The operation on the surface of Gloom IV, lasting several days, was like a long and exhausting trek through rusty steel and viscous oil. Second Squad, in coordination with the Steel Paladins and the Planetary Defense Forces, launched several assaults on the Dark Mechanicum stronghold in Drilling City-7. The battles were fierce and brutal, with the traitorous cultists and their twisted creations stubbornly resisting from within a complex underground pipe network and strong fortifications. Every advance was accompanied by casualties.
The squad members were exhausted. Their armor was stained with hard-to-remove oil and radiation dust, Lex's bionic limb needed recalibrating after a close-range explosion, and Sol's medical kit was almost depleted. More importantly, Jerrison Fall's warning about "demonic activity" haunted everyone like a ghost, making them more vigilant and suppressed during their missions.
They did find some disturbing signs: strange, non-mechanical residues in certain areas, as if some creature had violently corroded; a sharp, evil scent, distinctly different from Nurgle's stench, occasionally drifted through the air; and once, in an abandoned energy core room, they discovered a partially destroyed, blasphemous symbol drawn with blood and an unknown viscous fluid, which was definitely not the Dark Mechanicum's style.
These discoveries made them believe Jerrison's words by seven or eight parts, and also made them realize that the problems on Gloom IV were far more complex than anticipated. They reported the situation to Captain Wharton of the Steel Paladins, who stated that he would increase reconnaissance efforts, but the primary objective remained clearing the Dark Mechanicum threat.
After a successful raid that temporarily destroyed a Dark Mechanicum forward command node, Second Squad received a brief opportunity to rest and returned to the Steadfast Will for necessary resupply, repairs, and personnel adjustments.
Returning to the relatively safe ship, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Although the ship still bore traces of previous battles and a faint smell of disinfectant, compared to the suffocating environment on the surface, this place could almost be called paradise.
The team members removed their soiled power armor for cleaning and maintenance. Dorian, while vigorously scrubbing a stubborn oil stain from his chest plate, couldn't help but grumble, "Damn it... that Jerrison guy... his words were actually quite accurate? There really are evil things down there..."
Lex, who was having his bionic limb adjusted with the help of the ship's Tech-Priest, didn't even lift his head as he coldly said, "Though the Night Lords are fallen, their sense for darkness and fear is often sharper than ours. Especially in a place like this."
"Speaking of which," Dorian seemed to remember something, an incredulous expression on his face, "Did you notice? That guy... seems to have gotten a lot stronger? I remember when we captured him on Brakka VII, he was as thin as a ghost, his armor rattled! How long has he been with the Lion King? His physique feels like it's almost catching up to mine! Is Dark Angels' prison food that nourishing?"
Cliff, who was checking his sniper rifle, smiled at the remark: "Maybe it's the result of his own 'collected' supplies. Didn't you see all the bits and pieces he had hanging on him?"
Sergeant Golden listened to his team's discussion but did not participate. His brows were furrowed as he reviewed the casualty report and supply consumption list for this operation, while also contemplating the next course of action. Jerrison's appearance and warning had undoubtedly added a huge variable to the mission.
Gaius, meanwhile, sat alone in a corner, silently wiping his bolt pistol. His left arm remained inert, and the strange discoveries on the surface intensified his unease. The whispers of the Lord of Change and the label of "Chosen Son" haunted him like a nightmare. He felt as if he was standing on the edge of an ever-widening abyss, and the ground beneath his feet was crumbling.
...
At the same time, in the ship's secondary monitoring room, Luna Aisa was intently analyzing the data transmitted from the surface, trying to find more clues about abnormal energy fluctuations or demonic activity. Lina sat quietly at an auxiliary workstation next to her, helping to organize and filter the data. The girl's complexion was a little rosier than before, and the fear in her eyes was gradually replaced by focus.
After this period of time together, Lina became increasingly dependent on and trusting of Luna. By Luna's side, she not only learned many things but also felt a rare sense of security.
During a break in work, Lina secretly glanced at Luna's stern and focused profile, hesitated, and then softly spoke, "Lady Aisa... thank you."
Luna looked up from the data stream, a little puzzled, and asked her, "Why the sudden thanks?"
Lina lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her voice even softer: "It's just... before... that Grey Knights incident... if you hadn't protected me... I might... I might have ended up like the others..." Her voice caught in a sob, clearly recalling that terrifying scene again.
Luna was silent for a moment. She was not accustomed to dealing with such strong emotional expressions, only stiffly replying, "It's what I should do. You didn't do anything wrong." She paused, trying to change the subject to lighten the mood, "Your data analysis is very good, you have a lot of talent."
Lina's face flushed slightly at the compliment, but sadness still enveloped her. She seemed to make up her mind, and carefully took something out of an old backpack she carried with her.
It was a handmade cloth doll, about the size of a palm. The fabric was a bit faded and worn, but it was very clean. The doll was shaped like a slightly clumsy Ultramarines, with a blue fabric body, white shoulder pads, and even the outline of an aquila clumsily embroidered with red thread. Although crudely made, one could see the care of the maker.
"This is..." Luna looked at the doll, which seemed out of place in the cold, high-tech environment, with some surprise.
Lina hugged the doll tightly, as if it could give her strength, and tears welled up in her eyes: "My mother... made this for me when I was very little..."
She looked up at the cold metal ceiling of the monitoring room, as if she could see through them to the distant past, her voice ethereal and full of nostalgia: "I was born on 'Azure Wave,' a beautiful planet in Ultramar, with blue oceans and white beaches, mainly focused on tourism... Our family wasn't rich, but we were very happy... Father ran a small shipyard, Mother was a seamstress... This doll was made by Mother from leftover fabric scraps... She said, the Ultramarines are the guardians of Ultramar, and wearing this would protect me..."
A bitter but sweet smile appeared on her lips, but tears flowed uncontrollably.
