The Macragge's Honour had just caught its breath from the aftermath of the boarding action, and the bridge remained busy with damage assessment and intelligence analysis.
The lingering questions from the Word Bearers' strange "gift" and self-destruction had not yet dissipated when a new, entirely different pressure quietly descended.
The sensor arrays detected a small fleet, but one with an incredibly ancient and powerful energy signature, entering the Macragge's Honour's escort zone without prior notification.
These ships were uniformly dark green, with a solemn and stern design, and their prows were carved with roaring lions or winged sword insignias—the mark of the First Legion, the Dark Angels!
Even more shocking was that the massive, ancient battle barge at the core of this small fleet, a fortress-monastery type that seemed to have sailed directly from the Great Crusade era, was confirmed to be the personal flagship of the Primarch of the First Legion himself!
The Primarch had arrived! And uninvited!
The news spread like lightning through the battleship, causing immense shock and a hint of unease.
The Dark Angels were known for their mystery, exclusivity, and extreme secrecy regarding internal matters, and their Primarch was a legendary figure often at odds with Lord Guilliman's philosophy.
What could be the purpose of his sudden visit?
Chapter Master Calgar immediately ordered the highest honors for his reception, while simultaneously placing the entire ship on maximum alert—not against a possible attack, but as an instinctive reaction to the unknown and immense authority.
When the Dark Angels' shuttle landed in the hangar, like an elegant yet deadly raptor, all the Ultramarines present felt an invisible, suffocating pressure.
The Dark Angels Terminators who disembarked were tall, their armor ancient and ornate, their demeanor silent and proud, their green armor seemingly imbued with ten thousand years of secrets.
Their gazes swept around, carrying a scrutinizing and… an ineffable sense of detachment.
Then, he appeared.
Lion El'Jonson, the Lion King himself.
He was not in full battle plate, but in relatively simple dark green power armor, covered by a plain travel cloak.
Yet, his very presence was as heavy as a mountain, as if the entire space warped with his arrival.
His face was weathered, etched with the marks of time and endless worries, his eyes sharp as an eagle's yet deep as a star-sea, as if he could see through all illusions.
He did not carry the legendary Lion Sword in his hand, but merely by standing there, the Primarch-level psychic pressure he exuded and the battle-hardened aura of countless wars were enough to fill all Astartes with awe, causing them to instinctively lower their proud heads.
Gaius realized that the "Lord" he had heard about before the confrontation with the Word Bearers on Ultramar was, it now seemed, Lord Lion King, not Lord Guilliman.
Chapter Master Calgar personally stepped forward to greet him, and the two giants who had survived from the Primarch era (though Calgar relied on his Terminator armor for support) met once more, the atmosphere solemn and subtle.
After a brief, ceremonial meeting, the Primarch and the Chapter Master spoke for a long time.
Chapter Master Calgar pondered for a long time, then conveyed Elisa's wish to the Primarch and requested that, upon his journey to Terra, he relay the wish of his loyal daughter to Lord Guilliman.
Lion El'Jonson listened, then fell silent for a moment before directly requesting to summon the 7th Company, 2nd Squad, who had just returned from the boarding mission.
This request somewhat surprised Calgar, but he did not question it and immediately issued the order.
When the Second Squad received this shocking summons, everyone was stunned.
A Primarch!
Another living Primarch!
He wanted to see their squad?
With immense nervousness, honor, and confusion, Gorden led all members of the Second Squad, including Lex and Cliff, who were still recovering from injuries but insisted on coming, to the audience chamber specially prepared for the Lion King.
Inside the audience chamber, Lion El'Jonson sat on a simple metal chair, with Chapter Master Calgar standing beside him.
The Dark Angels' Honor Guard stood like statues in the shadows.
"Your Majesty," Gorden led the squad members, kneeling on one knee, bowing their heads in salute.
Even a fearless man like Dorian was too nervous to breathe loudly at this moment.
"Rise, warriors," Lion's voice was deep and resonant, carrying a natural authority and the weariness of long command.
"I have heard of your deeds on Ultramar, Brakka VII, and the 'Profane Tongue'.
To survive and complete your missions against overwhelming odds, facing swarms and traitors, speaks volumes of your courage and tenacity.
The First Legion acknowledges worthy warriors."
The simple opening brought a surge of warmth to the hearts of the Second Squad members.
To receive personal acknowledgment from another Primarch was the highest honor.
"I am about to depart for Holy Terra," Lion continued, his gaze sweeping over each person as if memorizing every face.
"There are some… matters of great importance concerning the future of the Imperium that I need to discuss with my brother, Roboute Guilliman."
Hearing Guilliman's name, all the squad members' hearts involuntarily tightened.
Lion's gaze seemed to shift slightly; he looked at Calgar: "Before I depart, Chapter Master Calgar mentioned a… small matter to me.
Regarding the… wish of a Tech-Sergeant in your squad named Elisa Cole."
In an instant, the air in the entire audience chamber seemed to freeze!
Gaius, Dorian, Gorden… all the members of the former Fifth Squad suddenly looked up, their eyes filled with incredulous shock!
They could barely believe their ears!
The Chapter Master actually… actually told another Primarch about Elisa's insignificant, even somewhat "foolish" wish?!
And this Primarch even mentioned it personally in front of them!
Lion El'Jonson's face showed little emotion; his tone was as calm as if stating a fact: "A warrior who longed to meet a Primarch and was filled with gratitude… such pure devotion is especially precious in these dark times.
Though she has served the Emperor faithfully, this devotion should not be forgotten."
He paused slightly, as if weighing his words: "I will go to Terra.
I will see Roboute.
I will… convey this devotion, from a loyal daughter in a distant sector, to him."
There were no flowery words, no false promises, only a simple and solemn statement.
But for the Second Squad, especially for Gaius and Dorian, these few brief words struck their hearts like thunder!
Elisa's humble dream… actually had a chance… in this way… to reach the ears of Primarch Guilliman?!
Though she could no longer witness it herself, her devotion, her existence, might truly be known to the Primarch she so revered!
Immense emotion and sorrow instantly overwhelmed them.
Dorian's eyes were red, and he bit his teeth tightly.
Gaius felt his heart pounding violently, a hot flush rising to his eyes, which he forcefully suppressed.
Gorden bowed his head deeply, his shoulders trembling slightly.
"Thank you… Your Majesty…" Gorden's voice was filled with uncontrollable emotion and a choke, "I… we, on behalf of our sister Elisa… thank you!"
Lion nodded slightly, accepting his thanks.
For him, it might truly have been just a "small matter" done in passing, but for these ordinary warriors, for that departed soul, it meant everything.
However, the Lion King's purpose for this journey seemed to be more than just this.
His deep gaze once again sharpened, turning to Calgar: "Chapter Master Calgar, according to our previous communication, there is another matter.
That Night Lord you captured… Where is he now?"
The sudden change of topic caught everyone off guard.
"He is currently held in a special detention area, Your Majesty," Calgar replied.
"After initial screening, his situation is unique, but the danger he poses still exists."
"Transfer him to me," Lion's tone was unquestionable, as if stating an established fact.
"The First Legion is very interested in him… and the 'exiled faction' he represents.
He may be involved in some… ancient debts that need to be thoroughly settled."
Did the Dark Angels want Jerrison for the Night Lords who had turned to Chaos that he mentioned?
Or for something else?
What did these "ancient debts" refer to?
The intentions of the First Legion were always shrouded in mist.
Calgar seemed to have anticipated this and raised no objection: "As you wish, Your Majesty.
He will be transferred to your forces."
"Good," Lion El'Jonson stood up, his cloak moving without a breeze.
"Then, this matter is concluded.
I shall depart immediately for Terra."
His gaze swept over the Second Squad one last time: "Continue to fight, brothers of the Ultramarines.
The Emperor's domain requires every loyal sword to defend it."
With that, he did not linger, and, surrounded by the Dark Angels Honor Guard, strode out of the audience chamber.
Chapter Master Calgar signaled that the Second Squad could leave.
The men walked out of the audience chamber in a daze, as if they had just experienced an incredible dream.
The Primarch's pressure had not completely dissipated, and the information received in those few short minutes had left them with surging emotions, unable to calm down.
