Chapter Summaries

Sanguinius and the narrator confronted the Chaos trap in the Bone Temple, where the Blood Angels’ genetic flaw was being triggered through Tagas’s remains. The trap gave birth to a Blood-red Angel, which blasted the temple apart and escaped into the Warp.

• Sanguinius attacked the Slaanesh Greater Daemon Khorvas after seeing Tagas’s shattered remains used to fuel the curse.
• The narrator ordered the Blood Angels to destroy the mechanical device and killed Khorvas with the Burning Emperor’s Blood Banner when the daemon tried to manipulate Sanguinius.
• The damaged device collapsed, and Merros was swept into Tagas’s remains by the uncontrolled psychic energy.
• A Blood-red Angel appeared, driving the witnessing Blood Angels into the Blood Thirst State despite the banner’s suppression.
• The Blood-red Angel unleashed a psychic wave that demolished much of the Bone Temple, then spread crimson wings and fled into the Warp.

After the Battle of Signus, the narrator spoke with Sanguinius about the coming Heresy and whether the future could be changed. Sanguinius restored his resolve and told him that his own battle lay in the distant future, then looked toward the clearing sky as the narrator asked what came next.

• The narrator led the surviving Blood Angels in destroying the remaining Slaanesh daemons and awakening those still in the Blood Thirst State.
• After the battle ended, naval personnel and Apothecaries evacuated the wounded and recovered the fallen Blood Angels’ Gene-seed and equipment.
• The narrator thanked Sanguinius and asked how much his psychic foresight had revealed about Horus’s Great Heresy.
• Sanguinius said the Emperor would never abandon humanity and questioned how the narrator could still exist if the future had truly changed.
• Sanguinius encouraged the narrator to find hope in the distant future, and the narrator regained his fighting spirit and asked what they should do next.

After the fleet reached Imperium Nihilus, a Night Haunter ambush aboard the Red Tears forced the Blood Angels into a search for Konrad Curze. When a giant attacked the bridge and drew Sanguinius away, the narrator detected another intruder and confronted Konrad Curze, who revealed his personal reason for coming.

• The narrator told Sanguinius about the Warp, the Chaos Gods, and the Imperium’s future, and Sanguinius asked him to explain it all to Guilliman once they reached Ultramar.
• Warp corruption appeared among mortal crew members, so the narrator led Blood Angels in executing the afflicted crew.
• The fleet emerged safely into Imperium Nihilus, but the crew found an Astartes patrol stripped of armor and skin aboard the Red Tears.
• The narrator accused Konrad Curze of the attack, and Sanguinius ordered the Blood Angels to guard the bridge and vital chambers while they searched the flagship.
• An enormous attacker struck the bridge, prompting Sanguinius to rush there while the narrator noticed the scent of death and suspected another intruder remained nearby.
• Konrad Curze appeared before the narrator and declared that he intended to repay the sword strike from their earlier encounter.

You fought Konrad Curze and died after he tore open your chest, while Sanguinius charged in to attack him. The simulation ended after sixty days, offering three Primarch items to retain.

• You opened fire on Konrad Curze and attacked him with the Scythe of Blood and an Iron Fist.
• Konrad stabbed and hoisted you with his Lightning Claws, but you wounded his shoulder with the Scythe of Blood.
• Konrad Curze tore open your chest and destroyed your hearts, and you died as Sanguinius roared into battle.
• The simulation ended and offered the Spear of Completion, Mercy and Forgiveness, and Gene Detection Nerve—Sanguinius's Mercy as options to retain.

Rorschach gained scarlet-and-black wings through the Simulator’s Augmentation Surgery, along with the Red Thirst and Black Rage and a power to inflict them on nearby targets. After testing his new abilities, he prepared a ten-man Gang dog squad to enter the Great White Chapter, and they departed through a spatial rift.

