(Chapter 19: Let's Get Ready to Rumble for the Blood Games!)
It would soon apporach the closing days of October on Holy Terra as Ben was preparing or the first ever Blood Games, wherein to cement his allying himself with the Emperor of Mankind and the 18 Legions that a friendly war game between himself and the Custodes would be held. It was also to be during this competitive exhibition match that the Ultimatrix wielder would be meeting more of the Matriarchs and their Legions, given that the news of someone that was strong enough to challenge the Emperor's elite was nothing to take lightly whatsoever.
(October 26th, 950. M30, Holy Terra, Imperial Palace, 1:45 Pm)
It would be a quarter till 1 in the afternoon as Ben was currently with Mortarion who found herself impressed to see that the Ultimatrix wielder was not only planning to go through with the Blood Games, but had planned to win in dominating fashion against the elite of the Emperor's golden guards.
"I will give you credit where it is due, Tennyson. To agree to this Blood Game that our father has orchestrated is both commendable and maddening." Mortarion spoke equal parts impressed and baffled that Ben would agree to go up against the Custodes even if it was a exhibition of sorts
"I'm not too worried about it. Between everything else I've had to fight from the time I was a little kid up till now, those golden guards of his; shouldn't be too much of a problem." Ben replied unworried of his upcoming opposition
"Besides, they shouldn't be too much of a problem for me to handle…Granted it'll take me some time to figure out how to even navigate through all of those guys. But other than that, making my way past them should be light work." Ben further spoke in seeing it as nothing he could not handle
"While you have every right to remain confident given your phenomenal combat skills. Even if it is a 'friendly' exhibition match, the Custodes are nothing to be taken lightly. They are by all respects the strongest that our father has to offer in regards to the soldiers of the Imperium. Other than the Emperor himself and the Matriarchs, the Custodes stand as the most powerful within the Imperium at large. There is a reason why at any time the Custodes are called into battle, that it is automatically recorded as a victory." Mortarion warned the Ultimatrix wielder of the fact that the Custodes were regarded as the pinnacle of what the Emperor had to offer beyond the Matriarchs
"Well, no offense to them or anything. But I'm gonna go right through them and damn near make it look easy, Mortarion... They might be good, but I doubt they've seen anyone or anything like me. Especially now that I'm at my A-game after having finally managed to get some rest. Hell, I make set a record with how fast I run right through them!" Ben said back in feeling better than ever now that he could actually sleep for once and have his nerves actually settle
"If you can accomplish doing that, then you will have officially placed yourself as one of the strongest within the Imperium. What I would not give to see the Emperor and Malcador's faces should you embarrass the Custodes. That will be a sight to behold for the ages." Mortarion spoke with a chuckle through her rebreather
"Trust me, you and everyone else that watches is gonna get blown away…Side note, what are you going to do; once you get everything with your Legion back up and running?... Now that you guys are back on Terra or whatever, do you got anything planned for them?" Ben questioned the commander of the 14th Legion
"Actually I do have something in the works planned…Perturabo and I have come to the agreement of working together with each other going forward. Something that I know will help the both of us bring worlds to compliance all the faster." Mortarion answered back
"Really, and how did you guys come to that agreement?" Ben asked curious as to how both Matriarchs worked out such a thing
"We managed to do so, after she raised a few very compelling points to me...She may not be as overtly skilled at debate as Minerva or be as charismatic as Sekhmet or Sanguinius. Yet she managed to convince that coming together as a unified force against our enemies. That it would be in combining the strengths of our Legions, that we would be so much more powerful than we are individually...To be honest, I actually welcome working alongside her in the campaigns to come." Mortarion told the Ultimatrix wielder with a genuine sense of camaraderie in her voice at wanting to work alongside Perturabo
