This is the bonus chapter for reaching 100 Chapters.
Sorry guys I was too busy this week and forgot about the Bonus Chapters.
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The dome exploded.
Dozens of black-armored figures descended through the opening, slamming heavily onto the chamber floor.
Shockwaves rolled outward, throwing dust and shattered masonry in every direction.
When the dust finally settled, the figures slowly rose.
Black Terminator armor.
Massive layers of ceramite plating.
Power fists crackling with ghostly blue arcs of destructive energy.
And on their shoulder guards...
The silver-gray wolf-head insignia of the Luna Wolves.
Their impact had sent visible shockwaves rippling across the floor, scattering rubble across the chamber.
These were warriors of the Catulan Reaver Squad, serving under Abaddon's First Company.
One of the Luna Wolves' most elite assault formations.
Thirty veteran Luna Wolves wearing black Justaerin Terminator armor now stood in the center of the hall.
Every bolter was aimed toward the purple-robed figure.
At their head stood a warrior even more heavily built than the others.
His black Terminator armor bore decorations commemorating extraordinary victories in battle.
He straightened his massive frame and removed his helmet, revealing a sharply defined face.
Kalus Ekaddon.
Captain of the Catulan Reaver Squad.
One of Abaddon's most capable officers.
His gaze swept across the chamber before settling on the old man in purple.
A contemptuous smile appeared on his stern face.
"This is him?"
His voice was rough, dripping with disdain.
"This is the bastard who dared impersonate the great Emperor?"
"Then allow me to execute him."
Ekaddon raised his bolter and aimed directly at the elderly figure.
His finger settled against the trigger.
"No."
A calm voice interrupted him.
Ekaddon's hand stopped.
He turned toward the speaker.
Loken stood beside him, one hand resting against the barrel of his weapon.
Their eyes met.
"The battle is over."
Loken spoke calmly, but there was unmistakable authority in his voice.
"He's prepared to surrender."
"His final judgment should be left to the Warmaster."
Ekaddon frowned.
He studied Loken's expression.
For a moment, his lips moved as though he wanted to argue.
But eventually, he merely curled them in irritation.
"Suit yourself."
He lowered his bolter and stepped back.
Loken paid him no further attention.
Instead, he reached for the communicator attached to his waist and activated the channel.
Static crackled through the device.
Then a deep voice answered.
"This is the Vengeful Spirit."
Loken drew a deep breath.
"This is Garviel Loken."
"We've reached the upper tower of the High City's Imperial Palace."
"The false Emperor has agreed to surrender."
"However, he refuses to submit to me personally and demands that the Warmaster come to accept his surrender."
"Please relay this request to the Warmaster."
The other end remained silent for two seconds.
Then the voice returned.
"Understood, Captain Loken."
"Your message has been received."
"Please await the Warmaster's response."
The connection ended.
Loken put away his communicator and remained standing in the chamber.
His gaze swept across the room.
Thirty Catulan Reavers in Terminator armor.
Several dozen members of the psyker squad guarding the entrance.
And the purple-robed figure standing before the window, apparently having abandoned any further resistance.
Everything was under control.
And yet...
For some reason, an uncomfortable feeling lingered at the back of Loken's mind.
He had sensed it from the moment he entered the chamber.
As though there were something important he had overlooked.
Something he should have noticed.
Almost unconsciously, he turned and began examining every corner of the hall.
The empty pillars.
The polished, mirrorlike floor.
The enormous golden throne.
Wait.
The throne?
Loken's gaze stopped.
He stared at the massive golden throne.
Ten meters tall.
Completely gilded.
Its backrest engraved with intricate patterns.
Purple velvet covered the seat, and beautiful gemstones decorated the armrests.
The throne itself was magnificent.
And at the moment...
It was empty.
No.
Something's wrong.
Loken's pupils contracted slightly.
He focused on the velvet-covered seat.
Right in the center of the purple fabric...
There was a tiny indentation.
It was so faint that an ordinary person would never have noticed it without looking closely.
But Loken saw it.
His eyes had been sharpened by countless years of warfare.
And they immediately caught the discrepancy.
The shape of that indentation...
That wasn't there when I entered.
And nobody's approached the throne since.
Loken suddenly turned toward the purple-robed figure.
The old man who called himself the Emperor was still standing beside the window, wearing an expression of stubborn pride.
But Loken's heart began beating faster.
He looked back toward the throne.
Could it be...
Has someone else been inside this chamber the entire time?
Someone sitting quietly on that throne, watching everything from the shadows?
Loken slowly reached toward the bolter at his waist.
When he spoke, his voice was frighteningly calm.
"Ekaddon."
"What?"
"Be on your guard."
Ekaddon blinked.
But his reaction was immediate.
Thirty Terminators raised their bolters simultaneously, covering every direction within the chamber.
Loken began walking toward the golden throne.
His movements were slow and deliberate.
Every step placed his weight on the most secure footing available.
His eyes never left that faint indentation.
Never left the apparently empty throne.
When he stopped three meters away...
His pupils contracted violently.
The indentation...
Was disappearing.
Slowly.
As though someone sitting there had quietly shifted their position.
Loken instantly raised his bolter and aimed at the empty throne.
His voice was as cold as iron.
"Who are you?"
"What are you hiding here for?"
"Stand up."
Silence.
The golden throne remained motionless.
Only distant explosions and the crackling of fires beyond the windows could be heard.
But Loken refused to lower his weapon.
Because he could see something happening.
The indentation had completely vanished.
A chill crawled across his scalp.
He suddenly remembered the invisible assassins they'd encountered during the assault.
Those warriors who could disappear from sight.
Those deadly energy beams that had seemingly appeared out of thin air.
If those soldiers could turn invisible...
Then why couldn't someone else?
"Bastard..."
Loken's voice was hoarse with barely restrained fury.
He turned toward the elderly figure in purple.
"You've betrayed the trust of another Luna Wolf."
"Is this how you deceived Sejanus too?"
"Did you exploit his trust and then order those invisible assassins to surround and slaughter him?"
His eyes snapped back toward the empty space before the throne.
"Where is he?"
"Is he here?"
"Is he invisible too?"
Loken reached toward the apparently empty seat.
But before his hand could make contact...
The false Emperor standing beside the window suddenly screamed.
Terror twisted his aged face.
He stared at Loken's approaching hand.
His lips trembled as a desperate cry escaped his throat.
"NO! GET AWAY! DON'T—"
He lunged toward Loken.
The movement was far too fast for an ordinary old man.
It was the desperate charge of someone throwing every last ounce of strength into a final effort.
But a second later...
BANG!
A bolter thundered through the chamber.
The purple-robed figure exploded in midair.
Chunks of flesh and blood scattered across the polished floor, splattering against Loken's white power armor.
Kalus Ekaddon lowered his bolter.
A smug smile appeared on his face.
"Heh."
His rough voice carried unmistakable satisfaction.
"Can't say I've ever killed a king before."
He looked toward Loken and shrugged.
"Don't blame me for that one, Captain Loken."
"The idiot threw himself at you. He was clearly trying to attack you."
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