To Die in the Angel's Name

The Baal System's Astropath Relay Station is located at the highest point of the Broken Mountains of Bawei II.

Built against the backdrop of towering, cliff-lined mountains.

The slope is very steep, and the route is covered with dry, cold the Rock, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

At this moment, the place was a complete mess.

Black smoke, the residue of a fierce battle, rose everywhere.

Deep, charred craters created by artillery shells are visible everywhere.

Hundreds of thousands of Tyranid corpses lay scattered among the Rock.

The cold brought by the low pressure caused frost to freeze on their bodies as well.

Some of the Tyranid creature that weren't quite dead would still twitch from time to time.

Hakin, the Chapter Master of the Crimson Blades Chapter, stared coldly at the corpses of the Tyranid.

Ordinary soldiers moved among the corpses, inspecting the battlefield.

Search for surviving companions and finish off Xenos that aren't quite dead yet.

Hakin mentally calculated that this should be the 48th attack launched by Tyranid creature.

Wave after wave,

These Xenos seem tireless and indifferent to casualties, going on a rampage every time.

Hakin's brothers are falling one after another, their numbers dwindling.

The ordinary soldiers were also exhausted and covered in wounds.

No matter what, they will not compromise.

Even if they fight to the last man, the offspring of angels will not yield.

Hakin has lived for four hundred years, but he only became Chapter Master a few days ago.

The previous Chapter Master was Jiaan.

An experienced, powerful, and highly skilled swordsman of the Imperium, with a distinguished record.

But not long ago, Jiaan fell.

When Tyranid launched his 32nd offensive,

Countless Tyranid creature surged in like a tide; everywhere one looked, there were Tyranid creature.

It seemed the Astropath Relay Station was about to fall.

Jiaan selected an elite squad to carry out a decapitation strike.

The goal is to kill the Synapse Creature in exchange for victory.

Hakin wanted to go with them, but was ordered to stay by Jiaan.

"They need someone to lead them."

"It was me before; if I can't come back, then it's you."

"Hakin, you are the only person I can trust to take care of."

After leaving those words, Jiaan led his squad out.

The decapitation tactic was successful; the Tyranid creature were routed and retreated, leaving behind piles of corpses.

However, Jiaan and the others did not return.

When Hakin led his team out and found Jiaan, he was standing atop a mountain of corpses.

A massive Synapse Creature lay sprawled nearby, utterly dead.

The mangled corpses of several brothers lay scattered nearby.

None of them were intact; they were all torn to pieces, their deaths tragic.

"First blood, you win."

Hakin called out to Jiaan, but received no response.

He climbed over the mountains of Swarm corpses and stood before Jiaan, only to find that the man was already dead.

Jiaan's body was pierced by the insect's sharp segments, and his internal organs spilled out.

But he supported himself with the sword in his hand, standing atop the pile of corpses.

The helmet shattered from the fierce battle, exposing the weathered, scarred face to the cold air.

Anger still lingered on his resolute face.

Hakin saluted the dead Chapter Master and brought back the bodies of Jiaan and his fallen comrades.

After that, Hakin took over as the Chapter Master.

As of now, they have only 157 brothers left.

It's unclear how much longer Hakin can hold on.

But he knew very well that without reinforcements, their defeat was only a matter of time.

"First Blood".

Tech-Marine Karnok Hakin.

His right fist struck the armor on his chest with a dull thud.

"According to the reconnaissance results, the enemy seems to be in chaos, as if the Hive Mind has been disturbed by the changes in the Void."

"Should we attack? First blood?" Karnok asked.

Hakin looked up, but could see neither the Stellaris nor the Void warships.

An eerie light rolled like ocean waves, and everything was changed.

"The Astropaths must live," Hakin said. "That's our top priority."

"Alright, first blood." Karnok bowed.

"Let the soldiers rest, repair their weapons and equipment as much as possible, and replenish the Autocannon with bullets and batteries. We need to prepare for the next round of battle."

