Nareth took the box containing the Ork Warlord's head from his aide and followed the Emperor away.
They arrived at a splendid golden palace. Once seated, the Emperor smiled and asked:
"My son, in the Battle of the Wheel of Fire, you cleansed the xenos nest for the Imperium. The war brief cannot capture the full extent of your deeds."
"Now, it is time to tell me what has not been written."
Nareth placed the box on the marble table and said:
"As you wish."
"The war at the Wheel of Fire began in the void. Russ and I arrived together… Hannibal and his Legion entered the campaign in 821, quickly adapting to the role of Legion Commander…"
Nareth concealed anything related to his beyonder or mystical items, reporting only the objective achievements of the Second and Sixth Legions.
"…and in the end, I severed the head of the Ork Warlord Soriano."
"It is my gift to you!"
As he spoke, Nareth lifted the box, pressed the rune sigil, and revealed the grotesque green-skinned head, presenting it to the Emperor.
The Emperor accepted it, glanced once, then pressed the rune again to close the box.
Looking back at Nareth, he said approvingly:
"The Wheel of Fire was the largest campaign since the Imperium's founding."
"You commanded wisely and personally struck down the Ork Warlord."
"It is a victory worthy of admiration!"
After his praise, he continued:
"I shall hold a Triumph for you on Terra, which will also serve as a celebration of your brother Ferrus's return."
"Your sons sacrificed greatly. The Imperium shall not forget them. They will be honored accordingly, you shall choose those most worthy, and I will grant them Iron Halos."
"I will also gift the Eleventh Legion six relic-class warships, to carry the Shadows of Order across the stars."
Hearing this, Nareth thought to himself:
'Good. With the original six, each Chapter will have one of its own.'
The Emperor's solemn tone softened into a smile.
"Before the Wheel of Fire campaign, I spoke with Malcador and Horus about who would claim the Warlord's head."
"Malcador believed Russ would win the hunt."
"Horus and I both believed it would be you, and you have not proven me wrong."
"You took his head. I am pleased with your gift."
Knowing Nareth's tastes, he added:
"My private vault shall once again be opened to you. You may choose a treasure within."
At that moment, the "Briber" felt his body tremble, like stars exploding inside him. His spirit grew livelier, his mind purer.
Nareth knew: he had fully absorbed the potion's power. He was now truly the Briber.
His thoughts wandered:
'As expected, by the laws of the Kingdom of Disorder, my authority has risen again.'
'A fourth layer of space must now be open.'
'What characteristics, what function, will this fourth layer hold?'
Reining in his mind, he said to the Emperor:
"My lord, I thank you for your gift."
The Emperor rose. "Come with me."
For the third time, Nareth followed him to the golden vault doors.
Runes glowed, and the gates of the treasure vault opened slowly.
Nareth entered, as always ignoring the Dionysian Spear placed at the entrance, and walked further inside.
The Emperor's smile did not fade. He glanced at the spear, then at Nareth's back, his eyes glimmering.
Nareth opened his Spirit Vision, scanning the vault and focusing on the new additions, occasionally asking questions.
When he came to the thirteenth item, his pupils narrowed.
Before him lay a crystalline eyeball the size of a fist. Black iris within a white sclera, its depth bottomless.
The spiritual light it radiated was even denser than that of the crimson chain.
Judging by its aura, Nareth made his assessment:
'A Sequence 3 mystical item.'
Seeing him pause, the Emperor explained:
"This crystalline eye is a war trophy from the world of Ebereki, infested by xenos."
"The species, the Ser, resembled Medusa a being of ancient Terra's myth. From their serpentine heads grew crystalline eyes.
"This one was taken from their queen, slain by my hand."
Nareth gave a slight nod and moved on, examining the twelve other new relics before reflecting:
'That crystal eye must belong to the 'Demoness' Pathway, Sequence 3, the "Unaging".'
The Emperor smiled. "Have you decided what you want?"
"I have," Nareth said, stepping back to the crystalline eye.
"I want this."
The Emperor had expected as much. He unlocked the runes, removed the eye, and placed it in Nareth's hand.
Leaving the vault, the Emperor spoke again:
"My son, I see your rapport with Ferrus Manus. You shall be the one to guide him as he adapts to the Imperium."
Nareth had already been considering joint operations with the Tenth Legion to study the Storm and Hammer tactic. He answered at once:
"By you command."
Soon after, Manus and Nareth boarded a gunship bound for the Shadow of Sovereignty.
On the way, Manus raised his left arm and said:
"I have renamed the Tenth Legion from the 'Stormwalkers' to the 'Iron Hands.'"
"All Stormwalkers must return to Medusa, find their clan, and by their own skill displace the leaders of that tribe."
"Through this, in spirit and in flesh, they will become true Medusans."
"Gabriel and the others will accompany Amadeus DuCaine. If they would walk with the Iron Hands, they must first understand Medusa. A part of them must become Medusan."
Nareth nodded slightly. "Thank you for your arrangement."
He was not surprised. He knew how deeply Manus valued Medusa.
Because its native population was small and lacked war potential, Manus planned to recruit suitable people from the fiercest human worlds he conquered.
He entrusted them to the ascetic priests of the Mechanicum, gifts from the Gorgon, who brought them to Medusa for trials.
This was unlike other Legions, which raised recruits from conquered worlds within the Legion's own ranks.
Every Iron Hand had to be reforged in Medusa's cruel furnace.
"After the Triumph on Terra, our Legions shall fight side by side."
Manus's silver eyes gleamed, his voice like lead.
"The Iron Hands will be ready."
Upon returning to the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty, Nareth spoke with Manus, introducing him to the Imperium.
He discovered that, unlike Hannibal's instinct-driven understanding of war, Manus saw everything through the lens of logic and numbers.
Manus was always calculating.
When their discussion ended, Nareth had Arsena lead him to the palace chamber prepared for him.
Nareth then entered the Kingdom of Disorder.
He placed the crystalline eye into the third layer of space.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"As expected. With the Briber potion digested, my authority has risen."
"The fourth layer has opened."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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