Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

"Yes, a trap that will hurt both sides. My loving father has told me that the Iron Hands fleet behind us is only a part of the entire legion. They are not at an advantage in size, but Ferrus may be in this fleet." Kugath said.

"Very good. Although the situation is unexpected, we obviously have no choice! We must be prepared for battle." Typhon said decisively.

"You seem eager for this battle?" Ku'gath said. "Ferus might be on the other side. Although his forces are scattered and only a portion is here, they are the Iron Hands after all."

"Yet, under the might of the Father, neither Ferrus's calculations and tactics nor their steel are a problem, are they? Of course, my fleet tactics will certainly play a role as well." A smile played on Typhon's lips. A sudden Warp storm had trapped his fleet here, but when he heard that his pursuers were few, Typhon's aggressive nature finally jumped. He believed that he had the advantage this time. The Death Guard fleet was only a part of his power; the swarms of Nurgle daemons and Nurgle's might in the sky were his real trump card.

"Well, I hope we can successfully overcome this crisis this time." Kugath shook his huge head. Although he was not willing to face a Primarch directly, it was obvious that he had no choice but to face Ferrus and his guards together with other great demons.

"Then let us prepare!" Typhon said confidently. Meanwhile, in the realm of Tzeentch in the High Heavens, the Supreme Eagle was ready to admire the war that was about to break out.

"The darling of Nurgle and the spawn of the abomination, what a suitable opponent." Tzeentch wantonly stirred up the waves of the Warp, trapping Typhons' fleet in the real universe, while on the side, Nurgle's power frantically attacked Tzeentch's shield. However, without the help of Slaanesh, it was indeed very difficult for Nurgle to gain an advantage over Tzeentch in psychic power.

"Nurgle is indeed despicable, and the Abomination is my enemy. There should be no winner in this war. After a great battle, both sides will suffer losses, which is what I want to see most. And now, all the destinies are going in the direction I expected. Typhon and Ferrus' fleets are of similar size, but Typhon has the help of Ku'gath and Nurgle demons. And what about humans? The Abomination is busy with other things. The Battle of Ullanor is about to break out, and he needs to take care of his many children. And the Traveler, his power is weaker than Nurgle. A good result, isn't it?"

Tzeentch's laughter echoed through the Crystal Palace. Countless crystals shattered in his laughter, transforming into dazzling streams that drifted freely through the air before transforming into flying insects. Blue scribes crisscrossed the palace on flying discs or void rays, clutching magical instruments or books, from which countless forbidden knowledge flowed. This made the entire Tzeentchian realm even more volatile!

"This battle is inevitable." Deep within Nurgle's domain, the God of Entropy shook his head helplessly, then paused his actions. He saw the end of fate, and the inevitable outbreak of conflict between the two sides. Tzeentch's counterattack was swift and sharp. Although Tzeentch's daemons did not participate in this battle, it was clear that this war would inflict enormous damage on Nurgle. A third of the Death Guard fleets and legions were concentrated here, and this was where the majority of the Death Guard who worshipped Nurgle were concentrated. And they would face a Primarch. This battle would be horrific. Although the Imperium would suffer heavy losses, it was clear that Nurgle would suffer the loss in this war of attrition.

After a moment's hesitation, Nurgle sent a message, and it was the Word Bearer who received it!

"Hmm?! He's coming!" Nurgle frowned slightly, sensing the ever-surging blue waves in the Warp. Clearly, the Traveler had also noticed this battlefield, but so far, the two sides hadn't met. Nurgle knew what the Traveler was thinking: this matter was acceptable to him. As Nurgle had predicted, the outcome of this exchange was favorable to the Empire. Even if both sides suffered the same losses, the Empire still had multiple legions. Nurgle, on the other hand, only had a single Death Guard legion.

Nurgle is stronger than the Traveler. If he insists on joining the battle, Typhon's fleet will gain an advantage, but this advantage is limited. Ferrus will be safe under the Traveler's protection, and the battle will be prolonged. A prolonged battle means uncertainty, and Nurgle hates uncertainty. If he waits until the other gods of order arrive, the situation will change. Therefore, Nurgle's strategy is to have the higher-dimensional forces of both sides restrain each other, but not to engage in direct action. Maintain a sense of deterrence.