"I… I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Reaching a relatively quiet corridor, Dorian finally gasped, his voice still trembling, "The Lion King… His Majesty the Lion King… he really agreed…"
"He agreed," Gorden's voice was equally excited, but he tried to remain calm.
"Elisa's wish… there truly is hope…"
Gaius leaned against the cold metal wall, looked up, closed his eyes, and Elisa's intelligent and longing eyes appeared in his mind.
His heart was filled with inexpressible gratitude, for Chapter Master Calgar, for the Lion King Lion, and even for cold and grand destiny.
At least, Elisa's sacrifice and dream were not entirely lost and forgotten.
"And Jerrison…" Lex muttered, "Taken away by the Dark Angels… I wonder if it's a blessing or a curse."
"That's no longer our concern," Sergeant Golden shook his head. "The First Legion has its own way of doing things. We only need to remember today, and how Elisa's heartfelt wish was answered."
Just then, they saw a squad of Dark Angels Terminators escorting a gaunt figure, bound by heavy shackles and wearing a black hood, towards the hangar. It was undoubtedly Jerrison Fall.
He seemed to sense something, struggling to turn his head slightly, and the "gaze" beneath his hood seemed to meet Gaius' for a fleeting moment. What emotions filled that gaze? Fear? Resignation? Or… a hint of relief?
No one knew.
The Dark Angels' fleet arrived suddenly and departed just as quickly. Soon, their dark green ship silhouettes vanished into the vast starry sea, heading towards Holy Terra.
The members of Second Squad stood rooted to the spot, lingering for a long time. Their hearts were filled with complex emotions—grief and solace for their fallen comrade, shock and gratitude for the Primarch's promise, and a premonition of a deeper, more unfathomable destiny.
The Lion King's arrival was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, and the ripples it created would profoundly affect the future of many people and many things. Although they didn't know why the Lion King had come, he brought them hope.
And they, the 7th Company, 2nd Squad, would continue their journey, carrying this heavy honor and unfulfilled wish, to the next battlefield.
Six months passed in the Imperium's endless wars. The 7th Company, 2nd Squad, like a fire brigade, moved between various conflict-ridden sectors of Ultramar, eradicating remnants of Word Bearers forces, suppressing Chaos-instigated rebellions, and even engaging small Tyranid scout fleets again. The fighting was arduous and frequent; newly supplemented squad members died in a brutal landing operation, but the core seven—Gorden, Gaius, Dorian, Lex, Cliff, Thor, and Tech-Sergeant Luna—stubbornly survived, their unspoken understanding and trust deepening.
They rarely spoke of the brutality of Brakka VII and Jerrison Fall anymore, but Elisa's name and the Lion King's promise remained like warm embers, always buried deep in everyone's heart, quietly surfacing during certain quiet moments of rest, bringing a touch of solace and an ineffable anticipation.
On this day, the Macragge's Honour had just completed a purification mission at a border space station and was undergoing routine rest. Suddenly, a high-priority messenger ship from the direction of Holy Terra requested docking.
This immediately drew the attention of the bridge. Direct communication from Terra often meant directives or major news from the highest levels of the Imperium.
To everyone's surprise, the messenger ship did not deliver cold administrative orders, but rather a batch of tightly sealed supply crates that required Chapter Master Calgar's personal signature upon receipt. The crates bore no elaborate decorations, only the simple Imperial Aquila mark and a very subtle Ultramarines emblem, as if etched by laser.
After Chapter Master Calgar personally verified the seals and authentication codes, a rare complex expression appeared on his stern face. He ordered the crates to be sent to the 7th Company, 2nd Squad's quarters.
When Sergeant Golden and his squad members saw these solemnly delivered crates, they were all confused and surprised. It wasn't until they opened the crates and saw the contents and the accompanying encrypted data slate's explanation that the entire squad's quarters fell into a state of near-frozen shock and silence.
The information on the data slate was extremely brief, yet carried supreme authority:
"To Sergeant Golden and all members of the Ultramarines Chapter, 7th Company, 2nd Squad:
Your bravery and loyalty in Ultramar and subsequent battles have been noted.
The items herein serve as a token of recognition.
—Roboute Guilliman, Lord Regent of the Imperium"
At the signature, there was a clear electronic signature mark imbued with powerful psychic energy, whose mere presence inspired awe.
And the items in the crates filled everyone with surging emotions and disbelief!
Each squad member received a relic-grade piece of equipment or an enhancement opportunity, custom-made and perfectly suited to their combat style and needs:
Gorden received a pair of master-crafted power gauntlets, not only astonishingly powerful but also equipped with miniature ion shield generators, capable of instantly creating small-scale energy shields, greatly enhancing his survival and assault capabilities.
Dorian acquired a set of twin-linked meltagun systems, personally blessed and modified by a Martian Adeptus Mechanicus Archmagos, with higher cooling efficiency, more powerful and stable output, and an overload mode.
Lex received permission and full resource support for a deep enhancement and modification of his mechanical limbs on Mars, meaning his combat effectiveness would undergo a qualitative leap.
Cliff was granted a new-model neural-linked mechanical prosthetic arm, with sensitivity and force feedback far exceeding existing models, almost identical to a natural arm, and integrated with a Bolter interface.
Thor received a set of the latest medical equipment and gene-serums from the Sanguinary Priesthood, which would greatly enhance his battlefield medical capabilities and efficiency.
Luna Aisa received a data core containing a large amount of forbidden technological data (audited as harmless) and advanced sensor blueprints, a huge boost to her technical research and battlefield analysis capabilities.
Gaius' gift was the most special—a copy of the "Amber Protocol" research progress report co-signed by Apothecary Vorlak and several Adeptus Mechanicus experts, as well as a preliminary plan from the Sanguinary Priesthood for a new therapy involving stabilized gene-seed and xenograft tissue fusion. This was not a direct power boost, but it provided him with valuable knowledge and a glimmer of hope for controlling the hidden danger in his left arm and seeking a future path. The report also specifically noted that part of the inspiration for this plan came from reverse engineering studies of abnormal conditions in certain "exiled individuals."
Each gift precisely matched each person's needs and desires, of inestimable value, and moreover represented the Primarch's meticulous attention and recognition of each of them! This honor was enough to make any Astartes warrior's blood boil, to die without regret!
However, what moved everyone the most, even bringing tears to their eyes instantly, was the last, slightly smaller, separately placed box.
On the box, a small line of words was engraved:
"To Tech-Sergeant Elisa Cole"
Gorden's hand trembled slightly as he slowly opened the box.
There were no weapons, no equipment inside.
Only a gleaming Gorden medal, engraved with the Ultramarines emblem and the Imperial Aquila, and set with a tiny blue sapphire—a simplified version of the Macragge's Highest Service Medal, awarded only to Ultramarines who had made exceptionally outstanding contributions to the Imperium, usually posthumously to fallen heroes.
Next to the medal was a paper document—extremely rare in this data age—with the official letterhead of the Lord Regent's office, and a handwritten passage in strong, elegant Gothic script:
"To Tech-Sergeant Elisa Cole:
Your loyalty and aspirations have been noted.
The Imperium and Ultramar remember your sacrifice.
Though this medal cannot be personally bestowed, may its light accompany you in eternal slumber.
—Roboute Guilliman"
Below this text was the same powerful signature.
Silence.
Dead silence.
Dorian was the first to break, turning sharply, his massive shoulders trembling violently, letting out an uncontrollable, wounded-beast-like sob. This burly man was now in tears.
Lex lowered his head, his mechanical arm clenched into a tight fist. Cliff and Thor, eyes red-rimmed, silently saluted. Luna Aisa looked at the medal, her eyes filled with reverence and complex emotions.
Sergeant Golden carefully picked up the medal and document, as if holding the most precious relic in the world. His hand was steady as a rock, yet his eyes shimmered with tears.
Gaius looked at the medal, glimmering in the light, as if he saw Elisa's eyes, always calm and wise, now slightly curved, revealing a smile he had never seen but knew would warm the entire chamber. A huge rush of warmth, mixed with sorrow, relief, pride, and infinite gratitude, surged through his heart. The Primarch… he not only remembered, he responded to that humble yet fervent wish in the most solemn and respectful way.
