The Chaos Creator wants to occupy the fifth position in the Warp.
This is no secret in the universe; after all, his grand actions have long made it known to everyone.
So, what do the Loki, who already occupy four positions in the Warp, think about the Chaos Creator's idea of ascending to godhood?
The answer is: they are neither very concerned nor entirely unconcerned.
Vashtorr wants to become the fifth Chaos God, but he must gather the scattered 'keys'—ancient creations of the Old Ones related to the Webway.
For this, he has not hesitated to ally with Abaddon of the black Legion, launching several wars, including the black Crusades, all aimed at seizing those hidden 'keys' scattered across various worlds.
However, there have been occasional failures in these wars.
And among them, rather than the Imperium successfully thwarting the Chaos Creator Vashtorr's schemes, it was more like the four Chaos Gods of the Warp secretly tripping him up, leading to the failure of his plans.
The Chaos Creator was well aware of these secret obstructions by the Four Gods.
His sinister gaze fell upon the Daemon Prince Be'lakor, and he sneered, "Do you really think I don't know what Khorne has been doing behind my back? Even if it's a betrayal of trust, you were the ones who 'betrayed' it first."
Daemon Prince Be'lakor's face was grim as he stared at the Chaos Creator, not speaking a word, but the thick bloodlust in his eyes revealed his killing intent.
"Don't look at me like that, Be'lakor," Vashtorr sneered a few times, saying, "We're all just using each other. You're using me as a smokescreen to tie up the Primarch, while you scheme on Draconys to make that person 'ascend to daemonhood.' Did you really think I wouldn't know?"
"What good does that do you?" the Daemon Prince's voice turned cold, and he angrily asked, "Do you really think he'll cooperate with you?"
"Good?"
The Chaos Creator sneered, saying, "No, you're wrong. I've already said, my goal is that 'key,' but even if I don't get it this time, I don't care. I just don't want you to succeed by using my name."
To put it bluntly, his current mindset was one of reckless abandon.
Did they really think he, the Chaos Creator, was made of mud?
Even if he didn't benefit, he couldn't let Khorne, who had been scheming against him all along, benefit!
Daemon Prince Be'lakor nearly spat blood, but he was utterly helpless against this guy. He could only glare fiercely, threatening, "Vashtorr, if you dare to do this, I swear... My Sir will exhaust everything to ensure you never achieve your desires!"
"Is that so?"
The Chaos Creator sneered again, completely unconcerned by the threat, and leisurely said, "What a pity, the one I can cooperate with isn't just your 'Sir' alone, right? Esteemed Primarch, Sir of the First Legion, Lord Lion El'Jonson?"
It was merely tearing off the facade ahead of time. The Chaos Creator turned his gaze to the Lion.
"You've listened for so long, you should understand by now, right? I don't deny that I want that key, but I don't care about one or two failures; that thing will be mine sooner or later. But... you, on the other hand, are different. Whether you want to cooperate with me, you can consider it carefully."
The Lion gave a deep look at the somewhat cunning and sly Chaos Creator.
A moment later, he slowly nodded and uttered a single word.
"Good."
The Daemon Prince immediately felt a bad premonition. He was supposed to be helping, but somehow he ended up being schemed against!
He widened his eyes and glared at the Lion.
"You believe his nonsense? Do you really think he can give up the 'key'?"
"I don't believe either of you," the Lion gripped his blade, stepped forward, and an intimidating aura erupted from him. His chilling gaze fell upon the Daemon Prince.
"But he said one thing correctly: that person... is more valuable!"
How could he not be aware of the Chaos Creator Vashtorr's treachery and cunning?
He might say he didn't care about any 'key,' and that if it didn't succeed this time, there would be a next. But only he himself knew what he truly thought in his heart.
But as he himself said, that key was important, yet... Merlin Emrys, this person, was even more important to the Imperium.
He absolutely could not let him... fall into Chaos!
As the last word fell, a thick forest-green light already enveloped the entire Hall of the Orator.