"But... but later..." Her voice trembled violently, filled with uncontrollable pain and fear, "All of that... it was all gone... all destroyed..."
"I remember that day... the sky suddenly darkened... so many... so many blue drop pods... crashed down like meteors... At first, we thought... it was the Ultramarines coming for an exercise or a visit... Everyone was very curious, even a little happy..."
"But... but those who came out of the drop pods... although they also wore blue armor... they... they were different! They looked... so terrifying! They killed everyone they saw! Set fire to everything!"
Lina's body began to tremble violently, as if she was back in that nightmarish day: "They... they were shouting strange slogans... 'Hail Lorgar'... 'Perfect City'... Father tried to hide us... but... but..."
She was sobbing uncontrollably, almost unable to continue.
Luna listened quietly, a flicker of emotion seemingly crossing her cold electronic eyes. She knew, it was the Word Bearers. That fanatic Chaos-worshipping, Ultramarines-hating traitor legion. Their specialty was disguise and infiltration, and destroying all beautiful things in the cruelest ways.
"...Mother stuffed me into a big box of old clothes... told me not to come out no matter what I heard..." Lina's voice was like a dream, full of despair, "I heard Father's screams... heard Mother's cries... and the mad laughter of those traitors... and... and the sound of burning flames..."
"I don't know how long I stayed in the box... until it was completely quiet outside... then I dared to crawl out..." Her tears fell like broken pearls, continuously dripping onto the doll in her arms, "...There was nothing left... our home was gone... the shipyard was gone... Father and Mother... were also gone... everywhere was blood... and burnt..."
"Later... the true Ultramarines fleet arrived... and drove away those traitors... They saved me... and sent me to a shelter..." Lina looked up, her eyes tearful, at Luna, "And later... because I was literate and had some interest in machines... I was selected for a technical training ship... until I was assigned to this battleship..."
She clutched the old Ultramarines doll tightly, as if it were her only link to that shattered happiness of the past: "I... I've always kept it... washed it many times... even though it's very old... but it reminds me... who destroyed my home... and who... ultimately saved me..."
"I hate those Word Bearers! I hate all Chaos traitors!" Lina's voice carried a deep hatred that seemed incongruous with her age and appearance, "So... so I worked hard to learn technology... I want to be useful... I want... I want to avenge Father and Mother... even if I can only do a little bit..."
The monitoring room was silent, save for Lina's suppressed sobs and the faint hum of the servers.
Luna looked at the crying girl before her, at the crude yet precious doll in her hands, and the area of her mind, accustomed to being filled with data and logic, felt as if a stone had been cast into it, sending out ripples.
She remembered her own lost home, the terrifying experience on Vesta IX. Although the details were different, the pain of having beauty mercilessly destroyed and loved ones taken by Chaos was so similar.
She silently reached out, somewhat clumsily, and gently patted Lina's shoulder.
"Live on," Luna's voice was still calm, but with a hint of an almost imperceptible warmth, "become stronger. That is the best revenge against them."
Lina nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears, and carefully put the doll back into her backpack. In that moment, the sadness in her eyes seemed to transform into something more resolute.
And Luna once again turned her gaze to the data stream on the screen, but her eyes became even sharper.
What Chaos brought was not only death and destruction on the battlefield, but also unhealable scars and indelible hatred in countless individual lives.
This hatred, perhaps, was also a force that sustained the Imperium's difficult journey in this dark universe.
Only, the price of this power was too heavy.
Lina's sobs gradually subsided, leaving only the low hum of the servers and her occasional sniffles in the monitoring room. She hugged the old Ultramarines doll tightly, as if it were the only driftwood she could grasp in a raging storm. Luna's clumsy but sincere comfort brought a long-lost warmth to her cold heart. The other junior technicians and servitors also working in the monitoring room were touched by Lina's story, silently going about their work, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Just in this brief moment of calm, permeated with sadness and a touch of solace—
A cold, invisible pressure, like an arctic cold front, silently swept through the entire monitoring room.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees instantly.
The hum of the servers seemed suppressed by some force, becoming distant and unreal.
All the mortals working, including Lina, instinctively shivered. An inexpressible fear, originating from the depths of their souls, clutched their throats, making them unable to breathe, unable to move.
Luna Aisa reacted the fastest. Her data-slate slipped from her hand, hitting the control panel with a soft thud. She spun around abruptly, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest!
Just at the entrance of the monitoring room, in the previously empty shadow, three tall figures, emanating a faint silver glow, stood as if condensed from the cold void.
It was the three Grey Knights!
They were still clad in their awe-inspiring, silver-grey armor covered with mysterious runes, their expressionless beaked helmets like the masks of judges, coldly scanning everything in the room. They stood there as if they had existed since time immemorial, blending with the surrounding metal walls yet completely out of place, exuding an absolute, inhuman silence and oppressive presence.
How did they get in?! The door didn't open! The alarm didn't sound! There wasn't even the slightest noise!
Luna's mind instantly went blank, leaving only extreme terror and a single thought: they were here for retribution! For Lina! For the mortal they had previously "given a pass" but never truly pardoned!
Lina also saw them, and the color drained from her face instantly, her eyes wide with extreme fear, her body stiff as a stone, unable to even scream. She just clutched Luna's arm armor tightly, her nails almost digging into the gaps of the armor. The other technicians and servitors were even more terrified, some collapsing directly to the ground, others frozen in place as if paralyzed, even their breathing stopped.
Time in the monitoring room seemed to freeze. The air was filled with suffocating fear, more pure and desperate than facing a Nurgle demon.
Luna instinctively shielded Lina completely behind her, even though she knew it was meaningless in front of such beings. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her vocal cords too stiff to utter any sound. Her brain raced, trying to find any glimmer of hope, any reason to negotiate, but against the Grey Knights' absolute indifference and immense power, all words seemed pale and powerless.
However, to everyone's surprise, the expected destruction did not come.
