Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 681 (Third Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets) The Shadow Space Opened Ahead of Schedule: I Will Seize the Shadow Lord from Birac

As the King's Shadow's spear of light rained down on the demon world, Nimrod arrived at the seventh level of the "Land of Chaos" and immediately looked at the spinning giant sword.

It is very different from when I saw it not long ago.

Without the shimmering glow that enveloped it, it looked like a broadsword far larger than any ordinary sword.

Suddenly, there were bulges on both sides of the blade, and then suddenly there were depressions.

Near the hilt, there are three progressively shorter blades on one side, and three blades of different lengths on the other side.

Ninglu can see even more without activating his spiritual vision.

Clumps of gray material condensed into runes of different sizes and shapes, enveloping four different colored specks of light.

There were paws the size of a normal child's palm tightly clutching large clusters of light, and a sphere covered with dense shadow patterns, spinning and swirling...

The light spots are scattered throughout the sword, but are noticeably more concentrated in four areas:
The tip of the sword and the edges of the blades on both sides are wrapped in red; the inside of the blade is green, the hilt is purple, and the markings are blue.

After a moment's thought, Ninglu combined his memories and guessed the nature of the corresponding power.

The main component of the greatsword is gray, which is the shadow power wielded by the Shadow Lord, Bilak.

The four colored lights are the power that Birac, as the first demon prince, retained from the gifts he received from the four peddlers.

It may not be all the points that were retained, but it is at least a fragment of power that cannot be ignored.

The red color represents the power of Khorne, making the Shadow Blade even sharper.

The blue color represents Tzeentch's power, which amplifies the power of shadow magic.

Green represents the power to absorb impurities, making the sword more resilient.

Purple is the power of Slaanesh, making the Shadow Blade more agile and swift to wield.

Ning Lu stared at the shadowy blade and couldn't help but sigh.

"It has to be said that Bilak, as the Lord of Shadows, is quite capable."

"But for me, it may not be a good thing."

Through his previous experience concocting potions, Nimrod already understood that the ingredients provided the necessary properties for the potion.

If the potion ingredients require the power of shadow, then the power of the four vendors is the "impurity." Too much "impurity" will cause the potion to fail.

He must have the "Fire Thief" Tierney "steal" the power of the four peddlers, the "impurities," to create a sealing artifact.

However, there is another possibility: that Bilak became the Lord of Shadows only after he became the Demon Prince of the Four Vendors and gained immense power.

The power of the four hawkers has long been integrated with that of Bilak, becoming one, differing only in degree.

Each fragment of the relic may contain both the power of shadow and the power of the four peddlers, but not as many as those specifically sealed within the Shadow Blade.

Ninglu stared at the shadowy blade, pondered for a moment, and made a decision.

Once you find the next fragment of the relic, examine it to see if it contains the power of the Four Peddler, and use the divination dice to make a decision.

As Ning Lu pondered, he took a step forward, but instead of heading to the twelfth level of space, he went to the shadow side.

He passed through layers of shimmering orbs of light and arrived at a new space.

Upon stepping into this place, he immediately saw that this layer was filled with shadows:

The shadows cast by the magnificent dome, the hidden shadows illuminated by golden light...

Ning Lu's gaze was deep. The spaces opened up by the previous sequences mostly corresponded to sequence abilities, and all belonged to the true side.

This opening, however, is intangible; it is a space formed by shadows.

Ning Lu didn't need to guess; with his enhanced privileges, the information about this layer of space appeared in his mind with a thought.

This space contains the shadow power that the "Fallen Earl" will control.

Ninglu was taken aback, as the "fallen count" in his memory did not possess the power of shadow.

"This is the self-completion of the source substance."

"That's why the ingredients for potions must include fragments of Birac's relic."

"I opened up this floor's space ahead of time."

Ninglu immediately realized that the eleventh layer of space, which had been opened prematurely due to his transformation into a special immortal, should have opened before digesting the "Chaos Mentor." Now, the opening of this new layer of space had been delayed as a result.

Ninglu recalled that the brief tremor in the Black Mist Kingdom ended at the same time the Shadow Blade fell into the "Land of Chaos".

