Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

"In addition, I also have some information about the so-called bone eaters. These terrifying beings can eat other intelligent creatures to obtain genes and then improve their own genes. At the same time, some of them have a strong resistance to psychic energy. If brain eaters are the product of highly evolved spiritual aspects, then bone eaters are the product of physical evolution." The Harlequin God added.

"They look a bit like the Kroot," the Traveler said. The Kroot Shapers of the 40K era were capable of acquiring genes by consuming raw meat, guiding their evolution. It wasn't surprising that the Bone Eaters had this ability.

"We need psychic support and the opening of the Webway when necessary, and we will give you corresponding rewards." The Traveler continued.

"No problem, we're allies," the Harlequin God said nonchalantly. "So, Traveler, are you prepared to seize this opportunity to complete the crucial step?"

"I have this idea." The traveler nodded.

"Then I wish you good luck." The Harlequin God said with a smile.

Chapter 180: Getting Along with Khan (8K)

"This is truly a miracle! Before, no tribe on the grasslands had ever had a population exceeding 20," Yesugei said with some emotion, gazing at the vast city nestled by the river in the distance. This artisan city was undoubtedly the jewel of the Chogolis grasslands, even more prosperous than his own Great Khan's court.

At least 8% of the entire Chogolis Prairie's industrial capacity was concentrated here. Blast furnaces devoured vast quantities of coal and steel day and night, spitting out ingots that were then sent to surrounding workshops and transformed into daily necessities, weapons, and armor. These ingots were then transported by river and wagon trains to various tribes, dramatically altering the landscape of the prairie. And all this happened relatively quickly.

"It's indeed a miracle." Chagatai walked over, looked at the town in the distance and nodded.

"Khan, Qin Xia has taken his generals to receive new weapons. After completing the reorganization of the army, we will be able to launch a fatal blow to Saladin's imperial army with the arrival of autumn. This war will not last long." Yesugei bowed and said with a hint of joy in his words.

"The Saladin Empire is about to collapse, which is indeed good news. But Yesugei, my wisest subordinate, have you ever thought about what we should do after the enemy has fallen? What should we do with my generals and subjects? Obviously, all of us will face an unprecedented situation." The Khan said softly, as if he was asking his own heirs, or as if he was asking himself.

The past of the steppes was, simply put, a world of grazing and warfare, a world that had endured for centuries. People resorted to extremes to survive, struggling for survival amidst blood and flames. Now, with the unification of the steppes, internal warfare has ceased, and external threats, with the destruction of Saladin's empire, will soon vanish.

"You don't think we can ever return to our nomadic ways, do you?" the Khan said, gazing at the rising Foundry City in the distance. He knew that with the erection of the first blast furnace on the steppe, nothing could ever go back to the way it was. The development of science and technology and productivity could fundamentally change the face of the world and civilization even more than war.

The profits from ironwork and forging far outweigh those from herding. Even after war ceased and the need for large quantities of armor and weapons ceased, these iron tools would continue to grow. Because no one ceased to pursue a better life. The so-called pastoral idyll existed only in fantasy. Even with any means at hand, most people wouldn't be willing to travel long distances and move several times a year. People would continue to reshape the grasslands to meet their needs, until the once familiar grasslands were completely transformed.

"Saladin's sword and plunder failed to change our lives, but someone's hammer did." Khan said with a complicated mentality.

"Therefore, knowledge is more powerful than violence," said Yesugei.

"Do you remember the prophecy you made before?" Khan looked at his strongest psychic.

"Remember, not long after Lord Traveler arrived here, I saw a horrifying floating city covering the sky and the sun appearing in the near future above Chogolis. Countless powerful warriors surrounded a god-like being that descended into this world, guiding us towards a more cruel but real starry sky," said Yesugei.

"The man who calls himself my father will transform me and my subjects according to his will. We are regarded as tools. He and Traveler Bart are both high-ranking guys. They have similarities and differences between them." said the Khan.

"Khan, I see a glimmer of humanity in the traveler, Lord Bat. He supports your war, but tries his best to stop worthless atrocities. He hates looting. When people are still fighting to the death for the division of a sheep, he chooses to raise more sheep to meet people's needs. He is a creator of wealth." Yesugei said.