Hakin paused, thought for a moment, and then added,

"There's one more thing. Go to the communications station and see if you can contact anyone. Anyone will do; we need to know something about what's happening outside!"

"No news at all," Karnok said. "I've been trying every three hours, and I haven't heard anything since I received news five days ago about the Ka'Bandha's invasion of Baal Secundus."

"That doesn't mean they're all dead. Keep in touch and bring the Astropaths over. We need to check on them, have them pray, and prevent demons from entering their souls while we know nothing about them."

"Uh! Maybe not." Karnok shrugged, pointing behind Hakin. "Because they're already here."

Hakin turned around and saw Master Lit walking towards him, supported by Gino and another servant, his face beaming with excitement.

"What happened?" Hakin frowned.

"He's here," Lit said. "The angel, the angel has come."

Hakin sized up Lit, searching for any unusual features.

He suspected that the Psyker had been replaced by a demon.

What nonsense are you talking about?

"It's an angel," Lit repeated incoherently, "Believe me."

"The angel is dead. He died ten thousand years ago at the hands of his rebellious brother," Hakin said. "You may have seen something, but that was definitely not an angel, understand?"

"Remain calm and rational, Master Lit. In the name of the Emperor, begin the prayer now."

At Hakin's request, Lit began to pray.

Faith empowers and brings peace.

Lit suppressed his excitement and began to calmly recount everything he had seen.

A Beacon that does not belong to Terra, a magnificent hymn, and an Angels Sanguine with pure white wings, wearing golden armor, and wings on his back.

"That's an angel, exactly the same," Lit emphasized. "He said he would Save Baal and was on his way."

"Could it be Sanguinor?" Hakin remained skeptical.

Sanguinius was dead, and his body was kept in the Tomb at the bottom of the Angel's Fortress.

According to Librarians, the angel's soul is shattered and there is no possibility of resurrection.

Sanguinor, on the other hand, is quite common.

Whenever the children of angels are in danger, there is a certain probability that they will see Sanguinor.

"No, I have seen Sanguinor. He looks a lot like an angel, but he is easily recognizable," Lit said. "He is a true angel, perhaps not the one of Baal, but an angel belonging to the Emperor, to mankind."

"No matter what, he is coming, bringing Redemption and hope."

"What should we do?" Karnok asked Hakin.

After a moment's Hakin, "Try to contact other units and tell them that reinforcements are coming."

"Shouldn't we double-check this information?" Karnok said.

"Could things get any worse, my brother?" Hakin looked at Karnok. "Anyway, the children of angels are heading towards failure."

"Give them some hope, at least so they don't die in despair, and let them hold on as long as possible."

Karnok placed his fist on his chest. "Alright, as you command. We'll keep sending messages until the message gets out."

Hakin nodded and looked into the distance.

An angel?

Who exactly is it?

Did the Emperor use His power to resurrect Sanguinius in another place?

Although Sanguinius' death has been confirmed, who can be 100% certain that the Primarch cannot be resurrected?

Several of the Emperor's sons had the experience of dying and then being resurrected.

"Could it really be Sanguinius?"

Hakin thought to himself.

At that moment, the alarm sounded.

The previously collapsed Tyranid creature have recovered and launched a new attack on the Astropaths Relay Station.

49 offensives.

Hakin put on his helmet and silently counted.

Angel's Fortress on Baal Prime,

The Cathedral of Excellence.

The children of angels painted their armor black.

The survivors from each Chapter were prepared to sacrifice themselves.

When the Great Rift opened, the Tyranid Swarm collapsed, and the Hive Mind was Rend by the Warp Storm.

The unorganized Tyranid creature once became targets of slaughter by the Space Marines.

They drove the enemy out of Angel's Fortress through First Company of battles.

Reorganize the troops and take control of key defensive positions.

However, their lucky days were short-lived, Hive Mind once again took control of the Swarm.

