The ruins of Istanbul lay silent amidst smoke and flames. Horus's orbital bombardment plunged the entire Magana into a doomsday-like scene. Tens of thousands of lives vanished, the Earth's crust of Magana vibrated from the bombardment, desertification further expanded, and earthquakes and tsunamis in the strait tore apart the connection between the two continents. The entire Magana was on the verge of earthquakes and tsunamis, and the entire planet faced immense geological disasters.
After the bombardment, Horus personally led his troops into the ruins, attempting to re-engage Sarradin in dialogue. However, when he saw Sarradin's expression, he knew everything was irreversible.
The moment he witnessed the tragedy of the orbital bombardment, Sarradin, over sixty years old, collapsed from angina... And when he woke up, he had awakened his Primarch genes.
Although his appearance maintained the form of an old man, his body had become stronger than before, his height reached over 3 meters, and he possessed inexhaustible energy throughout his body. Even many age-related illnesses that had plagued him were gone.
Horus walked into the ruins, trying to find his brother Sarradin. His mood was extremely complex at this moment... As the Emperor's most beloved 'first', he had never failed so completely. Facing the Emperor's silence, he felt deep humiliation and anxiety.
"This is not my fault!" Horus whispered to himself, as if trying to convince himself. "It's you, Second Brother, who is too stubborn; he doesn't understand the meaning of this crusade! He doesn't understand Father's grand vision and the future of humanity!"
But as he walked to the center of the ruins and saw the dead civilians and shattered walls, Horus's self-reproach surged. His arrogance had led to all of this, and he could not turn back.
Sarradin stood in the ruins, behind him the surviving Janissaries, their eyes filled with anger and grief. His figure was taller than ever, and his newfound strength made him fearless.
Horus finally stood before him, and the two brothers looked at each other again. Horus's face held complex emotions as he spoke:
"I've come to take you home, brother."
Sarradin gave a cold laugh, his voice echoing like thunder through the ruins:
"Home? You brought the wrath of your so-called empire and destroyed my home, and now you tell me you'll take me 'home'?"
Horus tried to remain calm, raising his hands in a gesture of peace, but his tone still carried an air of invincible confidence:
"Sarradin, your destiny is not here. Your destiny is to build humanity's golden age with us. Father needs you, humanity needs you..."
Sarradin abruptly cut him off:
"Father? The Father who couldn't even bother to meet me in person? Or the Father who didn't stop my home from being destroyed? You need me? You need me to add bricks to his iron-fisted rule, don't you!"
Sarradin's fury completely erupted under Horus's arrogant attitude. He drew the Arabian scimitar named "Sacrifice," a relic gifted to him by his late sultan and adoptive father. Its blade shone with a cold light, pointing at Horus.
"Since peace cannot resolve this, then let weapons bring an end to our conversation."
Horus nodded, raising his massive power armour Warhammer, "Worldbreaker," a weapon rumored to be forged by the Emperor himself.
Horus said coldly:
"Then, I will personally make you understand that you should submit to us."
The two brothers engaged in a fierce battle above the ruins. Sarradin's strength and awakened agility caught Horus completely off guard. Each of his strikes carried immense explosive power, capable of cracking the ground, while his movements were as graceful as a dance, precise to every inch.
Although Horus's body and weapon were more powerful and advanced than Sarradin's, he gradually found himself at a disadvantage in this duel. Sarradin used the terrain and his wisdom to counter Horus's attacks again and again, steadily neutralizing his advantages.
Finally, Sarradin seized an opening from Horus, backhanded his Worldbreaker Warhammer away, and then kicked him forcefully in the chest, sending him to the ground.
Horus knelt on one knee, gasping for breath. He looked up to see Sarradin's scimitar at his throat. He closed his eyes, awaiting the pronouncement of his fate.
"Do it, brother. If this is your choice."
Sarradin's hand trembled slightly, his eyes filled with struggle and rage. He gritted his teeth, even breaking them, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He took a deep breath, finally roaring in a low voice:
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