The battle inside the Macragge's Honour had reached a fever pitch. Although the warriors of the Fourth Company and the Chapter Master's Honor Guard were incredibly brave, their defenses were still being compressed step by step in the face of the endless, cunning Tzeentchian Daemons.
Eerie colorful flames burned in the corridors, cold frost intertwined with scorching melt marks, and the bodies of crew and Tech-Priests lay in the corners, the air filled with the stench of ozone, blood, and blasphemous magic.
The captain of the Honor Guard led the charge, his power sword felling a Daemon with every swing, but his armor was also covered in magic burns and claw marks, and his breathing was heavy.
He knew this couldn't go on.
"All units! Fall back to the core area of the medical deck! Establish a final defense line! Do not let them get close to the Brother Hohn!" he ordered hoarsely, leading the remaining guards as they fought and retreated, finally falling back to the heavy isolation door of the medical deck, forming a fragile steel barrier.
Meanwhile, in the deepest isolation observation room of the medical deck, Gaius was enduring an ordeal far more perilous than the battle outside.
The Mind Repulsion Collar on his neck buzzed violently, its surface cracking more and more, almost completely shattering! The nanomachines in his left arm churned like boiling magma, frantically assaulting the cold seal of the Grey Knights' mark.
The dense Tzeentchian psychic energy from outside, like the sweetest poison, constantly tempted him, trying to pry open the last line of defense in his mind.
A senior Apothecary guarding him was nervously monitoring his vital signs, trying to inject more tranquilizers, but to no avail.
Suddenly, the Apothecary's movements stiffened.
He abruptly looked up, the concern and professionalism in his eyes gone, replaced by a pair of... Gaius was intimately familiar with, wise and authoritative blue eyes.
The Apothecary's appearance and figure began to twist and change, like melting wax, finally settling—into Roboute Guilliman, wearing an Archon's armor, a blue cloak, and a resolute yet slightly weary face!
"Gaius," 'Guilliman' spoke, his voice steady and full of power, carrying the Primarch's convincing charisma, "Look at you, my warrior.
Why do you resist this power? It is not a curse, but a gift bestowed upon you by the Emperor to fight true darkness.
Embrace it, and you can become a blade of a new era, clearing all obstacles for humanity, for Ultramar.
Just as... I expect."
This illusion was so real, the Primarch's majesty and words struck Gaius' deepest desires and reverence.
He almost succumbed, but the sharp pain from the collar on his neck and the wildly different, violent energy in his left arm screamed warnings.
"No... you are not..." Gaius resisted with difficulty, sweat soaking his clothes.
'Guilliman' showed a hint of disappointment, then dissipated like smoke.
The next moment, the Apothecary transformed into Sergeant Thayne, wearing a company commander's uniform, his bionic arm glinting coldly, his eyes stern: "Gaius! Control yourself! Look at you now! Hiding here like a coward, letting your comrades bleed for you!
Where is your strength? Use it! Break out! Help us!"
The familiar reprimand from his superior, laced with provocation, sought to ignite his anger and sense of responsibility.
"Sergeant Thayne... I..." Gaius felt a pang of guilt.
The illusion changed again!
This time, a kindly but worried farmer's wife appeared, dressed in a simple Kronus IV long dress—the image of his mother from his memory.
"Child... my child..." 'Mother' reached out, tears in her eyes, "Don't fight anymore... don't get hurt anymore... come back... come back to your mother... just be safe..."
His softest emotions were touched, and Gaius' mental defenses violently swayed, almost reaching out.
But immediately after, the image of 'Mother' distorted, transforming into Elisa Cole, robed in white, calm and wise!
"Gaius," 'Elisa's' voice was calm, yet carried a hint of seduction, "Do you remember my dream?
You see, the Primarch heard it... but he needs help.
The Imperium needs change.
Together, we can... break those old shackles, establish a more rational, more powerful new order... with knowledge, with strength, and not blind faith..."
The dream of his deceased comrade was twisted and exploited, attempting to lead his loyalty astray.
"Elisa... wouldn't... say that..." Gaius gritted his teeth, his nails digging into his palms.
The illusions rapidly switched!
Talos dragging his broken body, encouraging him... Dorian roaring for him to charge together... Cliff silently showing his severed arm... Luna displaying a so-called "evolutionary blueprint" on a datapad... Saul holding a medical needle but hinting at "release"... Even Jerrison Fall appeared, mocking his restraints and proclaiming "absolute freedom"... Gorden ordering him to unleash his power... Lex demonstrating the strength of his bionic arm... Fallen recruits questioning why he didn't save them... Finally, even Chapter Master Calgar appeared, commanding him in an unquestionable tone to "accept this gift"!
Each illusion precisely attacked a different emotional weakness—loyalty, responsibility, kinship, friendship, hatred, guilt, curiosity, the desire for freedom, obedience to orders...
Countless contradictory whispers exploded in his mind, like a thousand needles simultaneously piercing his soul:
"Embrace it!" "Control it!" "Release it!" "Save them!" "Join us!" "For the Emperor!" "For yourself!" "They are all lying to you!" "Only power is real!"
"Ah—!!!" Gaius clutched his head, letting out a painful roar, feeling his consciousness about to be completely torn apart and driven mad by these countless voices!
The Mind Repulsion Collar let out a final wail, covered in cracks!
Just as his will was on the verge of collapse, the constantly changing 'Apothecary' stepped back, letting out a low, infinitely cunning laugh.
Its form began to undergo a fundamental change.
Its height stretched, and its physique became inhumanly slender and elegant.
Blue, shimmering feathers, glowing with wisdom and madness, grew from its body, covering it entirely.
Its head transformed into a massive, hooked-beak raven's head, with swirling, all-consuming, multicolored vortexes in its eyes.
A constantly shifting staff appeared in its hand, and countless ethereal magic books, flipping themselves and writing paradoxes and lies, revolved around its body.
The space behind it completely twisted, no longer a medical bay, but a constantly shifting, brilliantly colored yet extremely unsettling chaotic domain, as if countless eyes and mouths flickered within it.
The Lord of Change, the Source of Sophistry, the Fateweaver—a powerful Avatar of Tzeentch himself, was personally present!
