Chapter 150: Warmaster Election
In the city square, amidst constant gunfire and battle raging everywhere, Space Marines from three Legions clashed with the Khrave aliens.
Curze, with his dark hair and quiet, handsome appearance, possessed mechanical wings on his back. His hands were extended, mechanical claws, poised for battle.
Seeing that the battle was going well, he relaxed and quietly asked Omega beside him, "Were those two people you encountered when you returned to the mainland the same time as you and Alpharius?"
Omega glanced back calmly without replying, while Curze said indifferently, "I know Alpharius returned before you, and the legend of the Ghost Legion has been circulating for a long time. What exactly is your Legion's purpose in doing this? Although you keep calling it mysticism, Alpharius is just using mysticism to cover up your Legion's true purpose."
Omega was surprised that this handsome, quiet man was so clear-headed, and he laughed. "There are some things I can't control in the Alpha Legion. I don't like the darkness, so I never question what Alpharius has done. Our two Legions have similar tactics, so you should know what I'm trying to say."
"So you invented bombing tactics, what a waste of ammunition!" Curze glanced at him and commented with a smile.
Omega smiled. "That's because you didn't have the chance to waste it. I want both the Alpha Legion's Space Marines and the mortals to survive, and I'm willing to waste more ammunition for that."
Curze rolled his eyes at him and joked, "I can take that as you showing off your current achievements. Humility is a virtue in human civilization."
Omega chuckled. "The lifespan of a primarch is over ten thousand years, and I've achieved this in less than a century of learning. You can do it too if you want. Compared to our powerful innate abilities, what's truly powerful is our capacity to learn. I studied the political system of the Ultramar 500 Worlds in my early years, so my governance skills are learned and summarized, not innate."
Curze chuckled and nodded. He had subconsciously assumed that governing well was an outstanding ability possessed by Guilliman and Omega, but Omega's words told him that the real reason was learning.
Recalling the situation on his home planet, Nostramo, Curze decided to learn the various political systems of the Imperium, become an expert in governance, and then govern his home planet well.
Curze's emotions were delicate and pure. After so many years, Omega had not felt any grandeur or magnanimity from him. He still had that quiet and somewhat melancholic temperament. He had more human beauty than Alpharius.
After a few casual words, Curze quickly left to help his struggling sons, his every move revealing his sincerity.
Omega watched him go, then turned back to the battlefield.
If Curze of the Eighth Legion represented the purity and sincerity of humanity, then the Twentieth Legion represented the lies and deception of humanity. Omega suddenly understood why he felt close to Curze, because he had initially wanted to treat the people around him sincerely, but, unfortunately, his words and actions had ended up shrouded in mystery.
Omega's interactions with Horus, Guilliman, Sanguinius, and others were always sincere and warm, as long as they didn't involve secrets. However, once these people learned about the secrets hidden behind him, they looked at him no differently than they looked at the Alpha Legion.
Shaking his head, Omega charged into the battlefield with his sword, swiftly killing the Khrave aliens.
....
A few days later, Lion El'Jonson slew the king of the Khrave xenos, and the three Legions wiped out the xenos from the city.
Omega strolled among the towering buildings in an alien cultural style, imagining large swarms of Khrave bat-demons streaming through the windows and into the air. Looking at the pointed skyscrapers, he felt a fantastical beauty.
Upon entering the palace, he found that the Dark Angels had already cleaned the place up, and the Raven Guard and the high-ranking members of the Dark Angels were all there.
The Legions of the Dark Angels, combined with the knightly culture of their home planet, Caliban, formed six combat units known as the Six Wings: Dreadwing, Deathwing, Ironwing, Ravenwing, Stormwing, and Firewing, each with its own unique combat tactics.
The six combat tactics combined to form a whole, which was the Dark Angels. The Dark Angels held a strong sense of justice, rooted in their knightly spirit.
