November, 864.M30.
Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Training Deck.
Zahariel drew the Lion Sword. This blade, forged from the fang of the lion-beast, was shorter than the swords of other Calibanite knights.
But the power of the sword forged by the Lion compensated for its reduced length.
The bare metal crossguard, the leather grip, and the bronze pommel were very simple, but the blade's luster was a pearly white, dazzling and bright.
Zahariel's fingers swiftly traced the ivory-like blade, then he looked up at Lord Nareth.
The Primarch's earnest instruction echoed in his ears: "'Fearsight' originates from the power of fear!"
Zahariel bowed respectfully to the Primarch. The moment he straightened, he actively awakened his memories of fear:
The fear of death when facing the lion-beast. The fear of losing the Lion's friendship.
Fear transformed into power. Zahariel created a Fear Mask in imitation of the War Mask.
He would feel fear, but he would not surrender to it.
Fear was his source of power. He could harness the power of fear.
Everything in Zahariel's vision seemed to freeze in time.
His body shifted, leaping into the Warp, then flashing behind Nareth, swinging the Lion Sword in a swift thrust.
Nareth's memory rewound, returning to the moment he first arrived in this world, learning he was the Eleventh Primarch, the moment he feared the fate of erasure.
He looked back at that memory from a detached perspective, drawing power from it.
Nareth's figure also dissipated into nothingness, flashing beside Zahariel, the edge of the Sword of Vaul slashing towards his arm.
Relying on his Warp Insight perception, the Primarch had deconstructed the process of using "Fearsight" while teaching Zahariel.
Nareth and Zahariel flickered in and out of reality, between the Warp and realspace, their blades flashing across the training deck and the sea of souls.
"Fearsight" was Zahariel's talent, but the Primarch's psychic power far exceeded his.
Balsar Katuri's eyes deepened, barely following the trajectories of their Warp-phased movements.
His eyes shone. He had never witnessed such powerful psychic abilities before.
Luther's eyes widened, trying to follow their forms in realspace.
At first, his mortal eyes could barely track their movements.
But in less than a second, he could no longer distinguish the layered figures.
The "Lawyer" activated his Spirit Vision, watching the battle.
He saw figures interwoven with white and black. He saw the gleaming golden light of a lion.
'That's Zahariel!'
'Where is Lord Nareth?'
The "Lawyer" stared at the battlefield. A flash of black shadow passed through his vision.
'Lord Nareth!'
He strained to discern that shadow, but it flickered and vanished.
The "Lawyer" found he couldn't keep up with the strobing shadow.
Relying on the "Secrets Suppliant's" high inspiration, Alastor Rushal had the clearest view of the battle.
He could see the shadow's trajectory, but he dared not stare continuously.
The "Secrets Suppliant's" psychic intuition warned him of the powerful force lurking within the shadow. His eyes throbbed, opening and closing involuntarily.
Zahariel's attack lasted two seconds.
He suddenly flashed into visibility. All three observers saw him.
The Lion Sword was embedded in the deck, supporting his exhausted body.
Zahariel trembled all over. Frigid mist plumed from his nose.
His entire body was cold, yet warmth flooded him the moment he saw Lord Nareth's smile.
The Lion had valued him, but never taught him like his mentors Lamil and Amadis, and Lord Nareth, had.
Before boarding the Shadow's Sovereignty, he never imagined receiving such patient instruction from a Primarch.
'Since I have no choice, following Lord Luther and swearing fealty to Lord Nareth is the best option.'
'For Luther, and for Caliban.'
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your instruction. I have mastered 'Fearsight.'"
Nareth sheathed his sword, scrutinizing Zahariel.
Though he had already digested the "Baron of Corruption" potion and had no digestive sensations to guide him, the Primarch could confirm, through Zahariel's eyes and expression, that he had "corroded" him.
At the same time, Zahariel overlapped with the future figure in his memory.
The figure with twin pistols, the Lion Sword on his back.
'With such combat prowess, it's no wonder he could kill the third Lord Cypher and become the fourth Cypher.'
'Wandering the galaxy for ten millennia, repeatedly evading capture by the Dark Angels and other Unforgiven Chapters.'
Nareth knew the title Lord Cypher was granted on Caliban to the one responsible for guarding the Order's traditions.
He didn't know how many Lord Cyphers there were before the Lion's arrival on Caliban, but since then, there had been four.
The current Lord Cypher was the third. After Zahariel killed him, Luther would elevate him to the fourth.
'The future Lord Cypher has been "corroded" by me. The current one is almost there too.'
'Both the old and new Cyphers will be "corroded" by me.'
"Congratulations on unlocking your innate ability. Come to my office in ten minutes. I will teach you a new power."
Zahariel, his heart pounding with excitement, walked with a light step into the Primarch's office.
He saw Lord Nareth push a bottle of black potion towards him, instructing him.
"Drink this."
Zahariel did not hesitate. He opened the potion. The pungent stench made him wrinkle his nose.
