Finally, under the expectant gaze of the succubus Anna, Emrys hesitated for a moment but still indulged her perverse request, whipping the succubus dozens of times.
After the succubus left, still not having had enough, Emrys sat on a chair, exhausted and in a state of disarray.
It had to be said, the Dark Eldar really knew how to play.
"The person has left."
Emrys tapped the table with his index finger and turned his gaze outside the tent.
"You can come in now."
As his voice fell, several figures entered the tent one after another. They were none other than the grandmaster, Chief Librarian, and Knight-Captain of the Sons of the Forest from the Dark Angels.
"How long have you... been waiting outside?" Emrys stared at them with a strange expression, thinking, 'Surely they didn't hear the scene of me whipping the succubus, did they?'
"From the moment she entered here, we were outside." Ezekiel, the Chapter's Chief Librarian, showed a cold smile on his face.
"Lord, this is the Dark Angels' garrison. If even a mere Dark Eldar could sneak in, find the Commander's tent, and no one notice, we might as well all commit suicide and apologize to the Emperor and the Lion."
This was not an empty threat.
What kind of place was this?
It was the core military camp, garrisoning the Ravenwing and Deathwing of the Dark Angels, including the grandmaster, the Sir of Repentance, numerous Terminator squads, and even Dreadnoughts!
Let alone a Dark Eldar succubus, even if three more Cabals came, they wouldn't be able to infiltrate without anyone knowing!
Even the Night Lords, who were best at infiltration, couldn't sneak into the Dark Angels' military camp, into the Commander's tent, without them noticing!
From the moment the succubus stepped into the camp, she had already been locked on by Ezekiel's psychic powers!
"...So, you were eavesdropping from the beginning?" Emrys' eyelids twitched wildly. Didn't that mean... they knew everything that happened inside?
This was bad; his image was ruined!
"Cough, cough—Lord, don't misunderstand."
grandmaster Azrael, who had some ability to read the room, immediately came to Ezekiel's rescue.
"The sudden appearance of the Dark Eldar here made me suspect a plot. So I intended to see what this alien was up to, and it wasn't intentional concealment from you."
Using the Commander as bait—this was very much in line with the Dark Angels' character, which left Emrys slightly speechless.
Ezekiel also began to explain.
"Lord, please rest assured, if she had attempted to harm you just now, I would have immediately twisted her head off."
Emrys believed this statement.
The Chapter's Chief Librarian was not a title for nothing; killing a Dark Eldar succubus was no harder than squashing an ant.
"Alright, I'm not blaming you."
Emrys could also understand their thoughts.
Dragon Forest world was becoming increasingly chaotic, with even the Dark Eldar appearing. It was hard to guarantee no accidents, and they just wanted to figure out the reason behind it.
"Since you've heard everything, tell me your thoughts," Emrys tapped the table and looked at the others.
"You cannot go!"
Av Krast hastily spoke.
"Absolutely not, Lord. Commorragh is a Dark Eldar port city, located deep within the Warp. Should any accident occur, even the Lion would not be able to find you. This is an alien plot; you absolutely cannot go!"
He was speaking from Emrys' perspective, naturally believing he should not go.
What kind of place was Commorragh?
It was a hellish place in the Milky Way Galaxy, even the Eldar of the Craftworlds were deeply wary of it. It was the Dark Eldar's stronghold; how many people who entered it over ten millennia ever came out?
Moreover, Commorragh was located in the Warp Webway. If Emrys truly got trapped inside, even if they wanted to rescue him, they wouldn't be able to find an entrance!
"What about you?" Emrys turned to the grandmaster of the Dark Angels, seeking his opinion, while also presenting his own view.
"Although I've made a suggestion, the Dark Eldar Archon will most likely not agree.
Which means, to obtain that 'thing,' I must make a trip to Commorragh."
Azrael thought for a moment and asked.
"Lord, I want to know—is that 'thing' mentioned by the alien very important?"
"Important, very important."
Emrys nodded slightly and said without hesitation.
"This 'thing' is significant enough to affect the entire Imperium."
So, no matter what, it must be obtained."
The Astronomican was the light that humanity relied on for survival in Warp travel, and it was the only 'lighthouse'.
If the light of the Astronomican was lost, it would be like losing coordinates and guidance on a boundless ocean.
Perhaps they could hold on for a short time, but if the duration became long, soon all human colonies would lose contact with Holy Terra.
Thus, allowing the tragedy of the Dark Age to repeat!
The cost was too great!
He couldn't gamble, and he didn't dare to gamble.
