Horus Heresy Collected Visions

A backhand swipe from Horus knocked the Emepror through a stone bulkhead. His counterstroke tore a supporting column out of the ceiling as the Warmaster ducked.

The Emperor could sense the Chaos powers in the warp. They howled in glee adn rage as they fed their pawn more power. They had waited long for this chance to strike at their most ardent foe. The Lord of Humanity stood alone against their massed might and knew that he was losing. Somehow he could not make himself bring his full force to bear on Horus; the Warmaster might be a traitor but deep within him was still his favored son, the finest of the Primarchs, the beloved scion.

Horus showed no such restraint. A lightning claw cut the Emperor's armor as if it were cloth, sheered through flesh and bone. The Emperor riposted with a psychic stroke intended to disrupt the Warmaster's nervous system. Horus laughed as he deflected it easily. His claws raked the Emperor across the throat, crushing his windpipe and severing his jugular. The Emperor gasped for breath as his blood spurted forth. He staggered, clutching desperately at his neck. Another blow severed the tendons of his wrist, causing his sword to drop from nerveless fingers.

Insane laughter echoed around the chamber. Horus broke several ribs with an almost playful punch. A surge of energy seared the Emperor's face, melting flesh ti it ran, burst an eyeball, set the hair alight. The Emperor stifled a moan and wondered how he could be losing. Blackness threatened to engulf him.

Horus grabbed his wrist, splintering bones. Blood pumped from the Emperor's throat. Horus lifted his foe above his head and brought him down across his knee, breaking his spine. For a second, the Emperor knew only darkness then a flare of agony brought him back to consciousness as Horus ripped his arm from his socket. The Warmaster howled with bestial triumph.

Suddenly, the battering stopped.