Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

"The Randan aliens are nothing more than that." A faint smile crossed Khayon's face as he watched the Randan slave army locked in battle in the distance. If a large number of slave troops could still deplete the enemy's ammunition and energy against the Iron Hands and the Ultramarines, then against the Thousand Sons, a slave army of this size would be completely counterproductive.

"Keep moving, warriors of the Thousand Sons." Unlike the regular legions, which were led by a torrent of steel, the Thousand Sons mages, as the most distinguished and powerful of the legions, marched on the front lines, erecting a shield capable of withstanding the attack of a single Titan. Behind them, a large number of Fire Phoenix mages stood ready, awaiting any enemy worthy of their attack.

While walking, Fuxi suddenly raised his hand and everyone stopped. The psychic power instantly transmitted his order to the entire army, "Strengthen the shield! Release the psychic mist! Fire Phoenix and spire guards get ready!" Fuxi ordered.

"Attack areas 5, 10, and 11. Distribute firepower according to Plan 8. Start shooting in 10 seconds!" Fusi's eyes gleamed with a glint. At that moment, he seemed to see through the timeline, seeing what would happen in a few minutes. A large number of Randan vehicles, robots, and bone eaters would launch an attack. Simultaneously, the enemy's heavy artillery would open fire.

As the Thousand Sons mages cast their spells, a milky white psionic mist instantly enveloped the battlefield, concealing the entire legion within. Under the cover of the smoke, the Thousand Sons quickly shifted their formation, avoiding the likely impact of enemy fire. Coupled with force field shields, the initial assault by the Randan xenos' heavy artillery proved ineffective. Meanwhile, the Fire Phoenixes and Spire Guards unleashed a barrage of psionic energy and firepower upon the distant Randan legion, sending dazzling explosions soaring through the ranks. Mysterious prophecies and precise firepower enabled the Thousand Sons to slaughter their enemies with remarkable efficiency, while the Randan forces attempting to launch an assault were left struggling. From the gaps in the Thousand Sons' ranks, psychic fortress robots surged forth, engaging the incoming enemy with a variety of weaponry at medium and short range. The Thousand Sons mages, sheltering behind these fortresses, periodically used their psychic energy to harvest lives or disrupt their attacks.

"A brain-eater has appeared, Carlofus, be careful." Fusi, who once again predicted the opponent's actions, issued a warning and marked the opponent's possible location and path through psychic transmission.

"No problem, we are connected in mind." Carlos said, and around him, nine Thousand Sons wizards, including him, began to cast spells. At this moment, their spirits and psychic powers merged into one, with Carlos's own mental power as the main one. With the superposition of psychic power and mental power, an illusory figure rose from behind Carlos, overlooking the entire battlefield indifferently like a demigod.

"I've locked onto one of our targets. Where are you, Casson?" the illusory figure looked to the side. Around them, other psychic arrays activated, and new beings, fused with the power of multiple Thousand Sons wizards, descended upon the battlefield. Their strength far surpassed that of ordinary wizards, and they could easily kill a knight mech with a single blow.

How could the Thousand Sons be unprepared against the psychically savvy Randan xenos? This fusion of the powers of multiple psykers into a single entity through rituals and formations was the Thousand Sons' response to the xenos. With exceptional psionic talent, the gene-seed inherited from Magnus, and honed skills, these Thousand Sons might be arrogant, but they also possessed something. Each illusory giant wielded power comparable to that of a Titan, reducing entire tanks to ash with a single wave of their hands. (The World Eaters Librarians attempted to counter Lorgar by linking their minds and forming a new Warp entity, but were ultimately defeated by Lorgar.)

Carlofus easily located the brain-eater hidden in the Randan army. With the illusory giant's outstretched hand, the brain-eater was pulled out of the army by an invisible force. The creature struggled to escape, but in seconds, it was reduced to a pool of bloody mud. Powerful psychic lightning and heavy artillery from the Titans in the rear rained down on the Randan army, clearing out the enemy like dust.

"For the Emperor, humanity will live forever!" After Carlofus used his psychic power to tear apart a war dog-level Randan war engine, a sense of satisfaction surged in his heart. With a psychic roar, the morale of the entire legion reached MAX!

"For the Emperor, for the Primarch!" roared the Thousand Sons Legion as they wiped out the enemies before them.

--------

"They did a great job, and there are several good prospects among them. If we are lucky, some of them may be able to complete the sublimation like us." Omzod said while observing the battlefield in the distance through his psychic power.