"Truth be told, it is something that for the first time in this Crusade; that I am actually looking forward to, when it comes to my sisters...I have hardly spent the time to care or know many of them. At least with Furiosa being free of the Nails, I can look to holding an actual conversation with her. At least now I can do so; without her wanting to maul the nearest living thing." Mortarion further spoke regarding the Matriarch of the 13th
"I didn't think that you and Furiosa would want to hang out. What with her having been…you know." Ben spoke regarding Furiosa's prior state of being
"Understand that, among my sisters beyond Sekhmet, the Kahn, and Perturabo. That I hold a certain level of respect for Furiosa, the fact that she endured her upbringing as well as she did, in addition the the burden of the Nails is nothing short of worthwhile respect." Mortarion replied in regards to the short list of people who had her respect
"As such even when she battled against the Nails and struggled to hold out against their incessant biting for carnage and slaughter. Never did she complain, or whimper, or let it crush the spirit of what she was. Instead, she endured and did the best of what she was given in part to our father…even as she was a brutal spiteful woman a majority of the time; I could see that there was still a resilient, bright, and determined woman I could call a sister underneath it. I could just never simply get close enough to spend time with her…at least until you came into her life and gave her freedom." Mortarion said back with small yet rare smile on her face in admiration of Furiosa's spiteful will to continue pushing through the strife and struggle that her life had handed to her repeatedly
"It wasn't anything on my end, I was just trying to help out. No one deserves to have slave-tech shoved in their brain-case." Ben spoke in abhorring the sort of tech resembling anything in regards to the Nails
"Even still it is thanks to you that many things can and will be possible going forward. For that you have my respect, Tennyson…However, I would advise you not to get ahead of yourself either. You may be resourceful and resilient more than most, but that bravado of yours will get you in over your head if you are not careful." Mortarion responded
"Don't worry, I'll be perfectly fine. Besides, whatever is ahead of me; I'm sure I can get it done. It doesn't matter if it's the 21st century, the 31st millennium, or some other timeline. The only thing that matters is that whatever needs to get done, gets done." Ben said back to the genesire of the Death Guard
"And I look forward towards seeing that energy being put into action. The Great Crusade is even with all of our forces an intense and trying war to win, that is why I hope you will is as resilient as it has been. Your fortitude towards what is to come will be needed." Mortarion spoke as Ben let a cocksure smile cross his face
"Don't worry, I'll be fine…In the meantime, do you want to grab something to eat?" Ben asked the giant of a pale woman beside him
"I would not mind, it is that hour after all and perhaps after this Blood Game; I could introduce you to some within my Legion." Mortarion replied as she and Ben headed off in search of something to eat
"That sounds great, if their anything like you I'm sure they're going to be wonderful people. If anything I wouldn't mind seeing how things are in the Death Guard. That is if you wouldn't mind showing me when you have the free time?" Ben said back as the small smile on Mortarion's face widened at the compliment as they head off
"I would be happy to, Tennsyon. In fact, I think that you and a few of my closest would get along well. My 1st Captain Calus and the Captain of my 7th Company Nathaniel Garro; would like you the most." Mortarion said as she continued to talk with Ben in regards to how the Death guard functioned and the culture therein of the 14th
(The next day, Holy Terra, 2:10 Pm, 950. M30, October 27th)
Meanwhile in the following day was Sekhmet currently with Freya who had come from one of her recent battles in gaining another planet to compliance to see her sisters after so many months, as well as to see firsthand of the Blood Games her father had orcestrated.