• Rorschach selected Augmentation Surgery and endured severe pain as scarlet-and-black wings emerged from his back.
• Rorschach experienced the Red Thirst and a vision of Horus killing Sanguinius, but both effects soon receded.
• Rorschach tested his wings and discovered they could devour flesh and blood for memories and inflict Red Thirst and Black Rage on nearby targets, but could not let him fly.
• Rorschach selected ten Gang dogs for a dangerous mission to the Great White Chapter, heard their final wishes, and prepared them with prayers, Emperor’s Blood, and panacea.
• Rorschach contacted Tyberus and sent the ten Gang dogs through a spatial rift opened with the Chief Librarian’s help.

Rorschach learned that Ulysses Klaue had demanded a face-to-face meeting over the sale of original Vibranium, so he captured Klaue and seized his stock. He ordered David to brainwash Klaue, who offered information about Wakanda in an attempt to escape.

• Rorschach posted Antarctic Vibranium Power Swords to pursue diplomatic ties and reviewed new Golden Throne support missions.
• Iron Man David told Rorschach that Ulysses Klaue had refused to complete their Vibranium deal without meeting the buyer in person.
• Rorschach ordered David to capture Klaue and use Hydra's brainwashing devices on him.
• A Thunderhawk and two squads of Abominants captured Klaue aboard an oil tanker and recovered nearly two hundred kilograms of original Vibranium.
• Klaue admitted that he had guessed the buyers were the Terra Astartes Legion and offered a route into Wakanda and information about Wakandans abroad.
• Rorschach ordered David to brainwash Klaue and warned him to keep Raditus away from the devices without permission.

Rorschach tested Vibranium against a Necron Phase Sword, organized a Stormtrooper squad under Doom, and learned that enemies had attacked the Japan Base. He prepared to respond after hearing that Mariko had requested help and the base’s defenders had been badly wounded.

• Ulysses Klaue returned to Rorschach after being brainwashed, confessed his crimes, and was sent to Wakanda to acquire Vibranium and technology.
• Titania submitted to brainwashing and became a combat instructor, while Rorschach left Natasha’s former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents for her to handle.
• Rorschach tested a Vibranium Power Armor shell and found that his Phase Sword split it apart, while an Antarctic Vibranium Power Sword could not damage it.
• Doom selected Luther and several other Gang dogs to form a Stormtrooper squad.
• Iron Man David told Rorschach that enemies had attacked the Japan Base, badly injuring Old John, Bucky, and other defenders and causing devastating losses among the Yashida Clan’s ninjas.

Rorschach arrived at the Mount Fuji Base after an attack left the Japan base’s ninja forces and Auto-Servitor Robots badly damaged. As Bucky and the others explained how four energy-powered attackers had overwhelmed the defenses, Rorschach accepted responsibility for the base’s lack of reinforcements and countermeasures.

• Rorschach gathered Doom, Stormtroopers, Abominants, and supplies, then flew to the Japan base with Iron Man David and the others.
• Bucky told Old John that more than a hundred ninja had died and nearly five hundred were wounded or disabled, while the base still had no clear lead on the attackers.
• Rorschach arrived and heard Bucky report the base’s losses before Mariko and Yukio joined the group.
• Bucky and the others explained that over a hundred disguised attackers had breached an emergency entrance, and four energy-powered leaders had overwhelmed the base before Bucky and Old John helped repel them with mercenaries.
• Rorschach acknowledged that the Japan base had not received Abominants or Energy-nullifying collars and accepted that the lack of support was his responsibility.

Rorschach met Bucky’s superpowered strike team, including Weather Witch, Gun God, Bob, Saber, and the incessantly talkative Deadpool. After Deadpool claimed loyalty to the Emperor, Rorschach blasted him to ashes, but a tiny piece of flesh began regenerating after the others left.

