Sanguinius's words acted like a potent stimulant injected directly into the soul, dispersing the last traces of gloom that had clouded everyone's hearts.
Inside the strategy hall, the golden Holy Light had not yet fully dissipated. The air itself seemed permeated with an unprecedented sense of stability and strength.
Every Chapter Master and high-ranking warrior who received the blessing felt a warm, powerful new energy surging within them. This sacred light made their will more cohesive and their senses sharper.
Even the curse that had entangled their bloodline for ten thousand years seemed soothed by a layer of holy brilliance. Though not eradicated, the flaws became controllable in a way they had never experienced before.
Sanguinius knew his power could only temporarily alleviate the Black Rage and Red Thirst for his gene-sons in this universe.
To cure it completely, he would need to address the source within himself.
"Thousands of times over? Tens of thousands?" Sanguinius's voice was like an unsheathed blade, breaking the heavy silence. It carried an unquestionable majesty and a hint of mockery.
Every eye in the room instantly focused on the Great Angel.
"Numbers. The Tyranids are nothing but numbers." Sanguinius rose slowly.
Behind him, his golden wings unfurled, and a holy radiance once again illuminated the great hall, seemingly driving back the oppressive gloom cast by the Leviathan projection.
"They have an endless sea of insects driven by the Hive Mind, but we..." Sanguinius's gaze swept over the Chapter Masters who had just been baptized by his light. "...We have the glory of the Emperor! We have a will that can never be extinguished! And we have the resolve to fight to the death."
Sanguinius drew his sword and pointed it at the holographic star map. The tip of the blade burned with golden flame, as if threatening to ignite the foul projection itself.
"We shall win this war! Mephiston!"
"I am here, Father!" The Chief Librarian stood ready, the Holy Light around him surging like a tide as psychic energy fused with the sacred power.
"You have touched the power of the Holy Light. I need you to act as my beacon and my bulwark. When we teleport, the backlash from the Tyranid Hive Mind will be ferocious. You must guide the Holy Light of all Librarians and Chaplains to construct a Holy Barrier. You must withstand the psychic shock of the Hive Mind and ensure our transit is precise and stable," Sanguinius commanded.
Once the Tyranid Hive Fleet reached orbit, it would generate the terrifying Shadow in the Warp, blocking all psychic signals and driving lesser psykers to madness.
Therefore, someone had to lead the Chapter's priesthood, concentrating all their power to use the Holy Light as a wall against the Hive Mind.
This massive surge of psychic power would attract the attention of the main Tyranid fleet, creating the opening Sanguinius needed to execute a decapitation strike via boarding action.
"It shall be done, Father!" Mephiston's voice was steady and powerful.
"Dante, and all Chapter Masters. Summon your most elite Terminator squads. Bring every available meltabomb. Your father will lead you on a crusade."
"As you command, Great Sanguinius, Great Father of Genes." Dante and the Chapter Masters nodded, immediately moving to rally their veteran Terminators. They knew they might die in this war, but to perish at their Father's side was a death without regret.
Three days later, a massive force of three thousand Terminators had been assembled, a number exceeding the total strength of three standard Chapters.
Under Sanguinius's orders, aside from the Terminator squads, all other Blood Angels and successor chapter members remained on the surface of Mximbar to stand with the mortal soldiery against the descending Tyranid bio-pods. Vanguard Veterans, Dreadnoughts, and vast legions of Titans and Imperial Knights would stand with them.
No further words were needed. Sanguinius gave only a look, a single gesture. Three thousand veterans clad in Terminator armor followed their genetic father onto a Battle Barge.
As they boarded, a unit of Adepta Sororitas requested to join Sanguinius in the boarding action.
"Great Sanguinius, Great Son of the God-Emperor, I am Christina, a Canoness of the Adepta Sororitas. I implore you, let my sisters and me accompany you in this great and glorious war."
"Mortal, your will and your combat conviction have earned my recognition," Sanguinius replied. "I admire your courage, but this battle is not for you. If you wish to help, you may remain on the surface to support the ground war."
Facing these fanatical women, Sanguinius rejected them outright.
They were charging into the heart of a Tyranid Hive Ship, a venture fraught with extreme peril. He had no time to protect a group of mortals.
"No! Great Son of the God-Emperor, this is a moment of glory! Please allow my sisters and me to bask in this glorious moment. If you do not agree, we will all join the Repentia immediately," Canoness Christina declared, her voice trembling with agitation.
