Pain… it hurt so much…
With violent pulses of pain pounding through her forehead, Lion's consciousness was jolted awake. In less than half a second, the demigod had fully recovered her awareness—and remembered everything.
From departing the Xana Sector to arriving at Nostramo, from being entertained at the Scarlet Devil Mansion by Bruce, to finally obtaining information about Curze—then, just as she had been about to set out, she drank that bottle and lost consciousness.
Damn it!
There was something wrong with that drink!
Bruce Wayne—you actually dared plot against me?!
Once she pieced everything together, Lion's mind finished rebooting, and she tried to rouse the rest of her body. But the moment she did, all kinds of alien sensations made the demigod deeply uneasy.
Why did her body feel… so light?
"?!"
Lion opened her eyes and discovered that both hands were bound fast by red silk cords, her arms encased in white gloves as smooth as satin.
These are my hands?
Why do they look so… feminine?!
The shock hit Lion hard. She instinctively looked down—and immediately felt as though the sky had fallen. Her body was clearly much smaller now, and she was wearing a white formal dress.
"Ah… ah… hff… hff…"
She tried to break the cords binding her wrists, only to discover that the moment she exerted strength, her body went weak and pliant, her power and stamina draining away instantly, leaving her breathing in unsteady gasps.
Even my voice has turned into something this… delicate?!
"Damn it…"
Grinding her teeth, Lion cursed under her breath and forced her muscles to move so she could take in her surroundings.
Unfortunately, her field of vision was limited. At most, she could tell that she was tied up in an intentionally humiliating posture and standing on what appeared to be a stage.
The red carpet beneath her and the spotlight trained on her made that much obvious.
"Brother, you are truly beautiful like this. I almost want to place you in my collection room and make you the brightest doll among my many treasures."
An utterly delighted voice rose from beneath the stage.
That voice…?
Could it be—
Summoning all her strength and forcing herself through the strange, weakening sensations in her body, Lion twisted her head to look.
"Bruce!!!"
The moment she saw him, Lion's anger flared—but it was quickly smothered by the unnatural sensations overwhelming her body.
Her legs trembled uncontrollably, and worse still, her body felt as though it was betraying her in ways she could neither stop nor accept.
I am a child of the Emperor—a Primarch, the strongest of his gene-forged sons—and I can't even control my own body?
What kind of joke is this?!
"Sorry, Warmaster Lion. I was only carrying out orders. To be honest… I really do admire you."
Bruce spread his hands, acting as though he were innocent.
At the same time, however, he was staring far too boldly, looking Lion over from head to toe without the slightest attempt to hide it.
At that moment, Lion was dressed in white formalwear, bent and bound, her wrists tied high with crimson ribbons. The tension in her body and the elegant dress only made the scene more humiliating. Under the influence of blood magic, even her breathing occasionally slipped into soft, involuntary tremors, and the proud lion she had always been now looked wretchedly vulnerable.
"I… hate you… Bruce."
Lion glared at him through flushed cheeks and clenched teeth.
"Recruit, your breathing seems a little unsteady."
Curze, sitting on Bruce's shoulder, cast him a sidelong glance and bared her fangs in displeasure.
"Uh…"
Bruce hurriedly averted his eyes and muttered, embarrassed, "That's because you all dressed the Lion up way too nicely!"
Was that my fault? Who would've guessed that after turning into a girl, Lion would look like Saber? And then you put her in a white formal dress and tied her up like this—
"And wasn't that your suggestion?" Sevatar cut in dryly from the side.
"I just said it offhand…"
"But the Primarch took it seri—"
"Silence!"
Curze punched Bruce square in the face, then roared furiously, "All of you, shut up! This is private time between me and Lion!"
"Yes…"
Bruce bared his teeth in pain but didn't dare say another word or move carelessly. One more punch from his Primarch and his head might actually go flying.
"Lion! You've finally fallen into my hands."
Curze grabbed Bruce by the ears and used him like the handlebars of a motorcycle to steer herself forward.
As for the brakes, well—that was what kicking him in the chest was for.
"Hah! So my brother has become this ridiculous little thing, and now resorts to such cheap tricks."
"Oh? Is that all you have to say?" Curze grinned.
Panting slightly, Lion lifted her head with disdain, like a proud little lion cub. "I have nothing further to say. If you mean to act, then do it quickly."
Lion knew perfectly well that if she failed to return to the Indomitable Truth for too long, her sons would launch an attack immediately. When that happened, all of Nostramo would face destruction.
As for her own safety, she did not care. She was a Primarch. Unless Curze truly intended to push matters beyond all reconciliation, Lion was certain she would not be killed.
Which meant, in Lion's mind, the real initiative still rested with her—not with Curze.
"Oh? You don't seem very afraid of what's about to happen to you."
"At worst, I die. But I guarantee Nostramo will be annihilated. Everything you treasure will burn beneath the wrath of the Dark Angels."
Lion remained utterly contemptuous.
"It seems… you still don't understand your situation, my dear brother."
The prouder and more indifferent Lion acted, the more exhilarated Curze became.
Because Curze could already imagine how Lion would beg before this was over—how her dignity, and even her spirit, would be ground away piece by piece in utter despair.
Yes.
This was exactly what she wanted.
A Primarch brother reduced to a toy.