"A wise choice" At the same time, the Chaos Creator sneered, and his Soulforged Hammer suddenly shot out, aiming directly for the back of the Daemon Prince's head. "Damn it! Damn it! Vashtorr, you traitor!"
The enraged Daemon Prince Be'lakor dodged the Chaos Creator's sneak attack. Just as he was about to erupt in fury, he was silenced by bolter fire.
"Kill him," the Chaos Creator said coldly.
His accompanying Chaos Space Marines all turned their guns and opened fire on Daemon Prince Be'lakor.
The Lion, seizing the gaps in the firepower, unleashed his exquisite Caliban swordsmanship. His blade, like a storm, struck the Daemon Prince again and again. Facing the enraged Primarch, Be'lakor could only barely hold his own.
For a moment, the scene became extremely bizarre.
The Dark Angels' defenders and the Chaos Space Marines, as well as Lion El'Jonson and the Chaos Creator Vashtorr.
The two factions, originally like water and fire, seemed to have found a common goal: Daemon Prince Be'lakor!
"Vashtorr—!!!"
Daemon Prince Be'lakor's eyes were bloodshot, and the roar from his throat seemed to contain extreme pain.
At this point, being schemed against was a foregone conclusion, an unchangeable fact.
But he couldn't express his bitterness; even though he was schemed against, he couldn't run away.
Otherwise, once the obstruction was lost, the Lion would immediately head to Draconys, and the Blood God's long-planned scheme would also end in failure.
And as the most important person in this plan, he would undoubtedly be punished.
"You forced my hand—!" Suddenly, Daemon Prince Be'lakor's gaze turned vicious. Disregarding the frenzied attacks from behind him, he turned and fiercely attacked the Chaos Creator, who was watching the show. Even as the Lion's blade struck him, he dragged his war-axe to deliver a blow to this bastard.
"You won't have an easy time either!"
Pain, it was completely pain!
Daemon Prince Be'lakor chased and slashed at the Chaos Creator, while the Lion chased and slashed at the Daemon Prince.
The Dark Angels and the Chaos Renegades, while suppressing the Daemon Prince, also secretly ambushed each other.
"Save me!" The Chaos Creator, who had expected things to go as planned, never imagined that Daemon Prince Be'lakor would disregard the plan and turn his focus on him. He hastily called out to the Lion for help.
However, the Lion outwardly agreed, but his actions were much slower.
Save you?
Haha, dream on!
The Lion sneered inwardly. He moved deftly across the battlefield, looking for an opportunity to drive both of them away at once.
Believe the Chaos Creator's bullshit? Did they really think he was a brute?
After he killed these two bastards, he would immediately go to Draconys!
In terms of cunning, among the twenty Primarchs, he, Lion El'Jonson, was among the foremost!
Did they really take him for Angron?
Emrys observed carefully.
The daemon-Forging Palace was situated atop a carved-out mountain peak, the entire mountain almost hollowed out from top to bottom, its interior filled with dense fortifications, brimming with various concentrated fire arrays.
As grandmaster Ravenwing had said, with their current forces, even if they captured a fortress at the foot of the mountain,
to dream of fighting their way up was simply a pipe dream!
According to the Chaos deployment, unless they could conjure several complete Battle-Brothers out of thin air, and they would also need heavy firepower, siege engines, including heavy ranged and melee Dreadnoughts, only then would there be hope of breaking through from the front.
But a frontal assault would take at least several days!
However, doing so would play right into Chaos' hands; they were arrayed here, ready, precisely with the intention of delaying time, unafraid of a prolonged battle.
Chaos could wait, but they could not!
The daemon-Forging Palace, located on the mountain peak, was shrouded in a dense crimson glow, its light seemingly dyeing the sky red; even from their position at the foot of the mountain, several kilometers from the peak, the bone-chilling fear and oppressive aura already cascaded down like a celestial river pouring forth!
The blasphemous eight-pointed star of Chaos was gradually forming directly above the daemon-Forging Palace, its malevolent aura, like the bloodthirsty rage of a daemon, almost materializing. The terrifying malevolence leaking from the ritual, along with the expansion of the Warp rift, grew increasingly surging and powerful.