"How... interesting a struggle..." The Tzeentchian Avatar spoke, its voice a superposition of countless tones, countless languages, like both the enlightenment of wisdom and the babbling of madness, "Your soul... so many contradictions, so many possibilities... like a meticulously carved diamond, each facet reflecting a different light... destroying you, or remolding you, will both be... an unparalleled work of art..."
It extended its bird-clawed hand, pointing at Gaius' violently trembling, almost collapsing left arm: "Come... lay down that ridiculous resistance... embrace true... 'logic'... let me reveal to you... the ultimate... 'truth' of the universe..."
An unparalleled, terrifying psychic pressure bore down on Gaius like a physical force, threatening to completely crush his last shred of will!
Just at this critical moment—
Bang!!!
The heavy isolation door of the medical deck was violently blown open from the outside by an immense force!
A deep blue figure, filled with endless rage and determination, rushed in like a god of war!
It was Chapter Master Calgar!
He had clearly rushed back from the ground battle, his armor still stained with the dust of Valkoris and green insect blood, and his Power Maul burned with the brilliant light of a disintegration field!
Behind him were the remaining, battle-scarred members of the Honor Guard!
"In the name of the Emperor and Roboute Guilliman! Get back to your Warp, foul god!" Calgar let out a deafening roar, unhesitatingly pointing his Power Maul at the Tzeentchian Avatar, and a pure psychic blast, condensed with his entire will and the Primarch's blessing, shot out with a thunderous roar!
At the same time, all Honor Guard members also opened fire, bolt rounds and plasma raining down on the Tzeentchian Avatar!
The Tzeentchian Avatar let out a shriek mixed with surprise and anger!
It seemed to have not expected Calgar to so decisively abandon the ground battle and rush back to reinforce, and to unleash such a concentrated and powerful psychic blast imbued with Guilliman's power!
It waved its staff, instantly conjuring layers of constantly shifting magical barriers in front of it!
Boom—!!!
Two immense forces collided violently!
The entire medical deck shook violently, instruments exploded, and lights went out!
A psychic storm swept through everything!
Most of the Honor Guard's attacks were deflected or absorbed by the strange barrier, but Calgar's full-power strike, imbued with the Primarch's strength, clearly caused effective interference and damage to the Tzeentchian Avatar!
Multicolored feathers flew, the Tzeentchian Avatar's figure became slightly blurry, and it let out a painful shriek!
"Foolish mortals! You have obstructed a great plan!" The voice of Tzeentch's avatar was full of venom, but it also seemed to realize that, under the desperate resistance of a Chapter Master and many Astartes, especially within a warship in this material universe, its avatar would struggle to achieve its ultimate goal in a short time.
It suddenly waved a hand, and a dazzling, blinding, kaleidoscopic flash erupted, engulfing the entire Medical Deck!
When the light dissipated, Tzeentch's avatar and the daemon army it brought vanished as if they had never appeared, leaving behind only devastation and a strong scent of Warp contamination.
Chapter Master Calgar, meanwhile, knelt on one knee, a deep crack appearing on his breastplate, as if corroded by some power of law, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. That last blow had cost him dearly.
Most of the Honor Guard members were also wounded and still shaken.
Calgar slowly raised his head and looked into the isolation chamber. Gaius had completely lost consciousness, slumping onto the medical bed, his Mind Repulsion Collar shattered and detached from his neck. The nanomachines in his left arm had temporarily fallen silent, but his vital signs seemed to have stabilized.
"...Immediately...purify the entire area...highest level of isolation..." Calgar issued the command with difficulty, then also fell into a coma due to severe injuries and power exhaustion.
A terrifying assault from the deepest reaches of the Warp was finally repelled, for now, by the desperate resistance of the Chapter Master and his loyal guards.
But everyone knew that Tzeentch's schemes would not stop there. Gaius, a warrior burdened with strange powers and curses, had already become a target of close attention for the Arch-Chaos God.
His future was destined to be accompanied by more conspiracies and dangers.
On the surface of Valkoris, with the full participation of the Ultramarines First Company Terminator Veterans and Dreadnoughts, the battle finally turned decisively.
The World Eaters' tide, for the first time, showed signs of faltering in the face of absolute firepower and iron will. Those arrogant berserkers, perhaps unafraid of death, found their mad charges turned into futile suicide against the tank-shattering firepower of the Dreadnoughts and the indestructible defensive lines of the Terminators. The Word Bearers' sorcerous rituals were completely interrupted, and without continuous daemon support, their positions quickly disintegrated under the White Scars' whirlwind assault and the Raven Guard's precise hunting.
"For Macragge! For our fallen brothers!" The roar of the First Company Captain was like a warhammer, tolling the death knell for Chaos.
The blue steel tide, unstoppable, crushed the last resistance. World Eaters champions making a last stand were trampled by Dreadnoughts, and Word Bearers sorcerers attempting to flee were sniped by Raven Guard from the shadows. The two Bloodthirster beasts that burst from the Blood Gate, under the concentrated fire of the Salamanders heavy weapons squad and the Ultramarines Dreadnoughts, finally let out unwilling roars, their massive bodies collapsing and dissipating like mountains, returning to the Warp.
Cheers of victory finally echoed over the ruins of Valkoris, but these cheers carried an unspeakable weight and sorrow. The cost was too great. The Fifth Squad and Ninth Squad were completely annihilated, the 7th Company, 2nd Squad was almost crippled, and the White Scars and Raven Guard also suffered significant casualties, as did the Salamanders.
However, the joy of victory had barely lasted when an urgent communication came from orbit!
"The Macragge's Honour is under large-scale Warp invasion! Chapter Master gravely wounded! Repeat! Chapter Master gravely wounded! All available units immediately return to assist!"
This news was like a bucket of ice water, instantly shocking all ground unit commanders awake from their victory euphoria!
"What?! The warship attacked? Chapter Master..." The First Company Captain was shocked and enraged, almost unable to believe his ears.
"It's Tzeentch's daemons! Their target seems to be Brother Hohn!" The comms officer added.
"Assemble immediately! All functional transport vehicles! Prioritize transporting the seriously wounded and First Company and Honor Guard members back to the ship! Quickly!" The First Company Captain immediately made the most correct decision, not even having time to thoroughly clear the battlefield.
