The Ultramarines proved with facts that they were not undeserving of their reputation; as long as Guilliman launched an attack, all disadvantages and despair would be reversed!
The vanguard army sent to intercept barely put up any effective resistance before being completely crushed by the vast Imperial Gothic Fleet with overwhelming force!
The shattered metal fragments of the blasphemous warships drifted in the universe like dense meteor showers.
What troubled Barton even more was that he no longer had any spare strength to stop this fresh Imperial force from joining the battle!
Most of the black Legion's strength was used to besiege the Rock Fortress and to tie down the Blood Angels' rescue efforts, leaving no spare strength to stop Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade Fleet.
Yet, Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade Fleet was something Barton could not ignore; otherwise, the balance of the entire battlefield would be overturned by this power!
Barton must now deeply understand the feelings of Horus and the other traitors when they heard that Guilliman had once again exploded with hundreds of thousands of troops and was rushing to reinforce them while besieging Terra.
This damned, pure numerical monster!
Regardless of what Barton was thinking, seeing the Chaos interception vanguard crushed and a huge gap appearing in their formation, Guilliman, on the command bridge of the Macragge's Honor, immediately ordered.
"All fleet, maintain current formation, break out of the Warp encirclement!"
"astropath-Travelers, establish fleet jump coordinates, create Mandeville points; 'Arm of the Machine God' fully activate plasma furnace engines to provide all-round protection for the fleet; 'Silent Bulwark' prepare to repel daemon impacts at any time!"
As one order after another was executed by the fleet.
Soon, the 'Indomitus Crusade' Fleet, vast as a torrent of steel, utilized the Chaos forces' inability to organize resistance and the most vacuum-like gap in their strength,
like the sharpest spear, pierced through the Warp 'bubble' that enveloped Draconys and the Iconoclast system!
The next moment!
Streaks of light suddenly jumped out of the Warp, and urgent buzzing alerts, along with the blue color symbolizing 'hope', began to constantly appear on the Dark Angels' and Blood Angels' fleet detection star charts.
They're here!
The Imperial reinforcements have finally arrived!
The Blood Angels fleet erupted in cheers; from the identification signals on the star charts, they had already learned that the fleet coming to rescue them was none other than the Imperial Regent, the Thirteenth Primarch of the Imperium, Father of the Ultramarines, Lord of the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar—Roboute Guilliman!
However, the Dark Angels, who had been besieged by the black Legion for half a month and were in a more perilous situation, felt a bit complex: happy to be saved, but also fearful.
What if the Imperial Regent discovered the Dark Angels' "Secret"? What then?!
"How about"
One of the Dark Angels looked at the Indomitus Crusade Fleet, a bold idea forming in his mind.
"Stop right there!"
Emrys, who was currently on the Rock Fortress, immediately sensed trouble when he saw the Dark Angels fall silent and quickly spoke up.
"Please stop the dangerous thoughts brewing in your heads!"
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"This is the Imperial Regent, a Primarch. You must think carefully about the consequences!"
This was no joke!
If they really opened fire, regardless of whether the Imperial Regent lived or died, the Dark Angels would most likely be purged from the Imperium, with no possibility of turning back.
After all, the Dark Angels had a history!
They had done such things not once or twice, which was why Emrys had warned them in advance to behave and not cause a major incident... But to his surprise, these Dark Angels, after hearing his words, looked at him with shocked eyes.
"That — we were just thinking of refusing the Imperial Regent's landing on the Rock Fortress, that's all. Do you — do you have some misunderstanding about us?"
"Weren't you thinking of how to kill Guilliman and then conceal the secret?" Emrys was stunned.
"..Hiss!"
Hearing this, all the Dark Angels, as if they had seen a ghost, retreated a few steps, putting distance between them and him, looking at him with horrified eyes.
"That idea — you seem a bit too extreme, don't you?"
They admitted they were a bit extreme sometimes, but — that didn't mean they were brainless, did it?!
On the other side were hundreds of thousands of Space Marines, the Astra Militarum, the Mechanicus, the Silent sisters, the Battle sisters, Ecclesiarchy Priests, Titan Legions, Knightly Houses, and even the Custodes. Even if they were insane, they wouldn't think of killing a Primarch!
...Emrys' mouth twitched.
Damn it, he was being judged as 'a bit too extreme' by the most extreme Dark Angels. It was simply outrageous!
In short, unlike the Dark Angels and Blood Angels, who were overjoyed by Guilliman's arrival, the atmosphere around Barton was gloomy.
"Warmaster, what do we do next?"
A Chaos staff officer swallowed hard, cautiously asking Barton, who was on the verge of rage.
"Based on the current situation, I believe we can order the fleet to make a strategic turn—"
"Turn?!"
Barton shot a death glare, his iron teeth biting his lip, his eyes blazing with fury.
"What strategic turn? This is clearly a retreat!"
The murderous gaze immediately made the staff officer awkwardly shut his mouth.
Barton took several deep breaths, his eyes glowing with blasphemous red light, and his already ugly face was covered in bulging veins, appearing exceptionally sinister.
"Just a mere Guilliman, why should we fear him? Transmit my order: the entire fleet is to spread out in a fan formation. I will personally lead the charge. Today, right here—I, Barton, will personally slay a Primarch!!!"
Running away?
No, that was not his style.
Barton could not tolerate failure, nor did he want to fail. Since the plan to utterly destroy the Dark Angels had already failed on the execution level, he didn't mind changing targets!
For example, the more valuable 'Roboute Guilliman'!
"War-Warmaster?"
Facing Barton's astonishing plan, most of the black Legion staff officers and Chaos Warbands showed expressions of shock and horror: Are you serious?
That was a Primarch, a son of the Emperor!
