In the Primarch's palace, the silver-haired Arsena stood before the throne, reporting to Nareth.
"My lord, the Forge World of Lucius has honored the alliance and is supplying our Legion with armaments and provisions."
"Its immense production capacity ensures that we need not worry about logistics. The Legion can now wage large-scale campaigns unhindered."
"The Emperor was greatly pleased upon learning that you rediscovered the lost Forge World of Lucius. He has gifted you another relic-class warship."
Nareth thought to himself: 'That old man really does have an endless trove of treasures, another relic-class ship, just like that.'
After a moment's thought, he said, "Assign it to the Seventh Chapter."
Every Chapter already possessed at least one relic-class vessel, granting them extended engagement range in void warfare. It was now time to further enhance one group's specialization.
Sanchez, the Reaper Lord, was best suited to exploit such advantages.
"Inform the Arbiter Lord to prepare for the arrival of the Gloriana-class battleship."
At this point, among all Chapter, the Seventh had achieved the greatest merit, followed by the First, Third, and Fourth, all belonging to the Legion's first tier of honors.
Nareth had found suitable recruitment worlds for the Third and Seventh, and as an additional reward, granted the Seventh this relic ship.
He also considered the symbolic importance of every Legion's First Chapter, thus deciding to bestow upon them the first of the Gloriana-class battleships newly forged on Mars.
After his aide took notes, continued:
"It is worth noting that the Third Legion suffered great losses during the Proxima Betrayal. Despite their valor and the Emperor's recognition, earning them the right to wear the Imperial Aquila upon their armor, they were nearly annihilated."
"After the gene-vault on Terra was struck by viral attack, and the gene-seed reserves on Luna were stolen, they have endured three devastating blows. Only two hundred now remain."
Nareth knew the culprits, the Selenite Gene Cult. Forced into Imperial subservience and stripped of Luna's Dormant Fortress, now the Sisters of Silence base, their hatred toward the Imperium festered.
They unleashed the Blight upon the Third Legion's gene-seed.
The gene-seed theft, however, was the work of the infamous collector.
Though the Imperium wouldn't officially record its first encounter with the Necrons until 897.M41, Nareth knew that several dynasties had already awakened.
Among them was Trazyn the Infinite, overlord of the Nihilakh Dynasty, one of the earliest to rise from the Great Sleep.
Since the Unification Wars, Trazyn had infiltrated Imperial institutions, ever seeking additions for his "museum."
'The Solemnace must be brimming with relics and rare alchemical materials,' Nareth mused. 'When the time is right, I'll scry that tomb world and sweep it clean.'
But not yet, the longer he waited, the more treasures Trazyn would unwittingly gather for him. When his Legion was secure and the wars of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy had passed, then he would strike.
Turning his thoughts back to the Third Legion, Nareth reflected: 'They were at their lowest point, yet salvation was near, Fulgrim would soon return.'
'Once the Apothecaries extracted and purified his gene-seed, the Third would begin to rebuild.'
Now, Nareth shifted focus to his own Legion's future.
'The supply issue is solved. It's time to divine Kasai, its Kassaians could make excellent recruits for the Eighth Chapter.'
.....
That same year, 830.M30, Imperial records stated that the Emperor rediscovered Fulgrim in Chemos, the sixth Primarch to return to the Imperium.
...
Within the Kingdom of Disorder, Nareth found his Dice of Prophecy fully recharged and stepped into the fourth layer.
His psychic presence extended toward the crimson sphere, the Briber felt his essence drain rapidly.
Before him appeared Thierry Vieira, clad in black armor, cutting through alien foes with his charged blade. His enemies, gray-armored xenos, posed little threat.
Nareth's will manifested, his message threading through psychic resonance into the crimson orb.
A swirl of black mist rose in Thierry's mind. Upon his inner throne sat a vast, radiant silhouett.
'The Black Emperor.'
Unshaken, Thierry twisted his wrist, executing the Otsberg-Vaya's Second Form, and drove his power sword through the xenos chest.
The disruption field field tore the creature apart as the solemn voice echoed in his mind:
"Pray when the battle is done."
After the fight, Thierry returned to his flagship, the relic warship Razor.
Within his captain's quarters, he bathed, donned a black robe, and prepared a ritual circle.
Kneeling upon black onyx cushions, he began reciting the Dunnic incantations:
"Black Emperor of the Shadows of Order..."
"I beseech Thy gaze..."
"O Iron Laws of Monarchs, basis of the Kingdom of Disorder, grant strength to my invocation."
Black mist enveloped him.
"My Lord!" Thierry bowed low before the Black Emperor. Since his defeat and rebirth under Nareth's guidance, he had pledged absolute devotion.
Through that faith, he had gained blessings, his gateway to new power.
When the Primarch rejoined the Imperium, Thierry became the first Vostroyan-born warrior to bear the title Shadow of Order.
Now, when the Black Emperor summoned him through the mysterious space, Thierry answered instantly.
"I await the Eighth Chapter's report," Nareth commanded.
He had not used the Dice of Prophecy to chart a path from Vostroya to Kasai, it would waste time. Instead, he used the Kingdom of Disorder to communicate directly.
"My Lord," Thierry reported, "for the past five months, the Eighth has been campaigning in the Tyne system west of Vostroya's sub-sector."
"We expect to cleanse the last xenos presence within three weeks."
"Our current strength stands at 8,150 Shadows of Order."
Because Nareth had already chosen the Eighth's recruitment world, their reinforcements were fewer than other chapters.
Along with the Sixth, Tenth, and Twelfth, they were among the four Chapters under ten thousand strong, though in the others' cases, Nareth had yet to find leaders worthy of his recognition.
"Wait by your altar," Nareth said, severing the link.
He felt the blood-red chain around his little finger tighten, replenishing his psychic essence.
He stepped into the third spatial layer and grasped the Prophetic Dice.
In his mind, he recalled what little he knew of Kasai:
'The Kassaians are formidable warriors…'
'They have passed down the Elvira sword arts for generations, literally meaning "the Gift of the Blade."'
'The styles include Ganfasso and Tarnvira…'
'Ganfasso form draws the sword in a figure-eight arc…'
With the details fresh in his mind, Nareth murmured silently:
Star chart from Tyne to Kasai…
He repeated the phrase eleven times, then tossed the Prophetic Dice into the air.
The prism spun several times before landing in his open palm, and a vision bloomed before his eyes like a living hologram.
Recording the star map, he transferred the data into a crystalline matrix, then enveloped it with psychic energy.
With a flicker of thought, he sent the crystal and its message into the crimson sphere.
.....
Aboard the Razor, at the Altar
As Thierry prayed, the black mist returned. The towering Black Emperor appeared upon His throne, His voice resonating through the void:
"Sail according to the star chart, to Kasai. It shall be your Chapter's recruitment world."
"The Kassaians are worthy warriors. Recruit them into your ranks."
"Learn their Elvira Sword Arts."
Thierry lifted the crystal that materialized upon the altar.
"By your command, my Lord."
....
Term Correction
Kasr -} Kasai
.....
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