The warriors, having just endured a bloody battle, had no time to rest. They immediately dragged their weary and injured bodies and boarded the returning Thunderhawk Gunships and transport ships at maximum speed. The White Scars' assault bikes were the first to take to the sky, shooting towards orbit like arrows from a bow. The Raven Guard's figures silently melted into the shadows, preparing to support the ship's internal battle from unexpected directions. The Salamanders warriors, meanwhile, voluntarily took on the responsibility of covering the retreat and temporarily guarding Valkoris.
When the first wave of reinforcements—primarily the First Company's elite and the remnants of the Honor Guard—stormed into the Macragge's Honour's hangar, they found chaos and ongoing skirmishes. Survivors of the Fourth Company, with the help of Tech-Priests, were extinguishing strange fires and clearing daemon remnants, their faces etched with exhaustion and lingering fear.
"Where is the Chapter Master?" The First Company Captain urgently asked, grabbing an Honor Guard member.
"On the Medical Deck...His Majesty...to repel that...thing...was gravely wounded..." The guard's voice was choked with sobs and fear.
The Captain's heart sank, and he immediately led his men towards the Medical Deck.
The Medical Deck area had been completely sealed off and purified, but a strong Warp contamination and unsettling psychic echoes still lingered. Apothecary Vorlak was leading his team in a full-scale effort to save the unconscious Chapter Master Calgar and Gaius.
Calgar's condition was relatively stable, but the wound on his breastplate, corroded by the power of Tzeentch's avatar, was extremely troublesome. It contained strange powers of law that prevented the wound from healing and was even slowly spreading, requiring the most precise psychic surgery and mechanical repair.
Gaius' situation, however, was even more complex. The Mind Repulsion Collar was completely shattered, losing its primary protection. Vorlak's examination showed that his mental state had suffered an extremely severe impact. Although Tzeentch's direct whispers had vanished, those twisted illusions and temptations seemed to have left deep imprints, like scars on his mind. And the nanomachines in his left arm, after the final violent conflict, seemed to have entered a peculiar state of "silence," no longer active and no longer conflicting with the Grey Knights' mark, as if...they had run out of all energy, or undergone some unknown degradation.
"His body is fine, but his mind and that arm...will require long-term observation. This encounter...has changed him," Vorlak said gravely to the arriving First Company Captain.
As more troops returned to the ship, the daemons inside the warship were gradually purged, and order slowly returned. But the shadow cast over the Macragge's Honour had not dissipated.
The Chapter Master was gravely wounded and unconscious, his fate unknown. A warrior was targeted by a Chaos God's true form, his body and mind scarred. The warship suffered severe internal damage, and crew casualties were significant. Valkoris was retaken, but at an extremely heavy price.
The embers of victory were cold and heavy.
Sergeant Golden and the other wounded from Second Squad, after receiving treatment, insisted on coming to the perimeter of the Medical Deck. Looking at the unconscious Gaius and the Chapter Master being rescued, everyone's feelings were incredibly complex. They had won the ground battle, but had almost lost their most important flagship and leader.
"It's all because of me..." Gaius murmured unconsciously in his coma, his brows tightly furrowed, as if still battling illusions.
"No, brother." Dorian pressed his good hand heavily on Gaius' uninjured shoulder, though Gaius couldn't feel it. "It's those damned Chaos bastards' fault! We'll get through this! Just like before!"
His words seemed to be for Gaius, and also for all the survivors.
Lex stood silently to the side, his new bionic arm damaged again in the previous battle, but he didn't care. Cliff and Thor lay on nearby medical beds, not yet out of danger. Luna, meanwhile, held a new data-slate, already assisting the Tech-Priests in analyzing the invasion data, trying to find defensive vulnerabilities, her gaze focused and determined.
After the disaster, life had to go on, and the battle was not over.
The First Company Captain temporarily took command of the warship. He issued a series of orders: full effort to treat the wounded, repair warship damage, strengthen internal security and psychic monitoring, and formally handed over the subsequent defense of Valkoris to the Salamanders Legion, while expressing his sincerest gratitude to the White Scars and Raven Guard.
The Macragge's Honour needed time to lick its wounds, and even more, it needed its Chapter Master to awaken quickly.
And deep within the subconscious of the unconscious Gaius, though the confrontation with the Lord of Change had ended, its lingering effects might have only just begun to fester. Tzeentch's whispers might have temporarily receded, but were the seeds of doubt, fear, and temptation it planted truly eradicated?
Only time would tell.
The warship slowly adjusted its course, heading towards a relatively safe star system for rest and recuperation. Outside the windows, the cold starry sky and a still-unsettled world. Inside the cabins, battle-scarred warriors and an uncertain future.
The Valkoris campaign and the subsequent ship-board invasion were like two heavy muffled hammers, striking hard at the spine of the Ultramarines Chapter.
When the battle damage report was compiled and presented to the interim commander, First Company Captain Cassius, the cold numbers sent a shiver down the spine of the battle-hardened veteran.
The entire Chapter had suffered close to forty percent combat personnel losses.
These were not just numbers; they represented the loss of countless experienced veterans and loyal brothers.
Many companies were left with incomplete formations, especially the 7th, 5th, and 4th Companies, which were almost decimated.
Equipment and warship losses were equally immense.
The Ultramarines, the epitome of the Imperium's Astartes, had suffered their most severe setback since the Badab War.
Captain Cassius' expression was grim, but he had no time to wallow in sorrow.
With the Chapter Master in a coma, he had to stabilize the situation.
He immediately implemented a series of iron-fisted and effective measures:
1. Emergency Recall: All Ultramarines forces deployed on non-critical missions were immediately ordered to converge on the Macragge's Honour.
An encrypted order traversed the star sea, reaching Talos, the Captain of the 9th Company, who was on a long-term extermination mission, commanding him to immediately conclude his mission and return with his forces.
2. Successor Chapter Assistance: Cassius, in the Chapter Master's name (with genetic authentication from the comatose Calgar), issued requests for assistance to several Ultramarines Successor Chapters within Ultramar.
Soon, several Successor Chapter warships arrived and rendezvoused with the Macragge's Honour, significantly bolstering the fleet's defensive capabilities, especially against potential internal psychic threats.
3. Activation of the "Seed" Program: The Ultramarines' powerful logistics and recruitment capabilities were now on full display.
The gene-seed vaults of Macragge and its various subordinate worlds were fully activated, and all qualified candidates were rapidly transported to the fleet.