The Grey Knight Captain at the forefront slowly scanned the terrified people, finally resting his gaze on Lina, who was shielded behind Luna and almost fainting from fright, or more precisely, on the worn Ultramarines doll she clutched tightly in her arms.
He took a step forward.
The heavy metal boot sole landed on the deck without a sound, yet this step seemed to land on everyone's heart.
Luna's body was tensed to the limit, almost instinctively reaching for her weapon, even though she knew it was futile.
But the Grey Knight Captain made no aggressive movements. He just slowly, almost smoothly, extended a large hand covered in silver armor, pointing at the doll in Lina's arms.
His movement carried a strange... circumspection, completely inconsistent with his identity? One could even say a very slight... curiosity?
Lina trembled all over, almost dropping the doll. Driven by extreme fear, she almost instinctively, tremblingly, handed the old doll to that huge, silver hand, capable of easily crushing steel.
The Grey Knight Captain, with two armored fingers, very carefully, almost gently, pinched the small, crude doll, raised it to his helmet's visor, and examined it meticulously and silently.
At that moment, time seemed to stretch. Everyone held their breath, watching this utterly bizarre scene—a Grey Knight, representing the Imperium's highest secret military force, holding the power of life and death, and utterly ruthless, was observing a mortal girl's handmade, worn-out toy like a curious scholar.
He looked for a long time, his fingers even very slightly rubbing the rough fabric and crooked stitches, as if sensing something. Then, he made an even more astonishing move—he carefully handed the doll back to Lina, who was almost scared out of her wits.
Lina, bewildered and trembling, took back the doll, clutching it tightly, as if it could give her a fleeting sense of security.
Just then, another Grey Knight moved—it was the same Grey Knight who had fought Dorian in the hangar. He stepped forward and, unexpectedly, knelt on one knee, his tall body encased in heavy silver armor, in front of the still stiff and fearful Lina.
This action slightly reduced the oppressive feeling brought by his massive physique, though it was still suffocating. He extended his equally large hand, and in his palm, rested a small object.
It was a statue, also made of metal, about as long as Lina's forearm (which might be just a small toy for a Grey Knight). The statue depicted a Grey Knight, holding a daemon-smiting hammer, in a heroic and majestic pose! The craftsmanship of the statue was extremely exquisite, the details lifelike, and the silver-grey paint shimmered, even allowing the faint runic carvings on the armor to be seen. It stood in stark contrast to Lina's crude doll.
The kneeling Grey Knight gently placed the exquisite Grey Knight statue on the deck in front of Lina, facing her.
Lina was completely stunned, staring unblinkingly at the suddenly appearing, incredibly delicate statue, then at the kneeling, huge, cold silver giant in front of her, her brain completely ceasing to function. Not just her, but Luna and everyone else who witnessed this scene were plunged into complete bewilderment and disbelief.
At this moment, the Grey Knight Captain's cold voice finally sounded again, directly entering everyone's minds, breaking the eerie silence:
"Mortal daughter, Lina."
He actually knew her name!
"Fear not." His voice still lacked warmth, but it seemed to deliberately restrain the chilling killing intent. "Our purpose here is not punishment."
He paused, as if organizing his words, or rather, conveying a very important message.
"Based on your previous performance during the Warp crisis, especially Tech-Sergeant Luna Aisa's courage in extreme circumstances, her protection of comrades, and this mortal's demonstrated value and stable temperament in subsequent technical work..."
"...And further based on the Lord Regent of the Imperium, Lord Roboute Guilliman's re-examination and revision of relevant ancient laws after reassuming state affairs..."
When Guilliman's name was mentioned again, everyone's hearts leaped.
"...Lord Regent has issued a new decree: In view of the changing nature of the Chaos threat and the overall strategic needs of the Imperium, the Grey Knights Chapter's privilege 'to independently decide on immediate purification when encountering and being passively exposed to unrelated mortals during a mission' is, as of today... abolished."
This news was like another bombshell, exploding in everyone's hearts! The privilege of self-determined purification... abolished?! By the Primarch's direct order?!
The Grey Knight Captain's voice continued steadily: "The new directive requires: In such situations, the mortal's psychological state, potential risks, and value must be prioritized for assessment, and detailed information reported to the Grey Knights Chapter and the Regent's Court for final adjudication. Without adjudication, no unauthorized execution is permitted."
His gaze seemed to sweep over Luna and Lina: "Accordingly, the circumstances of you two have been thoroughly documented and uploaded. The final adjudication has been issued by the Regent's Court: no further action will be taken."
No further action!
These four words, like a pardon, instantly dispelled the suffocating shadow of death! Lina gasped suddenly, as if just pulled from underwater, tears welling up again, but this time, they were tears of relief after a narrow escape. Luna also felt her whole body relax, almost losing her balance, and she looked at the Grey Knights in front of her in disbelief.
The Grey Knight Captain paused slightly, his cold voice seeming to show an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation, as if some sort of... programmed apology?
"...Regarding the necessary measures taken previously... in accordance with old laws, and the pain and fear they caused... based on the will of Lord Regent, we... express regret. This was our duty, but it was not... what we wished to see."
These words, coming from a Grey Knight, were unprecedented! Although still cold and rigid, this was almost the maximum extent of "apology" they could express!
Having spoken, the Grey Knight Captain said no more. The kneeling Grey Knight also stood up and retreated behind the Captain. The three Grey Knights, as if having completed a special communication mission, returned to their absolutely silent, absolutely cold demeanor.
They took one last look at Lina, still in shock, and the exquisite Grey Knight statue in front of her, and then at Luna, relieved yet bewildered, and then—
Just as they appeared, without warning, their figures began to fade, blurring, as if merging into the air itself, and in the blink of an eye, they completely vanished.
The chilling pressure in the monitoring room also dissipated, the temperature seemed to return to normal, and the hum of the servers became clear again.
Only the exquisite Grey Knight statue, left on the deck, and a group of mortals, still shaken, looking at each other, as if they had all just had a bizarre nightmare, remained.