"They all have great talents. After all, some of them have worked with us before. However, their character is problematic. Their arrogance and excessive pursuit of psychic powers make them easily corrupted."

"I hope to select some from among them to serve as my students and subordinates, but they will have to pass numerous tests," Ahriman said after a moment's thought. "By the way, is our legion ready? Time is running out for these former colleagues to demonstrate their abilities. They have been targeted by the Randan Mastermind, and its violent attack will soon arrive."

"We are ready, sir. Are you still traveling on the Arcane Condor this time?" asked Ohmzod.

"Of course, I have established a deep friendship with the creatures in it. The souls and psychic powers have been awakened in the machine. Such a magical thing has happened. I admire the greatness of my God." Ahriman said in awe.

The Traveler's power is constantly growing. The concentrated force of faith and the transformed divine power allow Him to accomplish many things. For example, initially, the only one among the Traveler's followers to have awakened a soul was the Endless Journey, a companion of the Traveler for thousands of years, personally enlightened by divine power. Now, as the Traveler nears godhood, many of the souls previously held by the Traveler have evolved into divine messengers, or even demons of the Traveler (crossed out). Some of these have then possessed machinery, the so-called Arcane Condor, which can essentially be considered a "demon engine." A powerful being among the Traveler's divine messengers agreed to cooperate with Ahriman, and a tacit understanding formed between them. It's that simple...

"It can be deployed at any time, Your Excellency the Commander." Ohmzod said seriously. Although the two were brothers, when it came to battle, they had to be meticulous and make no mistakes.

"When the battle starts, the Arcane Condor and his team will be responsible for holding back the Mastermind. You rescue the people first, and then we will kill the enemy." Ahriman ordered.

"As you command." Ohmzod nodded.

--------

"Tiny yet magnificent humanity!" Hidden underground, the Randan Mastermind observed everything on the battlefield through psychic power. Three legions advanced rapidly, and he faced the Thousand Sons in the center. As Ahriman had said, while the Thousand Sons felt "satisfied with themselves," they were undoubtedly the weakest in the entire formation. They were outnumbered and lacked heavy equipment. The Thousand Sons' supposed psychic powers were nothing compared to the Mastermind's power. Meanwhile, as the Mastermind made final preparations before entering the battle, he pondered a few questions.

Ran Dan Overlord had been severely injured, and it could even be said that he was only half alive. This extremely poor state also meant that Ran Dan Overlord's control over his subordinates' main brains had significantly decreased, to the point that these main brains could ponder some very profound questions, such as the relationship between humans and their gods.

"You are so fragile. Even the so-called Astartes are not as good as our Bone Eaters. Your psykers are so unstable and lack growth, while our Brain Eaters can increase their strength by devouring brains. But there are too many of you. With countless numbers, indescribable existences will eventually appear among humans." The main brain lamented that humans are a race with such a huge gap between the lower limit of individual physical fitness and the upper limit of civilization.

"Haha, are we all set? All beings below the Overlord, whether they are the Supreme Mastermind or ordinary Bone Eaters, are nothing more than slaves of the Overlord. We are restricted by those above us. If the Overlord doesn't allow us, we can't even think about certain things. We are nothing more than nodes for the Overlord to control the tribe, non-consumable tools. The so-called Brain Eaters are more of a curse than an enhancement. All beings below the Overlord are tools, and the Overlord we call a madman and a schizophrenic!"

Another voice emerged from the Mastermind's mind. As a Mastermind that had risen through the ranks from Brain Eater to Soul Devourer, it had also devoured the brains and thoughts of countless intelligent beings. Even the Overlord couldn't handle it, let alone them. While the Overlord was present, they could at least suppress these chaotic thoughts. But after the Overlord was severely damaged, these Masterminds would also face the problem of schizophrenia. At this moment, the internal debate within the Mastermind had already confirmed this point.

"We must fight! Slaughter them! Control them! We have nowhere to retreat! Kill them!" However, just before the main brains began to argue, a powerful, frenzied will from a higher dimension poured into the main brains. The icy chill caused the main brains to convulse.

"Follow your orders, Lord." The main brain, which was originally in "consciousness confusion", trembled again under the pressure of the Lord. Then, with a portal appearing in front of him, the main brain and the elite troops of Randan hidden underground were ready to enter the scene!

--------

"Damn it, the future is distorted!" When Fuxisi tried to predict the situation on the battlefield again, he was surprised to find that all the pictures about the future turned into a colorful one. That was the result of too many possibilities blending into one and then being completely confused by a guy hiding behind. At this moment, all his predictions will be invalid!