The potion Nareth had chosen for Zahariel was "Sleepless." Though the future Cypher was more adept at covert operations, that was somewhat beyond his control.
Now, Zahariel was on a different Pathway. Moreover, his rare psychic ability, "Fearsight," had some connection to Sequence 3 "Horror Bishop" of the Darkness Pathway.
Zahariel's abilities were outstanding. He had the potential to become a high-sequence beyonder.
Moments later, having become a "Sleepless," Zahariel performed the Calibanite knight's salute.
"Lord Nareth, from this day forward, I am Your knight."
Nareth rose, drew the Sword of Vaul, extended his spirituality, and through "Concept Swap," transformed it into an ordinary blade, gently resting it on Zahariel's shoulder.
"I accept your fealty."
After Zahariel left, Nareth thought silently.
'Among the key "corrosion" targets, only Balsar remains uncorroded.'
'The more loyal they are, the harder they are to "corrode"!'
'Corroding Balsar will require more thought. Perhaps it needs a catalyst.'
As Nareth pondered, the communication bead in his ear buzzed.
He pressed it. Arsena Dunn's calm voice came through.
"My Lord, following Your command, the Chief Librarian and I have successfully developed the ritual magic."
"Shall we pray to the Black Emperor now?"
"Good." Nareth granted their request.
.....
In the Primarch's Palace, Arsena Dunn's private quarters.
Arsena ended the communication and said to Thomas, "Our Lord has granted permission."
"Let us begin."
They had long prepared the ritual materials. They immediately went to the altar.
Arsena channeled psychic energy, activating the Euclidian runes.
Thomas felt his connection to the Warp severed. The entire altar was isolated.
The "Warlock" touched the bottle at his waist. The discomfort of losing his psychic power quickly faded.
He opened his "Eyes of Mystery Prying," watching as Arsena used the ritual knife to create a wall of psychic energy.
After his body, mind, and soul quieted, Arsena knelt on the black onyx cushion and recited the formal liturgy in Dunnic:
"Black Emperor of Shadows of Order,"
"..."
"I beseech Thy gaze."
The "Polymath" paused briefly. The "Warlock's" "Eyes of Mystery Prying" solidified.
The following liturgy was their new exploration. They were about to learn if their recent research into ritual magic had succeeded.
Arsena's gaze fell upon the thirty-three irregular talismans made of black-gold alloy placed on the altar. He continued chanting the prayer:
"I beseech Thee to grant me power tocomplete the 'Worm Talismans.'"
After reciting the litany they had developed, Arsena continued with the subsequent parts of a standard prayer.
"O Balance, foundation of the Kingdom of Disorder, grant strength to my talismans."
….
"O Iron Laws of Monarchs, basis of the Kingdom of Disorder, grant strength to my talismans."
At the same moment, in the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, as Arsena began his prayer, Nareth extended threads, linking to the bound Slaugth in the seventh layer.
Seeing the black mist rise and the ethereal gate take shape, the "Baron of Corruption" coalesced his will, projecting the Slaugth's will through the ethereal gate.
In the seventh layer, the Slaugth was suddenly enveloped in black mist, shrouded in shadow.
In the fourth layer, Nareth saw threads of law pulling a mass of shadow, casting it into the ethereal gate.
At the altar in the Primarch's Aide's quarters, the black mist churned. The ethereal gate opened.
The "Warlock's" "Eyes of Mystery Prying" immediately felt a majestic power descend.
His gaze swiftly moved from the ethereal gate to the talismans on the altar.
He saw the black mist envelop the thirty-three black metal talismans. He saw clusters of worm-engraved patterns spontaneously emerge on them.
"We've succeeded," the "Warlock" said to the "Polymath."
Arsena, maintaining his clasped hands with fingers pointing upwards, said devoutly, "Praise be to my Lord!"
After breaking the psychic isolation, each took a talisman in hand.
The moment the black talismans touched their hands, they immediately felt nausea, irritation, and a chilling, evil sensation.
Arsena channeled psychic energy, deactivating the Euclidian runes.
The Chief Librarian narrowed his eyes, attempting to mobilize his psychic power.
"Cannot use psychic power."
"Activating it with the runes will make it more powerful," the "Polymath" speculated.
"Once it's released, the Rangdan xenos, sensing their master's aura, will surely suffer a plunge in combat effectiveness."
As the "Polymath" and the "Warlock" examined the "Worm Talismans," in the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, Nareth also reviewed the entire ritual magic process.
'The Slaugth shows no obvious signs of weakening. Their psychic luster hasn't dimmed. It won't affect their use as potion materials.'
'Still, to be cautious, I'll produce 'Worm Talismans' periodically.'
Nareth's eyes gleamed. He thought of the C'tan shards.
'Once I move them into the seventh layer, I can also try to draw power from them, creating different talismans.'
With anticipation, Nareth willed himself to the third layer, reached out, and picked up the fully charged Dice of Prophecy.
.....
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