282: Chapter 282 The Prelude to the Holy War! That cry of "Brother!" that transcends ten thousand years!

"Education?"

A low growl, like metal grinding, issued from Mortarion's respirator.

It was a rage born of being utterly provoked by a mortal, yet feeling the absurdity of it due to the opponent's insignificance.

["You? By what right?"]

Zhang Yuan did not answer.

He gave his answer through action.

Behind him, a flash of resolve crossed Tai Adronetus's face, which looked like a golden sculpture.

He stepped forward, his aegis shield slamming into the ground as a golden energy field instantly expanded, shielding everyone in front.

And in that very instant.

The fire of judgment descended.

There were no shouted orders, no pre-battle prayers.

Only that cold string of [Execute] commands within the data link.

Boom—!

Outside the Governors Mansion, the three warhound-class titans that had been standing in silent vigil suddenly saw their crimson "eyes" light up.

Six Plasma Blastguns completed their energy overload in the same heartbeat.

Six thick pillars of blue plasma light, powerful enough to instantly vaporize a Leman Russ Tank, tore through the distorted air and accurately struck the area where Mortarion had just been standing at a speed exceeding the limits of visual tracking.

Immediately following that.

Was the full volley from the shoulder missile pods of the three Thors.

Hundreds of "thors hammer" missiles, trailing crimson exhaust, formed a rain of steel death, completely submerging that area in a blanket of destruction.

Finally, it was the siege tanks that had already completed their deployment.

They had long since locked onto the coordinates.

The sharp shriek of shells tearing through the air merged into a symphony of death.

The entire throne room of the Governors Mansion, along with the surrounding area for hundreds of meters, was instantly swallowed by a storm of destruction composed of plasma, high explosives, and pure kinetic energy.

The earth trembled and wailed.

The Creep burned and vaporized.

Titus and his Deathwatch Squad, Cyrus and his Lamenters, and even Tai Adronetus himself instinctively raised their weapons.

Bolters, bolt pistols, the built-in small Bolters of the guardian spears... they poured their fury into that blinding fire.

It was not just an attack on a traitor Primarch.

It was a... [tribute] to a mortal who dared to swing his blade at a god.

Zhang Yuan did not fire.

He simply stood quietly behind the Custodian's shield, his Archon archon power armor's full-spectrum sensors pushed to maximum power.

His right hand tightly gripped that golden guardian spear.

He was waiting.

Waiting for a single, solitary opportunity.

The fire gradually dissipated.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a massive silhouette still stood.

Mortarion's figure stepped out.

His ancient, off-white Terminator heavy armor was covered in scorch marks and molten craters.

Even the tattered moth wings on his back had been mostly torn away.

But he did not fall.

Sickly green plague fire burned in his eye sockets more frenziedly than ever before.

It was not the anger of being wounded.

It was the ultimate [Fury] of having one's dignity provoked by an ant!

["Is this... your courage?"]

Mortarion's voice sounded as if it came from the depths of hell.

["Hiding behind steel, you insolent mortal!"]

Mortarion's roar shook the wreckage.

["Is this Roboute Guilliman's ally? Just like that False Emperor on the Golden Throne!"]

["All of you use lies and sneak attacks to defile true resilience!"]

He gave no one else a chance.

He moved.

That massive body erupted with a speed completely inconsistent with its size, turning into an off-white whirlwind of death as he launched a counter-charge toward the defensive line where Zhang Yuan was.

He wanted to personally crush this mortal who dared to desecrate his name and that of his brother!

"For the Emperor!"

Tai Adronetus let out a roar; this was the first time he had issued a battle cry since setting foot on this planet.

Withstanding the terrifying pressure that could crush steel, he held his aegis shield like a mountain, firmly blocking the path in front of Zhang Yuan.

Mortarion's giant scythe, "Silence," arrived.

The blade, capable of reaping the life of an entire world and carrying the power of laws that could tear reality apart, swung down heavily!

Its target was precisely that shield symbolizing the majesty of the Golden Throne!

Tai Adronetus was prepared to sacrifice himself.

However.

Exactly 0.01 seconds before the scythe made contact with the shield.

Zhang Yuan moved.

"high-energy gas, ten thousand units per second."

In his heart, he issued a command to that sleeping soul.

["In the name of Sanguinius!"]

Hum—!

An indescribable, holy, and scorching power instantly poured from Zhang Yuan's body into the guardian spear in his hand!

The golden spear was no longer a mundane weapon.

It burst into flames.

Burning with golden fire, as pure as the core of a sun!

A brilliant golden phantom, appearing as if composed of countless angelic wings, flashed momentarily behind Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan's figure shot out from the side of the Custodian like a bolt of golden lightning, advancing instead of retreating!

The guardian spear in his hand traced a perfect arc, swinging upward to meet the falling scythe of death!

Clang—!

A massive sound that seemed capable of shattering the soul!

Holy golden fire and sickly green plague energy collided and annihilated each other violently!

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

Tai Adronetus's pupils contracted sharply.

Titus's hand, holding his Bolter, froze in mid-air.

Everyone saw that inconceivable scene.

The scythe "Silence," which had reaped countless lives, was forcibly... parried away!

And Mortarion's massive, mountain-like, unshakeable body actually staggered backward, sliding across the ground under this irresistible force!

His power boots plowed a deep trench dozens of meters long into the charred earth!

He stabilized himself and slowly raised his head. Those eyes, burning with plague and hatred, flickered violently for the first time.

That golden power was not just a physical impact; it was like a red-hot iron brand searing his long-corrupted soul. While it brought excruciating pain, it also awakened a sliver of a long-forgotten memory buried under ten thousand years of despair. The torrent of hatred was, for the first time, forcibly cut off by an even older and deeper emotion—an emotion called... confusion.

He looked at the mortal bathed in golden light, and it was as if he saw through him to that radiant figure on the walls of Terra ten thousand years ago.

The respirator in his throat made a dry, rasping hiss, like a jammed gear.

For the first time in ten thousand years.

This Lord of Death, this avatar of despair, spoke two words in a tone nearly like a sleepwalker's, filled with infinite complexity.

["Bro...ther?"]