In the vast and silent void,
hundreds of war fortresses and weapon platforms floated, their enormous size resembling magnificent, colossal cities.
Anti-ship mines were scattered beside them, forming deadly traps.
Augur arrays continuously scanned the void, and any slight disturbance would draw the close attention of commanding officers, causing the grand cannons and missiles to turn and lock onto the anomalous targets.
They had been so badly beaten by the loyalist Imperial forces led by Alex that they were now overly cautious and paranoid.
Amidst the war fortresses,
the War Will battleship, accompanied by a massive fleet, was on patrol.
Urs Colin, the supreme commander, sat on his throne on the Bridge, like a diligent king inspecting his kingdom.
The defeat in the Las campaign had caused him to lose face and invited questioning from others.
Fortunately, his family did not blame him.
Instead, they reorganized a new fleet and placed him in command.
This was partly an acknowledgment of his military talent, and partly to ensure the Colin Family's influence.
If Urs were to be marginalized and forced to relinquish his military power, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the Colin Family.
In the Anti-Imperial Alliance, there was no benevolence or morality, only the most primitive law.
Whoever had the bigger fist held the power.
"In the name of the God of Fate, do not fail again, Urs."
"Even if you can't win, you must hold on to what we have."
Before leaving the Colin Family's stronghold,
the patriarch, Fred Colin, solemnly told Urs.
"The galaxy ultimately belongs to the Gods, and the Emperor's Empire will eventually collapse."
"The Angel weaving fate has given me enlightenment: the Calixis Sector will soon descend into chaos."
"The Emperor's minions will be dragged into the quagmire of war until all their blood is shed. All we have to do is deliver the final blow to the enemy."
"No matter the cost, I will hold Malz World," Urs promised the patriarch.
Data surged through the cables connected to his spine, awakening Urs from his memories.
"Are there any anomalies?" Urs asked the Chief Diviner beside him.
"The airspace is normal, no enemies detected," replied the Chief Diviner with a metallic face.
"Continue observation," Urs said.
"Any movement, no matter how small, must be reported immediately. Those Emperor minions are incredibly cunning; no one knows how they will attack."
"Understood," the Chief Diviner replied.
Urs looked at the tactical projection hovering beside the captain's throne, which displayed all airspace information and reports from other ships.
All was normal, no enemies.
Urs withdrew his gaze, and he couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the time when the rebellion had just begun.
That period was his happiest and most glorious moment.
They had swept through everything, driving the Imperial loyalists back step by step.
Planets that dared to resist were burned to scorched earth, everything plundered and incinerated.
The bodies of loyalists hung in the ruins left by the war, and the Emperor's subjects became slaves, at their mercy.
No one could stop them, and no one was their match.
But ever since the Emperor's Saint appeared, everything changed.
One misfortune after another occurred: first, they stumbled at Yatoma World, then the Sintilla Hive World, which they had barely managed to control, was recaptured by the other side.
Vice Admiral Petre Redge, who had led a fleet to reinforce, was defeated by the Imperial loyalists.
These battles allowed the shattered morale of the Emperor's loyalists to recover, and they frequently launched counterattacks.
In the battle of Las Forge World,
that Emperor Saint achieved an overwhelming victory, completely shattering their morale.
The originally favorable situation was thus reversed.
No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop the collapse of the war, only gather their superior forces and retreat to Malz.
Footsteps approached from the side as Elo and several sorcerers walked over.
They wore masks of the 'Jagged Question Mark' organization on their faces.
Elo saluted Urs, and after straightening up, he said, "We have sensed fluctuations in the Warp; the Emperor's servants are about to arrive."
The Jagged Question Mark is an extremely peculiar and ancient organization.
It is rumored that they were already active in the Calixis Sector even before the Human Empire ventured there.
No one knows the true identity of the organization's mastermind; people refer to him as the Faceless One.
The Jagged Question Mark advocates science and rationality.
Members who join this organization are usually told that the Emperor is merely a powerful psyker, not a god.
They use various methods to prove to new members that the Emperor is not a god, thereby erasing the superstitions diligently instilled by the Empire.
At the same time, they allow and encourage members to use various technical devices,
explicitly telling them not to 'appease the Machine Spirits of devices' in any way, because no such thing exists.
Members who join are also told about the existence of Chaos and demons,
but these are usually described as 'powerful extradimensional xenos' or special creatures living in the Warp.
The philosophy of the Jagged Question Mark is highly deceptive.
Their brainwashed members are spread throughout the galaxy.
Even within the Empire, they have their people.
The Inquisition has repeatedly cracked down on this organization, but it is like the mythical Hydra: cut off one head, and two more grow back, endlessly.
Members who do not enter the Empire usually join various organizations that resist the Empire.
They firmly believe that the Empire is a cancerous tumor on human civilization, and only by uprooting it can human civilization achieve rebirth.
After the Colin Family rebelled, members of this organization quickly sought them out, providing them with various ancient knowledge and technologies.
"I am ready to meet them. This time, I will absolutely not lose," Urs said to Elo, his tone firm.
"Any preparation is meaningless to that Emperor Saint; we cannot defeat a Primarch."
"Millions of slaves for the transformation ritual are ready, and the ritual will begin soon."
Elo's tone was calm, and he did not favor Urs's resolve; he was merely there to inform him about the transformation ritual.
"The Emperor didn't create that many sons," Urs retorted.
"As long as the opponent is a mortal being, we have a chance to win."
"The transformation ritual is irreversible. Once it begins, there's truly no turning back. Are you absolutely certain you don't want to reconsider?"
The transformation ritual is to use enough blood sacrifices to weaken the veil of the Warp, thereby summoning the angels of the Gods.
And in this process, their warships will also be blessed by the power of Immaterium, undergoing a metaphysical transformation to gain stronger offense and defense.
"He is not a Primarch, but he's close," Elo said.
"Do you think he's only active in the Calixis Sector?"
Urs frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
Elo's lips curved slightly into a mocking smile.
"The Calixis Sector is just one of that guy's battlefields; it might be important, but it's definitely not the only one."
"During this time, he has continuously used the Emperor's power to travel across the galaxy, active on various battlefields."
"He has fought against the angels of the Gods with the Emperor's minions and won many victories."
"You have no chance of defeating him; your meager talent is a joke in front of him."
The daemons of the Warp are now all telling stories about that Emperor Saint and the resurrected Primarch.
From the Great Rift, the Webway, Luna, and finally Reality,
his stunning performance has already attracted the attention of the Gods.
The Colin Family has no chance of defeating him; they don't even qualify as equal opponents.
Though the Colin Family is making a big fuss and has a formidable presence in the Calixis Sector,
in the entire galaxy, they are nothing more than a tiny ripple.
Let alone a Primarch, even a slightly stronger Astartes Warband could easily cut through them.
Urs wanted to retort, opening his mouth several times, but no words came out.
He knew what the other person said was true.
His meager talent could be boasted about in the Calixis Sector,
but in the galaxy, he was an insignificant ant, the kind no one would remember.
At this moment, an urgent alarm sounded.
On the edge of the Malz system,
as space continuously twisted, cracks appeared in Reality, and paradoxical light poured out.
The Emperor's fleet surged out of the Warp, massive in scale.
The leading vessel was even more magnificent, almost comparable to the legendary Gloriana-class battleship.
The void fortresses and artillery platforms simultaneously locked onto the Imperial fleet and fired in unison.
Dense beams of light and shells instantly filled the entire void.
Strikes on the Warship's void shields rippled through them.
However, the Imperial Fleet skillfully avoided the strongest defensive areas, choosing instead to attack from the weak points.
The intelligence provided by Scalp played a crucial role at this moment.
The rebel's defense system was completely transparent in the eyes of the Imperial commander.
"Engage the enemy," Urs shouted.
Under Urs's command, the War Will battleship began to turn.
Three battlecruisers beside it moved in unison, accompanied by dozens of smaller destroyers and frigates.
"The defeat is set."
Elo sighed softly as he looked through the porthole into the void.
The downfall of the Colin Family was a foregone conclusion.
The only thing that could be done now was to inflict as much damage as possible on the saint's forces, buying more time for other regions to resist the Human Empire.
The transformation ritual was imperative; only then could they slightly contend with that Emperor saint.
The scene of the space battle was chaotic, filled with violent energy everywhere.
Occasionally, strong light, like exploding stars, would appear, extinguishing tens of thousands of lives in the blink of an eye.
War was this cruel; no matter how ambitious the deceased were in life, death would equally befall them.
Of course, except for the Players.
The docking bay of the Imperial Glory was bustling at this moment.
Void fighters, like steel beasts, exuding a powerful sense of oppression, were sprawled on the deck.
"May the omnissiah bless."
"May the Lord of Myriad Machines bless, may the Motive Force bless."
Adeptus Mechanicus holding incense burners blessed the God Chosen's fighters.
Mechanical Priests seized the time to perform a final inspection, testing the cannons on both sides of the wings.
Thick fuel lines snaked on the ground like black giant snakes, one end connected to the fuel truck, the other to the fighter's fuel tank.
Heavy trucks rushed over, one after another.
The loaded weapons and ammunition were quickly unloaded by industrial servitors operating mechanical arms and loaded into the fighters.
"Everything is ready."
The Mechanical Priest in charge of inspection sent the message of readiness completed.
"Start the engine," Blood Pigeon commanded.
The fighter sprawled on the catapult track roared.
The engine nozzles at the rear spewed out a brilliant blue light.
"Attack, kill in the name of the Emperor's Sword."
Once everything was ready, Blood Pigeon roared in the communication channel, encouraging his Warband comrades.
Immediately after, the mechanical arms restraining the fighter automatically sprang open.
The powerful engines instantly reached their peak, spewing dazzling light.
The massive airframe rushed out of the runway like a falcon, entering the vast void.
"Let the enemy feel the fear brought by the Eagle Soaring Nine Heavens Warband!"
"We are the Emperor's Sword, the embodiment of His wrath," Blood Pigeon shouted.
"Charge!" Milky Dragon, the Warband's deputy, also shouted.
"Kill!"
"Blood for the Throne."
"For the omnissiah."
"For the new world, for the people."
"For Tifa, the boss of the 3D zone."
The Players of the Eagle Soaring Nine Heavens Warband were incredibly excited, cheering for the start of the battle.
Their expressions were agitated and exhilarated, with no fear of death, only a thirst for slaughter.
A certain fellow in the Warp frequently cast his gaze, but unfortunately, the God Chosen belonged to the Emperor's Sword.
The fighters rushed out into the void, which had already become a deadly killing field, riddled with lasers and bullets.
A laser shot came.
With keen reaction speed, Blood Pigeon maneuvered the fighter into a roll, dodging it.
"You little thing, with this level, you can't hit me."
Blood Pigeon, who was already level 14, possessed multiple auxiliary skills, such as Machine Spirit Soothe, Machine Spirit Delight, Bullet Time, and Battlefield Intuition.
These skills made him feel like a fish in water when piloting the fighter, as if he had completely merged with the fighter beneath him.
From the moment he sat in the fighter and established the neural connection, he had already achieved man-machine unity.
The fighter became an extension of the flesh and blood of Blood Pigeon and other Players.
Data from every sensor would pass through neural cables in their minds, allowing them to clearly perceive the entire battlefield.
The Players of the Eagle Soaring Nine Heavens Warband had not undergone Astartes enhancement, because the physiological functions of Astartes were prepared for close combat.
