AN: A brief chapter. But here it is. Ready when it is. It took a long time because I needed to be sure to do this now. This is the moment I imagined when I started writing the Mortal Son, the one scene I pictured that gave me a reason to write this story.

I'm glad you've all made it this far.

I hope you enjoy.


Lucian came to his feet quickly, his movements steady and controlled.

A moment ago he had been dead.

Licking flames of golden fire slowly subsided across his form, the powerfully bright lashes of Warp powered energy finally settling down.

He took a deep breath in to settle himself.

Lucian was alive.

His eyes turned toward those that stood before him, each figure a familiar face to his slowly awakening mind.

His senses returned first, but his thoughts were still tangled between his memories of both the Immatierum and the Materium.

He remembered Neoth.

…and he remembered Vownus killing him.

But he knew why the man had done so.

Lucian also remembered Khrone's madness as it descended upon him… he remembered what it did as the powers from his gifted blade coursed through him…

He had been corrupted, to the point where his very being would have been consumed by the denizens of the Warp.

But the Inquisitor had driven a blade through his heart without hesitation, even when the sword had been severed from his grip.

Lucian knew that the strike had wavered him, but the tight tendrils of the warp had remained latched to his mind.

His only freedom was found in death.

Kaede had done the only thing he could have done, in order to protect him…

Vownus had saved him, even by killing him.

The Inquisitor's face was the first one he sought.

"Thank you, Vownus. I… I couldn't break free…"

Kaede frowned with a grim sadness at Lucian's honesty.

"I wasn't gonna let them get you kiddo"

Lucian nodded in thanks once more. He was aware that Vownus had little choice in the matter, but also knew that death was a preferable alternative to a possession.

Magnus had warned him of such things.

"And I'm sorry 'bout the hand" Vownus quickly coughed, gesturing to the cauterized stump . The youth gazed down at the severed limb for a second, frowning before he looked back up at the Inquisitor.

"Vownus" Lucian started, before his mouth halted.

The warp tickled against him.

…his bond with the Immaterium had deepend. He could feel it.

Lucian's sight deepend.

His eyes twisted the world as he was flooded with Warp energy.

But it was controlled.

Seraphis and Vownus were started as the youth suddenly began to glow brightly once more.

But the youth was focused on the unphased 'Mordo'.

Lucian's voice with filled with a hopeful softness, his words both fact and open to dismissal.

"I feel our bond… what little of it there is… but it is there, Brother"

His golden eyes remained pointed toward the shadowy Astartes.

Mordo's form leaked black smoke, his features somewhat obscuring themselves in the roiling mist.

"I am a shadow of my former self"

Corvus's helmet modulated voice was distorted with a deep keening pain. Seraphis and Vownus were suddenly held as silent viewers to the spectacle of a Primarch and… whatever Lucian was, having a heart to heart.

The gravity of the situation was apparent to both of them. As such they made no sound and barely moved a muscle.

"Corvus"

Corvus' secretive form recoiled slightly, the surprise at being named so easily by his mortal-kin physically moving him.

Lucian smiled softly toward the figure, a knowing happiness in his words. The youth projected his keen hope for his sibling to recognise him through speech.

"What form you take does not matter to me. We are still family. You will find no unearned malice from me"

The Ravenlord took a moment before he spoke in reply.

"Brother…"

His figure straightened.

"We are in the middle of a war, Lucian. Talk can come later, now we must fight"

Lucian concurred.

And he knew exactly what they needed to do now.

"...kill the Warboss and the war ends," Lucian hummed, gazing at Vownus as he slowly contemplated a way forward.

"Hang on-" Kaede attempted to cut in between, but Corvus's voice plowed over him.

"I concur, Brother" the Ravenlord simply affirmed, the Inquisitor's concerned interjection completely ignored, "perhaps you have some idea on how we should do so?"

Vownus went to speak again. He was even about to stride forth and cut himself between the two sons of the Emperor before voicing his concerns.

Because a minute ago Lucian had been dead.… after Vownus had been forced to put him down before the youth was possessed by Daemons of the warp.

Had Lucian been in control, he wouldn't have nearly destroyed himself by succumbing to madness to end a war he was ill equipped to fight.

And now the youth was likely to try it one more time? To just simply have another go when every time before he had either been dabilited, thwarted and, most recently, possessed?

No.

Vownus wasn't about to take the risk.

But Kaede was halted physically by Seraphis's large hand. A non-verbal warning.

The warrior had done so quietly and gracefully, calmly drawing the Inquisitor's immediate attention to the Librarian's calm gaze.

Seraphis shook his head softly.

And the message was made clear.

… the Emperor's direct Son's, a Primarch and… Lucian, were conversing with one another. Any dutiful and loyalist Space Marine would understand the ramifications of this conversation on it's relevance toward the immediate conflict. The Blood Raven would also differ to Corvus and Lucian.