Don't look at them, in their daily lives, constantly shouting about slaying the False Emperor and reaching the Golden Throne; in reality, everyone was just trying to make a living. How many truly thought that way?
"Do not be afraid!"
Barton knew that his plan was too much of a leap.
After all, not long ago, their strategic objective was to eliminate the Dark Angels as much as possible and strike at the Imperium's living forces. Yet, in the blink of an eye, it had become to slay a Primarch, the Imperial Regent!
Who could endure such a drastic shift?
Moreover, the cohesion of the Chaos Warbands was not very strong to begin with. Apart from his black Legion, Barton wanted to control the other Warbands.
He could only rely on his prestige, the lingering might of the Four Chaos Gods, and some rewards.
For profitable matters, the Chaos Warbands naturally didn't mind helping, but — to have them follow you to slay a Primarch?
Sorry, impossible.
The difficulty was too high, and the benefits were almost non-existent.
On the contrary, if they actually succeeded, they would be hunted by the maddened Ultramarines for the rest of their lives. It was completely disproportionate, and they did not want to get involved in this matter.
And Barton?
He was also very clear that these Chaos Warbands only attached themselves to his black Legion for profit. Once things became impossible,
these bastards would run faster than anyone else; don't expect any loyalty from them.
If they were truly loyal, they wouldn't have come to Chaos.
"Since I said so, I must be confident!" Barton snorted, his aura fully unleashed, suppressing the restless Chaos Lords.
"I have the 'Divine Artifact' bestowed upon me by the Chaos Gods. As long as I can get close to Guilliman, I have full confidence that I can slay him!"
The Chaos Lords remained unmoved.
"I don't need you to fight to the death; I only need you to help my black Legion hold off the counterattack of the Dark Angels and Blood Angels."
Barton gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice.
"Afterward, no matter what, I will give you ten times the reward I promised earlier!"
The 'rewards' he promised these Chaos Lords included armaments, weapons, warships, and most importantly, suitable troops and gene-seed!
These were the resources most lacking by the Chaos Warbands!
As expected by Barton, these greedy Chaos Lords, upon hearing that they didn't need to directly face a Primarch, only needed to intercept the Dark Angels and Blood Angels, and that there was profit to be made while the risk was within an acceptable range, immediately nodded in agreement.
"We are willing to obey Warmaster lord's command!"
"Indeed, wherever the Warmaster tells us to fight, we will fight, absolutely no questions asked!"
'Long live the Chaos Warmaster! Long live the black Legion!'
In the communication channel, the Lords of the Chaos Warbands roared, swearing their pathetic 'loyalty'.
Having finally settled the Chaos Warbands, Barton could at last breathe a sigh of relief and focus all his attention on the main battlefield.
The Indomitus Crusade Fleet had already spread out in an attack formation behind them, like a giant fan. The Imperial Navy fleets on the two wings were like sharp scissors, ready to 'cut off' the Chaos fleet surrounding the Rock Fortress!
"Hmph, they dare to look down on me?" Seeing the Imperial fleet's formation unfold, Barton was not afraid; instead, a look of wild ecstasy appeared on his face.
"Central Fleet, heed my command! Immediately advance towards Macragge's Honor! All of you, charge in!!!"
The Indomitus Crusade Fleet spread out in a fan shape, but this also gave the Chaos fleet a glimmer of opportunity.
That was... the front!
"Guilliman, Guilliman, you didn't expect this, did you? Not only did I not flee, but I dared to charge at you!" Barton immediately saw the weakness of the Indomitus Crusade Fleet's formation: because of the distributed strength on the wings, the frontal defense was extremely weak!
As long as the Chaos fleet could tear open the weak frontal defenses of the Indomitus Crusade Fleet, they could directly rush into the core area, which was where Guilliman was, on the 'Macragge's Honor'!
The next moment, the poised Chaos Space Marines and the assembled strike cruiser groups, their engines blasting with furious blue afterburners,
traced comet-like trajectories across the dark night sky of the universe.
Taking advantage of the Indomitus Crusade Fleet's dispersed strength, like arrows loosed from a bow, they charged with unparalleled ferocity directly towards the flagship of the Imperial Regent, Roboute Guilliman, the Gloriana-class battleship—Macragge's Honor!
"Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne!
Slay the False Emperor! Burn the Galaxy!"
Amidst the cacophony of Chaos' demonic sounds, corrupted Thunderhawk gunships, like dense raindrops, flew out from the Chaos strike cruisers,
their target none other than the Imperial fleet's landing bridges!
"Terminator assault pods, target enemy bridges and critical engine areas, execute forced boarding!"
The voice of the Chaos fleet Commander roared in the assault channel.
Hundreds of Chaos Thunderhawk gunships and Chaos Stormhawk gunships, like swarming deadly hornets, screamed out of their motherships' launch bays, traversing, rolling, and evading through dense anti-aircraft fire in almost suicidal trajectories!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Constantly, Chaos gunships, attempting to get close, were directly blown up by close-range anti-aircraft fire, turning into fireballs. But even so, more gunships and assault landing pods fearlessly charged towards their targets!
Soon, the Imperial fleet's frontal anti-aircraft firepower could no longer intercept the massive number of assault landing pods. More and more assault landing pods broke through the dense gunfire, their rear thrusters emitting deafening roars, and with thunderous force, slammed into the weak points on the thick armor of the Imperial warships, their melta beams instantly melting the armor!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The violent impacts caused the Imperial warships to visibly shake.
And even Macragge's Honor was approached by assault landing pods, with the toughest Terminator assault pods, like a heavy siege hammer, slamming into the armor plating of this legendary warship!
Amidst the smoke and metal fragments, the most powerful and valiant heavy infantry of the Chaos black Legion, the Chaos Terminators, stormed out with heavy footsteps!
