As the Wolf fleet departed the Lecter system, dragging their wounds, their minds filled with the shame of their Wolf King's and Wolf Lord's defeats, in the former Faceless' legion fortress,
Nareth sat enthroned on Hannibal's xenos throne, his body somewhat constrained.
He gazed at the frost armor, Elavagar, before him. Arsena reported.
"The Shadow's Sovereignty's and Forge-Hammer's forge decks are operating at full capacity, estimated to complete weapon resupply within a year, as You requested."
Nareth nodded. This matched his estimate for completing the mental modifications of over thirty-six thousand Faceless into Shadows of Orders.
"Techmarines have taken possession of the Faceless fleet. They are being sent to shipyards like Cypra Mundi for repainting and interior modifications."
"The Jokaeros have completed the force field modifications for the Legion's other battleships. Estimated only thirty-six from four groups will be needed for future modifications and to maintain fields on new ships."
"The remaining fifty-one Jokaeros from five groups await Your command."
"Did you see the rings worn by the elite Custodians?" Nareth asked.
Arsena's long, blue eyes lit up. "You mean to provide ring weapons to the Court's high command. This will significantly enhance their combat power."
Jokaeros manufactured weapons randomly. Ring weapons and other items were sized and powered for ordinary humans.
Astartes had no suitable equipment. Shadows of Order only used spy flies as supplemental reconnaissance equipment.
Previously, ring weapons and protective orbs were only for ordinary beyonders.
Future organizations like the Ordos Calixis only found ways to have Jokaeros deploy simian fields within a limited range, to defend against Chaos.
Only the Emperor provided ring weapons to his Company Captains and elite Custodians.
The Old Ones who created the Jokaeros could also command them. But the last Old One, Qah, had told the Hrud, another of their creations, five hundred thousand years ago, that he was going to another, unobservable dimension to create a new race.
The Kingdom of Disorder allowed Nareth to be "linked" to the Jokaeros, to command them precisely.
'Not only Custodians have ring weapons. Shadows of Order does too.'
As he thought, he felt a familiar, searing presence approach.
He raised his hand, drawing the Sword of Vaul. With a "Concepts Swap," he turned it into a ritual sword.
He tapped rapidly, deactivating the "Euclidian Runes."
"My Reaper Lord, enter."
Sanchez, a giant, unconscious black wolf slung over each shoulder, their long tongues lolling, walked into the throne room. After he bowed, Nareth reactivated the runes.
"My Lord, as You commanded, I have hunted one hundred forty-nine Grey Hunters."
"Continue the hunt." As he spoke, he turned his right hand. The two Grey Hunters vanished.
He looked at Sanchez, thinking.
'Though the "Reaper" potion ingredients are gathered, the ritual is difficult to complete.'
The "Reaper's" advancement ritual required planning a conspiracy, capturing a target significantly stronger than oneself, revealing the complete conspiracy before them, and drinking the potion in their fearful, regretful gaze.
'This ritual is too provocative. And difficult to complete.'
'Even with the anesthetic, it's still difficult.'
There were few suitable targets.
He measured against the Custodians temporarily stationed at the legion fortress.
Sanchez was among the strongest Shadows of Orders. He was the first to awaken Warp Insight and a Sequence 6 "Conspirer." His strength already exceeded most Custodians.
Among the Custodians significantly stronger than him, only Constantin Valdor.
Every suitable target had many powerful subordinates. Capturing them was not easy.
Targets flashed through his mind. A sudden inspiration.
Hrud Sources.
A high-tier Hrud's combat power rivaled a Custodes. A Hrud Source had Primarch-level power.
'The key is, if multiple people attempt the "Reaper" ritual simultaneously, the difficulty decreases if the number of ordinary Hrud is limited.'
'And I also need Hrud Sources for Luther, Pell, and others to advance to "Earl of the Fallen."'
'But the anesthetic is useless against Hrud.'
The Hrud, like Enslavers, existed simultaneously in reality and the Warp.
The physical bodies they occupied in reality were just vessels, discardable at will.
The true target was the main body within their species-unique dimension.
'Silent Talismans should have some effect.'
'But I can't rely only on them.'
'The ritual requires using a conspiracy. It must be substantially planned. Before the final capture, the conspiracy must be fully exploited.'
He frowned. Ordinary Shadows of Orders of the Seventh Chapter, even at Sequence 7, were no match for an ordinary Hrud.
He thought of the newly initiated ring weapon program. An idea formed.
'Hmm, I can have the Jokaeros specifically manufacture ring weapons for the conspiracy, narrowing the power gap between them and the Hrud.'
'During this time, Thibault, Polti, Stevens, and the other Shadows of Orders, and Hasik Noyan-khan, whom I've taken, can become "Conspirers" and complete digestion.'
This also gives time to enhance the other Shadows of Orders participating.
With this thought, he instructed the "Conspirer."
"Thoroughly study the data on the Hrud. Develop a plan to capture them."
Besides the data in his memory, the Hrud's mycelium books also contained abundant records.
The two ancient races had clashed countless times over tens of millions of years, knowing each other well.
"By Your will."
After Sanchez bowed, Nareth looked at the triple-blessed Elavagar armor.
"I granted you fire-based abilities. This armor will limit you." He explained.
Flame abilities like "Fire Raven" and "Blazing Spear" would be mostly unaffected. But abilities like enveloping the body in flames, or future Sequence 4 "Iron-blooded Knight", completely turning to flame to evade attacks, would be weakened by the armor.
If not for that, he would have liked to give the modified Elavagar armor to Sanchez, to continue "provoking" the Wolves as he walked.
Of course, he had a more powerful defensive mystical item, the Flame Ring, which he would grant Sanchez as a final safeguard.
"My Lord, winning a trophy for You is my honor."
After Arsena and Sanchez withdrew, Nareth went to the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder.
He sat on his throne, then extended his spiritual energy, touching Santiago Borgkamp orb.
Confirming he was alone, he pulled him into the realm.
"My Lord."
After the black-mist-wrapped Santiago bowed, Nareth asked.
"Does the Fifth Chapter have any important matters?"
"The Chapter is conducting deep exploration of Sa'ktrada Deeps, charting the stars, scanning planets," Santiago reported concisely.
Nareth nodded. "Then, arrange the Chapter's affairs within the year."
"In a year, you will go to a special region of the Great Ocean to explore and mark teleportation coordinates."
The "Traveler's" advancement required establishing special coordinates in four completely different, distant locations deep in the Warp.
He decided to send Santiago to a special region, belonging to none of the Four, to complete the marking.
"By Your will."
Santiago's expression was grave. The legends of House Borgkamp, the records of the Vlaka, and his own knowledge as a Daemonologist told him this journey would be perilous.
"I will give you the Flame Ring to use for 'Recording,' and other equipment," Nareth said.
"Of course, there will still be considerable risk."
"If you encounter danger, pray to me immediately."
Santiago felt more confident hearing the Black Emperor would grant him mystical items.
"My Lord, I will go."
.......
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