Vigilus, underground ruins.
Nareth held a piece of obsidian, one meter tall and fifty centimeters in diameter, in his left hand.
The Primarch gazed at the statue for a quarter of an hour before beginning to carve.
The "Baron of Corruption's" right hand held a ritual knife, spiritual essence erupting from its tip.
The statue in the "Baron of Corruption's" hand rapidly took shape within a minute: the right leg, the fragmented left arm, the wing behind, and the ferocious maw.
Nareth paused, glancing up at the original statue.
The "Baron of Corruption" didn't require normal senses like sight for confirmation. His spirituality alerted him that the statue in his hand was identical to the one before him and possessed a certain spiritual connection.
Nareth's gaze returned to the statue in his hand. Confirming it was correct, he began carving on the opposite side, based on the existing broken statue.
The left leg, the fragmented right arm, and the wing behind.
After a moment, he stopped the knife, confirmed no errors, and began completing the remaining parts.
The Primarch recalled all scattered parts from the murals, then focused on the broken right arm.
Countless geometric shapes flashed through the "Baron of Corruption's" mind. The claws from the same mural connected.
From myriad shapes, he found the most natural, smoothest lines, then began working.
One stellar hour later, Nareth gazed at the restored claw-arm, thoughtful. He could now narrow down the statue's subject to a certain range.
'Resembles a humanoid entity, a Daemon Prince after falling to Chaos.'
'Could the Doomsday Weapon have been created by colonists to deal with him?'
'This is a crisis hidden on Vigilus, unknown to me. Must be clarified.'
As the "Baron of Corruption" pondered, he completed carving the left arm. His gaze shifted to the statue's chest.
Two work cycles later, the "Baron of Corruption" completed his first "Spiritual Sculpture."
Setting down the psychic knife, he gazed at the lifelike statue.
Spread bat-wings, a terrifying visage with two sharp horns extending backward, sharp claws gleaming coldly.
Nareth almost immediately recognized the statue's identity: Be'lakor, the first Daemon Prince, Be'lakor.
He bore many titles: the Dark Master, the First-Damned,...
As the first mortal chosen by the Dark Gods, he was granted a portion of each Chaos God's power.
Initially, he played the Gods against each other, benefiting from their rivalry.
However, the Gods soon realized Be'lakor was uncontrollable and would never be wholly loyal to any one of them, beginning to recruit new Daemon Princes.
Be'lakor remained the mightiest among Daemon Princes, but as the Gods granted power to other servants, his strength gradually waned.
Nareth knew Be'lakor had ruled countless galactic empires over millions of Terran years.
He had enslaved thousands of worlds, forcing billions to worship him as a god.
But Be'lakor's greed and malevolence ultimately destroyed these races. Growing bored, he would seek a nascent race as a new plaything.
He hid within shifting legends and absurd rumors, lurking in the shadows behind racial rises and expansions.
'After the ancient empire preceding human colonization fell, Be'lakor abandoned Vigilus, leaving only ancient ruins.'
Nareth recalled the Mechanicum Magos Koriel Zeth, who spent her life searching for ancient ruins from the Dark Age of Technology, piecing together histories of ancient beings.
Unaware of Be'lakor's existence, he believed all artifacts recorded a xenos overlord, but he was actually Be'lakor's puppet.
Following clues, Koriel discovered new star systems and planets, empires destroyed by Be'lakor, collecting relics lost to time.
Ultimately, Be'lakor reclaimed his artifacts, restoring lost power, then erased all traces of himself and Koriel.
Nareth's mind raced, recalling other known details about Be'lakor.
'Be'lakor's earliest activities, to prevent Vashtorr from ascending to rival the Gods, were hidden within Abaddon's shadow.'
'During the 3rd Black Crusade, Be'lakor manipulated the Daemon Prince Tallomin to assist Abaddon's assault on Cadia.'
'During the 6th Black Crusade, Be'lakor 'gifted' Abaddon information regarding the treachery of Drecarth the Sightless, leading to the destruction of the Sons of the Eye...'
Though Nareth didn't recall Be'lakor's specific connection to Vigilus, nor any significant activity during the Great Crusade or Horus Heresy in his memory, he didn't underestimate the potential threat. Be'lakor was a Daemon Prince operating in the shadows; he might erase traces of his actions.
'Be'lakor is ambitious, seeks godhood, enjoys scheming in shadows, may involve my domains. Noteworthy.'
'I cannot ignore his existence. I should have Arsena and others investigate.'
Nareth opened a comm-channel, ordering the "Archaeologist" and "Mystery Pryer" to seal the statue and all excavated artifacts using Blackstone pylons.
After experimental use on Gardinaal, Techmarcines had gained more understanding of Blackstone technology, capable of deploying small-scale pylon arrays.
Three months after excavating the ruins, Nareth received Arkhan Land's report: a method to enter the Vhulian Swirl had been found. He immediately convened a meeting.
Two servitors, each carrying a spherical device one meter in diameter, entered the conference room.
Arkhan's voice brimmed with excitement as he explained.
"The formation of the Vhulian Swirl is essentially due to energy influence."
"As long as the chaotic energy flows can be calmed, entry is possible."
"I spent two months creating machines that can normalize chaotic energy within a two-kilometer radius. I have conducted five experiments, all of which proved successful."
Nareth nodded, looking at the others.
"Have you made any discoveries?"
The "Warlock" Thomas spoke first. "My Lord, I collected dust samples around the vortex."
"They differ from dust on other hive worlds and other regions of Vigilus. I used them to create a powder."
"Igniting it can provide us protection."
Marlena's tea-brown pupils glowed with green light.
"I planted Catachan vines and other flora within the dust storm. Five species can survive briefly, providing protection."
"My Lord," Arsena concluded, "I combined Magos Arkhan's, the Chief Librarian's, and Lady Marlena's results for simulations."
"I believe we can proceed immediately."
Hearing the "Polymath's" assessment, Nareth nodded slightly.
The Dice of Prophecy required about twelve more work cycles to recharge. Even if Achen's methods failed and they encountered danger, he could respond.
"In that case, we depart in three hours."
Leaving the Dionysian Spear in the conference room, Nareth returned to the "Kingdom of Disorder" while others prepared, bringing the Dice of Prophecy back to reality.
Within the Vhulian Swirl, if danger arose, he might not have time to retrieve the Dice of Prophecy unnoticed.
.....
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