"I don't know what's more impressive, that this Tennyson man has the guts to willingly put himself against the Custodes, or that he had the ceramite balls to prank the Lion. Either way, I like him already!" Was the boisterous voice of the leader of the Space Wolves
"Undoubtedly so, Freya. Honestly, I do not know if it is fearlessness or madness that drives him to antagonize against the Lion. Especially when he is willing to do so on a consistent basis since we have met him." Sekhmet said with a chuckle at Ben's sheer stones to be willing to shit-talk the Lion and remain unphased by her where most would wilt
"However, I will not lie when I say it is highly entertaining to see him butt heads against her when it does happen. I don't think I have seen someone manage to irritate Leona this bad in years." Sekhmet replied with a sly grin of respect towards Ben while Freya poured her a mug full of Fenrisian mead for them to share
"Aye, this Tennyson sounds like great company. Perhaps, when he is better settled within the Imperium. Perhaps he would not mind an invitation to Fenris, I would like to hear some of the tales of his heroism from his era...Someone like that is welcome to have a seat at our grand hall." Freya Russ spoke keen to see what this hero from another time was like in person
"If he does take the invitation to party with you and your wolves. Then I ask this of you, do not let him become shitfaced off of your mead, Freya. He may be resilient and one of the most, if not the most daring humans I have ever seen...But even I do not think he would last long, if given a pint of Mjod." Sekhmet requested in not knowing how Ben's constitution would handle something that could get Astartes piss drunk
"Relax, Lupercal. You have nothing to worry about, I promise that I won't get him drunk off our ale. If he chooses to challenge one of my wolves to a contest of drink, or myself for that matter. Then that is on him...with what you have told me of how bold he is in regards to standing against the creatures of the Warp, and surviving a raging Furiosa. Then he might be able to handle a mug or two." Freya Russ spoke with a mischievous grin as she gulped down her mug of Mjod
"If that happens and he keeps over, get him to your apothecaries as soon as possible. I would rather not have to deal with Konstance getting upset; because her Morgenstern as she's taken to calling him keeled over." Sekhmet advised knowing that Konstance would be absolutely furious if that happened
"You make a fine point, Sekhmet. I will be sure to have a Wolf Priest on standby just in case. I am many things, but brazen enough to bring about that madwoman's fury...That is not one of them by the slightest." The Wolf Queen replied as even she was not brazen enough to willfully piss off Konstance Kurze
"Thank you, Freya. That means a lot." The Lupercal said back as she drank another gulp from her mug
"Of course, my sister-in-arms...That being said, I do have one other question to ask of you...Between Leona and this Tennyson you and some of our sisters have grown attached to, who do you think would win in a duel?" Freya Russ questioned with a bestial grin between gulps of Mjod
"Don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe that Leona is one of the best duelists that we have. Her skills with the blade are nothing to take lightly in any matter. However, the sheer variety of what Ben is capable of would have me favoring him in that duel considerably." Sekhmet answered bluntly to the fact that while the firstborn of the Matriarchs was undoubtedly skilled Ben's xenos forms were another matter entirely
"That's a lot of praise coming from you, of all people... I know that the lot of you battled against a ton of Daemons from the Warp, but for him to be able to beat Leona in a fight…I will believe it when I damn well see it." Freya Russ spoke with skepticism and intrigue as to the level of might Ben commanded
"All I will say is to standby and watch what Ben unleashes against the Custodes. He may not look like it, but he is as good as they come." Sekhmet responded
"If he manages to win these Blood Games against the Custodes. Then I will not only throw a feast for him on Fenris, but I will assist Furiosa in her next campaign." Freya Russ said back
"Would you be willing to make a wager on that, Freya?" Sekhmet asked with a sly grin
"Depends what else are you willing to wager, Sekhmet?" Freya Russ questioned
"Enough to where if Ben fails then I will convince Guilliman to make sure that your next few parties for the rest of this year and the year to come, will not be levied as an expense on your part. In addition, I will see what I can do about having some of your sons acquire some 'entertainment' on your homeworld…I don't know how I will go about doing so, but I will do what I can to get it done." Sekhmet answered back as she took a modest gulp of her mead as the sharp-toothed grin of the Wolf Queen widened
"You've got yourself a deal, Lupercal! I better not see you trying to back out of this…My sons and I are going to make a killing off this." The Wolf Queen spoke as she couldn't help but grin like a madwoman
"I hope you will keep that same energy when Tennyson wins, Freya. Otherwise, you and your wolves just may find yourself in the ringer for what comes next." Sekhmet said back as the two continued to discuss the details of their wager
All the while as Sekhmet and Freya continued to catch up and continue the agreements of their wager over some Fenrisian Mead, on the other side of things were Fulgrim and Konstance having a girls day together. Given that the Night Haunter in having managed to take things with Ben to a more…intimate level had decided to clean herself up, so that when she was with her destined beloved to be that she would look much more presentable instead of a terrifying she-beast.