"Carlos! Something's coming! It could be the Mastermind! They're coming!" Fusi warned. At the same time, Carlos, having merged the powers of several of his colleagues, felt an inexplicable chill welling up in his heart. It was a non-psychic intuition, formed after long battles.

"I'm ready for the attack! The army will shift to the defensive, and prepare the Titans for battle." In this life-or-death moment, Carlos made the right choice. They and the Titans would become the pillars supporting the entire battle line, but the right choice did not guarantee an escape from failure.

"They're coming!" Several spatial rifts suddenly appeared in the sky, and Randan alien creations, resembling giant mechanical octopuses, emerged from them. These war engines, comparable in size to Reaver Titans, locked onto the Thousand Sons' mages the moment they entered the battlefield. Their dancing tentacles and densely packed weaponry flashed with terrifying fire. Meanwhile, Carlofus, leveraging his extraordinary perception and the Thousand Sons' internal psychic communication network, also spotted his opponent immediately and deployed his firepower in a remarkably short time. Almost simultaneously, both sides opened fire!

Long swords forged from psychic energy flew towards the Randan war machine in the distance, and the latter also fired dense beams of light and physical ammunition. The Titan-level firepower fell on the psychic shield raised by the Thousand Sons Legion. Part of the explosion was blocked, but the shock and aftermath caused by some special ammunition caused the Thousand Sons mages to suffer.

There are no such heaven-defying existences as the Untouchables among the Randan aliens, but they also have weapons and technologies targeting psychics, as well as weapons similar to mental shock. This is especially true for psychics whose mental perception is different from that of ordinary people. The special energy waves generated by the explosion of this ammunition are extremely deadly. When the shells fell like raindrops, the dense rain of bullets did not destroy the shields of the Thousand Sons Legion at the first time, but the resulting psychic shock gave the Thousand Sons mages a splitting headache!

At this moment, the mages' vulnerability was fully demonstrated. Even before their psychic shields overloaded, those operating them were the first to collapse. The shields above the Thousand Sons began to fluctuate, and the previously precise and fierce magical attacks became chaotic. And yet, the situation wasn't over yet. Many psykers suddenly felt a terrifying Warp shadow enveloping the area. The Thousand Sons in the front ranks were relatively safe, but the psykers in the back, acting as "batteries," were already in a precarious state, even before this creature appeared before the main force!

"What is this?" The Mastermind and his guards suddenly appeared in the sky, enveloped in dazzling psychic energy. His powerful spirit, accompanied by this psychic energy, swept across the battlefield. He then turned his attention to the ordinary psykers recruited by the Thousand Sons. A vast and overwhelming pressure emanated from him. A silent shriek erupted over the battlefield. Simultaneously, the mechanical octopuses and Soul Eaters in the sky unleashed a barrage of fire on these ordinary psykers. Under the combined force of mental and bullet damage, 3% of the ordinary Thousand Sons psykers were slain in a short period of time! Their dying cries and echoes spread through the Legion like a plague.

As the mastermind behind the long battles against the Imperium, he was also learning and improving. In previous engagements, he had already pinpointed the weakest link in the Thousand Sons Legion. The Thousand Sons sorcerers in the front were indeed formidable in their psychic abilities. The Titan Legion and the mortal auxiliaries behind, while lacking psykers, were not as sensitive themselves. Only the psykers, acting as "batteries," were inherently vulnerable, each a ticking time bomb. Attacking them would yield the greatest benefits. The first wave of troops merely attracted the Thousand Sons' attention, but the second wave, led by himself, was the ultimate killer move!

The chaos caused by the death of the psykers dramatically altered the entire battlefield situation, but that wasn't the end of it. A large number of Bone Eaters and elite Randan war machines also teleported in at this moment. Like a tiger among a flock of sheep, they rushed towards the Spire Guards providing fire support from the rear. These mortal troops might be comparable to the Sun Army, but they were still far inferior to the elite Randan forces. The immediate melee after their teleportation made the Spire Guards even more uncomfortable, and the entire legion was cut in two. Then, the Mastermind and the Randan army concentrated their forces on the Thousand Sons Legion and Titan forces in front!

"Control your spirits and emotions, brothers. We cannot be defeated like this." Without the power of their rear-line "batteries" and targeted by the Randan mastermind, the Thousand Sons' front line was already shaky. The sorcerers who had been so devastating in previous battles now had to contend with their own unstable mental states. Meanwhile, their comrades without psychic powers became their last remaining guard! Even without psychic powers, they were still Legionnaires. The Bastion robots of the Order of Destruction, the Space Marines, and the Mechanicus Legions struggled to maintain the front line. However, all of them were too weak against the Randan Legion!