Even a Primarch other than his own, Seraphis and any other would look toward Corvus and the newly revealed Lucian for guidance and command.

As the Emperor intended, the Primarch's were the forefathers and leaders of all Space Marines, even one of a different Legion would be given respect and due consideration.

…So Vownus realized he'd best sit back and shut up for a moment, lest he make a few unfavorable decisions in the eyes of his ally's.

Besides, his power as an Inquisitor would not be given due consideration when the Emperor's sons were before them.

Vownus focused on Corvus and Lucian, quietly observing the response to the Ravenlord's question.

"Whatever happens now will do so because we will it so" Lucian declared, "I can locate the Warboss"

The Warp suddenly shuddered.

Lucian's figure sparked with his golden power, the now sharpened rays of light lashing against the very foundations of the buildings around them.

Something tugged in the air, an invisible connection that Vownus could only feel.

Kaede barely sensed it a second before it entered his vision.

A dark and slim object darted through the air, it's form punching down from the skies.

Vownus and Seraphis peeled backwards, both reacting to the sudden missile with instinct and sudden concern.

The object crashed into the ground before Lucian, it's hilt angled ever so slightly towards the youth.

Vownus knew what it was the instant his eyes landed on its still form, the blade deeply embedded into the earth.

Lucian's severed hand still remained wrapped around its hilt.

The Warp blade… a gift from Chaos…

A dark part of Vownus's mind knew just exactly which being had granted Lucian this sword.

The dust settled, Lucian being the first to speak into the silence that followed the abrupt summoning of his weapon.

"You all will accompany me"

Lucian then held his stump out.

A fissure of light connected the severed limbs, and in a thunderclap of power Lucian's arm was restored in full.

And the weapon was once more in his grasp.

The runic symbols that ran up it's length glowed with an effervescent blue, its trails of energy mixing with Lucian's dominant gold.

Vownus watched in morbidly curious silence as the youth took a deep breath.

"Ignis!"

The sword caught flame.

Tongues of fire exploded from its length, a sudden yet tightly controlled inferno now raging around its width.

Lucian's eyes snapped open.

Kaede couldn't help but note that the boy's eyes were still ringed with gold.

A good sign to be sure.

But he also noted that the youth's face twitched.

…he did not have total control of the blade.

"We're going to stop the War Boss. And none shall bar us from this mission"

And the order was given.

Kaede wasn't sure what to make of this, especially since Lucian had turned to look directly at him upon the final word of his command.

Vownus weighed his options.

The man shrugged.

"Well kiddo, I'm game. Lead on"


"Strike now! Move the Armor forward!" Germael roared aloud, his swift dash pulling him into the last pocket of Ork's he had came across.

He was the tip of the spear, the head of the assault.

It was his offensive strike that was reinforced, their impact against the massing Ork tide steadily forcing the creatures back down the paths they had come.

There had been casualties on both sides. But the Guardsmen had only suffered lightly in comparison to the Orks.

"Die Xenos!" Germael couldn't help but spit from his lips, his blades swiftly cleaving the last living beast into pieces.

His hearts thundered in his chest.

His body heaved as he took deep breathes.

Days of combat and fighting having gone from very little…

But his ears, eyes and mind was still as sharp as ever, and it was these particular senses that drew his gaze to the sky.

"Above!" A guardsman called out, Kado, unsure of what the little species that dotted the sky were.

Germael, however, could.

His vision could make out every detail of the hurtling pods and their fiery passage through the sky.

They were drop pods.

Astartes drop pods.

….the first wave of an assault, or reinforcements, that was remain to be seen.

The pod's drew closer and closer, the shock and exclamations of the other Guardsmen joining Germael's study of the sky.

And as the first few pods streaked past them, their forms impacting deep within the Outer City, Germael knew what he had seen.

Their sigil.

A blood red fist, tightly held in its proud display.

Crimson fists.

Sons of Dorn.

Germael felt his body relax, ever so slightly.

"Take Heart, Guardsmen. We are Reinforced"

Help had come.

"Contact the Fortress, inform them friendly Astartes elements are deploying within the city"


Even with all his focus and attention given to the path before him, and the mission with which he was now responsible for, Aethod couldn't help but suddenly feel his sixth sense perk up.

The Warp had fluctuated for a brief moment.

…it felt like a breath. An invisible wave caused by a great intake of air…

Aethod froze, suddenly coming to a halt as he brought his full attention to the Warp around him. Romeo Squad halted, each of the Guardsmen still remaining on Watch, but subtly eying the now transfixed Psyker.

Aethod couldn't help as he narrowed down where the energy had come from.

His head twisted around.

He was looking in the far off direction of the Commune.

Aethod knew what this was.

"Guardsmen" the Librarian cooly commanded, his gaze piercing steel, stone and building as he focused on the sudden being that was now present.