The Alpha Legion discovered that, in addition to its six wings, the Dark Angels possessed a mysterious Inner Circle, an organization akin to the Legion Council.
During the Rangdan Xenocides, the Dark Angels had been the Legion's most potent force in terms of both numbers and combat power, but they could never return to their former glory.
Alpharius had developed feelings for Lion El'Jonson due to the mysterious Inner Circle of the Lion. At the same time, Omega regarded the Dark Angels as a remarkable Legion, renowned for its chivalry.
After the three Legion Primarchs met with the high command, the Lion held a private meeting with Curze and Omega.
Taking the opportunity, Lion El'Jonson once again discussed justice with the two. Lion El'Jonson believed that eliminating the evil Khrave aliens was an act of justice. In contrast, Curze thought that the Great Crusade was an expedition to overthrow powerful oppressors and deliver justice to the weak.
Lion El'Jonson looked somewhat surprised. Although he agreed that it was a just cause, he did not think it was an act of overthrowing oppressors. The Lion believed that the Great Crusade of the Human Imperium was righteous and the enemy was evil, just like this war, in which they represented justice defeating the evil of the Khrave aliens.
Curze hadn't expected the Lion to think that way and looked at Omega.
Omega nodded. "I agree with the Lion's viewpoint. We represent justice triumphing over evil, and the alien civilization's malicious extermination of human civilization makes our response only natural."
"Really?" Curze looked at Omega, feeling that the other party was being too casual, not caring whether the xenos were good or evil, and that he would take a destructive attitude toward any xenos.
Neither the Lion nor Omega commented on Curze's overly idealistic view of justice. As the three chatted and laughed, the Lion made an effort to befriend the two.
The Lion's smile was warm and genuine.
The competition for the title of Warmaster had been revealed, with Lion El'Jonson reportedly interested in the position. By gaining the friendship of his two brothers and having them stand by his side during the crucial selection of the Warmaster, the Lion's chances of winning would be much greater.
Omega and his brother hadn't considered this at all. They thought the Lion had been straightforward to talk to lately.
Unlike Horus, who was adept at interpersonal communication like a bit of sun, Lion El'Jonson believed that to earn the title of Warmaster, one must rely on solid battle achievements. The Lion genuinely wanted to befriend his two brothers.
Curze was pure and sincere. Although Omega was one of the twin Primarchs of the mysterious Ghost Legion, after several exchanges, the Lion felt that Omega was quite decent.
Omega was one of the few Primarchs who could communicate normally.
Although there were many surprising and unexpected things about him, and there was considerable controversy about him within the Imperium, after learning about him, the Lion felt that it was not a big deal at all, but rather added a lot of interest.
Primarchs were extraordinary individuals who could see things clearly.
After the war in the Tresta Sector ended, Omega, Curze, and Lion El'Jonson bid farewell and led their respective fleets away.
In the Agnes Sector, an outer sector of the Ullanor Ork Empire, Omega led his fleet to reunite with the Legion's main force after a year, joining Alpharius in their conquest of the ork territories.
Under the cold, dim starry sky, the Legion fleet was engaged in battle with the Ork fleet. Alpharius announced the Warmaster election.
Upon hearing this, Omega smiled, understanding Lion El'Jonson's attitude.
Alpharius, after understanding, laughed. "Back then, I tried my best to help him become Warmaster, but he didn't appreciate it. Now it seems that Lion El'Jonson is very keen on becoming Warmaster."
Omega replied, "Your suggestion was premature. However, does the Emperor's announcement of the Warmaster election mean he intends to have a Primarch succeed him in commanding the Imperium's massive fleet? Has anything happened recently?"
Alpharius laughed. "Malcador the Sigillite is establishing a War Council on Terra, creating institutions for the now vast human Imperium. Although the Emperor and Malcador's specific plans are unclear, they are certainly considering the future of the Imperium. It is estimated that a Warmaster will be selected and the corresponding Imperial system will be established before the start of the next century."
[End of Chapter]