Kolesa finally put on the slightly oversized white Ultramarines casual uniform. The clothes still seemed to carry the scent of some cleaning agent and metal, which made her feel a little covered and secure. She took a deep breath and pushed open Sergeant Karl's cabin door.
Unlike her own cabin, which was empty save for basic facilities, Gaius's cabin, while adhering to the Astartes' spartan style, exuded a sense of rigor and order. Every item was meticulously placed, with sharp angles, as if measured with a ruler. The floor was pristine, and there were no superfluous decorations on the walls. The most striking feature in the room was undoubtedly the oversized bed that had just been set up. It stood in stark contrast to the surrounding austere style, silently speaking of the absurdity and… an indescribable "kindness" of the one who gave the order.
Her gaze slowly swept across the room, finally landing on an equipment rack against the wall. It didn't display the master-crafted Power Armor and "Hawkeye" sniper rifle that Gaius currently used, but rather some items that seemed to hold special meaning for him.
There was a Mark X Primaris Astartes helmet painted with the Sergeant's iconic red, appearing to be the one he used when he was first promoted to Sergeant. It was impeccably maintained, yet upon closer inspection, numerous subtle scratches and repair marks could be seen, recording the rawness and fierce battles of his early days. Next to it was a standard combat knife with a simple sheath and wear on the hilt from long-term gripping. There was also a standard Power Fist, much larger than the one he currently used, which also seemed to carry a piece of the past.
However, what most caught Kolesa's eye was an emblem placed right in the center of these pieces of equipment.
It was an Imperial Aquila emblem, but rather than an emblem, it was more like a wreck. The metal surface was covered with signs of wear, having lost its original luster, as if it had endured countless years of erosion. Most shocking was the center of the emblem, where there was a bullet hole that had almost completely pierced it, its edges twisted and torn, speaking of the fatal blow it had once suffered.
Kolesa did not know that this seemingly dilapidated emblem was the only relic left by Gaius's father. When Gaius boarded the Macragge's Honour, about to begin his new life as an Ultramarine, his dying mother, from her sickbed, solemnly placed this mark, representing his father's sacrifice and loyalty, into his hands. In Gaius's heart, the meaning of this emblem far surpassed any honor or weapon; it connected him to his past as a mortal, carrying indelible family affection and memories. For this reason, he never chose to wear it on his armor, fearing that in the brutal battles, this last memento would be lost, or, like his father, utterly destroyed by the flames of war.
Kolesa reached out her slightly trembling hand and slowly picked up the cold emblem. The chill of the metal permeated her palm, and the deep bullet mark pressed against her skin. She did not know the heavy story behind this emblem, but her intuition told her that for Gaius to display it so carefully here, alongside other items symbolizing his warrior life, and even occupying the central position, this item must be extremely important to him. An inexplicable emotion surged in her heart, a mix of curiosity and an indescribable… resonance? She gently placed the emblem back in its original spot, as if afraid to disturb this quiet remembrance.
Just then, the cabin door slid open again, and a silent servitor entered, carrying a small storage box. Inside, neatly folded, were her few changes of clothes and two pairs of standard black boots—all provided by the Ultramarines after she arrived on this warship, constituting almost all her possessions. The servitor placed the box by the bed and silently withdrew.
Immediately after, the Tech-Sergeant from before knocked and entered again. He still did not look directly at Kolesa, his gaze fixed on empty space, conveying his instructions in that emotionless voice:
"Ms. Kolesa, according to Captain Cassius's final order, you will reside here with Sergeant Karl from now on. The Captain specifically stated that this cabin has no surveillance devices. And," he paused, "Sergeant Karl will be responsible for your daily care and safety."
Kolesa still felt weak due to the continuous effects of the inhibitor. She leaned against the bed, processing the news. Living with Gaius? No surveillance? Cared for by Gaius? This series of information left her a bit confused, especially the last point.
She looked up, a hint of uncertainty in her purple eyes, and asked softly, "Gaius… does he know about this?"
The Tech-Sergeant's reply was direct and cold: "It is a direct order from the Captain. Sergeant Karl is currently unaware." He seemed to anticipate Kolesa's concern and added, "But he will obey the Captain's order."
With that, he said no more, turned, and left the cabin, the metal door closing again.
Kolesa stood there stunned, a mix of emotions in her heart. Gaius didn't know… What if he didn't want to? Didn't want to be in such close proximity to her, an "alien," sharing his private space?
Moreover, there was only one bed in this room… Although the bed was ridiculously large, thinking of the Astartes' massive body and strength, far beyond that of ordinary people, her slender body instinctively felt a hint of fear. Some blush-inducing thoughts even flashed uncontrollably through her mind… But then, she remembered Gaius's calm blue eyes and his clumsy but sincere kindness from before. He… he shouldn't be that kind of person, right? He should… cherish a beauty… wouldn't… be too rough… The chaotic thoughts made her cheeks slightly hot. She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off these absurd ideas. She had no idea what the future held.
Meanwhile, on the Kha-IV Hive City world, mid-level zone, at the last blockade established by Tech-Sergeant Luna.
Three Ultramarines assault drop pods, like the Emperor's hammers of judgment, tore through the air with piercing shrieks and scorching heatwaves, precisely, almost violently, smashing through the upper structures of the Hive City and crashing heavily onto the edge of a relatively open plaza. The immense impact caused the ground to crack and sink.
The hatch doors sprang open under hydraulic pressure, and scorching steam billowed out. Immediately after, heavy and synchronized footsteps echoed like war drums.
The first to step out of the command drop pod was First Company Captain Cassius Venus, clad in ornate Ironclad Autarch Armor, his cape fluttering behind him. The muzzle of his relic-grade Assault Cannon was held high, his master-crafted Power Sword hung at his waist, and his imposing Autarch helmet scanned the hellish scene before him.
He was closely followed by Lieutenant Golden, and members of Agris Squad and Promis Squad who swiftly emerged from the other two drop pods—a full ten giants clad in Ironclad Pattern Terminator Armor! They were like a deep blue steel wall that instantly rose from the ground, their heavy armor and menacing heavy weaponry exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
However, no sooner had they appeared, before they could even fully deploy their formation, they were shocked by the sight before them.
As far as the eye could see, there was a surging, roaring tide of infected! They wore tattered Planetary Defense Forces uniforms or civilian clothes, but their eyes glowed with only mad red light, rushing frantically in one direction. And at the center of that frenzied tide was a Demolias warrior clad in a Dreadnought Pattern Terminator Armor! He was like a lonely reef in a storm, wielding a Power Fist, using his Assault Cannon and his body to desperately hold back the enemies surging from all directions, a thick layer of shattered purple corpses already piled at his feet. Not far away, another Dreadnought Terminator warrior had fallen, his massive body covered in claw marks and bullet holes, lying motionless.
Beside the fallen warrior was Tech-Sergeant Luna, her shoulder pierced, her face still pale despite emergency treatment. She leaned against her fallen comrade's body, one hand gripping a Bolter pistol, while the plasma pistol on her blessed arm flickered with an unstable light, forming a precarious last line of defense with the few remaining Planetary Defense Forces soldiers, resisting the sporadic enemies who broke through the Terminator's firepower net.
The situation was far worse than Cassius's worst expectations!
"Even the mid-levels… have fallen to this extent?!" Cassius's voice, transmitted through his Autarch helmet, carried shock and fury. He had initially thought the problem was mainly in the lower levels, never expecting the infection to have spread so widely and deeply!
