Chapter 143 The End of the Era: Winner of the Expedition Competition
Lokken looked around the broken wreckage in the throne room. The golden throne had been shattered by the bolter. It was really ironic that the "emperor" here also claimed to be the ruler and savior of mankind, and even the palace decorations were so similar to those of the real emperor.
The young captain took two steps and stepped on a piece of torn silk. He looked down at the gorgeous tapestry scarf, which depicted shining stars and the "great lord" sitting on the top of the throne above the stars, shining endless light on the galaxy.
Captain Gavier. Loken raised his head and looked at Sergeant Rogers who was walking over. He came with a battle-scarred bolter.
"Captain, we have cleared the catacombs and the enemies inside have been cleared." Rogers walked in front of Loken. He and the captain stood in the broken palace filled with sunlight. Everything here had been destroyed to varying degrees during the attack.
"The enemy here is really tenacious. Their invisible warriors have caused a lot of casualties to my platoon. The Mechanicus will definitely be very interested in their technology."
"I think so, sergeant, but the most important thing is that we have completed the mission. The palace has been taken and their emperor is dead." Loken said and looked at the throne. There were several charred bones on the ruins of the throne. The emperor used his powerful psychic power when Loken and his party rushed in here and killed many soldiers.
But in the end, Loken rushed up under the cover of his brothers and blew up the bastard with a melta grenade. His flesh and blood disintegrated into pieces, and there were not many bones left. Only a few charred charcoal bones were smoking.
Loken turned his head and looked out the window. There was a whole row of giant floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides of the throne room. In the past, those windows had exquisite glazed windows, but now there are only broken glass shards on the ground.
The Knight Titan was walking slowly through the ruins of the city outside the window. The tall Titan was walking in the city, but its size was so small and inconspicuous compared to the taller, burly, and shocking mechanical weapon behind it.
The burly Emperor-class Titan was walking in the city. The Vengeance Emperor-class Titan crushed the city's buildings. Its height was far greater than all the skyscrapers in the city. Those huge buildings collapsed under the impact of the Titan, and the tremor that shook the earth was transmitted into the palace.
Loken could clearly feel the power of the Titan and the boundless power of the God of All Machines. Just like its name, Emperor-class, this name itself represents unparalleled power. That name is destined to be a great existence that cannot be challenged in the galaxy.
There were footsteps coming from the palace outside the throne. Space Marines were moving around, cleaning the corridors and clearing the broken barricades. Although in theory they could wait for the servitors to do this, Locke has always preferred to lead people to do these things by himself. He doesn't like to kill time by waiting. He prefers to take the initiative.
"Congratulations, Captain, you won the game." Rogers said with a smile. Locke, who had short blond hair, turned his head and looked at him with a little difference.
"Game?" "Of course, everyone in the legion knows that you and the captain of the first company are competing to see who can take the palace first. Now you win, Captain."
"No, Rogers, the mission is the most important. This mission was given to me by the Warmaster himself. My mission should surpass my vanity." Locke said seriously, as serious as ever.
"Then let me congratulate you, Locke." A deep, familiar voice sounded behind him. Locke looked over and immediately knelt down without hesitation.
Rogers also knelt down without any hesitation. They bowed their heads to face the approaching Wolf God, the most beloved person of all the Luna Wolves.
"Warlord, I didn't expect you to come here." Loken said in panic, and Horus walked up to him with a smile. The tall Wolf God looked around the entire broken palace. The flags of the Luna Wolves and the Empire were flying on the roof of the palace, which could be seen from a long distance, so Horus didn't need to ask anything more.
"I have given you the mission, Loken, so of course I should come here to review your achievements and give you joyful congratulations." "Thank you! Warlord, I am honored!"
Horus smiled at Loken who bowed his head, and he raised his hand slightly to signal, "Raise your head, Captain Loken, you are the winner."
Loken raised his head.
Then he noticed Abaddon behind Horus, who also smiled at Loken, "Congratulations, Captain, you won."
"Winning or losing is not important, I have completed my mission, this is the most important thing." Loken said, "Glory should give way to duty, the Emperor taught us so."
"It seems that you have learned well, Loken, but glory is also necessary. Only glory can make us always remember our mission and responsibility, and you have done a good job in glory." Horus praised Loken affirmatively, he asked Loken to stand up and pressed his shoulder.
"It is indeed the right decision for me to choose you as the captain of the 10th Company. You have proved that you can take on this important task." The Warmaster said with a smile, and Loken immediately responded. He stood at attention and saluted the Warmaster, "In the name of you and the Emperor! I will swear to fulfill my duty until death! Never betray!"
"Very good, Loken, but I hope you can live to fulfill your duties." Horus said with a smile, patting Loken's shoulder heavily.
Vito stood aside and smiled. He glanced at Abaddon, and the captain of the first company also showed his signature half-sarcastic smile. Others might think that Abaddon was very unconvinced, but Vito knew that this was just a drill between the two of them.
At the beginning, everything was designed by Horus. He deliberately asked the new captain to participate in the pre-war meeting, deliberately proposed the decapitation mission of attacking the palace and then asked Loken to ask for it. He knew that Loken had been distressed about the honor of being the youngest captain, but it also brought many titles of respect. He was eager to prove himself.
So Horus decided to help him. He asked Abaddon to jump out and compete with Loken for work, and then brought up the issue of the competition. Then he asked Loken to compete with the first captain of the company, and let everyone in the legion know.
Then the old father quietly came down and acted with Abaddon. In fact, he helped Loken clear obstacles and intercept enemies on the periphery, so that he could win and win the respect and recognition of the legion.
No one knew that Horus arranged all this, and no one knew that he helped Loken. To everyone, it was just that Loken won the game and defeated the captain of the first company with great military achievements.
