Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

At the same time, members of the Seventh Chapter who had acquired their Gyrinxs began their respective attempts at taming them.

Szczesny and Jorginho used similar methods. As "Folk of Rage" who favored the sea, both had pools on their ships filled with seawater from the Symphony of the Sea.

They threw their Gyrinxs into the water simultaneously. "Let's go swimming, diving," they said.

Then they jumped in, dragging the Gyrinxs underwater.

The "Folk of Rage" delighted in diving, holding the cats under until the creatures began flailing and choking. Only then did they lift them back to the surface.

Compared to this, Sanchez's method was far more twisted. Upon returning to the Void Hunter, he took his Gyrinx alone to the lower deck.

The "Hunter" studied the orange-furred Gyrinx. Its clear blue eyes watched him warily.

The "Provoker" smirked.

'Taming this thing… should be fun.'

His expression changed, taunting and mocking.

"I know you want to run. Fine, I'll give you a chance."

"No matter how far you go, you'll realize in the end: you'll never escape the palm of my hand."

He raised a clenched fist.

Since ascending to Sequence 8, "Provoker" granted Sanchez permanent enhancements, but required activation to trigger its effects.

Passively, he now had heightened insight, far beyond the normal. He could easily discern what speech, gestures, or topics would most likely upset his target, and with a few casual words, provoke them into rage.

Once "Provocation" was activated, it fused with insulting words and humiliating actions to drive communicative targets mad with fury.

The more personal and targeted the insults, the stronger the effect.

To insult effectively, one had to know the target, understand them well.

But even shouting "You piece of trash!" would provoke some level of anger.

Against non-communicative creatures, "Provoker" caused them to instinctively detest them.

Sure enough, the affected Gyrinx was instantly consumed by fury. Its bright blue "lake-like" eyes flared with rage.

Its brown fur lifted and flared as if catching fire.

Several balls of brown-yellow flame shot toward the "Provoker."

The now quicker, more agile Sanchez dodged them with ease.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted again.

While he continued to provoke the Gyrinx repeatedly, on the throne of Exemplaria, the capital of Vostroya, the Primarch received a visit from the Flagship Captain.

He extended his consciousness toward her, slipping past her void-like mental defenses. He immediately noticed Diana had dark circles under her eyes; she looked even more exhausted than after commanding long space battles.

He looked toward the small Gyrinx beside her and asked, "Having trouble forming a psychic bond with it?"

"Yes, Lord Primarch."

"I've tried many things, but I haven't found what it's interested in. I have to keep it by my side constantly."

She didn't say it outright, but she had to watch it constantly to prevent it from escaping.

It wasn't just exhausting, it was demoralizing. The helplessness sapped her more than the effort.

As she spoke, she glanced to the left armrest of the black throne, where a small ginger-colored fluffball was lying contentedly.

A Gyrinx.

It was like a pampered pet, enjoying the Primarch's caresses.

'Lord Nareth tamed his Gyrinx… in just two work cycles?'

Diana's eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, she glanced at the trembling, fur-bristling Gyrinx beside her, clearly reacting to the black-armored giant's presence.

"I can give you the power," Nareth said, "to see the Gyrinx's thoughts."

"But I have one condition: you must swear fealty to me."

Nareth had observed Diana closely over this period. Her ability was outstanding, and her loyalty had reached the standard.

Without hesitation, the female captain dropped to one knee.

To be chosen… to ascend aboard the Throne of Shadow's Soveriegnity… to follow a Primarch, only now did she understand the sheer extraordinary nature of Nareth.

Not only was he godlike in personal combat, but even in the field she excelled at, space warfare, she was no match.

With reverent eyes, she looked at the black-armored giant seated on the throne.

"I, Diana Pauline, swear loyalty to Lord Nareth. Your command is my law."

"I accept your oath," Nareth nodded in satisfaction. "Wait in the antechamber."

Twenty-three minutes later, the new "Spectator" had mastered her powers under mental guidance. She turned to Nareth, trying to view him from an observer's perspective.

But within seconds, she lost composure. As she examined him, she was overwhelmed by his flawless physique, his face, and those unwavering black-opal eyes.

The "Spectator" blushed, as if back at her first ball, meeting her first suitor.