They launched an even fiercer attack, determined to completely overrun the entire Baal.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The cannons of Angel's Fortress were still bombarding the Swarm, and the huge tremors and explosions reached the church.

Before the statue of Sanguinius in the church, Dante, the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, kneels on one knee, confessing to the Gene-Father.

This battle will be the swan song of the descendants of Sanguinius.

The various Chapter that participated in this battle will never be able to recover.

Tears streamed down Dante's face as he grieved for the destruction of the Primarch's legacy in his own hands.

When the penitential ritual ended, Dante stood up.

Odamair, the pastor, came over.

"My master, everyone has assembled as you commanded."

"Where Death Company?" Dante stood up, his face filled with grief.

Odamair nodded solemnly. "They are ready. The guards of the Tower of the Lost are ready to open the gates to the tower at any time."

"I must remind you once again that this command cannot be stopped. Once those cursed warriors are released, they will be engulfed in eternal rage until they burn out their lives."

"I know." Dante stepped out of the church.

A large number of Space Marines clad in black armor had already gathered outside.

Baal's last defenders knelt upon their weapons, singing in unison, "The Death of Blood."

They were prepared to give their lives in their final service to their Primarch and Emperor.

Dante joined their chorus and addressed them after the song ended.

"Tyranid is recovering. It was severely damaged and shattered when the Great Rift opened. But with the passage of time, it has become powerful once again."

"Soon, they will become a whole again, and then we will face utter defeat."

"I have not received any news of reinforcements arriving, which means we are isolated and helpless and can only rely on ourselves."

"Ten thousand years ago, our Primarch was the first to die. In order to win the victory, he accepted his own death and faced the invincible enemy instead of hiding in the fortress and becoming a shameful coward."

"And today, it's our turn. We still have a chance to fight. If we can kill the leader of the Swarm, we can deliver a fatal blow to Tyranid and Save Baal."

Dante removed his mask, revealing his aged face.

"Now, let us unleash our Red Thirst one last time and fight with the same fury as our Primarch."

"For the Emperor, for Sanguinius, let us seek our destined death, let our rage burn on the corpses of our enemies, until we destroy them, or destroy ourselves."

"For the Emperor! For Sanguinius!" shouted the warriors in black armor, responding to Dante.

Dante nodded. "Then let us go into battle, Priest Odamair. Have the guards of the Tower of the Lost its gates, and let all the Sons of the Angel go with us."

Odamair nodded and contacted the guards of the Tower of the Lost.

Then, a solemn and resounding bell rang out, guiding the lost offspring of the angels and leading their will and souls back to the real world.

With the help of the priests and clerics, the crazed warriors were awakened and began to howl.

"Horus, why? Why did you betray us?"

The desperate cries have echoed for ten thousand years.

This was said aboard the Vengeful Spirit.

It has been repeated countless times and passed down to the present day in Baal.

Unfortunately, there will never be an answer.

The devices binding the warriors activated, and they roared as they charged out of the Tower of the Lost and towards the Tyranid Swarm outside Angel's Keep.

Dante, having removed his angel mask, listened to the howls of his blood brothers, consumed by Black Rage, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

He raised the Axe of Mortalis and shouted,

"Sons of angels, advance!"

"For Sanguinius, for the Emperor, for the destined death."

The warriors in black armor shouted and charged together.

The final test has arrived.

The sons of Sanguinius will face their own final battle.

Meanwhile, in the communications room of Angel's Fortress.

The working Servitor trembled as it received a faint signal from Bawei II.

The meditation system works by receiving information and translating it.

Click! Click!

The printing device kept making noise as it printed out the received message.

The Tech-Priests in charge of maintaining it walked over and picked up the paper with the information printed on it for reading and translation.

+++Reinforcements for Baal are arriving soon, please hold your ground and await reinforcements.+++

PS: Today's update is only 9,000 words, which is too decadent, but I didn't go out to play or anything, I just couldn't write.