Carlos, Captain of the Sixth Thousand Sons, then witnessed the most brutal engagement of his time as an Astartes. In this battle, the elite Randan xenos were deployed, and under the command of the Overmind, even the Titan Legions suffered heavy losses. In a short period of time, the Titan Legions, once a breakwater and pillar of defense, lost more than eight Titans. This devastating loss left the Mechanicus Archmagos from the Forged World of the Steel Sphere heartbroken. Meanwhile, the Thousand Sons mages, who had just been using psychic powers to easily crush their opponents, faced a barrage of artillery fire, their psychic powers, so prized by the Thousand Sons, like bubbles in the face of the intense firepower.

"For humans, if it's just about unleashing firepower, then machines are clearly superior." Looking at the crumbling battle lines before him, watching the Thousand Sons Legion being blown away by the intense firepower, Carlofus finally accepted reality. Previously, he felt that the fundamental reason for the use of psychic energy was simply that the intensity of the battle was not high enough! But now, when facing a truly powerful enemy, the limited "power" of psychic energy is simply not enough against dozens of engine-level war machines and the existence of the mastermind!

"But fortunately, it's not too late for you to awaken." A slightly teasing voice suddenly appeared in Carlofus' mind. At the same time, the Randan main brain and war engines that were wreaking havoc in the sky also foreshadowed the coming of some kind of danger. They abandoned the Thousand Sons Legion that had been beaten half to death below, gathered their troops and formations, and prepared to meet the real enemy. At this time, in the air, a group of more than 15 flying dragons and bear gunships had swooped down, and the Voidwalker Titan Legion from the Lucius Forge World also stepped into the battlefield through their unique Titan teleportation technique!

The Arcane Eagle was the first to enter the battlefield, its main cannons blazing brightly beneath its wings. These weapons, imbued with energy and psychic power, instantly alerted the distant Elder Brain to the threat. The Arcane Eagle was more than just a "daemon engine." It also incorporated technology from the Ordo Dolorosa's Psychic Titans. Over twenty psykers resided within a special compartment of this dragon-shaped gunship, channeling psychic energy through magical arrays. Ahriman, in turn, was responsible for channeling and harnessing this power, delivering the finishing blow at the opportune moment.

At this moment, the Mastermind abandoned all attacks, activating all its energy shields and its own psychic energy. Layer upon layer of shields protected it tightly. However, even so, facing Ahriman, who could already be called the "Chosen Great Demon," these defenses were still insufficient. The Traveler's concepts of travel and forging were so powerful that they even included certain forbidden knowledge that could "bypass" shields.

The result was that the Mastermind's defenses partially but not completely blocked the attack. After a violent explosion and flash of light, two deep black scars were left on the massive Mastermind! The intense pain and the psychological trauma caused the Mastermind to wail in terror. And this was only the first blow. To quickly defeat this deadly opponent, three Dragon gunships launched a round of intensive fire. With their superior numbers, Ahriman's men quickly began to eliminate the Randan army in the middle.

Under the cover of swarms of Bear Gunships and Titan Legions, the Custodes, Space Marines, and Mechanicus advanced swiftly. Hundreds upon hundreds of war machines of all kinds, fearless warriors, and psykers unleashing psychic energy—the most formidable force within Imperial military doctrine—Ahriman's Legions had never failed the Emperor and the Traveler. They had once, under far greater odds, penetrated the enemy's lair and decapitated its own Elder Brain. Now, with the enemy exposed and out of the way, the task of eliminating them was naturally much easier for Ahriman. The attack proceeded smoothly, and the moment Ahriman's Legions appeared, the outcome of the battle was sealed. Ohmzod seized the opportunity to rescue his former subordinates.

It must be said that the Ahriman brothers, despite their sharp tongues, were kindhearted towards their former colleagues. Led by Ohmzod, they immediately relieved the Thousand Sons Legion, which was already on the verge of collapse, and provided assistance to the wounded. Those with severe injuries were transported directly back to the warships for further rescue. For a time, although the situation was somewhat chaotic, the victory of the Imperium of Mankind was an indisputable fact.

