"He's finally here…" Bruce murmured softly.
He had been preparing for this day for a long time. It was just the Lion, that was all—let's see how I deal with you.
Whether he ended up controlling Lion or killing him outright, Bruce intended to do everything he could to prevent the outbreak of the Thramas Crusade. After all, if the Night Lords went head-to-head with the Dark Angels, their odds of winning were pathetically, disastrously low.
Even with Doraemon's gadgets helping him force the Legion into shape, that still took time.
And right now, time was exactly what Bruce lacked most.
Since he wanted to win, then dirty tricks were the only real option left. Best case scenario, he could even pull Lion over to his own side. That way, the Imperium might not lose quite so catastrophically when the Horus Heresy finally erupted.
"Acting Commander, Lord Lion's landing craft has entered Nostramo's atmosphere."
One of the fairy maids delivered the report.
"Good."
Bruce stood on the balcony of the palace gardens—now officially renamed the Scarlet Devil Mansion—and looked out at the streaks of light falling through the atmosphere like meteors. Then he drew in a deep breath.
"Proceed according to plan. Guide him all the way to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. If anything unexpected happens, notify me immediately."
"And remember—no matter what happens, do not let a conflict break out. Even if we take casualties."
"Yes! For the Lord of Night!"
The fairy maid saluted and turned to leave. Within minutes, the order would be passed down with absolute precision.
At the same time, Lion landed on the surface with only a handful of bodyguards, exactly as instructed. Seated within the landing craft, he had been turning one question over in his mind the entire way down.
Why… had that clown's flattery actually made me happy?
That was not right.
By all logic, a Primarch should be the most rational and wise of beings. I am Lion El'Jonson, son of the Emperor! How could I possibly be left floating from a few lines of rainbow-flavored praise?
Damn it. That man Bruce must have used some kind of sorcery.
The moment I see him, I'm going to teach him a lesson.
"My lord Lion, the situation outside… seems a little strange."
One of the Deathwing guards spoke up warily after noticing unusual movement beyond the landing zone.
The others, having heard it as well, immediately rested their hands on the hilts of their power swords.
To show sincerity—and also out of sheer confidence—Lion's party had entered the planet lightly equipped. If an unpredictable clash broke out, they would have to rely on the Indomitable Truth teleporting them out.
"Mortals…? Why…?"
Amid the roar of the landing engines, Lion sharpened his senses and caught pieces of what lay outside.
He confirmed it:
beyond the landing zone were mortals.
A great many mortals.
What did it mean?
The answer came a moment later. As the hatch slowly opened, Lion and his companions rose and stepped out into a sea of people. At the exact instant Lion emerged, the lights of the entire city flared to life in unison.
Everyone knew that Nostramo was a dark hive world, forever smothered beneath industrial smog. Light on that planet was a rare and precious resource, something only the nobles in the upper reaches were entitled to enjoy.
And yet what Lion saw before him now was enough to leave even him momentarily speechless.
Yes, the planet still possessed the soaring hive towers that stretched toward the heavens—but unexpectedly, it was beautiful. Warm window-lights glowed from those towers, neon signs shimmered everywhere, and those countless sources of illumination gave Nostramo a strange sense of comfort.
It looked nothing like the oppressive world of darkness he had heard about.
Is this really Nostramo?
Where the hell have you brought me?
Even Lion could not immediately understand what had happened to Nostramo during Curze's disappearance. Its infrastructure, its public order, its sheer level of development—all of it was utterly different from rumor.
"Warmaster Lion! Aah! We adore you!"
"Warmaster Lion has arrived! Nostramo has sunlight now!"
"Waaah! Warmaster Lion!"
"Warmaster! Warmaster! Warmaster!"
The people of Nostramo exploded into frenzied cheers. Lightboards and giant screens hanging from buildings flashed slogans like LONG LIVE THE WARMASTER, while cycling through handsome portraits of Lion again and again.
If there had not been armed forces and security installations surrounding the landing zone, anyone watching would have thought they had wandered into some enormous fan-meeting event.