This undeliverable gift was heavier and more precious than all the generous rewards given to them combined.
"Elisa…" Gorden's voice was hoarse and low, yet full of power. "Do you hear? The Primarch… he knows you… he remembers you…"
He solemnly placed the medal and document back in the box, carefully putting it away.
"We will keep it safe for you. It will continue to fight with us until the Emperor's light shines across the entire galaxy."
That day, there were no cheers in the 7th Company, 2nd Squad's quarters, only a deep and solemn atmosphere. Each person silently integrated the Primarch's gifts into their equipment, while the undeliverable medal was kept by Sergeant Golden, becoming the squad's highest spiritual symbol.
They knew that this honor did not belong to them personally, but to all the nameless heroes like Elisa, who had silently dedicated themselves to the Imperium and the Primarch, even unto sacrifice.
This gift from Terra, like a seed, deeply planted Elisa's unfulfilled dreams and the Primarch's recognition in the heart of every squad member.
The path ahead was still long and dark, but at this moment, their hearts were filled with unprecedented strength and unwavering faith.
For the Emperor, for the Primarch, for Macragge, and for all the brothers who could not return home.
Since the gift from Terra, Second Squad's morale had been high, and they had successively completed several high-difficulty missions, becoming the core spearhead of the 7th Company and even the entire Chapter. However, Gaius gradually felt an unspeakable unease. This unease did not come from external enemies, but from within him, or more precisely, from his cursed left arm.
Apothecary Vorlak's new therapy and the Holy Blood Conclave's plan had a certain stabilizing effect; the structural collapse rate of the nanite swarm slowed, and the residue of the dark Gorden energy was temporarily suppressed. But the delicate, dangerous balance between the Grey Knights' cold imprint and the nanites' stillness seemed to be quietly disturbed by some external force.
Especially during Warp travel or when near Chaos-contaminated areas, Gaius would always feel an extremely subtle tingling and throbbing in his left arm, different from the usual intense pain, as if something was moving and awakening under his skin. At the same time, fragmented, bizarre phantom shards would occasionally flash through his mind—twisted colored smoke, incomprehensible geometric patterns, or some inhuman, alluring whisper, but they vanished in an instant, making them impossible for him to grasp.
He reported these anomalies to Gorden and Apothecary Vorlak. Vorlak conducted multiple examinations but could not find any new physiological or energy indicator abnormalities, attributing it to mental stress and the after-effects of previous overuse of power, advising him to strengthen his psychic defenses and mental meditation.
Gaius tried to follow the advice, but with little effect. The feeling of being watched, of being whispered to, became increasingly clear, like a persistent illness.
This time, their mission was to purge an agricultural world that had just been infiltrated by a small group of Word Bearers. Local cultists incited rebellion and attempted to establish a small sacrificial ritual to summon a daemon. The mission itself was not particularly difficult; Second Squad quickly located the ritual site—a massive, abandoned grain silo.
Combat quickly erupted. Cultists and a small number of remaining Word Bearers resisted stubbornly inside the silo. The internal space was narrow and complex, filled with huge conveyor machinery and mountains of grain sacks, turning the battle into floor-by-floor urban warfare.
Just as they broke through to the silo's core area, on the verge of destroying the crude but evil altar, an anomaly suddenly occurred!
The not-yet-extinguished malevolent flames on the altar suddenly shot up, resonating with the strong negative emotions and Warp fluctuations lingering in the air! A tiny, unstable Warp rift was briefly torn open by force!
Although the rift was instantly destroyed by Gorden with a meltabomb, in the instant it opened, an extremely cold, cunning, and powerful psychic shockwave, filled with twisted knowledge, surged out like a bursting dam, sweeping through the entire core area!
The first to bear the brunt was Gaius, who was at the very front!
"Ugh ah!" Gaius felt as if countless cold needles were brutally piercing his brain! The nanite swarm in his left arm resonated wildly with unprecedented intensity, and the Grey Knights' imprint erupted with bone-chilling coldness, attempting to suppress it. But this time, the external psychic shock seemed extremely "skilled" at exploiting this internal conflict and gap!
His vision, hearing, and perception were instantly stripped away, then forcibly crammed with countless chaotic and terrifying illusions!
He was no longer standing in the dilapidated silo but floating in an endless, twisted vortex of colors. The surrounding colors were sickeningly vibrant, constantly flowing and changing, forming various blasphemous symbols and incomprehensible paradoxical patterns. Space itself seemed to be constantly folding and stretching, emitting a grating noise.
The whispers were no longer fragments but became clearly discernible, filled with temptation and sophistry, echoing directly in the depths of his consciousness:
"Look… at this magnificent truth… transcending the Corpse-Emperor's narrow lies…" "The power within you… is the key to evolution… why resist?" "Loyalty? Devotion? What ridiculous shackles… they are merely using you… just as they used that dead girl…" "Embrace change… embrace truth… you can have everything… knowledge, power, and even… the possibility of redeeming regrets…"
The illusions changed accordingly: he saw Elisa Cole, standing perfectly intact in a peaceful glow, smiling and waving at him, but her eyes flickered with strange, multicolored light; he saw Sergeant Talos, his bionic arm restored, nodding approvingly at him in the training ground, but his shadow twisted into a roaring daemon; he even saw Primarch Guilliman, reaching out to him, seemingly to bestow an award, but the Primarch's face was constantly shifting, sometimes majestic, sometimes revealing the cunning smile of a Tzeentch sorcerer…
"No… this is fake! Get out!" Gaius screamed wildly in his consciousness, trying to hold onto his sanity, but the illusions and whispers were pervasive, constantly attacking his beliefs and emotional weaknesses.
The intense pain in his left arm returned, but this time, the pain seemed to be mixed with a strange… sense of pleasure? As if the dark Gorden energy was jubilantly responding to the external summons!
"Yes… this is the feeling… release it… let us become one…"
The illusions changed dramatically again! He saw the internal schematics of the Macragge's Honour, but they were riddled with twisted flaws and traps; he saw Gorden, Dorian, and his other teammates, but each of their movements became slow and full of openings, as if he could easily predict and… destroy them; he saw countless secret plans and weaknesses of the Word Bearers, Night Lords, and even other Chaos factions, pouring into his mind like a tide, as if he could control everything if he only willed it…
These were the whispers of Tzeentch! The corruption of the Lord of Change! It had not given up, always waiting for an opportunity, exploiting the rift created when the power of his left arm contended with the Grey Knights' imprint, to strike when he was vulnerable!
"For… the Emperor!" With his last shred of will, Gaius frantically drove the cold power of the Grey Knights' imprint, while simultaneously trying to sever his connection to the nanites in his left arm!
This was like unleashing a storm within his skull! Three forces—Tzeentch's seductive psychic energy, the dark Gorden nanite energy, and the Grey Knights' purifying imprint—clashed and tore at his consciousness wildly!
Externally, Gaius suddenly froze in place, his body trembling violently, his eyes behind the helmet's oculars flickering with unnatural multicolored light, his left arm uncontrollably lifting, fingers twitching grotesquely, and dark Gorden energy patterns pulsed under his armor like living things!
"Gaius! What's wrong with you?!" Dorian, who was nearby, was the first to notice his abnormality and exclaimed.
"He's been hit by a psychic shock! Grab him!" Gorden immediately realized the situation was dire and roared, lunging forward, trying to restrain Gaius.
But at this moment, Gaius, under the conflict of illusions and power, had almost lost his sanity! He violently swung his left arm, an uncontrolled burst of dark Gorden energy erupted, actually knocking Gorden and Dorian, who had lunged at him, back several steps!
"Everyone be careful! Brother Hohn is out of control!" Gorden shouted, a mix of alarm and fury in his voice.
Lex and Cliff tried to suppress him from the sides, but Gaius seemed to anticipate their movements, dodging with an extremely strange and twisted gait, while his right hand's "Hawkeye" Bolter unconsciously lifted, almost pointing at his teammates!
"Subdue him by force! We can't let him hurt himself or anyone else!" Gorden gave the painful order.