Without the slightest hesitation, the First Company Captain's combat instincts instantly overrode everything else. He abruptly raised his relic Assault Cannon, and his amplified voice boomed across the battlefield like thunder, momentarily even overpowering the aliens' roars:
"Ultramarines! Purge them!"
With the command issued, the steel tide instantly moved!
"For Macragge! For Captain Cassius!" Golden roared, his master-crafted Bolter firing first, precisely detonating the head of a Purestrain Genestealer attempting to pounce on Luna.
The next moment, the heavy weapons on the shoulders of ten Ironclad Pattern Terminators—assault cannons, storm Bolters, plasma cannons—all let out a destructive roar simultaneously! Dense Bolter rounds and scorching plasma spheres rained down like a storm of death, instantly covering a large area of the infected tide ahead!
"Boom boom boom boom—!"
"Sizzle—boom!"
Hordes of infected were torn apart in the metallic storm, vaporized in plasma explosions! The Ironclad Pattern Terminators advanced with heavy and unstoppable strides, like efficient killing machines, steadily pushing forward, leaving behind only a messy trail of severed limbs and burning ruins.
Cassius himself was like a war god descended, the relic assault cannon in his hand like the scythe of the Grim Reaper. Each short burst accurately eliminated the most threatening targets in his sight, whether distant snipers or Purestrain Genestealer units mixed among ordinary infected. He didn't even need to draw his Power Sword, controlling the battle with powerful firepower and precise shooting alone.
While shooting, he issued a series of commands to Golden through the internal channel, his voice cold and filled with killing intent:
"Golden! Prioritize clearing this area and establishing a safe zone! Contact Luna, find out the situation on the lower levels, and what happened to Rikao and Sergeant Karl!"
"Attempt to repair or establish a temporary communication node. I need to know how many living people are left on this planet and how many areas haven't been infected!"
"Notify orbit, 'Pride of Ultramar' to enter Level 1 combat readiness! Once we confirm the situation and find our people..."
His words paused, then became even more chilling and resolute, carrying the despair of a world utterly lost:
"...immediately prepare to issue—Exterminatus! Thoroughly purify this rotten planet!"
The Emperor's wrath had descended. And this was just the beginning.
Captain Cassius and the iron tide he led swiftly cleared the remaining resistance in the plaza area with overwhelming force. Against the heavy firepower of the Ironclad Pattern Terminators, the ordinary infected and low-tier Genestealers were torn to shreds like paper, unable to organize any decent counterattack. The air was thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder, blood, and burning xenos fluids.
The squad quickly advanced to Luna and the fallen Unyielding Terminator warrior, Decasius. Lieutenant Golden immediately knelt, checking on Brother Decasius's condition, while gesturing for the Apothecary, who had arrived shortly after in a Thunderhawk Gunship, to assist Luna.
"Tech-Sergeant Luna, report the situation!" Captain Cassius's voice came through the Autarch helmet, still steady, but with a discernible urgency. His authoritative gaze swept over the gruesome wound on Luna's shoulder blade and the critically wounded warrior on the ground, his heart a mix of anger and worry.
Luna gritted her teeth against the throbbing pain from her wound, her face pale, but her tone remained clear and calm, characteristic of a Tech-Sergeant:
"Reporting, Captain. Sergeant Karl, Brother Dorian, and six members of Promis Squad led by Captain Rikao entered the lower levels for a reconnaissance mission at standard time. However, communications were completely cut off shortly after they encountered a large-scale ambush, and they remain unreachable."
She paused for a breath, then continued:
"Our defensive line here was subsequently subjected to a fierce attack from the upper levels, confirming that the upper Hive City has also largely fallen, with enemies including infected Planetary Defense Forces regulars and heavy equipment."
Her gaze fell upon the unconscious Decasius on the ground, her voice dropping:
"Brother Decasius... he was hit from behind by an armor-piercing round fired from a leman russ tank. His armor is severely damaged, but he... he fought on for over half a standard hour... ultimately, he was impaled by the claws of a Purestrain Genestealer... now his vital signs are extremely weak..."
Luna's report was not yet complete when a heavy and familiar thudding, accompanied by the hum of Power Armor servo systems, suddenly echoed from the wide stairwell entrance leading to the lower levels!
Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn! It was the distinctive, drum-like footsteps of Terminator Armor!
Immediately following, several tall, deep blue figures, stained with blood and gunpowder, appeared at the stairwell, limping but determined! They were Terminator warriors of Promis Squad! They supported each other, two of the warriors laboriously carrying two almost immobile figures—one was Gaius, unconscious with severely damaged Power Armor, and the other was Dorian, limp as mud, being dragged purely by instinct!
"It's them!" Golden abruptly stood up.
"Apothecaries! Immediately forward!" Cassius instantly commanded, and two Apothecaries carrying medical equipment stepped forward, ready to receive the wounded.
However, Kelun, who was at the forefront, didn't even care about the horrific, still-bleeding wound on his leg. He limped, almost throwing himself, in front of Captain Cassius! His head, covered by a bestial helmet, lifted, and the gaze behind his eyepieces was filled with anxiety, grief, and unyielding fighting spirit.
"Captain!" Kelun's voice was hoarse from excitement and injury, but it carried an iron resolve, "Captain Rikao and Brother Gochi! To cover our retreat... they voluntarily stayed behind to hold the line! They... they are still down there!"
He almost roared the next words, his voice filled with an undeniable plea and the unyielding spirit of a warrior:
"I believe they will never fall easily! I request to immediately lead a squad back to rescue them! Captain! We cannot abandon them! Never!"
Looking at the almost bone-deep gash on Kelun's leg armor, listening to his desperate plea, and feeling the same burning fire in the eyes of the other few Demolias warriors who had just escaped danger, Captain Cassius's heart felt as if an invisible hand was tightly clutching it. Rikao, his First Company's veteran Sergeant, a reliable Captain; Gochi, a silent and brave warrior... they had unhesitatingly chosen to stay for their brothers, facing that endless tide of xenos... without a moment's hesitation, without even a second's deliberation, Cassius's armored body straightened abruptly, and a decisive, undeniable command, like a drawn sword, came from beneath his Autarch helmet:
"Golden!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"You lead Promis Squad to hold this position! At all costs, find a way to re-establish contact with orbit! Prioritize safely transporting Gaius, Dorian, Decasius, and all wounded back to the 'Macragge's Honour'!"
"Understood!" Golden immediately acknowledged the order.
Cassius abruptly turned, his gaze sweeping over another Terminator squad, his voice like thunder:
"Agris Squad!"
Five Ironclad Pattern Terminators simultaneously stepped forward, their heavy armor clanking with a dull thud, their heavy weapons already hungry for action.
"Follow me down!" Cassius's voice carried an unwavering resolve, "Bring our brothers! Back!"
"Understood, Captain!" The roar of the five Terminator warriors merged into one, shaking the surrounding air, filled with fearless and resolute fighting spirit.
"Captain!" Golden hastily stepped forward, his tone filled with worry, "The situation below is unknown, it's too dangerous! Let me lead the squad down! You, as Captain, cannot be put at risk!"
Cassius abruptly waved his hand, cutting off Golden's protest. His Autarch helmet turned towards his Lieutenant; though his expression was unseen, his gaze seemed to pierce through the armor:
"Less talk, Golden! You are equally indispensable! My brothers are down there; how can I sit idly by?!"
His words were simple, direct, yet heavy as a thousand tons. There were no lofty commands, only the most fundamental and profound sense of responsibility for his comrades.