The vast gene-forges on the warships operated at full capacity, and advanced gene-cultivation and implantation technologies resulted in survival rates and efficiency far exceeding those of ordinary Chapters during the modification process.
Almost every day, an entire squad of 10 new recruits completed their final organ implantation and Black Carapace fusion, emerging from the forges, donning their blue power armor, and filling the ranks of the depleted companies.
Time flew by amidst intense reconstruction and vigilance.
Several months passed.
During this period, there were indeed disturbances.
Some nobles on remote worlds within Ultramar, perhaps sensing the Chapter's temporary weakness, or perhaps swayed by the covert instigation of remnant Chaos forces, launched several small-scale rebellions, attempting to break away from Ultramar's jurisdiction.
However, these rebellions did not even require the deployment of veterans; they served as the perfect real-world training ground for the new recruits.
Led by a small number of Sergeants or veterans, these new recruits, who had just completed their modifications and were eager to prove themselves, swiftly and ruthlessly extinguished all sparks of rebellion with slightly unrefined but absolutely fanatical and disciplined tactics.
Blood and battle allowed them to grow rapidly, and also proclaimed the resilience of the Ultramarines to all.
Inside the medical bay, good news finally arrived.
After several precise psychic surgeries and mechanical repairs, Chapter Master Marius Calgar finally awoke.
The strange wound on his chest was successfully contained and gradually repaired; although he was still weak and required a long period of recuperation, his will remained clear and strong.
His awakening greatly stabilized morale, and all high-ranking officers breathed a sigh of relief.
After hearing Cassius' report, Calgar approved all of his interim measures and ordered continued strengthening of combat readiness and training.
At the same time, Gaius' condition gradually stabilized.
Apothecary Vorlak and Librarian monitored him with the utmost rigor.
Tzeentch's direct corruption seemed to have temporarily receded, but his mental state remained sensitive and fragile, requiring long-term psychological counseling and psychic protection training.
His left arm had completely fallen into dormancy, as if it had become an ordinary, slightly pale bionic arm, with no energy reactions whatsoever, and even the Grey Knights' mark had become faint.
Vorlak could not explain this change, attributing it only to some unknown "necrosis" or "dormancy" after an extreme energy conflict.
Given his unstable state and potential risks, Chapter Master Calgar personally ordered that Gaius be prohibited from participating in any external combat missions until the condition of his left arm was thoroughly investigated and explicit permission was obtained from the Grey Knights.
Thus, Gaius' life became relatively simple and monotonous.
Most of the time, he was undergoing Vorlak's examinations, Librarian's mental training, or performing restorative exercises alone.
He still lived with the members of Second Squad, but watching his comrades' busy figures while he could only remain on the ship, he inevitably felt a touch of loneliness and anxiety in his heart.
The rest of Second Squad embarked on new missions.
With the massive influx of new recruits, experienced veterans became extremely valuable.
Gorden, Dorian, Lex (whose bionic arm was repaired again), and others dedicated most of their time to training new recruits.
They unreservedly imparted the experiences and lessons they had accumulated in countless bloody battles to this fresh blood.
Although busy, seeing the new recruits grow rapidly was also a comfort.
Cliff and Thor, after recovering from their injuries, also joined the training teams; their experiences with injuries and disabilities even became the best teaching material to inspire new recruits.
Sister Luna, meanwhile, was busy analyzing data, optimizing training procedures, and assisting the Tech-Priests in strengthening the ship's psychic defense systems.
The entire Chapter, like a huge and precise machine, operated frantically after its trauma, self-repairing and growing stronger.
However, beneath the calm, undercurrents still surged.
Three silent, cloaked figures in grey boarded the Macragge's Honour without a sound.
They directly met with Chapter Master Calgar and Captain Cassius, presenting top-level directives from the Grey Knights fortress on Holy Terra.
They were Grey Knights, a three-person squad.
Their mission was singular: to closely monitor Gaius' condition and to be ready to respond to any potential resurgence of Tzeentch's schemes.
They had minimal contact with any ship personnel, residing like ghosts near the medical bay; their very presence was a silent warning—the crisis was far from over.
...In the depths of the Warp, within the ever-shifting palace of the Impossible Fortress.
Tzeentch, the avian-headed, human-bodied god who manipulates fate, observed everything on the Macragge's Honour through a colossal, constantly spinning crystal ball.
It saw the Chapter's recovery, the training of new recruits, Gaius' dormancy, and the arrival of the three Grey Knights.
Its bird-beak curved into an eerie smile, filled with endless calculations.
"Struggle... repair... grow stronger..." Its echoing whisper reverberated through the palace, countless voices seemingly speaking and mocking at once, "...All of this will ultimately only make the game more... interesting."
In the crystal ball, the focus converged on the blue-armored warrior, training alone with a slight frown.
"Gaius..." Tzeentch's voice deepened and became filled with temptation, as if directly piercing the barrier between reality and the void, resounding in the depths of Gaius' mind, unnoticed even by him, "...Do you think silence is safety? Do you think confinement is liberation?"
"No... that power is already fused with you... it is a part of you... it is the foundation for you to transcend the mundane..."
"What you are avoiding is your true destiny."
"You are my carefully chosen... Champion..."
"You cannot escape..."
The whisper, like the finest dust, quietly settled, blending beneath the seemingly calm daily routine, awaiting the next moment to ferment.
The Macragge's Honour was repairing and growing stronger, but the gaze from the highest heavens never shifted.
Gaius' inner battlefield might be more perilous than any external war.
The shadow of the future still stretched long.
The clang of metal from the training cage echoed in the empty chamber.
Gaius repeated the monotonous but necessary rehabilitation exercises, sweat soaking his under-suit.
Although the Mind Repulsion Collar had shattered, Apothecary Vorlak had replaced it with a similar, but less potent, psychic suppressor, which still left him feeling separated from the world by an invisible film.
The dead feeling in his left arm lingered, as if reminding him of his close encounter with the Chaos God.
The training complete signal sounded.
Gaius gasped for breath, wiping sweat with a towel, preparing to return to his quarters.
Just then, he saw a petite but upright figure standing in front of the data terminal outside the training cage, meticulously operating it—it was Tech-Priest Luna Aisa.