Lina stared blankly at the statue on the ground, then at the crude doll in her arms, and suddenly burst into tears, a loud "wah," but this time, her cries were filled with an indescribable mix of emotions—fear, lingering dread, bewilderment, and a hint of... the injustice of being pardoned and the absurdity of it all.
Luna Aisa took a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly beating heart. She stepped forward and carefully picked up the Grey Knight statue. The statue felt cold and heavy in her hand, its craftsmanship incredibly exquisite, far beyond what an ordinary artisan could produce.
She looked at the statue, then remembered the Grey Knight Captain's words, and a storm raged in her heart.
Primarch Guilliman... actually revised the Grey Knights' ironclad law that had lasted for ten millennia? He hated senseless slaughter... this statement, it turned out, was not just words. What kind of determination and adjustment to the Imperium's current state did this represent?
And the Grey Knights... these cold creations seemingly born for slaughter, would actually come to deliver such an order, and even... leave a statue that almost implied "apology" and "compensation"?
All of this far exceeded Luna Aisa's understanding, accustomed to logic and data.
She handed the statue to the still-crying Lina, her voice somewhat dry: "Hold onto it. This is... a guarantee... from the highest echelons of the Imperium."
Lina, sobbing, took the heavy statue, clutching it and the worn doll tightly together, as if holding two distinctly different, yet equally significant, talismans of "survival."
The other personnel in the monitoring room gradually recovered from their fear, whispering among themselves, their faces filled with lingering dread and incredulity.
Luna knew this matter had to be reported to Sergeant Golden immediately. The change in the Grey Knights' law, and the Primarch's direct attention to this matter, had a significance far more profound than it appeared on the surface.
The rules of the Imperium, it seemed, were undergoing subtle yet firm changes under the leadership of the awakened Primarch. And these changes might ultimately affect the fate of every Imperial citizen.
And the exquisite Grey Knight statue lay quietly in Lina's arms, its silver-grey light faintly shimmering, like a silent witness, witnessing the quiet loosening of the old era's cruel iron laws, and also witnessing the small but hopeful dawn of a new era, struggling to pierce through the heavy gloom of this dark universe.
Sister Luna Aisa, holding Lina who was still trembling and clutching her doll and statue, hurried towards the Second Squad's usual lounge.
Her emotions were still in turmoil; the sudden appearance of the Grey Knights, the delivery of the Primarch's decree, and the incredible 'apology' and 'gift'—all of this was an overwhelming amount of information, and she needed to report it to Sergeant Golden immediately.
The lounge's hatch slid open, but the sight inside made her pause slightly.
All the members of the Second Squad—Gorden, Lex, Cliff, Sore, Dorian, and even Gaius—were seated inside, and the atmosphere felt somewhat unusual.
They weren't maintaining their weapons or chatting as they usually did during downtime; instead, most were silent, their faces showing a mix of shock, confusion, and thoughtfulness.
It was as if they, too, had just experienced an extraordinary conversation.
Seeing Luna enter with Lina, everyone's gaze turned towards them, becoming even more complex, especially when it fell on the two vastly different 'toys' in Lina's arms.
"Sister Luna, you're here," Sergeant Golden said first, his voice sounding a bit tired but also relieved.
"And Lina… it's alright, child, come sit."
Luna immediately understood: "Sergeant… you all… they came to see you too?" She was, of course, referring to the Grey Knights.
Gorden nodded, sighing: "Just now.
Appeared like ghosts, startling us all.
They delivered the Primarch's new decree… about… no longer 'purging' mortals at will."
As he said this, his gaze swept over Lina, with a hint of comfort.
Dorian suddenly stood up from his seat, his face flushed with excitement; any previous awe of the Grey Knights had long been thrown to the wind, leaving only the 'exhilaration' of learning that their 'privileges' had been revoked.
"Damn it! Did you hear that? Those silver cans can't just kill people anymore! This is Primarch Guilliman's order!"
He waved his fists, looking exceptionally excited.
"I've been annoyed with them for a long time! Acting high and mighty just because they have some power!
Now that their privileges are gone, let's see how arrogant they can be!
I'm going to go find them for another fight right now! This time, I'll have to…"
Before he could finish, a large hand swiftly grabbed his ear and twisted it hard!
"Ow—!! Sergeant! Gentle! Gentle!" Dorian cried out in pain, his tall body forcibly bent over by Gorden.
Sergeant Golden's face was ashen.
He held Dorian's ear, pushed him back into his seat, and roared in a low voice: "Is your brain filled with muscle or shit?! Huh?! Just because they lost their privileges doesn't mean they lost the ability to tear you into pieces!
The Primarch told them not to kill indiscriminately, not that they couldn't beat a fool like you into a state of helplessness!
Did you forget the last time someone taught you a lesson bare-handed and left you picking up your teeth?!"
Dorian covered his red ear, wincing, but still grumbled defiantly: "That… that's different… last time they had privileges, I didn't want to kill them…"
"Bullshit!" Gorden was so angry he almost punched him.
"You settle down!
If you dare to provoke them again, I won't just pull your ear; I'll shove you directly into a torpedo tube and let you say hello to the stars first!"
Hearing "torpedo tube," Dorian shrunk his neck and finally quieted down a bit, though he was still muttering something indistinctly.
Gorden didn't bother with him anymore, turning his gaze to Lina, who was still a bit timid and had red, swollen eyes, and his tone softened: "Lina, it's alright.
The Grey Knights have said that what happened before is in the past, and you'll be safe."
He then looked at Luna: "We all know the specific situation.
Primarch Guilliman… has indeed made some changes."
His tone carried a sense of emotion, clearly indicating that he too was surprised and moved by Guilliman's decision.
To completely shut Dorian's restless mouth and to lighten the atmosphere, Gorden suddenly had an idea.