"Hmm, this result is acceptable." The Traveler observed the battlefield, calculating in his mind. Nurgle had not attacked Ferrus's fleet, nor had he reinforced Typhon's. As the weaker party, the Traveler was already very good at holding Nurgle back. Since Nurgle had decided to have a "sit-down" battle with him, the Traveler could accept this result. His own lack of strength was one reason, but another important reason was that he knew that the Emperor would not come unless the situation took a very dire turn. Whether it was the impending Battle of Ullanor or the pursuit of the Thousand Sons Legion, the Emperor was too busy to deal with it.

Chapter 356 Cysts and Steel (5K)

As for the Laughing God's combat power, well, this may sound disrespectful, but it's only at level six. A bit stronger than a scumbag, but only to a limited degree. Meanwhile, the Eldar Death God hasn't fully awakened, and his full potential isn't yet fully realized. Furthermore, with the Eldar's current resources, while he might be able to defeat a legion, he's still far behind in a head-on battle with the evil god.

However, what Nurgle could not have imagined was that before this operation, the Traveler had already arranged an additional insurance for Ferrus. A Mechanicus sage named Tassin boarded Ferrus' flagship with his followers and the Traveler's gifts. His main task was to ensure the safety of the Primarch and key figures, and at the same time, to collect information on the battle against the Nurgle demons.

Before this, the gods of order had discussed ways to deal with the evil gods. Among them, Nurgle gave people the most disgusting feeling, because Nurgle's plague was too terrifying for the living.

For example, while Angrath, Khorne's chief henchman, was still slashing people one by one, a single spoonful of Nurgle's plague could wipe out an entire planet! Nurgle's plague could even transform machines into living things. Therefore, from a technical perspective, the Traveler believed that perhaps Trazyn's Necrons would be a good option to deal with Nurgle. While the Necrontyr's living metal wasn't completely immune to Nurgle's influence, it was certainly far more effective than the living. Trazyn's primary mission this time was to gather data. Thus, the Traveler, already a mastermind before the battle, simply had to keep an eye on Nurgle.

And now, aboard the Iron Fist, the flagship of the Iron Hands Legion, Ferrus was making final preparations before the battle. With the help of Magus Tashin, the fleet had found a gap in the Warp Storm. Once they passed through, they would enter the real universe! The battle with the traitors was just around the corner!

"My lord, we will break out of the warp in half an hour. We have locked the rebels' signal, and they cannot escape until the warp storm subsides. I will lead the vanguard fleet into the battlefield first, absorb the enemy's first round of attacks, and tear open their defenses." Gabriel Santo's face appeared on the communicator.

"Very good, my child. This is a difficult task. Our military strength is not superior to that of our opponents, and the Death Guard's fleet is known for its toughness and large number of heavy warships. I hope you can live up to the mission." Ferrus' voice was as hard as a piece of steel as always.

"In accordance with your orders, I will fulfill my mission for the sake of humanity and the Emperor!" Santo bowed and ended the communication between them.

"Master Tasin, thank you for your assistance in allowing my fleet to pass through the warp storm." Ferrus looked at the Mechanicus sage from Acheron VIII next to him.

"My lord, I have only done some insignificant things, and the next battle is the real challenge. Typhons is definitely not a mediocre hand in fleet warfare, and he has also obtained the power from the evil god. Their way of fighting is very different from before. We have made certain predictions about their fighting style based on the information we collected before, but the final result depends on the specific situation." Sage Tasin reminded.

"Thank you for your reminder. I've made all necessary preparations and am willing to bear certain losses," Ferrus nodded. "Now, please seek safety. After all, you are a ruling sage. I don't mean to underestimate your abilities, but you can only play a greater role in the field of technology," Ferrus said.

"As you command, great Primarch. I will return to my flagship before the battle." Tasin nodded and left the bridge.