"…"
Lion looked upon the scene and suddenly felt his heartbeat quicken.
The cries of the crowd—even their sobbing—struck directly at his nerves. The countless flashes of camera lights sparkled like stars, and for an instant he felt as if he himself were the moon hanging high above them.
Primarchs were rational beings.
They were meant to be calm at all times.
But demigods were not immune to glory—least of all glory born from the reverence and love of mortals.
And more importantly, this was his brother Primarch's territory.
As Lion advanced step by step, the crowd spontaneously parted to either side, revealing a long red carpet lined with lights. It stretched onward as if it had no end, accompanied by flower petals and rolling applause.
Enormous billboards played his accomplishments on repeat.
From being the Emperor's eldest son, to the glories of the Dark Angels Legion, to his heroic campaigns in the eastern reaches for the sake of the Imperium's people—by the time it was over, they had praised Lion so hard that even he felt a little embarrassed.
"My l— no, Lord Lion… doesn't this feel a little strange?"
One of the accompanying guards, suppressing his own swell of satisfaction, asked cautiously.
"Strange? What is strange about it?"
Lion walked with head held high.
"This is precisely why we fight, is it not?"
"It is our deeds that have protected these Imperial citizens, and this is simply their way of repaying us."
Of course, what truly lowered Lion's guard was not logic, but those repeated cheers of Long live the Warmaster.
Damn it.
I've never even been treated like this on my own homeworld.
There were even children hopping excitedly at the roadside, clutching bouquets. When Lion's gaze swept over them, some burst into tears from sheer excitement and shouted things like, "I want to become an Astartes too! I want to serve Lord Warmaster!"
At this point, the only thing Lion could really think was:
This will do.
Nostramo is a fine place.
"Form ranks! Let these Imperial citizens witness true knights!"
As Lion continued forward, he noticed something ahead and called the order.
A ceremonial review formation had appeared along the road in welcome—everyone from mortal soldiers to Astartes marching in ordered ranks to pay him homage.
As a response, Lion naturally had to ensure his own guards composed themselves properly. It was both courtesy and a chance to display the elegance and bearing of the First Legion.
One does not strike a smiling face.
The Night Lords had shown him this much respect already; there was no need to put on airs. Doing so would only make him look boorish.
"Warmaster Lion! We salute you!"
One of the Atramentar gave a crisp Aquila salute and announced:
"The Acting Commander has been awaiting your arrival at the Scarlet Devil Mansion for quite some time. Please, board the vehicle."
The distance from the landing field to the Scarlet Devil Mansion was not short, so a car was the best option. But to keep Lion from growing bored, Bruce had specially prepared an open-top ceremonial car.
That way, Lion could stand and receive the cheers and adoration of the Imperial citizens along the route while also seeing firsthand just how unusual the transformed Nostramo truly was.
"Where is Bruce Wayne? Why did he not come personally to receive me?"
As Lion asked the question, he stepped onto the ceremonial vehicle. At the same time, his eyes drifted to a palace in the distance, wreathed in crimson clouds.
His brother's Night Palace had become that?
Did that Bruce not consider it sacrilege?
"The Acting Commander said that he wished to greet you in the finest possible condition. He asks your pardon for not being here to welcome you immediately."
"If you truly require it, he can present himself at once."
"That won't be necessary. Let me see what exactly he's preparing."
Lion nodded in clear satisfaction.
In his excellent mood, Lion no longer felt Bruce had been discourteous. On the contrary, he was now rather curious what sort of surprise the man had prepared.
What, exactly, is your connection to my brother's disappearance?
"Set off! Fire the salute guns for our great Warmaster Lion!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The vehicle began to move, and the ceremonial guns on both sides—already prepared in advance—opened fire, bringing light to Nostramo's gray sky.
Lion had arrived.
And with Lion's arrival, even Nostramo had found its daytime.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 150)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 110)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter69)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter95)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 55
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 40
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 45
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 32
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 31
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 31
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