He pointed at Dorian and said to Lina: "Lina, this big oaf is just sitting around doing nothing, so let him keep you company for a while.
Dorian! I order you, while Sister Luna, Lex, and I are discussing things, you make sure Lina is happy!
If she's still crying or unhappy, I'll really launch you!
Do you hear me?!"
Dorian's eyes widened, and he pointed at his own nose, looking incredulous: "Me? Sergeant? Comfort a child?
I can't even comfort myself!
You want me to fight the Word Bearers, that's fine, but comforting a child…"
"That's an order!" Gorden glared at him, leaving no room for doubt.
Dorian immediately deflated, muttering dejectedly: "Yes… Sergeant…"
Only then did Gorden signal to Luna, Lex, and the others, and walked to the corner of the lounge to begin discussing the information brought by the Grey Knights and its potential implications in low voices.
Over here, Dorian scratched his short hair, which was as stiff as a steel brush, and looked at the little girl in front of him, who was barely taller than his knees and whose eyes were as red as a rabbit's, with a worried expression, feeling that this was even more troublesome than facing a Chaos warband.
Lina also looked fearfully at this scarred, burly, and fierce-looking Astartes giant, subconsciously taking a small step back and holding the doll and statue in her arms even tighter.
Dorian noticed the items in her arms.
His gaze was first drawn to the exquisite Grey Knight statue, and he pursed his lips, seemingly with a hint of disdain, but when he saw the worn, hand-sewn Ultramarines doll, a trace of surprise and… an imperceptible softness appeared on his rugged face.
He knelt his massive body down—a movement that made him look somewhat comical and clumsy—trying to make his voice sound less intimidating (though with limited success), and pointed at the Ultramarines doll, asking: "Hey, little one… is this… your little… Battle-Brother?"
Lina watched him kneel, and he seemed less scary.
Hearing him ask about the doll, she hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently and whispered: "Yes… my mom made it for me…"
"It's… uh… quite sturdy," Dorian managed to come up with a compliment after a long pause, though it sounded a bit odd.
At this moment, Cliff and Gaius also walked over.
Cliff had a relatively gentle personality, while Gaius, due to Lina's previous crying and her experience of losing her home, felt more sympathy and concern for her.
Cliff smiled gently: "A very special gift.
Your mother must have loved you very much."
Lina nodded, her eyes reddening again: "But… but they're all gone now…"
Dorian frowned: "Gone? What happened? Harmed by those tech-heretics?" He thought it was the disaster on Gloom IV.
Lina shook her head, tears starting to well up in her eyes again, her voice choked with sobs: "No… it was… it was even earlier… on Cerulean Wave… it was by… by those bad guys in blue armor…"
Bad guys in blue armor?
Dorian, Cliff, and Gaius all froze for a moment.
Ultramarines?
"They weren't real Ultramarines!" Lina became agitated, her small face flushed red with deep hatred.
"They were fake! They were disguised!
They were called… called 'Word Bearers'!
They came down in blue drop pods… we initially thought they were real Ultramarines… everyone was so happy… unprepared…"
She recounted, in a broken voice, the events of that tragic afternoon again—how the Word Bearers had infiltrated in disguise, how they had suddenly launched a massacre, how they had burned down her home, and how her parents had died protecting her…
As Dorian listened, his expression gradually changed from confusion to shock, finally turning into towering rage!
He slammed his fist against the alloy wall next to him with a resounding 'thud,' startling Lina.
"Word Bearers! Those damn scumbags who deserve to go to hell again!!!" Dorian's roar was like thunder, filled with pure, unbridled fury.
"I knew it! Only those Chaos-worshipping mad dogs would use such despicable tactics! Targeting mortals specifically!
Cowards! Scum!"
He panted heavily, his eyes wide, and looking at the frightened Lina, he tried to suppress his anger, speaking in a softened but still gritted-teeth tone: "Little girl! Don't be afraid!
I'm not angry at you!
I'm angry at those damned traitors!"
He forcefully pounded his chest plate, making a dull thud: "Let me tell you!
I've killed a lot of those Word Bearers scum on Brakka VII and in many other places!
Sliced them open one by one with my chainsword! Blasted their heads to pieces with my Bolter!
Maybe… maybe some of them were the bastards who destroyed your home!
I've avenged you, and many others like you!"
His words were crude and bloody, yet filled with a strange, warrior's sincerity and promise.
Lina looked up at the angry giant, listening to the rage in his words, expressed for her, and his bloody declaration of 'revenge.' Her fear seemed to be diluted by an indescribable emotion.
Although she couldn't fully comprehend the wars between the Astartes, she could feel that this seemingly fierce big guy was on her side, and hated the murderers who destroyed her home.
Cliff also sighed, patting Dorian's shoulder, signaling him to calm down and not scare the child.
He said gently to Lina: "The Word Bearers are the enemy of all of us.
Their crimes are too numerous to count.
We understand your hatred."
Gaius had been listening silently, Lina's plight making him feel very uneasy.
He already knew the evil and cunning of the Word Bearers, but each time he heard a specific victim's story, he still felt waves of anger and helplessness.
He wanted to do something for this girl who had lost everything, even if it was just a small comfort.
He subconsciously fumbled through his storage compartments, looking for something suitable.
He found several spare magazines, energy cells, an Imperial Aquila… Finally, his fingers touched a cold, hard, slightly sharp small object.
He paused, then took it out.
It was a metal medal about the size of a thumbnail.
The material was a dull alloy, shaped like a bat with spread wings and ferocious claws, against a background of lightning and a night sky.
The medal was crudely made but carried a sense of wild power, and its edge even had a trace of dried, dark red blood—this was an identifier belonging to a Night Lords champion, taken from Jerrison Fall's damaged armor when he was captured on Brakka VII.
Gaius, for some unknown reason, had not discarded it at the time but had kept it.
Looking at this cold and ominous medal, and then at the crying girl in front of him who needed protection, a somewhat strange thought suddenly occurred to Gaius.