"Prepare to move out. There has been a change of plans"


Vownus had quickly followed alongside Lucian, Seraphis and Corvus Corax. The four of them had swiftly navigated towards the southern massing of Ork's, Lucian having directed them toward their objective.

The boy could sense the Warboss.

…he had also declared that he was more than capable of destroying the beast.

Well.

That wasn't precisely what the youth had said.

"This War ends today. One way or another"

A steadfast declaration.

How Lucian planned to cut down each and every Ork upon Helios in the span of a day was beyond Kaede.

But the Inquisitor didn't question it.

As the path they ran along broke out into a larger segment, one of the collapsed pathways. Kaede was greeted with the sight of a massive stream of Orks.

They swarmed over and around the destruction of rubble, some of them even attempting to clear larger portions of so that their ghastly larger vehicles and war machines could move forward.

There were hundreds of them in sight, thousands more in the near distance.

They were flooding in from the south, all of them-

A few Ork's had noticed their sudden appearance, but not before thundering streaks of light caught Vownus's attention.

Even the Librarians turned to look upward.

Drop pods fell from the heavens.

Astartes drop pods.

"Reinforcements" Lucian couldn't help but soothingly declare.

And that's when Vownus felt it.

Lucian's aura pulsed, the reverberation of warp energy passing through everything around the youth indiscriminately.

Every Ork looked up at them now. All of them had been drawn in by the sudden gust of power.

Lucian struck first.

His free hand splayed out toward the Ork's.

The heavens screeched with a raw shrillness as a supernatural storm of lightning was birthed into a sudden existence.

Violent and uncaring currents of Warp energy struck out against the universe like the jagged roots of a tree.

No beast in the chasm-like pathway below them was left untouched.

And then Lucian drew the lightning higher, his hand twisting upward into the path way beyond.

The electricity wreaked havoc against the Ork's in the distance, each bolt instantly vaporizing any creature it directly struck

However at the hundreds of meters of distance the vicious lightning traveled, the spread of the energy had increased. Not every Greenskin was instantly killed. Some managed to seek some form of Cover, or were fortunate enough to be completely missed by the blanketing attack.

While Vownus was frozen by the incredible demonstration of power, he couldn't help but notice that Lucian had tightened his hand upon the blade he carried. Even as he projected a force of nature from his palm, the blade seemed to be empowering him.

As Lucian's fingers tightened however, Kaede rethought that.

This was a weapon of Khorne.

The Blood God.

Death was to be dealt head on, honorably, in direct combat.

As any Inquisitor of his nature would have, Vownus knew of all the known aspects of the Chaos Gods. He knew how they were invoked… and he knew some of the rules by which they operated.

…some more than others.

But seeing how Khorne's gifted blade seemed to be… effecting, Lucian, Vownus wasn't sure that the sword was empowering the boy.

In fact it was likely punishing him.

Looking further, Kaede could see how the boy's skin was-

Lucian twisted upon himself, drawing the storm into himself in a sudden move. The now condensed Orb of power floated in his formerly empty palm.

"Follow me" the youth commanded, before leaping forward, gravity taking his body down one of the collapsed embankments.

Lucian gracefully slid down to the nearest pile of rubble he could keep his feet under.

Looking back up to the others his golden eyes swirled with unrestrained power.

He called up to them.

"We are not far behind the War Boss! Our best chance at catching up to it is to take the direct route"

"Very Well" Corvus's dark mist began to pour from his body as he too leapt after his now moving Brother.

Lucian's speed was beyond human, and it seemed the Primarch of the Ravenguard was making use of his abilities as a Warp Entity.

Corvus's form as Mordo suddenly had two wings over each shoulder, the inky blackness somehow managing to bear him aloft as he leapt forward as well.

Unlike Lucian however, his Brother Primarch swiftly glided through the air.

"Keep up, Vownus!"

Lucian's shout pulled Vownus from his bemused and astounded observations.

Khorne's gift was the sword, that was certain… but seeing how Lucian was now moving, the sheer power in his form as he cleared obstacles and debris with such speed…

It seemed that the Blood God may have not just given Lucian a weapon.

Kaede nodded to Seraphis, the Blood Raven also taken aback by the youth's Warp demonstration and verbal command.

"You heard 'im-"

Kaede blinked through the air, turning around to shout back at Seraphis before blinking away again.

"Keep up!" he shouted.


"Chapter Master"

Pedro Kantor turned his attention away from the war. He'd heard the figure approach him from the entrance to the bridge. He had no need to acknowledge their presence until they had addressed him directly.

Eustace Mendoza, the Chief Librarian and Kantor's Master of the Librarius, stood before him. Upon receiving Kantor's direct attention, the Librarian addressed his purpose aboard the bridge, and away from the battle rites he had certainly been performing.

In a half bow, his right arm respectfully sweeping across his decorated breastplate, Mendoza spoke clearly.

"Myself and the Members of the Librarius have sensed an entity upon Balor's surface, Chapter Master"

Kantor straightened, his attention now completely upon the Chief Librarian.

