Upon hearing these words, Ahriman's expression turned grim. If this peculiar curse was truly as terrifying as the other party claimed, he might never be able to break free from this shackle for the rest of his life.
Damn it! If this were some form of psychic sorcery, he could figure out a solution. After all, he was a master of psychic arts. Even if he couldn't solve it himself, he could shamelessly petition Magnus for aid.
His father was quite interested in bizarre and esoteric psychic spells. Although their relationship was strained, as long as it was a sorcery that intrigued Magnus, the Crimson King would help.
The problem was that he had already probed it with his psychic powers. This singular energy was not psychic energy, nor was it any power he was familiar with; he had simply never seen it before.
There was another possibility: the stranger was fear-mongering. But the probability was too low, less than 0.1 percent. Ahriman dared not gamble.
As the other man sought to harvest his thoughts, Ahriman looked at the fruit in his hand. Was there something special about this cup of fruit?
"Give it a try! If you don't try it, how will you know if what I gave you is a good thing or not?" Axis said, patting Ahriman on the shoulder.
In truth, Axis considered little Ahriman a talent. Unfortunately, he had followed the wrong father and possessed significant character flaws. But that didn't matter. Others might treat him gently, but Axis intended to discipline him.
Certain crooked tendencies needed straightening; if left unchecked, he would always think himself number one in the universe. Occasional castigation was good for subordinates, especially the unruly ones.
"How would I dare doubt you? My Lord, I do not yet know your name! I shall serve you henceforth," Ahriman asked, bowing with an appearance of total loyalty.
"My name is Axis. You may address me as Lord Axis from now on," Axis replied.
"Yes! Lord Axis," Ahriman nodded, then re-examined Axis's features.
He had never seen Axis's appearance before; the face was completely unfamiliar. The name, too, was unheard of. He searched his ten thousand years of memories carefully but found no leads.
It didn't make sense!
How could an entity with such strength, one who could stand toe-to-toe with a Primarch, easily subdue him, and even inflict such a terrifying curse, be a nobody?
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Ahriman. Could the being before him be a Perpetual? One from the same era as the Emperor, and a powerful psyker at that?
Only this possibility could explain why the stranger possessed such formidable power and could subdue him so effortlessly!
"What are you thinking about? Do you want to know who I am?" Axis asked with a smile.
"I am indeed very curious about your origins, my Lord. If you wish to tell me, I will listen. If not, I will not pry," Ahriman said humbly.
"Hahaha! I am the existence of your dreams, the existence you have always wanted to become. Do you understand what I mean?" Axis gave an ambiguous answer, but it shook Ahriman to his core.
The existence in his dreams? The being he always wanted to become? What did that mean?
His wish had always been to lead the human race back to glory. And the existence he wanted to become... was a true God. Like the False Emperor, to become a true God.
He had worked hard for ten thousand years, constantly seeking all manner of psychic spells to upgrade his body and strengthen his soul.
But the results were negligible. He had merely gained the attention and blessings of the Chaos Gods, obtaining unimaginable Warp power. The power he possessed now was largely granted by the Chaos Gods. Did this stranger know his ultimate goal?
If he knew that Ahriman's goal was to become a God, did that imply the stranger himself was a God?
"Lord Axis, are you... are you a true God?"
"In your understanding, what kind of existence is a God? Someone with eternal life? Someone with powerful divine might, possessing all the powers of a Warp entity? If you think that is what a God is, then I am a God," Axis said with a smile.
After upgrading to a Super Saiyan God, Axis had the confidence to be this arrogant! In terms of divine hierarchy within the Dragon Ball world, his rank was higher than Earth's Kami, and higher than the Kais and Grand Kais, second only to the Supreme Kais. However, regarding combat power, to put it bluntly, Axis felt he could completely thrash Goku from any era.
As for the Ultra Instinct or Ultra Ego, Axis did not understand those two powers well, so he dared not make guarantees.
In the Warhammer universe, Axis could do everything a Warp God could do. And what Warp entities could not do, Axis could also do.