Such a terrifying scene required no prediction from a Psychic Librarian; even an ordinary mortal could sense that something ominous was about to happen.
"Damn it, the Chaos summoning ritual—it's almost nearing its end!" Ravenwing's Psychic Librarian, having repeatedly forced 'scrying', was already suffering from the backlash of psychic side effects. His entire being exuded an indescribable stench, and streams of putrid blood oozed from the crevices of his armor.
Knowing the urgency of the situation, Emrys dared not delay another moment and hastily summoned the Sons of the Forest.
Just then, the Librarian, ravaged by psychic backlash, grabbed Emrys' arm and spoke haltingly, "Please, take—take me with you."
Seeing his current state, Emrys couldn't help but frown. They were going deep behind enemy lines to disrupt the Chaos summoning ritual; what good would he be?
"Take him," grandmaster Ravenwing said sincerely, "Malven is Ravenwing's strongest Librarian. Your Battle-brother has no Librarian, and approaching the Chaos summoning ritual rashly is very dangerous. With him, he can provide you with protection."
"Alright," Emrys agreed without hesitation, then used his psychic powers to communicate with the Lion's 'Warp Essence'.
As mist rose, a secluded and mysterious forest path, covered in gravel, suddenly appeared before them.
The Sons of the Forest Battle-brother, well-trained, entered the mysterious forest gravel path one by one, followed by the Librarian Malven, who looked back at grandmaster Ravenwing.
The two exchanged silent glances, as if making their final farewells.
After the entire Sons of the Forest Battle-brother disappeared, grandmaster Ravenwing took a deep breath and turned to face the remaining warriors, almost all of whom were wounded.
"The most difficult task has been entrusted to them. Now, what we must do is—hold this position at all costs, contact the other Battle-Brothers, and create an opportunity for our brothers who follow!"
Although the most difficult task had been given to this mysterious Battle-brother, it did not mean that they, Ravenwing, would simply reap the rewards.
They had to hold this position!
They awaited the supporting Dark Angel Battle-brother, creating an opportunity for their brothers in the Battle-brother.
Otherwise, once this position was reoccupied by Chaos, the subsequent supporting brother Battle-Brothers would face their same predicament, being overwhelmed by the Chaos Legions from above, suffering heavy losses.
"Grandmaster, the communication array has been jammed by Chaos; we can't contact the other Battle-Brothers," the Ravenwing responsible for communications said with a bitter expression.
Ever since their landing, the entire Legion's communication channels had been filled with evil Chaos codes and blasphemous demonic sounds, and all the sub-Battle-Brothers had completely lost contact with the main Battle-brother.
Otherwise, why would they, Ravenwing, have to confront Chaos' tightly arranged firing positions with light equipment?
"I know."
grandmaster Ravenwing took off his helmet, his expression normal, his gaze fixed on the distance, and he said softly, "Now, there is only one way to contact the other Battle-Brothers—"
At this point, a feeling of desolation welled up in his heart. He took a deep breath, turned to look at these warriors with whom he had spent day and night, who, though not blood relatives, were closer than brothers, and said, word by word, "Since the communication channels are unusable, then we will use people!"
His gaze was resolute, and he said in a deep voice, "All those with severe injuries, stay here and hold the position. The rest, with lighter injuries, carrying only a small amount of weapons, break out to find the scattered Battle-Brothers. At any cost, regardless of life or death, you must deliver this message to the other Battle-Brothers!!!"
After the brutal offensive and defensive battle, only over three hundred Ravenwing remained, but of these three hundred, two-thirds were more or less severely wounded or maimed.
The remaining one-third, chosen from them, also carried many light injuries.
Now, he was ordering these people, carrying only light weapons and equipment, to break out into the vast, boundless desert in all directions, to find the scattered Battle-Brothers—how difficult was that?!