The battle presented no challenge to Ahriman and his troops; the more pressing issue was how to deal with the Thousand Sons Expeditionary Force. Despite Ahriman's best efforts to handle it with care, the battle had already ended with the loss of over 40% of the Thousand Sons Legion. Even counting the time it took Ahriman to arrive and rescue the Thousand Sons from the moment the Randan Overmind entered the battlefield, over 45 minutes elapsed. Over 1000 Thousand Sons warriors were lost forever. Some of their souls were preserved, placed within the Imperial "Soul Stone," while a smaller number were able to continue their service within the Dreadnoughts. Regardless, the remaining Thousand Sons Expeditionary Force was no longer sufficient to serve as a viable force.

Chapter 292: Ahriman is busy finishing

"Lord Ferrus." Ahriman, fresh from his battle, barely had time to shake off the dust as he hurried to the other end of the battle line to meet Ferrus, who had also just slain a Randan mastermind. Ferrus was in a rage. What had just happened on the central front had left him deeply worried. If the Thousand Sons were crushed in the center, and Ahriman failed to salvage the situation, the situation on the left and right flanks would be precarious, with heavy losses inevitable. Ferrus, however, didn't dare rely solely on Ahriman. He made necessary adjustments and preparations, which undoubtedly slowed the frontal advance. While Ahriman had managed to turn the tide, his efforts to rescue more of the Thousand Sons had also resulted in some errors. Ferrus still demanded an explanation, and Ahriman must provide one. As for why the Thousand Sons hadn't gone, it was simply because they had a mountain of unresolved issues of their own.

"If you hadn't been so indulgent with the Thousand Sons, we might have had an easier time achieving victory. The Thousand Sons' psychic powers were indeed very helpful to us, but it's clear that their size, tactics, and experience are insufficient for a battle of this magnitude. You wasted your strength; we could have advanced more smoothly and at a lower cost. And I demand an explanation." Ferrus was a strict man, and his strictness was reflected in all aspects and in his impartiality. He would criticize or even punish his own sons if they didn't perform well enough. He treated outsiders the same way.

"You are right, Your Excellency Primarch. It was me who agreed to let the Thousand Sons Legion take on a single front, and it was also me who promised that we do have a more efficient way to complete this mission. I was indeed willful, my lord. I apologize to you and your legion here. In the coming time, we will make up for our negligence in this battle on the battlefield." Ahriman did not argue and decisively bowed his head to admit his mistake.

Ferrus had agreed to let the Thousand Sons "try" to hold the line, but this was also Ahriman's request through Ramon, so there was a personal connection. Logically, he came here to help Ferrus fight, and they gave him this favor. If he hadn't handled the situation particularly well, then admitting his mistakes was the obvious obligation. Compensation was also due.

At this moment, Ahriman's former arrogance vanished without a trace, for the simple reason that the Traveler was a very reasonable person. And after becoming the Emperor's servant, Ahriman's past experiences and the influence of the Traveler's genes also made him very reasonable most of the time.

"Emmm. You're really different from the Custodians." Ferrus was quite surprised after hearing this. The other party had admitted his mistake so frankly, which actually left him speechless. After all, in front of everyone, the other party had given him enough face and expressed his willingness to make amends. Even if it was a Primarch, Ferrus couldn't say anything. After all, this was the Emperor's attendant, his father's direct subordinate. He should give the other party the benefit of the doubt.

"The Thousand Sons Expeditionary Force is no longer sufficient as a separate force. Their performance proves that what they were once good at is not suitable for the battle here, so the remaining Thousand Sons Legions must be broken up and then sent into various camps and battle groups as support forces. Or they can be organized into separate medium-sized units to cooperate with other forces in combat. Of course, I will take care of your tasks and missions, and you can draw some of these people and incorporate them into your command." said Ferrus.

"As you command. I believe the Thousand Sons should also learn the tactics of other legions." Ahriman said.

"That's all, then. We still have work to do." Ferrus nodded. Then he changed the subject: "By the way, your code name this time is Professor, right?"

"Yes, my Lord Primarch."

"Well, if it's convenient, let's see if there are any people in my legion who are worth training. Although I don't like psychic power, we can't do without psychic power." said Ferrus.

"As you wish, my lord." Ahriman bowed and took his leave.

--------

"My lord, in fact, the performance of the Thousand Sons is also remarkable. The Thousand Sons soldiers assigned to us have solved many problems very well. Their psychic powers are indeed very powerful. The crisis in the middle may be directly related to their small number of personnel, lack of heavy equipment and experience." Gabriel Santo said to Ferrus.