She silently abandoned the idea of "observing" the Gene-Primarch and instead turned her gaze to the ginger fluffball beside his high-heeled black boots.

"I am now a 'Spectator.' By observing the Gyrinx, I can understand its thoughts. That will help me form a psychic bond more quickly."

"Correct," Nareth nodded. "Now go, be a good Spectator."

After saluting, she picked up the little Gyrinx and left the palace.

An adjutant quickly approached. "Ma'am, the gunship is ready. Shall we return to the flagship?"

Diana shook her head. "No. We'll take it for a walk through Paradigm."

Upper Hive, Commercial District.

Diana strolled through the market. Since becoming a "Spectator," her mental clarity had swept away her fatigue.

With heightened awareness, she walked beside the Gyrinx, observing it like a bystander.

Suddenly, she noticed its deep-blue eyes pause ever so slightly on something.

Before, she wouldn't have noticed such a minor detail.

But now, it was clear. She could even see a faint desire in the creature's gaze.

Her memory now slightly enhanced, she retraced the Gyrinx's line of sight.

There, inside a shop, a black-robed merchant stood behind a jewelry counter, speaking to a customer.

"This psionic earring is made from a crystal from the Symphony of the Sea. Price: 190,000 Sovereign Coins."

Diana knew: Symphony crystals were sorted by quality. Inferior ones entered civilian markets, used in various psionic tools.

Sovereign Coins were the new currency Nareth issued after unifying Vostonia, replacing Martian currency and becoming the standard across Legion territories.

Imperial Aquila coins from the wider Imperium still circulated, but they were far less influential.

'The Gyrinx has psychic potential… so it's drawn to psionic crystals.'

Diana immediately ordered her adjutant: "Buy that psionic crystal earring."

"As you command."

As the adjutant walked off, he thought privately,

'The captain, who's always hated accessories… buying jewelry?'

'Maybe it's frustration from failing to tame the Gyrinx. A little retail therapy?'

'Not very 'Diana', but very much a woman.'

As he entered the jewelry store, the customer inside muttered, "Too expensive."

"I'll take it," the adjutant interrupted.

The shopkeeper looked up. Judging from the adjutant's posture and assertiveness, he quickly recognized him as a military officer.

In a supply hub like Vostroya, that wasn't unusual.

Cautiously, he said, "Excellent choice, sir. This is a piece by Borgkamp, one of Vostroya's top jewelers."

"It's impressive."

'No wonder Lady Diana chose it.'

The cut crystal glinted sharply, casting rainbows of color as it danced with the light.

Moments later, the adjutant watched, stunned, as the fleet captain crouched in front of the Gyrinx, earring in hand.

The "Spectator" watched as cries of surprise rose from onlookers. The little Gyrinx stretched out its paw, grabbed the earring… then stuck out its tongue and licked it.

The ginger-furred creature swallowed the entire earring in one gulp, then looked up at Diana with a gaze that was now a bit less distant, and a bit more trusting.

As Diana found a way to bond with the Gyrinx.

.....

Nareth received a report from the Astropath.

The message was from the Emperor summoning Nareth for two reasons:

To reward him for his expeditions, especially the reclamation of the Knight World Daxos Twin World System.

To inform him of a rumor, told by merchants who roam the galaxy, about a powerful warrior recently emerging on Fenris… possibly another Primarch.

Since Horus had recently redoubled his efforts, the Emperor wanted Nareth to accompany him.

'Fenris… Leman Russ.'

Nareth had no interest in meeting other Primarchs.

He was about to use "military engagements" as an excuse when he remembered Fenris was full of dangerous beasts, potentially valuable for potion ingredients.

'Especially the Fenrisian Kraken, likely a mid-tier ingredient for the 'Tyrant' Path.'

With that thought, Nareth changed his mind and decided to bring Sanchez along.

Five work cycles later, the Throne of Shadow's Soveriegnity, now equipped with Aether Cannons, departed.

Sanchez and the other "Hunters" boarded the flagship, leaving the Void hunter behind for retrofitting.

During the voyage to Fenris, Bukayo received a transport ship bearing star maps to Mordian, data crystals written by the Primarch himself, and his very own Gyrinx.

...

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

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