Once the Imperium of Man split again, Chaos would completely sweep across the entire Milky Way Galaxy.
As the saying goes, if the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?
He could indeed flee to other timelines, but the Traveler System also had its limits. He would eventually have to return. Could he run away for a lifetime if he ran away for a while?
If he ran now, when he returned in the future, he might face an even more terrifying situation.
So, no matter the cost—both for himself and for the Imperium—he had to obtain that 'thing'!
"What exactly is that 'thing'?"
Azrael recognized the importance of the item from his expression and asked again.
"Can someone else go in your stead?"
"Probably not."
Emrys shook his head and sighed softly.
"As for what that thing specifically is, I'm not entirely clear yet, but I know what it can do."
Then, under the curious gazes of the others, he slowly said.
"You should know about the Astronomican going out, right?"
"Yes." Ezekiel nodded with a solemn expression.
"A few days ago, the light of the Astronomican suddenly extinguished in the Warp—"
"—To this day, it's still unclear what happened."
This matter had a profound impact. Even though Ezekiel already knew, he hadn't widely publicized it; only a few individuals were aware.
"The 'thing' I need to retrieve is related to the Astronomican," Emrys said in a deep voice.
"That item can allow me to temporarily replace the Emperor and light the Astronomican in the Warp. This is also—the Emperor's will."
Replace the Emperor... to light the Astronomican?!
Including Azrael, Ezekiel, and the others, upon hearing this news, almost all fell into shock, staring at him dumbfounded.
God damn, and you still say you're not a 'Living Saint'?!
"You—you mean, the Emperor wants you to replace him to light the Warp Astronomican?!" The grandmaster's eyes widened as he stammered the question.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
Emrys was a bit puzzled. It was just temporarily lighting the Astronomican; these people's reaction was a bit too exaggerated, wasn't it?
"Ezekiel!"
Azrael's eyes burned with fervor, staring at Emrys as if he were a rare treasure.
"From now on, you will lead my Honor Guard and personally escort Lord Emrys, not leaving him for a single moment!"
"No, there's no need for such a grand display, is there?"
Emrys twitched the corner of his mouth.
"No, it's not enough!" Azrael's expression was serious as he rejected his opinion, stating in a deep voice.
"You simply don't understand how important you are right now—it's no exaggeration to say that even if the entire Dark Angels Legion perishes and becomes history here, as long as you remain, the Imperium remains!"
The Astronomican was humanity's hope!
Even the First Legion couldn't compare to it. The price the Imperium of Man could pay for this hope far exceeded imagination!
Even if that price was to ignite the Milky Way Galaxy!
Even if it meant shattering the entire Ultima Segmentum and the systems within it!
Even if hundreds of billions of Astra Militarum, millions of Astartes Chapters, and countless hive worlds and colony worlds were reduced to scorched earth,
It would still be worth it!
At the insistence of the grandmaster, Emrys' escort was elevated by several levels.
From the grandmaster's personal honor guard, to the Chapter's Chief Librarian, and a specially detached Terminator squad, he was even assigned two hot-tempered 'Contemptor Dreadnoughts'!
This level of escort, even a Primarch would not have more; even if a Daemon Primarch came, he would have to think twice, wouldn't he?
As for Gomorrah's matter, it was temporarily put aside, to be discussed when the succubus returned.
Emrys, the Dark Angels, and the Sons of the Forest high command gathered in the tent, discussing the next plan.
After disrupting Chaos' interference last time, the communication array had partially recovered.
From the eastern sector, encrypted communications from Dark Angels successor Chapters immediately flew in like snowflakes.
"Repeat—this is—Dark Angels Successor Chapter Forgiven Sinner under—heavy siege at coordinates—requesting—reinforcement!"
"This is—Successor Chapter Blade of Vengeance 'Angel of Contempt'—requesting communication "We—have established a temporary fortress—in the eastern ruins, requiring support." The decrypted communications finally allowed everyone, who had been on tenterhooks, to breathe a sigh of relief.
They succeeded!
Chaos' interference was temporarily weakened!
The Dark Angels successor Chapters scattered across Draconis IV, their signals could finally penetrate the Warp's mist and capture each other's situations.
"Their situation is very bad."
Ezekiel's expression was very serious.
Although it had been anticipated, the booming artillery fire mixed in these communications also indicated that the scattered successor Chapters were not in good shape.
"Look at it another way, they can still send distress signals, at least proving that their organization is still relatively intact." Emrys pinched his brow, lightning occasionally flickering in his eyes, proving that he was using his psychic powers.