The squad members had no choice but to act against their close comrade. An extremely difficult internal suppression battle unfolded in the confined space. Gaius' strength and speed, in his uncontrolled state, became abnormally powerful and bizarre, yet without any discernible pattern, as if he were fighting multiple invisible enemies.
"Gaius! Wake up! It's us!" Dorian roared, struggling to parry Gaius' attacks.
"Elisa wouldn't want to see you like this!" Gorden tried to appeal to him emotionally.
Perhaps his teammates' shouts had some effect, or perhaps the Grey Knights' imprint finally gained the upper hand in the internal struggle, as Gaius' movements froze for an instant, and the multicolored light in his eyes dimmed slightly.
"Now!" Medic Sore seized the opportunity, injecting a powerful sedative into the gap in Gaius' gorget!
The medicine quickly took effect. Gaius' body suddenly went limp, the light in his eyes completely extinguished, and he collapsed forward, tightly supported by Dorian and Lex.
The illusions and whispers receded like a tide, leaving behind only endless exhaustion and a searing pain as if his soul had been torn. Before completely losing consciousness, Gaius only managed to see the worried and frightened faces of his teammates.
...
When Gaius awoke again, he found himself back in the Macragge's Honour's medical bay, his body secured to the medical bed by special energy restraints. Apothecary Vorlak, Sergeant Golden, and a Chapter Librarian stood by the bed, their expressions extremely grave.
"You're awake." Vorlak's voice was more serious than ever. "Brother Hohn, do you know what happened to you?"
Gaius struggled to recall the terrifying experience, fragmented memories making his head ache intensely. "…Whispers… illusions… colors… I… I almost…" His voice was hoarse.
"It was Tzeentch." The Librarian stated with certainty, a psychic shimmer in his eyes. "The Lord of Change from the Empyrean. Its power exploited your… unique condition, attempting to corrupt you. The balance between the power in your left arm and the Grey Knights' imprint is very fragile, easily exploited by such targeted psychic attacks."
Gorden then told Gaius what had happened, including how he had nearly attacked his teammates.
Upon hearing this, Gaius fell into deep anguish and dread. "I… I'm so sorry… Sergeant… I…"
"It's not your fault, brother," Gorden said, patting his shoulder, his eyes still heavy. "But we can't let this happen again. Next time, we might not be so lucky."
Apothecary Vorlak interjected, "The Librarian and I have tentatively discussed a plan. Given that the Grey Knights' mark's suppressive effect is gradually being adapted to and weakened, we need a more proactive and thorough protective measure."
He pointed to a metal box that had just been delivered, emanating a chilling cold. "This was specially approved by the Chapter Master, using a treasure from the Chapter's reliquary—the 'Mind Repulsion Collar'. It's crafted from psychic-insulating materials and high-purity blackstone, capable of greatly weakening or even completely severing most Warp psychic influence and whispers directed at you."
"However," the Librarian added, "it's not omnipotent. It cannot eliminate the existing power conflict within you, nor can it completely block extremely powerful or cunning entities from exerting influence indirectly. Moreover, wearing it might make you feel a certain 'sense of isolation,' and even affect some subtle psychic connections you have with your battle-brothers."
"More importantly," Apothecary Vorlak stared into Gaius' eyes, "this is only a temporary solution. The true root of the problem lies in the power of your left arm itself. Until we find a way to thoroughly purify or safely separate it, you must learn to absolutely control your emotions and will, especially when facing Chaos threats. Any wavering could once again become an opening for the enemy to exploit."
Gaius looked at the cold, black collar, his heart filled with complex emotions. It felt like a mark of shame, reminding him of his danger and his difference. Yet, it seemed to be the only solution for now.
He took a deep breath and nodded firmly, "I understand. I am willing to wear it."
To avoid harming his battle-brothers again, to control the monster within him, he was willing to accept any restraint.
The cold collar was fastened around his neck, and instantly, a strange 'sense of silence' enveloped him. The whispers and lingering illusions in his mind completely vanished, and even the throbbing in his left arm became much weaker. But at the same time, he felt as if an invisible film separated him from the world.
"You'll need time to adapt," Apothecary Vorlak said. "During this period, you will suspend all external missions, remain on the battleship, and receive specialized guidance and mental training from the Librarian."
Gaius was temporarily disarmed and kept under observation in the medical bay. He lay on the sickbed, caressing the cold collar on his neck, looking at the sterile lights on the ceiling.
The path ahead seemed to become even more difficult and lonely. But he knew this was a trial he had to face.
Loyalty was not just about fighting bravely on the battlefield, but also about unwavering resolve when facing inner demons.
His battle was far from over.
While Gaius was under observation in the medical bay, adapting to the Mind Repulsion Collar, the Macragge's Honour did not rest. After the Lord Regent of the Imperium, Roboute Guilliman, returned, Ultramar's defense and counter-attack efforts escalated to an unprecedented level. A large number of troops and resources were mobilized to purge every detected Chaos stronghold within its borders.
However, the insidious corruption of Chaos was like a persistent maggot, difficult to eradicate. Just as the Ultramarines' main forces were extinguishing the Evil Fire ignited by the Word Bearers, a more violent, direct, and bloodthirsty dark power quietly rose in the shadows of Ultramar.
Khorne, the blood god, the Lord of Skulls, its influence began to spread across several worlds. It wasn't the cunning seduction and corrupting rituals of the Word Bearers, but a purer madness, inducing rage, hatred, and the desire for slaughter. On some worlds, ravaged by years of war and the pain of losing loved ones, the despair and anger of the populace were invisibly amplified, eventually escalating into bloody riots and self-destructive altars of slaughter. Even more terrifying, tracking this scent of blood, were Khorne's loyal servants—the World Eaters Legion and their associated warbands!
These berserkers, completely dominated by the Butcher's Nails and the lust for slaughter, brought only endless carnage and destruction wherever they went. Unlike the Word Bearers, they did not seek rituals and corruption; their goal was simple and pure—to collect skulls and offer them to the blood god!
"Skulls for the Skull Throne, blood for the blood god!"
Several planetary systems successively issued the highest level of bloody massacre alerts. The transmitted video footage was like a painting of hell: cities burned, corpses piled high, the sky stained red with blood mist, and maddened World Eaters warriors roaring and fighting amidst mountains of dead and seas of blood.
News reached the Macragge's Honour, and Chapter Master Calgar and all senior officers looked grim. The intervention of Khorne's forces meant the situation had become even more complex and dangerous. These berserkers were extremely difficult to communicate with or predict, and their destructive power on the front lines was even more terrifying than that of the Word Bearers.
Just as the Chapter's high command was urgently discussing counter-strategies, an encrypted order of "Imperial Edict" priority from Holy Terra was delivered directly to Chapter Master Calgar and all Ultramarines fleet commanders within Ultramar.
The content of the order was extremely brief, yet it contained the Lord Regent of the Imperium's unquestionable will and cold fury:
"Khorne corruption and World Eaters traitors detected operating within Ultramar.
Such blasphemous acts will not be tolerated.
Authorization for the use of all necessary means.
Purge those traitors.
—Roboute Guilliman, Lord Regent of the Imperium"
"Purge those traitors!"
These few simple words were like lighting the final fuse. The order quickly spread to every battleship, every Astartes!
Long-suppressed rage and hatred exploded! The cunning of the Word Bearers and the shadows of the Night Lords were hateful enough, but the World Eaters, traitors who reveled purely in slaughter and destruction, completely trampled on the bottom line of all Astartes warriors!
"For the Emperor! For Lord Guilliman!"
"Purge the traitors!"
Earth-shattering war cries echoed on every battleship! The fleet, originally pursuing the Word Bearers, began to adjust its course, like a blue tide of steel, majestically sailing towards the worlds corrupted by Khorne's power!
The Macragge's Honour, as one of the flagships, naturally joined this large-scale purge operation. The atmosphere inside the battleship changed, shifting from the caution and vigilance of dealing with the Word Bearers to a more impassioned, direct state of readiness for battle. Armories were fully opened, more heavy equipment was distributed, and warriors sharpened their blades, checked their Bolters, their eyes burning with the determination to purify everything.
Even Gaius, still in the medical bay, could feel the unusual vibrations of the battleship and the murderous command voices coming through the channels. He learned of the Khorne invasion and the Primarch's purge order from conversations between medical staff and Tech-Priests.