"Tech-Priest Aisa," Gaius greeted her proactively.
He didn't know much about this young colleague who had taken Elisa's place, was usually quiet, but had performed exceptionally well on Brakka VII.
Luna looked up, her overly calm eyes, which always seemed immersed in data streams, met Gaius' gaze and she nodded slightly: "Brother Hohn.
Your physiological readings are more stable than last time, but there are still minor fluctuations in your neural reflex rate.
I recommend adding some coordination training." Her words were direct and professional, devoid of much emotion.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Gaius smiled, trying to lighten the mood, "Still busy?"
"Routine data collection and analysis.
Optimizing new recruit training procedures requires extensive empirical support." Luna replied curtly, her gaze returning to the data-slate.
A brief silence.
Gaius looked at her young but focused profile and couldn't help but ask: "If I may be so bold, Tech-Priest Aisa, you…you look very young.
How did you…" He paused, choosing his words carefully, "…join the Ultramarines?"
Among the Astartes, age was usually not a topic of discussion, but Luna's appearance and demeanor indeed seemed particularly youthful, even younger than Elisa had been.
Luna's fingers paused on the data-slate.
She looked up again at Gaius, and a fleeting, extremely complex emotion seemed to flash in her eyes, but it was quickly covered by her usual calmness.
"I am sixteen standard years old," she stated calmly, as if speaking of a data point unrelated to herself, "From Vesta IX, an agricultural world on the edge of Ultramar."
Gaius was slightly taken aback.
Sixteen?
That was even younger than many recruits when they completed their transformation.
And Vesta IX…he vaguely remembered it as a world known for producing high-quality grains, but otherwise unremarkable.
Luna seemed to sense his confusion.
She was silent for a few seconds, as if recalling an unpleasant past, then slowly spoke, her voice still calm, but with a barely perceptible ripple:
"Vesta IX…was very ordinary.
My parents were agricultural engineers, and I grew up surrounded by machinery and data.
I thought life would continue that way, peacefully…until three years ago."
Her gaze became somewhat distant, as if piercing through the warship's metal walls to see a distant past.
"Tyranid vanguard spores…landed on our main continent.
They came too fast, too suddenly…harvesting all biomass…the army collapsed, communications were cut off…we hid in underground bunkers, and we could hear on the surface…that horrible chewing and screaming…"
Gaius held his breath.
He could imagine that hellish scene.
"Despair…fear…consumed everyone," Luna's voice deepened, "Then…they came."
"They?" Gaius frowned.
"Chaos," Luna uttered a cold word, "Perhaps the despair was too strong, attracting the attention of the Warp…a large Khorne warband appeared on the planet.
They…and the Tyranids…fought each other."
Gaius was stunned.
Chaos and Tyranids were mortal enemies; such a situation, though rare, was not impossible.
"The underground bunker was on the edge of their battlefield…" Luna's fingertips unconsciously tightened, "We could hear even more terrifying sounds of battle…feel the earth shake…the air was filled with the smell of blood and…another, more insane, desire for slaughter…"
"We hid for who knows how long…food and water were running out…it seemed quieter outside…Father decided to go out and look for supplies…" Her voice trembled noticeably for the first time, "He…never came back."
Another silence, suffocatingly oppressive.
"Later…the sounds completely disappeared.
I…I crawled out of the bunker alone…" Luna took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, "Outside…was true hell.
Tyranid slime and the shattered bodies of Khorne Berserkers were mixed together…the whole world seemed to be stained red and green…"
"I hid in the ruins, surviving on a little leftover supplies and…rainwater.
I don't know how long passed…until the sky was once again occupied by blue ships."
A faint glimmer finally appeared in her eyes, the light of hope.
"It was the Ultramarines.
They came to clear the battlefield, to ascertain if the planet still had any salvage value.
They found me…a girl hiding in a pile of corpses, almost starved to death, yet still trying to repair a broken communicator."
"They took me back to the fleet.
Apothecary Vorlak discovered that my genetic sequence…had a rare adaptability, and I had a…natural affinity for machinery and data.
They asked me…if I was willing to undergo modification, to become a Tech-Priest, to fight to save more worlds like Vesta."
"I agreed," Luna's tone became firm again, "Nothing…is more terrifying than losing everything.
If I can use these hands and this mind to prevent more tragedies…I am willing to pay any price."
The story was finished.
The training chamber was silent, save for the faint hum of the circulation system.
Gaius looked at the girl before him, only sixteen, yet having endured such a horrific catastrophe and resolutely choosing this difficult path, his heart filled with an inexpressible sense of awe and respect.
Her calmness and focus were not due to an inherently detached nature, but an armor forged from immense trauma and determination.
Her taking Elisa's place was no accident, but a fated inheritance.
"I heard about Tech-Priest Elisa Cole," Luna suddenly said softly, "She was incredible.
I…I will try to be like her."
Gaius nodded heavily, a thousand words caught in his throat, ultimately condensing into one sentence: "You are already doing very well, Sister Luna."
Just then, Luna's brow furrowed slightly, and her gaze sharply swept towards the shadowy corner at the far end of the training chamber.
"What's wrong?" Gaius became alert.
"Just now…" Luna said uncertainly, "I think I saw…three pairs of eyes…watching us.
Silver…very cold…"
Gaius immediately followed her gaze, but there was nothing there, only cold metal walls and pipes.
"Was it a hallucination?" Gaius asked, but his psychic suppressor seemed to emit an extremely faint fluctuation.
Luna shook her head, her eyes returning to clarity: "Maybe I'm just tired.
Looking at too much data sometimes causes visual hallucinations." But her hand, gripping the data-slate, was slightly white, indicating she wasn't entirely convinced.
Just as the two were about to leave, at the end of the distant corridor, a silver figure seemed to flash by extremely quickly, disappearing around the corner, moving almost too fast for vision to capture.
Gaius and Luna exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity in the other's eyes.
It was the Grey Knights.
They had been watching.
Never letting up.
An invisible pressure descended once more, diluting the slight easing of the atmosphere that had just been established.
"Let's go back," Gaius said softly.
"Mm." Luna nodded.
The two silently left the training chamber, heavy stones weighing on their hearts.
....
Three months passed steadily amidst high alert and intense training.
For the Macragge's Honour, this was a valuable and necessary period of recovery.
