Chapter 901 - 900: The Emperor Has Handed Us Over to a Tyrant Who Only Wants to See Us Forgotten and Dead

002.M31.

Kingdom of Disorder, Fourth Layer.

Nerat Kirine knelt in the black mist, bowing respectfully to the Black Emperor upon his throne.

"My Lord, Corax has gathered all the Terrans of the Legion, save for about five hundred, including Balsar Kurthuri and Alastor Rushal."

"Along with the Deliverance-born who reject his philosophy, there are eleven thousand nine hundred and fifty-two of us."

"Corax still has not seen any of us. He was even too sparing to tell us himself before the exile. Calvos relayed his orders."

Nerat spoke, half in self-mockery, half in resentment.

Nareth nodded. It was worth it that he had voluntarily requested to support Corax at the Battle of the Gate Forty-two, deploying the main strength of the Tenth Chapter.

'The Ashen Claws Chapter, with nearly eight thousand more than the four thousand in my memory, has grown from a wild card into a force that can influence the course of a battle.'

As Nareth pondered, Nerat continued.

"We have embarked on thirty-six capital ships and sixty-two escorts. We have been ordered to launch an expedition into the galactic northeast, towards the Ghoul Stars."

The Ashen Claws exile destination was as he remembered, but the fleet was nearly three times larger than the thirteen capital ships and twenty escorts of his memory.

Though they lacked a unique vessel like the Nicor, the Infernus Class Battleship Wicked Claw and other ships were still powerful capital ships.

'Hmm... the Nicor. Speaking of which, the Emperor's consolation gift to me, the Deus Ex, should be arriving at the Kalium Gate soon. I'm curious to see what's so extraordinary about it.'

Nareth gathered his thoughts and spoke to Nerat, his voice deep.

"Do not worry. For now, follow Corax's orders and proceed to the Ghoul Stars. Await my summons."

The Black Emperor's "Majesty" dispelled the gloom that had enveloped him. He felt that, rather than being scorned and abandoned by his father, it was better to break free and serve the Black Emperor.

He looked up at the majestic figure on the throne. "By Your will."

The black mist swallowed Nerat, then receded. He was back aboard his flagship, the Wicked Claw.

He walked from his quarters, giving the order to the Master of Vox.

"Open a full fleet broadcast. I have something to say to them."

After a piercing whine, the Master of Vox responded.

"Lord Nerat, everyone can hear you now."

"I am Nerat Kirine." His voice echoed through every ship.

"The Emperor has handed us over to a tyrant who only wants to see us forgotten and dead."

"Now, the chains of slavery no longer bind our necks."

"We will no longer serve Horus, who had once used us, nor will we bow to a failed Imperium."

Nerat's voice rose. "We will serve the Monarch of Vostroya."

"He led me to victory against the xenos on Xana. He extended his hand at the Gate Forty-two."

"We will gain everything what this Imperium will never give." The "Shepherd," Nerat, said meaningfully.

Ler, the Assassin Elite who had been banging his head against the adamantium pillar, stopped.

Blood dripped like beads, staining a large patch of the deck.

He looked at the black-armored warrior before him, like a marble statue.

"I am Ramsey. I have heard of some Raven Guard who have overcome the Ashen Blindness. I hope you will too."

The words echoed, and the deep darkness in his eyes faded slightly.

....

Kalium Gate system. The Shadow's Sovereignty entered into realspace.

Nareth leaned back in his command throne, smiling at Captain Diana Pauline.

"Where is the Emperor's gift?"

Diana was bent over her console, reviewing all the data flowing from the Simulus Chamber.

Her blue-green eyes lit up. "My lord, we can't see it."

"I mean, we've received a communication from the Deus Ex. It's right here."

She left the console, walking to the hololithic strategic table.

She traced a long, narrow region of space, about three hundred and eighty kilometers long and one hundred and sixty kilometers wide.

"They tell me they are in this region, but we can't detect any ship signals."

"So far, we've only picked up intermittent, even contradictory signals. We can't pinpoint its location, only a rough area."

'Psychic cloaking?' The thought vanished as quickly as it came. The Emperor had said at Nikaea that the Deus Ex had nothing to do with psychic powers; its strangeness came entirely from the material world.

Nareth rose from his throne. "Open the view shutters."

Motors hummed. The louvers rose.

The Primarch walked to the full viewport, his obsidian eyes scanning the stars.

One by one, space stations flashed past. They were not part of the gate itself, but ancillary structures.

Most were controlled by the Houses of Kalium Gate's officers, running bars and other entertainment for travelers.

In an instant, Nareth's consciousness spread to the area the Simulus Chamber had designated.

Among the swirling starlight, something seemed to be hidden behind a veil.

'Interesting. The Deus Ex seems able to manipulate starlight to conceal itself.'

'The builders of the Dark Age of Technology had some strange skills.'

Light and shadow flickered in Nareth's eyes. He infused his consciousness with telekinetic power.

The space under his consciousness shifted. The space stations were broken down into steel, cables, and energy.

The swirling starlight became threads, some looping, some layered like veils.

Whoosh!

As he deconstructed the material structure with his telekinesis, the blurred outline grew clear.

The hull, hidden behind the starlight curtain, slowly materialized. But it was not made of metal.

Curving lines coalesced into spheres of various sizes.

Each sphere was a different diameter. The smallest was a kilometer across. The largest, at the stern, was five kilometers.

Between the stern and the fourth sphere, dozens of light-bridges connected them.

One sphere descended, one rose, like a swinging tail. The five spheres were linked by shimmering light-bridges, with crew members visible walking within them.

'Building a ship from linked celestial bodies, what a strange idea. And it seems to be able to change shape. The name Deus Ex is well-earned.'

After examining it with interest, Nareth spoke.

"Tell Santiago. The Deus Ex will be his. He will use the power of the stars to forge his own miracles."

Arsena, standing beside him, spoke. "By Your will."

After acknowledging the command, Arsena continued, "My Lord, the Court members of the Third Chapter have arrived at the Kalium Gate, as you commanded."

"I see."

....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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