A strong sense of anxiety and longing surged in his heart. He longed to fight alongside his battle-brothers, to unleash his wrath upon those fallen traitors, to prove through his actions that even with the collar, he was still a loyal warrior. But Apothecary Vorlak and the Librarian strictly ordered him to complete his adaptation training.
He could only watch through the observation window of the medical bay as Thunderhawk Gunships and Stormraven Gunships, laden with blue figures, swarmed towards the planet below like a hive of bees, the roars of the warriors before deployment echoing in his ears.
The purge operation was swift and ferocious. The Ultramarines Legion displayed their efficiency and power as a cornerstone of the Imperium. They no longer relied primarily on small-squad infiltration but launched thunderous frontal assaults on a company or even battalion scale!
On an industrial world controlled by a Khorne cult and ravaged by World Eaters warbands, Ultramarines drop pods slammed into the surface like hail. Immediately after, hordes of blue-armored warriors surged out like a tide, crashing into the blood-soaked, roaring World Eaters traitors!
The volley of Bolter fire, the roar of chainswords, the thunder of power weapons, and the frenzied roars and war cries of both sides echoed through the sky! The battle entered its bloodiest, most brutal, and most intense phase from the very beginning!
The World Eaters, empowered by the pain and fury brought by the Butcher's Nails, possessed terrifying individual combat prowess, often able to fight ten-to-one. But the Ultramarines, relying on strict discipline, perfect coordination, and superior numbers, steadily compressed the traitors' space.
Gorden led Second Squad in the ground assault. Dorian's new melta gun became a deadly weapon against heavily armored World Eaters units; Lex's reinforced bionic arm swung a power axe, clashing furiously with the World Eaters' chainaxes; Cliff and Sore worked closely together, clearing out the frenzied cultists; Luna continuously disrupted the fluctuations of Khorne's psychic energy.
Each battle was exceptionally brutal, and the Ultramarines also suffered casualties, but the losses of the traitors and daemons were even greater. One cult altar after another was destroyed, one Bloodthirster after another was brought down, and the maddened World Eaters warriors were annihilated one by one by dense fire and precise strikes.
The purge operation advanced at an astonishing speed. Blue banners were once again planted on one recaptured city ruin and factory stronghold after another.
However, everyone knew that Khorne's power would not easily retreat. The real test, perhaps, was yet to come. The blood god craved slaughter, whether it was the blood of enemies or the blood of its own followers.
And in this purging storm sweeping across Ultramar, Gaius, wearing the Mind Repulsion Collar, could only wait silently on the battleship, accumulating strength, waiting for his moment of battle to arrive.
....
The initial victories of the cleansing operation were fleeting.
Khorne's power was not easily expelled, and the furious counterattack by the World Eaters Legion and its servants quickly made the Ultramarines realize the brutal nature of the blood god's war.
On Valkoris, a vital industrial world, the battle entered its most brutal stalemate.
The main forces of the Ultramarines' 3rd, 5th, and 7th Companies (including Second Squad) successfully pushed a large World Eaters warband and local Khorne cultists back into the vast, labyrinthine Hera Manufactorum.
This base, originally for producing war machines, had now become a meat grinder.
Towering furnaces stood like giant tombstones, while broken conveyor belts and pipes lay scattered, providing countless covers and deadly traps.
The World Eaters exploited the complex terrain, launching continuous, frenzied assaults.
They seemed to know no fear, even reveling in the pain and pleasure brought by severe injuries and death.
The Ultramarines' advance became exceptionally difficult and costly.
They not only faced the desperate charges of the berserkers but also had to protect thousands of civilian workers who had not been evacuated and were trapped deep within the factory complex.
"For the blood god! Skulls for the Skull Throne!" The World Eaters' war cries echoed like bestial roars through the steel corridors.
"For the Emperor! For Macragge! Hold the line!" The Ultramarines officers' commands were calm and firm, but often quickly drowned out by the noise of explosions and chainswords.
Second Squad held a relatively wide entrance to an assembly workshop, which became a critical barrier protecting the civilian shelters behind them.
"Dorian! Left flank! That butcher is charging through!" Gorden's plasma gun fired continuously, vaporizing a World Eater attempting to throw a skull grenade.
"On it!" Dorian roared, his new melta gun unleashing a furious blast, its scorching beam melting a World Eater Champion in heavy blood god armor, along with the ground beneath him!
Lex's twin power axes danced in an impenetrable blur, clashing with two World Eaters, their blades striking deafening sparks.
His new bionic arm provided immense strength, but the enemy's madness still made them tricky to deal with.
Cliff and Sol took cover, precisely shooting any cultists who tried to approach.
Luna continuously released interference waves, attempting to block the negative effects of Khorne's psychic powers on their soldiers.
Gaius was not here.
He remained on the Macragge's Honour, enduring inner torment, gazing through the viewport at the war-torn world below.
The battle raged from day to night, and from night to day.
The workshop entrance was piled with the bodies of warriors from both sides, blue armor and crimson warplate intertwined in shattered fragments, the ground stained a grotesque purplish-black with viscous blood.
The Ultramarines' casualty count steadily rose, and ammunition reserves rapidly depleted.
However, the World Eaters' offensive showed no signs of weakening; instead, they grew more frenzied due to the flowing blood.
"This can't go on!" Gorden roared into the comms, his armor covered in claw marks and dents, "We need support! Or an aerial strike to clear a path!"
But the reply was despairing: "Air support is tied up by enemy anti-air and Daemon Engines! Reinforcements are firmly held by World Eaters in other sectors! You must hold out for at least four more hours!"
Four hours?
Looking at his exhausted comrades, their ammunition almost spent, and the terrified civilians in the shelter behind them, Gorden's heart sank.
Just then, in the center of the factory, the tallest, previously dormant giant furnace, suddenly underwent a bizarre transformation!
The metal on the furnace walls twisted and melted like a living thing, revealing a massive vortex of swirling crimson energy!
An unstable Warp portal was forcibly opened!
A dense scent of blood and violent psychic energy surged out like a tangible force!
Immediately following, accompanied by even more insane and blasphemous howls, a new group of figures poured out of the portal!
They wore armor of dark red and bronze, adorned with wicked scriptures, wielding weapons that glowed with a vile green light, and chanting hymns to the Dark Gods!
It was the Word Bearers!
These treacherous traitors had, through the bloody passage opened by the World Eaters, also descended upon Valkoris!
They seemed to have been lurking nearby, awaiting this opportune moment!
"Word Bearers! It's the Word Bearers!" A lookout soldier cried out in terror.
The situation instantly collapsed!
The Word Bearers did not immediately charge the Ultramarines' positions, but quickly fanned out, beginning to construct evil arcane circles and altars around the portal, seemingly performing a larger summoning ritual!
At the same time, they used vicious long-range firepower and sorcery to furiously attack the Ultramarines' positions from the flanks and rear!
With endless World Eaters berserkers in front, and Word Bearers cultists and Chaos Sorcerers appearing on the flanks and rear, the Ultramarines were instantly caught in a desperate three-sided trap!
"Damn it! We're surrounded!" Dorian smashed a World Eater's head, roaring in anger and despair as he watched the endless enemies pouring in.
Gorden's heart also sank by half.
The World Eaters' frenzied charges had already pushed them to their limits, and now, with the addition of the Word Bearers' cunning sorcery and ranged attacks, along with the ongoing ritual that could summon unknown levels of daemons... this was almost a death trap!
The line rapidly contracted, and casualties surged.
Every explosion could take a comrade, and every flash of sorcery could drive a warrior insane or melt him.
"For the Emperor! Never retreat!" Gorden let out a final roar, swinging his power sword at a World Eater who had broken through the defenses, but more enemies surged from all directions.
Lex was pierced in the shoulder by a Word Bearer Champion's power glaive; though he cleaved the enemy with his axe, the wound immediately began to blacken and rot!
Sol desperately injected him with an antidote, but with little effect.
After Cliff punched a World Eater's head off with his bionic limb, he himself was thrown back by an explosion, crashing heavily to the ground.