"Karl, if I'm temporarily unable to command, please take care of my fleet," Ferrus said to the Imperial attendant beside him. Before the battle, Ferrus already knew that the evil gods in the Warp had special means to destroy the shields and teleport demons into the warships. This unreasonable teleportation was obviously a major problem, so Ferrus arranged a reserve commander in advance. Originally, this position might have been more suitable for Ducain, but unfortunately, Ducain was not here.

"As you command."

"Very good. May everything we do today save more innocent lives. May the light of human civilization and reason illuminate the entire galaxy! For humanity! For the Emperor!" Ferrus' voice echoed throughout the fleet as the information was transmitted.

--------

"They are coming!" Typhons had already felt the vibration of the curtain between the warp and the real universe in the distance. A huge hole was about to form. Typhons' fleet was ready. He directly blocked the Mandeville point of this galaxy, trying to catch the other side off guard. The entire Death Guard fleet deployed a wedge-shaped battle formation, and the most powerful warships formed a spearhead, aiming at the upcoming Iron Hand.

"Open fire! Kill them!" As angular warships, clad in dark paint and adorned with the insignia of a massive iron fist, burst from the Warp, Typhons responded with a ferocious barrage. Battleships and large cruisers, primarily spearheading the enemy, fiercely pierced their targets. A dense barrage of shells and spears of light intertwined, and then, like a swarm of carrier-based aircraft, swarmed in. The fierce firepower poured down on the target like a storm, and then, amidst a series of explosions, the Iron Hands fleet, emerging from the Warp, was torn to pieces!

"Sir, the enemy targets are decreasing rapidly. Our attacks are accurate and powerful." An officer reported to Typhon proudly.

"It went really smoothly." Typhons frowned as he watched the red dot on the auspicious instrument quickly disappear. If the enemy had been an ordinary legion fleet, he would have been very satisfied with his victory. However, this was the Iron Hands fleet, an elite force led by the Primarch himself. If they were to be completely defeated by an ambush, there must be something wrong!

"I need a father's warning, Kugath, something is not right." Typhon said to the demon beside him. However, just as Typhon was trying to use the power of the warp to see the truth, the Iron Hands' vanguard fleet, led by Santo, had already passed the most dangerous moment!

"Our holographic decoy was quite successful. It attracted the enemy's firepower, while the energy of the light spears and macro cannons concealed the whereabouts of the entire fleet. This was a perfect start." An Iron Father reported to Santo.

"You are right. We are superior in technology and tactics. We have attracted Typhon's attention and firepower. Next, we have to pass through quickly and cut into the opponent's flank!" In order to ensure the swiftness of the action, the main force of Santo's vanguard fleet are modified fast cruisers. It is obviously disadvantageous to engage in a firefight with the deployed Death Guard fleet in a narrow entrance. Therefore, Santo's plan is to use holographic bait to absorb the opponent's firepower, and then lead the fleet into the battlefield quickly, bypass the opponent's powerful front, and attack the side.

"Our attack hit nothingness, the real threat is approaching! And he is on our left!" Kugath exclaimed. The extraordinary power finally pierced the false illusion, but it was too late. Santo's fleet had successfully bypassed Typhon's fierce front. On the deck of the Iron Hands fleet, long-range heavy artillery was aimed at the enemy in the distance. Following Santo's orders, intensive and precise attacks were fired at the defenseless Death Guard fleet.

The specialized light spear weapons can consume the opponent's shields faster, and the powerful cannons are even more deadly. The shield of a Slaughter-class cruiser located on the outermost edge was broken within a few minutes. Afterwards, the three Iron Warriors cruisers successfully broke the keel of the cruiser into several sections with a round of cannon fire!

"The left wing was attacked and they need support!" a subordinate reported to Typhons.

"I understand. Move the Rotten Fleet over. Hopefully, they can hold back the enemy's attack from the flank. The main fleet will remain in the front. Ferrus is coming, and he is the biggest threat!" Typhons was still very calm at this moment. He knew that the Santo Fleet that was attacking from the flank was just a bait, a target to distract himself. Once he relaxed his position, the main force of the Iron Hand Fleet would be able to file in.