"You can see through him?" Khan said with an inexplicable smile. "You don't even know what he is, whether he is still a human being."

"Khan, sometimes the darkness in people's hearts is more terrifying than some evil demons in the highest heaven," said Yesugei.

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for your advice. Some things really need to be discussed openly. At least, for the time being, we are getting along pretty well with this traveler," said the Khan.

In reality, during this time, the Khan was also contemplating his own future and observing the unidentified traveler who had descended from the sky. Initially, the Khan was extremely wary of the self-proclaimed traveler. The fundamental reason for their peaceful coexistence wasn't mutual trust, but rather the Khan's knowledge that he couldn't do anything to the other person. Often, having a choice can lead to hesitation, but having no choice can make acceptance easier.

Later, after their interactions, the Khan felt that while the Traveler used various tactics to gradually adapt the people of the steppe to a new way of life, he was, overall, a creator, a man who brought happiness and stability to the people of the steppe. He possessed great power, but not for personal gain. He shunned worldly pleasures and single-mindedly promoted the development of Chogoris civilization and prepared for the so-called future conquest of the stars. After Yesugei emphasized the brilliance of humanity in the Traveler's actions, the Khan, despite his dismissive tone, lowered his guard.

The Khan believed that although he often resorted to violent means and actions, even earning him the name of a tyrant, he always believed that everything he did was for the benefit of his subjects. Violence and harsh laws were merely means. After observing the traveler, the Khan concluded that his goals were very similar to his own, even using more gentle methods. This earned the Khan a certain degree of approval. Therefore, the Khan decided to have a conversation with the traveler.

----------

"You are here." The Khan met Badr on a small hill. The latter seemed to have anticipated his arrival and had specially arranged blankets, food and drinks here to wait for the Khan's arrival.

"I'm here," Khan said calmly, looking at the guy in front of him. How could he describe this guy? He gave people a sense of being casual. Or rather, sometimes, he would say something very shocking in a very joking way, as if things that were unimaginable to others were just ordinary in his eyes.

"At this time, shouldn't you say like some people that you followed the arrangement of fate to show your superiority?" Khan snorted coldly.

"I thought you were going to tell me that my fate is my own," Baldur retorted bluntly. Honestly, after spending some time with him, Baldur felt that the Khan, the Primarch, was truly difficult to get along with. His sarcasm was top-notch, worthy of the man who could scold Mortarion to the point of breaking his defense. And Baldur, in his life, was no less than a match for anyone! If you ridicule me, I'll always ridicule you back. Anyway, the Khan's mentality was quite good.

"In the long river of fate, we are all adrift. Often, we can only make the least awful choice." The Khan sat down, took a sip from his glass. "You are quite right. The starry sky above us is filled with threats and hostility. Rather than dwelling in constant fear, it is better to grasp the long sword in hand and face danger. However, I will uphold the will within me. I will not be a mere tool for combat."

"Well said, use your own eyes to see, use your own brain to think, and as you experience more, you will naturally make judgments. Also, always remember that you are a human being." Bader poured a glass of wine for the Khan.

"So, I accept my fate. I will wait for my father and my brothers to come, and then embark on the expedition to the starry sea. Your goal has been achieved." Khan said to Balder.

"Part of my purpose has been achieved. I said that I came here to make you realize your shortcomings and improve. Obviously, you are an excellent military commander, but as a ruler, you still need to learn how to rule and improve civilization. Obviously, you are far behind in this aspect. You need to learn to build, you need to let your subjects live a better life. Touch a higher civilization." After Bader finished speaking, he handed a psychic crystal containing his knowledge and memories to the Khan.

After hesitating for a moment, Khan still didn't put the psychic crystal on his forehead. "What is this?" Khan asked.

"How to build a planet, from the most basic infrastructure and mining to the subsequent industrial and technological development. The simultaneous improvement of material life and spiritual civilization, as well as how to fight interstellar wars and 500 questions about the galactic abominations. Basically, everything you might encounter in the future is covered here." Balder didn't care about Khan's caution. If Khan ignored it and used it directly, Balder would have to consider whether Khan had been possessed... So careless?