"Of course I know this. Have you seen the professor and his troops? They are the representatives of the empire's highest power. Even the Dark Angels cannot match this force. They are the goal we strive for." Ferrus looked at the Ahriman troops who were preparing in the distance and the fleet circling in the sky, with a hint of envy in his eyes.

"So you have decided to resolutely promote the think tank system this time?" Santo asked.

"Yes, it is absolutely necessary. In fact, the performance of the Thousand Sons is still very good. We all know that unless they are the Emperor's guards, no one can withstand the fierce attack of Randan's mastermind and elites. The Thousand Sons are indeed arrogant, but they are also very capable and there are things we can learn from them." Ferrus said.

"Okay, then let me take care of this matter," said Santo.

"Once you've drawn up your plan, hand it over to me. I want to personally review it," Ferrus said. Meanwhile, just as Ferrus had taken a short break and was continuing his attack with his army, Ahriman had already begun preparing to deal with the Thousand Sons. Two of the Thousand Sons' Academy Captains, Carlofus and Fusis Ta Ka, approached Ahriman.

---------

"You have failed. Your performance today has cost the Thousand Sons and their allies a heavy price. The psychic powers you advocate cannot help you solve the problems you encounter on the battlefield. Perhaps in previous battles, you fought smoothly, but it is obvious that the enemy you face now is not comparable to the rookies you encountered before. Every legion that participated in the Randan War suffered heavy losses. Losing more than 10,000 Astartes in a single battle is not uncommon. Therefore, you have two choices before you. The first is to leave here and return to Prospero. The second is to continue to stay here and learn how to adapt to the war here under extreme pressure." Ahriman said to the two company commanders.

"We will never return to Prospero with a record of failure," Carlofus said loudly. "We did make mistakes. We underestimated the enemy's strength, and our tactics were somewhat one-sided. But I believe that if we are given time, we will adapt here."

"So you've decided to stay?" Ahriman asked. "But you only have a company of available combatants left. You don't even have as many Legionnaires as I do. What do you plan to do with over a thousand men on such a vast battlefield?"

Ahriman's lips curled with a hint of sarcasm. He walked to the window of the Dragon gunship and pointed at the crisscrossing battle lines outside. "See those Ultramarines over there? The Legionnaires in this very line outnumber the rest of you!"

"You have no idea what a true war in the galaxy is like. You envision war as a small-scale engagement, believing that a few of your exceptional psykers can overturn the situation? Are you kidding me? When it comes to psykers, you're far inferior to me. The Emperor's Chambers contain the most powerful psykers among humanity. I've met countless exceptional individuals, far superior to you. As for you, I only see arrogance and conceit. Someone once told me that the Fifteenth Legion was made up of a group of arrogant individuals. I didn't believe it at first, but now I think they weren't saying enough."

"Our performance was indeed terrible. We can atone for our sins in any form, even with our lives, but please do not attack my legion. We are a group of wise men. We will not only eradicate the enemies of humanity during the Great Crusade, but we will also use our knowledge and abilities to benefit humanity after the Great Crusade ends. We are not just warriors, we are also scholars, explorers and experts." Fuxis retorted.

"Wise men? I haven't seen much of your wisdom, but I have seen the trouble you've caused." Ahriman walked towards the two men. "I am the Emperor's retainer. You don't think I don't know what happened to Prospero, do you? The Emperor warned you, and yet..."

Ahriman didn't finish, but it was clear to both Thousand Sons that this great leader knew what had happened to Prospero. Faced with such ironclad facts, they were unable to refute them. They remained silent for several minutes.

"Your Excellency, we are willing to take all responsibilities. We will accompany the Emperor and carry out all the orders of Lord Ferrus and you. Starting today, we will work hard to correct our shortcomings. From now on, we are your apprentices and we accept all conditions." Five minutes later, Carlofus said seriously.

"There are not enough people here. If Prospero can mobilize new troops, I hope to replenish the Thousand Sons Legion in the Randan battlefield. You can report the situation here to your Primarch. Some of you will be assigned to other legions to help fight, while others will need to fight with my troops. You can see that you lack experience in dealing with battles of this scale and level, and you need to learn." Ahriman said.

"We will make a request to the Primarch. We will carry out any of your orders to atone for our failure this time." Carlofus said with his head down.

"That's it, take a break and regroup your troops," said Ahriman.

--------

"Brother, the Thousand Sons Legion is not a large-scale legion. Their numbers are very small now, which makes them not very suitable for the brutal war of attrition like the Randan battlefield." Omzod said after everyone left.