Not to mention that in the absence of positioning and with communication jammed, they would have to break out alone from various directions, which was already an incredibly difficult task, and they would also face the danger of encountering Chaos Legions while searching for scattered brother Battle-Brothers. This was almost an impossible mission!
The chosen Ravenwing knew in their hearts that this was a mission of certain death!
However, these people had no complaints.
Because those who remained here would also face the counterattack of the Chaos daemon army, like a tide, both up and down the mountain, which was also a nine-deaths-one-life situation!
"Go."
grandmaster Ravenwing lowered his gaze and said softly, "The future of the Dark Angels rests on your shoulders—we will do our best to hold this position before we die. May the Emperor and Lion bless you."
"For the Lion!"
"For the Lion!"
"For—the Lion!"
Dozens of men struck their chests with their right fists, then, armed with chainswords, bolt guns, and a few high-explosive grenades, they turned without hesitation and charged into the Chaos Legions at the foot of the mountain!
"Cover them!!!"
Grandmaster Ravenwing roared, his eyes blazing with terrifying killing intent. He raised his power sword, cleaved a Chaos rabble, stepped over the mangled corpses, his gaze fixed on the warriors who had charged into the Chaos Legions.
The next moment, bolter fire and explosions once again enveloped this shattered position. The scions of honor, in the name of the Lion, shouted "For the Lion" and engaged in battle with the surging Chaos Legions!
The number of Chaos Legions gathered at the foot of the mountain was smaller. After being pierced by dozens of Ravenwing, they each chose a direction and gradually disappeared from the sight of their brothers, who were fighting a bloody battle with Chaos on the mountain.
But no one knew whether these Ravenwing who had broken out could find that glimmer of hope in this perilous, Chaos-infested demonic lair.
If it were an ordinary battle group, the only way to enter the daemon Forge Palace would be a frontal assault. But the elusive Sons of the Forest, with the power of Lyon, could penetrate deep behind enemy lines, catching Chaos off guard!
Finding a gap in his 'Precognition', Emrys led the Sons of the Forest directly out of the Warp!
Before the surrounding Chaos legions could react, a large number of Sons of the Forest slaughtered them, causing them to abandon their armor and weapons, completely routing them in just over ten minutes.
That colossal structure stood majestically before them!
The daemon Forge Palace was filled with the evil sorcery of Chaos, and the Warp was extremely unstable; even Lyon's 'Forest' could not penetrate directly into it.
They could only eliminate the outer defenders and then choose to enter the daemon Forge Palace from the front.
"Charge in!"
Emrys was decisive. After blasting open the gates of the daemon Forge Palace, he and his comrades charged inside.
And within, naturally, there were also numerous Chaos guards.
When he led the Sons of the Forest, through countless difficulties and obstacles, finally overcoming numerous barriers, tearing through the roaring Chaos daemon army formation, and stepping into the depths of this eerie and terrifying blood-red palace.
What greeted their eyes was a colossal brass shrine altar, almost occupying the entire mountaintop, constructed from countless skulls!
The entire shrine was built in the shape of the eight-pointed star of Chaos, and at its highest point in the center, several evil Chaos sorcerers were performing Warp sorcery, attempting to tear open the barrier of the material universe to allow the 'daemon' to descend upon this place!
Surrounding this 'shrine' altar were eight vast rivers of blood, viscous and surging like streams,
Forming a bizarre and terrifying, large pattern resembling a struggling skull!
Numerous Chaos mortal cultists, including world Eaters Berserkers clad in blood-red armor and brandishing chainaxes and chainswords, let out fervent and fanatical shouts.
They knelt before this 'shrine' altar, performing the evil Chaos summoning ritual!
"Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne!"
"Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne!"
"Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne!"
Fanatical cries, mixed with the Warp's malevolent energy, echoed through the vast blood-red palace!
"Sacrifice your mother—!!!"
A plasma cannon blast, trailing brilliant light, flew directly over the skulls in front of the brass shrine, striking the Chaos sorcerers chanting their blasphemous sorcery!
However, with the burst of fire, the shrine altar remained unmoved, and even the Chaos sorcerers were completely unharmed!
