A man from the left side, one of the taller Space Marines in the group, steps forward. His skin tone and hair color resemble the mutations Atharion seen in the reports provided by Nine. His eyes, a deep scarlet red, similar to many from the hive cities, are the difference with Atharion gold color eyes, glare at Atharion with barely concealed contempt.
"Wait a moment," he says, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "What makes you think you're in charge? Just because you're taller and bigger doesn't mean you get to be our leader." His gaze sharpens as he sizes Atharion up, challenging Atharion authority.
"Yeah, what gives you the right?" another voice chimes in from the group, the tension rising. "We don't even know who you are!"
A wave of murmurs follows, more voices joining in. The men from the hive cities, many of them with that same crimson or scarlet hue in their eyes, stare at Atharion with a mix of suspicion and hostility. They're not buying his leadership, and the weight of their doubt fills the room.
"Who made you the boss, anyway?"
"How do we know you're capable of leading us?"
Their questions come at Atharion like rapid-fire, but behind their bravado, he sense fear, a fear of the unknown, a fear of being led into something they don't know by someone they don't trust. The second batch of recruits, standing silently in the back, seem no less conflicted. Their eyes, the blue color eyes, reflect their own dissatisfaction with Atharion self-proclaimed leadership, though they remain more reserved in expressing it.
"Then," Atharion raised his voice so they all can hear him. "What can I do to let all of you to recognize me as the leader? At least let me have a chance to prove that I capable of leading you all."
The man who first challenged you steps forward again, eyes gleaming with excitement. "If you can defeat me," he says, a grim smile tugging at his lips, "and the others who share my doubts, then we will recognize you." His tone makes it clear, this isn't just a fight; it's a trial by combat, a test that would decide your authority over them, at least the batch from the hive cities.
"Understood." Atharion nodded. "If a fight you want, than a fight you will get." He reply, hiding his own excitement in finally able to fight with someone on some what equal footing, no strange men in the fog or training machine that Nine provided. He finally can test his own skill, on a living person.
When they hear about it, the men from the hive cities starting to exit the hall, passing by the men from the feudal world, which still didn't say anything in this whole situation.
But, even when Atharion standing pretty far from them, he can still feel the tension between them. Even though they just meet, the society rank still impacting their behavior of other people, even when they now sharing a same geneseed.
After they all leave, Atharion turn his eyes towards the men from the feudal world, the nobles. "So, I can see the doubt and defiance in your eyes, what do you wish to test me with?" Atharion ask them, while Atharion fixated his eyes on the person that standing in front of them. "The same of them, a fight? Or something else?"
The person scoffs, meeting Atharion gaze with the disdain of someone accustomed to looking down on others. "A fight?" he repeats, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Don't put us with those lowlife, those barbaric only know one thing, that's why they always the same, even after they become a space marine." His words are laced with the arrogance of common nobility.
"But the savages have a point," says a man standing to the left of the first speaker. "Prowess is indeed an important trait for a leader of a Space Marine Chapter."
He pauses, then adds, "However, a leader must also possess the wisdom to guide his men, not only into battle but also in planning for our future and ensuring our survival."
The man's tone drips with arrogance, and the others nod in agreement. "Thus, we challenge you to a duel in a simulated battle, where you will be tested on your knowledge of warfare."
His eyes narrow slightly as he continues, "If you even have any," he mutters under his breath, just loud enough for the other nobles to hear. They chuckle quietly, their disdain evident.
"If you pass this test, then you will earn our trust in your ability to lead us, for now. But we will expect to see more of your capabilities as time goes on."
"Understood, I accept your challenge." Atharion nodded and reply. "But, I will face the fight with the other first, after that, I will face your challenge."
The man standing at the front of the nobles gives a dismissive nod. "Fine. After all, you're the one being challenged. We have enough manners to let you choose which challenge to face first," he says, his voice laced with disinterest.
He pauses before adding with a sneer, "Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be leaving. Make sure you're not late for your challenges, ChapterMaster." The title is spat with mocking disdain, and the group turns to leave, their arrogance palpable.
After they leave, there are actually four more groups, smaller groups that still in the hall. While Atharion still puzzled by this, they all approach him, with helmets on their hands.
"Hello, I'm Vitaris." A person wearing a black mk VIII armor with a white helmet on his right hand introduce himself. " I'm the temporary leader for the apothecary team." His hairs and skin tone have the same mutation, while his eyes color are emerald green, same with the other two members of the group.
"My name is Thothrax." Another person also wearing a mark VIII armor, but color entirely in blue. "And I'm the temporary leader for the Librarian." His hair and skin tone also the same, and surprisedly, their eyes also same with Atharion, in gold.
"Name is Hecatrion." The person in a black mk VIII armor with skull-face helmet on hand say. "I'm the temporary leader for the Chaplaincy." His and the other two person in the same group have a stoic face, with only the eyes different with Atharion, their eyes are in black color.
"My name is Hestian." A man with red mk VIII armor introduce himself. "I'm the temporary leader for the Armory." He and the other two also have different eyes color, a brown color eyes.
"Nice to meet you all." Atharion say while shaking hands with the leaders of the group. "So, you all also want to test me?" Atharion ask them, thinking they also want to test his skill.
"No," Thothrax says while shaking his head. "We already know the outcome." He say firmly. "I actually already saw a future, where you leading our chapter that already grow much stronger than now, fighting a terrible enemy."
"But, unfortunately I can't identify the enemy, as the shadows that I saw are not the same with all the enemies that have been recorded into the archives." He say solemnly. "If not, I can provide more information on them."
Atharion felt relaxed after hearing he says that, while Atharion sure that he can overcome the challenges, but he still worries that if he can lead them well, even with what he have learn inside that dream.
But, Atharion may know some clues on the enemy Thothrax saying, as there are mainly three enemies that Imperium facing now, Orks, Eldars and the traitors. If it can't be recognized, then most likely will be either the Necrons or the Tyranids. As Hive Fleet Behemoth, the official first hive fleet that only arrive in 992.M41, the First Tyrannic War, while there are possibility that Hive Fleet Ouroboris already here in M36, near Eyes of Terror.
It's also possible to be the Necron as there only wake up in mass by M41, while some awaken as early as Great Crusade era, but only during the event of Sanctuary 101 does the Necron got truly recorded by the Imperium. So even if he see the pictures of a necron in the archives, he can't even identify it.
With this asides, Atharion said to them all. "Well, thank you for your support in acknowledging my position as the leader of chapter, I will prove to you all that trust are not misplaced and I encourage you all to challenge my decisions whenever necessary."
They all nodded and bow slightly towards Atharion to show respect, and leave the hall too. Now, only Atharion and Nine still inside the hall.
"Archmagos Nine, you have many things to tell me." As the door close by Atharion using his psychic power, he say while turning his head, facing Nine.