"Slay the False Emperor's son!"
"In the name of the black Legion, in the name of Chaos, slay the False Emperor—!!!"
The thick Chaos Terminator armor, in the not-so-spacious corridors, gleamed with terrifying blood-red light. On their shoulder plates, covered in flesh and twisted spikes, the former chapter honor markings had all been erased, leaving only the traces of Chaos corrosion.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The roar of storm bolters instantly tore through the narrow corridor, blasting all the Space Marines and auxiliary personnel who had rushed to the scene into a mist of blood!
On the other side, the cruisers responsible for protecting Macragge's Honor also encountered a Chaos assault.
Numerous assault craft and wicked Chaos sorcery began to explode directly on the Ultramarines' ships, with terrifying Warp energy surging. It was as if the Ultramarines had not expected Barton to be so bold as to order the black Legion to abandon everything and charge at them!
It was too smooth!
The plan was so smooth that Barton could hardly imagine it. Under his wise and decisive leadership, he had actually turned the tide of the previous situation!
Perhaps, he could not only slay a Primarch here but also complete his earlier plan to annihilate the Dark Angels, and even gain an extra Blood Angel!
Barton declared that he had won!
"First Terminator Squad, objective: Shield Generator! Disable it at all costs! Second Squad, objective: Command Node below the bridge! Third Squad, objective: Main engine Control room!"
"Honor Guard, follow me!"
Barton suppressed his wild joy and roared.
"Today, I will lead you to achieve a great feat—I will personally cut off the head of the False Emperor's son and hang his head above my warship!"
The plan was going very smoothly.
In fact, everything was going so smoothly that Abaddon felt a delusional illusion.
The elites of the black Legion, along with the Chaos Dreadnought assault ships, easily tore through the Imperial defenses, which seemed vast but were actually vulnerable.
The several cruiser strike ships, emblazoned with the Ultramarines emblem and the double-headed Aquila, were simply no match for the Dreadnought assault boats and elite forces of the black Legion!
The Chaos Space Marines, assaulting the Imperial fleet, instantly suppressed the unprepared Ultramarines with their savage and brutal momentum.
Although the Ultramarines resisted quickly, forming temporary blocks with neat shield wall formations.
However, the powerful firepower of the Chaos Dreadnoughts still allowed the Chaos Space Marines to gradually suppress and steadily advance, with the shouts of Chaos and the Imperium intertwined in the narrow corridors of the warships, blood and bolter shells splattering together, as if composing a tragic opera.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Navy's fleet was far more unlucky.
The Space Marines of the black Legion cut into their ranks, harvesting the chaotic Imperial Navy lines with extremely high efficiency.
And even more of the black Legion were continuously pouring into the engine rooms, weapon bays, and command bridges, destroying several Imperial Navy warships like a force of nature.
The Imperial fleet was plunged into unprecedented chaos!
This scene invigorated Abaddon, who couldn't help but clench his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Good! That's it!"
The battle reports coming back from the communication arrays made the Chaos Warmaster almost unable to contain his excitement.
The black Legion's assault pods slammed into the Ultramarines' cruisers with thunderous force, then descended like divine soldiers, and under the formidable defense and absolute firepower of the Chaos Dreadnoughts, the weak escort forces in front of the 'Macragge's Honour' were completely wiped out in a flash.
Chaos sorcerers chanted blasphemous incantations, and terrifying Warp energy, like a coiled demonic entity, gathered into a powerful surge, sweeping in like a tsunami!
The 'Silent Wall', responsible for protecting the 'Macragge's Honour', was temporarily suppressed by this powerful Chaos force!
By order of the Imperial Regent, the forces on both flanks of the Indomitus Crusade fleet were all dispersed to execute a flanking strategy to encircle and eliminate the Chaos legions, leaving the 'Macragge's Honour', the command core, precisely at the weakest point of its defenses.
After the 'Silent Wall' was suppressed, the sisters of Silence were unable to suppress the psychic powers, which gave the Chaos legions an opportunity.
With the amplification of the psychic array, the black Legion, centered around Abaddon, immediately unleashed massive Chaos sorcery, first disrupting and destroying the Imperial fleet's command links.
The communication arrays were filled with chaotic demonic sounds, and a large amount of chaotic junk code invaded the warship's command system.
Almost instantly, the 'Macragge's Honour' and the surrounding warships were all operating independently, their command systems out of control, and even their anti-aircraft artillery arrays and anti-psychic fields were completely paralyzed!
Only the Mechanicus Forge Ark 'Arm of Machine God' was still struggling, its massive plasma furnaces roaring, releasing a huge energy shield, desperately resisting the artillery bombardment from hundreds of small Chaos warships surrounding it.
But this was only a temporary measure!
If this continued, it wouldn't be long before the Mechanicus Forge Ark's engine furnaces overloaded, and then a devastating blow would await the Imperial fleet!
Only at this moment did the 'Macragge's Honour' seem to realize the terror of the black Legion.
In the holographic image, this Queen of Glory-class battleship, 'Macragge's Honour', which carried history and glory and was hailed as the Imperium's bulwark, had begun a slow retreat, seemingly wanting to escape the influence of Chaos sorcery and re-establish a complete command link.
"Trying to run?!"
However, how could Abaddon, also a veteran of countless battles, sit idly by and let his prey escape?
"Chase them!" His topknot seemed to flaunt his Proud Strategy, his face filled with fanaticism.
"Chaos sorcerers, continue to suppress their communication links, destroy the command systems of these warships, and all vanguard forces, push forward! Push forward! Don't let Guilliman escape!"
As the saying goes, a rotten ship still has three nails, let alone the Indomitus Crusade fleet?