The new recruits gradually shed their greenness, becoming more skilled under the guidance of the veterans.
The battleship's damage was mostly repaired, and its internal defense systems, especially psychic monitoring, were greatly strengthened.
For Gaius, these three months were a long period of observation and waiting.
He strictly followed every instruction from Apothecary Vorlak and the Librarian, undergoing monotonous mental training and physical recovery.
The encounter with the Tzeentch avatar felt like a distant nightmare, but the complete deadness in his left arm constantly reminded him of the cruel reality.
The good news was that after repeated, most rigorous tests, including independent evaluations by three Grey Knights, Gaius showed no new signs of Warp contamination or mental breakdown.
The strange nanite swarm seemed truly 'dead,' no longer showing any active reactions.
Finally, with the approval of Chapter Master Calgar (who had mostly recovered but still required regular check-ups), Apothecary Vorlak removed the psychic inhibitor from Gaius.
The moment the cold metal ring was removed from his neck, Gaius felt an indescribable sense of relief, as if cotton had been removed from his ears, and the sounds of the world became clearer and more vivid.
Although his left arm was still weak, he finally felt 'whole' again, returned to the real world.
"Congratulations, Brother Hohn," Vorlak's voice remained flat. "By Chapter Master's order, you are permitted to rejoin your squad and participate in internal ship duties and new recruit training.
However, permission for external combat operations remains suspended until a clear conclusion is reached regarding the condition of your left arm."
"Understood. Thank you, Apothecary," Gaius saluted solemnly.
To be able to rejoin the squad was the best news at this stage.
He returned to the 7th Company, 2nd Squad's quarters.
Gorden, Dorian, Lex, and others gave him a warm welcome—though in various ways.
Gorden clapped him hard on the shoulder, Lex bumped fists with him with his bionic arm, and Dorian gave him a bear hug that nearly suffocated him.
"Haha! I knew you'd be fine, kid!" Dorian laughed heartily, but Gaius could see the concern in his eyes.
Life after rejoining the squad was busy and fulfilling.
Gaius quickly immersed himself in new recruit training, his combat experience and the profound lesson of losing control of his own power making him a strict and insightful instructor.
His rapport with his squad members also quickly recovered.
However, those three silver shadows did not depart with his 'return to normal.'
The Grey Knights' three-man squad remained stationed on the battleship, like silent sentinels.
They no longer watched Gaius constantly as they had at first, but would always 'accidentally' appear in corners near him, at the end of corridors, or in the shadows of the training ground.
Their cold gaze, like invisible needles, pricked him from time to time, reminding him of the potential threat that had not truly gone away.
This omnipresent surveillance, as if viewing him as a bomb that could explode at any moment, gradually angered some people.
Dorian was the first to react.
This hot-tempered strongman already disliked the Grey Knights' mysterious and superior demeanor, especially since they were staring at his brother, with whom he shared life and death.
Once, in a corridor outside the armory, Gaius and Dorian had just finished training when they saw the three Grey Knights standing like ghosts in the distant shadows, their gaze sweeping over Gaius.
Dorian's anger finally boiled over.
"Damn it! What are you looking at!" Dorian suddenly stopped and roared in the direction of the Grey Knights, "Is this never-ending? My brother is fine! How long are you tin cans going to keep staring? Go back to your Terra!"
The Grey Knights showed no reaction, as if they hadn't heard, only their gaze remained cold.
This disregard further enraged Dorian, who strode over, almost charging in front of them: "Can't you understand human language? Do I need to teach you manners with my fists?!"
At this moment, the Grey Knight Captain, who was leading them, seemed to move his gaze slightly beneath his faceplate.
He raised one hand, stopping his two companions behind him who seemed about to act.
Then, he looked at Dorian, and a cold voice directly entered Dorian's and Gaius' minds:
"Your challenge is accepted."
Dorian was stunned, not expecting the other party to actually respond, and in such a direct telepathic manner.
But he did not back down, grinning menacingly: "Good! One-on-one! Just you! I'll rip off that silver skin of yours!"
The Grey Knight Captain nodded slightly, signaling to one of his squad members.
The named Grey Knight silently stepped forward.
"Dorian! Don't be impulsive!" Gaius hastily tried to pull him back.
"It's fine, brother! Watch me get even for you!" Dorian shook off Gaius, stripped off his cumbersome training top, revealing his scarred and muscular upper body, and took a fighting stance.
The Grey Knight also made a simple opening move, his movements fluid and efficient, without any unnecessary flourish.
The fight (if it could be called a fight) began almost instantly and ended just as quickly.
Dorian roared as he pounced, a heavy, powerful punch aimed directly at the other's face!
But the Grey Knight easily avoided it with an extremely subtle, yet perfectly timed, sidestep, while his fingers flashed like lightning to a joint on Dorian's arm!
Dorian felt his entire arm go numb, his strength instantly dissipating!
Before he could even be surprised, the other's hand was already pressed against his chest, a burst of subtle force pushing his massive body staggering backward!
Dorian raged, charging forward again, attempting to use a grapple to overpower him.
But the Grey Knight's footwork was like a phantom's, always anticipating his movements, every block and dodge perfectly timed, every counter-attack precisely hitting Dorian where he was most awkward in his force application and weakest in defense!
In less than a minute, Dorian had taken no less than ten blows; although the Grey Knight had clearly held back and not struck hard, he was still bruised and swollen, aching all over, yet he hadn't even touched the other's clothes!
Finally, the Grey Knight seemed to tire of this unequal contest.
As Dorian lunged again, a swift leg sweep tripped him, and at the same time, a hand-chop stopped precisely before his throat.
Dorian lay on the ground, panting, looking at the cold faceplate and the hand-chop stopped before his throat, finally understanding the huge, unbridgeable gap in their abilities.
The other party hadn't even used psychic powers or power armor!
The Grey Knight withdrew his hand, silently retreating behind his Captain, as if nothing had happened.
The Grey Knight Captain's cold gaze swept over Gaius again.
Then, he produced a small medical kit from somewhere and tossed it beside Dorian.
Afterward, the three turned and, as if merging into the shadows, quietly departed.
Gaius quickly went to help Dorian up: "Are you alright?"
Dorian grimaced as he got up, touching his swollen mouth and eye socket, muttering curses: "Damn it... these guys... they hit hard..."