"Send our enchanted warships forward; they're tougher and better suited for close combat!" Typhons issued his second order. Although he had already defected to Nurgle, the majority of his fleet still consisted of ordinary warships. Even if their numbers were similar, he would undoubtedly suffer in a duel. So, while Typhons had initially lost, he still held the key! Blocking the main force of the Iron Hands fleet was paramount.

"These guys are a bit demonic!" Santo felt a certain pressure as he watched the decaying fleet, covered in tumors, cysts, and blood vessels. These warships were incredibly sturdy and possessed terrifying repair abilities. Cannonballs and lances struck them like punches into cotton. The swarms of flies surrounding the warships obscured their appearance, significantly reducing the accuracy of Santo's fleet's attacks. When these plague ships launched a counterattack, Santo finally felt the intractability of the Nurgle fleet.

When an Iron Hands cruiser's shields were breached, a volley of sour shells, laced with bile and gastric juices, roared towards the vessel. Upon impact, the toxic liquid corroded the ship's thick adamantium armor. Simultaneously, swarms of flies and Nurglings, clinging to the shells, swarmed through the breach, merrily swarming through the vessel, spreading plague, death, and decay. Ordinary mortals turned to bloated corpses upon contact. Slowly, machinery began to rust, twisting and breaking. Some machines were even encased in sinew, transformed into blasphemous creations, harming their former masters. This spreading plague and supernatural power was even more terrifying than the fleet's shells! Santor's attack stalled, and the situation was brought to Ferrus's attention.

"Send the Iron Fist and its accompanying warships to the front," Ferrus ordered after a moment's contemplation. Then, the powerful Queen of Glory-class battleship, along with more than ten other ships, surged from the waves of the Warp. At that moment, they faced the unwavering firepower of Typhon's entire fleet. Typhon's Terminus Est led the charge, firing at full force. Simultaneously, countless swarms of Warp Locusts swarmed in. They could penetrate the void shields, seek out weak points in the warships, corrode the hulls, burrow into them, and harvest the souls of the crew!

"Hopefully, our special fuel will be sufficient." Feeling the subtle vibrations from the warships, Ferrus sneered. If Santo's fleet was limited due to the ship's size, his main fleet was a different story. The Death Guard's ordinary attacks were mediocre, and the Iron Hands' superior mass was no match for them. Ferrus was also prepared to face those corrupted creatures!

As the swarm of Void Locusts swarmed towards the Iron Fist, tens of thousands of vents slowly opened aboard the Glorious Queen Supremacy. Fuel and oxidizer were injected, and balls of flame enveloped the entire warship. Then, the Iron Fist led the charge into the ochre-colored swarm of flies, instantly reducing the dense Nurgle swarm to ash. Inside the warship, accompanied by chants praising the Emperor and the Traveler, rays of golden and blue light converged upon the warship, making the red flames glow with gold and azure.

"It's the Cursed! It's the Hidden Ones! Their power is slaying the swarm of flies that are killing our loving father!" Ku'gath trembled as he watched the warship, enveloped in golden and blue flames, careening through the void. The power of faith, the flames tempered by divine might, instilled an instinctive fear in all the Warp's evil gods.

Nurgle's ochre-colored swarms of flies ignited, and the massive warships plunged deep into Typhon's fleet, their targets the ships already possessed by daemons beyond redemption. Massive macrocannon shells, blazing with golden flames, slammed into the enchanted warships. The daemons within them wailed, their essences gradually dissipating under the Emperor's divine power. The golden flames seared all filth, spreading outward. Whether it was rotting flesh, poisonous cysts, or disgusting tentacles, they were reduced to ash before the golden flames.

Led by the Iron Fist, dozens of large warships cut through the Death Guard fleet like a razor-sharp blade. At this moment, Typhons clearly couldn't stand up to them head-on. Even his attempt to board the Iron Fist was vetoed by Kugath. "That's the domain of the Abominations, the home of the Hidden Ones! Are you mad? Who gave you the courage to face the Supreme Being?" Kugath's massive hand stopped Typhons.