"I appreciate your agreeing to do this with me, Fulgrim…It…It actually feels nice to do these things alongside you." Konstance Kurze spoke as she and Fulgrim were having their nails done
"Of course, and I am always happy to have a day out with my beloved little sister. I was actually surprised that you wanted to do this with me." Fulgrim replied as her nails were being painted a brilliant amethyst while Konstance's a deep midnight blue
"I can't explain it, but as of late. I felt that it was time to take better care of myself. That it was time to truly take pride in my appearance...Who better to do that with than you, the fairest of all of us all." Konstance Kurze said back as a fae smile grace Fulgrim's features
"You are too kind, Konstance...If you ever wish to do things like this in the future. I will be incredibly delighted to do so, I cannot tell you how nice it is to have one of my sisters doing these sorts of things with me. Don't get me wrong, as much as I love our Gorgon of a sister, whom it wouldn't kill to take better care of her own appearance. That woman does not appreciate the finer things in life or the beauty in small things from getting your hair done, having your nails painted. Alongside many other things that allow one to embrace the beauty of what they are." Fulgrim further spoke
"Which reminds me, do you have something special planned with Ben after the Blood Games? If not, then I could assist you with planning your first date." Fulgrim further spoke as the Night Haunter's face flushed red at the prospect of going out on a date with someone
"I-I've never thought about how to approach him on the subject. I-I don't even know where I would begin, or how I would make it work…what if I wind up frightening him when I try to make him a gift, or some harlot tries to steal him away from me, or I have a vision during and in my panic I…" Konstance Kurze continued to trail off as her mind raced with a legion of different outcomes of how her first time with Ben could go wrong
"Konstance, calm down, take a deep breath, and look at me." Were the Phoenician's words to stop the panicked ramblings of a soon hyperventilating Konstance Kurze
"Everything will be fine. All that is happening to you, is nothing to panic over. It is simply nerves over trying to plan your first date with someone you care about. It happens to everyone at some point." Fulgrim told her sister
"It does?" Were Konstance's questioning words
"Yes, as even Minerva for all of her ability to plan things years in advance still becomes flustered with her own consort. Trust me, you should see the look on her face; the moments she misses the mark on a date with her paramore…Her face turns a delightfully hilarious shade of ruby." Fulgrim answered back with a soft chuckle
"It is hard to imagine the Imperium's strongest bureaucrat messing up at anything." Konstance Kurze said dourly over the Ultramarines Matriarch
"Trust me, Minerva has made her own fair share of pitfalls in her personal life. That being said, I would not let yourself become too frustrated or overwhelmed by it…Your first outting with Ben does not need to be perfect, what matters is that it is done doing something that makes the two of you happy. If that can be accomplished then I know everything will fall into place." Fulgrim told her sister with an earnest since of care in her voice
"Will you assist me in making sure everything goes well?" Konstance Kurze requested
"But of course! What kind of a sister would I be if I did not help you with such things! I will make sure that everything will go as smoothly as possible for you. I will swear this on my very Legion in order to see you and Ben both happy!" Fulgrim promised to Konstance who could not help but smile at the promise, one that was a genuine and rarely soft one of genuine happiness
"Thank you, Fulgrim. It means…everything to hear that from you." Konstance Kurze said to Fulgrim thankful for the Phoenician's support
"You are quite welcome. Now then, let us continue the rest of the day. I have no doubt that Ben's heart will fly out of his chest on the day you two have your first outting together…Dear little Konstance having her first date soon enough, isn't that just special!" Fulgrim said as Konstance's smile only grew at the thought of going out on her first ever date after the Blood Games
'Yes it will be.' Were the Night Haunter's sole thoughts from that point onwards
(3 days later, 950, M30, October 30th, Imperial Palace, 12:00 Noon)
Yet in the days to follow would Ben be preparing himself to engage in the Blood Games as soon as the Emperor finished his speech to those from the various Legions of the Adeptus Astartes that came to see it happen, were keen to see the strength of the Ultimatrix bearer vs that of the Custodes
'Alright, time to show 'em what I've got, and I have just the perfect combo to get things started.' Ben said to himself with a devious smirk as he turned into Jetray and flew into the sky at high-hypersonic speeds
All the while the Custodes who were at their positions were on guard for the Ultimatrix wielder, waiting and standing watch for how he was going to take this approach to bypass their guard, with nothing having come their way for 5 going on several minutes. At least until one of the golden guards saw a large fiery comet that was nearly twice the size of a Salamander Dreadnought hurtling towards them at such speeds that the air screamed around it from the absurd speeds it was racing towards them at.