Hearing this, the Khan frowned, a trace of pain crossing his face. It was like Russ seeing a mountain of documents waiting to be processed. Hey, these two guys can't be the same kind, Balder thought to himself.

Fortunately, his time with Russ had lowered Baldur's expectations of the Primarch, so he could understand the Khan's reaction. After all, you can't expect every Primarch to be Guilliman. Guilliman acquired his extraordinary administrative prowess at the cost of his own weakness. The same was true of Lorgar. So-called gifts from fate come with a price tag, and almighty Primarchs rarely exist. Therefore, Baldur understood that the Khan, while a capable fighter, wasn't particularly adept at or interested in farming.

"Khan wasn't good at administration, but he was a real fighter. So, Russ wasn't good at administration, wasn't very good at fighting, and was completely clueless about scientific research. So, what was his area of ​​expertise?" Balder was deeply puzzled. "Ehmm, this is truly troubling for even the Gods. But thinking back to the Wolf Pack's descendants, thousands of years later, who have made a name for themselves among the stars, Balder felt he had found the answer. Russ's talents were passed down through his gene seed, passed down to future generations..."

"I feel I'm better suited to being a military commander." The Khan looked at the industrial base in the distance, spewing smoke and flames, then at the busy crowd. He felt that this was more troublesome than fighting. "I am an eagle soaring over the grasslands. I should fly higher and fight the enemy, not be bound by..."

"Don't make a fool of yourself in front of your brothers, Khan. A big golden man created you and gave you a powerful legion, but at the same time, you also shoulder other missions. You are the master of the legion, the father of superhuman warriors, the commander-in-chief of the empire, and the manager. You must learn enough skills to cope with different identities and challenges." Balder said earnestly.

"I..." Khan was speechless, because his pride would not allow him to give in. But asking him to learn these things, to be honest, was not Khan's forte.

"So, Chagatai, you must work hard. You will be more than just a commander. Aren't you supposed to make life better for as many people as possible? You must learn how to govern a nation. Some of your brothers are capable of governing hundreds of worlds. Even if your skills are a bit weaker, you should at least be able to govern dozens," Balder said with a smile. Honestly, the Khan and he had a connection. Balder truly wanted to teach him something. After all, even Angron had managed to expand his army to 15 before the Great Heresy. Considering the World Eaters' combat style, that's truly remarkable. And Curze, he even protected some dark technology practitioners, providing equipment and supplies to the Legion. And the Khan was truly incompetent in governance.

"Alright," the Khan finally gave in. With a wave of his hand, Badr produced several books. Since the Khan remained wary and unwilling to resort to simple methods, Badr had a solution. Badr was patient with those who had a connection with him.

For the next few days, it was essentially Badr teaching and Khan learning. They would often discuss issues, then Badr would lead Khan into areas he was familiar with, using his vast knowledge and experience to defeat him. For a long time, Badr enjoyed a dominant intellectual advantage. It wasn't until their studies gradually expanded into space warfare that things began to change.

Balder discovered that, purely in terms of military talent, the Khan was really strong. He was worthy of being the one who relied on his own legion to delay Horus's rebel army for three years!

"In my concept, a complete expeditionary fleet should include the following parts: a certain number of battleships, mainly cruisers and above, which are the backbone of the entire fleet. A large number of auxiliary warships, mainly various light cruisers and frigates, which are important auxiliary forces of the fleet. A logistics supply fleet mainly composed of transport fleets. And star fortresses. Although the latter move slowly and often need to be towed by other warships, their existence solves the problem of repairing and maintaining a large number of warships. At the same time, they are also the trump card when facing strong enemies. When attacking, they are the most solid city-breaking cones, and when defending, they are the core of the battle line defense." Bader explained to the Khan using psychic holographic projection.

In reality, even during the Great Crusade, expeditionary fleets equipped with Star Fortresses were rare. This was partly because most of these weapons were unable to move autonomously, relying on tow from warships. Furthermore, Star Fortresses were truly strategic assets. While Glorious Queens were rarer, in a standoff, Star Fortresses were still more powerful. However, for the Space Wolves, these were not a problem. The Emperor had gifted Russ a "mobile palace." Baldur had also scavenged one from the Lord of Radiance. Both were self-propelled, cutting-edge technologies. Soon, Baldur would procure one for the Fifth Legion. Therefore, Baldur wanted the Khan to fully understand the operation and combat of an expeditionary fleet.

"Even within the same type of warships, there will be a mix of warships of various levels performing different tasks in order to achieve the optimal solution. For example, among battleships, some battleships emphasize torpedo strikes and medium- and short-range combat, mainly relying on macro cannons and plasma heavy artillery. Some warships emphasize long-range battle line combat and will be equipped with nova cannons and long-range lances. Other warships have abandoned powerful artillery combat capabilities and used a large amount of space for the operation of carrier-based aircraft in order to provide the fleet with enough fighters and burst output." Bader continued his explanation.

"Because these warships have different functions, they have their own trade-offs in defense, firepower, and speed. Understanding them and adjusting them according to the actual situation on the battlefield will be something that every fleet commander must learn." After Bader finished speaking, he looked at the Khan beside him, who interrupted Bader's explanation at this time.

"I understand what you mean, but I believe that victory in war is the ultimate goal. However, we have many means to achieve this goal. We can crush the opponent with powerful firepower, or we can use sophisticated tactics and excellent mobility to cut off the opponent and then defeat them one by one. I choose the latter," said Khan.

"Compared to complex fleets and formations, I prefer to use all-high-speed warships with similar models so that they have almost the same maneuverability and can destroy the opponent with unified and swift strikes. Large-scale engagements emphasize the team's uniformity. On the ever-changing battlefield, whoever can complete tactical actions faster and exert their own output is more important than simply worrying about the performance adaptability of certain warships." Khan said.

"Ehmmmm. As expected of the Khan." Bader raised his eyebrows. Can the Khan fight? Of course he can. Is his theory valid? It's quite good. Even the Emperor admitted that the Fifth Legion's fleet had the fastest fleet formation in the entire Imperium. This tactical system also performed well in naval battles. For example, when dealing with the Alpha Fleet's blockade, the Khan demonstrated lightning speed. He easily broke through the enemy's blockade.

In the battle against Horus's rebels, Khan also took advantage of his mobility and danced on the sword again and again. Although he paid a heavy price, he made both contributions and hard work.

Balder was still sure of Khan's ability, but in order to make Khan better than him, Balder decided to add some ingredients.

"I'm familiar with your theory, looking for opportunities during movement," Balder nodded. "But have you ever considered what you'd do if you couldn't avoid it, when your fleet had to engage in a decisive battle at a certain point?"

"Everything has its pros and cons. When you choose the flexibility of a scimitar, you sacrifice the attack range of a spear. I guess my father didn't intend for me to face every adverse situation. After all, I have many brothers who excel in certain areas, but I choose to strengthen my mobility. If the time comes when I must face adverse circumstances, I will accept it calmly."

"Moreover, in my tactical system, concentrating forces on attacking one point should be avoided as much as possible. I will seek to use my forces on multiple battlefields. They may launch attacks or just roam around. The enemy cannot maintain an advantage over me on all battlefields. In frequent maneuvers, as long as the opponent can reveal a little flaw, then I will have the opportunity to take advantage. If losses occur due to operational errors, then it is within my tolerance range." Khan said.

What are the hallmarks of a Khan's warfare? One, of course, is swift movement—well, another way to put it, swift action. Another is dispersion... a highly dispersed force, a very dispersed one. During the Great Crusade, the Khan's armies were dispersed, commanded by various so-called Khans. The size of these armies varied greatly, with some powerful leaders able to muster a massive army of 2 Space Marines. (Don't ask how the V Legion, with a maximum strength of 9, managed such a force; ask GW.) Smaller armies might number only a few thousand.

As a result, this uncertain organization not only threw the enemy into confusion, but also caused friendly forces to question their own destiny. It often happened that friendly forces would call for White Scars support, only to receive more than half the expected number of troops. Of course, there were also cases where the Imperial supply fleet, equipped with the personnel of an expeditionary fleet, was found to have insufficient supplies. It could be said that the size of a White Scars squadron was comparable to Schrödinger's cat, as individual White Scar companies could choose to join a particular Khan's forces! Moreover, some squadrons would disappear mid-battle.

For example, during the Heresy, when the Lions and Curze were locked in a fierce battle, a White Scars fleet joined in. Initially, this White Scars fleet assisted Curze, but later, because they couldn't stand some of the Night Lords' actions, they defected... This fleet is a typical example of someone who didn't know where to go.

During the Heresy, the Khan's fleet often maintained a split-up strategy, using tactics like a gecko breaking its tail. Let's consider a few classic examples, such as Qin Xia impersonating the Primarch and being eliminated by the Imperial Children. Another example is when, aboard the White Scars flagship, Khan Xibo's words, "Nice to meet you, Lord of Death," nearly led to Mortarion's capture. The Khan's military strategy is characterized by agility and dispersion. He excels at mobile warfare and multi-pronged attacks.

However, precisely because of this extremely specialized military feature, while it gave the Khan a huge advantage in mobility, it also often brought some problems, namely insufficient offensive capabilities. Balder intended to remedy this shortcoming. Of course, improving offensive capabilities did not mean that the Khan's legion could fight on equal terms with legions such as the Iron Warriors and the Word Bearers, who excelled in frontal combat. In fact, as the Khan said, when you choose the flexibility of the scimitar, you must give up the attack range of the spear.

Baldur's design for the White Scars was to leverage their superior mobility in the face of the Randan War, penetrate deep behind enemy lines, engage in prolonged combat, and, if possible, destroy several Randan planets. To achieve this, they must possess sufficient siege weapons, even forbidden ones. During the Great Crusade, Baldur's mission for the White Scars was to deal with the rebellious Emperor's Children.

Honestly, the Emperor's Children are truly exceptional fighters. Even with the massive S debuff, their performance during and after the Heresy was still remarkable. Take, for example, the ambush on the White Scars that resulted in Qin Xia's destruction, Fulgrim's takedown of Ferrus, and even Fulgrim's takedown of Guilliman. Did Guilliman have to board the ship? He had no choice. He was being manipulated by Fulgrim, practically driven to despair, a desperate struggle for survival. And if we're talking about the most skilled mobile warfare among the Loyalist Legions, it's undoubtedly the Khan.

Besides dealing with Fulgrim, the Night Lords are also a potential enemy. Curze and Sevatar are not good at direct combat, but they are good at guerrilla warfare. After all, Curze also held the Lion back for several years... Therefore, in order to deal with these two fugitives, the White Scars must stand up!

"I don't object to your future legions maintaining sufficient mobility, but there are some things you can do without, but cannot do without. For example, your cavalry is mainly light cavalry, but there will also be a certain amount of heavy cavalry. When facing a fortified city, you will also carry heavy siege weapons. And in order to ensure long-term continuous combat, your legion also needs a mobile supply base. Used to provide supplies and maintenance for the fleet." Bader said.

And he has prepared it for the Khan. The Splendid-class battleship is one of the options. By deploying heavy weapons on the front, it has stronger and longer-range firepower output under the same specifications. It can provide reliable firepower support during the fleet's attack. In addition to the Splendid-class battleship, Bader is also preparing to equip the Khan's legion with a movable star fortress. That's right, it can be moved. Although most star fortresses cannot be moved, there are always some special ones. Even things larger than star fortresses can be moved. The mountain arrays of the 30K era and the monoliths of the 40K era, as well as a mobile fortress called the Lord of Raptors, are such existences. Converting the White Scars into a ship-based base can solve many problems if a star fortress is there at a critical moment.

Of course, it's possible to equip the White Scars with a Queen of Glory at the start, and increase its power according to the Khan's requirements. However, acquiring powerful weapons like the Mobile Star Fortress requires the White Scars' own efforts. In fact, it was only after the Khan's return, after experiencing the war in the Koran System and paying a heavy price, that the White Scars finally gained the Emperor's recognition. These are things that the White Scars have to fight for themselves.