• Rorschach ordered Iron Man David to take over Japan’s network and locate the attackers, then agreed to meet the superpowered team.
• Bucky introduced Zheng Xian, codenamed Weather Witch, Yamashita Tetsuya, known as Gun God, and Bob to Rorschach and Doom.
• Wade Wilson interrupted the introductions with chatter about his pay and team recruitment, while Saber restrained him with energy blades.
• Bucky explained that Deadpool had shown up uninvited and claimed the Emperor had sent him to serve Rorschach.
• Deadpool saluted and shouted his allegiance, so Rorschach fired the Heart of the Forge and turned him to ashes.
• After everyone left the Training Ground, a tiny piece of Deadpool’s flesh began growing into a new body.

Rorschach learned that the attackers were the Heavenly Arrival Four Generals, internet-famous heroes who had vanished after setting out to confront a supposed supervillain. He ordered teams to capture them while he pursued their captain, Azure Dragon, in the Hakone mountains.

• Iron Man David identified the attackers as the Heavenly Arrival Four Generals and explained that their original hunt for a supervillain had been fabricated for publicity and money.
• David said the team had vanished after announcing their mission, then resurfaced in a surprise attack on the Japan base, possibly under an enemy's control.
• Rorschach ordered Bucky, Doom, and Old John to lead teams after Black Tortoise, War Tiger, and Phoenix Emperor, and reserved Azure Dragon for himself.
• Doom's team headed to a love hotel to find War Tiger, Bucky's team pursued Black Tortoise, and Old John's team set out after Phoenix Emperor.
• Rorschach boarded Iron Man David's Thunderhawk Gunship and flew with an Abominant toward Azure Dragon's hiding place in the Hakone mountain region.

Rorschach tracked Captain Qinglong to a mountain spring and overcame her powers with his Vibranium Armor. He seized her in a bear hug and bit into her collar, leaving her fate unclear; an author’s note afterward described the author’s severe illness.

• Rorschach sent Iron Man David and five Abominants to search the mountain forest for the mission target.
• Iron Man David located a campsite, and Rorschach followed the target’s scent to a nearby spring.
• Captain Qinglong burst from the spring and used crescent energy blades and binding energy to attack the Abominants.
• Rorschach revealed himself, broke through Captain Qinglong’s energy, and used Shadow Step to appear behind her.
• Rorschach wrapped Captain Qinglong in his arms and bit into her collar.
• The author added a note about a high fever, an allergic reaction, and trying to reach a hospital.

Rorschach used the Gene Detection Nerve to uncover a memory of a Ten Rings-wearing man behind the Heavenly Arrival Four Generals. When Captain Qinglong’s energy phantom was absorbed by his protective artifact, Rorschach gained control of Azure Dragon Divine Power and ordered his forces to capture the remaining enemies alive.

• Rorschach examined Azure Dragon’s memories and found a blurry image of a man wearing ten purple-energy-emitting rings.
• As Rorschach prepared to leave, a huge Azure Dragon phantom emerged from the nearly defeated Captain Qinglong and resisted his plasma attack.
• Rorschach’s protective artifact absorbed the phantom, giving him control of Azure Dragon Divine Power.
• Rorschach warned David that the Four Generals could unleash a powerful attack near death and ordered the combat squads to incapacitate rather than kill them.
• Rorschach healed Captain Qinglong with a panacea capsule, and David took her aboard the Thunderhawk Gunship with an energy-nullifying collar.
• Rorschach learned that combining the Four Generals’ divine powers could awaken the Heavenly Kirin Beast.

Rorschach absorbed all four divine powers, recruited the Heavenly Arrival Four Generals, and prepared the Japanese base for a battle against the Ten Rings Gang. Zheng Xian then revealed that she was a messenger for the director of the Divine Spears Bureau, also named Zheng Xian.