"Let's attack other warships and avoid the enemy's front. Spread more plague and Nurgle's mercy on the enemy." After his mind was clear, Typhons made the right decision. He abandoned some warships and let them be slaughtered by the Iron Hands, and took the elite fleet to attack Ferrus's follow-up. This was a battle of injury for injury. After Typhons, the vicious dog, was bitten by Ferrus on one leg, the dog also bit other parts of Ferrus.

"Kugas, take your men and board those warships whose shields have been destroyed. We can't let them shoot freely!" Typhon said as he looked at the battlefield that had become a mess.

"Alright, Father's messenger, beware! Do not attempt to engage a being superior to you." Ku'gath said with lingering fear, glancing at the Iron Fist charging through his own formation in the distance. If possible, he would stay away from this creature. A moment later, squadrons of Nurgle daemons passed through the portal and boarded the Iron Hands fleet. They were greeted by giant mechs and Iron Wolf mechs equipped with special protective gear and heavily armed with flamethrowing weaponry. Although it was their first encounter with a Nurgle army, they didn't suffer much due to the superior mechs and Terminators.

Typhons finally followed his heart and chose to avoid Ferrus's edge. In this battle, both sides used technology and psychic power in a frenzy, but it was ultimately within a certain range. Nurgle did not take direct action, and the Traveler did not take direct action. Even Trazyn's special exorcist death zone generator for emergency use was useless.

The war gradually tilted towards the Empire, and in the High Heavens, Nurgle's clone had emerged.

"Are you ready to fight?" The traveler looked at the vague figure in the distance, ready to fight and wave people.

"No, I'm just staring at you. If you don't move, I won't move either." Nurgle's clone shook his head and said.

"Haha, then they will be slaughtered completely." The traveler looked at the battlefield below and said with a smile.

"My believers will be severely damaged, but they will not be wiped out in this war. I am the Lord of Entropy, and I can clearly feel that they are not destined to die." The shadow of Nurgle simply sat cross-legged in the warp, blocking the traveler in front of him, pretending to have a chat with everyone.

"Huh?!" The traveler suddenly looked up, feeling the changing thread of fate.

"Impressive," the Traveler chuckled wryly. He sensed a fleet rapidly approaching the battlefield through the void. This fleet was none other than the Word Bearers fleet Nurgle had summoned earlier. After the previous raid on the Thousand Sons, favorability within the Word Bearers had skyrocketed. Nurgle had embodied strength and demonstrated a sense of responsibility. He had helped Lorgar eliminate the power of the Eldar Death Gods. Therefore, before this battle began, Nurgle had already contacted the Word Bearers fleet for support. Tzeentch's Warp Storms were limited; he couldn't blockade a region forever.

Compared to Slaanesh's actions, Nurgle's strategy was undoubtedly much more sophisticated. He did not take direct action, but used other means to solve the problem.

Chapter 357: Nurgle's Reminder and Horus's Response (5K)

"Same here. Your methods are quite sophisticated." Nurgle grinned and then made a gesture of invitation.

"Ferus, stop, it's not the time yet." The traveler conveyed this order to Ferrus through the Emperor's attendant.

"Goodbye." The traveler prepared to turn around and leave. He was no longer interested in staying here.

"Just leaving like that?" Nurgle looked at the traveler who was about to leave.

"So, you're planning to keep me?" the Traveler sneered. Honestly, this time, the Traveler's maneuvering had been a tad off. Ferrus had successfully engaged Typhons, using his Primarch's power to smite the Captain. Yet, his victory was ultimately incomplete. This was despite Tzeentch's manipulations, while Nurgle, through careful maneuvering, had managed to preserve his "core asset." This skill and skill truly impressed the Traveler.

"Be careful of Tzeentch. Although he lost the game, if you don't want to leave a lot of trouble after this incident, then you must keep an eye on him." said Nurgle.