"In another hour, if I still haven't returned to the Indomitable Truth, my sons will attack."
"Curze, if you surrender now, there is still time."
"I can overlook all of this as a joke. Otherwise… when things worsen, it will be too late for you to beg."
Lion continued to hold herself like a victor.
"Hahahahaha! You're killing me!"
Curze laughed so hard she slapped Bruce on the head, then proudly shouted, "Recruit! Put on a performance for my brother!"
"Right away, I—"
Smack—
Curze slapped him again before he could launch into a flashy flip.
"I told you to drink the Transformation Drink, not start imitating Meiling with martial arts!"
She was furious.
If he started flipping around and she accidentally fell off in front of her brother, where would the Night Lords' dignity be then?
"My name is Shen…"
"Quiet!"
"Ahem."
Bruce steadied himself, then picked up the drink and chugged it down.
The next second, smoke burst outward, and Bruce transformed into a towering giant more than three meters tall. The moment Lion saw it, her expression tightened. Her eyes trembled ever so slightly—the invincible Lion had finally begun to feel fear.
She had just witnessed a mere Astartes transform into… herself.
Not merely resemble her, but match her completely—in face, in presence, in aura. This was something even the Alpha Legion could never have achieved.
How was this possible? What kind of sorcery was this?!
"Brother, you finally know fear, don't you? My recruit is very impressive~"
Curze raised a brow like someone proudly showing off a prized toy.
"Hah! So what? A counterfeit is still a counterfeit. My men will notice something is wrong."
"Is that so? Then let us wait and see."
"Recruit, go do what you're supposed to do. And then… we can begin today's real performance."
As Bruce spoke, he handed Curze off from his shoulder to Sevatar, who promptly lifted the dignified little lady high into the air.
Only like this could she properly look down on her Primarch brother.
At all times, milady's dignity had to come first.
"Hmph."
Lion gave a cold snort, refusing to show fear.
Snap—
At the sound of Curze's fingers snapping, several fairy maids with suspiciously languid walks emerged from behind the black curtains. Each of them looked at the "prey" on the stage with obvious interest, and whatever they were carrying was enough to make even Lion instinctively tense.
Damn it.
What is wrong with these four mortal women and those looks in their eyes?!
"Brother, if you beg now, there's still time~"
With her arms folded over her chest, Curze laughed heartily.
"These four are the finest instructors in all the Scarlet Devil Mansion—true experts in educating new recruits. Each possesses an extraordinary specialty. Among drill instructors, they're practically the Great Four Heroes of the Crusade: Doraron, Sigismund, Abaddon, and Khaos Wayne!"
"I'm sure they'll bring you endless surprises~"
"…"
Lion clenched her teeth. She very badly wanted to curse, but honestly didn't even know where to begin.
Because her brother had very obviously gone insane.
"Recruit, why are you still here?"
Curze cast Bruce a distinctly unfriendly glance when she saw him still watching.
"Uh… could I maybe watch a little before I go?" Bruce asked cautiously.
"Get out!"
"Yes!"
Bruce did not dare linger for even a moment and immediately bolted.
In any case, best to go finish the mission first. He could always come back later and watch the recording.
"Y-you…"
Watching the four figures begin climbing up toward the stage, Lion's fear finally broke through.
"Stay away from me!"
"I'll kill all of you!"
"Hahahaha! Brother, go ahead and beg! I have more than enough ways to help you enjoy yourself!"
Curze laughed in immense satisfaction and called out, "Meiling! Start recording! I want the whole galaxy to see my brother's disgrace!"
"Yes, Father!"
"And… my name is Shen," Shen muttered helplessly as she adjusted the recording device.
"Hm? Meiling, since when did you start talking back?!"
"I… wuu…"
"Um, Primarch… weren't you supposed to show Lord Lion the future you foresaw?"
Blue Fatty, clutching a book, finally couldn't keep quiet.
No matter how he looked at this, it felt less like "showing prophecy" and more like Curze had gotten hold of an especially unfortunate kitten and decided to love it to death.
"Don't rush. If I don't wear down my brother's will first, how is she supposed to accept the future?"
Curze answered with rare seriousness.
Of course, private sentiment still played the larger role. After all, Curze knew perfectly well how Lion had treated her in the original future.
"Fine…"
Blue Fatty watched the four disturbingly enthusiastic fairy maids fuss over Lion and simply couldn't bear to keep looking.
The scene was certainly beautiful in a lurid sort of way, but Blue Fatty's spiritual sight still reminded him of one simple fact:
all five figures on that stage were, in essence, originally huge men.
"Let… let go of me!"
"Not there—don't—mmph…"
"Help me! Luther—!"
…
Meanwhile, on Caliban, the homeworld of the Dark Angels within the mist-shrouded sector—
Luther, who had been slowly searching through the fog-covered forest, suddenly sensed something. He lifted his head toward the sky and frowned.
"The Lion…?"
Was it just his imagination?
"Lord Luther! Up ahead—there's a lake! There's a strange sword standing in the middle of it!"
A Calibanite Astartes knight hurriedly reported in.
"A sword?"
In an instant, Luther forgot the odd sensation he had just felt.
He immediately ordered, "Go inspect that sword!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Whispers from the warp…
What exactly were they?
Lion El'Jonson—I will never forgive you for exiling me.
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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