Nareth drew the Sword of Vaul and strode forward.
He saw a golden-haired, resolute-faced Librarian attacking with a bolt pistol and chainsword.
Seeing this figure, Nareth felt a sense of familiarity.
His mind rapidly processed, instantly recognizing the Librarian's identity: Balsar Kurthuri
Because Balsar differed from the bald, weathered image most common in his memory, Nareth hadn't recognized him immediately.
A flash of blue-white light cleaved through a Rangdan overlord's personal energy shield. Another swift slash ended the enemy's life.
Arkhas Fal's eyes flickered. The xenos he fought so fiercely against was slain effortlessly by the gene-son.
Nareth charged towards Balsar's position, while information about him flashed through his mind.
'Another unfortunate soul.'
Nareth remembered that after the Council of Nikaea, Corvus Corax disbanded the Librarius.
Balsar was one of the few Raven Guard survivors of the Dropsite Massacre. He served as Chief Librarian in the rebuilt Librarius.
This did not last. The Librarius was disbanded again. Corax decided to send them to Terra.
But at Balsar's request, the Librarians were allowed to remain with the Legion. As a cost, he was sent to Terra.
At the Primarch's demand, Balsar swore not to use his psychic powers until he met Malcador.
Balsar arrived at the Sol system accompanied by Imperial Fists Captain Noriz, who had fought alongside him for a long time.
Custodian Ludivicus gave the order to hunt the Librarian down.
Balsar, following Corax's command, resisted the impulse to use psychic powers.
In an attempt to aid Balsar's escape Noriz was corned and killed by the Custodian.
Enraged, Balsar wanted to avenge his close friend. As he prepared to unleash powerful psychic energy to kill the Custodians, he recalled his oath and ultimately surrendered.
Balsar passed Malcador's test.
Malcador apologized, saying he would learn from this mistake that cost Noriz his life.
Balsar reluctantly accepted, his close friend a sacrificial pawn in the test.
Becoming one of the founders of the Grey Knights, he gained greater psychic power but could never forget his friend's death.
He took the name Ogen but could not forget his guilt towards Noriz. His face aged rapidly, tortured by inner pain for the rest of his life.
'Balsar witnessed his close friend's death yet upheld his oath to Corax, showing high willpower and loyalty. "Corroding" him is much harder than Arkhas.'
'But not entirely impossible. Balsar, at Malcador's demand, gave up his loyalty to Corax, indicating he can change, but sufficient reason is needed.'
'It's worth trying, but he shouldn't be the primary target.
As Nareth pondered, his steps did not slow. Neither Rangdan warriors nor overlords hindered his progress.
In moments, he had carved a path, arriving before Balsar.
"Lord Nareth."
Balsar hadn't met his own gene-father. He'd only seen the Primarch commanding the Nineteenth Legion, Horus Lupercal.
He noted that this Primarch was taller..
Balsar's gaze met those pitch-black eyes. He felt completely seen through, not just his present, but his future.
His clear mind suddenly froze, as if caught in a spider's web.
He didn't know how long passed before a commanding voice sounded in his ears, snapping him back to reality.
"Balsar Kurthuri."
"Yes, my Lord."
Balsar slightly turned his head, avoiding the pitch-black gaze.
He saw numerous black-armored warriors charging the xenos lines.
Balsar noticed the Shadows of Order operated with discipline and order.
A Librarian raised a blue staff. The enslaved human slaves around him immediately slowed.
The Shadows of Order raised their bolters, unleashing a dense barrage at the xenos.
Amid bolter roars, the xenos' pale flesh was torn apart.
Kill-teams wielding power weapons executed a series of precise strikes, surrounding and eliminating enemies with personal energy shields.
'The Shadows of Order can accurately identify xenos elite warriors and launch swift strikes.
'They seem very familiar with the xenos.'
Balsar suppressed his puzzlement, withdrawing his gaze.
He didn't want to fall into that dazed state again. He slightly lowered his head,恰好 meeting the cold gaze of the approaching Arkhas.
To dispel the unease from his earlier lapse, he spoke.
"Shadow Lord, my foresight succeeded. We have received reinforcements."
"Do you remember?"
"The shadows."
"Balsar, you have proven yourself," Arkhas said.
"Follow me," the "Baron of Corruption" said to both of them.
"Lord Nareth," Arkhas did not immediately follow. "One of my companies has lost contact."
"Nerat Kirine. He's trapped in a xenos ambush. I request your aid for us."
Hearing this, Nareth stopped.
'Nerat Kirine!'
'Truly a lucky day. Another target delivered to my doorstep, a great opportunity to "corrode" the Ashen Claws.'
'"Corroding" Nerat might be even easier than Arkhas.'
Nareth remembered the future "Raven Guard" Terran-born underwent two large-scale exiles.
Arkhas's Carcharodons were exiled shortly after Corvus Corax's return.
Nerat Kirine's Ashen Claws were sent to the Ghoul Stars after the Battle of Gate Forty-Two in 002.M31, by the order of Deliverance-born Praetor Calvus.
Later, Nerat declared his Ashen Claws were loyal neither to the Imperium nor to Horus Lupercal.
'Nerat followed Corax over eighty years yet lacked absolute loyalty.'
'Corax also always despised his Eighteenth Chapter, the the Ashen Claws.'
'I might as well take the trouble to look after Corax's sons for him. The Carcharodons and Ashen Claws will both have bright futures.'
Among the potential "corrossion" targets Nareth could think of, the most numerous were from the Carcharodons and Ashen Claws.
He hadn't expected to encounter both Arkhas and Nerat on Xana.
With this thought, he spoke,
"I will proceed to their rescue immediately."
"Link to my comms network. Transmit positional coordinates."
Arkhas immediately followed the Primarch's instructions. Balsar, looking ashamed, added,
"My Lord, we lost contact with Nerat over ten solar days ago."
"Coordinate Point 513, his last known location, might be a trap, and we may not find him there."
"I tried my utmost earlier to foresee his location, but I failed. The xenos set a trap; they interfered with my foresight."
As Balsar spoke, he heard approaching footsteps.
"I may have a way to find him."
....
Name Correction
Baltha Katuri -> Balsar Kurthuri