feeling.
"You..."
"You are too weak."
Lucius said flatly, swinging his blade casually.
Blood sprayed. The body crashed down, splashing filthy water everywhere.
The head rolled and landed on the corpse's abdomen.
Clatter clatter clatter!
Kurn's guards stormed into the tunnel, raising their bolters at the warrior who had killed their captain.
Lucius spun abruptly, driving his greatsword into the ground.
One after another, dawn-like points of light rose from the blade, in an instant, they became a hurricane.
The storm of light-points surged forward, sweeping over ten Sons of Horus.
Their Mark IV armor cracked inch by inch; flesh and blood flew.
Lucius shook his head slightly, then his eyes lit up.
He felt the faint dawn-light points within him merge fully into his body.
Having experienced this several times before, he knew at once that he had completely mastered the power bestowed by the Black Emperor.
Three days later, atop the spire of the Lupercal's Gate, Lucius watched the massive form of the Indomitable Monarch tear through the dust clouds.
Vespasian's and Nathaniel's fleets would head to Necromunda, then pass through the gate to the Kalium Gate, and from there be dispatched to the Eastern Galaxy to serve the Black Emperor.
After the purple and grey warships vanished from sight, he turned and went to the newly constructed altar.
Moments later, black mist swallowed Lucius, he came to his senses and found himself in the mysterious realm.
"My Lord, in accordance with Thy command, I have occupied Cthonia. The traitors managed to destroy only two augury nodes and five power nodes."
"It is estimated that Cthonia will be operating at full capacity in ten days."
"..."
Nareth nodded slightly. He recalled that Evander Garrius had realized too late that the Sons of Horus' goal was not to defend the Lupercal's Gate hive, and by the time he tried to stop them, it was already too late.
The Sons of Horus had successfully crippled many systems and withdrawn underground to continue their resistance.
Kurn had gathered strength in the darkness, trained thousands of rapid-response troops, and continually harassed industrial facilities
He had caused no small trouble for the loyalists during the Second Siege of Cthonia and the Third Siege of Cthonia.
In the First Siege of Cthonia, the Imperium had won only a hollow victory, Rogal Dorn was frustrated by the unnecessary losses.
He ordered the Lupercal's Gate renamed the Traitor's Gate, and appointed Garrius to oversee Cthonia's subsequent reconstruction as punishment for his failure.
Now Lucius had not only preserved Cthonia's infrastructure, capable of producing war materiel without cease, he had also killed Kurn, leaving the remaining traitors leaderless and ineffectual.
"The Lupercal's Gate shall henceforth be renamed the Traitor's Gate," Nareth commanded.
"You may begin recruiting warriors."
"Select a group of Cthonians. Use the gene-seed I bestow to train a rapid-response force."
To claim the Thunder Lord Babu Dhakal, Nareth would need to provide him with gene-seed.
The best choice would naturally be "corrroded" Shadow of Order gene-seed.
But delivering gene-seed directly to his doorstep would be too obvious, only if Babu "seized" it himself would he dare to use it.
Nareth would not turn on his own sons, but using the blood-soaked gang youths of Cthonia as bait gave him no qualms.
"By Your will," Lucius acknowledged reverently, looking up with anticipation.
"My Lord, I have mastered the power You have bestowed."
Nareth smiled faintly. "Prepare a weapon you have long used, and offer it to me in sacrifice."
"Proclaim openly that you will guard Cthonia."
Nareth recalled that as the Heresy unfolded, especially after the loyalists' defeats in the southern galactic wars like the Tarran War, Cthonia would become their staging ground.
"In one year, I will bestow new power upon you."
'This is my Lord's test of me. But this test is far too easy.'
After being returned to reality, Lucius immediately sacrificed a personal blade he had long carried to the Black Emperor.
He then summoned the members of the Nasicae Cohort.
Lucius's gaze swept over Vispyrtilo the Eagle King, and the Palatine Blade Andros, then he said to his adjutant Sorathson:
"Open a full-spectrum broadcast!"
"Lord, it is open."
Lucius opened his comm: "People of Cthonia.
"The Warmaster Horus Lupercal has betrayed the Imperium. You should have been condemned, but Lord Nareth has pardoned you."
"Work diligently, and repay Lord Nareth's grace."
Lucius rose from the black throne, a faint holy radiance began to emanate from the "Dawn Paladin's" form.
"As long as you serve Him with loyalty, you shall not be punished."
"I shall guard you, and guard Cthonia."
"I promise you, Cthonia shall be spared from destruction."
Sorathson and the other two stared in astonishment at Lucius. He had never shown much interest in governance or administration, why was he suddenly making such a solemn oath of protection?
Lucius gazed toward the Eastern Galaxy. 'My Lord, I will surely guard Cthonia for You.'
At the very moment Lucius made his vow of protection, an Astropathic message flew from Cthonia into the warp.
On the forge world M'Pandex, at the edge of the Coronid Deeps,
Aboard the Vengeful Spirit, Horus's Equerry Maloghurst strode hurriedly into the Lupercal Council Chamber.
....
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