These signals were very unstable and required full psychic amplification to be captured.
"Very good, the coordinates have been confirmed."
Emrys jotted down the specific coordinates, then took a deep breath, looking at Azrael.
"This time, you will personally lead the team to execute the surprise rescue mission."
Azrael said nothing, merely wiping his 'Sword of Secrets', a chilling glint in his eyes.
"My blade is already thirsty for battle!"
The restoration of communications meant that the Dark Angels' counterattack would officially begin from this moment!
Not long after.
Several squads had already assembled outside the tent and, at Emrys' command, entered the 'forest'.
First, the first coordinates.
In the eastern ruins, the 'Angel of Contempt' in grey power armor was surrounded by a large number of Chaos legions in their makeshift fortress, resisting with all their might.
The Chaos side obviously did not expect a fresh force to suddenly attack from their rear; under Azrael's command, Chaos instantly disintegrated, and the 'Angel of Contempt' defending the fortress, upon seeing the Dark Angels' banner, immediately surged with morale and also charged out of the fortress!
Caught in a pincer attack, this Chaos legion was, as expected, defeated.
"Withdraw!"
Emrys beckoned to everyone, immediately opened the Warp, and had everyone quickly evacuate to avoid being surrounded by Chaos!
He was really busy!
On one hand, he had to use 'prescience' to predict future dangers for the Dark Angels and Sons of the Forest's sudden strike, finding the most probable time, location, and nodes for the assault.
And on the other hand, he also had to cooperate with Ezekiel, using psychic power to maintain these extremely unstable communication signals that penetrated the Warp's mist.
"This family will fall apart without me sooner or later!" Emrys tiredly pinched his brow, trying his best to alleviate the side effects of his psychic powers, then said to Azrael beside him.
"Next, the coordinates. The Blade of Vengeance successor Chapter."
"You need to rest." Ezekiel, seeing that he was already suffering from psychic backlash, advised with concern.
"No, we must seize the time!" Emrys shook his head decisively, knowing that a surprise rescue relied on the 'surprise'; if he rested, it would be giving Chaos time to react!
They had to seize the opportunity while Chaos was stunned by the surprise attack, to assemble as many successor Chapters and troops as possible, otherwise, once Chaos reacted, it would be difficult!
"No more talk, let's continue."
Emrys said resolutely.
"I can still hold on; if I really can't, I will say so—now, to the next coordinates!"
In fact, when the Dark Angels gathered their successor Chapters, reaching an unprecedented 'Legion-level' scale for the first time since the Great Crusade.
The scale of the Draconis IV campaign was no longer the quick, precise strike operation that grandmaster Azrael had originally envisioned.
And Emrys had vastly underestimated.
His bold and harsh statement at the time had actually come true!
In the dark side of the Imperium of Man, in the far eastern direction, in the Ultima Segmentum, in the depths of the vast starry sky, in the turbulent Warp.
The human fleet, obscuring the sky and sun, like a massive dark cloud, swept with the Emperor's wrath, like a sharp sword, cleaving through the chaotic storm of the Empyrean.
The Thirteenth Primarch, Regent Roboute Guilliman, was like an ancient Greek statue.
His divine aura made him inhuman, and in his profound gaze, the hope of humanity seemed to converge; this Primarch was gazing at the stars, a hint of worry subtly revealed in his brows.
"Notify the Seventh, Ninth, and Twelfth Fleets, full speed ahead, objective... Iconoclast Sector, Draconis IV."
Under the coordination of this Regent, the Imperium's decaying War Machine operated with unprecedented efficiency.
Commands were issued with precise accuracy, like scattered snowflakes in the turbulent Warp, reaching every location.
Hundreds of Astra Militarum legions, hundreds of millions of the Emperor's warriors, hundreds of Astartes Chapters with different bloodlines, a full Imperial Navy strike fleet, a Titan Legio and its attendant Collegia Titanica, more than ten Stormtrooper Regiments,
Twelve Inquisitors from the Inquisition, a Mechanicus Forge world fleet; this was the maximum force he could muster in the dark side of the Imperium of Man in a short time.
And such a force, capable of destroying worlds, was heading towards that blasphemous 'Draconis IV'!
At the same time, in another direction.
The Blood Angels, who had already known of the plan, also assembled hundreds of warships under the command of Chapter Master Dante, traversing the stormy Warp, advancing towards Draconis IV!
Dark Angels, Blood Angels, Ultramarines!
Who would have thought that the three main forces of the 'Second Imperium' would, in an unexpected way, reunite on Draconis IV after ten millennia?