Either Rogal Dorn was calmly arguing with their father, or their father was standing aside while Rogal Dorn asked endless questions…
But the Iron Hand could never have imagined seeing this.
Rogal Dorn stood calmly at the door of their father's study.
"What is going on here?"
Ferrus stopped, his boots clanking loudly on the floor.
"The Rock" turned around calmly and nodded slightly at Ferrus in greeting.
"What's wrong?" Ferrus asked, frowning.
"I can't go in," Rogal Dorn replied calmly. "Father has locked the door."
"…I remember there were no locks on the study door."
Dorn shook his head and replied calmly,
"There are now. At least, the Adeptus Custodes behind the door have warned me many times not to enter."
The Gorgon paused for a moment, and anger suddenly flashed across his face.
"Warned me?"
"They are merely Father's guards, and we are his sons! Even Constantin Valdor didn't dare speak to you like that. Warned me?! Wait here, Rogal!"
"…Where are you going?"
"For my hammer."
Ferrus narrowed his eyes dangerously and replied calmly.
"Who knows if Father is really there? Who knows if he really gave the order? And if he did, why didn't he explain the reason to us, not even telling Konrad anything?"
"And also…"
He looked angrily at the elegant, gilded carved door and slowly shook his head.
"…We can't even see him?"
"…You are making a rather dangerous accusation," Dorn said after a pause.
"The situation itself is dangerous enough, Rogal! What on Nostramo could have made the Adeptus Custodes appear in full battle regalia?"
"Gangs or aristocrats? They can't even build an orbital defense system; a few 'Thunderhawks' would turn their grim palace into ruins!"
Ferrus Manus clenched his fists and fell silent. Dorn's expression became extremely serious, and he said quietly,
"Your conclusions lead to extremes, Ferrus…"
"The Adeptus Custodes are Father's personal guard; their arrogance is justified and forgivable in most cases… Each of them is absolutely loyal to Father, and your unsubstantiated accusations could create unnecessary problems."
"Can't a son see his father?"
Ferrus raised his hand and pointed at the door.
"Tell me, Rogal, what right does this door have to stop us? If Father doesn't want to see us, he could have said so directly! Not by using the Adeptus Custodes as his heralds!"
"No, Ferrus. They just asked me to wait. In fact, the wording of the warning was very mild. According to them, Father is currently…"
Dorn frowned, which was rare for him, and didn't know how to continue.
Ferrus looked at him, waiting for him to finish. His anger had already subsided under Rogal Dorn's words.
"…fighting," Rogal Dorn said, confused.
"…Fighting? With whom?"
"I don't know either."
Rogal Dorn slowly shook his head, looked at the door again, and muttered quietly,
"And that's the problem."
***
The stone slabs cracked, the shattered floor crumbled under the feet of two fighting giants. The wind roared, raindrops shattered, stones groaned under their feet.
Constantin Valdor struck with his sword at lightning speed; his attacks were ruthless, swift, and continuous, like a storm.
His opponent was unarmed, even without armor, but fought him on equal terms.
He not only dodged all of Constantin's attacks but also managed to inflict harmless but humiliating marks on his armor with his crimson fists.
"Illusion…" Kariél sneered. "You insult the name of Constantin Valdor."
The Chapter Master remained impassive, continuing to attack calmly and tightly with his sword.
Before accepting this order, he already knew of Kariél Lohars's strength. He had once easily defeated one of the Primarchs, Lorgar Aurelian. And although Lorgar Aurelian was not skilled in combat, he was still a Primarch.
In other words, Constantin knew what he was up against.
But he remained true to his oath and accepted the Master's command. Even when he was ordered not to take the Apollonian spear, he accepted it with a calmness bordering on indifference.
It was just a fight – what difference did it make who the opponent was?
He did not choose his enemies, and war never offered such an opportunity. Therefore, Constantin did not complain.
He simply fought.
But his opponent thought differently.
Kariél clenched his right fist, a cold blue light flashed in his eyes, the air boiled, and a quiet, barely perceptible, but terrifying sound pulsed in his hand.
