Now, Abaddon was deeply frustrated. He'd thought he'd finally matched his gene-father, even forcing him to the brink.
But in an instant, Horus had taught him a lesson: everything Abaddon had seen was just what Horus allowed. Their seemingly even battle was just a game!
"No! I refuse!" Abaddon roared, charging again with his daemon sword.
But this time, Horus didn't hold back. He made a gesture, crossing his hands over his chest.
"Dark Cluster Ray!" A black-purple shockwave fired from Horus's arms.
Abaddon quickly raised his sword to block, but Horus laughed and increased the output, blasting Abaddon away and even cracking his sword.
"The real battle begins now. That was just a test. Now, you're worthy to see your father's ultimate form," Horus declared, pointing at Abaddon.
Abaddon knelt, gasping, half his chest blown away. But the gods' power was already healing him.
"Don't underestimate me, Horus!" Abaddon roared, leaning on his sword to stand.
Horus blurred into a black afterimage, appearing instantly before Abaddon and unleashing a flurry of blows faster than sound.
Abaddon was battered senseless, unable to follow Horus's movements, seeing only a streak of black.
Horus pulled back and fired a barrage of small black energy blasts, causing massive explosions.
"Ahhh!" Abaddon screamed in agony, his limbs and body blasted apart, blood pouring onto the ground.
"See now? The gap between us. I could've destroyed you from a distance from the start. I only fought you up close to test your strength," Horus said, arms crossed.
Even in basic giant form, he could fire energy rays—techniques learned from Ace Seven. That alone could have destroyed Abaddon, but after so long apart, he wanted to see how far his best son had come.
"Shut up! I'm not your son! I have no trace of your gene-seed left—my Black Legion now carries mine!" Abaddon shouted, wounds already healing.
Since becoming a Demon Primarch, Abaddon could produce his own gene-seed, replacing that of the Black Legion.
"Is that so? Do you hate me that much?" Horus sighed.
After their duel, he finally realized—Abaddon was different from his old, god-empowered self.
Back then, Horus was corrupted into betraying his father and the Imperium.
But Abaddon had joined Chaos of his own free will. The gods hadn't needed to corrupt him.
If so, there was no need for mercy. Horus readied to end Abaddon's pain.
He crossed his hands, one glowing red, the other purple, and unleashed his ultimate move: the Blazing Darkness Ray.
The massive purple-red blast shot toward Abaddon—if hit, he'd die utterly, gods' blessing or not, body and soul obliterated.
Farewell! In my heart, you're still my Captain, my finest gene-son, my greatest child.
At that moment, a purple-armored giant appeared, shielding Abaddon.
The dark-red blast struck the newcomer, whose chest opened to reveal a sapphire-like timer, absorbing the energy.
For a moment, all was still—the signal light on the chest matched the dark giant's exactly.
"Thanks for your ultimate, I'll be taking that," Sidonis said coldly.
"Who are you, who could withstand my ultimate move?" Horus asked.
The purple giant radiated Slaanesh's Chaos power—was this some special greater daemon?
"You think beating Abaddon lets you rule all Chaos Marines? You still have to get past me!" Sidonis raised his purple daemon sword Frostmourne.
"Let's see how many shots you can take," Horus grunted, firing another Dark Cluster Ray.
Sidonis was unfazed. Upgraded and empowered by the gods, his body was now nearly indestructible.
He absorbed the beam without a ripple.
Horus frowned. He knew how strong that attack was—it could destroy a battleship. It should have killed Abaddon, but this purple giant had taken two shots with no effect!
"You're done. Now it's my turn," Sidonis replied, mimicking Horus's gesture and firing a Dark Cluster Ray.
Horus was shocked, blocking just in time.
"How can you use my ultimate move? That's not a power you should have!" Horus demanded.
The Dark Cluster Ray was his own creation, fusing some of Ace Seven's moves and the Emperor's dark side. It should be unique!
"There's much you don't know!"
The two giants faced off, firing beams at each other. The meeting point of their energies erupted with terrifying power.
Moments later, the planet shook with a massive explosion. Most Chaos Space Marines had already fled to the far side of the planet—only champions, daemon princes, and great daemons dared watch.
"Nice work, Sidonis! Let's join forces to kill him," Abaddon said, having recovered.
He'd thought he was doomed, but Sidonis had saved him!
"I don't need you—just watch!" Sidonis drew his purple sword and became a violet blur, charging Horus.
"Like I'd be afraid!" Horus became a black streak, charging too.
Abaddon could only watch as purple and black afterimages clashed, unable to follow their speed.
He wanted to help gang up on his gene-father but was completely outclassed.
He, too, could grow gigantic, but what was with their insane speed?
Soon, Abaddon witnessed a scene he'd never forget.
The purple and black figures shot into the sky, colliding across the planet's surface, their battle shaking the heavens.
Tempests raged, black and violet energy balls colliding in the sky, tearing the very sky apart!