Over the next two days, Badr laid out his own solutions to mobile warfare. First, he supplemented the White Scars fleet with equally fast, but powerful, warships. Second, he taught the Khan how to optimize his logistics and supply lines, and how to effectively organize the replenishment and training of his troops. Third, he advised the Khan to effectively manage his forces, at least to avoid a group of cliques clamoring for their Primarch to "take the right path."

As for on-planet combat, Bader had already thought it through. Didn't the Khan love fast cars? He needed no further explanation for the White Scars' rapid force development. And weapons like the Bear Gunship would certainly be provided to the Khan. As for the reason, Bader had it in mind: whichever legion was willing to join him in the fight against Randan would be equipped with new equipment. This reason was perfectly legitimate, and no one could argue with it. Only then would it be time for the loyalist legions to upgrade their equipment.

After all, Balder's plan dictated that the Dark Angels, Sky Wolves, and White Scars would undoubtedly participate in the Randan War. As the Iron Hands were a Legion closely associated with Russ, it would be unreasonable for Ferrus not to lend a hand. And if Ferrus arrived, so too would Krakus. Balder could, leveraging the industrial capacity of Guilliman's 500 Worlds, undertake a massive re-equipment of these Legions.

After Balder's promise to respect the Khan's tactical choices, the discussion between the two sides became more harmonious, and the Khan often asked about the xenos. It was clear that in the Khan's heart, no matter how he viewed the Emperor and the Empire, he also believed that destroying or expelling the terrifying xenos was a very meaningful thing.

"Will you fight with my legion?" the Khan suddenly asked after a lecture.

"I think so. If nothing unexpected happens, it may be like this." Balder thought for a while and said, but his tone was not very sure. Under normal circumstances, he would naturally fight with the Khan, but if there were some special circumstances that required Balder to recall his scattered power, then this clone would naturally go back.

"Will I see your true face one day?" Khan continued to ask.

"That depends on your ability," Balder said with a smile. Just as different Primarchs see different Emperors, even for Primarchs, it's not easy to see the true face of the God-Ascended One. When the Traveler's side fully emerges, few humans can truly see it!

"Well, that's a matter for the future. You have a long life to explore what you want to know." Balder said.

"That's right." Khan nodded in agreement.

While Balder was happily teaching the Khan, on the other side of the galaxy, the Lord of Radiance and Perturabo encountered a serious problem. Olympia was invaded!

Chapter 181 Making friends with fists

"Godfather, at this moment, I completely agree with some of what you said." Perturabo stood in the ruined city, looking at the once glorious buildings in the distance that were now only in ruins, and muttered to himself.

After meeting the Lord of Radiance, Perturabo didn't give up on conquering Corinth. He recognized their strength, and this sparked his competitive spirit. After resolving internal issues, he began building his city-state, developing productivity and technology, and raising a more powerful legion. His talent and knowledge earned widespread recognition. The overwhelming praise fed Perturabo's vanity. He determined to make his city-state the most dazzling jewel in Olympia. He succeeded, and his city-state prospered beyond all previous prosperity. But he also failed.

A month ago, the city-state of Rox, home to Perturabo, was struck by an extraterrestrial attack. Hordes of beings, whether human mutants or aliens, descended upon the planet. All the defenses Perturabo had constructed crumbled before the onslaught of this unknown enemy. In particular, the city's defenses, which he confidently called "the steel wall," were electronically compromised, leaving them wide open. Much of the city was reduced to ruins, and at least 2% of the citizens were abducted. Had the enemy not been solely targeting slaves, and the Lord of Radiance not rushed to their aid, the city-state's losses would have been far greater!

(In the background, Olympus was indeed attacked by an outside force before the Emperor's coming. The attackers were considered a branch of humanity, the Dark Judges. They were technologically powerful, with a large number of gene-servants, as well as many drones and turrets. Each Dark Judge was in a mech. In actual combat, the exchange ratio with the Iron Warriors was one for ten... And after Boss Pi returned, his first battle was against the enemy, and this battle cost the Iron Warriors a heavy price.)