Dante, standing in the assembly hall, saw this and immediately whispered into Sanguinius's ear, explaining the nature of the Battle Sisters. He implied that the Great Angel should not underestimate them simply because they were women; their combat effectiveness often dropped jaws.
Furthermore, the Repentia was no place of honor, once a Battle Sister joined the Repentia to seek atonement, they were stripped of gear, armed only with a massive chainsword, and sent to charge suicidally into the enemy ranks.
These women were fanatical to the extreme. To witness the descent of Sanguinius and his launch of a great campaign, yet be denied participation, would be considered a sin by every Sister present.
Sanguinius sighed helplessly. He nodded, but ultimately selected only four thousand elite Battle Sisters to join his force.
He hoped these women were not merely useless decorations and that their strength was as formidable as Dante claimed, lest they become a burden.
"Thank you, Great Son of the God-Emperor! I will select the most elite sisters to join your ranks." Canoness Christina flushed with excitement. This was a monumental moment, to fight alongside a Son of the Emperor, a figure from myth.
Great God-Emperor, thank you for your grace!
Seeing this, Sanguinius shook his head with a touch of resignation. When he returned to his own universe, he wondered, would the Ecclesiarchy he led also birth such a group of fanatical warrior women?
Following this interlude, Sanguinius led his genetic sons and the Imperial Navy to engage the Tyranids in the orbit of Baal.
High above Baal, within the core of the Tyranid Hive Fleet.
Dozens of suffocatingly massive bio-ships, Hive Ships of the Leviathan Splinter Fleet, drifted through the void.
Each exceeded twenty-five kilometers in length, resembling living asteroids. Their surfaces were covered in thick chitinous armor, flowing with disgusting mucus and pulsing veins. Countless bio-weapon batteries and massive spore vents dotted their hulls like malignant tumors.
A cold, vast, and infinitely hungry psychic will, the Hive Mind, shrouded the fleet, forming an almost tangible shield of purple-black psychic energy.
Surrounding these mother ships were thousands of massive escort bio-ships. Upon approaching Baal's orbit, they jettisoned vast quantities of mycetic spores toward the surface, launching the first wave of the invasion.
On the ground, mortal troops made first contact with the fodder of the Tyranid swarm. Facing the overwhelming sea of insects, the Space Marines raised their weapons.
"The Archangel has returned! The swarm shall perish! For Baal! For the Emperor! Kill!!"
"Kill!!!"
"By the Blood!!!"
Earth-shaking roars mixed with surging Holy Light, sweeping through the fortress of the Angels like a golden storm. It scattered despair and ignited a monstrous battle-will to burn away the insect tide.
This was the first holy war of Sanguinius's return. Beneath the shadow of absolute disadvantage, they kicked off the counterattack with matchless conviction and sacred fire.
Brutal close-quarters combat erupted across the planet's surface. Golden light flashed upon the armor of the Space Marines, forming a solid barrier of holy energy.
Meanwhile, Mephiston gathered with the Librarians of the successor chapters. They pooled their psychic might into Mephiston alone, using the amplification of the Holy Light to attack the Tyranid Hive Mind.
A shockwave of golden psychic energy tore through realspace, slamming directly into the Shadow in the Warp.
ROAR—!!!
A silent yet soul-shaking scream, saturated with pain and fury, erupted from the depths of the Hive Ship. The Hive Mind had been struck, and it was angry.
The main Imperial fleet engaged the Tyranid Hive Fleet in a fierce exchange of fire.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Sanguinius assembled the three thousand Terminator veterans and the four thousand Battle Sisters.
"Remember," Sanguinius briefed them, "once the battle begins, everyone must carry two meltabombs. The Astartes will take point and hold the line. The Battle Sisters will be responsible for planting the charges and providing fire support."
"Great Son of the Emperor," Canoness Christina interjected, "the Battle Sisters can take the front. The Space Marines can provide cover."
Sanguinius frowned. "Sister, I spoke clearly. Here, you obey my command! Now, immediately, have you and your sisters grab as many meltabombs as you can carry and follow behind the Space Marines."
Though their acquaintance was brief, Sanguinius had already assessed them. These madwomen were not a force that naturally adhered to command structures.
They had faith instead of tactical sense, faith instead of discipline. They were essentially a unit of lunatics condensed from pure belief.
"Yes. But, Great Son of the God-Emperor, I promise you..." Canoness Christina accepted the order, though unwillingly. "In this battle, my sisters and I will prove our courage and strength to you."
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Happy new year yall!!