Warhammer: I don't want to become a stinky can!

Page 789

Amidst the dark green poisonous gas, Hades grinned, his white hair standing out starkly in the distance.

Hades took a deep breath, then shoved the helmet into Mortarion's arms without a word.

"I won't hold you back from the road ahead."

Hades grinned, black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, and the wound on his abdomen, inflicted by Nacre, was horrifying.

"Motalian...live well...look more at the commoners and slaves—remember the most important thing, don't betray them."

[Motalian] knew it was too late. The Primarch had never felt death so clearly. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know what to do—he wasn't ready to accept it.

He and Karas had originally planned to make Hades turn back halfway up the mountain, but after they set off again, Hades secretly caught up with them in the end.

Given Hades's past physical abilities, this was almost impossible. Mortarian didn't know just how much willpower Hades possessed to catch up with them again.

[How...how do you know so much? You're not from here, are you, Hades? You're like me—]

Hades gave a helpless smile.

"Where do I come from? I'm not so sure myself—maybe it's all just a nightmare—just think of me as coming from another world, Mortarian."

[You'll go back, won't you?]

This might just be his own unrealistic fantasy.

Mortarion reached out his hand, but Hades staggered back, dodging Mortarion.

"I hope so... at least all this awfulness is finally over, and I haven't let anyone down; I've done everything I could."

[Motalian] everything went black.

Hades' voice became muffled, as if it came from the distant ocean depths.

"What exactly is going on? Everyone else's transmigration is like a fast-paced action novel, but mine is like a battle royale game—is this Warhammer? I guess you can't just let your soul be recruited like that. I want a Coke."

"correct."

Hades staggered again, the feeling of impending death never felt so intense, but he felt much more energetic, no longer in pain, no longer tired, his thoughts were like a puppet being pulled on strings.

“I—I seem to have left a small hole in your soul—my power is very unstable, I feel a part of it break off, and then, uh, it seems to be embedded in your soul—I may have subconsciously cursed the nearest psionic being.”

[It's alright—hold on, Hades, I'll take you both down the mountain. Don't die, don't die, don't die yet.]

[Motalian] was almost begging. After a brief rest, he felt himself regain some of his strength. He struggled to his feet, wanting to take [Hades] and [Kalas] with him.

But the next moment——

The original's heart trembled violently.

[......]

The world seemed to open up, the fog dissipated—[Motalian] heard the most familiar yet most terrifying footsteps faintly behind him.

The sun rises.

A golden sun rose behind the Primarch, and Mortarion turned around, trembling, fearful, terrified, and ecstatic.

His first thought was that Hades didn't have to die.

The Primarch turned around, instinctively blocking Hades and Karas behind him. Compared to his time on Terra, Mortarion was now tattered and battered, as if he had just crawled out of a garbage dump.

He saw the Emperor.

The light stung the Primarch, and beneath the long, straight black hair, a pair of familiar golden eyes were calmly watching him. The Primarch was startled, for he saw a hint of disappointment flash across the gold.

He disappointed him.

+The 14th. +

The Lord of Humanity said calmly.

Come back to the Empire with me.

[etc! ]

Mortarian roared, glancing at Hades out of the corner of his eye, only to see Hades standing there dumbfounded, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, staring intently at the Lord of Mankind.

Few can resist the Emperor.

[Save my comrades first—I won't go with you—unless you save them!]

Mortarian coughed up blood, his scythe positioned between him and the Emperor. He suddenly had an extremely ominous premonition, but he didn't know why.

His words caused the monster's unblinking eyes to shift behind him, and its golden eyes spotted the two figures behind [Motalian].

A different expression suddenly appeared in his eyes, as if he were surprised.

Just then, an incredulous voice rang out from behind [Motalian].

"You... are the Emperor?"

Hades exclaimed in shock, his eyes fixed on the tall, brown-skinned man who exuded an imposing aura, with a dazzling golden light emanating from him.

Yes.

The Lord of Mankind raised his foot, seemingly wanting to bypass Mortarion, but then glanced at Hades behind him.

[What do you want to do?!]

Alarm bells rang in Mortalian's mind, and he swung his scythe sharply, but the Lord of Man simply waved his hand casually toward the Primarch.

A burst of golden light—followed immediately by an uncontrollable wave of dizziness.