"I leave this to you! My brother! Hold the retreat route!"
With that, Cassius no longer lingered. He abruptly waved his hand, gripping his relic assault cannon, and was the first to take heavy strides, walking without looking back towards the stairwell entrance that led into the dark and unknown abyss. The five iron giants of Agris Squad followed closely, like a blue arrow, plunging unflinchingly into the shadows of the Hive City's lower levels, which had swallowed countless lives.
Golden watched his Captain's resolute back disappear around the stairwell corner, heavily pounded his chest plate, then turned, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and began to swiftly deploy defenses and communication efforts. They had to hold this last passage of hope, to welcome their Captain and brothers... home!
Captain Cassius led Agris Squad, like five heavy battering rams at full throttle, charging down the wide, but filth and debris-strewn, staircase towards the lower levels of the Hive City.
Even clad in heavy Ironclad Pattern Terminator Armor, their speed far exceeded normal imagination, the power systems emitting a low roar of full operation, and their heavy footsteps on the metal stairs echoed like thunder, shaking down dust.
The further down they went, the more intense the stench in the air became; a mix of xenos blood, rotting corpses, gunpowder, and an indescribable, sweet, sickly smell of the Tyranid biosphere, enough to make un-augmented mortals instantly vomit or even faint.
The walls were covered in claw marks, bullet holes, and splattered purple goo, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.
Finally, they reached the end of the staircase, where a relatively open connecting platform lay ahead.
The entrance to the deeper levels was blocked by a large amount of rubble, twisted metal components, and concrete blocks, clearly the result of deliberate demolition or a collapse.
However, just beyond this desolate ruin, their keen auditory enhancement systems faintly picked up the intermittent yet exceptionally clear roar of a Bolter coming from the gaps!
Someone was still fighting!
"Rikao! Gochi!" Cassius roared inwardly.
Without hesitation, he gestured slightly backward for the squad to pause, then his massive Ironclad Autarch body sank slightly, and the power system instantly overloaded!
"Boom—!!!"
With a deafening crash, Cassius, like an ancient knight charging, slammed his heavily armored shoulder, carrying immense force, into the pile of rubble blocking the entrance!
Rubble and metal fragments exploded outwards, and a gap large enough for a Terminator to pass through was forcibly opened!
Amidst the swirling dust, the scene behind the gap slowly unfolded like a scroll; it was not a scroll, but a true, flesh-and-blood hell!
As far as the eye could see, the concept of a ground almost ceased to exist.
Purple, viscous xenos blood had pooled into 'streams' and 'puddles' of varying depths, emitting a nauseating stench.
Fragments of Genestealers and infected corpses, severed limbs, carapaces, and torn organs had piled up into several shocking 'mountains'!
These mountains of corpses and seas of blood almost filled the entire space, making it hard to imagine what an utterly brutal massacre had taken place here.
And in the center of that sea of corpses and blood, a deep blue figure still stood like an unyielding reef!
It was Captain Rikao!
But his current state could only be described as tragic.
His heavy Indomitus Pattern Terminator Armor was covered in deep claw marks, burn marks, and Bolter impact craters.
The original deep blue paint was almost completely obscured by purple blood and black char marks.
One of his leg plates was severely deformed, and liquid mixed with lubricant and blood constantly seeped from the joints, staining his entire leg dark red.
On his imposing bestial helmet, a terrifying claw mark, almost tearing the helmet apart, ran diagonally across.
One eye lens was shattered, and the other glowed dimly.
One of his shoulder pads, along with the weapon mount beneath it, was missing, revealing damaged internal mechanical structures and conduits, sparking faintly.
He was still fighting!
He had switched his Assault Cannon to his left hand, and his right arm wielded a Power Fist, smashing away approaching enemies.
His Flamer seemed to have run out of fuel, but the Assault Cannon still emitted an unwilling, intermittent roar, repelling one Genestealers after another that tried to rush him.
His movements were noticeably slow and stiff, each movement seemingly enduring immense pain, but he still did not fall!
Not far from him, another massive deep blue figure lay silently amidst a pile of xenos corpses.
It was Gochi.
He lay face up, covered in dozens of horrifying penetrating and tearing wounds caused by the Purestrain Genestealer's claws.
His heavy Terminator Armor seemed fragile in the face of these fatal attacks.
The twin-linked Storm Bolter in his hands was twisted and deformed, and his Power Fist lay open and limp.
The eye lenses of his helmet were completely extinguished, devoid of any light of life.
In the darkness, countless blood-red compound eyes still gleamed like stars, pouring out from passages and shadows on all sides, seemingly endless.
They trampled over the piled corpses of their comrades, emitting hungry and frenzied roars, continuing to surge towards the last standing figure in the arena!
The hellish scene before him, and Gochi's extinguished eye lenses, instantly ignited all the fury and grief in Cassius's heart!
"Purge the xenos!!!" Captain Cassius's roar exploded like thunder in this bloody space, filled with endless killing intent and ferocity!
Almost simultaneously with his roar, the ornate relic-grade Assault Cannon in his hand was already raised, its hot muzzle spitting out a deadly flame several meters long!
Following closely, the five Ironclad Terminators of Agris Squad also opened fire simultaneously!
Assault Cannons, Storm Bolters, Plasma Cannons... the roar of all heavy firepower converged into a destructive torrent, like a tsunami of metal and energy, instantly engulfing, tearing apart, and vaporizing the Genestealers rushing towards Rikao!
The dense explosions and flashes of energy briefly dispelled the darkness, illuminating this charnel-house hell as if it were day.
Swathes of xenos were pulverized under the wrath of the Ultramarines!
Rikao, who had been desperately holding on, upon seeing the familiar Ironclad Autarch figure and hearing his Captain's characteristic roar, felt his spine, which had endured countless bloody battles and far exceeded its limits of damage without bending, finally unburdened of a colossal weight.
His tightly coiled will instantly relaxed, and a strong sense of weakness and dizziness from blood loss engulfed him like a tide.
His massive body swayed, he let out a sigh of relief, extremely faint, then could no longer support himself, dropping heavily to one knee, splashing a spray of purple blood, and then his entire upper body tilted forward, crashing down onto the cold, viscous ground, losing consciousness.
But he knew he was safe.
His Captain had come, and he would no longer face this endless darkness and swarm of bugs alone.
He and Gochi... they could both go home.
"Rikao!" Cassius's heart tightened when he saw the Captain fall, but he immediately judged that Rikao was merely exhausted and unconscious.
He suppressed the urge to rush over immediately, maintaining suppressive fire, while issuing the most urgent command to Agris Squad:
"Agris! The five of you! Move as fast as possible, take Rikao and Gochi! Evacuate immediately! Return to the upper levels! Tell Golden, spare no expense, do everything to save brother Gochi!" His voice was urgent and filled with an undeniable resolve, "Quick!"
"Captain! What about you?!" the Sergeant of Agris Squad immediately asked, his voice under the faceplate tinged with worry.
Leaving the Captain alone in this hellish environment to cover their retreat was too dangerous!
"Less talk! Execute orders!" Cassius's voice was like ice, carrying the absolute authority of a Captain, "I'll hold them off! No one can change my decision! Go now!"
The warriors of Agris Squad knew their Captain's temperament.
When he made a decision, especially concerning the lives of his brothers, no one could sway him.
They no longer hesitated, saluting with a heavy fist to their chest: "Understood, Captain!"
Two Terminators immediately stepped forward, carefully lifting the unconscious Rikao, while two others went to Gochi's remains, trying to lift his heavy body.
The last warrior continuously provided heavy suppressive fire to cover his teammates' actions.
Watching his squad begin to escort their brothers away, Cassius suddenly turned, casting his gaze, burning with fury, towards the endless, red-glowing tide still pouring out of the darkness.
He moved with the heavy strides of an Ironclad Autarch, actively advancing to meet them!
The master-crafted Power Sword gripped in his right hand suddenly activated, a brilliant blue energy field emitting a pleasant yet dangerous hum, illuminating the area in front of him.
The relic-grade Assault Cannon in his left hand roared deafeningly again, the scorching Bolter rounds, as if guided, precisely targeting any xenos daring to show their heads within his sight.
Whether common infected or cunning Purestrain units, all were shattered under his wrath!
His rage had reached its peak!
These accursed, blasphemous xenos!
They had harmed his brothers, killed the brave Gochi, and turned this human world into a charnel house of flesh!
He, Cassius Venus, Captain of the Ultramarines First Company, Regent of Ultramar, swore an oath here!
He would make these xenos scum, who dared to harm the Emperor's subjects and slaughter his Astartes brothers, pay the most painful price!
In the Emperor's name! In Ultramar's name!
He was like a god of war, venturing alone into hell, launching a one-man charge against the endless darkness and surging tide with Bolter and blade!
Each step was accompanied by the screams of xenos and shattered corpses, each step expressed a Captain's deepest concern for his subordinates and his most furious rage!
Captain Cassius stood amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, his Ironclad Autarch Armor reflecting a cold, eerie glow in the dim light, his red cape behind him soaked with foul blood, hanging heavily.
He was like a Titan giant from a mythical age, single-handedly guarding the last passage to the evacuation point.
"Come on! You filthy abominations!" His low roar, amplified through his vox-caster, echoed in the open space, full of provocation and endless killing intent.
Responding to him were even more frenzied roars and a tidal wave of attacks surging from all directions.
The infected, wielding crude weapons or mutated limbs, charged madly; while the cunning Purestrain Genestealers, like phantoms, darted swiftly between corpse piles and shadows, seeking an opportunity for a fatal blow.
Cassius moved.
The master-crafted Power Sword in his right hand carved out arcs of brilliant blue, deadly light.
Any enemy daring to enter his sword's reach, whether an infected wearing tattered uniforms or a Purestrain covered in chitinous carapace, was utterly vulnerable before that scorching energy field!
Wherever the sword's edge passed, severed limbs and purple blood splattered everywhere; there was no enemy that could withstand even a single blow!
Simultaneously, the relic-grade Assault Cannon in his left hand continuously emitted a deafening roar.
This ancient weapon seemed to sense its master's sky-burning fury, its machine spirit in a state of extreme exhilaration, the feeding system operating at an efficiency far exceeding its design limits, the scorching Bolter chain like an inexhaustible storm of metal, precisely showering the densest enemy areas.
Each short burst could tear apart several xenos, each sweep could plow a temporary vacuum in the purple tide!
The roar of Bolters, the screams of xenos, and the hum of the Power Sword tearing through the air intertwined into a symphony of death unique to Cassius.
A Purestrain Genestealer, relying on its astonishing leaping ability, suddenly pounced from the top of a corpse mountain, its four glowing bone claws aimed directly at Cassius's helmet!
Cassius didn't even look up, just flicked his wrist, and the Power Sword slashed upward diagonally from below!
"Swoosh—!"
The brilliant blue sword light flashed past!
The Purestrain Genestealer, still in mid-air, was cut in half at the waist!
Its upper body, carried by momentum, fell at Cassius's feet, still twisting and struggling, its maw full of sharp teeth opening and closing, emitting a silent hiss.
Cassius didn't even glance at it, raising his heavy, heavily armored combat boot, and, like crushing a rotten fruit, stomped down hard!
"Squish—!"
A bone-jarring crunch of chitinous armor and the sound of flesh being compressed rang out, and the half-torso was instantly crushed into a blurry pulp, utterly still.
Almost at the same time, another Purestrain, with nimble movements, crawled rapidly along the ground like a lizard, its sharp bone claws aimed directly at Cassius's knee joint!
Cassius's reaction was lightning-fast; his right foot, which had just crushed the enemy, had not yet fully retracted, but the Power Sword in his right hand had already struck downward like a venomous snake, stabbing fiercely!
"Thud!"
The energy blade precisely pinned the crawling Purestrain to the cold, viscous ground!
The monster's forward momentum was so intense that the moment it was pinned, its body still lunged forward a section, actually tearing itself in half from the chest!
Purple organs and blood splattered.
Just then, another foul gust of wind came from the rear-side!
A third Purestrain, using the cover of its comrades' corpses, silently approached, then suddenly leaped, pouncing onto Cassius's back!
However, Cassius seemed to sense everything behind him.
The Assault Cannon in his left hand was still pouring fire forward, but his power-armored right hand shot backward with lightning speed, his five fingers suddenly splayed open, gripping the neck of the airborne Purestrain Genestealer with precise, iron-like force!
"Ugh... hiss!" The monster, choked, let out a suffocating hiss, its four bone claws frantically clawing at Cassius's adamantium-plated gauntlet, but could only leave a few shallow white marks, utterly failing to penetrate the armor.
Cassius exerted force with his arm, lifting the struggling monster in front of him.
His head, covered by the Autarch helmet, struck forward without hesitation, like a battering ram, with immense force!
"Thud!!!"
A dull, heart-stopping thud!
Solid chitinous skull violently collided with the heavy adamantium helmet!
The Purestrain Genestealer's head instantly exploded like a smashed watermelon, a mix of red and white matter, along with carapace fragments, splattering across Cassius's chest plate and helmet visor.
He casually tossed the headless corpse away like trash, knocking over several charging common infected.
Then, his massive body spun around with an agility unsuited to his size, his Power Sword, following his body's rotation, carved out a perfect, nearly 360-degree circle of death!
"Swish—!"
The brilliant blue circular sword light flashed and disappeared!
Five Purestrain Genestealers that had just simultaneously pounced from the shadows behind, attempting a sneak attack, instantly froze in their movements, then their bodies slowly slid along the smooth cuts, all bisected at the waist!
Their torsos fell to the ground, purple blood gushing out like fountains.
He had just completed this magnificent kill when the temporary vacuum in front was again filled by endless, roaring infected, surging forward like a black tide!
"Hmph!" Cassius let out a disdainful cold snort, his left arm steadily raised, and the seemingly tireless relic Assault Cannon once again let out a roar of destruction!
"Boom boom boom boom boom—!!!"
The scorching Bolter chain, like the whip of death, lashed fiercely at the surging tide, instantly tearing its vanguard to shreds!
Severed limbs and fragments of bodies splattered backward like a downpour, explosions flashed continuously, illuminating Cassius's towering figure like a god descended to earth, or a demon returned from hell.
He stood there, an insurmountable steel bulwark, an unceasing storm of death.
No xenos could breach his defenses!
No attack could truly touch his body!
He hadn't even retreated a single step!
All his anger, all his grief, all his thoughts of protecting his brothers, had now transformed into the purest, most extreme will to kill.
He would use the blood and corpses of these xenos to send Gochi off, to avenge his injured brothers, and to declare to this desecrated land—the Emperor's Angels of Death would not be defiled!
Alone, he was an army of thousands!
The roar of the Thunderhawk Gunship's engines grew from distant to near, like a horn of salvation, piercing through the smoke and blood permeating the mid-levels of the Hive City. A specially modified, large Thunderhawk Gunship, capable of accommodating multiple Terminators, broke through the thin atmosphere under the skilled piloting of an Ultramarines pilot, precisely hovering above the temporary evacuation point established by Lieutenant Golden.
"Quick! Board the gunship!" Golden's voice, steady and powerful, rang out through the external loudspeakers.
Under the cover of a circular net of fire laid down by the five Terminator power-armored warriors of Promis Squad, the surviving members of Demolias Squad, along with the severely wounded Gaius, Luna, and Dorian, were quickly and orderly escorted into the spacious cabin of the Thunderhawk. The power-armored warriors increased the strength of their shoulder energy shields to maximum, the blue shield light forming a continuous barrier, like an impenetrable bulwark, firmly protecting their boarding comrades and the Lieutenant, blocking the lasers and bolter rounds fired by the constantly surging infected from all directions. They stood like unyielding rocks, buying precious time for the evacuation, their gazes anxiously sweeping towards the stairwell entrance leading to the lower levels, awaiting the return of the Captain and the Aggressors.
Heavy footsteps finally echoed again from the depths of the stairwell, growing closer, like war drums beating in everyone's hearts. First to appear were four warriors from Agris Squad, in pairs, carefully carrying the unconscious Captain Rikao and the remains of Brother Gochi. Their armor was stained with even more blood and gore, clearly indicating they had endured fierce combat during their retreat.
Immediately following, the last Aggressors warrior and Captain Cassius appeared at the entrance. The Captain's cloak on his power-armored Autarch armor was tattered, covered in purple slime and black scorch marks. The Power Sword in his hand still hummed, and the muzzle of his relic assault cannon still emanated heat waves that distorted the air. They steadily retreated while vigilantly watching the dark passage behind them.
"Captain! Quickly!" Golden shouted.
Cassius and the warrior swiftly retreated into the circular defensive perimeter. The Sergeant of Agris Squad and another warrior entered last, and just before stepping into the Thunderhawk's hatch, they simultaneously hurled two spherical meltabombs towards the stairwell entrance!
The grenades arced through the air, precisely landing deep within the passage.
There was no deafening explosion, only two extremely dazzling flashes of white light that vanished in an instant, accompanied by a low, dull thud that seemed to swallow everything! The metal and concrete at the passage entrance were instantly vaporized and melted by unimaginable high temperatures, forming a massive, dark red-edged crater, temporarily blocking the pursuers completely.
"All personnel boarded! Close the hatch! Ascend immediately!" Golden confirmed, then immediately ordered.
The Thunderhawk Gunship's hatch slowly closed, its engines powering up. The powerful thrust steadily lifted the massive airframe, breaking free from the planet's gravity, and sped towards the Macragge's Honour in orbit above.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was heavy. The low hum of the power armor's operation was the only main theme. Captain Cassius removed his imposing Autarch helmet, revealing a face tight with anger and resolute features. His gaze was fixed on Gochi's massive, lifeless body, covered by a battle standard. Unquenchable flames burned in his azure eyes, and his clenched fists were white at the knuckles from the force. He wished he could turn the gunship around now, return to that hell, and crush all the Genestealers to dust!
He suddenly turned his head, looking at Golden, who was coordinating the placement of the wounded, his voice as cold and sharp as ice shards:
"Golden! All our men have evacuated! Contact the Pride of Ultramar immediately!" He said through gritted teeth, "Authorize it to immediately fire cyclonic torpedoes at Kha-IV! Immediately!"
Golden's face changed upon hearing this, and he hastily advised, "Captain! Calm down! An Exterminatus order must receive the personal approval of Chapter Master. Furthermore, this planet has not yet been fully assessed, its resource value is unknown, perhaps... other Hive Cities are not yet infected, and there is still a chance to save them! We should return to the Macragge's Honour first and await the Chapter Master's final decision..."
"Enough!" Cassius roughly interrupted him, fury almost erupting from his eyes. "This planet is rotten from the inside out! Those damned xenos killed Gochi! They severely wounded Rikao and so many brothers! I will now blast them, along with this contaminated world, into cosmic dust!"
With that, he ignored Golden and directly used the Thunderhawk's comms to try and contact the Pride of Ultramar in orbit, his voice carrying an unquestionable tone of command:
"Pride of Ultramar, this is Cassius! Authorize immediate use of cyclonic torpedoes on planet Kha-IV! No value assessment needed! Repeat, fire immediately!"
However, what came from the other end of the comms was only a crackling static noise, and fragmented, unintelligible speech. The strong interference within the Hive City still persisted, and stable communication with orbit had not yet been fully restored.
Seeing this, Golden secretly breathed a sigh of relief and advised again, "Captain, you see, communication hasn't been restored yet, we..."
But before he could finish speaking, he saw a flicker of resolve in Cassius's eyes. The Captain directly activated a special device hidden on the inside of his vambrace—a highest-level access interface possessed only by Chapter Masters and Captains, which, in extreme circumstances, could bypass regular approval processes and directly authorize a mothership or dedicated strike cruiser to launch exterminatus weapons such as cyclonic torpedoes or virus bombs!
A ghostly blue screen lit up on Cassius's vambrace. His fingers rapidly and precisely input a long and complex authorization code on the virtual keyboard. The interface quickly jumped, entering the chilling weapon launch sequence!
"Captain! No!" Golden cried out in alarm, lunging forward and desperately grabbing Cassius's arm, which was about to perform the next operation. "Captain! Calm down! If you unilaterally use Exterminatus, the Chapter Master will never condone it! You will be court-martialed! Captain! Let's go back and reconsider! What if, what if there really are other survivors?!"
The two other nearby Terminator warriors also reacted, rushing forward and working together to restrain him. They dared not use too much force to injure the Captain, but they had to stop this impulsive act.
Cassius was held tightly by the three, struggling. He listened to Golden's desperate pleas, especially the words "other survivors," which seemed to momentarily halt his raging fury. His taut body slightly relaxed, and he took a deep breath, as if persuaded, his tone softening somewhat:
"Alright... Golden, you make... a bit of sense." He seemed to make a concession with great difficulty. "I'll listen to you. It seems... I need to try and contact Chapter Master Marius Calgar first."
Saying this, he closed the interface on his vambrace, broke free from their restraint, and turned to walk to a relatively quiet corner on the other side of the cabin, his back to everyone, seemingly genuinely trying to contact Chapter Master Marius Calgar through other backup channels.
Golden and the two Terminator warriors watched his "calming down" back, both secretly breathing a sigh of relief, thinking the Captain had finally regained his senses.
However, they underestimated Cassius's determination to avenge his brother and... his sometimes almost obsessive impulsiveness. Just as they relaxed their guard and turned to attend to the other wounded, Cassius suddenly raised his arm again, and the ghostly blue interface instantly popped up! His fingers moved like phantoms, rapidly operating—identity confirmation, secondary password verification, target planet coordinate lock—all steps completed in a flash of lightning. On the screen, the chilling, blood-red [Final Launch Confirmation] button appeared!
His index finger, carrying a resolute killing intent, slammed down towards that button!
"Captain! Stop!" Golden and the two warriors, realizing too late, rushed forward again in horror, desperately grabbing Cassius's arm with all their might, stopping his descending finger!
"Let go of me!" Cassius roared, like a trapped lion, struggling fiercely. "I'll blow these xenos to hell! Avenge Gochi! Let go!"
"Captain! Calm down!" Lieutenant Golden practically begged, and two Terminator warriors, exerting all their strength, restrained Captain Cassius with their power-armored arms like iron clamps.
The finger, representing destruction, was mere millimeters from the red button, yet it felt as if an insurmountable chasm lay between them. Inside the cabin, only the Chapter Master's angry roar, the pleas of the Lieutenant and the warriors, and the monotonous hum of the engine remained, the atmosphere incredibly tense.
Two Thunderhawk Gunships, carrying warriors returning from bloody battle, slowly entered the massive hangar of the Macragge's Honour, like weary but proud giant birds returning to their nest. Before the ramp was fully lowered, the Apothecary team and Tech-Sergeants, who had been notified and were waiting in formation, swarmed forward like precise machines.
A solemn and efficient atmosphere permeated the entire docking area. The Apothecaries first checked the most severely wounded. Captain Rikao and Gochi were carefully moved out on specialized stretchers. When Gochi's massive body, covered by a battle banner and with his optical sensors extinguished, was carried down, all Ultramarines present to receive them, whether Apothecaries, Tech-Sergeants, or Honor Guard responsible for security, spontaneously stopped their actions, stood at attention, and heavily pounded their chest plates with clenched fists, producing a muffled and uniform sound.
A low and solemn voice echoed through the hangar, converging into a final tribute and farewell to their fallen brother:
"Brother Gochi, may your soul return to the Golden Throne!"
The fall of this unyielding Terminator veteran of the First Company was an immeasurable loss to the Chapter, especially to the First Company. His gene-seed would be extracted, purified, and preserved by the Apothecaries with the utmost respect, continuing the glory and bloodline of the Ultramarines. His remains would be interred in a solemn ceremony, according to the Chapter's traditions.
Gaius, Dorian, and Luna were swiftly sent to the Chapter's core medical area. The three of them were directly assigned to the Chapter's chief Apothecary, the experienced Apothecary Vorlak.
When Apothecary Vorlak saw these three "familiar faces"—especially Gaius and Dorian, who always seemed to be dallying at death's door—being pushed in, a hint of helplessness flashed in his wrinkled yet still sharp eyes, but more so, an unquestionable focus and sense of duty. He dared not be negligent in the slightest, immediately directing his subordinate Apothecaries and technical personnel to send the three into the prepared operating rooms to begin comprehensive examinations and emergency treatment.
Luna's injuries were relatively the lightest. Although the penetrating wound in her scapula looked horrific, under the action of multiple Astartes enhanced organs within her body, such as the Larraman's Organ and the Belisarius Furnace, the bleeding had already stopped, and the wound had even begun to initially heal. The Apothecary personally cleaned her wound, performed internal suturing with special bio-sutures, and injected catalysts to promote bone and muscle regeneration.
"You need to rest, Tech-Sergeant," Apothecary Vorlak's tone was calm yet undeniable. "At least for a week, this arm cannot perform high-load operations."
Luna nodded, her pale face showing fatigue, but her eyes remained resolute. With the assistance of an Apothecary, she left the operating room and was sent to the recovery area for observation and recuperation.
Gaius's condition, however, was much more severe. He had fallen from a ventilation shaft dozens of meters high. Even with the layered protection of his power armor and internal cushioning gel, the terrifying impact still caused varying degrees of concussion and tearing injuries to his internally modified mortal organs. Several of his ribs were broken, his lungs had slight bleeding, and his liver and spleen were also impacted. The Apothecary and his team performed precise internal organ repair surgery on him, connected multiple lines to maintain vital signs and deliver nutrients and medications, and utilized the Chapter's most advanced medical pod to stimulate his Hemann von Stabb's Rejuvenat Gland to accelerate its work.
What amazed Apothecary Vorlak the most was Dorian. This formidable warrior's left shoulder plate had been directly hit by a leman russ tank's main cannon, causing severe deformation and shattering of his armor. Logically, the internal bone and muscle tissue should have suffered catastrophic damage. However, after removing his almost ruined Saturn-pattern Terminator armor, the Apothecary discovered that the horrific wound on Dorian's shoulder had already begun to heal visibly! New granulation tissue was wriggling and interweaving at a speed far exceeding that of a normal Astartes, repairing the damaged tissue. His enhanced heart beat powerfully like a war drum, and surging vitality seemed to overflow.
"Amazing vitality..." Apothecary Vorlak murmured to himself while recording data, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, but more so, admiration for the Astartes' physical potential. He cleared fragments around the wound, disinfected and bandaged it; the rest, it seemed, only needed to be left to Dorian's own formidable recovery ability.
Several hours later, the tense surgeries and initial treatments concluded. Relative tranquility returned to the medical area, with only the regular beeping of various life support and monitoring equipment.
Gaius lay quietly on the pristine medical bed, connected to many tubes, as transparent nutrient solution and medicine slowly infused into his veins. He had fallen into a deep coma and repair state, his consciousness submerged in a kaleidoscopic dream.
He dreamt of war ceasing, and the smoke of battle dissipating. The immense Imperial fleet had leveled the fortresses of Chaos, purged the xenos threat from the galaxy, and all traitors who had betrayed humanity were brought to justice. Golden light illuminated the entire galaxy, and peace and order finally descended. He, Gaius, an Ultramarines Sergeant, honorably retired after a long career of conquest.
He returned to his homeworld, an inconspicuous agricultural world on the edge of Ultramar—Kronus IV.
The scenes in the dream were so clear and real. A pale purple sun, its light slightly cold, hung in the sky. Its rays, when they touched the skin, brought a unique, slightly stinging dryness. The dry wind blew ceaselessly across the vast, somewhat barren land, stirring up fine dust.
And on this land, grew a peculiar, low-lying fungus with grayish-brown caps. This was Kronus IV's main crop, and also the most familiar sight from Gaius's childhood memories. As the dry wind blew, swathes of fungus swayed slightly, like undulating, silent waves.
This was his irretrievable past, one of the softest and most cherished memories deep within him. He grew up on this land, under the pale purple sunlight, learning from his father how to calibrate an old laser rifle, how to discern wind direction, and how to hit a distant target with one shot. At night, in their simple yet warm home, his mother would mend clothes while telling him legends of Macragge, stories of the Blue Giants. Those stories planted seeds of longing in his young heart, eventually leading him onto the path of an Astartes.
However, in this familiar scene, tinged with a faint nostalgia, a figure that should not have existed quietly appeared beside him.
It was a tall, graceful woman with long silver hair. Her face was somewhat blurred, as if enveloped in a halo, but he could clearly feel the ethereal and delicate aura about her, one that did not belong to the human world. It was Kolesa.
In the dream, she walked quietly beside him, her slender fingers tightly gripping his calloused hand, roughened from long periods of holding weapons. She tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes curiously surveying the endless mushroom fields, looking at the peculiar plants she had never seen, swaying under the pale purple sunlight. She did not speak, but her presence infused this land, which carried Gaius's past memories, with a strange and harmonious tranquility and warmth.
This illusory and beautiful scene, like a stone cast into a lake, rippled subtly and persistently through his sleeping heart.
Beside the medical bed, on the screen of the instrument monitoring Gaius's vital signs, several previously stable curves showed extremely tiny, almost imperceptible fluctuations, seemingly due to this subconscious stirring.
Inside Sergeant Karl's cabin, Kolesa lay alone on the absurdly large bed. The inhibitor, like an invisible vampire, continuously drained her energy and vitality, leaving her in a constant state of drowsy weakness for most of the time, barely able to sustain herself through prolonged sleep.
Each time she struggled to awaken from a deep slumber, she needed a few seconds to gaze around in confusion before she could reconfirm her location and her desperate predicament.
The cold metal walls, the stark, almost austere furnishings, and the unsettlingly large bed beneath her—all served as reminders that she was a prisoner, an alien whose powers were restricted, separated from her kin, and with an uncertain fate.
However, in her most recent awakenings, beyond the usual despair and helplessness, a strange emotion began to linger in her heart—it was about Gaius.
From the occasional snippets she overheard from the servitors passing by the cabin door, patrolling, or delivering meals, she vaguely learned that Sergeant Karl had returned from that dangerous mission, but he was gravely injured and was currently receiving treatment in the medical bay.
This news inexplicably made her heart clench. She didn't know why she cared about the safety of a human warrior. Was it because he was the only one on this cold warship who had shown her a glimmer of kindness? Or was it because… of the awkward and bizarre "cohabitation" they were about to be forced into?
If he returned and saw her assigned to his room, sleeping in his bed… what would he think? Would he be angry? Would he feel offended? Would he look at her with the same cold, rejecting gaze as the other Astartes?
This worry, mixed with a slight concern for Gaius's injuries, made her already low spirits, dampened by the inhibitor, even more complex and difficult to articulate. She curled up on the vast bed, her silver hair fanned out on the pillow, her purple eyes staring at the ceiling, filled with confusion and a hint of anticipation she herself was reluctant to delve into.
Meanwhile, in the Chapter's medical bay, Dorian lay on a medical bed, his powerful body rapidly self-healing the wounds on his shoulder. However, his consciousness was not in the real world; instead, it was forcibly dragged into an even darker, bloodier realm.
Before his "eyes" was not the sterile white ceiling of the medical pod, but an endless wasteland composed of pale bones. The sky was an eternal blood-red, devoid of sun, moon, or stars, only pulsating clouds resembling internal organs. The air was thick with the smell of rust and the lust for slaughter.
And in the deepest part of this bone-strewn plain, an immense figure, indescribable in its grandeur and terror, sat upon a throne constructed from brass skulls, twisted metal, and still-beating giant hearts. Dorian could not discern its exact appearance, only a silhouette clad in dark, monstrous armor, shrouded in endless blood-light and the mists of war, and beneath its helmet, a pair of blood-red eyes burning with eternal conflict, seemingly capable of incinerating souls.
Khorne, the Blood God.
A deafening voice, as if composed of the roars of ten thousand battles, countless dying wails, and the clash of weaponry, exploded directly in the depths of Dorian's consciousness, making his soul tremble:
"Do you know the hypocrisy of the Imperium of Man?"
The voice carried endless mockery and contempt.
"That Corpse-Emperor, sitting on the Golden Throne, he reshapes you, forges you into so-called 'angels,' merely to make you tools for his ambitions of expansion, to maintain his decaying rule! To die for him, to fight, until death!"
"Some who awakened have long seen through his essence, choosing to leave and pursue true power and freedom! But the Imperium slanders them as 'traitors'! How ridiculous!"
The voice was like a heavy hammer, striking Dorian's mental defenses repeatedly.
"They did not betray; they simply refused to continue making meaningless sacrifices for the False Emperor! Brave warrior, look at the scars on your body, look at your fallen brothers! What is all this for? For that Corpse-Emperor who can no longer speak? For his hollow lies?!"
"Why do you still not see clearly? Why do you remain stubbornly deluded?! If you continue to sink into this false loyalty, the ultimate result will be to die unknown in some forgotten battle, like dust!"
These soul-piercing questions and temptations, like the most virulent plague, sought to erode Dorian's will. However, the flame of loyalty within Dorian, belonging to the Ultramarines, burned fiercely and unyielding, like tempered steel! Although he was impulsive and reckless, his loyalty to the Emperor, to Ultramar, and to his Chapter was a faith branded deep into his genes, beyond question!
"Shut up! You Daemon God!" Dorian roared in his consciousness. "I, Dorian, will never betray the Imperium, my Primarch, or my brothers! Never betray!"
Khorne's voice, a confluence of countless war clamors, fell silent for a moment, seemingly finding Dorian's resolute resistance somewhat… "interesting." Then, the voice resumed, but with a change in strategy, carrying a cruelty that pierced weaknesses:
"Stubborn… If so, then let the thing you most desire break your obstinacy!"
"Face a true strong one! In the face of absolute power, you will abandon that ridiculous loyalty and long to become him!"
These words, like a precise surgical knife, instantly pierced Dorian's deepest weakness. He had always yearned to become stronger, to become the bravest and most remarkable warrior of the First Company! Deep within him, there was indeed a hidden restlessness, a fear of being looked down upon, a desire to prove himself. Face a strong one? No! I, Dorian, am the strongest! This thought spread like wildfire in his heart.
The next second, Dorian felt his vision go black; all scenes instantly shattered and reassembled!
When his vision returned, he found himself in an enormous, ancient Terra-Roman-style gladiatorial arena! All around were towering stone walls, covered in mottled bloodstains and battle scars. The stands were packed with countless blurry, shadowy, writhing figures, emitting deafening shouts and roars filled with madness and bloodlust, coalescing into an unsettling wave of sound.
He looked down at himself; he was not wearing the Terminator armor that gave him unparalleled power, but was bare-chested, revealing terrifying, granite-like, bulging, scarred muscles. The power armor interfaces beneath his skin gleamed with metallic cold light in the arena's eerie illumination. In his hand, he tightly gripped his most familiar and trusted weapon—the impossibly heavy Thunder Hammer, wreathed in a destructive force field!
And his opponent stood at the other end of the arena.
It was a World Eater! But by no means an ordinary World Eater. He wore blood-red power armor, covered in spikes and blasphemous runes, with distinctive, angry rabbit-ear-like decorations above his helmet, glowing with an ominous red light. Most strikingly, his left arm was unarmored, revealing equally solid muscles, covered in twisted veins and bizarre tattoos, radiating a primal and savage sense of power.
Dorian stared intently at this World Eater, a strong sense of familiarity washing over him, as if he had heard or seen similar descriptions somewhere, but for a moment, the intense combat instinct overwhelmed his thoughts, preventing him from recalling it immediately.
And the blurry shadows in the stands, their shouts now clearer and more unified, filled with a craving for blood:
"Khaarn! Tear him to shreds!"
"Skulls for the Blood God!"
"Kill him!"
Khaarn! Khorne's chosen, one of the most famous and bloodthirsty butchers of the World Eaters Legion! Dorian finally remembered the terror this name represented. But this did not instill any fear in him; instead, it ignited an even wilder battle lust!
Khorne's chosen?! Even if Khorne himself descended today, I, Dorian, would pull out one of its teeth!
"Aaaah—!!!" Dorian let out a beast-like roar, no longer thinking. All his muscles instantly tensed, immense power erupted from his feet, and the ground seemed to crack beneath him! He swung the Thunder Hammer, capable of shaking a leman russ tank, with a terrifying shriek that tore through the air, charging like a maddened bull towards the unmoving Khaarn!
In the stands, the cheers and shouts of the countless shadows instantly reached their peak!
The trial of the Blood God had begun, in the most direct and brutal way!