The black Legion's impatient pursuit led to an overly dispersed formation, which in turn gave the Imperial fleet an opportunity.
At the command of the naval general, the Imperial Navy's frigates and cruisers began to roar, tens of thousands of torpedoes, mixed with macro-cannons and lance weapons, poured wantonly onto the black Legion's warship clusters, exploding with void shields into dazzling balls of light that reflected the universe's radiance!
"Lord Warmaster, our losses are too great, should we retreat for a bit?!"
Urgent voices from several lords came through the Chaos communication channel.
"Retreat? No one is allowed to retreat!" However, Abaddon's eyes were fixed on the retreating 'Macragge's Honour', and he said sharply.
"All of you, push forward, whoever dares to retreat... I will take his life!"
The black Legion's hasty pursuit resulted in considerable casualties.
But... as long as they could catch the fleeing 'Macragge's Honour', he believed that any casualties, no matter how great, were acceptable!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Abaddon keenly seized this golden opportunity!
At this moment, the sisters of Silence's 'Silent Wall' was suppressed, the Mechanicus Forge Ark 'Arm of Machine God' was about to overload, and the last defending force, the Ultramarines' cruisers, were also in a desperate situation, making it the black Legion's best time to pursue, and it absolutely could not be missed!
"All forces attack!"
He roared loudly, emitting blasphemous Chaos demonic sounds through the communication channel.
Then, the black Legion flagship 'Vengeful Spirit', stationed far in the rear, its keel ram twisted by Chaos power, gathered immense Warp evil energy, trailing a terrifying engine exhaust, fearlessly and directly rammed through the 'breach' towards the Primarch's flagship, the Queen of Glory-class battleship—the 'Macragge's Honour'!
That's right, he was going to lead his personal guard to directly board the 'Macragge's Honour'!
He, the great 'Raiders Abaddon', Warmaster of the black Legion, was going to achieve an unprecedented feat today—slaying a Primarch, the Imperial Regent!
The black Legion was unstoppable, enduring the Imperial fleet's firepower, and carving a bloody path through it.
And the 'Macragge's Honour', the Primarch's flagship, was right before their eyes!
The surrounding Ultramarines cruisers, Astra Militarum, and Imperial Navy were all rushing towards this core Imperial warship like madmen.
The 'Macragge's Honour' increased its engine thrust, attempting to escape the terrifying Chaos warship behind it—the 'Vengeful Spirit'—in an extremely panicked, terrified, and desperate manner!
Imperium Regent? Primarch?
At this moment, Barton's heart was filled with intense pride and arrogance.
"Hmph, so this is all there is to it!"
Robert Guilliman, he didn't expect his skill level to be so ordinary. It seemed his past experiences had made him overestimate this Primarch.
From commanding the entire battlefield to making decisions in the heat of the moment… the level Guilliman displayed still remained that of ten thousand years ago.
But he, Barton, was no longer his former self!
In these ten thousand years of war, he had honed his skills.
Now, he was the Warmaster of Chaos, the Lord of the black Legion, an unrivaled force, and the greatest Chosen of the Four Gods since Horus!
"Push forward—!"
With a roar from Barton, the black Legion, fueled by fanatical faith, brutally shattered the last line of defense.
That magnificent, blue-gold creation, like a holy cathedral, the Primarch's flagship, the Gloriana-class battleship 'Macragge's Honor', was only a few hundred kilometers away from them.
This distance was practically arm's length in space!
Barton decided to wait no longer. He led his elite personal guard, along with numerous Chaos Sorcerers and Chaos Dreadnoughts, onto the assault ships.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Macragge's Honor also began its counterattack. The remaining anti-aircraft cannons, whose control had not yet been seized, fired upon the Vengeful Spirit.
However, soon, with the suppression from the Chaos Sorcerers, these last remaining anti-aircraft arrays also fell silent.
"Now!"
Dozens of assault ships streamed out.
The Vengeful Spirit's Warp psychic field briefly suppressed and tore through Macragge's Honor's void shield defense field,
creating the perfect opportunity for their boarding action.
The dark universe was torn apart as dozens of Chaos assault ships, trailing flames, slammed into Macragge's Honor at terrifying speed.
With its anti-aircraft cannon arrays crippled, Macragge's Honor lost its last means of resistance, like a delicate woman, it could only watch as these crude Chaos brutes invaded its sacred body.
Rumble—!!!
Accompanied by several loud impacts, Macragge's Honor's outer armor was shattered by the Chaos assault ships.
The drop pod carrying the Chaos Warmaster Barton crashed into Macragge's Honor like a meteor, the immense impact instantly twisting the hatch.
After the enormous force blew open the hatch, Barton's blasphemous body, blessed by Chaos, stepped into this sacred 'temple'.
It was… unbelievably smooth!
Barton was no fool; his cunning and slyness had repeatedly led the black Legion to inflict unimaginable damage upon the Imperium.
Thirteen black Crusades, although most of the battles ultimately ended in the black Legion's defeat.
Yes, the Imperium won.
But the problem was, the Imperium gained no advantage from the battles it won.
And the black Legion?
Under Barton's leadership, although often mocked for its low win rate, frequently suffering defeats.
The truth was that the Imperium's strength was being eroded by Barton's black Crusades, time and time again, and the previous failures ultimately led to the tragedy of the Cadian Gate world.
Yes, the Imperium kept winning, the Imperium always won.
But this constantly victorious Imperium, whose strength on paper was gradually weakening, was precisely the outcome Barton desired.
This cunning Chaos Warmaster knew very well that the Imperium was a behemoth, and as the saying goes, a centipede dies but never stiffens, let alone the Imperium of Man, which occupies the largest mass in the Milky Way Galaxy?
He wanted to slowly, little by little, erode the Imperium's strength and energy, until the vast Imperium finally collapsed from within.