Even if he wished, he could use his divine power to create his own Greater Daemons and legion of daemons in the future.
As for how to create his own Greater Daemons, he could learn a thing or two from the Golden pineapple
"Impossible. Lord Axis, please do not joke. Your body... your body exists in the material universe. Although this is the Webway, I can sense that your body is not composed of Warp energy. If you were truly a God of the Immaterium, you shouldn't appear here," Ahriman strenuously denied Axis's claim because Axis's existence was simply too perfect, it was his ideal form.
"Hahaha! Ahriman, how much do you truly know about this world? How much do you know about the power of a God! I tell you, your methods are wrong. Even if you find the Black Library, even if you obtain all the forbidden knowledge within, the ancient academic research of the Eldar from sixty million years ago, you will never achieve your wish." Axis's words ruthlessly pierced Ahriman's final psychological defense.
"That is impossible. If I find the Black Library, if I obtain the knowledge within, I will certainly be able to complete my sorcery," Ahriman said with some agitation.
"I told you, don't be nervous. Let me have you personally experience my power." Axis smiled.
A golden angelic halo appeared above his head. His entire being radiated incomparable holy power, and his materialized soul revealed itself to Ahriman's eyes.
This was a very special method. Axis could allow mortal psykers to barely glimpse the true form of his soul, a God on the level of the true Warp Powers!
However, weaker psykers would perish instantly upon seeing Axis's true soul form, for that radiance was not something ordinary lifeforms could withstand.
Ahriman, or perhaps other beings on the level of a Chapter Chief Librarian, could barely withstand the sight of Axis's soul without going mad.
Ahriman fell to his knees, looking at Axis in disbelief. In that instant, he saw what the being before him truly was.
It was a God. A genuine, bona fide God!
And unlike the Primarchs, who were constrained within frail human bodies, Axis's body perfectly integrated his soul and perfectly accommodated his divine power. It was near perfection.
This was indeed what he pursued, the form he dreamed of!
But how was this possible?
A human Perpetual had actually walked ahead of the Emperor? He had taken a step before the Emperor, becoming a God who could walk in the material universe, achieving the ultimate goal.
"Soon, we will travel to Holy Terra. I have a mission for you, a very simple one. You are to assassinate certain high-ranking nobles on Holy Terra. Wipe out the members of the High Lords of Terra. Is there a problem?" Axis patted Ahriman on the shoulder and issued his first command.
"What? Lord Axis, you are going to Holy Terra? And you want to remove the High Lords?" Ahriman asked in shock.
That was Holy Terra! The Custodes there were no trifles. Despite all the talk of the False Emperor, in ten thousand years, only Horus had ever truly reached Holy Terra.
"Correct! This time, Guilliman will accompany me. I intend to thoroughly exterminate the Council of the High Lords of Terra. A battle will erupt on Holy Terra, and you simply need to take advantage of the chaos to execute the task I assigned you," Axis explained.
"Great Existence, do you intend to step forward and lead humanity? I understand... I finally understand! No wonder Guilliman submitted to you! Are you finally going to act to save mankind? Are you going to save all of humanity like the Emperor did ten thousand years ago? I get it. I understand. I am willing to join you. I am willing to join your banner, Lord Axis. I will support you with all my strength."
At this moment, Ahriman seemed to be seized by a sudden madness, looking at Axis with fanatical eyes, even kneeling in excitement.
From his psychic fluctuations, Axis could clearly sense that the Professor held only adoration for him now.
Wait, what did you understand? Guilliman hasn't submitted to me! What are you talking about?
"Lord Axis, you will completely overthrow the rule of the False Emperor. You will become the new Master of Mankind. You will become the new Emperor. No! You should take a greater title," Ahriman declared.
The Primarch was already controlled by him, and he possessed the power of a God. The False Emperor would surely be defeated. Once this army arrived at Holy Terra, the Empire of the False Emperor was finished.
"Holy crap! What the hell has this guy brainstormed in his head?" Axis looked utterly speechless.