He picked up the medical kit, grumbling: "And they even give a medical kit... who are they looking down on?"
He looked at Gaius, a rare hint of embarrassment on his face: "Ahem... that thing... today's incident... don't tell Gorden and the others... it's too embarrassing..."
Gaius looked at his bruised and swollen face, yet still trying to save face, finding it both amusing and touching, and nodded.
After this incident, the Grey Knights still appeared, but seemed to have reined themselves in a bit, no longer staring directly at Gaius so frequently.
As for Dorian, though he still grumbled, he never again actively provoked them.
Days continued to pass.
Gaius noticed that Luna Aisa's every word and action increasingly resembled the late Elisa Cole.
It wasn't a deliberate imitation, but a convergence in temperament—the same calm focus, the same efficient precision, the same composure and decisiveness at critical moments.
Even her habitual unconscious tapping of her data-slate when thinking was almost identical.
This feeling was strange, as if some spirit of Elisa was being continued through Luna.
But Gaius knew in his heart that Luna was Luna, and Elisa was Elisa.
He could never forget that tall, dark-skinned girl whose eyes always held a wisdom and resilience beyond her years, he could not forget her unfulfilled dreams, nor the Primarch's medal that could not be delivered.
Once, Luna saw the still-fading bruises on Dorian's face (which he claimed were from training) and asked curiously: "Catonia Brother, do you... know the previous Tech-Sergeant Cole? What kind of person was she?"
Dorian paused, touched the bruise on his face, and for once, put away his boisterous expression, his eyes becoming somewhat complex and nostalgic.
"Elisa, that girl..." He smacked his lips, his voice a little deeper, "...was a stubborn-as-hell and frighteningly smart fellow.
She looked scrawny, but she had more backbone than anyone... Damn it, if it weren't for..."
He paused, seemingly not wanting to say more, and waved his hand: "...Anyway, she was a good brother.
You, kid... just do well, and don't disgrace her."
Luna nodded thoughtfully, asking no more questions, but a determined light appeared in her eyes.
Gaius listened from the side, filled with emotion.
The dead are gone, the living move forward.
The Imperium's war machine still requires the operation of every cog.
And his own future, that silent left arm, and those silver gazes hidden in the shadows, remained full of unknowns.
But he was no longer as anxious as before.
He had comrades to protect, and a will to inherit.
No matter what the future held, he would fight to the end as an Ultramarine.
The Grey Knights' surveillance was like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead; though no longer as aggressive as at first, their occasional cold gazes still made many Ultramarines uncomfortable and resentful.
Despite Dorian and Gaius' attempts to keep it secret, the incident of Dorian being 'taught a lesson' was almost no true secret on the battleship.
Dorian's bruised and swollen face and the discarded medical kit quickly circulated within the 7th Company, embellished and dramatized into a version where "three Grey Knights inexplicably ganged up on Dorian."
This narrative greatly stimulated the Ultramarines' sense of honor, especially among the hot-blooded new recruits, and... certain veterans who highly valued their comrades' dignity.
That day, the three Grey Knights seemed to have completed a phase of their monitoring mission and were preparing to leave the Macragge's Honour via a shuttle to return to their flagship.
They silently walked through the hangar towards the docking area.
Suddenly, a tall blue figure blocked their path.
The newcomer wore beautifully decorated artificer power armor, wielded a massive power axe, and had the distinctive 7th Company insignia on his shoulder pad—it was the 7th Company's Company Champion, and coincidentally, his name was also Cassius.
Behind Champion Cassius, more than a dozen new recruits, full of indignation and just finished with training, followed him.
They had apparently heard about Dorian's 'encounter' and were brought by the Champion to demand an explanation.
"Stop!" Champion Cassius' voice was loud, carrying suppressed fury, and the power axe in his hand hummed as its disintegration field activated.
"Grey Knights! You have been on the Macragge's Honour for a long time, and we have treated you with courtesy.
But to assault my Brother without cause, to humiliate the honor of the Ultramarines, this matter must be accounted for!"
The Grey Knight Captain, who was leading, stopped, his cold gaze sweeping over the Champion and the new recruits behind him.
His emotionless voice once again directly entered everyone's minds: "This matter is concluded.
Move aside."
"Concluded?" Champion Cassius laughed in extreme anger.
"You hit someone, throw a medkit, and that's it?
Where in the world is there such a cheap deal!
Today, you three must apologize to my Brother face-to-face!
Otherwise, don't even think about leaving!"
The new recruits behind him were also agitated; although they dared not shout loudly, they all gripped their training weapons, blocking the Grey Knights' path.
The Grey Knight Captain seemed unwilling to get entangled and again gestured to leave.
But the new recruits, relying on their numbers and the Champion's presence, did not immediately move aside.
Just then, the Grey Knight who had previously fought Dorian took a step forward, facing Champion Cassius.
Although his expression couldn't be seen, his posture was clearly a silent challenge.
Champion Cassius snorted coldly: "What? Want another fight?
This time, I'll play with you!"
The Grey Knight nodded slightly.
Without any unnecessary words, the two warriors moved instantly!
Champion Cassius' strength and axe-wielding skills were extremely refined; his power axe descended with the momentum of splitting mountains and shattering stones!
The Grey Knight, however, still focused on evasion and precise counterattacks.
His movements were more serious, faster, and stronger than when he dealt with Dorian!
This was a true high-level duel!
The roar of the power axe intertwined with the Grey Knight's silent yet deadly grappling techniques, dazzling to behold!
The clang of metal, the hum of the disintegration field, and the rapid footfalls of the two echoed throughout the hangar!
The new recruits watched in astonishment; they had never witnessed such high-level close-quarters combat.
Champion Cassius' offense was like a surging tide, like a furious storm, each axe blow heavy and powerful; while the Grey Knight was like a reef in a raging sea, calmly responding, every block and dodge perfectly timed, and occasional counterattacks like a venomous snake striking at vital points!
The two exchanged dozens of blows, yet neither gained an advantage!
Champion Cassius could not breach the Grey Knight's nearly perfect defense, and the Grey Knight also seemed unable to completely defeat this powerful Company Champion without using psychic powers and his weapon.
The battle reached a stalemate.
Finally, after a fierce clash of axe blades, both simultaneously leaped backward.