He thought for a moment.

"Is the world corrupted?"

Mendoza met his Lord's helmeted gaze.

"The nature of the entity is unlike anything myself or the Librarius has ever come across before, Chapter Master. I come to you with this information because we were unable to come to any conclusions"

The Librarius was either deadlocked on a verdict regarding this entity, or they simply couldn't tell what it was.

Warp Entities were not to be trifled with. The Chapter Master knew this. And the presence of one that had spooked the Librarius in its entirety now threw into question the sanctity of Balor.

The world could potentially be corrupted…

"Is it dangerous?"

Mendoza's lips tightened.

"Yes, Chapter Master"

"Could you destroy it?" Kantor simply asked, "if this is the work of Chaos, could you prevail, Master of the Librarius?"

The Librarian didn't hesitate.

"Not alone, my Lord. And certainly not without considerable bloodshed"

Kantor turned to glance at the world of Balor displayed upon the central viewscreen of the bridge. He considered the planet for a few silent moments.

"We shall ascertain the nature of this entity directly then. Chief Librarian, I cannot place this task upon any other in our Chapter. I command you to locate this entity, and deal with it as you see fit. Take with you everything you believe is necessary to accomplish this mission"

Mendoza bowed again.

"By your will, Chapter Master"


Lucian's rampage was reminiscent of a remembrances depiction of the Great Crusade.

Courtesy of the Warp, vast swathes of raw energy cascaded in every direction a Greenskin stood. Lightning found its way through and beyond every beast before him.

All the while the youth continued his charge, following an invisible path toward the one confrontation that would end the war.

Vownus followed as best he could.

As the youth crossed hundreds of meters in a single leap, or as his flaming Warp Sword split flesh, steel and earth in mighty swings, or even as he shredded large packs of Greenskins with a look-

Vownus was there the entire way.

But even though his attention was focused on the enemy and Lucian's incredible feats of power, Kaede also observed the others.

Corvus Corax floated from wall to wall in the basin of the collapsed Causeway, his shadowy wings bearing him great distances in single leaps. The Ravenlord pounced upon his prey, swiftly enclosing them in blossoming shadows of the deepest shadow.

These nightmarish tendrils were pierced by the blooms of both bolter and Ork gunfire.

Every attack however, ended with the clouds dispersing shortly after Corvus's inhuman form leapt away. Behind Lucian's kin was a pile of recently slaughtered Orks.

Mordo's efficiency was a stark contrast to Seraphis, who's flames seemed to burn with an even greater intensity. Great pillars of fire erupted around far off combatants, instantly slaughtering any that stood within or near to the sudden act of pyromancy.

But the Blood Raven kept closely behind Lucian and Vownus, flicking out balls of fire to any Ork that attempted to rush them from any other direction.

The beasts were in the city and they had the numbers on their side.

Even though the charging Psykers had crossed hundreds of meters of rubble after clearing it of every single Ork they came across, the beasts were already amassing at their heels.

Vownus knew what was happening.

The Ork's were converging on them, by order of their Warboss…

And that meant Lucian was leading them in the right direction-

That also meant that the Warboss was trying to buy itself time, because it knew that the four of them, but most certainly Lucian, posed a significant threat.

"Psyker!"

The roar came from Seraphis's lips, but the words directed Vownus's attention once more to the forefront of their charge.

A Weirdboy stood atop what was once a support column of the Causeway, its figure nearly twenty meters in the air and surveying all of them.

The beast held some kind of deformed staff in its sickly green hand, its hooded and armored form a clear bastardisation of what a Space Marine Librarian looked like.

Before Vownus even considered engaging the beast, Lucian's attention had settled upon it.

Lightning concentrated into a singular point, forming a shard of pure power that coiled up before it struck out.

The Ork glowed with an emerald swathe of power. As it did, a wave of Greenskins dropped like flies, their bodies withering and decaying within seconds.

Lucian's bolt surged forth. It boomed with an eldritch thunder as it hurtled toward the chanting Ork.

Whisps of energy swiftly dashed toward the Weirdboy, who managed to collect these strands of power in its palm before Lucian's attack struck.

The lightning screeched as it burned away against the Weirdboy's invisible defense. The grand arrow of lightning screamed as it shattered upon the Ork's shield.

But before the broken strands of energy completely disintegrated into nothing, the Greenskin twisted the shard with its own intention.

Lucian's shattered attack was repurposed into a staccato of lightning bolts, much smaller than the grand attack these pieces had once been a part of, but certainly deadly.

The youth's figure bolted forward, a shard of the Ork's lightning striking down at the space he had recently vacated.

Even as Vownus blinked forward once more, briefly slaying an Ork before looking upon Lucian once more, the youth had already dodged another two strikes.

And then he lept, his legs sending him straight through the air.

The Weirdboy struck, concentrating the last of the bolts at the now airborne youth who could do little to evade them.

