Chapter 54: The Mission of Atonement
Rex's gaze swept across the temple ruins reduced to ash, then toward the distant emerald-green lake and vast primeval forest. The water shimmered in sunlight, creating a scene of undeniable beauty.
Rex spoke with evident relief. "Lake. Forest. We have returned to our original world."
"What happened? The entire island was pulled into another dimension. Those demons sought to relocate us, island and all. It's a grand scheme indeed!"
"We are leaving. Now," Omega said, standing and sheathing his sword. His calm voice silenced the doubts and shock rippling through the nearby warriors. "Return to the vessel and conclude preparations. We will discuss this further aboard."
Company Commander Skol glanced at the daemon hand and greatsword beside him, understanding with absolute certainty that what had just occurred was entirely real.
The Thunderhawk gunboat, damaged in close-quarters combat, could not achieve lift. The soldiers transmitted an urgent request to dispatch additional Thunderhawk gunboats, while they began inspecting and securing the island.
Company Commander Skol harbored a hatred for the Great Demon Lomon that penetrated to his core.
Even after the creature was dismembered and bombarded with explosives, Skol painstakingly collected the scattered pieces across the island, determined to cast the daemon's corpse, sword and all, into the sun, to reduce it to absolute ash. It was penance. It was a necessity.
Observing the company commander's relentless effort, Rex searched the island and found the holy sword, now broken into two pieces.
All of today's events stemmed from the Holy Sword. The Space Marines and Skol's moods soured immediately upon seeing it. Skol spoke with barely restrained fury.
"What exactly do you intend to do with all of this?"
"This holy sword possesses extraordinary hardness. I have never encountered a blade this powerful before. I will study its composition and then hand it over to you for disposal. Does this satisfy you?" Rex replied, examining the fractured edge of the blade as he held the hilt.
Skol was incensed and wanted no one ever to mention the Holy Sword in his presence again. He snatched it from Rex's hands and hurled it aside violently.
Seeing the two locked in confrontation, Omega intervened to cease the conflict, reminding Rex only to exercise caution regarding residual daemonic corruption within the blade, not to allow his mind to be compromised.
If he truly wished to study it, he should avoid direct contact with his bare hands.
Rex started in alarm and immediately cast the fractured blade aside.
Skol laughed heartily. "Fear not. Should you truly become corrupted by daemonic influence, I will personally eliminate you as a comrade. Hmph! Ha-Ha-Ha"
Rex immediately engaged Skol in a heated argument. Omega recognized that Skol had become somewhat extreme following this incident, his trauma speaking through devotion.
'Hmm, troublsome.' The matter would require careful handling to prevent any lasting problems.
An hour later, five gunboats arrived. Company Commander Skol placed the Great Demon's corpse into a metal containment box and sealed the daemonic greatsword within sophisticated, high-grade metallic plating, as did the holy sword fragments in Rex's possession.
Omega issued strict orders forbidding any information regarding the island incident from spreading. Afterward, everyone returned to the twenty-kilometer-long battleship suspended in space.
Three days later
Omega stood upon the flagship's bridge, observing a ten-kilometer-long transport vessel approaching the sun. Captain Skol supervised as workers loaded a metal containment box onto a Thunderhawk gunboat before launching it unmanned directly toward the stellar furnace.
Against the vast sun's face, Captain Skol watched from the bridge as the gunboat plunged into the photosphere and detonated. Everything within melted away into nothingness.
After the warship returned to the fleet, Omega summoned Captain Skol and his officers to the bridge to address the matter.
Skol immediately knelt before Omega, begging for punishment and expressing profound shame. He could not forgive himself for leading the Primarch into the daemon's trap, nor for being manipulated by the demon to strike Omega from behind with his own blade nearly.
Though Omega expressed no concern, Company Commander Skol remained convinced that only death could grant him true forgiveness.
Only he could forgive himself, and he could not.
Observing Skol kneeling and earnestly demanding punishment, Omega, Rex, and the others felt troubled.
Clearly, Skol sought some form of atonement from Omega, the more severe the better. This was not weakness; it was the mark of a man who understood the weight of failure.
Omega spoke in a measured, deep voice."Do you know why you were manipulated while Rex remained unaffected? Why were your weaker subordinates not similarly deceived?"
"I...I do not know, My Lord," Skol replied with shame. "Perhaps the demon had targeted me from the beginning. My anger...consumed all reason. All I perceived was a colossal daemon laughing mockingly at me. My fury demanded action, yet I never expected my blade to point at...!"
