Warhammer: The 11th Primarch - The Black Emperor

In the Imperium of Man, a Knight World is classified as a feudal planet with advanced technology, ruled by elite families known as Knight Houses.

Most Knight Worlds were established during the Age of Dark Technology, when humanity expanded beyond Terra in search of new frontiers.

These worlds were often settled due to resource demands, fertile agri-worlds, or mineral-rich mining planets.

Some colonizing fleets carried both Knight suits and their pilots, who became pioneers of these Knight Worlds.

During the Age of Strife, these planets, like many others, were cut off from the rest of humanity due to Warp storms.

Over centuries of isolation, they evolved into full feudal societies. The noble class gained control of both the Knight suits and the planets themselves.

The first Knight House was House Taranis of Mars.

They had existed on Mars centuries before any other house and were among the first to kneel before the Emperor, signing the Treaty of Olympus alongside the Mechanicum.

Thus, they earned the title of the Glorious Forge and the First Glorious Knight House.

From Nareth's memories, the first Knight World to be rediscovered by the Imperium was Chrysis, which would be discovered by a wandering rogue trader in the year 850 M.30, only dozens of light-years from Sol.

Now, on the galactic star chart, located northeast of the Vostroyan System, a Knight World had been discovered by the Third Chapter of the 11th Legion.

Nareth issued orders to the 28th Expedition Fleet, dispatching the Thousand Sons towards the unknown southwest of Vostroya.

Then he himself ordered his fleet to set course for the Daxos Star System.

Seated upon the command throne, Nareth tapped the armrest lightly with a finger.

House Vextrix...

He remembered House Vextrix as loyal followers of Mars, who sided with the Warmonger during the Horus Heresy, standing firmly with the Fabricator-General.

Still, Nareth wouldn't wipe them out for their future betrayal. He had two reasons:

First, if he could subjugate a Knight World, the Emperor would be pleased.

Such an achievement would be a major political asset, ideal for propaganda, and a happy Emperor was bound to grant rewards.

This conquest could become one of Nareth's greatest accolades, making him the first Primarch to conquer a Knight World, which would boost his political capital immensely.

Second, memory is just memory; the future can still be rewritten.

Nareth was confident he could win over House Vextrix. After all, they were one of the smallest Knight Houses.

Even before the Heresy, they had only about 140 Knight suits.

His eyes gleamed as he thought to himself:

'To fully subjugate House Vextrix, the first step is to show strength. My combat power can suppress Knights, but technology is also key. Their loyalty to Mars wasn't just faith, it was also about access to tech.'

Having decided, he gave a command:

"Gabriel, report to my private chamber in ten standard ship minutes."

Seventeen minutes later, Nareth used telepathic communion to help the newly promoted "Savant" Gabriel stabilize his powers.

Then he issued a command,

"Use the power I've given you well. Prioritize research into Jorgall technology."

"As you wish, Father."

....

Back on Terra, at the Imand Training Complex

Between the three towering spires of Iphigenes, Treon, and Morv, there lay a massive open training ground.

Cold rain pelted down from a steel-gray sky, frigid, heavy, unrelenting.

Like the others, Wilshire shivered, trying to resist the onslaught of cold, darkness, exhaustion, and anxiety.

But unlike the others, though his body trembled slightly, Wilshire's face radiated confidence.

For two months, he had endured testing, scrutiny, beatings, shaping, humiliation, and brutal training.

He had faced each ordeal, overcome pain, and burned his goals into his heart. He refused to give up.

A grim-faced instructor stood to the side, head high, eyes indifferent to them.

When Wilshire first arrived at Imand, he had burned with anger and, like the others, despised the instructors.

But now, he felt nothing. The instructor was just another obstacle in his life.

"You will be evaluated. This is an individual trial. Do not assist anyone around you."

"Strike the gong!"

At the sharp sound, Wilshire immediately launched into a sprint.

He wondered how long today's trial would last.

From past observations, he had deduced the purpose: eliminate the weakest while also measuring overall training progress.

To reach the Gate of Ascension, they had to outpace everyone else in improvement and endurance.

He and thirty-three other boys hit the track at full speed, each slipping into the running rhythm best suited to their bodies.

They all knew to inhale through the nose, exhale through half-open mouths, and let their worn sneakers slap the rain-slicked track.

Wilshire, head held high, led the pack, just like always.

One boy fell behind from the start, his injury from previous training hadn't healed, and the wait in the cold had stiffened his muscles.

Stumbling, he fell, dirt and tears mixing on his face.

He knew he had failed. He would never become an Astartes, never fight among the stars, never serve the Emperor.

Wilshire vaulted over traps, leapt pits, and scaled walls, finishing the first lap first.

He passed the boy who had fallen, now pounding the ground in rage and despair, but Wilshire didn't stop, didn't slow.

The pain in his muscles grew, his legs stung from scrapes, the wind and rain made it worse, but he was long used to pain.

He would never let pain bring him down.

By the second lap, the fallen boy had been carried off by attendants.

Wilshire didn't know if the boy was being sent home or somewhere else, and he didn't care.

He was certain; he would not be eliminated.

After three hours, the first to quit voluntarily appeared.

His head throbbed, the rain pounded like stones, and his body shook violently. He couldn't even breathe.

Wilshire passed him by without a second glance.

'Too weak. You should've adapted by now. This isn't the first time.'

Eventually, another boy dropped out; he'd skipped meals the night before and could no longer silence the hunger pains in his gut.

He just wanted hot soup and a full stomach.

At last, the gong sounded again. Wilshire stopped running.

....

After five standard weeks of warp travel, Nareth's fleet arrived at the Daxos Star System.

He immediately sent a message to Bukayo, summoning the Chapter Master to the Void Hunter for a status report.

.....

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

[email protected]/DaoistJinzu