The golden guards having to get out of the way lest they be crushed or worse under the sheer force and speed causing clouds to part and vanish, as it neared toward them so fast that by the time any of them raised their weapons to fire; was it too late as Cannonbolt would crash down like a meteorite. Sending forth a mighty shockwave that would send a large portion of the Custodes there to intercept the Ultimatrix wielder that went send them scattering, the pathway turned into a trench of heavily cracked ceramite now stood in its place. All the while the stunned golden guards who were currently recovering were having to deal with Cannonbolt currently ricocheting off of the ground and buildings around him, slamming into the Emperor's elite with such force that they were sent flying a full 35 feet on impact.
The Ultrimatrix wielder quickly slamming into the golden guards; who the moment they would so much as move their spears, that Cannonbolt's deceptively swift form would slam into them with bone-cracking force, as he continued to pinball against them furhter and further, in using the ever-increasing momentum from doing so; to chin-check one so hard that he was flung a full 40 feet into the air. It was at this juncture that he then turned into XLR8 and began running at mach speeds so incredibly quick that by the time any of the stunned and prone Custodes were able to register what had happened he was already gone.
It was XLR8 dashed his way towards the Emperor's throne room at incredible speeds, were further Custodes en route to intercept the Kinneceleran, and yet as they raced to intercept him on their Jetbikes with their Guardian spears at the ready; XLR8 was able to very much intercept them. That being by quickly turning himself into Fourarms at the last moment and using the momentum he had built up from his hundreds of meters long dash to spear through them, as though they were made of tissue paper.
The squadron of jetbikes were soon turned to scrap as Fourarms put his whole weight into punching through them, sending the Custodes flying but not before they used their transhuman athleticism to grapple onto and tackle the still flying Tetramand. However, one thing that they did not account for as they tackled him to the ground was him using him immense strength to create a thunderclap with such force they were sent a full 500 feet into the air at near supersonic speeds, where a subsequent one was made with such concussive force that it blasted the near dozen attached to him of him.
Buildings heaving and shaking as though an earthquake were ripping through the holy palace of the Master of Mankind, as Fourarms much to the wonder of those watching through various screens; proceeded to achieve pseudo-flight via using consecutive thunderclaps to propel himself across the skyline. The continuous blasts of concussive force continued to propel him across the skyline until he saw the entryway towards a group of Custodes guarding the next entry point, and as such the idea to just cheese his way through them came to mind.
"On one hand this is gonna be super unfair to these guys, but on the otherhand. Having alien superpowers is the best cheat code of all time." Fourarms spoke as he slammed on his Ultimatrix once more to turn into Big Chill
With it being at one moment where the Custodes were patrolling the area standing guard either to leap into action or to shoot down the Ultimatrix wielder from getting past them…only to feel a sharp sudden chill one moment, and in that very next; be completely engulfed in what could only be described as a river-like glacier of dense ice, permafrost and pure cold. The flash-frozen elite guards could only look from within their frigid prison in shocked wonder of what had happened as Big Chill would phase through them and fly through the otherside and below of them before turning into Armordrillo and rapidly burrowing through the foundations of it.
On the otherside of things was Ra Endymion who stood with a squad of Terminators and Sentinel Guardsmen presiding over the doorway that would lead into the Emperor's Throneroom, all too make sure that no matter what the Ultimatrix wielder would not breach their defenses. The golden guards stood ready for the encroaching threat that was coming their way, as Ra refused to let himself or his bretheren be defeated by the newcomer no matter if it was an exhibition or live combat; he refused to let him or his comrades be defeated.
However, he was soon ripped away from his thoughts when he and the rest of his golden-clad bretheren felt the ground beneath them shake and rumble with a violent fury, so much so that many of them found themselves struggling to stay standing from the tremors that wracked the entire area with great force. The reinforced ceramite and adamantine floors continuing to crack and rip apart until the tremors reached their fever pitch as Ra alongside his brethren barely had enough time to dodge out of the way as the entire area exploded into a chasm of sundered destruction as Armordrillo came barelling out of it.
Yet this moment of surprise and shock was all that the Ultimatrix wielder needed as in a split-second flash of emerald did he further shift into Gravattrack and through the use of his gravitational might, proceed to slow down time around him to a virtual crawl. Wherein he was able to then use his masterful control over gravity and space to simply float himself and use his gravitational might to carry the Custodes along with him in a bubble of condensed gravity into the Emperor's throne room as though he were making a smoothie run, as he always would in his previous timeline.
