Chapter 49: The Dark, Capitalist God-Emperor's Grand Manipulation
Numb
Erebus stood alone beneath the night sky of Olympia.
He felt… numb.
Completely numb.
"…How is he this good?"
He couldn't understand it.
Not at all.
Wasn't the Emperor supposed to be cold? Distant? Incapable of understanding human emotion?
Then what was that performance earlier?
That warmth?
That precision?
Erebus frowned.
"…Something's wrong."
He looked up at the distant stars.
Was this still the same timeline?
Or—
Was this already a path toward something darker?
A future where the Emperor truly became a god?
"…Is he planning something?"
A dangerous thought formed.
Sacrifice.
Humanity.
The Warp.
Everything.
Erebus' eyes narrowed.
If that were true—
Then perhaps even the Ruinous Powers might need to be… considered.
A contingency.
A backup plan.
The Emperor Appears
"Thinking about something dangerous?"
A voice.
Calm.
Familiar.
Erebus froze.
Then slowly turned.
The Emperor stood beside him.
Golden.
Radiant.
Smiling faintly.
"…Are you about to ascend?" Erebus asked bluntly.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow.
"…Ascend?"
Erebus stared at him carefully.
For a moment—
He genuinely wondered—
Is this even the real Emperor?
The Truth—or Something Like It
"In the past," the Emperor said quietly, "I viewed the Primarchs as tools."
Erebus blinked.
"…What?"
"But I was wrong."
The Emperor looked toward the horizon.
"They are human. They feel. They hope."
A pause.
"And I abandoned them."
Silence settled between them.
"I saw too many futures," the Emperor continued. "Too many paths where everything burned. So I chose efficiency."
His voice softened.
"…At the cost of everything else."
Erebus watched him closely.
"…Why tell me this?"
The Emperor turned.
And smiled.
"Because of you."
The Hook
"You reminded me," the Emperor said, "of what humanity once was."
"Of what it could be again."
He stepped closer.
"I need your help, Erebus."
The words were simple.
But heavy.
"If one day I fall… if something happens to me…"
"Guide them."
"Help my sons."
"Keep humanity alive."
Erebus was silent for a long moment.
Then—
"…Or you could just stay on the Golden Throne."
The Emperor laughed softly.
"No."
He looked back at the stars.
"I want to try being a father."
A pause.
"If they'll allow me."
Assignment
"I will recommend you to Horus," the Emperor continued.
Erebus nodded.
Logical.
Expected.
"But first…"
The Emperor's tone shifted.
"…Mortarion."
Erebus frowned.
"There are… tensions between us," the Emperor admitted.
"I want you to help bridge that gap."
Erebus considered it.
Then nodded.
"…I'll try."
The Contract
The Emperor extended his hand.
Erebus hesitated—
Then grasped it.
A sharp pain shot through his palm.
He recoiled instantly.
"…Did you just—bite me?!"
The Emperor only smiled.
"Then I will leave it to you."
And vanished.
Terra — The Truth
Far away—
On Terra—
The Emperor leaned back in his throne.
And burst out laughing.
"Got him!"
Completely unrestrained.
No dignity.
No restraint.
"People say I don't understand human nature?"
He waved a hand dismissively.
"It's easy!"
A faint golden script shimmered in the air.
A binding.
A subtle one.
Not a command.
Not an order.
But a promise.
A contract.
"…If I fall… you'll take over."
The Emperor grinned.
"Perfect."
His eyes gleamed.
"Retirement plan secured."
Doubt
Back on Olympia—
Erebus stared at his hand.
"…Something's off."
He couldn't explain it.
But—
Something about that interaction felt…
Wrong.
Incomplete.
Like he had been—
Guided.
He pulled out the small Golden Throne icon.
Held it tightly.
And prayed.
Just in case.
The Message
When Erebus returned—
Angron was asleep.
Finally.
Peace.
But before he could rest—
Lorgar approached.
"You're back. Good."
He handed over a data-slate.
"From Kor Phaeron."
Erebus read it.
His expression darkened.
"…Chaos activity. On Terra."
Silence.
That was—
Unacceptable.
Even if Chaos was everywhere—
Not there.
Not under the Emperor's gaze.
The Plan
"We act immediately," Erebus said coldly.
"The Inquisition will handle it first."
"If needed, deploy the Word Bearers."
"And the Thousand Sons."
Lorgar nodded.
Magnus, nearby, listened silently.
Erebus continued:
"We must also prepare."
"Send operatives to other Legions."
"Study their methods."
"Infiltrate where necessary."
His eyes narrowed.
"The future will not be kind."
Ambition
The Word Bearers—
Were growing.
Rapidly.
They would rival the Ultramarines one day.
Not in numbers alone—
But in influence.
In reach.
In control.
Faith.
War.
Secrets.
They would master all of it.
The Problem
But there were gaps.
No dedicated forge world.
No knight households.
No industrial base.
Erebus exhaled slowly.
"…We need more."
His thoughts drifted—
To Magos Zerra-9.
Perhaps—
A starting point.
But for now—
Rest.
The Dream Returns
Darkness.
The coffin.
Cold.
Familiar.
Erebus lay still.
"…Not again."
Something blocked his view.
Massive.
Decaying.
Rotting.
A grotesque figure loomed above him.
Bloated.
Laughing.
Nurgle.
The Plague God
The Great Unclean One stirred a bubbling cauldron.
Pouring thick, foul liquid over the coffin.
"My child…"
"I am your father…"
"Come… come to my garden…"
Erebus twitched.
"I am your loving father…"
"Come meet your mother…"
"…I will show you joy…"
Erebus snapped.
"I am your father!"
"No—I'M YOUR FATHER!"
"You diseased sack of filth!"
Powerlessness
He tried to move.
Failed.
The coffin held him.
Again.
The liquid seeped in.
Not pleasure this time—
Decay.
Rot.
Entropy.
Erebus gritted his teeth.
"…I swear…"
"…one day…"
"I'm punching you."
Awakening
He woke suddenly.
Breathing hard.
Sweating.
Around him—
Snoring.
Loud.
Violent.
Angron.
Lorgar.
Erebus stared at them.
Then—
Slowly—
Smiled.
"…That's the best sound I've ever heard."
He picked up two pillows.
And—
Without hesitation—
Shoved them over their faces.
End of Chapter 49
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