Facts also proved the feasibility of his strategy. If it weren't for the sudden coming home of the Primarch, with the chaotic political factions within the Imperium, it would have been impossible, and they would have lacked the ability, to reorganize a strategic concept on the scale of a Great Crusade.
Robert Guilliman, he was the one who re-mended the Imperium on the verge of collapse, using the name of the Primarch to make the rusty gears of the Imperium start turning again.
It was precisely for this reason that Barton set his sights on the Imperium Regent.
As long as he could kill Robert Guilliman, it would not only stop the Indomitus Crusade but also accelerate the Imperium's fragmentation!
This glorious 'battle result' was simply too tempting!
Barton was not without suspicion,
the plan was progressing too smoothly. The black Legion's boarding seemed to meet no resistance; these Ultramarines were like fragile cheese, shattering upon impact with the black Legion.
But, as mentioned above, Barton, knowing there was a trick, couldn't resist wanting to taste this glorious 'battle result'.
What if it worked? He couldn't resist.
Killing the Imperium Regent would make him, in one fell swoop, the Chosen of the Four Gods, surpassing Horus, and even the great Warmaster who would destroy the Imperium!
Moreover, Barton had already prepared himself mentally. Even if this was a trap set by the Imperium Regent to deliberately lure him, he could completely turn the tables!
Thinking of this, Barton could no longer suppress his extremely excited mood.
Finally… he could finally prove himself.
This proof of his, Barton's, great achievement surpassing 'Horus', was now before his eyes, and within reach. Who could resist?!
A trap?
A mere trap, how could he, the great Chaos Warmaster Barton, possibly fear it!
Barton's tall body was bathed in the mighty power of Chaos. The demonic artifact 'Horus' Claw' in his right hand easily crushed adamantium steel. He took a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying this coming great achievement, uniquely his!
His arrogant, domineering gaze swept across the entire chamber. Looking at the Ultramarines who had come to intercept him, a ferocious grin appeared on his face.
"Kill them for me!!!"
Boom!
He took a step, leading the charge.
Barton's speed was incredibly fast; the hard alloy floor even shattered beneath his feet.
The servo systems of his Chaos Power Armor emitted a powerful hum. The Ultramarine who came to intercept him couldn't even clearly see his movements before his power armor was cleaved apart and he was cut in half at the waist.
Blood splattered. Barton, bathed in the blood of the Ultramarines, held the 'daemon Sword' in his hand!
It was this daemon Sword that gave him the confidence to slay a Primarch!
Drach'nyen, born from the first 'murder' in human history, was imbued with the meaning of 'death'.
With this daemon Sword, even the 'Emperor', Barton was confident he could cleave to death with a single strike, let alone a mere Primarch?
"I will prove with my actions that the age of the Primarchs… is over!"
Barton's savage, unrestrained laughter echoed through the entire corridor of the chamber.
"Guilliman, where are you?!" He raised 'Drach'nyen', striking down Ultramarines one by one, bathed in the blood of the loyalists, as he advanced towards the Primarch's command bridge.
"I, son of the Luna Wolves, son of the great Horus, Barton the Raider, have come for my vengeance!!!"
"For the Gods! For Chaos!"
Abaddon's roar, amplified by his helmet's vox-caster, thundered through the battleship's corridors like a clap of thunder.
The blasphemous sound was magnified, like waves crashing in the Warp, drowning out the fierce firefight within the ship and the piercing alarms.
This furious roar was both a battle horn and the beginning of a massacre!
Abaddon's daemon sword, Drach'nyen, dripped with the blood of loyalists, and the surrounding metal deck seemed to be scorched by lava. Invisible heat waves emanated with the blasphemous aura of Chaos, enveloping him in bloody red light and thick smoke, as if he were a daemon god crawled from a hellish blood pool.
His heavy Terminator armor was blessed by the Chaos Gods.
The blasphemous mark, symbolizing the Sons of Horus, flowed with the Warp's venomous curse and halo. Any who dared to look directly at it would feel a dizzying sensation from their soul, along with physiological revulsion and nausea.
The terrifying daemon sword, Drach'nyen, released immense Warp energy, hissing like a venomous snake's tongue, an extremely unsettling sound. It thirstily licked the surrounding air, as if eagerly conveying to its Sir, Abaddon, its craving for the coming slaughter and blood, its desire to drink the souls of the loyalists!
"Form ranks!"
At the end of the corridor, the Ultramarines' Third Company adhered to the discipline etched into their bones.
They had to stop the invasion of Chaos' minions here!
Gazing at the Ultramarines still stubbornly resisting, Abaddon's face twisted into a sneer.
"Slaughter them for me!"
In an instant, the Chaos Dreadnoughts surged forward like a breaching flood of filth, overwhelming the Ultramarines' Third Company with absolute crushing force.
"fire!"
The experienced veterans of the Third Company immediately used their storm shields to form "Defensive fortifications."
Then, they suppressed the enemy with heavy bolters. Dense bolter rounds rained down, streaking through the narrow battleship corridor. Streaks of orange light, containing astonishing kinetic energy, screamed as they slammed into the Chaos Terminators.
Lethal fire tongues impacted the Terminator armor, but only produced dazzling flashes of fire.
Their immense kinetic energy, enough to tear apart a dinosaur, merely caused these damned Chaos Terminators to slightly sway and recoil.
The formidable defensive capabilities of Terminators could not be overcome by heavy bolters alone.
The Ultramarines Third Company's sergeant's pupils constricted. He had already foreseen his own outcome.
Because without warning, the heavy weapons and ammunition they carried were insufficient to breach the defenses of this elite Chaos force. The only thing they could do, or rather, their only mission at the moment, was to do their utmost to delay Chaos' advance and buy time for the Primarch.