Time continued to remain in its nigh-frozen state until the Galliean was mere footfalls away from the Golden Throne, where the moment he was within arms reach of it; did he proceed to clap his hands and resume time as needed. To which the Custodes soon were dropped onto their butts where a smug-looking Ben was grinning at them as he stood an arms reach away from the Golden Throne itself, all the while Ra Endymion was all but flabbergasted at the fact that he had been so easily bypassed.
"Well if it means anything, it did take me a little under 10 minutes to get through you guys. Granted I could've gotten here a lot quicker iI just kept to being XLR8 and then burrowed under here as Armordrillo. But I figured that I'd show off a bit, and give it a little bit more flair." Ben told a near speechless Custodes as he checked the timer on the Ultimatrix to show he had won the blood games with a total time of 7 minutes 24 seconds
"How were you even able to…It shouldn't be possible, I and my brothers had you within our crosshairs ready to intercept, and then the next moment we are unable to so much as move. Almost as though time itself had stopped and then the very moment I could move we are laid bare and helpless in the Emperor's throne-room." Ra Endymion spoke wondering how in the blink of an eye had things transpired so quickly
"Oh, that's easy. I used Gravattack to compress gravity around everyone in that space so much that it warped space-time. Then again in simpler terms if it helps, I super condensed gravity around us to where I slowed down time to like 1 and one 10 millionth of a second or 1 and 100 millionth of a second. Either way, I did that then pretty much drug you guys in here with me to show that I'm just like that." Ben explained to the Custodes in question
"So with my winning by a landslide, I think I've proven that I'm gonna be a pretty big help to you guys in the field." Ben further spoke to the still stupefied Custodes
"Indeed, as this will certainly make training against future incursions a spectacle no doubt. In fact, I will go a step further than that...That being, that it is a very good thing that you are on our side Ben Tennyson." Was Ra's statement in knowing full well that had this been a true invasion that things could have ended worse
"Thanks and trust me, it could've ended a lot worse for you and the rest of your friends overall." Ben told the Custodes
"Should I inquire to know how much worse it could have ended?" Ra Endymion questioned
"I would say that for now, it's better if you don't know. There are still some surprises I have to keep close to the chest. Not to mention, that if I told you everything I could do, then we would be here all day." Ben informed the towering Custodes with a subtle look of 'its better if you don't know' energy underlying his smug grin
"Very well, I will heed your advice for now. That being said, with this exhibition over. I will say my congratulations to you having bested me and my brethren, even if it is in mock combat." Ra Endymion said back as he extended an armored hand for the Ultimatrix wielder to shake
"Good game to you too, Mr. Golden man. Hopefully, I get to work alongside you and your people one of these days. You seem pretty alright, to keep it a stack with you." Ben spoke as the two shook hands in showing a friendly end to the Blood Games overall
(The next day, Halloween, 2:40 Pm, Imperial Palace, 950. M30)
That being said, later that following day as the Master of Mankind was with the Sigillite reviewing the footage of the Blood Games from start to finish of Ben's overcoming the Custodes and winning in rather dominant fashion overall.