"Art and creation without the protection of force are fragile. To survive in this dark universe, we must be strong both inside and out." Perturabo walked among the ruins, observing the scorched earth of the city. Then, his eyes fell on a destroyed robot. Originally, Perturabo created them to protect and build the city, but under the influence of the electronic virus, they turned against the enemy and turned their weapons against their own people.

"Damn it! Traitor!" Perturabo raised his hand and aimed the automatic cannon on his wrist at the wreckage. After a burst of rapid shooting, the destroyed robot turned into fragments all over the ground.

"Huh..." After venting his anger, Perturabo looked at the Lord of Radiance behind him.

"Are you feeling particularly elated now?" Perturabo asked. "The city I worked so hard for was nearly destroyed, while yours was spared. Do you feel a sense of triumph over me? Are you mocking me in your own court, like a victor, at my powerlessness and failure?"

"I can't think of any reason to laugh at you. We are allies in fighting against foreign enemies. Would you laugh at your allies because of their failure? Don't you think this is a very bad behavior?" The Lord of Glory spoke.

"Bad behavior?" Perturabo snorted, looking at the other man. "How naive are you? I've witnessed the intrigues and scheming within the palace. Today's friend may be tomorrow's stabbing enemy. And former enemies may collaborate for a despicable cause. Virtue is so far away from us. And meanness and calculation are often the keys to victory."

"Haha, now I know who you are." The Lord of Radiance snorted coldly. "You are a man of talent but no moral integrity. Even if you were an ordinary person, you should at least say thank you when someone saved your life."

"Your eyes are fixed only on darkness, viewing everything in the world with the most malicious intent, devoid of any light. You often call your adoptive father a tyrant, but in reality, you are not only a tyrant, but also a loner!" The Lord of Radiance continued, "You believe everything you do is right and outstanding. Therefore, you seek to impose your will on others, never considering whether you have done anything wrong. You are so conceited, and your heart is so dark. People like you are simply hopeless."

"Haha, you claim to have survived for tens of thousands of years, and you claim to have witnessed the splendor and darkness in the galaxy. How can you still have such childish fantasies about this world? The galaxy is a dark forest, and only decisive means can sustain survival. In the dark forest, only the strongest beasts can survive! And your so-called kindness and friendliness are nothing more than charity given to others by the strong after their survival needs are met. Just like the so-called art, they are just vassals of power and strength!" Perturabo retorted.

"The wolves of Olympus stick together, but you, like a hedgehog covered in thorns, push aside potential friends one by one. You are stubborn and incessant in your admonitions, as rigid as a piece of iron with too much carbon, fragile and useless," the Lord of Radiance said mercilessly. "Look at the people who follow you. Without them, you couldn't rebuild this city single-handedly. You use violence and harsh laws to place invisible shackles on your people, restricting their thoughts and abilities. You are essentially no different from those you once hated."

After spending some time together, the Lord of Radiance's perception of Perturabo shifted somewhat. Before his arrival, he had considered Perturabo a capable, yet overly arrogant brat who yearned for recognition. But after spending some time together, the Lord of Radiance began to sense a serious dark streak in Perturabo. In other words, he saw the negative side of everything and misinterpreted others' kindness, believing their help was somehow ulterior or motivated by ulterior motives.

It's like Mr. Pi's assessment of his adoptive father. Sure, the Olympian emperor had his own selfish agenda, and some of his comments were questionable. But Mr. Pi focused on those issues, overlooking his adoptive father's care and love for him. Regardless, he truly treated him like a son. He blamed everyone else for his problems, never reflecting on himself, rejecting others' kindness and overemphasizing his own "wisdom." Haha, facing a guy like that, the Lord of Radiance truly wanted to punch him!

"They are not good enough! But I am good enough! They should naturally listen to me!" Perturabo roared.

"So, how about you and me? Are you better than me? Don't you admire the philosophy of the Dark Forest? Very well, let's follow your way. How about you and me, a duel? Even if we're a pack of wolves, a pack of wild beasts! Having a wolf king will be better for the pack's development. How about a try?" The Radiant Lord's humanoid clone raised his fists, and as his stance opened, terrifying lightning converged on his fists. This action made Perturabo subconsciously take a few steps back. He hadn't expected this terrifying guy to actually decide to attack! He vaguely felt that he had made a mistake. The other party's patience seemed to have reached its limit, and his violent temper just happened to ignite the other party's anger... The situation was a bit bad.