Lucian, however, didn't need to dodge.

His blade batted the lightning aside, the fire consuming the strands of Warp energy as soon as the bolts bounced cleanly off its tongues of flame.

By then, Lucian was within striking distance of the Ork.

The sword swung, and the beast's head flew from its shoulders, it's body set alight as soon as the weapon touched it.

Now standing upon the destroyed column, Lucian's gaze was set out into the distance.

"Push!" he called out to his allies, "we are close!"

And then he leapt forward again, his sword falling down upon an Ork in an earthshaking strike.

Vownus remained composed.

But after witnessing what he had, his body couldn't help but relax.

Lucian was going to end the war.

Today.

He blinked after the youth, now determined to do whatever he could to aid the youth.

Corvus and Seraphis swept after them.


Two weapons fired.

Caius twisted as fast as he could, swiftly bringing his attention toward the direction Lynwood had fired.

The old bastard was still strong as ever, the sudden push having taken Caius off guard for a heartbeat. Even as he had struck the floor however, his combat instincts had kicked in.

His attention went to the threat first, his weapon swiftly following the direction of his eyes and ears.

The Ork that had surprised them collapsed to its feet, its head having been exploded by the Bolter round that had found its mark.

Caius relaxed, his aim dropping as he made to get to his feet.

"You know, you didn't-"

Caius was on one knee when his eyes finally trailed over to Lynwood.

In the relative silence of the pathway, his ears barely made sense of the Bolter that fell to the ground, the weapon clattering loudly against the hard material it landed on.

Caius's eyes however, watched as Lynwood stumbled backwards onto one knee, his mechanical limb firmly pressed against his side.

No.

Caius was on both feet quickly.

"Get up" he barked, coming toward his ally in a swift step. Caius grabbed the wavering man by his shoulders, his eyes falling upon where Lynwood's metallic hand tightly grasped.

Blood was swiftly pumping between the grey digits, the crimson liquid spilling out onto the ground beside the man.

Lynwood twisted away from the younger man and attempted to stand.

Caius surged forwards as the man collapsed, only barely able to hold him.

The younger of the two ex-arbites felt his thoughts dissolve.

"Medicaid" he exclaimed quietly, "we need to get you to a-"

"No"

Lynwood cut him off a second before he stumbled again, Caius falling with him as the man collapsed onto his knees.

"Lynwood-!" He tried to help the man stand, but a weak push released Lynwood from the younger man's grasp.

"Just…" Lynwood breathed, his breath now a wet rasp as he slowly adjusted himself on the floor. "let me get…"

With what seemed to be a herculean effort, Caius watched as Lynwood gently rested his back against an outcropped pipe with his eyes tightly shut.

"Let me get comfortable" Lynwood finally grunted, Caius quietly kneeling before the now soft spoken man.

The elder of the two finally opened his eyes, his gaze seeking the only one before them.

As blunt as ever, Lynwood addressed the situation.

"We've come a long way" he winced, "but it was only-" he coughed violently.

Blood spewed out, his face slowly paling as he grinned at the silent Caius.

"It was only a matter of time" he finished, his grin slipping as he grimaced.

Caius couldn't speak.

His mouth wished to release a thousand words as his mind drew upon hundreds of thousands of memories.

"I am…"

Caius's eyes refocused on Lynwood.

"I…" Lynwood's face uncharacteristically softened, "I'm scared," he admitted.

A stab of pain echoed in the younger man's heart even as Lynwoood's gaze began to gloss over.

His metallic grip lessened upon the softly dripping wound. Caius hadn't even noticed he was now kneeling in a pool of spilt blood.

Lynwood's hand reached out, blindly grasping forward.

Caius snatched the limb up, every prayer he could think of slowly falling from his thoughts and to his lips, desperately begging the universe to undo what was.

"All mighty Emperor, Protector of Mankind, heed-"

Lynwood softly squeezed Caius's arm, shattering the words born of fervent panic with a simple gesture and quiet words.

"It's alright"

Caius felt his throat catch as he gazed into Lynwood's unfocused eyes.

"...it's…"

The grip slackened.

Lynwood's head slumped forward.

Caius couldn't help the savage wail of anguish that erupted from his throat. His vision blurred as tears filled his eyes.

He felt pain.

So much horrible pain.

Caius surged forward, wrapping his arms around the corpse of his friend, desperately crying as he urged Lynwood to awaken.

Only silence greeted his agony.

The former Arbites body was slumped over now and lifeless, the weak shakes that Caius could manage doing nothing to rouse the deceased man.

He was with the Emperor now.

Lynwood Decelus, Former Arbite and Agent of the Inquisition, was dead.


Suddenly Lucian swept up the side of the Basin, his legs crashing against stone and rubble and propelling him upward.

Kaede followed closely, the other's only a few feet behind.

The youth took them down a pathway between the damaged Habblocks, his stride never ceasing as he crashed through every Ork before him.