"Perhaps, the twelfth layer of space was originally opened, or the second layer of space on the shadow side, but because I obtained the Shadow Blade, it was fixed as the shadow space."

After pondering the cause and effect, Ning Lu immediately focused his attention on the effect of this layer of space:

He can sign contracts that directly link the souls of both parties, with their shadows as witnesses.

If violated, the shadow will harm the spirit itself, amounting to a powerful curse.

As the controller of this space, he can use the symbolic power of the shadows to subtly modify key terms at the moment a contract is signed, causing the trading partner to receive less or pay more.

Ninglu immediately thought of various similar demonic contracts, where judges of the Demon Tribunal would enter into binding contracts with certain demons.

Among them, the most typical and the most binding is the "Devil's Codex" by the future legendary inquisitor Greg Eisenhorn, which can bind powerful demon hosts.

The contract branded on the Tarot cards by Iskandar Kayan is inviolable and subject to his control.

"The strongest is still the Lord of the Soul Forge, Vashtor, who made a pact with the four peddler demons."

Ninglu knew that Vashtor, as the largest arms dealer in the subspace, supplied war resources to the Great Game of the Four Small Vendors.

The demons of the four peddlers, unable to fulfill the contracts they made in exchange for powerful demon engines, will be bound and forced to serve Vashtor.

Even though Vashtor is one of the few faithful gods in the Warp, demons often break their promises time and time again due to their chaotic nature and are constantly driven by him.

Ninglu then examined the capabilities of other pathways, and he first thought of the "Sun" pathway sequence 6 "Notary".

“The difference between ‘contracts’ and ‘notaries’ lies mainly in the fact that the counterparty to the transaction is quite different. They can act as a third party to create ‘contracts’ for the counterparty.”

“In the ‘Shadow Contract,’ I must be a party to the transaction.”

"But I can quietly modify the terms without the other party's knowledge and seize additional benefits."

Ninglu then thought of the necromancer contract through the "Death God" pathway.

"The objects of the necromancer contract are various spirits, which is relatively limited in scope, while I can make 'shadow contracts' with various creatures."

“But a ‘necromancer’ can rely on the ‘Words of the Dead’ to directly enslave undead of similar or even slightly higher strength.”

“The ‘Shadow Contract’ itself cannot force the other party; the power to force depends on my own abilities and the other party’s will.”

Ninglu felt slightly disappointed. If he could forcibly establish a "Shadow Contract," he could now choose a few Primarchs, defeat them, and then forcibly bring them into this space to sign the "Shadow Contract."

The binding force is based on the souls of both parties and can bind any object because the other party's power is itself a "chain," which is then combined with one's own strength.

"For those who are clearly weaker than me, the binding force mainly comes from my soul."

"When the strengths are similar, the power of both sides is combined."

"The stronger one mainly comes from the opponent, plus my power."

Ninglu thought about the extraordinary demigod-level abilities he would possess after being promoted to "Fallen Earl," as well as the layers of space that would open up.

"Hopefully, I will have the ability to subdue Peturabo by then."

He looked around. "At least now I can make 'shadow pacts' with some creatures."

He then thought of the shadow power that the "Fallen Earl" would inevitably possess, "Bilak, it seems that I not only need to take your relic fragments, but also your Shadow Lord."

Ning Lu returned to the real world while pondering.

Fourteen sidereal days later, the planet shattered in a sudden burst of blinding light.

As the Shadow of the Throne departed the Shattered World, Nimrod's psionic projection traversed the void and descended upon Terra's golden palace.

He glanced around and noticed that not only was Anglon absent, but Hannibal was as well.

Nimrod sat down in silence, and the theme of this war council was already clear.

The other Primarchs remained silent, even Horus, who usually acted as the elder brother, did not speak.

　P.S.: As the title says, I'm asking for monthly votes. Let me get 2,000 votes so I can do another giveaway. The remaining two chapters will be posted after 11 PM tonight.

　　The shadow completes the abilities of the Outer God "Uncertain Mist" Sequence 8 "Shadow Merchant," which will naturally be upgraded to the level of Sequence 4.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)