956.M30.
In orbit around Mill World, aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, the Primarch's office.
Arsena, holding a datapad, reported to the Black Emperor.
"My Lord, I have compiled the Legion's losses from quelling the green tide."
"The Legion suffered a total of 9,413 battle brothers killed in action. The Sixth Chapter sustained the heaviest losses, with 4,925 fallen while resisting the Ork invasion."
"Based on the records of the chroniclers, the scribes have analyzed why the Legion's casualties were higher than during the previous Wheel of Fire campaign."
Although Nareth had only deployed the main forces of five Chapters to support the Sixth Chapter, the total engaged strength exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand, far greater than the Wheel of Fire.
The Legion's overall strength was also far superior to what it had been then.
At that time, the number of beyonders was relatively low; most Chapter Masters were Sequence 8, and even then Sequence 8 was rare.
Now, the lowest-ranking Chapter Master was Sequence 6, and Sequence 8 Court members formed the backbone of each squad.
"The Shadows of Order of the Sixth Chapter who fell in battle were scattered across various worlds, resisting the Ork invasion."
"Although the mobilization of Auxiliaries and planetary defense forces significantly depleted the enemy's effective strength, the dispersal of forces inevitably led to unavoidable losses."
Nareth nodded slightly. During the Wheel of Fire campaign, his Legion had joined forces with the 2nd and 6th Legions to cleanse Ork worlds.
Their forces had been concentrated then.
The Coronid New Zone was vast; the Shadows of Order were dispersed, while the main Ork forces, under their Warlords, were relatively concentrated.
Especially in the early stages of the campaign, where Tzeentch's likely interference had disrupted astropathic communication and the danger-sensing premonitions of the Sixth Chapter's "Fate" pathway beyonders. Many worlds and space engagements had been caught unprepared.
'If I hadn't been able to receive Flamini's prayers and notice the anomaly in astropathic communication, the Sixth Chapter might have suffered devastating, even greater losses.'
'The worst-case scenario would have seen spores spread across countless worlds, becoming a persistent plague upon the entire Region in the future.'
'Hmm, this is also an exploitable angle. Disrupted astropathic communication means chaotic information, making it even harder for the War Council to grasp the actual situation.'
Nareth seized upon the exploitable aspect of the adverse situation and instructed his Primarch's attendant.
"Report to the War Council that the Legion suffered 25,600 killed in action."
"Your will be done." The silver-haired Arsena noted the command and continued his report.
"The supporting Auxiliaries suffered 149,100 soldiers killed in action."
"Among them, the 'Elysian Drop Troops' suffered 36,400 casualties..."
"The 'Valhallan Boreas Guards' suffered the heaviest losses. Of the thirty-six regiments on Mill World, totaling 90,000 soldiers, 74,500 were killed in action."
A flicker of respect passed through Arsena's narrow eyes. "They, as the main force, held off the largest Ork tide's main body, numbering over 160,000."
Post-campaign confirmation revealed that the Ork force attacking the Cyclops Cluster had exceeded 200,000.
The majority had been driven by the Ork Warlord to land on Mill World.
The Valhallans' immense sacrifice had bogged down the Ork advance, preventing the widespread dissemination of spores across the many worlds of the Cyclops Cluster.
"I reviewed the combat logs of Chaplain Jeremy, who commanded the defense." As Nareth spoke, he recalled the crimson crystal-like crozius and the memory of guiding Jeremy to become a "Midnight Poet."
His voice had been booming, his singing powerful and resonant.
"He promised the Valhallan combatants unlimited Ovgia meat tins, a portion of fruit salad with every meal, and access to the forty-two-year-old wine in the cellars."
"He has fallen. But I will fulfill his promise for him."
"For forty years, the Valhallans will receive unlimited Ovgia rations and a portion of fruit salad with every meal."
After rewarding the Valhallans, Nareth further ordered rewards for all Auxiliaries who had fought.
"Open the wine cellars. Distribute all the remaining aged wine to the soldiers who fought."
"Those who fell, their shares will be given to their families."
Arsena recorded each command. "By your will."
After a moment's thought, Nareth issued the order.
"The fleet will set course. Return to Vostonia."
The Shadows of Order's pursuit of the Orks had not led to the discovery of the Rebo system or Blackstone IV.
It seemed that either, due to the barrier, Tzeentch couldn't freely weave the fate-threads of the Ork Warlords as He pleased, after all, Gork and Mork weren't just for show.
Or He had deliberately refrained, perhaps even ensuring the green tides kept their distance from the star systems containing the Blackstone Fortresses, to prevent Nareth from finding them.
Given the current situation, Nareth decided to temporarily leave the Coronid New Zone, hoping to mislead Tzeentch into believing he was unable to locate the Blackstone Fortresses.
After the silver-haired Arsena left the office, Nareth returned to his quarters.
He activated the "Euclidean Runes" and stepped into the third layer of the Kingdom of Disorder.
Nareth picked up the Dice of Prophecy, examining the triangular prism in his hand.
The crystal held an inner light, unlike its dim appearance right after the divination for the Eye of Night. But it was not yet fully restored.
"Seven years since the last divination, and it still hasn't finished cooling."
"It's now clear that the cause was the Uniqueness involved in the divination, combined with Tzeentch's interference with fate."
The Dice of Prophecy's incomplete cooling was another major reason for his decision to temporarily leave the Coronid New Zone.
Nareth waited another two years until the Dice of Prophecy had fully regained its luster, ready for another divination.
He picked up the triangular prism and, without hesitation, stepped into the second layer of space.
He had already performed two divinations for Blackstone IV and paid a heavy price. There was no reason to back down now.
Nareth's spirituality surged. Black mist churned and swelled. A jet-black altar rose from the void.
Chaotic black arcs swirled around it.
Spikes rose. A black crown materialized above.
Massive wings unfurled, overshadowing the altar.
Information about the Rebo system flashed through Nareth's mind.
'Cyclops Cluster, Rebo system.'
'The system contains a Blackstone Fortress.'
'The Blackstone Fortress, called the "Talisman of Vaul" by the Aeldari, is a powerful starfortress created to combat the Necron-controlled C'tan shards.'
'...'
Everything he knew about the Rebo system came from the Blackstone Fortress itself.
After the information on the Rebo system passed through his mind, he silently intoned:
'The star chart from the Kalium Gate to the Rebo system.'
'...'
After intoning it eleven times, he tossed the Dice of Prophecy and, at the same time, raised his hand.
Whoosh!
The flagpole appeared in his hand.
As expected, the triangular prism, the moment it left his hand, hovered motionless in mid-air.
Nareth raised the "Red Priest" Uniqueness and intoned solemnly in Dunnic:
"I, by my name, bestow upon the 'Red Priest' the power of the Kingdom of Disorder to aid the Dice of Prophecy in its divination!"
Black mist rose. The motionless triangular prism began to spin and ascend.
Its ascent slowed, pausing briefly at its zenith, then descended.
With a thought, Nareth dismissed the flagpole. The triangular prism projected a holographic star chart.
He memorized the chart, staring at the now-dim triangular prism.
"This cooldown: nine years. Next time, will it be ten?"