The remaining World Eaters were shocked.
Blessed by their gods, their armor should have protected them.
But Datch's shotgun blew them away.
"That's it? I haven't even used my full strength!"
Datch taunted, firing again.
Another World Eater fell.
The third rushed in, swinging a chainaxe—severing Datch's hand.
But virtual games limited pain; Datch barely noticed.
He split the attacker's skull—
—but another chainsword pierced his chest from behind.
"Damn, just a few small fry and I still die once. Is Easy Mode too hard for me? I'm such a noob!"
A flash, and Datch respawned, grumbling.
He hacked off his killer's head.
The Traitors were stunned.
Hadn't they just killed this guy?
After the four World Eaters fell, Datch helped wherever he could—shotgun booming.
Half an hour later, Creed and the evacuees reached a battered port.
Transports shuttled people to orbit.
…
[Mission Complete: Evacuation]
*[Rewards: 600 EXP, 600 Credits, Reputation +20, Eviscerator's Vow Chainsword 1]
…
Datch equipped his new chainsword—green quality, with:
Execution Mark: Attacking same target stacks 'Execution'; fully stacked, next hit deals massive true damage and triggers dismemberment.
Creed came to thank him.
"Thank you—"
"Skip, skip. Next mission?"
Creed: "..."
"Emperor's Angel, Cadia is lost. Please help hold the evacuation point!"
…
[Mission: Defend the Evacuation Point]
[Hold the port until all have evacuated.]
*[Reward: 700 EXP, 700 Credits, Reputation +30, Tartaros-Pattern Terminator Armor 1]
…
Datch surveyed the ruined port.
How can such flimsy fortifications hold? I need to build something better.
He checked the shop for construction tools.
[Item: Mithril Pickaxe (1 day)]
Greatly increases gathering efficiency. Can quickly gather or destroy most materials.
"Build a defensive line. Dig a trench."
Datch went to work, dismantling buildings and gathering materials.
Soldiers and civilians watched in awe as he worked miracles.
He dug a deep trench, stacked the blocks, and built a wall in minutes.
Creed was speechless; even Cawl's augmetic eyes couldn't comprehend the perfection.
"O Emperor, what kind of angel have you sent us?"
…
In the void above Cadia...
The Imperial Fleet fought the Chaos Fleet, Phalanx's guns blazing.
The Dictator-class Cruiser Hand of Sathariel was hit, flames erupting.
"Today we meet our deaths. May your souls return to the God-Emperor," Captain Locke intoned.
"Our void shields are gone. All power to the engines. Ramming speed!"
Five minutes later, all Imperial ships received the news:
Hand of Sathariel rammed Brass Blood, the entire crew martyred.
Sacrifice is the Empire's foundation. The rest had to hold until all ground forces escaped.
…
Planet Cadia, Elysion Fields.
A team of Black Templars, Battle Sisters, Adeptus Mechanicus, and others raced for the evacuation point.
"I should not have listened to that xenos and entered Cadia," reflected Belisarius Cawl, regretting his decision.
He carried the Armour of Fate, hoping to deliver it to Macragge and resurrect Guilliman.
But the situation had collapsed. Without a Primarch, humanity was doomed.
Above, Living Saint Celestine soared, alert for Chaos.
"By the Emperor, what is this?"
Black Templars Marshal Amalrich stared at the towering walls and deep trench.
Only one path remained open, guarded by a Space Marine in unpainted armor—Datch.
…
Bonus chapter at 100 PS