"Hydraulic system connected, pressurizing…",
"Hiss!" A large amount of steam filled the surroundings.
The gigantic door made of special alloy in front of Kenmyo Isayama and Elena slowly opened amidst the white steam. At the other end of this passage was the small spaceship dispatched by the Black Templars to the Inquisition fleet.
As the massive automatic alloy door opposite them boomed open, a palpable killing intent, one that only veterans who had endured countless battles on the battlefield could possess, swept over them.
Even the smoke seemed to grow incredibly dense under the influence of this oppressive aura. Even the noisy machine spirits inexplicably fell silent. Almost all the clamor ceased with the steady, heavy footsteps that entered through the door, becoming utterly still.
Only the heavy footsteps remained, as if directly treading on people's hearts, causing a momentary trance.
At the other end of the path, several extremely tall black figures, shrouded in white light, could be seen. The heavy footsteps continuously approached, exuding a powerful sense of oppression.
Soon, the footsteps stopped.
For these five Black Templars Astartes Monkss, clad in black-crossed Terminator armor, now stood before Kenmyo Isayama, looking down at the young Inquisitor.
The armor on their thighs was as thick as Kenmyo Isayama's waist. The light shone brightly on the dark grey Black Templars Terminator armor, which was equipped with large-caliber bolter assault rifles and astartes-specific oversized chainswords.
Although Macarnus-Elfman was considered tall, compared to these astartes who had undergone nineteen horrifying Space Marine surgeries, he was no different from a midget.
Kenmyo Isayama had thought that the Black Templars were called "black-skinned Orks" by xenos merely as an exaggeration of their numbers and desire for slaughter on the battlefield, but seeing them in person truly made him realize how accurate the description was.
It was not an exaggeration at all. If not for their human-like faces and the iconic Black Templars emblem on their armor, Kenmyo Isayama would have thought five high-ranking green-skins were standing before him.
Kenmyo Isayama's authority came from his D-class simulation, which was a Big Mek of the Ork faction. Even the towering Warboss green-skins under 'Bonebreaker' did not exude a presence as terrifyingly profound as these mountain-like Black Templars Space Marines before him.
Especially the bald, one-eyed Black Templar leading them, who wore a black cloak. His single, fiery golden eye stared at Kenmyo Isayama, sending shivers down his spine. His other eye was covered by an eyepatch bearing the Black Templars banner.
Kenmyo Isayama noticed five golden studs on his forehead, symbolizing supreme honor.
These were service studs, pin-like objects placed in the forehead of a Space Marine's skull. Service studs typically indicated the number of years an Astartes Monks had served in his Chapter.
Different shapes and colors of service studs corresponded to different years of service, with some representing ten, fifty, or one hundred years.
One golden stud symbolized that the Astartes Monks had served the Imperium for one hundred years, while a silver stud represented fifty years.
Five studs, therefore, equated to five hundred years, and the five golden studs on his forehead were a silent testament to the highest honor.
A veteran who had served for over five hundred years was respected in any Chapter. He had endured trials through long years, remaining eternally loyal to the Emperor, and consistently defending the Imperium's dignity.
The one-eyed Black Templar Space Marine saluted Kenmyo Isayama, and the four behind him also saluted him in unison.
"I am Marshal Adebelard of the Black Templars First Crusade, ordered by High Marshal Helbrecht to ensure your safety."
Helbrecht is the High Marshal who commands all Black Templars Space Marines, and the rank of Marshal is second only to the Black Templars High Marshal.
Each Black Templars Marshal leads a Black Templars Crusade, undertaking a Great Crusade. Typically, a Marshal's status can be compared to that of a Space Marine Captain.
There are many Marshals in the Black Templars, all of them renowned for their military achievements. Marshals are usually selected from the Black Templars' elite Sword Brethren, who are the elite of the Black Templars.
This five-hundred-year veteran Marshal, Adebelard, was in the midst of a Great Crusade that had lasted over sixty years. This time, by order of Black Templars High Marshal Helbrecht, he abruptly halted his Crusade and redirected this fleet, which symbolized the Black Templars' honor, to this star system.
"By the God-Emperor, Marshal Adebelard, I am deeply grateful to you and your brethren for coming to our aid."
Kenmyo Isayama likewise saluted the Black Templars Space Marines, extending his hand, and their hands clasped together.
"All in accordance with the God-Emperor's guidance."
It was merely a matter of mutual benefit.
The Black Templars do not tolerate the presence of any Chaos Daemons or heretics in worlds under the jurisdiction of the Adeptus Ministorum. This is a desecration of the Emperor, their cherished ideal.
However, while these black-skinned Orks are perfectly capable of charging head-on against heretics and daemons, finding the heretics and corrupt elements deeply embedded within the ruling class is not their forte.
Only the Inquisitors of the Inquisition possess the ability to uncover these traitors; they are experts in this field.
However, the strength of Inquisitors from the Inquisition is still somewhat lacking compared to Inquisitors from the Daemonhunters, who specialize in combating Chaos Daemons. Tossak-Rome serves as a cautionary tale; an Inquisitor utterly loyal to the Imperium was corrupted and fell to Chaos Daemons.
To prevent Kenmyo Isayama, a promising Inquisitor, from suffering the same fate, Horst-Eisenholm negotiated with Black Templars High Marshal Helbrecht, who could never betray the Emperor.
Kenmyo Isayama was tasked with rooting out the traitors on the Shrine World, while the Black Templars would execute all of them.
It was a joint enforcement effort by the Inquisition and the enforcement arm of the Black Templars; otherwise, the only option for this Shrine World would be Exterminatus.
"Inquisitor, it is best not to rely too heavily on such evil power."
As their hands met, Adebelard, though subtle, Kenmyo Isayama still detected a flicker of disgust on the Marshal's usually stern face. Though it was fleeting, Kenmyo Isayama noticed it.
"Otherwise, you will eventually fall into the abyss."
The only thing that could evoke such disgust from Black Templars Marshal Adebelard was psychic power.
Power from the Warp.
The Black Templars worship the Emperor as a god and have inherited the Emperor's aversion to Psykers.
If Kenmyo Isayama's identity wasn't that of an Inquisitor currently cooperating with the Black Templars, he would have been cut down long ago, and his clip emptied upon meeting him.
Kenmyo Isayama, aware of the Black Templars' traditions, was not surprised by their undisguised aversion to Psykers.
This was a rather xenophobic Chapter, and their willingness to cooperate was quite unexpected.
"Thank you for your advice."
"This way, let's go to the conference room to discuss matters."
"Kerigran is the primary world of the Ophelia system, a Shrine World under the Adeptus Ministorum."
Kenmyo Isayama was introducing the Black Templars Marshal to the situation. The leadership on Kerigran appeared on the screen. He had multiple targets, all of whom were to be executed immediately upon landing on the planet.
The Inquisition is never afraid of killing the wrong people; as long as one person among the many wrongly killed is indeed guilty, then those innocent ones are considered to have died for a worthy cause.
At this moment, the communications officer from outside rushed over to Kenmyo Isayama, whispering some information into his ear.
After listening, Kenmyo Isayama's expression turned very grim.
At the same time, Adebelard's communication device lit up. He was about to stand up and leave the conference room to answer it.
But Kenmyo Isayama said there was no need.
Because he guessed that the message the Black Templars warship was reporting to their Marshal was the same as the intelligence his subordinate had just reported to him.
"Shrine World Kerigran is under attack by an Eldar fleet."
"Requesting reinforcements! Requesting reinforcements!"