The Unyielding Ferocity of the World Eaters
Under Angron’s leadership, the World Eaters Legion became notorious for their unrelenting ferocity and brutal tactics. Their training regimens, already considered the most grueling among the Space Marine Legions, were intensified to include fighting pits and gladiatorial combat. Those who emerged victorious wore their scars as badges of honor, while those who failed did not survive to try again.
A Culture of Savage Competition
Angron’s influence erased any remaining Terran martial traditions within the War Hounds, replacing them with his own red code of savage competition and butchery of the weak. The World Eaters’ symbol, a fanged maw, struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. As they campaigned across the galaxy, Angron demanded that his sons conquer worlds within 31 hours – the span of a single Nucerian day and the time it took him to achieve his greatest victory.
The Butcher’s Nails: A Fatal Obsession
Angron ordered his Apothecarion to replicate the Butcher’s Nails, implants that amplified aggression and strength. However, the process proved fatal to many Marines who attempted to undergo the procedure. Undeterred, Angron continued to push for the development of the Nails, convinced that they held the key to unlocking his Legion’s true potential.
Decimation and Revolt
Time and again, the World Eaters failed to meet Angron’s deadlines, and he demanded decimation – the punishment of one in every ten World Eaters by their comrades. This led to a crisis within the Legion, culminating in a revolt led by Centurion Mago after the Ghenna Massacre. Although the revolt was put down, and Mago slain, the incident highlighted the deep-seated problems within the World Eaters.
A Byword for Slaughter and Violence
The World Eaters’ reputation for brutality spread throughout the galaxy, striking fear into the hearts of their enemies. Worlds surrendered at the mere threat of their arrival, knowing that resistance would be met with merciless slaughter. The Legion’s actions drew concern from even the most hardened Imperial Commanders, including Primarch Roboute Guilliman of the Ultramarines.
Confrontation and Exile
Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves, confronted Angron, urging him to cease implanting his Legionnaires with aggression engines and to stop the massacres. The meeting ended in bloodshed, with Angron besting Russ in combat but ultimately allowing himself to become surrounded. The Emperor intervened, reprimanding Angron and ordering the prohibition of the Butcher’s Nails. The World Eaters were exiled to the northern fringes of known space, where they continued to operate without oversight.
A Grievous Mistake
The Emperor eventually recalled the World Eaters to the front lines, assigning Warmaster Horus Lupercal to mentor Angron and oversee the Legion. This decision would prove disastrous, as the World Eaters’ unyielding ferocity and brutal tactics would ultimately contribute to the Horus Heresy, a civil war that would shake the foundations of the Imperium.
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