Chief Apothecary Mikael met with Reaper Lord Sánchez. After their discussions, they decided to continue exploring the jungle, using it as a place to temper the Shadows of Order.
They divided the jungle into three zones, setting different standards for the squads assigned to each.
Within fifty kilometers of the Catachan tribes, the chances of encountering threats like the Catachan Barking Toad were relatively low.
Forty squads, numbered 23 through 62, were deployed to this outer zone. Each of these squads was built around "Hunters" as the core.
After the Wheel of Fire campaign, where they suffered heavy losses and nine hundred warriors were reassigned to the Fourth Chapter, the Seventh Chapter still retained 1,472 members of the Black Duke's Court.
Despite the cost of that campaign, the Seventh remained the chapter with the greatest number of Court members, having followed Nareth in campaign after campaign.
Each squad exploring the jungle outskirts was composed of 30 "Hunters", 1 Apothecary, 50 Shadows of Order, and 20 Catachan warriors.
The Reaper Lord wished the Shadows and the Catachans to learn from one another.
The middle zone of the jungle was assigned to 20 squads, numbered 3 through 22.
Each consisted of 10 Provokers, 1 Beastmaster, 20 Shadows of Order, and 10 Catachan elites.
Only two squads entered the central zone, led personally by Mikael and Sánchez, numbered 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, the Shadows of Order were stationed in the tribes. Some oversaw the recruitment of new legion aspirants, gathering eligible children for trials. Others focused on raising auxiliaries from adult tribesmen, forming the Catachan Auxilia Army.
After the meeting, Mikael did not immediately depart. Instead, he gathered the "Beast Tamers" beside their new "pet", a Catachan Devil.
Clad in black hooded robes, masks concealing his face, and black scarves around the neck, the Vampires spoke:
"I will inscribe rune-harnesses upon the Catachan Devil's back. During the process, I will instruct you."
"In one month, I expect each of you to present a tamed beast. This is your trial."
"Before we begin, remember this: choosing the right creature is everything."
"First, never attempt to tame a Barking Toad. Even if you drug them with concoctions to dull their senses, they are too unstable. At any moment, they might explode, triggered by your brothers or your servants."
At the same time, the Hunters set off with their squads.
The moment the Apothecaries entered the jungle, they felt as if they had stepped into a paradise both perilous and overflowing with treasure.
In Squad 54, during the fourth hour after entering the forest, they encountered a pack of Miral Catchers.
After dealing with the tendrils that suddenly lashed out from beneath the soil, the Apothecary examined a severed appendage with a scanning probe.
Moments later, he exclaimed with delight:
"The paralytic venom in these creatures is 13.64 times stronger than the anesthetics currently used by the Legion!"
But before his excitement could subside, four massive leaves snapped shut, coiling tightly around him.
A jaw-like frond covered his face, another squeezed his throat, while two wrapped around his torso.
The Shadows of Order leapt into action.
A nearby Hunter surged forward. His energized blade flashed, severing the connection between predator and prey. Another stroke killed the carnivorous plant outright.
Then he knelt beside the Apothecary, tugging at the leaf-trap. To his shock, even severed from the host and mostly dissolved by disruption fields, the remnants clung unyieldingly to the Apothecary's body.
A Catachan squad leader stepped forward. In halting Vostroyan, he said:
"We call these plants 'Catchers.' Their leaves…"
Then, running out of vocabulary, he switched to Catachan dialect:
"They actively seek prey, clamping their jaw-shaped fronds around anything nearby."
Switching back to Vostroyan, he finished: "You must act quickly, or he will suffocate."
The Hunter-sergeant arrived, piecing together the meaning. Fluent enough in the local tongue, thanks to his gift for languages and the Primarch's briefings, he confirmed it against the reports. Yes, this matched the Catachan Miral Catcher.
"Rescue him immediately," he ordered.
Drawing his combat knife, he carefully cut away the leaves, slowing when working near the face and throat.
After two long minutes, the Apothecary was freed. His face and neck were bloodied, his torso shredded to the ribcage.
But his Larraman's Organ had already triggered, clotting his wounds and sealing them with scar tissue.
The Catachans stared, wide-eyed, as the Shadow's injuries closed before their eyes.
Barely conscious, the Apothecary fumbled in his pack, drew out a vial, and injected it into his shoulder.
"Take me… back… to the medicae deck," he rasped, each word like tearing flesh.
"The both of you, carry him," the sergeant commanded.
With the Apothecary wounded, he abandoned the mission, ordering a retreat.
For three kilometers, the Apothecary staggered under the effects of stimulants before collapsing. Two Hunters carried him the rest of the way to the Void Hunter, delivering him to the medicae deck.
After a full day of intense treatment, he awoke, bearing permanent scars. His face and neck were etched with ridges like the iron scales of an Iron Kraken.
The next day, all squad sergeant received the report.
They understood then: even Shadows of Order, with their keen senses, could never lower their guard in Catachan's jungles. Every beast, every plant sought any chance to devour humans.
And yet, the Apothecaries realized, the same jungle teemed with potential alchemical resources.
One month later, Mikael stood in the newly built camp, inspecting each Beast Tamer's tamed creature.
He saw Shambling Mamorphas from volcanic regions, able to fight a Catachan Devil to a standstill.
He saw massive dark bats lurking in the upper canopies near the equator, swooping down to devour prey.
He saw swamp mambas with wings, and the infamous Catachan Black Viper.
After reviewing them all, Mikael nodded with approval.
"Good. Each of you has succeeded in taming a beast. You are now true Beast Tamers."
"But to become great Beast Tamers, you must go further. Your next task is to make the Thunderwolves adapt to Catachan's climate.
"This will be a challenge. They hail from icy Fenris, now you must make them endure this sweltering, steaming world."
As he spoke, he noticed Shadows and Catachans hacking at vines around the camp.
'Endless… no matter how many we burn, they return each night, as if they have a will, seeking to strangle our camp.'
Lost in thought, Mikael turned and walked toward the conference hall.
Moments later, the meeting began.
Seargent Thibault spoke first.
"My lord, in one month we have lost 274 men."
Grief colored his tone, but he steadied himself and continued:
"On the first day, 34 dead. Second day, 27. …By the last day, only 4."
"In short, as the Shadows adapted to Catachan, casualties sharply declined."
"Fifty-four have been interred in Dreadnoughts, continuing their service."
Sorrow shadowed Reaper Lord's gaze as he gave his order:
"Lessons must be learned. Every sergeant is to drill this into their men."
Next, a Hunter officer, tasked with forming the auxiliaries, rose to report.
.....
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