"I know. In fact, after learning about these former colleagues, I realized a problem, that is, the crisis of corruption that exists in the Thousand Sons Legion actually has its root in the Primarch. Magnus's arrogance and conceit have affected his descendants. He always thinks he is omnipotent and even tries to challenge various boundaries again and again. And we don't have a good way to deal with this. After all, before that moment comes, he is the Primarch of the Empire and the descendant of the God-Emperor." Ahriman sighed and said. As a being who escaped from Tzeentch with the help of the big guys, Ahriman remained quite vigilant against certain beings in the Warp, but Magnus was not. Under the influence of his arrogance, neither the Emperor's persuasion nor the punishment seemed to be able to stop him from running further and further on the road to death.

"So, you want more Thousand Sons Legion officers and soldiers to leave their Primarch and change their character, destiny and miserable future by fighting with us? Is that right?" said Ohmzod.

"Yes, so far, I don't have a better way. I can only let more Thousand Sons Legion soldiers escape from Magnus' influence as much as possible. Or to say, the influence is less." Ahriman said helplessly.

"But they will eventually return to the Primarch."

"That's beyond our control. Let's continue our work. We may have to fight the Iron Hands and Raven Guard for a long time." Ahriman said.

"To finish off the Thousand Sons?" Ohmzod raised an eyebrow. "That's good, though. I'm finally done with these wandering days. I can stay in one place for a while longer."

"In the future, all Primarchs who participated in the Battle of Randan will be considered to be accompanied by corresponding Emperor's attendants. Of course, some people may not need them for the time being, such as the Sixth Legion and the Fourth Legion." Ahriman said.

"I can understand the Sixth Legion, but is the Fourth Legion really okay? I don't doubt the loyalty of a certain AI, but when it comes to psychic powers..." said Ohmzod.

"That lord is even more formidable than we realize, so he won't need any new troops for now. As for the Fifth and Ninth Legions, they'll gradually be added later. As for when they'll leave, that's a matter for the future," Ahriman said. In reality, the Emperor has always paid close attention to loyal Primarchs and key Legions, seeking ways to strengthen them. He even creates opportunities, perhaps when a Primarch or Legion betrays him, to justify his actions. Therefore, he gradually assigns Imperial Retinues to all the legions on the Randan Front, citing safety as a pretext. No one can object to this. After all, there's a lesson to be learned from the past.

These Imperial Retinues not only served as the Primarch's bodyguards, but also served as his right-hand men in managing the Legions, enhancing their combat effectiveness. Of course, they also handled miscellaneous tasks, such as Ramon, who was writing a report in the office. Ahriman expressed sympathy for this fellow's plight.

However, just as the matter of the Thousand Sons Legion came to an end, Angron brought a not-so-small trouble to the Emperor and the Traveler, and someone had to deal with this trouble.

Chapter 293: The Treatment of Angron

"You've arrived." The Traveler looked up at the Emperor. He now stood tall in both the real universe and the Warp. After severely inflicting the utter destruction on the Overmind of Randan, the Traveler, already possessing the full Traveler's priesthood and a significant portion of the Forge and Knowledge powers, unsurprisingly gained power over the wars of humanity. After all, this was humanity's first victory in the war of godslaying. It was an event to be remembered forever. Although the Overmind of Randan still had a breath left, the Traveler's inflicting the destruction had sealed the future. The rest was a formality. With some of the war powers taken away, the Traveler could never return to his human form. He could now be a towering giant, a vast blue ocean in the Warp, a beacon or ship of human imagination. The only thing he could not do was walk among the mortals.

"I have come to talk to you about something," said the Emperor.

"Is it Angron?" the traveler said after a moment's thought.

"Yes, I truly wanted to save him. I eliminated all the nobles and slave owners of Nukeria. I tried to save his brothers so that Angron could find his inner peace, but I failed. Khorne's power was too great, or rather, I was powerless on his home turf. Angron's comrades and brothers ultimately died in battle. I gathered some of their souls, but due to the Butcher's Nails and other factors, their souls were in a state of confusion, and it would take time for them to recover. Angron was just as violent and cruel as you remembered, brimming with tyranny. I tried to communicate with him, and I punished the criminals, but our communication remained unsuccessful."

"However, I handed the War Hounds into his hands as promised. I reminded him and warned him, but he still commanded his legion with a destructive and tyrannical streak. He would slaughter anyone who failed to capture a planet within 31 hours. Not only their enemies and innocents, but also his own descendants. He wanted to extend the cursed Butcher's Nails to the entire army. As the Primarch, his subconscious influence led many of his descendants to obey him. The War Hounds are rapidly degenerating, and this is unacceptable to me."