With either martial might or the power of the Warp, no Greenskin could hold the youth at bay.

Shortly enough, Lucian's invisible path lead them out onto a familiar sight.

In this collapsed segment of the hive, stood the peerless Beast.

The War Boss stood before some kind of Ork… excavation, it would seem.

All the Greenskins there had their attention swiftly directed toward the arriving Imperials.

But before any attack could be flung, Lucian exploded with light.

As soon as he was close enough, Lucian connected his mind to the War boss.

Time froze.

"Watcher in the Shadows"

Lucian ignored the address, his eyes focused upon the fully formed entity that had presented itself to him.

The youth felt his power simmer, the sword in his grasp painfully burning his limb as the sudden combat ceased. Khorne's gift had not been sated, and it punished it's user for the lull in violence.

But Lucian had to ask.

"Is there no other way?"

And the entity knew what it was being asked.

"There is only War, Watcher in the Shadows. What you wish for is impossible"

The War Boss existed for only one purpose, and one purpose alone. It's position was given only because the beast itself was one with its nature.

It's reason for existence was war.

There was no other outcome.

"Then I shall do what I must"

Lucian reached within himself, drawing upon the very strength he knew he was capable of. Tendrils of golden light swam through the ethereal world and latched themselves onto the beast.

The War Boss did not struggle.

Their souls had come too close together, and it was incapable of defending itself against the youth's power.

Lucian had reached deep within himself, pulling upon the place that his Brother had taught him.

The bright energy within him…

His soul, and it's intertwined existence with the Warp.

As he beckoned, it responded immediately.

Power surged forth, burrowing into it's perceived enemy.

The Immaterium bent to his will.

Lucian's light touched upon the soul of the entity, feeling out every single connection the Warboss had with the rest of the Orks.

The Emperor's Son wasn't going to take any chances.

Here and now. The war would end.

In that very instant he saw them all. He felt their bloodlust, gazed through their eyes, slaughtered with their hands.

Through the connection he forcibly established with the Old entity, Lucian was connected to each and every single Greenskin on Balor and just beyond the world's atmosphere.

Using the Warboss as a focal point of his power, the nexus with which his presence would suddenly grasp upon every single Greenskin the entity was entwined with, Lucian gave his power a singular command.

"Destroy"


For a moment, Lucian had dimmed, the bright veil of his presence receding into himself.

A second later, it came hurtling back, a wave of light blossoming in every direction.

This wave passed over all.

Rock. Stone. Flesh and Bone.

The light touched all.

It dispersed into orbit, blowing past and through the vessels that fought there.

This sudden flare of Warp energy was to any Psyker, akin to the birth of a star

A second pulse followed the first. Where every Ork had suddenly been frozen in place from the first, the second, and much brighter wave, reduced them to dust.

Across the entire planet, every Ork was blown away like ashes in the wind. The wave of gold purged them from existence.

Ork planes fell from the skies, vehicles swerved and crashed into one another, and entire Voidcraft ceased fire.

And Balor, with the display of power that had resonated from it, drew the eye of the entire universe.


Dennex Dondarrion's sudden gasp drew the old man's attention.

Ahmazzi looked up with a perplexed eyebrow raised high, having been focused on his agent's active mission when his aid stumbled.

The Daemon hunter's attention turned away from the display's before him, ignoring young Titos's progress on his current assignment in favor of his Psyker.

Dennex clutched the table for strength, sweat pouring from his brow as he shivered slightly.

Now even the Tempestus Scions that guarded the command bridge of his vessel looked upon the trembling Psyker.

"Dondarrion!" Ahmazzi snapped, his hand reaching for the weapon by his side, "report!"

The Psyker composed himself, slowly, and righted himself with an amazed, yet hope filled expression.

"The Emperor…"

Ahmazzi gripped his weapon. Before he could draw it however, a call came from over his shoulder.

"My lord! Our Choir is… they're happy my Lord!... they say the Emperor has returned!"

The entire temperature of the room changed at the ensigns report.

Ahmazzi couldn't help his expression suddenly going slack.

His mind glazed over as his thoughts came to grasp at what he was being told.

"...what?..." was all he could currently manage.


"-but then again, how could we say for… certain…"

Bhaine Dhun's words trailed off into a near pathetic silence as both himself, and his apprentice Fey, suddenly became aware of it.

The warp exploded around them.

Light burned brightly against their minds, an iridescent glow that bloomed outward from the all-consuming darkness of the Immaterium.

A sun had exploded amongst the blackness of creation, it's light basking against-

Fey felt her heart tremble as her mind recalled her vision.

The same vision that had her standing outside the Council of Farseer's in order to present it.

This was the light.

The same light she had witnessed in her vision.

"It cannot be" Dhun gasped, his head twisting around as he attempted to track where the energy was resonating from, "this is… this-"

And the light subsided.

The door's to the Council's chambers flung open not even a second later.

