Chapter 222: Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [222]

Words : 995 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

"Mind your words, Chaplain! You still haven't understood your mistake," Calgar said, annoyed. Sometimes, you must read the room. Now that Titus's innocence was proven, a sincere apology was needed. "Chapter Master, I am truly glad Captain Titus returned safely. But I saw the Chaos corruption with my own eyes—he was exposed to enough warp energy to be fatal. How do you explain that?" Leandros asked. "You want an explanation? Fine. If your heart knows no fear, if your faith and conviction are strong enough, even the warp cannot corrupt you," Rhodes said. This guy, has he apologized? Of course not! In Space Marine 2, he gave Titus all sorts of trouble, even sending him on a suicide mission at the end. Four veterans went on the mission; only the chosen one, Titus, survived and slew the sorcerer, while the others were killed without a chance to resist. Titus's indomitable courage let him overcome Chaos's influence, even among the Ultramarines. Leandros kept scheming against Titus, doubting him even after his glorious success. "Emperor protects, great Primarch! Forgive my previous offense! Perhaps you are correct," Leandros said. "I believe in your loyalty to the Emperor, but sometimes that loyalty can harm other loyal warriors. Your baseless accusations can cause innocent Marines to be wronged and become Chaos Marines—something that could have been avoided," Rhodes said. Indeed, many Chaos Marines were driven to their fate by zealots like this. Like the Custodes' attitude toward Marines before the Spider War, which led to the Brass Dragon tragedy, pushing loyal Marines into Chaos—something that could have been avoided. But sometimes, there are just too many zealots. "I must disagree, Primarch—even you can be corrupted by Chaos," Leandros argued. Even Primarchs—half of them betrayed. Even Primarchs can fall to Chaos. At this, Rhodes narrowed his eyes. "Chaplain! Sometimes, trust in your battle-brothers is the most important thing. If you can't trust your brothers, that's a dangerous thing," Roboute Guilliman himself had arrived, rebuking Leandros. He'd just talked briefly with his father and wanted to discuss some troubling things with Rhodes, but this scene caught his attention. The Chaplain's words were out of line! It was clear the Ultramarines needed some reform. "Great gene-father, you are right—I misspoke!" Leandros and Calgar knelt before Guilliman. "Leandros, right? Let me tell you: even among the traitor Chaos Marines, many loyalists were purged by Horus in advance. Some things could have been avoided. In the future, I will thoroughly reform the Chaplaincy. And resisting Chaos's corruption is not impossible—everything is the Emperor's design," Guilliman said. His new brother's temper worried him; he feared the Chaplain might be killed on the spot. "No one may insult a Primarch or the Emperor's Chosen. By Imperial law, you are already guilty, Chaplain," a Custodian declared. "I understand, great gene-father. I will immediately repent and copy your Codex Astartes 100 times," Leandros said. "No need! Soon, that Codex will be abolished. After my analysis, it no longer suits this era," Guilliman shook his head. What happened here was a microcosm. Across the vast Imperium, countless innocent warriors had been falsely accused and made outcasts. "What? Great gene-father, you—you're abolishing the Codex? You can't!" Leandros was in disbelief. The Codex was his spiritual pillar! He became a Chaplain because of his devotion to this supreme, sacred Codex. "If you insist on studying it, you are no longer fit to be a Chaplain. You are stripped of your office. Return to your company as a regular Marine," Guilliman said bluntly. Such a person could not serve in the Legion. The Codex had poisoned his mind. Rhodes was right—the Codex had to go. Leandros reminded him of someone—the first traitor, Lorgar. His worship was just like Lorgar's for the Emperor, which the Emperor (and Guilliman) hated most. "Forgive me, great gene-father. I'll relieve him of his office at once," Calgar said, ashamed. He hadn't expected to be reprimanded by the Primarch so soon after their meeting. In the Ultramarines and most successor Chapters, the Codex was revered as sacred scripture! "No one is to study it from now on. When I return to Terra, I'll abolish it entirely. It's worth less than toilet paper now." After a few words with his gene-sons, Calgar left with the dazed Leandros. Leandros's faith was shattered. His idolized scripture was gone. "I worshipped you as a god, great gene-father! The Codex you wrote was my moral code, the standard for all my brothers! How could you call it toilet paper? Was my whole life toilet paper? How can you do this to me, father?" At that moment, his devotion to Guilliman and the Codex turned into bitter hatred. After Calgar and Leandros left, Guilliman turned to Rhodes. "Rhodes, Father told me something troubling. I need to speak to you privately—immediately." Rhodes nodded, and the two retreated to a private sanctum, activating security measures. "Rhodes! I've heard terrible news! Father told me you and he resurrected Horus!" Guilliman said grimly. "That wasn't my idea—the Emperor insisted on reviving Horus! I wanted to revive Sanguinius, but my method only worked on Horus," Rhodes shrugged. "He was a traitor—he betrayed everyone! Why would Father give him another chance? He's beyond redemption!" Guilliman was furious, having questioned the Emperor about this himself. "Other brothers are punished at the slightest mistake, but Horus—after all he did—you can still forgive him?" "You resent me, brother!" came a voice—Horus had entered the sanctum, now in human form. Seeing him, Guilliman's eyes widened. He charged, grabbed Horus by the throat, and slammed him to the ground. He pummeled Horus's face mercilessly, blood pouring as his fist became red, Horus's nose broken, teeth knocked out, and his face caved in. "If killing me makes you feel better, do it, Guilliman!" "Don't think I won't!"

Chapter 222: Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [222]

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