He knelt down, meeting Lina's gaze, and offered the cold Night Lords medal to her.
Lina looked fearfully at the terrifying-looking medal, instinctively recoiling.
Gaius' voice was as gentle as he could make it: "Lina, this… is for you."
Dorian and Cliff both looked at Gaius in surprise, not understanding why he would give a little girl something from a traitor legion.
Gaius looked into Lina's confused and frightened eyes and explained softly: "This medal comes from a… very dangerous and very powerful warrior.
Although he and his legion… are not friendly to mortals, and even… quite cruel.
However, it represents a kind of resilience and… strength to survive even in extremely harsh environments."
He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully: "I'm giving it to you, not hoping you learn their ways.
But hoping… it can give you a little courage.
Let it remind you that even when facing the greatest darkness and fear, you must strive to live on, strongly.
Just like… just like its original owner, no matter how desperate the situation, he always found a way to survive."
He gently placed the medal in Lina's hand that wasn't holding the doll and statue.
The cold touch made Lina shiver slightly.
"Think of it as a… good luck charm," Gaius finally said, his eyes sincere, "May it… in some way… protect you."
Lina looked down at the cold, bat-emblazoned medal in her hand, then at the rough, warm Ultramarines doll and the exquisite Grey Knight statue in her arms.
These three items represented three vastly different forces and existences: a symbol of love and protection from her mother, an exemption and 'apology' under the cold rules of the Imperium's highest military power, and a peculiar gift from a strange warrior, carrying a dark past but imbued with a wish for survival.
She seemed a little bewildered, but also as if she understood something.
She tightly clutched the cold medal, looked at Gaius, nodded vigorously, and said in a tearful but exceptionally firm voice: "Thank you… Master Gaius… I will… I will live well!"
Dorian watched this scene, scratching his head.
Although he thought the item Gaius gave was a bit strange, seeing the little girl seem to perk up, he also grinned broadly: "That's right!
What kind of way is it to cry all the time!
Live well, and watch us take down all these Chaos scum one by one!"
Sergeant Golden and the others finished their discussion in the corner and, seeing the atmosphere here had lightened, also walked over.
Seeing Lina's emotions stable, and even a hint of determination in her eyes, Gorden nodded approvingly, then glared at Dorian: "At least you're somewhat useful."
Dorian proudly lifted his head.
Luna looked at the three special 'gifts' in Lina's hand, her heart filled with emotion.
This girl's fate, shattered by Chaos, was strangely intertwined with the most powerful warriors of the Imperium, the most mysterious order, and even an item from a traitor champion.
What would her future hold?
No one knew.
But at least at this moment, on this scarred battleship, she felt a rare warmth and protection from within the cold war machine.
And this, perhaps, was one of the faint lights that allowed humanity to still struggle for survival in such a dark universe.
The Steadfast Will hovered in the cold expanse of Gloom IV, like a weary giant that had just weathered a storm and was in urgent need of repairs.
Repair work continued inside the ship, but the atmosphere had significantly lightened compared to before.
Lina's emotions gradually stabilized under Dorian's clumsy 'coaxing' and the encouragement of Gaius' special medal.
She even began to help Luna organize some simple data, carefully placing the three special gifts within reach.
However, the tranquility of this sector did not last long.
The bridge's observer was the first to detect an anomaly—a massive Ultramarines battleship, painted in the classic blue and white livery, was steadily and majestically emerging from the shadow side of Gloom IV, approaching the Steadfast Will.
Its hull gleamed, and its numerous turrets indicated it was a capital ship in excellent condition.
"Receiving identification signal from unknown friendly vessel!" the communications officer reported.
"Signal encoding shows… Ultramarines Seventh Fleet, 'Courageous'?"
Sergeant Golden, currently engaged in tactical communication with Captain Vauton on the bridge, paused slightly upon hearing the report.
"Courageous"? Seventh Fleet?
He had received no news of any allied vessels coming to the Gloom IV star system.
Moreover, the main force of the Seventh Fleet should currently be far within the Ultramar core region.
A hint of doubt flickered in Gorden's mind, but he quickly attributed it to a possible temporary reassignment or communication delay.
After all, in the vast starry sea, unexpected rendezvous with allied forces were not uncommon.
Perhaps they had received the Steel Paladins' distress signal and came to provide support?
"Transmit the response identification code and inquire about their purpose," Gorden ordered.
The other party quickly responded, the signal confirmed as valid (at least on the surface), claiming to have been ordered to reinforce Gloom IV's orbital defenses and assist the Steadfast Will with repairs and resupply.
"Permit docking request.
Arrange for Docking Bay Three," Gorden finally ordered.
Despite a hint of unease, facing a seemingly impeccable and powerful warship claiming to be from his Chapter, he found no reason to refuse.
Docking Bay Three on the Steadfast Will's side slowly opened, extending a docking gangway.
A small transport shuttle flew out of the "Courageous" hangar, smoothly entering the gangway and completing the docking.
The airtight door hissed open, and a squad of Ultramarines, clad in gleaming azure power armor and in perfect formation, disembarked.
Leading them was a warrior who appeared to be a Sergeant, his helmet tucked under his arm, revealing a resolute face with a somewhat overly standardized smile.
"Greetings, Sergeant Golden," the "Sergeant" gave a standard Astartes salute to the approaching Gorden, his movements meticulous.
"By order of the 'Courageous' Captain, we are here to assist in the defense of our allied vessel and bring some urgently needed components."
Gorden returned the salute, his gaze sweeping over these "brothers."
Their armor was impeccably maintained, their demeanor disciplined, but for some reason, Gorden felt something was off.
Their eyes seemed overly... fanatical?
Or rather, they lacked the restrained composure typically found in Ultramarines.
Gaius and Medic Sore, standing guard in the rear, also frowned slightly.
