Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

In the so-called "city" of the Ogryns, Nareth found a massive pit 84 meters in diameter.

Inside swarmed countless creatures roughly 40 centimeters long, resembling giant beetles but with flatter bodies.

Their backs were covered in dark, heavily armored carapaces, uneven and mottled with what looked like rust or dried blood.

Each creature had four jagged, hook-shaped legs with barbed joints.

They swarmed the corpses of Ogryns, producing the soft crunching sound of gnawing.

As soon as Nareth saw them, he recognized them instantly. They were Corpse-Eater Beetles, the final and missing main ingredient for the alchemical potion known as the "Corpse Collector."

Near the pit sat five young Ogryns, each the height of a full-grown adult human.

They sat blankly, drooling as they guarded a large, boiling pot.

Inside, dark-colored, four-legged Corpse-Eater bubbled.

One of the Ogryn children blankly reached into the boiling pot.

Only when grabbing the creature did he react to the pain, hastily yanking his hand out, bringing the struggling insect with him.

Ignoring the scalding pain, the child opened his mouth and devoured the Corpse-Eater, chewing hungrily.

Nareth now understood:

The Ogryns had essentially created a corpse recycling plant; the beetle ate the corpses, and the Ogryns ate the beetle.

'Eating insects is fine... but is eating Corpse-Eaters really safe?'

His Warp Insight confirmed his unease:

These Corpse-Eaters, key components of the "Corpse Collector" potion, radiated a cold, sinister aura.

The Primarch walked to the pit and reached in, grabbing one insect.

It was cold to the touch, thrashing its hooked legs violently.

A light squeeze from Nareth and the creature sensed imminent death; it instantly stopped moving.

Just then, Adams approached to report and paused at the sight.

Then he began:

"Father, only two of our soldiers were unlucky, struck in the head by Ogryn weapons."

"These brutes are stronger than us, to the point where they even cracked the armor of a Malcador heavy tank."

Even the normally cold Adams couldn't help but mutter,

"Fortunately, they lack intelligence, discipline, and combat instincts. Otherwise, these abhumans would've been a real threat."

Nareth nodded with encouragement:

"Your Company performed well. You've taken the first step in overcoming your bloodlust."

"But remember my words, clarity over carnage in battle."

"We will not disappoint you," Adams replied solemnly, slamming his right fist against his chest plate.

After finishing his report, he asked hesitantly:

"Do you like these insects?"

"Yes." Nareth nodded, realizing this was an opportunity to establish a personal quirk within the 11th Legion, an interest in eccentric creatures and objects.

"Then let me collect them for you," Adams volunteered.

Excellent," Nareth said, exaggerating his approval to make an impression.

Avoiding his sons' perceptions, Nareth then returned to the Kingdom of Disorder.

Upon entry, his silver power gauntlet began to glow with golden runes, without him even activating it.

As he swung his left arm, the golden runes shimmered through the air.

He sensed a power within, a power of Order.

'Compared to other alchemical ingredients, this one stimulates my spiritual perception the most. Golden scales… Order… This likely contains characteristics from the "Justiciar" Pathway, perhaps even from a high sequence.'

He refrained from injecting his spirit into the gauntlet to avoid triggering a transformation.

Instead, he moved to the Blasphemy Slate.

The stone slab still only displayed the formulas for Sequence 7 potions and two Sequence 6 formulas: "Baron of Corruption" and the alternate-path "Judge."

Sequence 6 Potion – Baron of Corruption:

Main ingredients: 1 Osiris Mind-Control Seed, 1 Brain-Eater

Secondary ingredients: 33,000 ml of Black Vosvoth, 11 teeth of a Badmoon Clan Orc

Beyonder Abilities: […]

Nareth reviewed the formula, realizing it would be impossible to gather the necessary materials anytime soon.

Badmoon Clan: One of the six major orc clans, spread across the galaxy

Osiris Seed: Only found in the easternmost extremes of the galaxy.

Brain-Eaters: A dominant faction within the Rangdan xenos, rivals to the Bone-Gnawers but inferior to the Slaugh worm-men.

The Randan were a powerful xeno race encountered by the Imperium during the Great Crusade.

To defeat them, the Imperium sacrificed over 200,000 Astartes, millions of Imperial Army troops, and multiple Titan Legions, an effort greater than even the war against Ullanor.

The Emperor had deployed the Ominissiah's hidden cults and breached the Labyrinth of Night to unleash the Void Dragon itself for victory.

After the war, the First Legion, Dark Angels, suffered such devastating losses that the Ultramarines surpassed them in size.

'No rush. I still haven't fully digested the Briber potion. I need to keep 'bribing the Golden Man.'

Nareth walked over to the furnace to brew the Corpse Collector potion.

As a Primarch, he shared a genetic bond with the Shadows of Order.

While some Terran-born Astartes were more loyal to the Emperor, the majority showed loyalty to him, especially since he would become a pillar of the Imperium.

Through his prior conversations and observations, Nareth confirmed Adams' loyalty and decided to make him the firstBeyonder among his gene-sons.

Adams' cold nature made him perfect for the Corpse Collector pathway.

With that in mind, Nareth tossed the Corpse-Eater into the furnace.

Moments later, he scooped out a green, gelatinous substance.

He returned to realspace, entering an Ogryn building barely large enough to contain his massive frame.

He sent Adams a message. Moments later, the captain arrived carrying two wooden crates.

"Father, here are the Corpse-Eaters you requested, 432 in total."

Nareth nodded, satisfied, and held out his hand.

"You've done well. This is your reward."

Adams looked at the potion, then picked it up without hesitation.

He trusted his Primarch.

Tilting his head back, he drank the green potion.

Nareth then used telepathic teaching to help Adams stabilize the power.

Adams' pupils returned to normal. He immediately noticed a drop in his internal temperature.

Nareth, with his superhuman senses, also noticed this change, though not as significant as expected.

'The Astartes body far surpasses mortals. Low-sequence potions likely have a lesser impact on superhuman physiology.'

Nareth pondered silently.

"Thank you, Father, for this gift."

Nareth said nothing about the potion's origin, and Adams didn't ask.

He understood this was a personal gift from his gene-father, and that was enough.

Nareth sent a final mental pulse to Adams:

"To master the power I gave you, you must embrace your role as a Corpse Collector."

"Harvest the corpses. Treat their arms for preservation. Bring them to me."

"Their powerful limbs make fine trophies."

"Understood, Father." Adams turned and left, ready to play his new role.

At the same time, a competitive slaughter began between the First Captains of the 11th and 16th Legion.

...

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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