Loken regained his confidence and glory, and fulfilled his mission with due diligence. This is what Horus hoped for and what Loken himself needed. He only needed a little recognition and confidence, and now he has it.
From now on, the youngest captain is no longer a burdensome title, but a real honor, a title that allows Loken to always remember his duties.
Horus has been paying attention to him. He pays attention to every officer under him. He knows very well what his descendants are thinking, what they desire and what they dream of, just as he knows each of his gene brothers.
The strongest point of Horus is that he will get you what you want at the right time through indirect means, but you will not notice that it is a gift from the Warmaster.
This is why he is the Warmaster, why the Emperor chose him to be the Warmaster. Only angels in the galaxy can do the same thing with him, and they are also the best brothers, the closest among all brothers.
"But we can take this planet so quickly, thanks to Marshal Vito. Without his excellent command and assistance, this must be a hard battle." Horus turned and looked at Vito and smiled, and the latter also folded his arms and smiled.
Loken looked at Vito and nodded affirmatively, "Thank you, Marshal, I know you have provided a lot of help to my company, Torgadon told me."
"I hope you don't have any opinions, Captain of the First Company." Vito smiled and looked at Abaddon beside him. The captain of the first company with a unique braid laughed loudly, his power claws rose and fell in the sun, and the claws were filled with fine dust under the sun after the war.
"Just remember to help me next time, Marshal." Abaddon laughed and said, he swept away the mocking smile and looked at Vito, there was no irony, contempt and disrespect in his eyes.
In fact, Abaddon respected Vitor very much, which was rare. Abaddon's characteristic was that he had a huge self-esteem. In this respect, he was the same as the group of egomaniacs of the Emperor's Children, so Abaddon rarely respected people and even showed his inner thoughts without any concealment.
He only truly respected a few people. The list was not long, including Horus and several primarchs, and Vitor's name was on this very short list of recognition, and it was ranked second, second only to Horus.
Vito had long won Abaddon's respect with his outstanding talents, unparalleled command skills and powerful strength. Moreover, Vito was not arrogant at all, very easy-going, and could get along well with almost anyone. Not only Abaddon, but many people respected him.
This of course included Loken, who nodded respectfully to Vito, and the marshal in purple robes also saluted him in return.
Horus also smiled at Vito, then looked around the broken palace, "We will rebuild this place, of course, the throne and other things need to be cleared, and then it will be used as the administrative residence of the local governor."
"Rebuilding order, cleaning up ruins and repairing the city, these tasks are very complicated, Vito, I hope you don't plan to let me do it, you know, I always hate it"
"Paperwork and arguing with bureaucrats, I know." Vito smiled and shrugged, he turned his fingers and looked quite casual, it didn't look like he was meeting the warmaster, but chatting with his best friend.
"Don't worry, old friend. I told you that everything has been arranged. No one will bother you. The master builders of the Imperial Fists will be directly responsible for the reconstruction work, and they told me that Dorne will come too."
"Oh? Dorne? My good brother rarely comes to visit, so we have to treat him well." Horus laughed and looked at Vito with a bright face. "I will arrange this myself, so that Dorne can feel the enthusiasm of the wolf pack!"
Vito stood among the giants. He watched them talking and laughing with each other. The conspiracy of war was swept away in an instant. Now all that remained was the friendship between brothers and the pleasant conversation between father and son.
Vito smiled and felt the tranquility and happiness at the moment. He liked the moment after each battle, when everyone opened their hearts to each other without caring about their identities, laughing and communicating.
But unfortunately, his enjoyment time was interrupted.
Vito raised the communicator and quietly walked aside, but this move did not escape the attention of Horus. He noticed Vito's departure, and his attention followed Vito when talking with Abaddon Loken and others. footprints.
Vito walked behind the colonnade, which was full of toppled ruins and rubble. Vito walked between the debris and walked to the window. He stood in front of the huge broken floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the ruins of the city outside the window.
The communication was opened, and Horus looked at Vito's expression that quickly darkened, and quickly turned to anger, real anger.
Horus frowned, and he motioned for a few people to leave for a moment. Loken looked in the direction of Horus and was about to ask something when he was stopped by Abaddon. The first company commander looked at Horus walking toward Vito and shook his head slightly. , Loken also hesitated for a moment and chose to continue chatting with Abaddon, and several of them took the initiative to move away.
They left enough space for the two of them, and blocked the legion recruits who heard the Warmaster's voice outside the door and came to take a look at the Warmaster.
Horus walked up to Vito and looked at his gloomy and angry face, "What happened?"
"The Emperor and Guilliman are going to blow up the Perfect City." Vito said. Horus looked at Vito in shock, and then looked at the city in ruins outside, "What?! Are they crazy? !”
"The old bastard said he wanted to punish Lorgar. When he went to conquer Falx, he still chose to preach and preach instead of taking over the planet quickly, which made the old bastard angry."
Vitor said through gritted teeth, but Horus could tell that he was not resenting Lorgar, but the Emperor himself.
"I have to stop him, stop those two idiots from doing stupid things, and give me a boat." "No! I'll go with you!"
Horus said, but Vito immediately shook his head, "Absolutely not. You are the Warmaster and you cannot directly conflict with the Emperor. If I go, he will still give me some face. Guilliman will not dare to take me." What's going on?"
The Warmaster was silent for a moment, then nodded, "I'll give you the Fire of Betrayal. You can take it to Perfect City and stop these two idiots."
Vito nodded, let out a long sigh and pressed the window frame. Horus watched as Vito gently pressed his shoulder, "No matter what happens in the future, my brother, I will support you. "
"Me too, Horus, me too"
They looked at the burning city together, as if the galaxy was also burning.