Gaius keenly noticed that some subtle patterns and edge treatments on these "Ultramarines'" armor seemed to have extremely minute differences from standard Mark VII armor, leaning more towards a... more ancient style.
Sore, meanwhile, smelled an extremely faint scent in the air, deliberately masked by perfume or cleaner... an indescribable aroma, similar to incense and old parchment.
"Thank you for your assistance, brothers," Gorden maintained his vigilance but spoke in his usual tone.
"Please follow me, we need to..."
Before he could finish, the smile on the leading "Sergeant's" face suddenly twisted into a fanatical grimace, and his eyes erupted with a chilling, irrational light!
He abruptly raised his arm and let out a hoarse, frenzied roar, completely tearing off his disguise:
"For Lorgar!
For the blessed perfect city!
Purge these dogs of the False Emperor!"
The "Ultramarines" behind him simultaneously let out mad howls, the rationality in their eyes instantly replaced by the fervor of Chaos!
Their Bolters instantly rose, aimed at the unsuspecting Steadfast Will crew and Gorden's group!
"Word Bearers!!!" Gaius and Sore roared in surprise and anger almost simultaneously!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Bolters opened fire!
Several human crew members standing at the forefront were instantly annihilated into bloody mist!
"Take cover! It's traitors!" Gorden's reaction was lightning-fast; he lunged sideways and rolled, a Bolter round grazing his shoulder plate, sending sparks flying!
His Bolter instantly spewed fire!
The entire docking bay area instantly plunged into extreme chaos and bloody close-quarters combat!
"Second Squad! Engage the enemy!" Gorden's roar echoed through the entire ship via the comms!
Lex, Dorian, and Cliff, who had been waiting nearby, burst out from behind cover like fierce tigers!
Lex's Heavy Bolter let out a deafening roar, instantly mowing down two Word Bearers who were reloading!
Cliff's precise shots detonated the head of a traitor attempting to throw a grenade!
Dorian's fury instantly ignited to its peak!
Lina's weeping face and the atrocities of the Word Bearers intertwined in his mind!
He let out a bestial roar, not even using his Chainsword, but directly donning a pair of massive Power Fists!
"For Aqua Mundi!
For Lina!
You scum!"
He charged into the Word Bearer ranks like an out-of-control rhinoceros, his Power Fists swinging with terrifying force!
Boom!
A Word Bearer, armor and all, was directly smashed inward, flying out like a rag doll, crashing against the bulkhead, and becoming a blurred mass of flesh and blood!
Another Word Bearer swung a sword, but Dorian didn't dodge.
His other gauntleted hand directly grabbed the incoming Chainsword, and with terrifying strength, he crushed the high-speed rotating Chainsword!
Then he backhanded, directly exploding the Word Bearer's head along with his helmet!
The gore and violence stimulated Dorian to even greater madness.
He grabbed the belt of a Word Bearer attempting to retreat, roared, and with the brute force augmented by his power armor and rage, he literally tore the traitor in half at the waist!
Organs and blood splattered like a downpour!
The horrifying sight even chilled some of the Word Bearers!
Gaius quickly found a vantage point and raised his modified "Hawkeye" sniper rifle.
His breathing was steady, his eyes cold, pouring all his anger and killing intent into his fingertips.
The crosshairs of his scope steadily centered on a Word Bearer attempting to operate a heavy weapon.
Bang!
After a crisp and distinctive gunshot, the Word Bearer's helmet exploded like a watermelon, and the headless corpse swayed before falling heavily.
Bang!
Another shot, and a Word Bearer exchanging fire with Cliff fell.
Gaius was like a calm reaper; every pull of the trigger invariably claimed the life of a traitor.
His dormant left arm steadily supported the rifle, without the slightest tremor.
Meanwhile, the ship's internal alarms shrieked!
Human soldiers and security personnel also reacted quickly, grabbing their weapons and rushing towards the combat zone.
Although their lasguns had limited effect against power armor, they still used their lives to delay the Word Bearers, creating opportunities for the Astartes.
Luna Aisa, at the first sign of battle, grabbed the terrified Lina, shouting to the nearby human technicians and serfs: "Follow me! Quickly! Evacuate to the safe zone!"
She simultaneously fired her laspistol precisely at scattered Word Bearers attempting to approach (her targets were usually joints or weapons), while organizing the chaotic crowd to retreat into the internal passages.
Medic Sore, meanwhile, fought while closely monitoring the battlefield, ready to treat the wounded at any moment.
Seeing Luna organizing the evacuation, he immediately moved to provide her cover.
Just as most of the humans were about to retreat into the safe passage, a Word Bearer hiding in the shadows suddenly roared out, his Chainsword slashing directly at a young technician at the end of the line!
"Watch out!" Sore roared, abruptly pushing the technician away, while simultaneously raising his own Chainsword to block!
Clang!
A piercing metallic screech rang out!
Sore blocked the blow, but the opponent's strength was immense, numbing his arm!
He roared, pushing the opponent away with force, then followed with a fierce slash, his Chainsword roaring as it cleaved the Word Bearer from shoulder to waist!
However, just as Sore's old strength was spent and new strength had not yet come, another Word Bearer leaped down from a side pipe, a Power Glaive in his hand gleaming with malevolent light, striking precisely and viciously at Sore's chest plate!
Pfft!
The Power Glaive easily pierced Sore's armor, emerging from his back, its tip impaling a still faintly pulsating, utterly destroyed organ—his secondary heart!
Sore's body stiffened abruptly, a mouthful of blood spewing from his mouth, staining his faceplate!
He looked down in disbelief at the glaive blade piercing his chest, strength rapidly draining from his body.
"For the Dark Gods!" The Word Bearer let out a triumphant cackle, seemingly reveling in the joy of killing an Astartes Medic!
"No!!!" Luna, who had just blown off a Word Bearer's head, witnessed this scene, her eyes splitting with fury!