"Then, I sent my messenger in the name of Terra, and I wanted to order him to stop this behavior. However, something happened to this messenger. Although this messenger was just an ordinary person, he was not a royal guard, nor was he an imperial attendant. I wanted to give each other face, but he responded with an axe. This is intolerable and must be severely punished!" said the Emperor.

"You've become more humane." The Traveler seemed unconcerned with Angron's behavior, instead commenting on the Emperor. After all, in his perception, the Emperor seemed far less humane than he currently appeared. In the background, the Emperor opposed the Butcher's Nails, but was not resolute. He was even more disgusted with Angron, and once he realized he could not be saved, he simply let him go. The Emperor was also indifferent to the pitiful yet loyal officers and soldiers of the War Dog Legion.

But this time, the Emperor seemed to want to try again? Especially later, the Emperor sent an emissary in the name of the High Lord of Terra to deliver the reprimand. This was already a very gentle approach. After all, if the Custodians were to go, there would be a result: either surrender or death! And if a Custodian died during the process of delivering the order, then the Dark Angels would come next!

"Perhaps. Being with a freak like you has changed me a bit," the Emperor said. The Traveler seemed magical to the Emperor. He was a god-god, and would become a human god. The Emperor understood theology, truly understood it, far more than those so-called bishops and priests. He knew that the process of godhood was the replacement of humanity with divinity. But the Traveler, even as he neared godhood, still retained his humanity. This was something He had not anticipated. The Traveler's response was simple: even if we became gods, we would still be gods of humanity. And without humanity, how could we still be called human?

"Well, enough small talk. This matter needs to be resolved. Perhaps Angron is indeed hopeless, and perhaps we cannot deal with him now, but allowing him to continue to harm the War Hounds and the excessive killing is equally intolerable. I will send one of my sons with his legion to solve this problem. I will bring him back to Terra for strict supervision, and at the same time take back his command of the War Hounds." said the Emperor.

"Even if it's only temporary?" the Traveler asked. The Emperor's supervision and deprivation of military power were only temporary. After all, Angron wasn't alone; he had a host of brothers. The Emperor's admonitions to one of his children would inevitably provoke reactions from the others. Some might approve of moderate admonitions, but not permanent imprisonment or deprivation of power. And for the Great Crusade to continue smoothly, both admonitions and deprivation of power could only be temporary.

"I will permanently deprive him of some of his command over the War Hounds, and I will integrate some of the War Hounds into other Legions. If he dares to put those things into the brains of the Legion soldiers again, I will do it again." said the Emperor.

"Alright, let's get this over with. Who are you going to send to bring Angron back?" the Traveler asked. "Just to be clear, Russ and the Sixth Legion are not suited for this mission," the Traveler stated immediately.

"The main force of the Sixth Legion, along with the Khan and the angels, continues to fight within the Randan Alien Empire. Even if they return, they will need to rest. Rus is currently in Fenris, handling affairs of his fiefdom and training new recruits. The Space Wolves Legion is in very bad shape and is a bit far away." said the traveler.

"And then? None of this is a problem. With my orders, most warhounds will not fight against Russ." The Emperor said. "Do you have any other ideas?"

"Russ shouldn't be an executioner. He could actually be a reliable vassal like Guilliman. I don't want the legion I once served to have such a nickname. Besides, Russ himself is not ruthless enough. To face someone like Angron, anyone who goes must be able to overwhelm him with personal strength, and once they decide to take action, they must not drag their feet." said the traveler.

"Haha, okay, let's change someone else this time. In this way, considering the current combat situation of each legion, there will be very few candidates." The emperor accepted the traveler's suggestion.

At this time, the situation was that Horus, Fulgrim, Mortarion, Lorgar's Legion, and the Eighth Legion (Night Lords) were expanding their territory in other parts of the galaxy, making it unrealistic for them to return. As the traveler had said, the White Scars, Blood Angels, and Space Wolves were still fighting in the heart of the Randan Empire.

Ferrus, Guilliman, and Klax's legions were facing the Randal. The Thousand Sons were outnumbered, and Magnus was still in seclusion, clearly unsuitable for the mission. And then, it seemed the only ones left capable of this mission were Jonson and his companions!

"I already have a suitable candidate, but it is up to them to decide who will go." After the Emperor pondered for a moment, he pointed slightly at a star map, revealing four legions gathered together, namely the Dark Angels, Iron Warriors, Emperor's Fists and Salamanders!