However, Abaddon, who had long seen through the Ultramarines' true strength, would not mercifully grant them this opportunity.
As a commander, Abaddon knew very well that they were deep behind enemy lines, and speed was of the essence!
Only by being so fast that the Primarch couldn't react, so fast that the Ultramarines couldn't cope, could they achieve their strategic objective.
Otherwise, once bogged down by a battle-brother, they would face endless Imperial reinforcements until they were dragged into a quagmire.
Abaddon, discerning the tactics, immediately adjusted his strategy in the communication channel.
Thus, the warriors in Terminator armor quickly formed a solid formation, blocking the Ultramarines' suppressing fire, while the Chaos Sorcerers and Tzeentch's psykers, in absolute safety, leisurely chanted blasphemous sorcery.
Did the Ultramarines Third Company sergeant not notice?
No, he noticed.
But he was helpless; even knowing the danger, he couldn't do anything about Abaddon.
The strength he commanded was already at its limit in blocking the black Legion in the corridor. It was impossible, and he had no spare capacity, to break through that almost despair-inducing defensive fortification of Terminators, which was no different from a wall of sighs.
This was a pure disparity in power.
Soon, the chanting of the Tzeentch psykers and Chaos Sorcerers was complete, and psychic lightning, entwined with blasphemous runes, surged forth like a raging torrent.
If it were merely lightning caused by psychic energy, the Ultramarines Third Company could still barely resist.
But soon, some Ultramarines discovered in horror that their power armor began to decay, and their firearms rusted.
No, even more terrifying, an invisible green mist drifted in, causing the flesh of the Ultramarines who inhaled it to rot, mucus to flow from the gaps in their power armor, and even their hard bones to melt.
The stench of decay and highly poisonous mucus began to spread throughout this great flagship of the Primarch!
"No! No—!"
"Ah, my eyes!"
Screams of agony echoed through the steel battleship's corridors.
At this moment, Abaddon's face showed a cold, cruel smile. He had already ordered the Chaos Sorcerers to widely spread the 'Nurgle' plague here.
The Ultramarines' bodies rotted inch by inch under this potent poison, and the battleship's metal began to rust.
The highly toxic mucus summoned by the Chaos Sorcerers began to spread throughout the entire battleship with the mist, and this was only the beginning. It is well known that among the Four Chaos Gods, if one had to choose the most disgusting enemy, it would undoubtedly be 'Nurgle.'
Wherever it went, plague and poison ran rampant, and unimaginable diseases would utterly destroy a world!
And now, he wanted to turn this flagship, regarded as sacred in the eyes of the Imperium, into a breeding ground for plague and disease.
Even if a few Ultramarines resisted the plague's corruption, they soon felt utterly weak, as if a high fever swept over them, so debilitated that they couldn't even hold their chainswords. This was also the 'Nurgle's Disease' summoned by the Chaos Sorcerers.
The elite of the black Legion, the Terminator infantry phalanx, easily tore through this resistance.
Like a whirlwind, they swept through the bridge corridor near the entire landing zone with an unstoppable momentum, creating opportunities for subsequent landings.
"Guilliman's head is on the bridge!"
Abaddon's voice was cold, filled with absolute confidence.
He pointed his daemon sword towards the core of the battleship. The will of Chaos would be indomitable, transforming into the strongest stimulant, injected into the soul of every Chaos warrior, urging them to charge wildly towards that location for glory and death!
Everything went as smoothly as Abaddon had anticipated.
Under the rampant 'Nurgle' plague and diseases summoned by the Chaos Sorcerers, the Ultramarines were completely unable to form effective resistance.
The furious assault of the black Legion's elite made the Ultramarines and Imperial Guard's defenses shaky and on the verge of collapse when facing them.
"Is this the Ultramarines? Is this the army of the 'perfect' Primarch?"
Abaddon became even more ecstatic, swinging his daemon sword again, severing the head of an Ultramarine.
"Guilliman, the age of Primarchs is over. Today… is the day I avenge 'Horus.' Your head will be hung above the battleship by me!"
If Abaddon had harbored doubts and been wary of Guilliman's trap before landing, then now, having truly witnessed his black Legion elites crush several Ultramarines company defenses with an almost sweeping, overwhelming force, Abaddon's last shred of worry completely dissipated.
A trap? Perhaps.
But, the Ultramarines currently seemed more like cornered beasts fighting to the death.
Ten thousand years of slumber had caused his evaluation of the Primarch he once feared, the perfect Regent of the Imperium, to plummet in his mind.
If it were him, when an enemy commander invaded his warship, he would never cower in the command bridge; instead, he would personally lead elite forces into this battlefield to defend his dignity, serving as a banner for morale!
Yet, until now, that 'Primarch' still refused to show his face, hiding in his ship's command bridge.
He was like a panicked, fleeing aristocratic bureaucrat, who, in the face of absolutely overwhelming power, could only beg for his life like a humble ant.
This also made Abaddon truly understand Roboute Guilliman.
Perhaps this Primarch was skilled at playing politics, but ultimately, this was a battlefield, not an official's court, nor a game of thrones. Guilliman might have set traps and ambushes here.
However, from this brief boarding action, Abaddon had completely seen through Guilliman's true nature.
A Primarch might be powerful, but had Abaddon not slain many powerful beings?
The blessings of the Chaos Gods and the daemon sword Drach'nyen had given him absolute confidence, believing he possessed strength no less than a Primarch's.
As for Guilliman's head, it was merely a more valuable trophy he was about to collect.
"Advance faster!"
Abaddon's order was decisive and without hesitation.
"Since Guilliman dares not face the darkness and hides in the bridge awaiting his doom, then let him wait!"