"I will say this much about the young man; he certainly was able to deliver his promise of victory against the Custodes. I never would have thought that someone could best them and bypass the defenses therein with that level of ease and confidence. Yet here we stand…even you have to give him credit where it is due." Malcador spoke regarding the aftermath of the 1st ever Blood Games
"Indeed, although the repairs to the Imperial Palace will be rather extensive given his idea to burrow under it for a surprise attack." The Emperor of Mankind responded
"That would be an understatement, but from the report given on what happened on that mystery planet they were stranded on. There could have been far, far more damage dealt overall. So I say we count ourselves lucky that he did not decide to show off any further than what he chose too." Malcador said back regarding Ben's having kept the damage to a surprising minimum
"The ability to take on a greater Daemon of Khorne is not something to take lightly. Especially in the hands of someone who has both creativity and an affinity for tactics, both conventional and unconventional." Malcador further spoke knowing that with the amount of power that Ben wielded that the Imperial Palace could have been in far worse wear
"That is something I would be foolish to deny of him, my friend. However, this also means that we gleaned a substantial amount of information from this event as well. We not only have a further insight to how Ben Tennyson operates as an individual in combat. With this, we now have a means of planning how to better prepare against future threats to come…The Xenos of his era are from what we have gathered thus far, far more formidable and deadly than the ones of this era save the Necrons and Aeldari." The Emperor of Mankind responded with a calculating gaze after finishing going over the footage once again
"This is another thing to consider. Even though he exists from a far, far different time, it does bring with it a certain truth that we have to be aware of…More than that, that we must prepare ourselves for." The Sigilite said back catching the often golden-clad monarch's attention
"What do you mean by that, Malcador? Some elaboration is required." The Master of Mankind said
"To put it simply with things so very much in flux, that things from eras past are coming towards us. From the Necrons and now Chaos, and even the Drukhari who feed Slaanesh and all their endless debauchery. It feels as though that once the Great Crusade has come to an inevitable close, within the next few decades. That we will need to further prepare for threats that are on the horizon from humanity's past." Malcador replied
"Do you think that something from the Age of Strife or the Dark Age of Technology will rise to threaten mankind?" The Emperor questioned
"It is a likely possibility, especially with Chaos and the Necrons on the rise. Not to mention the Aeldari once they find out about Tennyson's existence. Even you cannot deny that should the Eldar sink their hooks into him, that doom, damnation and endless suffering will be abound throughout the galaxy." Malcador said to his longtime confidant who shared a look of equal concern over that notion
"The Drukhari gaining someone this powerful and who can potentially replicate technology from the Dark Age, is a terrifying prospect indeed. Something that cannot be allowed whatsoever." The Master of Mankind spoke knowing that if the Dark Eldar gained hold of the Ultimatrix wielder that it would be disastrous to say the least
"This also begs further questioning on how you wish to handle that issue?" Malcador inquired
"As of now, he remains safe given that he has the eyes and friendship of my daughters. Especially Konstance, Furiousa, Perturabo, Fulgrim, and Lorna, therefore we can account for them being able to act as safeguards should anything happen to him. At least until we can think of more permanent means of keeping watch over him to prevent the likes of the Eldar laying hand or claim to him." The Master of Mankind answered back
"That may be so and it is something that will work to our favor greatly. It still means that we must work on gathering a force that can prepare to intercept them the moment that they strike…While it is good to know that a sizable portion of your daughters can be counted on, we should stiill prepare for a worst case scenario." Malcador spoke
"Fair enough, especially given their duties to not only their Legions but the Great Crusade overall." The Emperor spoke in agreement
"This also brings up another line of questioning? Given that Tennyson has not only endeared himself too the majority of your daughter, but has also from the looks of it become romantically involved himself with Konstance. We will have consider how that will affect things going forward." The Sigilite mentioned
"Yes, that is something to consider…Konstance becoming romantically involved with anyone or falling in love for that matter. That is something that I never accounted for, or even expected to be quite honest...Namely for the fact that I never expected nor accounted to have any of them fall in love with a mortal." The Master of Mankind replied as the idea of Konstance falling in love with anyone romantically was a unexpected curveball
"For all intents and purposes, this may prove beneficial to her overall rate of success in bringing worlds to compliance. After all, love is an extraordinary thing and can serve as a potent motivator. Therefore, we may see her leading the 8th Legion with an improved level of efficiency." Malcador spoke with a wry smile on his aged face
"Who knows it may even spur her to change the Night Lords for the better. They are one of the more unsavory of the Legions overall...especially with the Matriarch of the 11th and the Angel tying if not exceeding her...That it is with Tennyson having a positive influence in her life, that it may be what she needs to push them in the correct direction." Malcador further spoke to the golden-clad giant
"I see where you are going with this and perhaps allowing her relationship with Tennyson to flourish may be a good idea in the long run. If it means that she will improve overall for the better and bring a further positive light and stronger compliance rate and retention overall, then so be it. I have been looking for something that could be a change to course correct her and if allowing romance into her life is what will do it, then who am I to stand against it." The Emperor said more than fine too allow Konstance and Ben's relationship so long s it improved her ability to bring worlds into compliance
"That being said, it would not hurt to keep an eye on the relationship just to be safe. The last thing we need is to be blindsided by their intimacy growing to the point where we now have to deal with a tiny Night Haunter of two running about the Imperial Palace. I doubt they or either of us are equipped to handle that." Malcador replied
"I doubt Konstance will be able to carry a child to term. I created them to be demigods and generals in my quest for unity, not mothers to spawn hybrids between humanity." The golden-clad monarch spoke
"Are you certain of that, my friend? With how many things are at play, are changing, and are still unknown to us. Can you truly say that Not only Konstance but the others are incapable of childbirth? We cannot say for certain if such thing is a impossibility or a possibility. Therefore, the certainty of if they become intimate to the point where she becomes a mother is something that should be accounted for…Especially with the Ruinous Powers soon taking notice of these changes." The Sigilite responded
After all, in the event that said uncertainty of Konstance Kurze came to pass in regards to her being able to become a mother, then it was more than a necessity that both The Emperor and The Sigilite to renforce things overall for not just the Imperial Palace but the Imperium overall. Given that a child or children of a Matriarch much moreso that of the Night Haunter herself was going to be a terrifyingly potent individual within the greater galaxy, and by extension a target for the Ruinous Powers to take hold of as a potential champion in the near future.
