Guilliman took a deep breath, tearing his gaze from the bouncing, clockwork Astartes.
He questioned Captain Agemman about Datch's actions.
Agemman's voice came through the comms, detailing everything Datch had done.
Learning that Datch had completed the Grey Knights' quest and captured the last three daemons in Macragge, the command room fell silent.
Everyone present was a battle-hardened veteran, no stranger to fighting daemons.
They knew how cunning and dangerous such entities could be.
Usually, finding and exorcising them took immense effort.
Yet this mysterious Astartes had, in no time at all, captured three daemons with ease.
Voldus, the Grey Knight Grand Master, was the most shocked—he knew better than anyone how difficult it was.
This Astartes had bagged daemons faster than picking pockets in the hive cities.
Datch ignored them, hopping over to Guilliman, who had a golden exclamation mark floating above his head.
Most quests in the Warhammer universe could be turned in remotely, but main or special quests required returning to the quest-giver.
"Lord Regent, both traitors and daemons have been expelled from Macragge!
Do you have any other tasks for me?"
A quest completion window popped up.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Assist Roboute Guilliman in expelling all Chaos enemies from Macragge.]
[Reward: 1000 EXP, 1000 points, +100 Reputation, Wind Bottles x5]
Five green-quality Wind Bottles appeared in his inventory.
They were empty; he'd need to catch wind seeds to use them.
By now, Guilliman was getting used to Datch's quirky, unpredictable ways.
The Primarch knew this mysterious Astartes wouldn't reveal anything about himself.
All he could do was ask for his help.
"We're about to launch a campaign to retake Ultramar. Will you assist us?"
A new quest window appeared.
[Quest: Help Roboute Guilliman reclaim Ultramar and restore order.
Although Chaos has been repelled from Macragge, the 500 worlds of Ultramar are still under threat.
The newly awakened Regent worries for his people. He asks for your aid in defeating the enemy.
Reward: 2000 EXP, 2000 points, +200 Reputation, Room of Requirement x1]
Room of Requirement?
Now, that was a reward. Who wouldn't want a secret base?
"I will help, Lord Regent."
Datch accepted, then turned to Grand Master Voldus.
"Grand Master, can you help me summon a daemon?"
"What?!"
The words hit like a nuke on a calm lake—instant chaos.
Voldus gaped, thinking he'd misheard.
Inquisitor Greyfax's hand shot to her holster, full of suspicion.
Saint Celestine frowned, her holy face wary.
Even Guilliman looked openly disapproving.
Yvraine and The Visarch exchanged amused, meaningful glances, as if enjoying a wild drama.
Summoning a daemon—in the heart of recently purified Macragge, the Imperium's nerve center?
Anyone else would have been executed on the spot.
It was barely different from outright betrayal!
Voldus's voice was harsh, tinged with anger.
"This is forbidden! Absolutely not! That line must NEVER be crossed."
Seeing Voldus's firm refusal, Datch scratched his head.
Looks like I need more reputation… better grind a few more quests.
He wasn't discouraged. He sidled up to Voldus.
"Grand Master, is there anything I can do for you?"
Voldus: "..."
He'd expected a fight, was ready for a confrontation.
But instead, Datch instantly, without any delay, asked if there were any tasks—like nothing had happened!
This whiplash was more baffling than anything Voldus had ever experienced, even from daemons.
Voldus thought for a moment, then replied,
"You can help us hunt down the Chaos heretics still roaming Ultramar."
A quest popped up:
[Quest: Aid the Grey Knights in purging Chaos cultists in Ultramar.
Chaos cults are still active, spreading evil and corrupting minds. Help the Grey Knights eliminate these heretics.
Reward: 1000 EXP, 1000 points, +150 Reputation, Pumpkin Helmet x1]
"Grand Master, it's my honor to serve."
Datch accepted immediately—the Pumpkin Helmet was just too tempting.
If he could collect the whole Pumpkin Set, he'd look awesome.
With two new quests in hand, Datch glanced around the command room, making sure there were no more exclamation or question marks over the NPCs' heads, then skipped out.
On his way, he kicked over a neatly stacked crate and opened it.
The tech-priest in the corner sighed, sulking.
Next, Datch went to the hangar and found a flight instructor with a yellow question mark.
After completing two tasks, he received one-on-one training.
With his accumulated EXP, he rapidly mastered piloting all manner of Imperial attack craft and fighters.
No sooner had Datch learned to fly than the mighty Crusade Fleet gathered over Macragge, ready to set out.
Warships floated in orbit like mountains, their engines lighting the void.
Datch boarded the flagship—the Macragge's Honour—with Guilliman.
The massive ship moved like a mobile fortress, leading the fleet toward the first key battleground: the Zeal system, under Chaos assault.
In the void, macro-cannons thundered, lances tore through darkness, torpedoes swarmed like death itself.
The Imperial and Chaos fleets clashed brutally.
Explosions bloomed in the silent vacuum, ships breaking apart in a slow-motion ballet of death.
When the ships closed to boarding range, the Primarch gave the order.
Astartes assembled in the hangar, ready to storm the enemy vessel.
Datch received the boarding quest from Guilliman.
[Quest: Boarding Assault
Board the enemy ship with your brothers and kill the enemy in close combat.
Reward: 300 EXP, 300 points, +30 Reputation]
Datch pulled out the Sadako videotape, a wicked, expectant grin on his face.
"Time to give those traitors a real Sadako shock."
...
Read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode