Looking into the darkness of the rift, he could feel an impossible amount of power, a type that he was somewhat familiar with yet highly corrupted. When he first came to this world, there were many things he did not understand, but he could still clearly remember how the force that brought him here felt.
"I am guessing that this is the warp. It truly is exactly as I theorized," Bastion said as he stepped closer.
Using Ascrius-21, he had experimented with psykers, and he eventually reached the conclusion that the warp and chaos were two separate entities. One was a field, while the other was a plague.
However, knowing the difference did nothing for him in the moment, since he had no idea how to close the rift. He simply gathered his resolve and dropped to his knees.
Unbeknownst to him, as he approached, the massive rift shrank, though only slightly. Even a tear in space cannot maintain itself without proper fuel. Bastion remained unaware, kneeling with his hands clasped together.
If he did not have the power to close it on his own, then he knew someone who did. With his eyes closed, Bastion began his prayer, a golden halo forming above his head.
Behind him, several of the Sanctis arrived after completing their battles in the tunnels. Their armor was stained with blood, yet their spears still gleamed faintly in the half-darkness of the underhive.
"My lord!" Evangeline called out the moment she arrived, but the others quickly hushed her.
"Bow your heads in prayer," Lucilla ordered. Even though she felt something was not quite right, she followed the teachings Bastion had given them. They knelt and bowed as a golden radiance spread outward. The once-dark underhive lit up, drenched in unseen power.
The battle priests and Arbites who followed witnessed a miracle beyond anything they had encountered before. The rift closed as if wiped out of existence. Where corruption once festered, grace now bloomed. Flowers sprouted across the ground. Every person present immediately bowed their head, not solely by choice but as if compelled by a higher authority.
"As it is written: at the mention of your name, every knee must bow and every tongue will confess," Bastion declared.
It was a miracle without precedent, except for his own rebirth. To him, however, it was an unexpected occurrence. Such events might trouble him, but nothing could trouble his God, even if the challenge were multiplied a million times.
Several minutes later, Bastion stood up and noticed servo-skulls drifting around him along with several abominations the Ecclesiarchy called cherubs. He chose to ignore them.
Beyond them, the giant gateway had vanished. In its place lay a vast field that now covered the entire area once consumed by the rift.
"As expected, you truly are a cheat in this world," Bastion said with a faint smile before turning away.
"Woah!" he exclaimed as he stopped abruptly.
Behind him stood thousands of individuals. The Sanctis were closest, followed by priests and nobles who had gathered behind them. What had begun as a simple prayer had become a massive gathering, a congregation under his authority.
"Your Grace," Lucilla said while bowing along with the other Sanctis.
"We are done here. Let us go," Bastion replied and began walking away.
People remained bowed as he passed, but he did not turn to acknowledge them. He simply continued forward.
While reflecting on the events, he understood that this situation had ended as swiftly as it did only because he was present.
Minutes later, Bastion saw the open ceiling of the mid-hive above. Selene had already established a perimeter, and Skitarii forces guarded the area to prevent civilians from approaching the site of the purge. The scene gave him a slight sense of satisfaction, but he still had work to finish.
Cults were made up of common civilians with no access to proper weaponry. Even with the aid of Chaos and its Ruinous Powers, they were insufficient on their own. He was convinced that someone among the higher command was responsible for this uprising.