Horus’s tense shoulders relaxed, and he rubbed his brow with some frustration.
Kulen gave a cold snort and turned his head away, no longer looking at the Wolf God.
“Neither of your viewpoints has a standard answer in this place.” Karen dropped his joking tone and stepped forward, his gaze alternating between the two.
“Horus, you believe warriors are human, which preserved your soul as the Master of the Legion.
Kulen, you believe the Astartes are The Emperor’s sword, which preserved your life during ten thousand years of exile.” “The environment is rotten to the core.
Both of the paths you adhere to have their reasons.
But continuing to argue here serves no practical purpose other than making the guards outside suspicious.” “Everyone is doing this for The Emperor, for humanity.
Since the main goal is the same, why should our own people fight to the death over a few ideological disagreements before the enemy even arrives?” These words were blunt and crude, lacking any long-winded rhetoric, but they were exceptionally effective.
Horus was a thorough pragmatist and rationalist; once awakened, he could immediately detach himself from his emotions.
He sighed, nodded to Kulen as a sign of a truce, and then turned to walk toward the pile of disassembled Terminators armor components.
Kulen said nothing and walked to a corner on the other side to sit down.
The cargo hold was left with only the clinking of metal parts and the faint sound of the ventilation system.
Karen came to Horus’s side and nudged him gently with his elbow.
“In this dark age, preserving humanity is precious, my Wolf God.” “I know, Karen, I know.” Horus sighed.
“I didn’t need to argue about this, I just…
sigh.” Karen looked at the bitter and conflicted Wolf Shepherd God, thinking about how to change the subject, and then he thought of something.
Roboute Guilliman.
“What do you think the Lord of Ultramar would instinctively say upon seeing the current state of the Imperium after waking up?” “Roboute?” Horus was somewhat distracted.
“I don’t know.
What would he say?” “He would say he’d rather have died in Horus Heresy than wake up in this dark age to take over the governance of the Imperium.
He’d say it shouldn’t have been Sanguinius who died, but him.” “Roboute is an idealist.
He…
he couldn’t possibly say something like that.” Horus shook his head instinctively.
Even if his impression of Guilliman wasn’t great, he knew the Lord of Ultramar was a fine Archon, one filled with unrealistic ideals.
“Why is it impossible?” “The entire Imperium’s technology has regressed ten thousand years, the internal bureaucracy is rotten to the core, Xenos are rampant outside, and fallen Primarch brothers are throwing parties across the universe.
He slept for ten thousand years and woke up to face this completely disconnected cesspool.
The Five Hundred Worlds he worked so hard to build have become history.” “No matter how powerful a Demigod is, seeing such a mess would make them break down.” Horus fell silent.
However, Karen changed the subject.
“But I think he would persevere.
Relying on the last remaining ideals in his heart, the love given to him by his adoptive parents, and the example set by his sons, he would stand up as a Primarch.
He would set aside the ideals he once held as a Master of the Legion and Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds and throw himself wholeheartedly into that damned political governance and war.” Horus looked up, seemingly gaining a new understanding of his brother.
He also understood that Karen was saying this to persuade him to let go of his past ideals as a Master of the Legion and focus on repelling the enemies of the Imperium for now.
Instead of obsessing over those philosophical questions.
In the face of a struggle for survival, any philosophy or ideology should be set aside.
After speaking, Karen requested a book from the system, pulled it out from his coat, and stuffed it into Horus’s hands.
Horus took the book and looked: codex astartes, Author: Roboute Guilliman, along with a bonus copy of Astartes Chapter Archives and Historical Past.
“Use this to pass the time.
After seeing just this tip of the iceberg, you’ll know why the Imperium has so many problems.” “If it were you, you’d break down too.” Karen smiled.
“Military regulations written by Roboute?” The Wolf Shepherd God raised an eyebrow and curiously flipped open the title page.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”