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

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I just wanted to see my brother. Lead the way.

Abaddon, no longer wanting to cause trouble, followed the Son of Horus and led the White Scars deep into the Soul of Vengeance.

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The Soul of Vengeance... has changed.

The Khan remained silent, and the Primarch could sense his Storm Prophets clutching their tokens uneasily.

The massive ship felt different; it became hotter and cramped, and a faint stench wafted from its corners, lingering around them.

Behind the group, the Great Sage Tarasim, who insisted on following, let out an uneasy mechanical sound.

They walked down a long corridor, through a hall, and finally, Abaddon led the Khan to a private strategy room. The son of Horus opened the door for him, and the intense candlelight shone from the other end. The eagle's gaze pierced through, and he saw Horus rising from his throne, looking at him with a surprised expression.

The Khan smelled a strong stench of blood.

As the Primarch entered, Horus thoughtfully arranged seats for the Space Marines as well. The Khan sat down and beckoned his Kheshig and Storm Prophets to sit behind him.

Abaddon closed the door for them, and then the son of Horus went to sit in the seat behind Horus.

Horus smiled.

I knew you'd come, Khan. I know you're different from others.

The Khan gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"I just wanted to check on you, brother," the sweaty man said. "Something's not right with you."

Horus sat down, eagerly returning to his throne as if a weary person desperately needed rest; he practically collapsed into his warm, blood-stained seat.

If this concerns your legion, then I apologize.

Horus spoke earnestly, his eyes red and moist, as if he were suffering from a serious illness.

[I only hoped White Scar could help me hold off the Dark Raven Guard legion; I had no intention of causing chaos among your troops—but you weren't there, and your warriors may have misunderstood me.]

The Khan stared at Horus, his eagle-like gaze fixed on the warlord within his narrow eye sockets, candlelight flickering in his black pupils. He scrutinized Horus as if assessing him.

Horus was not angered by the Khan's overstepping of authority; the warlord smiled and waited for the Khan.

Chagatai raised his hand and waved it.

That's all in the past.

The Primarch said vaguely, "The guilty have been punished; we need not dwell on this matter."

"You're still as carefree as ever," Horus said with a smile, "I truly envy you."

"Freedom comes at a price," the Khan said casually. "I just don't want to stay in the same quagmire for too long—so, what do you want to do, Horus?"

The Khan continued, "Why did you stop the Raven Guards? Horus, I expect a reasonable explanation."

I have no intention of getting involved in your conflict with the Nineteenth Legion—but since you are the Warmaster, Horus, I expect an explanation.

Horus's smile vanished, his lips drooped, and he sighed deeply and dramatically.

I believe Corax has betrayed us.

Horus said sadly,

I need to take the initiative.

As Horus spoke, he recalled the disappointing actions of Kolac, his younger brother who had returned last, and how vehemently opposed those in his legion who supported Horus, as if the warlord's ideas and political views were some highly contagious and incurable disease.

It is clear that Corax does not support Horus.

Horus is a warmaster, so if Corax doesn't support him, who else can he support?

Horus heard that Corax and Guilliman were on good terms—which made sense, as Corax also hoped to dismantle the empire and establish his own small kingdom ruled by foolish mortals.

Khan stared at Horus,

【betray?】

The Khan uttered the word slowly and heavily, as if reciting a eulogy.

[Betrayal? Do you think Corax betrayed you?]

【Yes,】

Horus said solemnly, "The situation is very serious now. There's more than just Corax as a traitor. Look, we have the Second Emperor Sangiles, his Second Warmaster Leon Johnson, his Chief Inquisitor Conrad Coz, and over there is the Second Emperor Angron, and the treacherous minister who put him on the throne, Robert Guilliman, then Mortalian, and Macardo—I knew we shouldn't have trusted that psionicist; this isn't the first time he's done something like this."

After Horus finished speaking, he began to feel a pang of heartache at the sight of so many traitors. How could his father have done such a thing? Did the Lord of Mankind know that he had raised so many insects? Did he know that his once-favored offspring had treated him this way?

He was immersed in the grief of betrayal, and the whole room fell silent. The cluster of burning candles flickered, and a stifling silence enveloped the place.

As Horus recited those long and convoluted words, the Storm Prophet behind the Khan coughed almost imperceptibly.

The Khan's voice came slowly, distorted.

Horus, do you know what you're saying?

Horus, lost in thought, snapped out of his reverie, burst into laughter, and looked at the Khan.

My brother, I neglected you; you are unaware of the current situation.

The torch has gone out.

[And our former brothers, our brethren, realizing that our father no longer responded to them, decisively abandoned our father's empire and declared themselves kings.]

Horus smiled bitterly, but the Khan clearly saw the twisted resentment on the warlord's face: "They betrayed the Empire."

The Khan pondered,

You should probably ask them yourself, Horus.

I went.

Horus stated firmly, "I spoke with each and every one of them... but the result was heartbreaking."

I hope you won't do that, Khan.

The Khan slowly shifted his gaze, fixing it on Horus.

You are sick.

The Khan said bluntly,

Horus, you are ill, you...

[Needs rest.]

Horus stared at the Khan in astonishment, then burst into laughter.

"Rest?" he said. "Thank you for your suggestion, brother, but how can I rest now? The galaxy is torn apart, our father is isolated and helpless, and the monsters of darkness are watching us closely. How can I rest?"

Horus rambled on and on, speaking for a long time, then looked back at the Khan, his face flushed as if he had a fever.

I need you.

Horus said solemnly,

I need your help, brother. We can't have another legion betray us.

The Khan spread his hands. "What do you want me to do?"

Horus's eyes gleamed. "I've contacted the beings in the Warp. We'll go to Cardia, join forces with the Warp's seals to slay that monster—then we'll return to Terra, rekindle the Star Torch, regroup our army, launch a new expedition, and kill all those traitors."

The Khan remained silent.

[A monster? You mean the master of the Order of Silence?]

Horus became serious.

[My brother, it was it, the one that deceived our father—it was it that plunged Prospero into flames, it was it that disintegrated the Fifteenth Legion.]

...Magnus.

Khan thought to himself, "I wasn't at the Council of Nicaea, but I did hear about Magnus's foolishness."

Horus shook his head.

We all know Magnus was merely somewhat...naive, but he didn't deserve to die.

[Does Magnus support you now?]

The Khan suddenly asked,

Yes, he supports me.

Horus smiled again. "I am glad to see our brother freed from his cage. As a captor, the wolf king was too savage. Magnus the Wise has finally broken free—I swear you, you will see him soon. He still has some matters to resolve."

I hope this isn't your imagination, Horus.

Horus's smile faded.

"You still think so, Chagatai Khan? After I've shown you all this, you still think I'm joking?"

【Yes,】

Chagatai Khan answered calmly, his hand resting imperceptibly on his sword.

First, you still haven't explained why you attacked the Ravenguard—I see no sign of Corax's "betrayal." Second, I don't believe Magnus can break free of the Wolf King's cage; our father won't allow that to happen.

【unless……】

The Khan spoke slowly,

[Unless Magnus, like you, has had excessive contact with the Eternal Heaven.]

Brother, those who don't believe in the path to heaven, and those who excessively believe in it, are fools.

Which type are you?

The candlelight flickered violently, and the room instantly grew cold; frost climbed up the corners of the walls, like the icy face of Horus.

【I do not understand,】

Horus said softly, "Even now, with the starlight extinguished, your brothers betraying you, everything has changed, everything has been turned upside down, yet you remain so stubborn, my brother."

Sticking to the old ways might not be a bad thing.

The Khan spoke, gripping the hilt of the White Tiger Blade, "You have strayed too far from the path to Paradise, Horus."

【if not? 】

Horus smiled wryly, casually raising his hand. The sons of Horus behind him rose to their feet. The Khan remained motionless, but the Kheshig and the Storm Prophet behind him also stood up.

[It all started in the warp, brother. I need to find a way out.]

Alpha has already embraced them, and so has Magnus. Fugan is also about to complete his transformation. I know, I know this is different from what we previously advertised—but in this precarious situation, we need allies from the warp, just some leverage… some means to facilitate the passage of ships through the warp.

Horus said in a low voice, "And the truth of the Empire... you and I both know it."

Although I did not see Magnus and Fugen in person,

Khan calmly said that he could sense that the Storm Prophet behind him was ready; he felt a familiar presence.

But I saw you and Alpha with my own eyes.

The Khan said, standing up and drawing his White Tiger Blade, "This is something I cannot accept."

Horus, you need rest.

The Khan spoke earnestly, but Horus remained seated on his throne, the warlord smiling as he opened his arms.

You can't beat me now, Khan.

He declared with unwavering conviction, "I drew fire from the warp—just as our father did."

【Yes,】

The Khan said casually, "I know I might not be able to defeat you right now."

"But—" the Khan abruptly changed his tone, "Perhaps you should see him."

His storm prophet Yesugei began chanting a spell, instantly extinguishing the candles and unleashing frost beneath their feet. In the dimly lit room, Horus instantly rose to his feet.

【he?!】

Horus roared in fury and charged toward Yesugei, trying to interrupt the spell, but the Khan drew his sword and met the enraged Horus head-on.

throat!

Horus's Claw clashed with the White Tiger Blade, sparks flying. In the firelight, the Khan saw Horus's face contorted with rage, and behind him, Abaddon's expression of terror.

We're not the only ones here; they're almost here.