Heldrakes came screaming in, strafing the retreating forces on the glacier and leaving trails of death and the dying in their wake.
The knight mechs of House Taranis returned fire against these hateful enemies of the Imperium.
Dense missiles wove a net of death, instantly enveloping two Heldrakes and blasting them into fragments in the sky.
A third Heldrake swooped down and tore apart a squad of Tempestus Scions.
Before the Adeptus Mechanicus forces led by Archmagos Cawl shredded it with cannon fire, it had already ripped a great slab of armor from the transport carrying the sacred cargo.
From this moment on, there would be no more peace.
The armies of Chaos came in a vast tide, pursuing them.
Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion, Terminators, and Chaos Dreadnoughts transformed into daemon engines.
Beyond them, there were also daemons of the Warp.
Some had twin wings, like birds of prey; some were slender and graceful, wanton beyond measure; some were bloated and complacent.
These enemies launched wave after wave of attacks against the evacuation convoy.
Dense las-beams swept through the snowflakes in the sky.
Heavy-caliber meltaguns melted ice that had formed over millions upon millions of years.
Again and again, the Imperial forces repelled the Black Legion’s assaults, but the enemy’s numbers seemed endless.
The roar of drop pods and landing craft engines echoed ceaselessly across the ice plains.
The enemies of Chaos kept descending to the surface, launching attacks against Archmagos Cawl’s force.
Casualties among the evacuees continued to rise, and the survivors were forced to huddle close to the transport carrying the sacred cargo, sheltered by its void shields.
Greyfax captured several wounded traitors and used psychic probing to obtain intelligence.
As expected, they had already fallen deep into the enemy’s encirclement.
If they could not break out, they would all perish on this frozen world.
“The Emperor protects us. Keep moving. Salvation lies ahead.”
Celestine’s entire body radiated holy light. Only in this way could she keep the despairing people holding on.
“Leave us here. In this situation, wounded men like us will only slow the column down.”
Two Tempestus Scions with injured legs asked their comrades to set them by the roadside.
“Riel, Dalak, may your souls return to the Golden Throne.”
“Thank you.”
Their comrades granted Riel and Dalak’s request, placed them by the roadside, made the sign of the Aquila, and then followed the column into the distance.
When both their parents had died fighting for the Emperor, when they had been selected to enter the Schola Progenium, dying for the Emperor had already become their mission.
Limping, Riel and Dalak found a decent piece of cover.
They checked their ammunition, then lay prone on the ice.
The cold swiftly stole the warmth from their bodies, and their wounded legs soon lost all feeling as the nerves froze.
When the enemy appeared in their field of vision, the two of them pulled the triggers of their lasguns.
One searing beam after another tore through the air and struck their targets.
“Die, you bastards.”
“The Emperor endures. The Imperium of Man endures.”
“By the Throne of Terra, by the Throne of Terra.”
After they killed several traitors, the enemy charged up before them.
At their head was a Chaos Space Marine covered in bone spurs.
His armor was daubed with profane runes of the Blood God, and the heads of several high-ranking Cadian generals hung at his waist.
Riel’s attacks could only leave a few scorched black marks on his armor.
When he saw the other party raise his battle-axe, Riel knew he was certain to die, but he still shouted with the last of his courage, “For the Emperor!”
And at that moment, a warrior in unpainted Terminator power armor fell from high above.
The shotgun in his hands opened fire at the Space Marine who worshiped the Blood God.
With a bang, the enemy’s head burst apart, the scene exceptionally bloody.
Riel and Dalak’s eyes widened as they stared at the sight, their gazes filled with astonishment.
The newcomer was none other than Daqi.
When he saw an exclamation mark appear on the minimap, he flew this way.
When he arrived, he happened to see the previous scene. Without hesitation, he opened fire and sent the enemy on his way.
Daqi paid no attention to Riel and Dalak.
He switched the weapon in his hands into the Ruyi Staff and bounded toward the enemy.
“Blood for the God-Emperor, skulls for the Throne.”
His battle cry made the besieging Chaos Space Marines freeze.
For a moment, they genuinely could not tell whether this fellow believed in the Emperor or the Chaos Gods.
After the previous battles, Daqi’s combat ability had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Relying on the Ruyi Staff in his hands, which could grow large or small, he beat the Chaos traitors until they cried out in misery.
Just then, Abaddon took the field.
Blessed by the power of the Four Gods, clad in Terminator armor, he was massive in stature and radiated overwhelming pressure.
He was furious that these insects had escaped his pursuit again and again.
This time, he swore he would crush every scheme of the Corpse-Emperor.
Daqi looked at the huge fellow before him and opened his information panel.
【Leader of the Black Legion, Warmaster of Chaos, Chosen of the Four Gods, the Despoiler Ezekyle Abaddon, successor of Horus, undefeated in a hundred battles】
“Warmaster of Chaos, boss of the Black Legion? Isn’t this supposed to be the final boss?”
“Are the game developers insane, making newbies fight the final boss?”
“Does killing this guy count as clearing the game?!”
As Daqi complained, he ran forward and launched an attack on Abaddon.
However, the gap in strength between the two sides was far too great. In just two exchanges, Daqi’s body was pierced through by the Talon of Horus.
Crimson blood gushed out, staining the snow-white ice plain red.
“Fool deceived by the Corpse-Emperor. To devote yourself to a useless cause is truly pathetic and pitiful.”
Abaddon tossed Daqi’s corpse aside and looked toward the wounded Riel and Dalak.
The two of them kept firing their guns, shot after shot hitting the target, yet failing to cause any damage.
Though they were the most elite Tempestus Scions, before the Despoiler, they were nothing but pitiful mortals.
“Die!” Abaddon roared.
“For Horus!”
A loud shout rang out, and Abaddon’s movement froze in place.
He turned his head and saw that the lackey of the Corpse-Emperor he had just killed had actually revived.
Could this fellow be a Perpetual like Vulkan?
But even Vulkan, Lord of Drakes, did not revive this quickly, did he?!
“If you mention that name one more time, I will tear you apart.”
Abaddon stared at Daqi, fury burning in his eyes.
“For Horus, for Lupercal, for the Luna Wolves.”
Daqi shrugged and shouted again and again.
Players did not accept threats.
The more they were told not to do something, the more they had to do it.
Daqi had only followed the trend and started playing the virtual reality game Warhammer Universe.
Although he did not know the specific plot, he still knew a little about Warhammer memes like the first-returned son, the centaur, and the golden ring.
“You bastard. I’m going to tear you apart.”
Abaddon charged at Daqi. In his extreme fury, he sent Daqi’s weapon flying with a single move.
The Talon of Horus, crackling with arcs of electricity, once again pierced Daqi’s body and lifted him into the air.
“You are a traitor to the Luna Wolves. You failed him.”
With his life force draining away rapidly, Daqi still said, “He could have died in glory, admired by the world, remembered by his brothers, mourned by his father. And you ruined all of it, turning him into a clown.”
“I will kill you and let your soul enjoy eternal torment.” Abaddon’s fury struck fear into the hearts of everyone in the Black Legion.
Lying on the ground, Riel and Dalak exchanged glances.
Chaos traitors had always been vile and shameless, yet this mysterious nameless warrior could break the enemy’s composure with just a few words—and he knew so many hidden truths.
Just what was the origin of this mysterious warrior?