"Haha, I don't quite understand what you're saying." The traveler sneered.

"We will coexist. Humanity and the Human Pantheon will reside in the Warp and the physical universe with the Chaos Gods and some other beings for a long time. My power is entropy, life and death, and the rebirth of decay and distortion. Therefore, I see the life and death of a civilization more deeply than other beings." said Nurgle.

"I see. You read the cards first, then made your judgment." After a moment's contemplation, the Traveler finally grasped Nurgle's meaning. While Tzeentch was superior to Nurgle in many respects, he was more accurate in judging the fate of an individual, a civilization, or even a deity. As the saying goes, a fly never bites an egg without a crack. If a civilization became so powerful that even an evil god could not destroy it, Nurgle would undoubtedly be the first to detect it. Naturally, Nurgle, aware of this, would spare no effort to shift his attacks to other evil gods, such as Tzeentch.

"So, every time, maybe I am not the winner, but I will not be the biggest loser either." Nurgle paused and continued, "I just want to take away what originally belongs to me."

"We will not compromise with you or reach some kind of agreement." The traveler said coldly.

"I know." Nurgle smiled, his tone indifferent. "But you will make a choice that is objectively beneficial to us. Of course, this is also very beneficial to you."

Hearing this, the traveler couldn't help but frown, waiting for Nurgle's next move.

"The owner of the dark machinery and technology in the Warp. He may be doing something big." Nurgle spoke, and at the same time, a huge star map unfolded between the two beings, and a yellow light flashed on the star map.

"Vashtor? He is very ancient and does have his own unique strengths, but as long as he retains his sanity, he should not get involved in this game." The traveler said after pondering for a moment.

Vashtor wasn't weak. Though a demigod, he possessed his own Dark Forge Domain, commanded his own army, and maintained neutrality among the Chaos Gods—a testament to his own strength. Yet, he wasn't overly powerful. He was, after all, a demigod. His status couldn't compare to the Emperor or the Chaos Gods, let alone the Traveler or the Eldar Death God, Inijed. The Traveler was humanity's first deity and the primary deity of the Galactic Overlord. The Eldar Death God represented the echoes and vengeance of the previous galactic overlord. Furthermore, there were the limitations of Vashtor's own demigod status.

It's safe to say that after this war, the eight gods of Chaos and Order will still reign supreme in the heavens. But if He were to enter the fray, even if He wasn't killed immediately, He would likely be unable to withstand the continuous attacks of the gods of Order in the future! After all, after the Great Heresy, humanity will be on the rise. Chaos must be restrained.

"Vashtor can remain neutral because of our tacit consent, and it is also our request that Vashtor join the war. There are already enough gods in the Warp, so from this perspective, we will exclude some guys with potential competitiveness. At the beginning, we were not only targeting you, but also those beings that were originally born in the Warp. Is this explanation reasonable?" said Nurgle.

"Hiss... That makes sense," the Traveler said after a moment's silence. He recalled the Octagon of Undivided Chaos. There are four Chaos Gods, but theoretically there are more. The Chaos Realm has a vacant throne, waiting for someone to sit on it. Those who have already ascended the throne have already become gods, but some beings born from the Warp still yearn to sit on other thrones. Not all demons are the Four Chaos Gods. Take the famous Archdemon Be'lakor, for example, or Vashtor. They yearn for godhood, but it's clear that the Chaos Gods are unwilling to let them share this relatively limited Warp!

"But what is reasonable and logical is not necessarily the truth." The traveler shook his head and said.

"Haha, your answer disappoints me a little." Nurgle paused and continued, "I know that you and the Emperor both hold grudges, very grudges. Even though you have become gods, you are still like that. Perhaps for the sake of the greater good, you will temporarily tolerate it, but sooner or later you will retaliate."

"Well, that's all I have to say. Make your own choice." Nurgle said, and his figure disappeared from the warp.

