Chapter 416: Why Should We Defend Such Ruin?
"Support is still on the way."
Gryhne, Upper Hive, Central Command
The young vox-operator smiled bitterly. His pale yellow armor was unadorned, worn and old from the friction of smoke and fire.
They wouldn't make it.
The Rock had the will but not the strength, and those brothers with divergent minds had the strength but not the will.
"It seems executing the Chaplains was the best decision of our lives."
In the core command center of the hive, an Angel of Vigilance clad in Indomitus-pattern Terminator armor whispered: "These damned traitors are anxious."
His armor was painted bone-white, symbolizing his role within the Chapter—he was also a member of the Deathwing.
Violent tremors shook the upper hive, but the Angel of Vigilance's eyes held not a shred of fear or shame.
At least at this moment, they, the Angels of Vigilance, maintained internal unity, true to their name.
Even outnumbered, they resisted with the tenacity of lions.
They didn't know how those traitors despised them, but they were proud that they were doing their best right now.
At least they wouldn't be traitors!
"Right, brother."
Watching the mighty posture of the enemy, Chapter Master Kamael of the Angels of Vigilance whispered:
"You're goddamn right."
He picked up his weapon.
Gryhne, Starport Landing Zone
This was a fierce firefight zone in the landing area.
A severely depleted squad of Angels of Vigilance was putting up a fierce resistance around a military warehouse.
BANG!
The gate was blasted inward. A scythe surrounded by psychic lightning tore the gate directly from its hinges.
Two crumpled steel plates crashed onto the deck. Plague wrapped the metal surface, screaming harshly as it slid inward. Unable to bounce due to its massive weight, the sparks that should have been kicked up by friction with the metal floor were drowned by dense yellow-green mist, shrouding the terminals that gradually fell silent.
Typhus strode through. Maggots, carapace, and microorganisms coiled around the dread knight's power armor.
His footsteps announced his arrival, like the final toll of a lost soul bell.
Support was still on the way.
"When the moment truly comes, I subconsciously feel fear."
Standing inside the transport ship speeding away from the main fleet, Kay couldn't help but ask this junior whose growth rate was exaggerated.
"The Rock and those scattered Chapters cannot live in isolation forever, Azrael. You don't know the past; we always knew. We have to prepare for the worst, or we will fall into chaos again."
Wait, bro.
Leaving the Lion aside, how much psychological shadow did my modern-day paranoid brothers leave on these old seniors?
Azrael looked at the senior's hesitant state, wanting to escape reality. He put away the idea of comforting him again and couldn't help but say:
"Honestly, tell me, do you doubt whether the Prince can protect his Legion? Do you doubt the Prince can do better than us?"
"I don't doubt it at all."
Kay frowned, asking another adjutant.
"But what should we do, Gareth? The Lion's temper is always unpredictable."
Everyone around struggled to hold back laughter. This guy's 'I'm dying of nervousness' attitude made the old geezers, who were originally a bit nervous, less nervous.
"Do you know you look like a pet anxious to prove its owner loves it?"
Gareth couldn't help but laugh.
"?"
"You are not a pet—"
Facing Kay's glare, his eyes shone.
"As the Prince said, we are warriors born to protect humanity. As long as we don't deviate from this path, the Prince is obliged to protect us from any harm."
"Fine."
Kay said, then looked serious again.
It could be seen that he was really nervous. It seemed past experiences had formed some kind of trauma in him.
"Seriously, brother—"
After passing through the cleared Webway gate, the fleet began to accelerate.
Gareth glanced at the pile of Knights of the Round Table who volunteered to come behind him, and spoke first:
"I see no reason not to do this. Even if the Lion still seeks revenge on us for unwarranted crimes, we have no reason to let these warriors fighting for the vision they forgot lose the opportunity to be protected by the Lord of Knights."
"From any angle, the Imperium is indeed full of flaws, but the countless people living under this banner are innocent."
Gareth fell into reminiscence, recalling his past.
"They are suffering countless invasions and threats. There are xenos remnants we failed to exterminate, Chaos forces from other brother Legions, and of course, some of our own so-called brothers."
"They all wait for opportunities to enslave all humanity, or cover up the truth with the lives of countless innocent people. But can we comfortably let others bear the consequences of the wrong choices made by their ancestors, the Astartes Legions, and even the Primarchs?"
"You are quite open-minded."
Stumped by his partner's series of words, Kay, unable to complain about anything, kept rubbing his sword hilt.
The member who usually looked most heartless was now the most conflicted.
"I hope to serve only humanity, and this is the best way I can do it, rather than continuing to live in the vortex of hatred, waiting for doomsday to come knocking."
Gareth shook his head slowly.
"Well said."
Arthur, having sorted out various key tasks, arrived with Ramesses.
The golden-masked sorcerer patted Gareth on the shoulder, looking like 'this child is teachable'.
Arthur looked around, his emerald eyes sweeping over these warriors.
He was happy for these warriors who, despite having some grievances, still held a positive attitude towards military operations.
Meeting this gaze of approval, the knights also looked expectant. The blood that had cooled for a long time since the Battle of Cadia boiled again.
Expecting the King of Knights to lead them forward again.
And the Lord of Knights certainly wouldn't disappoint.
This was a promise!
"I am Arthur Pendragon, a child of humanity and a warrior of the Dawnbreakers."
The Dawnbreakers often prided themselves on being children of humanity, even though no one had ever seen their father or mother.
And the power of role models is infinite.
"I know what kind of imagination you held for the galaxy in the past, but now, I can only tell you that this galaxy is only worse than before."
"The Imperium is scarred, short-sighted, and superstitious. Countless people are filled with hatred, stubbornly following creeds they don't understand in hopes of achieving visions they have long forgotten."
Just like always, the Lord of Knights raised his blade again, swearing victory to everyone.
"I ask you, why should we defend such ruin?!"
"For humanity!"
The knights responded loudly.
"For humanity!"
Light began to rush into any range visible to the naked eye. From the bridge lens to the floor-to-ceiling windows, colorful light began to penetrate any transparent object indiscriminately.
Everyone's perspective began to stretch.
The exit to the Gryhne System was close at hand.
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