Mortarian almost instantly lost control of his body, collapsing to the ground. The last thing he saw through his strained eyes was Hades standing there in astonishment, and the pair of golden boots walking towards Hades.

[Promise me... save him...]

[Motalian] reached out his hand, and the next moment, he fell into a coma.

+Interesting, an outsider. +

The Lord of Mankind strolled over to Hades and circled him as if examining a rare object.

A weakened Outer One made contact with his fourteenth son—but to no avail; Mortarion's performance disappointed him.

Very few people live to that age.

The Emperor said, turning his head to look into Hades' eyes, his black hair hanging down.

+Which universe do you come from, intruder?+

"Ahem... As expected of the Emperor... He really knows everything."

Hades coughed violently. He felt the spiritual pressure of the Lord of Humanity suddenly increase, like a monster bursting with golden light. Under the pressure, Hades' knees buckled and he suddenly knelt on the ground.

“I don’t know either… I know your story here—but it’s not the same as what I know.”

+ Fate is inherently different. Tell me, which Primarch betrayed you in your memory?

Hades coughed, spitting out blood, but his throat moved on its own, reciting one name after another.

Finally, Hades bit his tongue hard—but the name was still uttered.

“Petulabo, Fugen...Motalian.”

+Motalian?+

The Emperor glanced indifferently at the Primarch who was lying paralyzed on the ground.

+That's conceivable. +

He says,

"No—wait—cough cough cough—Motalian is different, I swear—he's not the person I used to know—"

I will make my own decision.

The Emperor abruptly interrupted Hades, his eyes completely obscured by golden light. His crown shone brilliantly, and Hades felt as if he were being controlled, unable to control his own actions.

So who is the most outstanding person you know?

"...Robert Killieman."

The Emperor remained silent for a moment.

+That's conceivable. +

As he spoke, a golden light flashed in his eyes. Then he looked at Hades again. Golden light shone from Hades' neck, as if a large golden hand was gripping his neck.

Outsider, you are not welcome in this world—now you can disappear, I grant you liberation.

Hades was lifted up, and he struggled to break free of the psychic energy binding his neck, but to no avail.

"Cough cough—cough cough! Are you really—the Emperor?!"

Hades coughed up blood, which dripped onto the ground.

Why is this emperor so cold-blooded—or is he always like this?

"You still—you still—"

A choking sound escaped his throat, and Hades' dark eyes flashed with confusion and bewilderment. He recalled the Emperor that Mortarion had told him, and many details that were different from what he knew.

In his final moments, Hades uttered his own questions and curses.

"The Lord of Darkness?!"

pat.

The body slumped back to the ground.

The Lord of Darkness?

The Emperor tilted his head slightly.

The Lord of Darkness?

Unexpectedly, the word resonated in his soul far more extensively than he had imagined, transcending time and space.

Tzeentch chuckled.

………………

When Mortarion awoke, he found himself in the Primarch's bedroom on the Imperial Dream, where Karas informed him that Hades' funeral had already been held in Barbaros.

He had no idea what happened on Barbaross while he was unconscious.

………………

Later, the Emperor told him that Hades' last words were that Guilliman was better than him.

Yay, it's gone!

Chapter 805 [247] That Blue Man

The best thing Guilliman ever did was to take the throne from the Lord of Mankind.

On this particular matter, Mortarian thought this way, even though he still deeply hated Guilliman.

He still has too many unanswered questions, but the person who could answer them is long gone.

But now... he has another chance.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, and Mortarian had finished telling his story.

A pathetic past filled with wrongdoing.

He looked at Hades, who had stopped eating, opposite him; Hades' expression was grave.

Mortarian was surprised to see a Hades with a good appetite, something many of them had hoped for, but now it only reminded him that this Hades was not the one he knew.

Like a funhouse mirror, the reflections in the two destinies are not exactly the same.

Even so, Mortarian still felt heavy-hearted.

"In other words... that version of me was eventually buried in Barbaros."

Hades said in a low voice, his mind racing. It was entirely possible, the only difference being whether he encountered Mortarian at that crucial juncture.

If he hadn't encountered Mortarian on Barbarossa, leading to his failed escape—that's how fate would have flowed.

Even so, fate still has the power to correct itself, and the opportunity lies in the first and last meeting between the Emperor and Hades.

If the Emperor is willing to treat Hades, then there is still hope.

But that "Emperor" did not make that choice.