The Grey Knight's breathing was still steady.
He glanced at his opponent, then suddenly extended his hand, and with lightning speed, lightly brushed Champion Cassius' meticulously groomed laurel wreath, a symbol of victory and glory!
A delicate metal leaf was plucked off by him, held between his fingertips.
This action, while not causing harm, was a great humiliation!
It symbolized that the opponent's victory was not flawless and could be easily 'plucked' away!
Champion Cassius' face instantly turned ashen!
This was a provocation more unbearable than defeat!
"You!" he roared, wanting to charge again!
But the Grey Knight had already casually tossed the leaf away and retreated behind his Captain.
The Grey Knight Captain's cold gaze swept over everyone one last time, and the three no longer lingered, ignoring the enraged Champion and the bewildered new recruits, boarding the shuttle.
The hatch closed, and it quickly departed.
"Bastard!" Champion Cassius let out an angry roar at the departing shuttle, feeling like his lungs were about to burst.
Just then, the 7th Company Captain (whose name was also Cassius), having heard the commotion, rushed into the hangar with a squad of veterans.
Seeing the scene—the enraged Champion, a group of flustered new recruits, and the distant Grey Knight shuttle—the 7th Company Captain Cassius' face instantly turned as black as a pot.
"What in the hell is going on?!" The Captain's roar was even more terrifying than the Champion's bellow.
"Cassius (Champion)! What are you doing here with new recruits?! Intercepting allied forces?! Do you want to face a court-martial?!"
Champion Cassius, still fuming, stuck out his neck and recounted the events, emphasizing the Grey Knights' 'arrogance' and 'humiliation.'
"Nonsense!" The 7th Company Captain Cassius was so angry he almost jumped.
"A little friction between allied forces, and you bring new recruits to block them?! Aren't you embarrassed enough?! What is the Grey Knights' status?
Do their missions need to be reported to you?! Where's your discipline?! Where's your brain?!"
He pointed at the Champion's nose, unleashing a torrent of abuse: "Get to the brig immediately!
Don't come out without my order!
And you all!" He turned to the stunned new recruits.
"Full of energy, are we? All of you!
Assemble at the training ground!
Triple physical training!
No dinner tonight!"
The Champion and the new recruits were led away dejectedly.
The hangar finally returned to calm, but a suppressed fury and sense of humiliation spread throughout the 7th Company and even wider.
When Dorian learned that Champion Cassius had been confined and humiliated for standing up for him, the rough man felt an unprecedented shame and regret.
He squatted in a corner of the corridor, holding his head, not saying a word.
Luna Aisa found him and handed him an energy drink.
"Catonia Brother, this is not your fault."
Her voice was still calm, but carried a hint of comfort.
"The Champion values the honor of his comrades, which is a good thing.
It's just... the method might have been a bit too aggressive."
Dorian mumbled: "Damn it... if only I wasn't so useless, couldn't beat that silver can... this wouldn't have..."
"Grey Knights are extraordinary warriors specifically for Warp threats; it's not surprising that their individual combat power far exceeds that of a regular Astartes," Luna analyzed rationally.
"Their very existence means that Brother Hohn's situation might be more complex than we see.
We should trust the Chapter Master's and higher-ups' judgment."
Dorian sighed, saying nothing more, but the knot in his heart did not dissipate.
And the news that "Dorian was beaten black and blue by a Grey Knight" and "the Company Champion intercepted a Grey Knight only to be humiliated himself" spread like wildfire throughout the entire battleship, even reaching First Company Captain Cassius Vinius and Chapter Master Calgar.
First Captain Vinius merely frowned at this, ordering stricter discipline, but said no more.
Chapter Master Calgar, however, felt a deep sense of helplessness and annoyance.
Internal discord and conflict were often more troublesome than external enemies.
However, one wave had not settled before another rose.
Just as the Grey Knight incident had not fully subsided, a new conflict erupted near the medical deck!
This time, the protagonists were Medic Sore and Cliff, who had just recovered from injuries but seemed even more irritable, and their opponents were none other than some of the few Eldar allies from a Craftworld on the battleship!
The cause seemed to be a small friction over right-of-way in a corridor.
Sore and Cliff thought the other party was arrogant and blocked the wounded passage.
The Eldar, in turn, found these "monkeys" rude, uncouth, and unreasonable.
Although both sides spoke different languages, this did not prevent the escalation of the conflict.
Sore shouted loudly in Imperial gothic, while Cliff gestured with his bionic arm.
The Eldar retorted in their elegant yet contemptuous Eldar tongue.
The argument quickly turned into shoving, and then, without anyone knowing who struck first, it escalated into a physical confrontation!
Although Sore and Cliff were injured, their Astartes foundation was still there, and the Eldar warrior was clearly no weakling.
The two fought with resounding blows in the corridor, attracting a large crowd of onlookers!
When the guards arrived and forcibly separated the two, Sore and Cliff had a few more bruises on their faces, and the Eldar ally's ornate attire was torn.
Both sides still glared at each other, cursing in their respective languages.
When the news reached Chapter Master Calgar, this veteran Primarch, who had just suffered severe injuries and was already troubled by internal strife, finally completely erupted!
He summoned First Company Captain Cassius Vinius (who was temporarily in charge of management), 7th Company Captain Cassius, and the troublesome Champion Cassius (just released from the brig) to the council chamber!
"Cassius! Cassius! And you! Cassius!" The Chapter Master's voice trembled with anger as he pointed at the three officers with the same name.
"You three!
One is the temporary fleet commander!
One is a Company Captain!
One is a Company Champion!
Look at the fine mess you've managed!"
"Internal conflict!
Intercepting allied forces!
And now fighting with Eldar allies!
Do you want the Ultramarines to become the laughingstock of the entire Imperium?! Do you want to bring shame upon the Primarch?!"
"Discipline is lax!
Arrogance and conceit!
Have your brains been eaten by Khorne?!"
Chapter Master Calgar's rare thunderous wrath utterly excoriated the three Cassiuses, who lowered their heads, daring not to speak.
The atmosphere within the battleship instantly dropped to freezing point.
Cracks of trust, cultural barriers, and the immense pressure of war were testing the internal unity of this proud Legion.
How to handle these disputes and balance the relationships between all parties would become a severe challenge that Chapter Master Calgar would have to face next.