The daemon sword Drach'nyen swung, cutting through a thick alloy bulkhead like thin paper, sending sparks flying.
The unstoppable torrent of the black Legion swept through like a broken bamboo, following the traces left by the 'retreating' Ultramarines, rapidly approaching the core area of the warship—the command bridge where the Primarch was holed up!
The scent of 'fear' in the air made Abaddon feel as if the scent of victory was close at hand.
"Ahhh, so terrifying!"
"Get me back!"
"Wailing…"
Compared to the well-trained black Legion, the behavior of these 'Ultramarines' struck Abaddon as ridiculous.
These warriors of the 'False Emperor' were actually crying?
Oh, heavens… they were still fleeing, even abandoning their weapons. Was this still the False Emperor's Legion?
A black Legion Champion pursued, slaughtering all in his path.
Under his chainaxe, the fleeing Ultramarines were beheaded one after another, utterly routed like chickens and dogs.
Panic spread among these Ultramarines, with many even abandoning resistance and attempting to beg for mercy.
But alas, what awaited them was the black Legion's merciless slaughter.
Surrender?
No, Chaos does not accept the surrender of cowards!
A hint of disappointment appeared in Abaddon's eyes; he hadn't expected his imagined powerful opponent to be so weak!
It seemed the Imperium was already very weak, and even the False Emperor's Legions had long lost their former glory.
"Kill them all."
Abaddon disappointedly stepped over the bodies of these begging Ultramarines, walking towards the bridge antechamber.
Behind him were the executed Ultramarines; they had believed that by abandoning resistance, they could survive at the hands of Chaos, but only cruel slaughter awaited them. From the moment they gave up resistance, their fate… was already sealed.
"?"
Suddenly, the black Legion Astartes responsible for the execution frowned deeply.
"What's wrong?" the officer in front asked.
"These people… why are their skin colors all black?" the black Legion Astartes wondered, "They aren't Sons of the Salamanders either."
Among Astartes, those with black skin were almost exclusively the Sons of the Salamanders.
If it were one or two, he wouldn't be puzzled, but these Ultramarines who surrendered and abandoned resistance were almost uniformly black-skinned, which was somewhat intriguing.
"Perhaps it's an issue with the recruitment world; hurry up and finish."
The officer didn't pay much attention, ordering them to continue the execution.
There were too many Ultramarines surrendering; he couldn't be bothered to distinguish them one by one.
Soon, after executing these 'wastes,' just as the black Legion was about to follow Abaddon into the bridge command hall, an unexpected change occurred!
Rumble—!!!
Deafening mechanical roars, like a giant beast bellowing.
Abaddon, who had already entered the bridge command hall, suddenly realized something was wrong, but before he could speak, dozens of heavy adamantium-reinforced blast doors around them slammed down with terrifying air blasts, crashing into the metal floor with a huge clang, instantly cutting off the black Legion!
The black Legion Terminators and most of their forces were cut off outside!
And he, Abaddon, along with a small number of elites, were trapped inside!
At the same time.
The seemingly solid walls, decorative pillars, and ventilation ducts all revealed dark, gaping holes amidst the screeching of huge hydraulic mechanisms and grinding gears, like the gaping maw of a giant beast.
Suddenly, streaks of blazing white light shot out from these open holes!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Heavy, perfectly synchronized footsteps, like dense war drums, echoed from passages on all sides.
A terrifying pressure, like a collapsing mountain, accompanied by the 'war drum' footsteps, engulfed the black Legion in the hall like a tsunami.
It wasn't until the first figure emerged from the passageway under the blazing white searchlights that the black Legion saw clearly.
This was a steel torrent!
Ultramarines, blue armor, a steel torrent formed!
They were no longer scattered squads, nor did they exude a weak aura; instead, they were fierce, orderly, and disciplined Terminator Guards!
These Ultramarines, clad in despairingly heavy tactical Dreadnought armor and wielding powerful assault cannons, advanced with rock-steady steps. Their mighty, formidable aura swept in like a storm, suffocating the black Legion.
Abaddon's pupils suddenly constricted.
At this moment, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
Drawing on countless battlefield experiences, he looked around; all escape routes were cut off. Those thick adamantium walls were absolutely impenetrable in a short time, and they were also adorned with Imperial Creed scriptures and smeared bone-ash runes.
This meant that even Chaos Sorcerers could not breach these adamantium doors!
"All units, form up! Back to back!"
Abaddon's roar echoed on the battlefield, tinged with unease and deep panic.
The black Legion elites, after all, were battle-hardened butchers who had followed him through countless wars. After a brief moment of confusion, they immediately contracted according to orders, forming a seemingly impregnable circular defensive perimeter, back to back.
Bolter fire, plasma, and blasphemous psychic spells poured out like a storm of destruction!
The black Legion elites frantically lunged at the steadily advancing Ultramarines, attempting to tear a gap in their lines.
However, the Ultramarines' guard stood like silent reefs, enduring the impact of the Chaos storm. Despite heavy casualties in the first wave, they remained unyielding, with subsequent warriors immediately filling any gaps.
Assault cannons and heavy bolters wove a curtain of death.
The heavy tactical Terminator armor brutally crushed the Chaos forces before them; absolute discipline and a torrent of steel drove the black Legion to despair.
Is this… truly the Ultramarines?
How could there be such a huge difference from the Ultramarines outside!
All of this was a trap!
A trap specifically set to lure him in, and now he was a lamb to the slaughter!
The four sides of the bridge command hall were cut off by solid, heavy bulkheads, mixed with a large amount of adamantium alloy, severing the black Legion's only retreat.
Guilliman had even ordered the Ecclesiarchy priests and Silent sisters to smear the doors with large amounts of soulless dust and holy oil to ward off Chaos sorcery.