Many times, aerial combat or long-range combat did not require those physiological functions, but rather keen judgment and super strong neural reactions.
When Blood Pigeon and other Players changed professions, they, like Little Fatty and others, received targeted blessings, allowing them to better control fighters, and even all flying vehicles.
As for participating in ground battles, they would usually wear exoskeleton armor to compensate for their physical weaknesses.
"Brothers, lock onto those enemy ships whose void shields are on the verge of collapse, and let's mercilessly harvest kills, MVP belongs to us."
Blood Pigeon shouted in the communication, "For the Em..."
Before he could finish his sentence, two more beams struck.
Blood Pigeon dodged them with astonishing reaction speed.
However, the next second, the fighter's belly was pierced by another beam, and the machine spirit let out a wail.
Immediately after, the loaded ammunition was detonated, and a terrifying explosion instantly engulfed the fuselage.
"Damn it!"
Blood Pigeon shouted before being completely engulfed by the explosion.
The battlefield not only required strength but also luck.
The void was filled with beams and shells, and no matter how strong the technique, it was possible to crash and sink.
And today, Blood Pigeon's luck was clearly not very good.
He went offline before even getting a kill.
"Lance battery charged."
"Aim at the War Will and fire."
"The Terra Glory on the flank is damaged and falling behind."
"Don't worry about it."
"Warning, we are locked by multiple targets."
The sounds on the Bridge were incredibly noisy.
Command shouts and the roar of machinery mixed together.
Xia sat on the captain's throne, calmly issuing orders, dealing with the complex battlefield situation.
The enemy's battleships were focusing fire on the Imperial Glory.
A volley of lance fire landed on the warship's forward shield, sparking flames.
Under Cortana's calculations, the shield energy allocation was done in milliseconds, ensuring it could precisely block the attacks of the hostile fleet.
A battleship brushed past the Imperial Glory.
The distance between them was very close; sensory towers and weapon turrets could be seen clearly with the naked eye.
"Left macro-cannon battery, fire!" Xia shouted.
Her command was quickly executed.
The magnificent macro-cannon batteries fired in unison, the enormous recoil causing the heavy hull to tremble, all aimed at the battleship that had brushed past.
The core of the battleship was hidden inside; the hull's own armor was several meters thick, and it was protected by multiple layers of void shields externally.
Normally, a battleship could withstand several hours of bombardment.
However, the attacker was the Imperial Glory, an invincible warship controlled and upgraded by a Star God.
The enemy ship's void shields were instantly engulfed by the explosions generated by the shells.
The shield generators overloaded with frequent flickering.
Without the protection of void shields, the warship was like fish on a chopping board, ready to be slaughtered.
Huge shells and scorching beams penetrated the thick armor.
The battleship's spine broke, and the reactor exploded from being hit.
Bang!
Urs watched the Iron Heart battleship being destroyed by the enemy, angrily slamming his seat.
The War Will, which he commanded, cooperated with several other battleships, intending to surround the Imperial loyalist flagship, but ended up being harvested by the opponent instead.
"Damn it!"
"What means did these damned Emperor's pawns use to create such a terrifying warship!"
As time passed, Urs went from initial anger to despair.
The Imperial Fleet was too strong; they were no match at all.
The defeat was set.
At this moment, the augur supervisor shouted, "Aetheric reaction surge, Warp index is rising, about to exceed the critical value."
"What's going on?" Urs asked.
"The source of the fluctuation is from our rear," the augur supervisor replied, "The specific reason has not yet been determined."
"Transformation ritual!" Urs immediately thought of this.
He turned to look for Elo's figure but found that he had left the Bridge at some point and was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, on the surface of Malz World, a large number of slaves were killed.
Their despair and pain before death formed a terrifying storm in the Warp.
Under the guidance of a Chaos Sorcerer, a giant eye opened in the void.
The power of the aether poured into the Reality universe, beginning to corrupt everything it could touch.