Ela'Ashbel stood there, her blank gaze somehow finding the two of them simultaneously. Both Fey and Bhaine felt her burning waves of power that rolled off of her.

"Fey. Bhaine" she addressed them, "the Council wishes to speak with you now"


Seraphis was only able to focus on the Ork's sudden defeat for a heartbeat.

His eyes tracked to Lucian, the sun that shone brightly before him…

This was why he was here.

His visions had led him true.

'No' Seraphis realized, 'the truth had'

Searching for answers was what had ultimately brought him here. Seraphis had known that his purpose was far greater than merely a talented Son of a Traitorous Father.

Ever since he had discovered who the Primarch of the Blood Ravens was, Seraphis had dedicated his life to attempting to atone from that wrong.

And regardless of if Magnus the Red, the true Primarch of his Chapter, had some hand in whatever was happening before him, Seraphis knew that this was right.

The blinding wave of light was clear enough evidence for him.

This, was for the greater good.


Aethod wasn't as surprised as many of the mortal's around him had been.

While the Guardsmen likely had little to no experience with interacting with the Warp, Aethod wasn't as taken aback by the visual splendor of golden translucent waves basking the entirety of Hive Primaris.

Rather, Aethod was much more focused on the supernova of a being that he could detect in the outer city.

Aethod knew what this was.

Lucian.

He couldn't help but think of Kaede in that second, and how the man had so assuredly claimed his Prophecy was true.

That there would be another Son.

Lucian was indeed powerful, but this was not the act of powerful Psyker.

This was the act of a God.

And there was only one God that Aethod would ever acknowledge.

But still he couldn't help but whisper out his chuckled realization that,"Vownus was right"

All the doubts that any had would be blown away by this.

The Inquisitor was going to be insufferably smug these next couple of months.


Ivur felt the winds of the warp rattle against the fortress of his mind.

Words failed to escape him as he and his packmates failed to make heads or tails of what had just occurred.

They were gone.

The Greenskins were gone.

Reduced to atoms.

In a heartbeat the war was over.

Vox channels burst into a crazed existence all around him, reports and clarifications flying between everyone as fast as they could be delivered.

It was pure chaos, but the Psyker could only remain focused upon the golden light.

And Ivur wondered, if the Inquisitor was in fact telling the truth.

Because his brain could only come to one conclusion, no matter how far fetched or impossible this conclusion seemed.

"Contact Lord Grimblood. We must reach the outer city immediately"


It was like looking upon Father.

Corvus remembered his Father.

He remembered the crusades, all those thousands of years ago.

There hadn't been doubt before, but a new feeling washed away against his serene yet composed demeanor.

Instead of the coiling cold understanding of his purpose as the Emperor's Justice, Corvus felt a blooming warmth.

It took him awhile to comprehend the feeling, to truly understand what it was.

His eyes remained locked upon his brother, the pulsating waves of golden power flickering the youth's hair and clothes about in it's maelstrom, and Corvus slowly understood.

Hope.

This was hope.

He hadn't felt that in a long time.


A singular eye twisted in the skull it lay in.

The Crimson King found his feet instantly, sweeping away from the hundreds of books that lay spewed across his grand table.

From within the sanctum of his tower, Magnus the Red peeled away the layers of the universe, his sight coming to rest upon his youngest sibling.

What he saw caused him to wince.

He was bright.

Like the Emperor.

Magnus felt how the Warp was manifesting through Lucian, saw the Immaterium tug and sway as the youth drew upon it.

Just as he had instructed, but to a more refined, and far greater effect.

Magnus let loose a baleful bark of laughter.

A part of him did pat himself on the back for being such a good teacher, but nestled at his core he found the kindlings of pride.

His Brother was an excellent student.

It was his privilege to teach one so gifted and full of potential.

Regardless of what was going to happen next… Magnus vowed to be there for Lucian in his full capacity.

So long as he was permitted, he would continue to aid the boy-

His Brother.

…he would continue to aid his Brother.


As the light subsided from even the darkest corners of the Warp, a seal shattered. The words, "Deny Fate" were split as the doors they were branded upon opened.

From within the once secured temple strode a figure wrapped in dark robes.

He alone looked out into the universe, his acolytes fearfully chattering amongst themselves as their Master observed the bright light.

It took the Daemon Prince's keen mind a few moments to understand what it had witnessed.

When he did, the Urizen grinned.

Lorgar Aurelian turned around to his followers and warriors, a powerful glint in his eye.

"The Time for Action has come, my Sons"


A great gauntlet slowly retreated from the vision of the being that commanded it.

The light had managed to even pierce through the Eye of Terror, the denizens of which were subjected to it as all others had.

The monster sneered.

He had been aware that something was wrong.

The God's had spoken of a danger… as well as an opportunity…

But he would not commit the full might of his Legion yet… not until he knew for certain what he was dealing with.