At the same time, the main force of the black Legion, cut off by the heavy adamantium bulkheads, was enveloped by a sudden appearance of numerous vines and forests from an unknown source, and within the swirling mist, ghostly presences seemed to launch sneak attacks from the shadows.
For a time, the black Legion, both inside and outside the doors, suffered varying degrees of attack and found it difficult to save themselves.
But these were not the most serious issues.
Abaddon, whose eyes had been temporarily blinded by successive victories, had not anticipated being caught in such a predicament.
The Ultramarines who suddenly appeared were of a completely different caliber than the 'Ultramarines' previously defeated; they coordinated extremely well, as if they were a single entity.
"For the Emperor—attack!"
As the horn sounded, Ultramarines surged from hidden passages on all sides, beginning their counterattack!
Abaddon, Warmaster of the black Legion, immediately became the center of this storm, and the primary target of the Ultramarines Terminators, assault squads, and even Librarians.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The roar of bolters tore through the hall's air.
Several Terminators in formation, enduring the blasphemous flames poured out by the Chaos Legion, rained down scorching assault cannon fire and bolter rounds on Abaddon's position.
His heavy power armor, blessed by the Four Gods, was instantly covered in dents and bullet holes from the barrage; although it wasn't penetrated, the tremendous Impact from the kinetic energy made Abaddon somewhat overwhelmed.
The black Legion's guard immediately shielded Abaddon, blocking the fierce shelling for their Warmaster.
At this moment, Abaddon could only be grateful that he was on a space battleship; otherwise, these Ultramarines would have greeted him with more than just bolters and assault cannons—it would have been melta and plasma weapons!
The sheer number of Ultramarines completely overwhelmed the black Legion, and soon the black Legion's formation began to falter.
"Abaddon, Son of Blasphemy, die!!"
Suddenly, an Ultramarine wielding a power sword, whose power armor was clearly decorated with a wreath, cut down several black Legion Astartes and charged towards him with an unstoppable momentum.
The blade, shimmering with a crushing field, descended with immense power, carrying a terrifying force capable of severing rivers, and struck directly at Abaddon's head.
"Get lost! Ant!" Abaddon's veins pulsed on his forehead; he was the great Chaos Warmaster, chosen by the Four Gods, how could he be beheaded by a mere Ultramarine?
In an instant, Abaddon let out a roar, not retreating but advancing, his daemon sword Drach'nyen transformed into a tearing black lightning bolt that ripped through space, precisely meeting the powerful blow.
Screech!!!
The ear-splitting clang of metal echoed throughout the entire bridge command hall, and the Impact generated by the collision of blue and black energies directly shattered the surrounding metal floor.
"You want my head?" Abaddon's eyes were savage and brutal; he steadily parried the sword, and the Warp energy entwined around his daemon sword suddenly surged out wildly. He took a step forward, pressing his blade down forcefully.
"You—are not worthy!!!"
Bang!!!
The terrifying power was clearly evident!
This sword strike cleaved out a black arc, sending the honored Ultramarine flying, and the residual energy even shot out, pushing back the shield-bearing Terminators behind him several steps.
The metal deck of the ship, as if scorched by fire, was left with a clear crack that extended deep into the Ultramarines' ranks.
"You think you can kill me—?!"
Abaddon was utterly enraged, both by his own foolishness and by his hatred for Guilliman's cunning.
He was enveloped in a dense black light, as if a blasphemous Warp storm resonated around him.
In a flash, Abaddon charged into the Ultramarines, his daemon sword Drach'nyen responding to its Sir, wreathed in what seemed like burning black fire, and with an unstoppable strike, he shattered the Ultramarines Terminator who tried to block his path.
The sharpness of Drach'nyen was like a hot knife through butter, effortlessly and smoothly cutting through the sturdy storm shield.
The blade, trailing the wails of souls, cleaved the loyal warrior open; flesh, bone, and internal organs were seared by the blasphemous Chaos energy, hissing and spilling onto the ground.
"Come out—Guilliman!"
Abaddon's eyes dripped blood, roaring savagely as he cut through the Ultramarines, finding no equal.
The Chaos Warmaster's martial prowess was beyond ordinary resistance; a dozen of his personal guard warriors barely managed to halt Abaddon's advance by combining their efforts.
"Guilliman, you coward! You weakling! I know you're here, come out—face me!!!" Abaddon was extremely unwilling; his plan had been flawless, why had it turned out like this?!
"You think you can kill me? These men aren't enough!" He swung his sword savagely, once again forcing back the dozen personal guards who were attacking him, his crimson eyes fixed on a certain dark passage. His intuition told him that the treacherous, cunning, weak coward was hiding in there.
"How long will you hide? Coward! I see you! Guilliman, come out!!!"
Just then.
From the dark passage, heavy, unmistakable footsteps approached.
The battlefield seemed to pause.
Both the black Legion and the Ultramarines turned their gaze to the darkness of that passage, and under the battleship's brilliant white lights, a majestic figure, as if the embodiment of order and reason, appeared in their eyes like the dawn breaking through the mist.
Blue and gold ornate armor, a profound and dignified aura, and an exquisitely handsome yet stern face, like the most perfect ancient Greek sculpture, appeared on the chaotic battlefield.
Tall, perfect, majestic.
He was like the ruler of this space, the core of the world, and his mere appearance was like a stabilizing anchor, instantly elevating the morale of the entire Ultramarines to its peak.
Roboute Guilliman.
Sir of the Ultramarines, Regent of Ultramar, the resurrected Primarch, had arrived on the battlefield.
"You wished to see me?"
Roboute Guilliman's gaze, tinged with a hint of mockery and amusement, fell upon the enraged Abaddon; their temperaments formed a stark contrast.
One was a king!
The other, like a stray dog!