"Last chance, illusion," Kariél said hoarsely. "Show your true face, don't insult those I know anymore…"
"Or what? What will you do?"
Constantin retreated calmly, holding his sword with both hands and gripping it warily.
"Kill me?"
Kariél smiled, rain streaming down his face, and the crackling in the air grew louder. Anger seethed in his eyes, and a bloody light flashed and died.
A flash of lightning – Constantin Valdor's eyes widened, his armor let out a strange groan. The sound almost drove him mad.
Metal twisted, debris flew past his eyes. In that instant, it was as if a hurricane had swept through, tossing him high into the air.
After a few seconds, he crashed heavily to the ground, stunned and overcome with pain. Constantin shook his head; some drug from his armor began to be rapidly injected into his body, the bloody haze before his eyes disappeared, and his hearing returned.
"Open fire?"
Someone asked coldly over the comms. Usually, they didn't need to communicate by voice; a few light movements from Valdor were enough for the Adeptus Custodes to understand his intentions, but now it was impossible.
"He's gone mad, Commander," the same voice said hoarsely, as if passing a sentence.
"…No."
Swallowing the blood that rose to his throat, Constantin struggled to his feet.
"The previous attack was just a probe," he thought, "or perhaps not even a probe."
A single true blow had almost cost him the use of his hand; his pride as a martial artist was shattered, but Constantin did not lower his sword.
With sheer willpower, he directed the tip of his sword at the giant in the rain again.
"Wake up, see the world before you, Kariél Lohars."
Constantin said quietly,
"Don't be deceived…"
Kariél shook his head, frowned, and, staggering in the rain, ignored Constantin's words.
"You must wake up."
Constantin repeated firmly.
"Resist, Kariél Lohars. My master believes in you, and you gave your word not to let him down…"
He gripped his sword with his still trembling right hand, and with his left, he removed his helmet.
Ruins burned around him, the mechanical parts of his helmet hissed, and after a moment, a face appeared, completely impervious to pain.
Raindrops streamed down.
He threw his helmet aside.
"Don't give up," Constantin took his sword with both hands again. "Think of Konrad Curze…"
"How dare you utter his name before me!"
The name of Konrad Curze seemed to flip a switch, and the giant's face, which had seemed confused until then, contorted with unprecedented rage, primal and pure, like the face of death itself.
"You have already harmed him enough – this cursed gift, this so-called prophecy – I have driven you away once, and it will be no trouble for me to do it again, even a thousand times!"
Kariél gritted his teeth so hard they creaked, and extreme fury manifested completely on his usually calm face.
He roared, and his voice echoed through the narrow streets, swept over the corpses, over the still-smoldering wreckage of the sentinel automatons, over the burning ruins, and finally reached the ears of the Chapter Master and every one of the Adeptus Custodes.
It was a non-human voice.
It was a howl – an ancient howl, containing nothing but rage, hatred, and malice.
Constantin stood silently, ready for death.
He understood perfectly that he would not withstand the next blow. He was the head of the Adeptus Custodes, the greatest warrior, but even that would not be enough to defeat Lorgar Aurelian. Let alone Kariél Lohars.
But he didn't care.
On the Chapter Master's rain-soaked face, there was only calm; the smell of blood and fire filled the air, but his mind was clearer than ever.
"If this is the path you have chosen for me, Master…"
"Then I will accept it."
Yes, he would accept it, but someone else would not.
+Constantin.+
A voice came from beyond the Veil, thundering in his ears like thunder.
The raging rain froze, time slowed, blood flowed from the Chapter Master's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, his eyes widened, and he suddenly dropped his power sword.
The giant, whose face was contorted with rage, lunged at him, but Constantin's movements were faster than ever – he had never been so fast in his life, so fast that he himself couldn't understand it.
A spear appeared in his hands.
But not the one he was used to.
This spear shone like heavenly light, its blade burning with pure, terrifyingly hot fire.
+Hold it.+
"Yes, Master."
The consciousness-fading Chapter Master gripped this alien weapon tightly.
+Strike.+
"Yes, Master."
***
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