"In that case, perhaps readying safety precautions in the event that she should bare children…The very last thing we need is to have any of the 4 sink their fangs into any progeny between those two." The Emperor spoke in staunch refusal to let any of them get ahold of any future child between Ben and Konstance
"Good, and that being said we should also discuss what to do in regards to his growing relationship with the others. After all, Konstance isn't the only one he has built a strong affinity with." The Sigilite responded in regards to the others on that planet he'd built up a strong rapport with
"Indeed, and luckily enough we have more than ample time to figure that out…It is going to be rather interesting having someone so capable in the thick of things. Yet it will be no less intriguing as to what he will be able to bring to the Great Crusade." The Master of Mankind spoke with a thoughtful look upon his ageless face
And so with the 1st ever Blood Games having been brought to a close and Ben having proven himself quite a match for the Custodes as the Emperor and Sigilite now not only have further information in regards to the capabilities of what Ben is capable of, but also the potential plans for what he may be cable of as well down the line. Well the future of what is to come for the Ultimatrix wielder yet and still remains in flux, as he enters himself officially to soon become apart of the Great Crusade. So as for what checainery lies ahead for our favored shapeshifting hero, that is something you will have ot wait and see about in the all new installments of, Ultimate Alien: Primarch Force!
Alright, that'll do it for this one as I hope that you guys will enjoy this chapter and everything that went on in it, since I will say this right now that as much as I recognize the Custodes for being powerhouses…we also have to remember that ths is an older Ben who not only has mastered his aliens but that his aliens are also relatively cracked within the confines of Warhammer as well...especially if he wants to use their Ultimate forms. But beyond that, I hope that you guys will be willing to stick around for more of what's to come; given that we are only getting crazier from here, with all the nonsense that is to come.
As such this is Pravus666 signing off until next time, wherein our next chapter will have Ben encountering some of the 1st Captain from the other Legions in the aftermath of the 1st Blood Games, so stay tuned for all of that good stuff.
Part 1 Theme Song: Black out the Sun by Sevendust
Random End Song: Animals by Nickelback
Now then onto the reviews from the last chapter.
God of the Wind 200: Ben most definitely did that with Alien X regarding Chilli Fries, all I can say is that he and Kevin during their 20's got high one to many times, and Kevin convinced him to use Alien X to make them endless Chilli Fries and alcoholic Sunny D.
smallszay106: Oh trust me, and his outting against the Custodes in the shows that at any given point he can switch on a dime to make any and all plans null and void for trying to counter him. Because how do you counter the guy who can turn into over 400 powerful aliens and then on top of that can hyper-evolve them into being even stronger than that.
Guest: To be fair, this is a much older and mature Ben when you get too it. As such he knows that raging and being petty towards the Emperor won't get him to do what he needs to be able to, to be a Hero and what he wishes to do in the Imperium. Therefore, Ben is treating things with the Emperor more along the lines of going into business with someone. And when you go into business with someone you do things with a level head, keep things on even keel and make sure that at all times, the other side knows your worth and what you can do for them that makes you irreplacable.