"I can't defeat him. He might even..." Perturabo had never been more terrified than now. That's right, terrified. Facing an almost unmatched being, Perturabo felt the threat of death. The Lord of Radiance slowly approached him, radiating a dangerous aura. Perturabo gripped his hammer tightly, opening his stance and swaying his body, preparing for battle. By this time, the surroundings finally realized something was amiss. Perturabo's guards attempted to protect their leader, but the Lord of Radiance's guards held them back.

"Let go of our king!" A Rocks soldier roared loudly. He picked up the gun in his hand, pointed it at the guard of the Lord of Glory, and pulled the trigger. However, this weapon was nothing but a joke to the existence of the Extinction Machine level. The latter decisively stretched out his finger, and a flash of lightning jumped out, knocking the guard to the ground.

"Protect our king!" Faced with their fallen comrades, the Rox soldiers refused to retreat. They drew their weapons and aimed at the Radiant Lord's guards, showering them with bullets and beams of light. Even though these guards had previously aided them in resisting foreign enemies, even though they knew their weapons were useless against them, when the Radiant Lord decided to harm their leader, these warriors remained true to their duty. They adored and respected Perturabo; though he was brutal and ruthless, he was far more formidable than their former master!

"This..." Perturabo was stunned. He hadn't expected that even when he was considering avoiding their attack, his own guards, these mortals he had never considered, would actually initiate an attack, engaging in a battle with no chance of victory. Under the attack of the Extinction Relic, the guards fell to the ground in droves, like mowed weeds.

"You bastard!" Perturabo felt a rage he had never felt before. He was furious at his own cowardice, furious that he lacked the courage of mortals. He raised his warhammer and rushed towards the Radiant Lord. In an instant, the warhammer and the Radiant Lord's fist collided like two heavy tanks. As a creation of ancient technology, a war machine forged in humanity's golden age, the Radiant Lord's clone had the advantage!

A terrifying battle ensued between the two. Perturabo's strength was indeed inferior to his opponent's, but his innate fighting instincts allowed him to gradually adapt to his opponent's attacks. Meanwhile, the Lord of Radiance, while capable of miraculous power, was somewhat cautious and could not fight to the death, thus ultimately placing him at a disadvantage.

The battle between the two sides was like a storm that destroyed everything around, and even forced the nearby Extinction Relics to temporarily avoid the fight between the two. When Perturabo didn't notice, these iron men also moved the servants who had just been knocked unconscious to a safe place.

The battle raged for a long time. When Perturabo finally found his opportunity and crushed half of the Radiant Lord's body with his heavy hammer, the latter's lightning-infused power fist landed on Perturabo's body. Unnoticed by anyone, a stream of blue psychic energy was injected into Perturabo's body. The massive impact sent the Primarch flying dozens of meters away, and the Radiant Lord began to repair his damaged body.

"I will never forget this day! Not because you attacked me, but because you murdered my retainers. As their leader, I swear! I will seek justice for them!" Ten minutes later, the severely wounded Perturabo stood up. This was the first time he had truly valued his men. It was also the first time he felt they were his comrades, not just tools. In the distance, the Lord of Radiance had completed his repairs.

"They are not dead, they are just knocked unconscious. You don't really think that I am the same as you, who would provoke allies at every turn and then kill them." The Lord of Glory snorted coldly.

"I... Are you kidding me?" Perturabo raised his hammer again, and the Lord of Radiance in the distance waved his hand and said.

"Okay, look at what your bad temper and anger have led to! You need to put more energy into rebuilding your city, and you have put your subordinates into a meaningless crisis. Why do you still want to continue?" The Lord of Glory said loudly.

"You just insulted me!" Perturabo said.

"You deserve a beating for what you said!" The Lord of Radiance also let go completely, because the blessing given to him by Balder made him realize that the opponent had no intention of fighting anymore.