In the gladiatorial arena, the bloody slaughter had been going on for an unknown duration; time had lost its meaning here. Dorian was covered in blood, his bare upper body riddled with dozens of wounds of varying depths, blood constantly flowing like a stream, making the dark red sand beneath his feet even stickier. His breathing was like an old bellows, heavy and rapid, each inhale carrying the scent of blood, each exhale expelling scorching white mist.
His opponent, Khorne's Chosen – Khârn, still stood firm as a rock. There was no emotion in his blood-red eyes, only the purest desire for slaughter. The combat knives in his hands, one held forward and one reversed, danced like two deadly whirlwinds, precise, efficient, and lethal. Dorian had exchanged hundreds of blows with him; each powerful swing of his heavy Thunder Hammer was skillfully dodged by Khârn by mere inches, or parried and deflected with his combat knives. Dorian's proud strength, in front of this battle-hardened Khorne's Chosen, seemed to strike empty air; not only did he fail to land a single hit, but he also kept adding new wounds to himself.
Intense pain surged through Dorian's nerves like a tide, but strangely, this pain not only failed to make him retreat but instead acted like fuel, igniting an even more ferocious rage and fighting spirit deep within him! His eyes were bloodshot, and his reason was being swallowed bit by bit by a pure desire for slaughter.
"Ugh ah ah ah—!!" Dorian let out an inhuman roar, completely abandoning all defense, pouring all his strength, will, and even his life into his next attack! He ignored Khârn's combat knife stabbing towards his ribs, swung his Thunder Hammer in a full circle with both hands, and brought it down fiercely towards Khârn's head in a mutually destructive stance!
This completely instinctive, desperate, no-holds-barred fighting style seemed to slightly exceed Khârn's expectations. The combat knife he thrust out cut a bone-deep wound in Dorian's ribs, but to evade the hammer blow that could smash anything, he had to sharply retreat, simultaneously crossing his dual knives to brace against this earth-shattering strike!
"Clang—!!!!!"
A deafening metallic clang resounded throughout the entire arena! The two blood-drinking combat knives in Khârn's hands snapped under the Thunder Hammer's unparalleled might! Broken blades scattered everywhere!
Immense force transmitted through the broken hilt, Khârn grunted, staggering. Dorian, capitalizing on his advantage, endured the sharp pain from his ribs and spun around violently, the Thunder Hammer, with a shriek that tore through the air, swung upwards from below, smashing fiercely into Khârn's chest armor!
"Boom!!!"
A dull, heart-stopping thud! Even the Chaos Terminator armor, renowned for its defense, could not fully absorb the entire force of this enraged blow. Khârn's chest plate visibly caved in significantly; he was smashed off his feet, flying backward, eventually collapsing heavily to one knee, a mouthful of foul blood mixed with organ fragments gushing from the seams of his helmet.
The victor was decided! Dorian's mind was left with only thoughts of destruction; he showed no hesitation, charging forward like a beast pursuing its prey, his blood-and-gore-stained Thunder Hammer raised high, imbued with an aura of finality, and brought down fiercely upon Khârn's bowed head!
"Crash—!"
Like a ripe watermelon smashed by a hammer, Khârn's helmet, along with the head inside, was instantly pulverized by the hammer's fierce blow! Red and white matter and metal fragments splattered everywhere!
The shouts and roars of countless shadows in the stands reached an unprecedented climax at this moment, as if celebrating the birth of a new strongman, or perhaps craving more blood.
However, something strange happened. Khârn's headless body did not fall; instead, it rapidly blurred, became transparent, and finally transformed into wisps of dark red, sulfur-scented ash. As if drawn by an unseen force, they spiraled and burrowed into the bleeding wounds on Dorian's body!
A scorching and violent power instantly surged into Dorian's limbs and bones, merging with his own strength, bringing an unprecedented sense of might filled with destructive desire. But at the same time, an extremely subtle yet profoundly deep mark, like the most primitive brand, quietly formed in the deepest part of his soul. Just like the Mark of Change that Sergeant Karl once had severed within him, this mark from the Blood God, once etched, would be difficult to easily erase.
The next second, a violent tearing sensation came, Dorian's vision went black, and all the sights – the arena, the cheering shadows, the bloody sand – all dissipated like a shattered mirror.
"Uh…"
A hoarse groan escaped his throat, Dorian suddenly opened his eyes, the glaring white light making him instinctively squint. What greeted his eyes was a pristine white ceiling, the scent of disinfectant lingering in the air, and the regular beeping of various medical instruments.
It was the Chapter's medical bay.
"You're awake, Brother Dorian." A calm voice sounded beside him. Dorian turned his somewhat stiff neck and saw an Apothecary in a white robe standing by his bed, recording something on a data-slate.
"I… this is…" Dorian felt like his head had been put into a blender, dizzy and throbbing, his memory a chaotic mess. He only remembered the last clear image – in the underbelly of the Hive City, that hidden leman russ tank spitting deadly fire, an armor-piercing round slamming into his shoulder plate, the intense pain and impact almost instantly knocking him unconscious, and after that… after that, he couldn't remember anything.
"You suffered severe injuries, Brother Dorian," the Apothecary said, checking the mostly healed but still gruesome wound on his shoulder. "Your shoulder plate was directly hit by the main battle cannon, internal tissues were severely damaged, seven ribs were broken, and there were multiple internal hemorrhages. However, your recovery ability is astonishing; the main injuries have stabilized."
The Apothecary tapped on his data-slate and continued: "Vital signs are stable, enhanced organs are functioning normally. You can leave the medical bay, but you need to rest, no high-intensity training or combat for at least a week to allow your body to fully recover."
Dorian shook his still-dizzy head and struggled to sit up from the medical bed. His muscles ached, especially his ribs and shoulder, but it was much better than the feeling of that tank shelling he remembered. He looked down at his bandaged wounds, then touched his throbbing forehead, muttering, "Understood, thank you, my brother."
He stood up somewhat unsteadily, adjusted to his weakened body, and then walked out of the medical area with slightly heavy steps.
In the corridor, the cold metal walls and regular lighting gradually brought back some sense of reality. He walked towards the First Company's quarters, his mind still trying to recall what had happened after he passed out, but aside from that vague and intense "dream" – full of blood, combat, and a powerful red figure – he couldn't remember any specific details.
As he passed Sergeant Karl's quarters, out of habit, he instinctively glanced inside. Sergeant Karl was his closest brother; they had been inseparable when they were in the 10th Company and 7th Company, and visiting each other's rooms was common.
However, that one glance made him instantly stop, his foggy head seemingly clearing up quite a bit.
What did he see?
On that bed, which originally belonged to Sergeant Karl but had inexplicably become enormous, there was actually a person lying there! A slender figure with long silver hair! That wasn't Sergeant Karl!
Dorian blinked hard, even suspecting that his unhealed injuries might be causing hallucinations. He moved closer, peering carefully through the observation window.
That's right! It was that Aeldari woman! Kolesa! The xenos who was brought back, said to be a sorceress!
How could she be here?! Lying on Sergeant Karl's bed?!
Dorian's brain was instantly filled with immense confusion. Where was Sergeant Karl? Did Sergeant Karl know about this? What the hell was going on?! Had something earth-shattering happened during his unconsciousness that even he, "Sergeant Karl's best brother," didn't know about?!
Could it be that the joke he made had come true?
He stood outside Sergeant Karl's cabin door, his burly physique almost blocking half the corridor, his face etched with shock, bewilderment, and a ridiculous feeling of "Could she really have become Sergeant Karl's wife?" He desperately needed an explanation.