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Chapter 282: State Your Name, Brother
🕑 Added 2025-11-05 10:41:16 +0000 UTCChapter 282: State Your Name, Brother
Today was destined to be a short day.
The images relayed from various parts of Fort Vigilus were becoming clearer. The Dark Angels were beginning to transition from assault operations to post-battle clean-up, and the Fallen Angels who no longer wished to fight were being relatively cooperative.
Battle-automata, controlled by the Ironwing修士, formed a barrier between the two sides. For both the Dark Angels and the Fallen, this was perhaps the most stable way to make contact at this moment. It avoided a direct conflict and provided a buffer for subsequent communication.
The Dark Angels, led by Arthur, were the first to break the stalemate. They announced their names, their units, their past experiences, and then issued a query to their brothers beyond the iron wall.
"State your name, brother," they said, on countless battlefields that were being cleared.
The Fallen Angels hesitated for a moment, and then slowly responded. The two sides exchanged names, traced their pasts. When the Primarch's name was solemnly mentioned, the tense atmosphere seemed to loosen a little. Although trust was still as fragile as a candle in the wind, at least, it had begun to be built.
The situation was clear. It was the fully armed Dark Angels against the scattered Fallen. And today, led by Arthur, the number of cards they held was terrifying. The First Legion had always lacked trust in everything. In this, they had inherited a great deal from their gene-father, Lion El'Jonson. But Arthur had no intention of tolerating a situation where, with every order, two comrades who had fought side-by-side for years would be guessing at each other's intentions. He wanted the Dark Angels to have absolute faith in his orders. So in the handling of the Fallen, what he said, went.
Cough, cough~
In an external control room, a Fallen Angel stood before a console. His power armour was covered in cracks, his breathing heavy. This was a battlefield he had woven with his psychic powers. Twisted energy hummed in the air, like a thousand whispers in his ear. He had frantically and cautiously drawn on the power of the Empyrean to fight its minions. And with the continuous use of this power, his surroundings had gradually twisted, forming a strange, multi-colored halo, as if a broken prism were refracting a light that was not of this reality.
"Get out!"
The Fallen Angel drew a tactical dagger and plunged it into his own body. The sharp pain made sweat bead on his forehead.
SQUELCH!
When the blade was withdrawn, it brought with it a few drops of dark red blood, which spattered on the cold floor. He panted heavily and slammed the dagger into the floor in front of him. The sound of metal on metal was particularly harsh in the silent control room. Only after the psychic turmoil had been forcibly suppressed did he lean back in exhaustion against the console, his armour scraping against the metal surface.
"It's over," the Fallen Angel's voice was hoarse, full of weariness. He had not used these powers in decades. The long years of drifting in the warp had made him deeply understand how dangerous this "gift" was, so he had once sealed off his senses. Fortunately, the secret he had kept for so long had finally been of use, and had at least allowed him to catch these traitors off guard.
"Brother Belphadon, please report your status again. The troops are approaching," the young voice came through the comms again. It was the neophyte named Azrael. The Fallen Angel did not remember the name. The other had explained that he was a Dark Angel who had been recruited in this era. He had said a lot. From his relatively candid words, the Fallen Angel could sense the changes. He couldn't help but suspect if there was a hidden truth.
His legs were trembling slightly from psychic exhaustion. He kicked out, sending the head of a broken corpse rolling. The head rolled a few times on the metal floor and finally stopped, its one exposed, unclosed eye staring at the Fallen Angel. It was clear that this was an unlucky fool who had not expected him to be a master of psychic powers and had been defeated in his recklessness.
We are the Dark Angels. The Alpha Legion always thought they were the experts in infiltration, because they all used the same name and didn't even know what they were doing themselves. But the secrets we keep will expose their ideological weaknesses. And to find a frank and honest Dark Angel is as rare as finding a civilized Space Wolf, the Fallen Angel thought sarcastically.
"..."
To find a support for his actions, he suddenly threw out his dagger. The hilt precisely hit the power switch of the signal generator, a circuit that had been manually cut during the previous battle to block the intruders.
CLICK—
The circuit was connected. The information attack that was constantly invading the entire Fort Vigilus quickly rushed in, including the video that was on a loop. The light particles of the hololithic projection gathered in the air, gradually forming the silhouette of a knight. The shining light of the blade coated the pale room in a warm gold. In this sudden brightness, the Fallen Angel narrowed his eyes and finally saw the knight's face.
This warrior who had once betrayed the Lion suddenly had an illusion—as if a true king were standing before him. The knight held a radiant sword, his posture as straight as a pine, as if he were waiting for the challenge of the world.
"I am Arthur Pendragon, the current leader of the Dark Angels. If you are seeing this message, it means I have arrived," the image shrank slightly, revealing the Dark Angels passing by his side. They were fully armed. The Fallen Angel could judge from the height of the corridor lights that these Dark Angels were taller. But even including the volume added by the new power armour, the difference in size with the central knight was still clear at a glance.
It's a Primarch.
"Like you, when I opened my eyes again, what I saw was a strange galaxy, surrounded by enemies who wanted to take my life. And for this reason, I understand your pain. I can provide you with a sanctuary, a place where you can think calmly and rest. This galaxy is more dangerous than at any time in the past. And for this reason, I also urgently need your help. We will form a great army to compete for the dominion of the galaxy, to better interpret how humanity should contend for the stars. If your heart is sincere, I promise that you will surely find a place in this great cause."
The Fallen Angel's breathing unconsciously quickened.
"Remember, if you accept my ideas, then I am the undisputed commander of the First Legion. Until you leave the ranks, you must abide by the oath I have sworn, and must immediately cease all infighting and mutual judgment—" the knight in the projection looked at the camera that was recording him, his gaze like a torch. "—everything awaits my personal judgment."
The video ended, and the screen plunged back into darkness. The Primarch had an ambition to change the galaxy. He had said it without reservation. At the same time, he was very honest. He had clear requirements for the Legion, and was not stingy about sharing his plans. And he was also very tolerant. He intended to distinguish the crimes of the Fallen and to mete out punishment according to his own standards. He wanted to end this ten-thousand-year-long infighting and chain of suspicion.
Before the Lion takes command of the Legion.
"So... he intends to deny the Lion?" the Fallen Angel whispered hoarsely, his metal gauntlets scraping shallow marks on the console. He then thought that at this moment, that Primarch was walking with those loyal warriors, while he had to endure their attacks. It was indeed a cruel joke.
Indeed, the galaxy had never been a tolerant place. If you wanted tolerance, then you had to be tougher than those sensitive beings. This Prince had shown his determination. He had decided to carry the past of the Fallen on his back. No one but him could interfere.
The Fallen Angel took a deep breath, his punctured chest like a broken bellows. He slowly brought up the communication interface, and truthfully uploaded his location, the process of annihilating the enemy, including the use of forbidden psychic powers. The data stream flickered on the screen, exposing all his secrets.
'I hope I am right this time.'
After all this was done, he leaned back against the cold metal wall and closed his eyes with a bitter smile. He had experienced such betrayals many times before.
