The Traitor’s Rise to Power
In a shocking turn of events, Horus, once the most trusted of the Emperor’s generals, revealed his true intentions. Alongside several other secretly traitorous legions, he moved to quell a rebellion on Isstvan III, but his actions would soon prove to be a mere ruse.
Betrayal on a Massive Scale
Upon arrival, Horus sent specially selected troops from all four of the legions with him to the planet’s surface, deliberately selecting those who would never join him in open rebellion. He then proceeded to virus bomb the entire world, killing billions of inhabitants and hundreds of space marines in an instant. The psychic shock wave from this event was said to be louder than the Astronomican.
Aftermath and Repercussions
Horus redeployed his forces to Isstvan V, where he was met by seven Space Marine legions sent to bring him to Terra to face an inquest into his actions. However, four of these seven legions would ultimately rebel against the Emperor, joining Horus’ cause. The traitor’s power grew as he hunted down the three legions that had remained loyal, with only a few Space Marines managing to escape his forces and make it back to Terra.
A Personal Fiefdom
As Horus’ rebellion spread, he claimed a personal fiefdom in the northern Imperium, dubbing it the Dark Empire. His actions became increasingly erratic, and he began to lament the loss of true strategists like Ferrus Manus, Primarch of the Iron Hands, whom he had killed and whose skull he now kept in his throne room.
Unlocking Dark Powers
Following a failed assassination attempt, Horus regained a lost memory that the Emperor had erased – the Emperor’s unlocking of dark powers on Molech. Horus invaded the planet, hoping to gain the same abilities as his father. After an unspecified period of time within the Warp, Horus emerged with his powers greatly increased, having visibly aged despite mere moments passing in the Materium.
Newfound Power and Resolve
With his newfound abilities, Horus set his sights on making war on the Emperor. He survived an infiltration by the Knights-Errant led by Garviel Loken and killed Iacton Qruze before the Knights-Errant escaped. Horus’ resolve was clear: he would stop at nothing to overthrow the Emperor and claim dominion over the Imperium.
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