Seeing this, Emrys' heart sank.
"It's a psychic barrier!" Malvin immediately spoke, explaining the reason.
"These Chaos sorcerers have used Warp evil energy to set up a spatial barrier around them, which can block our ranged attacks!"
Clang!
Emrys drew his power sword, his gaze stern.
"If ranged attacks are ineffective, then we charge up—and slaughter them!"
At this point, they had no other choice, and Emrys knew well that once the summoning ritual succeeded, what would be affected would not just be the outcome of Draconys, or merely a Dark Angel legion!
If Draconys suffered a crushing defeat, and the Dark Angel legion's elites were annihilated, Lyon would lose the aid of the shadow, and at that time, the entire Imperium's situation would be affected by this tiny 'butterfly wing'!
"For Lion—!!!"
Emrys' roar echoed through the Blood Palace.
"For Lion!!!"
The surrounding Sons of the Forest also completely dropped their disguises, each roaring Lion's name, following their 'grandmaster' to charge towards the brass shrine altar!
Only Malvin was bewildered.
He stared blankly at his surroundings, then a terrifying thought suddenly surged into his mind: Could it be—
Is this mysterious battle group composed of 'Fallen Angels'?!
"What are you still standing there for?!"
Av Krast saw him still in a daze, grabbed him, and roared.
"No matter who we are, what our identity is, we were all once Lion's sons. The most important thing now—is to stop the Chaos summoning ritual!!!"
Buzz!
These words were like a sudden awakening.
The dazed Malvin immediately sobered up, then took a deep breath.
"You don't need to remind me—Fallen Angels, I'll settle accounts with you after this is over!"
The other party was right.
No matter the true identity of this mysterious battle group, being here, their identity and purpose were one and the same: to stop the Chaos summoning ritual!
But just as they charged upwards.
The world Eaters Berserkers also noticed their intentions, roaring as they charged down, trying to stop their advance.
"Slaughter them!!!"
The two groups, black and blood-red, collided like two torrents on this brass-forged shrine altar,
Erupting in world-shattering roars!
The roar of bolters and chainswords, the sound of blood and bones shattering, above the brass altar, amidst the blasphemous chants of the Chaos sorcerers, seemed to blend into a sorrowful and brutal overture!
Emrys led the charge, relying on the defense of his Sir-crafted power armor, with 'Precognition' fully active, he practically killed all he saw, slaying men and daemons alike!
Just as they were about to charge up, the sorcerer presiding over the Chaos sorcery suddenly let out an ear-splitting shriek!
It was this shriek that made everyone feel as if they were trapped in a quagmire, the terrifying Chaos demonic sound pouring into their brains.
Just then, the Psychic Librarian Malvin, veins bulging on his forehead, directly opened a psychic shield with a diameter of a hundred meters, enveloping everyone within. The face under his helmet was distorted from pushing his body to its limits, and blood flowed from his pupils and nostrils. He roared with a trembling voice.
"Now's your chance, charge up—!!!"
The psychic barrier blocked the Warp shriek.
They finally seized the opportunity, breaking through the world Eaters in one fell swoop. Emrys, at the forefront, leaped with all his might, gripping his blood-soaked power sword, and fiercely stabbed towards the surging ball of blood-light, the core of the Chaos ritual!
But, just as his sword's edge was about to pierce the core of the Chaos ritual, a giant, writhing hand
Suddenly emerged from the blood-red mass!
The sword's edge was easily caught in the palm of that hand!
An indescribable sense of dread, like a storm, descended, carrying intense blood-red hues, surging out from the light mass like a tsunami!
The entire brass shrine altar trembled!
In Emrys' horrified gaze, a colossal evil figure stepped out from the blood-red light mass. The blood-red demonic wings on its back were several meters large, and when spread, seemed to encompass the entire dome. A pungent and foul smell of blood surged out, and in the dense blood mist, the figure let out a roar like a sonic boom.
"Blood for the Blood God, skulls for the Skull Throne—!!!"
The daemon had arrived!