He trailed off, unable to complete the admission.
Within the mechanical dome, exquisite bridge chambers surrounded them, with a data display showing the fleet's spatial disposition.
Omega sat in a wide commander's chair, regarding Company Commander Skol with measured compassion.
"I know you, Skol. You are loyal and responsible. Even when demons deceive you, such anger alone does not rob you of reason."
"The daemon amplified your fury, driving you into hallucination and delusion. Yet I clearly sensed both the legitimacy of your anger and your resolute fighting spirit, your determination to draw your blade and confront that creature directly."
"I am gratified to possess such a loyal subordinate. However, being manipulated by a daemon and losing your reason, even pointing a blade at me, reveals areas where your discipline requires reinforcement."
"My lord, please do not provide excuses to forgive me. I cannot forgive myself!" Skol was deeply moved upon hearing this.
He understood the intentions and reasons behind his every action that day, not excusing them, but seeing through them. It was truly remarkable to know such clarity existed.
Rex felt somewhat embarrassed but understood Skol's mindset. One wished to grant forgiveness while the other demanded punishment. This intrigued him greatly. He was most curious what Omega would ultimately decide.
Omega responded directly, without hesitation.
"Over the past decade in the Calicus Sector, we have encountered all manner of strangeness, including numerous daemonic and bizarre occurrences. I have learned that this sector borders the legendary Eye of Terror."
"There is no lack of Countless rumors surrounding the Eye of Terror, some evil, some connected to some dark god. Some claim it serves as a daemon lair itself. The closer we venture, the thinner the veil becomes."
Upon hearing this, Company Commander Skol stated with firm resolve,
"My lord, I am willing to lead the fleet to the Eye of Terror to atone for my sins and slay all daemons!"
"What? "Rex was shocked and slightly disappointed. Company Commander Skol was indeed a good man, as Omega had suggested. Since this man could not forgive himself and demanded punishment, an expedition toward that hellhole seemed a fitting conclusion, though they might never see each other again.
Omega chuckled softly. "Ha-Ha, No Skol, No, Who told you we are dispatching you to lead any expeditionary force to the Eye of Terror to atone? I meant to say the Eye of Terror is far too dangerous. Our fleet approaches that hellhole with each passing day."
"What does my lord mean?" Skol looked up in surprise. He had assumed the atonement expedition was a proper course of action, and he was prepared to participate.
Omega spoke with solemn gravity, each word chosen with precision.
"To spare the countless members of the Alpha Legion from unknown threats and contamination emanating from the Eye of Terror, I have decided that our Legion must withdraw from this star system. I will petition the Emperor himself to assign us to alternative theaters of war."
"Your mission for the coming year is to ensure the Emperor assigns us to another battlefield, preventing our Legion from drawing any closer to the Eye of Terror."
"Should you fail, do not return to face me."
"Yes, I will accomplish this mission with utmost diligence. If I fail, I will atone with my life!" Skol was stunned and momentarily disoriented. Yet considering the future of the Alpha Legion and Omega's words, he solemnly pledged himself to the task. This was not penance, this was purpose.
"Your decision is truly unexpected. Not many can be as decisive as you. I admire it deeply," Rex said, equally stunned and rendered speechless by Omega's pronouncement.
He had never anticipated such strategic foresight, yet upon closer examination, it revealed perfect logic. To withdraw before the trap closed. To see the danger before it became inevitable.
Omega nodded, signaling Skol to rise.
Skol understood this mission represented an opportunity for atonement, yet his heart felt incredibly heavy. His own death was a trivial matter, but he absolutely could not permit the entire Legion to suffer, especially not the Primarch himself.
After establishing Skol's path toward atonement, Omega discussed the details of the matter with the assembled officers, highlighting Skol's lack of rational composure during the crisis.
This was not scolding; it was teaching through consequence.
Once the Alpha Legion's internal affairs were resolved, Rex asked with poorly suppressed curiosity.
"For several days now, I have been suppressing my curiosity,"
"Then let it out, what is it?" Omega nodded
Rex continued, "How exactly did you know that the holy sword was counterfeit. To be honest, had the blade not fractured, I would not have noticed any difference. I might even have believed it genuine."
"If it had been me, I would certainly have drawn the blade and sought a secure location for study. Now that I reflect upon it, the daemon's trap was truly terrifying!"
[End of Chapter]
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