"What a calculated plan..." the Traveler sighed. In truth, when Nurgle had said the Chaos Gods would force Vashtor's doom, the Traveler had already largely believed it. It was common for the Chaos Gods to betray each other, but they were all relatively resilient, so they couldn't be killed. Given the chance, they would definitely kill them! This was a rare instance of the Chaos Gods uniting to confront a single enemy. Without the mutual restraint of the four gods, Vashtor, with his own abilities, was powerless to resist their collective will. Therefore, his entry was possible.

As for why Nurgle told the Traveler this? The reason was simple: He wanted to buy time for Mortarion to escape! Did you really think that Nurgle's plan had succeeded after Typhons escaped Ferrus' clutches? No, it was only partially successful, because the other, or perhaps the most important, part of the plan remained hidden from Nurgle's grasp: Mortarion and the main force of his Death Guard.

It's foreseeable that after this incident, the Emperor and the Traveler will inevitably take action against Mortarion and his Legion, and the measures they'll take will undoubtedly be even harsher than those against the Emperor's Son. The reason is simple: this time, Typhons has essentially openly rebelled. The second-in-command of a Legion and one-third of the troops have rebelled. This requires severe punishment, and all other personnel must be imprisoned and screened. If the Emperor and the Traveler continue this cycle, it's hard to say how much will ultimately fall into Nurgle's hands, and what additional price Nurgle will pay.

Nurgle isn't afraid of the Traveler, but he fears a head-on conflict with the Gods of Law over this matter. While Nurgle and Slaanesh are allies, they are still weaker than the Gods of Law, and there's always a Tzeentch waiting to stab him. This battle is unreliable no matter how you fight it!

And if Nurgle can't get out, or can't win even if he does, then how can Mortarion escape the pursuit and punishment of the Traveler and the Empire? So Nurgle's idea is simple, that is, let the death of a friend be a death for me. Compared to Mortarion and his Death Guard, Vashtol is obviously more threatening. From the perspective of threat, the Emperor and the Traveler who know of this will definitely deal with Vashtol, so that there will be no higher-dimensional forces to deal with Mortarion.

This tactic often appears in the alternate timeline. When the Sons of Vengeance fought the Lord of Death, Tzeentch revealed Nurgle's full plan to Guilliman. Before the battle even began, Tzeentch completely betrayed Nurgle! Another example: "A certain loyalist" attacked Blackstone Fortress, tactfully helping Guilliman escape. This kind of thing is normal if it happens, and abnormal if it doesn't!

"Mortarion? You're lucky this time." When the traveler made the decision not to interfere in this matter, the fate line changed, and Mortarion had a high probability of escaping.

----------

"Father, this is a communication from the Central Core. Captain Typhons of the First Company of the Death Guard Legion and his Death Guard Legion have been contaminated by the Warp and rebelled against the Empire. Lord Ferrus, Primarch of the Iron Hands, attacked them and repelled them. And if nothing unexpected happens, Primarch Mortarion and the remaining Death Guard Legion will face a screening and treatment far more stringent than that of the Emperor's Children Legion." Sejanus reported to Horus the worst news the latter had heard in recent times.

"This is impossible! Mortarion is the most wary and disgusted with the Warp among all our brothers. He even refuses to have psykers in his own legion. How could Typhons, as Mortarion's most important commander, make such a mistake?" Horus said in shock.

"This news has been confirmed to be true. Our legion's representative in the Iron Hands Legion responded to this matter. In his reply, he claimed that the scene he saw was beyond human imagination. The filth and evil in it were so great that ordinary mortals would be contaminated by just one glance." Saijanus said.

"My lord, we must be prepared. According to our agreement with Primarch Mortarion, we will soon reunite with his legion. Although the order from the Emperor has not yet come down, the Emperor's Ranger has already known it and he is on his way to see you." said Sejanus.

"Eichmander, go tell the respected Emperor's messenger that I am not feeling well and will not see any guests today!" Horus immediately ordered loudly.

"My Lord... I'm afraid..." Eichmand was shocked. After all, to stop an Imperial attendant with such a reason was simply too ridiculous! After all, the two had just met a few days ago!

