The Dark King, Theoretical 5th Chaos God
The Dark King: The Emperor’s Chaotic Ascension
The Prophecy of the Dark King
The Dark King is a theoretical fifth Chaos God, whispered in the prophecies of both Eldar seers and human mystics. This dark entity represents the concept of destruction without purpose, a nihilistic force driven solely by the need to annihilate all existence. Its existence was first explicitly mentioned during the Siege of Terra, one of the most pivotal moments in the Horus Heresy. For centuries, the Dark King was thought to be a vague threat or a warning about the perils of unchecked Chaos, its exact nature shrouded in mystery and foreboding.
The Emperor’s Near-Ascension
During the climactic battle aboard Horus’s flagship, the Vengeful Spirit, the Emperor of Mankind accessed immense Warp power in a desperate attempt to defeat the corrupted Warmaster. In doing so, He briefly transformed into an entity resembling the Dark King, surrounded by lightning and encased in an obsidian sphere of energy. This power annihilated all nearby Custodians and sent waves of terror rippling through even the Daemons of Chaos. It appeared as though the Emperor was succumbing to the same corrupting influence that had claimed so many of His sons, becoming the very force of destruction that He had sought to prevent.
The Intervention of Humanity
The Emperor’s transformation deeply unsettled Malcador the Sigillite, His closest ally, who feared the catastrophic consequences of the Emperor’s ascension. At this critical juncture, a group of heroic figures, including Ollanius Persson, John Grammaticus, Leetu, and Garviel Loken, intervened. Ollanius Persson, known for his wisdom and humanity, confronted the Emperor and reminded Him of His mortal origins and the ideals He had fought for. Persson’s words convinced the Emperor to renounce the destructive power of the Dark King, even though doing so risked His ability to defeat Horus. This selfless act unleashed a devastating blast of energy, purging much of the Warp’s corruption from the battlefield.
The Delayed Rise of the Dark King
The Emperor’s decision to relinquish the Dark King’s mantle came at a great cost, leaving His mortal form critically wounded and necessitating His placement on the Golden Throne. However, this choice delayed the rise of the Dark King, ensuring that humanity would not face a new Chaos God in the immediate future. Despite this reprieve, the prophecy remains unfulfilled, as time holds no meaning in the Immaterium. The influence of the Dark King is believed to linger in the Warp, waiting for an opportune moment to manifest fully, as the grim fate of the galaxy continues to unfold.