Luna's data-slate sparked violently under intense psychic interference, and she herself bled from her nose and mouth due to the backlash.
A desperate atmosphere spread like a plague.
The cries of civilians in the shelter seemed to be right beside them, further piercing the heart of every warrior.
Was this truly to be their burial ground?
Would all their immense sacrifices ultimately fail to protect these innocents?
Gorden knelt, supporting himself with his power sword, breathing heavily.
He looked at his struggling comrades, at the frenzied enemies pouring in, at the constantly expanding portal in the distance, radiating an ominous red glow...
He slowly raised his head, his gaze beneath the faceplate looking up at the sky obscured by smoke and blood mist, as if he could penetrate the steel firmament and see the flagship hovering in orbit above.
With his last ounce of strength, he let out a hoarse cry, not for aid, but almost a prayer, over the encrypted channel:
"...Primarch... if you can hear me... please guide us... or... witness our loyalty..."
This desperate prayer, like a stone sinking into the sea, was quickly swallowed by the din of battle.
However, perhaps his piety truly evoked some response, or perhaps it was merely a coincidence of fate...
Far away in the medical bay of the Macragge's Honour in orbit, Gaius, wearing the cold Mind Repulsion Collar and staring intently at the battlefield below through the observation window, suddenly clutched his left arm!
The nanite cluster, previously forcibly suppressed by the collar and his will, was now resonating, burning, and even... weeping? with unprecedented intensity, as if sensing the boundless blood, despair, and... a call from a more ancient, more violent Chaos presence of the same origin below!
The Mind Repulsion Collar hummed under the strain, and even tiny cracks appeared on its surface!
Gaius painfully curled up, his eyes once again flashing with uncontrolled, multi-colored light; this time, the light was mixed with a dense crimson hue!
The desperate situation below and the anomaly in orbit seemed to be connected again through some bizarre means.
Sergeant Golden's almost desperate prayer seemed to truly penetrate the Warp's waves and the battlefield's clamor, reaching the ears of a certain will.
Just as the Ultramarines' defense line in the Valkoris Manufactorum was about to completely collapse, as the Word Bearers' evil ritual glowed brighter, and the World Eaters' mad laughter grew more savage—
From the sky, a completely different engine roar erupted!
It wasn't the crude jetpacks of the World Eaters, nor the blasphemous aircraft of the Word Bearers, but something... swifter, wilder, like the shriek of a prairie storm!
Several sleek assault bikes and Stormraven gunships, painted with white and red lightning patterns, tore through the clouds like a flock of eagles, plunging into the battlefield with astonishing speed and precision!
They cut into the Word Bearers' flank positions with surgical precision, a storm of bolter rounds and melta beams instantly sending the chanting cultists and Chaos Sorcerers reeling!
Their tactics were agile and wild, sweeping through like a whirlwind, leaving devastation in their wake!
"For the Khan! For Chogoris!" Wild war cries echoed across the battlefield!
It was the White Scars! Warriors of the Fifth Legion!
Almost simultaneously, from the shadows on the other side, a large number of pitch-black figures emerged silently like phantoms!
They were like ravens blending into the darkness, moving with almost no sound, but their weapons were deadly!
Precise sniper bolter rounds and power swords suddenly thrust from the shadows instantly eliminated numerous World Eaters' heavy weapon emplacements and isolated berserkers!
They were silent but terrifyingly efficient, every attack striking at a vital point!
It was the Raven Guard! Masters of stealth from the Nineteenth Legion!
"Reinforcements! It's the White Scars and the Raven Guard!" Cheers of relief erupted from the Ultramarines' positions!
In their desperation, the support from their brother Chapters was like a divine intervention!
Gorden could barely believe his eyes!
He struggled to his feet, raising his power sword: "Brothers! Reinforcements have arrived! For the Emperor! Counterattack!"
The morale, which had been on the verge of collapse, instantly reignited!
The surviving Ultramarines unleashed their last reserves of strength, fighting alongside the whirlwind from Chogoris and the shadows of the wild!
White Scars riders on their assault bikes crisscrossed the battlefield, constantly cutting through and breaking enemy formations.
The Raven Guard, like deadly assassins, specifically targeted Word Bearers sorcerers and World Eaters Champion units.
The battle situation was instantly alleviated, and the pressure of being surrounded on three sides significantly reduced.
However, the Chaos counterattack was equally swift and frenzied!
"Blood for the blood god! Skulls for the Skull Throne!" Far from being intimidated, the World Eaters grew even more excited and rabid by the arrival of powerful enemies!
They disregarded casualties, even stepping over the bodies of their comrades, charging the allied lines with even greater madness!
The Warp portal maintained by the Word Bearers flared with crimson light!
More, even more terrifying Khorne daemons were summoned!
Bloodletters formed massive phalanxes, their hellfire-burning blades raised like a forest; Skull Cannons spewed deadly barrages of skull-shot; and even the colossal, shadowy forms of several Bloodthirsters began to coalesce behind the portal, their terrifying presence making the very ground tremble!
As for the Word Bearers, although initially caught off guard by the White Scars, they quickly stabilized their positions.
More Possessed Marines emerged from the portal, their twisted powers and sorcery causing immense trouble for the allied forces.
Chaos Sorcerers hid behind daemons and World Eaters, continuing their blasphemous rituals, attempting to enlarge the portal and summon even more terrifying entities.
"This can't go on!" A White Scars Captain roared over the comms, his voice mixed with the roar of a bike and the snarl of a chainsword, "Their daemons are endless! We must destroy that portal!"
"We've tried! Our firepower can't penetrate their defenses!" Gorden replied, his plasma gun overheating again.
"The Salamanders are on their way! But they need time!" The Raven Guard commander's voice was calm and concise, "We must hold out! Prioritize protecting the civilian evacuation routes!"
The allied forces began to adjust their tactics.
The White Scars used their mobility to constantly harass and distract, the Raven Guard focused on sniping key targets, and the Ultramarines tightened their defensive line, desperately holding the last passage to the civilian shelters.
The battle entered an even more brutal war of attrition.
Every minute, every second, someone fell.
White Scars bikes were torn apart by daemons, Raven Guard warriors were melted by sorcery, and Ultramarines used their bodies to block the tide surging towards the inner gate.
The situation remained grim.
The numbers of daemons and traitors truly seemed endless, while the allied forces' strength, ammunition, and stamina were rapidly depleting.
The colossal shadowy form of the Bloodthirster grew increasingly solid, as if it could fully step through the portal at any moment; at that point, no one would be able to stop its destructive rampage.
In orbit, within the Macragge's Honour's medical bay.
Gaius' struggles grew more intense!
The cracks on the Mind Repulsion Collar multiplied, and the nanites in his left arm seemed to boil!
The visions he saw were no longer the cunning whispers of Tzeentch, but boundless seas of blood, mountains of skulls, and that crimson portal that seemed to devour everything!
"...The portal... must... close..." He let out a broken, hissing roar, his eyes wildly alternating between multi-colored and bloody light.
The Tech-Priest and medical officers responsible for guarding him tried to inject him with stronger sedatives, but they were repelled by a sudden burst of power from within him!
"His condition is extremely unstable! Energy readings are rising uncontrollably!"
"Notify the Chapter Master and Apothecary Vorlak! Quickly!"
The ground battlefield of Valkoris had become a crucible of blood and will.
Warriors from three loyal Legions fought a desperate battle against the combined forces of Khorne and the Word Bearers to protect the innocent.
Hope was like a candle in the wind, but the flame of loyalty still burned stubbornly.
Could they hold out until the Salamanders' reinforcements arrived?
Could they close that wicked portal before the terrifying Bloodthirster fully manifested?
The answer was still being written in every second of sacrifice and combat.
The bloody battle at the Valkoris Forge World had devolved into a ultimate contest of will and madness.
While the White Scars' whirlwind assault and the Raven Guard's shadow hunt had temporarily curbed the Chaos offensive, the Warp portal, constantly spewing out daemons and traitors, was like a bleeding wound, continuously draining the loyalists' vitality.
"That gate must be destroyed!" roared Tulak, the White Scars' Captain, over the comms, as his bike fishtailed, vaporizing a Bloodletter attempting to pounce on a wounded soldier with his melta gun.