She barely thought, raising her laspistol and firing repeatedly at the still cackling Word Bearer's head!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three precise shots!
The laser beams instantly melted through the opponent's helmet visor, burning the head inside into a charred mess!
The cackling stopped abruptly.
Luna rushed desperately towards the collapsing Sore, attempting to provide emergency treatment.
But just then, another Word Bearer spotted them!
This traitor seemed completely consumed by the frenzy of slaughter; he ignored other targets, letting out a guttural howl, wielding a massive Chainaxe, and charged directly towards Lina, who was crouching beside Sore, terrified and bewildered!
His terrifying posture seemed intent on cleaving the delicate girl, along with the doll and statue in her arms, into pieces!
Luna wanted to raise her gun and shoot, but the angle was too poor, and the opponent was too fast!
She wanted to lunge and push Lina away, but it seemed already too late!
The ferocious teeth of the Chainaxe spun at high speed, carrying the breath of death, about to fall on Lina's head!
Just at this critical moment—
A silver lightning bolt, like a blade of judgment tearing through reality, suddenly descended from above!
Boom!!!
A massive Daemonhammer, wreathed in destructive silver psychic energy, struck the charging Word Bearer with unstoppable force and pinpoint accuracy!
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
There was no sound of impact, no struggle.
Before that pure, ultimate destructive power against Chaos, the Word Bearer's Chaos-blessed armor and flesh instantly evaporated, vaporized, and vanished without a trace, like dewdrops in the sun!
Only the Chainaxe clattered to the ground, proving its owner's former existence.
The Grey Knight, holding the Daemonhammer, stood like a towering mountain before the stunned Lina and the shaken Luna.
Psychic energy flowed over his silver armor, and his cold faceplate swept across the scene, finally settling on the heavily wounded Sore lying on the ground.
"Medic, critically wounded," his cold voice stated the fact.
At the same time, two other Grey Knights appeared like phantoms at other locations on the battlefield.
Their psychic weapons gleamed with silver light, and each swing invariably cleared an area of enemies, with breathtaking efficiency.
However, the Word Bearers' attack did not cease!
The warship disguised as the "Courageous," seeing this, disregarded its companions still fighting on the Steadfast Will, and launched more landing craft and assault pods, swarming towards the Steadfast Will like a beehive, attempting to force a boarding and expand their gains!
The Grey Knight holding the Daemonhammer seemed to receive an instruction; he spoke to Gorden via comms: "Hold the line, clear the interior, external threats, we will handle."
With that, he gestured to the other two Grey Knights.
The Grey Knight wielding a psychic sword and the Captain nodded simultaneously.
The two did not head towards the docking bay but directly activated some powerful teleportation device!
Blinding silver light suddenly flared, enveloping their bodies!
The next second, their figures vanished into thin air amidst a strong psychic fluctuation!
Almost simultaneously, inside the Word Bearer warship "Courageous," which was frantically releasing landing craft in the distance, two dazzling silver teleportation lights suddenly erupted in a critical area!
Over the next standard hour, the battle on the Steadfast Will remained fierce, but with the cooperation of the remaining Grey Knight wielding the Daemonhammer and Second Squad, the boarding Word Bearers were gradually purged.
The Grey Knight's terrifying area-clearing ability and absolute mastery over Chaos became the critical turning point of the battle.
Meanwhile, the Word Bearer warship in outer space fell into an eerie silence and confusion.
It no longer launched landing craft, its hull lights flickered erratically, and occasionally, small explosions could be seen occurring within!
Just as the standard hour ended—
Rumble rumble!!!!
A colossal, earth-shattering explosion suddenly occurred in the middle of the massive "Courageous" warship!
Huge fireballs and debris erupted from within the hull, rapidly spreading!
The entire warship broke into two sections in a continuous chain of secondary explosions, turning into an expanding mass of scrap metal and flames, illuminating the star-filled sky of Gloom IV!
Amidst the explosion's fire, two silver figures teleported back precisely onto the Steadfast Will's deck, the Grey Knight Captain and the team member wielding the psychic sword.
Their silver armor was stained with some gunpowder and strange smudges, but they remained upright and cold, as if they had merely completed a simple stroll.
The Word Bearers' sneak attack, after the Grey Knights' intervention, ended with the complete destruction of the enemy warship.
However, at this moment, the atmosphere in the Steadfast Will's medical bay remained tense.
Under the guidance of the accompanying Steel Paladins Tech-Sergeant's emergency medical knowledge, a critical surgery for Sore was being performed against the clock.
His main heart was severely damaged, his secondary heart completely destroyed, and his life hung by a thread.
Ultimately, after immense effort, Sore's life was saved.
But he would need a new secondary heart implanted and a long period of rehabilitative training.
The medical officer's conclusion was: at least four months, he would be unable to participate in any combat missions.
Second Squad's effective combat personnel were temporarily reduced by one.
Dorian looked at the unconscious Sore on the medical bed, cursing furiously: "Damn Word Bearers!
Only capable of such insidious and despicable tricks!
Fight us head-on if you dare!"
Sergeant Golden's face was ashen, and he punched the wall, filled with self-reproach: "It's my fault!
It's my fault for letting them in without strictly verifying their identity!
I almost killed Sore, almost killed everyone on the ship!"
The Grey Knight Captain's cold voice rang out nearby: "The cunning of the Word Bearers far surpasses the ordinary.
Disguise and deception are their norm.
No need for excessive self-reproach.
The immediate priority is vigilance against possible subsequent threats."
His words were still cold, yet unusually, they carried no accusation, but rather a factual "consolation."
With that, the three Grey Knights again departed silently like ghosts, leaving Second Squad to face a chaotic battlefield, a heavily wounded comrade, and the unquenchable anger and lingering fear in their hearts.
The shadow of the Word Bearers, once again in the cruelest way, reminded them of the brutality of war and the evil of Chaos.
And Sore's severe injury cast an even deeper pall over the upcoming mission.