While the War master of Chaos was undividedly devoted to the power of his Gods…. Undermining the Anathema could cost his dearly.

The Despoiler would be certain of his course of action before he took it.

Claiming Cadia would wait.

For now.

Abaddon sneered, his face so very reminiscent of the being it was crafted after.

"Gather my Chosen"

He needed to plan carefully.

His next move needed to be perfect.


Vownus Kaede, the only man at the heart of the storm… the only one that stood within the great eye of this hurricane, had clearly seen what Lucian had done.

The Orks all around them, including the War Boss, were gone.

And now it was just him and Lucian, the still glowing youth who remained fixed upon the place where the Great Beast had been.

Only dust and echoes remained.

Kaede made a tentative yet brave decision.

He approached Lucian, and gently set an arm on his shoulders.

Eyes glowing with a pure golden white power snapped onto him.

In that instant Kaede felt the pressure of Lucian's entire soul and presence lean itself upon his near invulnerable protection.

'Yeah. I don't win this one' Kaede had to humbly admit to himself but dashed his thoughts as he spoke to the conduit of power before him.

His voice was friendly and clear.

"It's me, kiddo. I'm here. You did it. You can stop now. Everything fine"

Blank eyes continued to burn a hole through him, Lucian's face completely devoid of all emotion.

Vownus knew he should be feeling worried or concerned… but, he had his faith.

So when Lucian's lightshow suddenly ceased, the boy's hair finally ceasing in its incessant flailing…

Kaede carefully placed himself in Lucian's normal, golden eyed, vision.

"Kiddo?" he asked, trying to get the blank gaze to focus on him, "you in there?"

Lucian's bright aura flared, and both eyes slowly focused on him.

"Fine" Lucian whispered, "just fine"

Kaede barely restrained his absurd laughter at the calmly delivered words.

"You sure?" he managed to say.

Lucian seemed to think for a moment, before settling on a quick answer and abrupt action.

"I may need to relax for a bit"

And then he fainted, the sword once held tightly in his hand clattering away.

"Wow there!" the Inquisitor lunged forward, steadily lowering the boy's now asleep body to the floor.

Kaede had caught him, taking note of the charred limb that had held the blade but decided to deal with that for later.

He took a moment to look around him once more, and appreciate the fact that for once, the world was silent.

No gunfire.

No explosions.

No battling….

It was over.

The war was over.


Seem's I've been a bit lax on responding to reviews recently. thanks Zukafew119 for reminding me that I have a responsiblity to y'all as well. so here we go.

RedReaper31: I mean... look at him now. Custodes will be on there way soon, that you can be sure of.

ThyDevourBeliever: and here it is!

TheBigBrotherWTPD: I hope this chapter lives up to the rest of the story.

Zukafew119: Your reviews are a great help. Since you specifically break down what you see and observe from my story, it allows me to tailor all the subtle as well as obvious stuff to see what exactly it is that y;all can pick up on. Thanks for always giving me direct and blanketing reviews that cover all details. It is very appreciated. Also thank you for the anniversery wishes.

.66: This is high praise. thank you.

Fanforger: you needed it. Here it is.

Another S.T.A.L.K.E.R: sorry. Cliffhangers are kinda my thing lol. I treat this shit like it's a tv series. gotta make sure you WANT to come back for the next episode.

Darth Voidus: This is a lie. I am Alpharius.

SilverArrow123: The Emperor does indeed, protect.

Scarease: oh just you wait for next chapter.

AlphariusAgyar: shoe's dropped. Ready for what happens now?

Sheploo: got it in one.

CheesusChrist15: you got me, lol.

Pilarman2: unforunately, no. He ain't. You may try again if you wish, and I'll answer as truthfully as I can.

Monarchy11: well, here it is. hope this is good enough for ya!

Argent345: KEEPIN IT UP.

AxeTheGreat: Thank you. This means alot.

Marispan: thanks.

human dragon: I'm glad you enjoyed that moment. Took a few rewrites, but I got it to somewhere satisfactory. Glad you're loving it mate.

desropter: thank you. this means a lot. I'm glad the entirety of the story is entertaining to you. We will get to the romance, don't chu worry


From now on I'll always make sure to respond to the reviews of the previous chapter in the next one. I want to keep an open dialogue with as many of you as possible since y'all are helping me craft this story.

Food for thought.

Vulkan or Dorn? Who's your favourite and why?

Make a convincing enough argument and who knows? We've got a long way to go before we reach the end.

And as many of you have come to realize... this is only the beginning.

From here on out, we've finally established our main set of characters and a general sense of their purpose, where we go next will be up for debate, discussion and even pursuasion. Lore reading is my current objective outside of wrapping up Balor completely, but I need to figure out what exactly the next destintion and story line will be before this.

Uncharted water people, and we gotta come up with a map, pronto.

But that's for later.

Thank you for reading.

See ya next time.

The Emperor Protects,

Freedom.