"Otherwise, we'll all be bled dry here!"
"Our fire can't penetrate! The Word Bearers' psychic shields and the daemons' physical forms are too dense!" The voice of Karras, the Raven Guard Commander, remained cold, but the firing rate of his sniper rifle noticeably increased, indicating the rising pressure.
Sergeant Golden looked at the terrified energy readings coming from the direction of the shelter behind him, then at the battlefield ahead, which resembled a meat grinder, and the increasingly solidified phantom of a Bloodthirster.
He knew a decision had to be made.
"7th Company, 2nd Squad!" Sergeant Golden's voice rang out on the internal channel, filled with resolve.
"Our mission is to hold the civilian passage, but now, the only chance for survival is to destroy that gate! Fifth Squad, Ninth Squad! Can you take over our defensive line?"
"It's all yours, Gorden!" the Sergeant of Fifth Squad immediately responded, "Send those bastards to hell!"
"For the Emperor! Go!" shouted the Sergeant of Ninth Squad.
No hesitation, no wasted words.
The discipline of the Ultramarines was on full display.
The remaining warriors of Fifth and Ninth Squads immediately moved to 2nd Squad's defensive sector, using their bodies and weapons to painstakingly fill the gap, enduring the instantly doubled pressure.
"Second Squad! All of you!" Sergeant Golden's gaze swept over his squadmates—Dorian, Lex, Cliff, Sol, Luna, and two new recruits.
"Our target: that portal! Destroy it at all costs! Understand?"
"For Macragge!" they roared in unison, even though they were exhausted and covered in wounds, the conviction in their eyes had not dimmed.
"Charge with me!"
Sergeant Golden led the charge, his plasma gun blazing a path! Second Squad, like a blue dagger, suddenly thrust out from the main defensive line, launching a desperate assault towards the bloody vortex in the center of the factory district!
"Cover them!" Captain Tulak roared, and the White Scars' motorcycle pack immediately launched a feint, drawing flank fire.
Commander Karras, on the other hand, ordered all Raven Guard to concentrate their sniper fire, clearing heavy weapon emplacements and sorcerers from Second Squad's path.
The path of the charge, every step trod through blood and fire!
The World Eaters discovered their intent and let out even more frantic roars, surging forward to intercept them like a tide!
The Word Bearers' sorcery and gunfire also rained down from the flanks!
"Dorian! Left flank! Clear it out!" Sergeant Golden roared.
"Haha! Just in time!" Dorian laughed wildly, his new melta gun roaring deafeningly, its scorching beam vaporizing a path through the charging World Eaters, armor and all!
Lex's twin power axes were like a meat grinder; any enemy daring to approach was instantly shredded!
Cliff maintained steady fire with his intact arm and bionic limb, while Sol desperately provided medical aid to him and the others.
Luna Aisa's data-slate flickered rapidly as she ran, disrupting psychic shields and traps ahead: "Fifty meters ahead! Energy mines! Go around!"
Two new recruits followed closely, precisely eliminating approaching enemies with their Bolters, but soon, one of them was impaled by a Word Bearer Champion's power glaive, sacrificing himself heroically!
"Don't stop! Keep moving!" Sergeant Golden's heart was torn, but he could only roar.
Fifth Squad and Ninth Squad behind them were buying them time with their lives.
Every explosion, every abrupt cessation of a war cry, meant another brother had fallen.
Their sacrifice must not be in vain!
Closer and closer to the portal!
The crimson glow almost seared their eyes, and the roars of daemons and the shrieks of psychic power were deafening!
The Word Bearers' guard also became denser!
"Melta bombs! Prepare!" Sergeant Golden distributed all the high explosives he carried.
Just then, the phantom of the Bloodthirster behind the portal let out an earth-shattering roar!
A massive, hellfire-burning claw slowly extended from the gate!
The terrifying energy fluctuation instantly sent several of the closest White Scars riders, men and bikes, flying.
"No time left!" Sergeant Golden's eyes were bloodshot.
"Lex! Dorian! With me! Draw their fire! Everyone else! Plant the bombs!"
The three of them, as if mad, charged directly into the densest enemy cluster right in front of the portal!
Sergeant Golden's plasma gun fired overloaded shots, Dorian's melta gun roared madly, and Lex's twin axes spun into a storm of death!
They used their bodies to buy precious seconds for their teammates!
Cliff, Sol, Luna, and the sole remaining new recruit, braving dense gunfire and sorcery, rushed towards the portal's base!
"Here! Energy nodes!" Luna shouted, pointing at several key locations.
Cliff and Sol immediately attached the melta bombs!
The new recruit used his body to block a charging Bloodletter, ultimately perishing with it!
Just as they finished planting all the bombs and prepared to withdraw—
A Word Bearer Chaos Sorcerer let out a malicious cackle, abandoning the ritual to condense all his dark energy into a single, deadly green lightning bolt, striking directly at Cliff, who was installing the last bomb!
"Cliff! Look out!" Sol cried out, abruptly pushing him aside!
Sizzle!
The green lightning directly hit Sol's medical backpack, triggering a violent explosion!
Sol was blown away, his body charred black, his vital signs plummeting rapidly!
"Sol!" Cliff cried out in pain.
"Quick... activate..." Sol managed to utter a few words before falling unconscious.
"Bombs in place! Detonate!" Luna shrieked over the comms!
"Withdraw!" Sergeant Golden roared!
Sergeant Golden, Dorian, and Lex struggled to break free and rapidly retreated!
Cliff picked up the unconscious Sol, with Luna close behind!
Sergeant Golden pressed the detonator without hesitation!
Boom—!!!!
An earth-shattering explosion erupted from the portal's base!
Blazing melta flames and a massive shockwave instantly engulfed everything around them!
Word Bearer sorcerers, World Eaters, lesser daemons... along with the massive portal structure itself, twisted, melted, and disintegrated in the violent explosion!
The Bloodthirster, which had just extended a claw, let out an angry and unwilling roar; its body became unstable due to the portal's collapse and began to be forcibly pulled back into the Warp!
They succeeded!
However, just a split second before the portal completely annihilated, two relatively smaller, yet still incredibly terrifying Bloodthirsters violently burst out from the collapsing energy vortex!
Burning with endless fury, wielding massive axe blades and flame whips, they landed amidst the ruins!
The explosion's shockwave also violently threw all of Second Squad away!
They crashed heavily into the distant ruins.
Sergeant Golden felt at least several ribs broken, Dorian's melta gun was completely destroyed, Lex's bionic arm smoked black, Cliff protected Sol with his body but was bleeding profusely, Luna's data-slate was completely wrecked, and she struggled to get up.
They succeeded... but at a heavy cost.
Fifth Squad, Ninth Squad... completely annihilated... Sol was dying, Cliff severely wounded, everyone else injured... and two Bloodthirsters had burst through...
Despair struck again.
The two Bloodthirsters let out deafening roars and began to slaughter everything living nearby, be they loyalists or Chaos traitors!
Just at this desperate moment—
New engine roars echoed from the sky again!
This time, the sound was heavy, steady, and filled with an undeniable sense of power!
Several Thunderhawk Gunships, painted dark green and of ancient, heavy design, along with even larger Stormwolf Gunships, broke through the clouds!
The flaming lizard emblem on the gunships' sides glowed brightly!
It was the Salamanders! Warriors of the Eighteenth Legion! Their reinforcements had finally arrived!
The gunships' ramps opened, and a large number of Salamanders warriors descended like solid bedrock!
Their firepower was fierce and sustained, immediately stabilizing the crumbling defensive line!
More importantly, they brought heavy weapon squads specifically designed to deal with large daemons—multi-melta and plasma cannons were immediately aimed at the two rampaging Bloodthirsters!
At the same time, medical transports quickly landed close behind, and the Salamanders' Apothecaries and medical officers began treating the wounded with astonishing efficiency, including the dying Sol and the severely injured Cliff!
"Hold on, brother! You've done well enough!" a Salamanders Sergeant shouted to Sergeant Golden, his voice steady and powerful, "Now, leave it to us!"
The tide of battle turned once more!
