The 'Demon Hunter' was the flagship of the Inquisition's Black Ship fleet, where Kenmyo Isayama was stationed—a warship with a diameter of ten kilometers.
At this moment, the lower deck of the ship was bustling, illuminated by yellow warning lights and overhead lights. Numerous crew members were busy, and the transport vehicles were pulled to the side, making way for a pre-cleared space.
Following the Inquisitor's will, an extremely dangerous'star-destroying' weapon was about to be transported from the sealed armory to the weapon launch bay.
In a highly secure, independent armory, the temperature was at least below zero, but for Kenmyo Isayama, protected by his psychic abilities, it felt no different from room temperature.
Even Battle Sister Elena did not have authorization to enter here; only Inquisitors specifically granted permission could set foot inside.
The surroundings were covered with the Emperor's blessings, and the atmosphere within the pitch-black environment was solemn. In the distance, a massive circular pit, three hundred meters in diameter, bore the Imperial Aquila symbol.
Kenmyo Isayama inserted his Inquisitor's rosette, which represented his personal Inquisitor status, into a special, pitch-black machine, simultaneously placing his right hand on it.
The Inquisitor's rosette utilized the Imperium's highest technology, a series of genetic encryption techniques, and typically could not be used by anyone other than the owner.
"Beep, verification passed."
The machine spirit's cold voice rang out.
"Esteemed Inquisitor Makonos, how may I assist you?"
Kenmyo Isayama slowly said,
"In the name of the Emperor, unseal the cyclone torpedo."
Considering the size of this Home World, Kenmei thought for a moment and added,
"Two."
"Following your will, according to Final Doctrine Article 26789, I still need to verify the unsealing key with you."
Due to the unique nature of this weapon, Kenmei had obtained the key with authorization from Inquisitor Lord Horst.
"Everything I do is for the Emperor, for the continuation of human life."
Kenmyo Isayama slowly spoke in an ancient language.
"Verification passed. Thank you for your contributions to humanity, Inquisitor Makonos."
"cyclone torpedo, unfreezing."
After the machine spirit's cold voice, the three-hundred-meter-diameter pit behind Kenmyo Isayama slowly opened. Due to the significant temperature difference between the low temperature below and the outside, a biting chill emanated as soon as the cover was opened.
Red alarm lights flashed, and with the help of a massive gantry crane and robotic arms above, a colossal missile slowly ascended from the freezing cold.
Its width alone would require at least twenty-four adults like Kenmyo Isayama to embrace it, and its height reached over a hundred meters. Among all missiles in the Imperium, it was a behemoth, making it hard to imagine the destructive power it would unleash upon explosion.
Kenmyo Isayama watched the Imperial Aquila symbol on the missile shimmer with a dark golden light. Even the iron rings were engraved with prayers to the Emperor written in High Gothic.
"This thing symbolizes peace."
Although he didn't know why so much decorative effort was spent on something destined to explode, the Adeptus Mechanicus, who crafted it, evidently enjoyed doing so.
Thus, the weapon capable of executing an entire planet began to be moved by robotic arms onto a missile transport vehicle.
When he saw the loading complete and the armory door, emblazoned with the Imperial double-headed eagle, sealed once more, Kenmyo Isayama's tense nerves finally relaxed.
Because another extremely dangerous weapon was still stored in this armory. Even a single trace of leakage, even for 0.1 seconds, would mean that the entire Black Ship, including all of Kenmyo Isayama's crew, would not survive. There was a special missile loaded with a virus called 'Devourer,' an incredibly terrifying biochemical weapon capable of killing all life on a planet, including deep-sea creatures, in just one minute.
Kenmyo Isayama walked out of the door. As he brushed the ice crystals from his greatcoat, the communication phone from the warship's command center rang.
"Report, Inquisitor Makonos, radar detected an unusually high number of engine signatures."
Inside the warship's command center, the communications officer shouted.
"I'll be right there."
Kenmyo Isayama arrived at the ship's command center and took his seat at the captain's position. Before him was a giant electronic holographic screen, nearly fifty meters long, displaying a flat map of the entire Andrea star system, essentially covering every planet within it.
In particular, the planet for which Exterminatus had been declared was directly marked, and now, an astonishingly large number of red dots completely covered its vicinity, scattered like stars.
Each of these countless flashing red dots represented a warship.
Their number was about five times that of the Inquisition's Black Ship fleet, overwhelming the 'Demon Hunter,' where Kenmyo Isayama was located, like dumplings being wrapped.
"So, they've finally arrived."
In the silent, dark cosmos, a spatial light curtain began to twist, rippling with purple, wave-like patterns. But this was just the beginning; soon, more and more distortions spread densely throughout the area.
When the spatial distortion reached its peak, the first magnificent steel behemoth warped out of the Warp, forcibly tearing through the Warp's sea of souls. The resulting tidal forces crashed against the warship's purple 'Gellar Field' shield with a loud crackling sound, and the massive ship's stern spewed bright, long plumes of flame.
The early standard bow was covered in heavy armor, and the ship's two flanks were neatly lined with terrifyingly powerful weapon turrets and missile nests. This super-giant warship, nearly twelve kilometers long, bore the flashing golden Aquila banner of the Imperium. It was an Emperor-class Battleship, weighing 60 trillion tons, symbolizing the pride of the Imperial Navy.
Its spine was equipped with lance weapons, and the bridge featured a massive golden statue with a huge cathedral-like structure behind it.
As this colossal battleship appeared, within the distinctly rippling light walls beside it, one after another, warships bearing the Imperial Aquila banners warped from the Warp into real space, their flashing Warp-jumps illuminating the cosmos.
Each was a battleships of the Imperium of Man's Imperial Navy: Cobra-class Destroyers, Nova-class Frigates, Tempest-class Frigates, and so on.
Warships generally had cathedral-like structures, which were shrines to the Emperor. Only under the dual protection of the Gellar Field and the Emperor could Imperial Navy fleets navigate the Warp; Warp demons would be annihilated upon entering the cathedral's domain.
Therefore, the statement that Imperial warships built an Emperor's cathedral on them is incorrect. (X)
It should be said that it is an Emperor's cathedral, with thrusters and a battleship installed beneath it. (✓)
But ironically, all these warships now appearing in this star system were not preparing to fire upon the Imperium's most vicious enemies, but rather to destroy a Home World within Imperial territory.
Kenmyo Isayama's command center received a signal from that Emperor-class Destroyer.
"This is the Imperial Navy's Tenth Fleet - Bakka Fleet, 'Victory's Dawn.' I am Admiral Sherif Ismail, Captain."
Soon, a stern, blonde man with a hooked nose appeared on the screen. He wore the uniform of an Imperial Navy Admiral, his chest adorned with numerous medals of distinguished service.
"Identity verified in Imperial database."
Upon hearing this, Kenmyo Isayama spoke in a slightly softer tone.
"This is Inquisitor Makonos, welcome."
The Admiral, too, was observing this young Inquisitor. Who would have thought that this greenhorn would be on equal footing with him, a commander of a sector fleet?
And he even stared at him as if he were a criminal. The Inquisition's people truly were mad.
"Then, according to superior orders, the Bakka Fleet will cooperate with our Inquisition Black Ship fleet to carry out Exterminatus on SPO-2 Home World."
"All for the Emperor."
The Inquisitor's cold tone sent a chill down the spines of all the crew members on Admiral Sherif's side. This voice was broadcast to the entire Bakka Fleet, to all personnel.