Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

Despite the Relic-Keeper's full efforts, the Shield of Daxos still failed to arrive in time to suppress the beast tide's rampage.

Having lost the evaluation for repair speed, Sol fell silent for a moment before realizing that Gabriel was a formidable master of technology, an opponent difficult to defeat.

Wanting to reclaim some measure of victory, the Relic-Keeper decided to add a logical advantage to his side. He contacted Bowen, a knight apprentice from the Delisha family, through the comms.

"Bowen, House Derisha is a loyal servant of Vextrix, and among the many families sworn to the Knight King, yours is the most honorable."

"You are the finest among the knight apprentices. Thus, I have decided that you shall pilot the sacred Shield of Daxos to victory in this duel and uphold the honor of knighthood."

A knight and their war machine are one. An exceptional knight pleases the machine spirit within the Throne Mechanicum, allowing the suit to perform at its peak.

"My lord, I am at your service," Bowen replied resolutely. "I will pilot the Shield of Daxos to victory for you, and for House Vextrix."

The next day, the remaining forty-two knights assembled in their suits at the knight training grounds west of the Vextrix family's mountain stronghold. They watched nervously as two newly anointed knights stood ready.

The training ground was nestled in a deep valley.

The Knight King stood between the Shield of Daxos and the Sacred Mars. He glanced at Nareth and his entourage, his gaze lingering briefly on the black-armored warrior whose servo arms extended with mechanical grace.

Then, he addressed the two knights standing tall before him:

"Your duty today is to verify the repair efficacy of your suits on the training grounds."

"You must adhere to the Knightly Code and give your all."

"As you command, my lord," the two knights responded, bowing with the formal gesture of master and vassal.

After coupling with the neural interfaces, they activated the motive systems and guided their suits to stand within two glowing red circles inscribed with diagnostic runes.

Campbell turned to Nareth.

"Unless you have anything to add, we shall begin."

"Go ahead."

The Knight King immediately issued the order: "Initiate the test sequence."

The Relic-Keeper's mechadendrites tapped across the control panel. Moments later, with a deep rumble, two mountainous test targets rose, each five meters wide and long, with a thickness of sixteen meters.

Campbell pointed to the targets and explained to Nareth,

"These test targets are forged from the toughest jade of Daxos Alpha."

"Only a knight suit's thermal cannon can destroy them."

Nareth nodded.

"Fire!"

Alvarez immediately complied. Though Bowen had always been the most talented knight apprentice, Alvarez's pride as a knight drove him to perform at his best.

As power surged, the Sacred Mars' right-arm thermal cannon activated, making the ground tremble beneath it. Data from the target two hundred meters away flooded his mind.

A flash tore through the valley as a superheated explosion vaporized the test target in an instant.

At the same time, the Shield of Daxos' thermal cannon also annihilated its jade target.

"Second test, prepare."

"Third test, prepare."

Three times in succession, both knight suits' thermal cannons completed the trials successfully.

On the surface, it seemed a draw; both machines appeared in perfect condition.

Yet Nareth's lips curled into a smile of absolute confidence.

His perception had already detected it: the Shield of Daxos' power systems were overheating. Its weakness had been exposed.

"Proceed to the next test: the Reaper Chainsword."

The roaring chaiswords on the left arms of both suits activated as they charged forward.

In moments, they reached the first jade target. A single swing reduced the massive stone to rubble.

Without pause, the two knight suits advanced toward the next target.

But after just two strides, Bowen suddenly noticed warning lights flashing across his control panel

[Temperature critical.]

[Cooling system failure.]

[…]

Bowen hesitated. He should halt immediately and let the Relic-Keeper conduct repairs.

But he knew the consequences. Before the duel, his father, the patriarch of House Derisha, had urged him to secure victory at all costs, to defend the honor of Daxos.

And then, he heard it, the roaring voices of ancestral spirits in his ears:

"Boy of Derisha, fear not. It is stronger than you think."

"..."

The whispering ghosts of his ancestors gave him strength.

He roared forward and smashed through the second test block.

'Just one more to go'

The moment the thought crossed his mind, the control panel erupted into a frenzy of red alerts.

"No!"

The young knight's cry of defiance was cut short as the Shield of Daxos' power systems failed mid-stride. The towering war machine crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact.

The sound struck the hearts of every knight and squire present. None had expected the Relic-Keeper to fail.

Stunned, the Relic-Keeper stood frozen for a moment before reality set in. He rushed toward the fallen Shield of Daxos.

Campbell's expression darkened. He stepped before Nareth and said solemnly:

"You've won the first duel."

The Relic-Keeper had suffered a total defeat in his own field of expertise.

His repairs had taken ten solar hours longer than the Techmarine's. The weapon systems he restored were less stable, and the suit's operational duration was far shorter.

Nareth turned to Gabriel, eyes filled with approval.

"Well done."

Gabriel smiled proudly.

"Father, I have not failed you."

Nareth then looked to the Knight King.

"For the second duel, how shall we compete?"

Campbell was silent for a moment. Having reassessed the black-armored warriors' capabilities, he adjusted his strategy and replied:

"I propose a team battle. A knight of House Hitra and his two squires will face three of your sons."

"On Daxos, knights and squires typically fight in coordinated units."

Though the Astartes were formidable, the Knight King had observed that one-on-one, they were still no match for a knight suit.

To ensure fairness, he had initially considered pitting one knight and ten squires against them. But after witnessing the Astartes' combat prowess, he settled on a trio.

Three or ten squires made little difference; the knight suit was the core of their strength, with squires merely covering flanks or providing support.

But according to recent tactical reports, three Astartes and ten squires were very different beasts.

Nareth glanced at the number of knight suits and immediately understood: their mixed formations of knights and squires were born of necessity; they simply lacked enough suits for full knights.

"Very well," he said, turning to Bukayo.

"You'll lead the team. Choose two others to join you."

"As you command, Father."

The "Nightmare" bowed in acknowledgment.

.....

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

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