"If he forces his way in..." Horus glanced at the younger Horus and the guards behind him. A look of reluctance crossed his eyes. A fierce struggle was brewing within Horus. He knew he couldn't allow the Emperor's attendants to see him. Otherwise, if they relayed the Emperor's order to detain Mortarion, he would be left with only two choices. One was to accept, imprison his best brother, or even engage in a bloody battle. The other was to disobey, a move that would undoubtedly represent betrayal of the Imperium, something Horus was loath to see.

Therefore, the only solution was to prevent him from meeting the enemy, or at least delay the encounter for a while. During this time, Horus would communicate with Mortarion, hinting at the news and allowing him to leave on his own. Even if the matter were exposed, the responsibility on his side would be relatively small and within his control. As for why Horus insisted on citing illness as an excuse to refuse the meeting, it was because this excuse could delay the encounter for a considerable period of time. If Horus claimed poor health, then he would naturally not be able to immediately mobilize the fleet to join the operation against Mortarion. If the delay was only an hour or two, Mortarion might not be able to escape very far! At that point, would Horus fight or not?

As for why Horus didn't ask the Emperor to give him this task, as he had done last time with the Emperor's Son? It was because Horus knew that the trouble Mortarion had caused this time was truly enormous. A third of the Legion had defected, and the second-in-command had directly defected to the Warp God. To say that Mortarion was flawless? Horus himself didn't believe it! Therefore, there was no way this matter could be handled lightly. And considering that it was Ferrus who attacked Typhons this time, it was impossible for this matter to pass from Ferrus's hands to his own.

So, after some deliberation, Horus decided to let Mortarion go, at least giving him a chance to investigate the problems within the Legion on his own. He would discuss the rest later. Therefore, it was imperative that someone stop the squire. At this point, the only two individuals with Horus who were considered important enough were Sejanus and Horus Eichmander the Younger. After a brief moment of deliberation, Horus sent Eichmander. (Loken and Torgaddon were busy organizing the combined forces and had not accompanied the Primarch. Abaddon was recovering from his injuries.)

The reason was also simple. Even if Horus ultimately succeeded, someone would still have to bear the consequences. Stopping the Emperor's attendants was an absolute crime, and if they did, they would be killed without mercy! If one of the two had to be sacrificed, was this a difficult choice?

"Use force when necessary! Eichmand... My child..." Horus shed tears as he watched Eichmand's face twisted with shock. "Don't blame me, Eichmand. I had no other choice."

"Father, I'll go right away." After hearing this, Eichmand turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait a moment." At this moment, Sejanus spoke. "Father, I don't agree with some of your actions. You are indulging in danger." Sejanus said to Horus with a sincere expression. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, I must do this, otherwise my conscience will be uneasy." Horus said firmly.

"Well, let me go," Sejanus said with a wry smile.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Horus grabbed Sejanus as he was about to leave. "Do you know what this means? Are you crazy?"

"Sir, I am the Legion's second-in-command. Even the Emperor's retainers cannot easily attack me," Sejanus said. "Furthermore, my status and position warrant a discussion." Sejanus glanced at Horus, then added, "At least, nominally, if you are unable to meet with him, our stance is acceptable."

"Father, I oppose your actions, but if you insist on doing this this time out of trust in your brothers and the legions you once fought alongside, then I am willing to help you. But only this time. And if it is confirmed that Primarch Mortarion and his legion really betrayed us, then I hope you can lead us to clean up this filth." said Sejanus.

"..." Hearing Sejanus' words, Horus fell silent. Only then did he realize that Sejanus had always addressed Mortarion as "Primarch," not "Sir." The former simply described his status, while the latter was a title of respect. Clearly, Sejanus had already made up his mind this time. Yet, he remained willing to stand by his side and shoulder the responsibility. This deeply touched Horus.

"I swear, I swear on my soul, Cyjanus, I will lead you in a relentless attack against all enemies of humanity, against the evils of the Warp. I swear. I sense your trust in me," Horus said to Cyjanus. At that moment, Horus truly believed this. And somehow, the Primarch's essence created a connection between his oath and the tides of the Warp.