The Salamanders' fresh forces were like a bulwark, taking over from the exhausted White Scars, Raven Guard, and the remnants of the Ultramarines. They engaged in fierce combat with the two Bloodthirsters, the roar of heavy weapons and the daemon's screams echoing across the battlefield.
The survivors of Second Squad were quickly evacuated by medics. Sergeant Golden watched the scene unfold, his heart a mix of emotions. They had paid an unimaginable price; the mission was complete, but the battle was far from over.
He looked at Saul and Cliff, who were receiving emergency treatment, at the bodies of their fallen brothers, and at the Salamanders, White Scars, and Raven Guard still fighting valiantly...
Valkoris' forge still burned. But the spark of hope had been rekindled.
The struggle between loyalty and madness continued. And the story of Second Squad would turn a new page amidst scars and glory.
The battle on Valkoris' surface temporarily stabilized due to the powerful intervention of the Salamanders Legion. Although the two Bloodthirsters that had just burst through the Blood Gate were incredibly fierce, under the siege of the Salamanders' heavy weapon squads and numerous experienced warriors, they were unable to expand their gains. Instead, they were battered by dense plasma and melta fire, roaring continuously and covered in wounds.
However, whether it was the Salamanders' commander, the White Scars' Captain Tulak, the Raven Guard's Commander Karas, or the heavily wounded Sergeant Golden, they all knew one thing: merely holding the line was not enough. The forces of Chaos on Valkoris were still vast, especially the surviving World Eaters and Word Bearers elites. Once they reorganized, they would still pose a huge threat. A decisive blow had to be delivered to completely crush their will to resist!
Just as the ground commanders were preparing to plan a new counterattack, the sky was once again covered by the blue of the Ultramarines!
But this time, the scale far exceeded any previous deployment!
The roar of engines thundered across the sky, drowning out all the clamor of the battlefield! A massive formation of Thunderhawk Gunships, even larger Stormhawk Gunships, and Charon Transports specifically for heavy units formed a sky-darkening armada, descending upon Valkoris like a divine judgment from the Emperor!
First to drop were the Terminator veterans of the First Company! Clad in their iconic Tactical Dreadnought Armor, like blue steel giants, their assault cannons and power weapons instantly cleared large areas of enemies. Their appearance itself represented the deployment of the Ultramarines' most elite forces!
Immediately following, an even more reassuring presence landed with a shock—a full five Dreadnoughts! Three belonged to the First Company, and two to the Second Company! These ancient relics of war advanced with earth-shaking steps, their heavy footfalls even temporarily overwhelming the daemon's roars! Twin-linked assault cannons wove a storm of death, laser cannons evaporated large daemons with every shot, and missile launchers blew entire groups of traitors sky-high!
"For Macragge! For Chapter Master Calgar!" The steady, murderous voice of the First Company Captain echoed on the public channel, "All loyal units, rally to me! Purge all heretics and daemons!"
The Ultramarines Legion had deployed almost its entire force! Chapter Master Calgar had clearly elevated the Valkoris campaign to the highest priority, vowing to crush the forces of Chaos here in one fell swoop and avenge his fallen brothers!
The addition of fresh forces, especially the unparalleled firepower and protection of the Dreadnoughts, instantly shifted the absolute balance of power on the battlefield! The blue tide of steel began to advance irresistibly. The World Eaters' berserkers appeared so fragile before the Terminators and Dreadnoughts, and the Word Bearers' sorcery struggled to penetrate the thick armor and the powerful psychic resistance of the Terminator Armor.
The tide of the ground battle began to decisively turn in favor of the Imperium.
...
However, just as the main Ultramarines forces were almost entirely committed to the ground battle on Valkoris, at the moment when the internal defenses of the Macragge's Honour were at their most vulnerable, the serpent in the shadows finally bared its fangs.
In the lower decks of the battleship, within a secondary Mechanicus prayer hall rarely frequented by anyone, a high-ranking Tech-Priest was leading dozens of lower-ranking Tech-Priests and servitors in their daily maintenance litanies. The hall was filled with the scent of incense and binary chanting, and various complex instruments and pipes hummed rhythmically.
Suddenly, the body of the Tech-Priest presiding over the ritual stiffened! The red glow in his eyes instantly transformed into a bizarre, kaleidoscopic vortex! His heavily modified body began to twitch violently and uncontrollably, metallic appendages twisting and flailing, emitting an ear-splitting screech!
"Master Priest? What's wrong?" A nearby Tech-Priest asked, startled.
But the Tech-Priest suddenly lifted his head, and from his mouth came not binary prayers, but a distorted, shrill, malicious, inhuman language! At the same time, he violently plunged the data probe in his hand into a maintenance port on the main energy pipeline beside him!
"No! Stop him!" A Tech-Priest, realizing something was wrong, cried out in alarm!
But it was already too late!
A powerful Warp energy erupted from within the corrupted Tech-Priest, surging like a virus through the data probe and into the battleship's network system! The space around him began to Warp, blasphemous symbols appeared on the metal walls, and tiny, constantly swirling kaleidoscopic vortices opened in the air!
"In the name of the Lord of Change! The gates open!" The Tech-Priest, or rather, the daemon possessing his body, let out a final shriek!
The next moment, countless twisted, cunning Tzeentch daemons—Pink Horrors, Blue Horrors, Flamers, and even more powerful Screamers and Tzeentch Sorcerers—composed of pure sorcerous energy and malice, swarmed out of those kaleidoscopic vortices like a bursting dam!
As soon as they appeared, they furiously attacked all living things in the hall! Tech-Priests and servitors were instantly engulfed in strange flames, disintegrated by twisted magic, and torn apart by mad talons!
Invasion! A large-scale Warp invasion by the Tzeentch daemon legions had erupted directly in the heart of the Macragge's Honour!
Alarms instantly blared throughout the battleship! But at this moment, the forces remaining on board were primarily ship crew and Tech-Sergeants, who were not adept at close combat, along with some warriors from the Fourth Company and the Chapter Master's Honor Guard!
"All units! Warp breach in the Mechanicus prayer hall! Repeat! Warp breach! All combat personnel proceed to suppress immediately!" The bridge issued an emergency command.
The Fourth Company warriors and the Honor Guard reacted swiftly, rushing to the affected area. But they soon discovered that the number of daemons far exceeded expectations, and their objective was extremely clear! They were not blindly destroying the ship but had split into several groups: one to hold back the approaching loyal forces, and another to advance rapidly along complex pipes and passages, precisely heading in one direction—towards the Medical Deck!
Their target was clear—it was Gaius, who was quarantined there, his body containing the power of the Lord of Change!
"Their target is Brother Hohn!" The Honor Guard Captain immediately realized this, furiously hacking at an attacking Pink Horror while roaring into the channel, "Hold all passages leading to the Medical Deck! They must not succeed!"
Fierce boarding combat erupted in the internal corridors and compartments of the Macragge's Honour! The Fourth Company warriors and the Honor Guard resisted desperately, the roar of Bolters and the whistle of power weapons echoing through the steel bulkheads. But the number of daemons was too great, and their magic was incredibly insidious and tricky, often bypassing frontal defenses to attack weak points.
Even more terrifying, the corrupted Tech-Priest had now completely transformed into a twisted husk driven by daemon energy. He was constantly using his authority to unlock security doors, shut down defensive systems, and even guide the daemons along optimal paths!
Inside the battleship, strange colorful flames erupted everywhere. Cold metal walls became covered in freezing frost or melted into twisted shapes. Crew members and technical personnel fled in terror, with some being caught and killed by daemons.
The defensive line around the Medical Deck was under immense pressure, and warriors were constantly falling. The Honor Guard Captain watched the retreating front and the increasing number of daemons, his heart filled with anxiety. He knew that the remaining forces alone likely couldn't hold out for long.
"Request aid from the Chapter Master! We need ground forces to return immediately!" He shouted into the comms.
But the battle on Valkoris' surface was entering its most crucial phase; a forced withdrawal might lead to failure and even greater casualties.
The Macragge's Honour, this mighty Imperial flagship, was now being corroded from within by a deadly venom. And its core target, the warrior who had just endured psychic torment, was still unaware of any of this.
Gaius' fate, and the fate of this battleship, once again hung in the balance.