• Rorschach absorbed the Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger Divine Powers after Doom helped him bring the Heavenly Arrival Four Generals near death, and he sensed he could summon a powerful Heavenly Kirin Beast.
• Rorschach healed and brainwashed the four generals, recruited them, and learned that a terrifying figure had knocked them unconscious after their clash with the Ten Rings Gang.
• Iron Man David linked the Ten Rings Gang’s interest to the Japanese base’s activities in Asia, and Rorschach ordered reinforcements and preparations for battle.
• Zheng Xian stayed behind after the meeting, then entered Rorschach’s lounge and revealed a vaporous figure that introduced itself as Zheng Xian, director of the Divine Spears Bureau.

Rorschach negotiated a preliminary alliance with Director Zheng Xian of the Divine Spears Bureau, agreeing to work together against the Ten Rings Gang while keeping his team independent. After assigning Zheng Xian a mission to help evacuate civilians from the gang’s territory, he was interrupted by Deadpool Wade.

• Rorschach had Saber, Lin Yu, and another suspected infiltrator brought unconscious to the lounge, where Director Zheng Xian explained that the Divine Spears Bureau’s agents had been assigned to protect his bases.
• Rorschach and Director Zheng Xian reached a preliminary agreement: his team could operate across Asia without supervision and receive combat support, but could not massacre civilians or cause large-scale economic damage.
• Director Zheng Xian revealed that the Divine Spears Bureau also wanted to destroy the Ten Rings Gang but feared the war would spread and harm civilians.
• Rorschach assigned Weather Witch Zheng Xian to create natural disasters in the Ten Rings Gang’s Central Asian territory so the Divine Spears Bureau could evacuate civilians, and told her to take Saber and seek equipment from David.
• Deadpool Wade greeted Rorschach outside the lounge, prompting Rorschach to slam the door shut before charging back out with the Heart of the Forge.

Rorschach and Doom launched an assault on Mountain City while the civilians were still evacuating, using missiles, servitors, and an underground attack to break through the Ten Rings Gang’s defenses. After encountering the gang’s elite Black Robe Warriors, Rorschach led a direct charge and killed more than a dozen of them.

• Rorschach planned a coordinated attack with Doom, sending the Intelligent controlled legion underground and assigning Doom to protect himself from Wenwu’s Ten Rings.
• At night, Whirlwind Missiles and heavy Combat servitors bombarded Mountain City as Abominants erupted from underground and slaughtered the gang’s fighters.
• Rorschach led Doom and the Stormtrooper squad into the city after its outer defenses fell.
• Iron Man David reported that black-robed warriors could sacrifice their lives to make their attacks indestructible, and Rorschach warned his team.
• Black Robe Warriors surrounded the team, so Rorschach ordered a direct assault and killed more than a dozen with the Scythe of Blood.

Rorschach and Doom fought through Mountain City and entered its palace, where Wenwu confronted them. Wenwu’s Ten Rings nullified Doom’s hellfire and blasted him backward, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• Rorschach, Doom, and the Stormtroopers defeated the Black Robe Warriors and continued toward Mountain City’s center.
• Rorschach led the squad to the apparently empty ancient palace, then entered with Doom while the Stormtroopers took positions outside.
• Wenwu revealed himself and said the Terra Astartes Legion was being used by the Divine Spears Bureau, while Rorschach blamed him for the attack on his base.
• Doom attacked Wenwu with hellfire, but Wenwu’s purple-glowing Ten Rings extinguished it.
• Wenwu sent the Ten Rings spinning into Doom and blasted him across the palace.

Rorschach and Doom defeated Wenwu in the palace, and Rorschach claimed the Ten Rings. Rorschach ordered Mountain City destroyed, leaving its warriors and residents to face a devastating missile barrage.

• Doom crashed through the palace wall, and Rorschach attacked Wenwu with the Scythe of Blood and his Vibranium Power Armor.
• Doom used magical telekinesis to pin Wenwu, allowing Rorschach to overwhelm him with Bloodthirst and Black Rage and tear him apart.
• The Ten Rings attached themselves to Rorschach’s arms after Wenwu died.
• Rorschach dismissed Wenwu’s warning and ordered David to launch every remaining Whirlwind Missile at Mountain City.
• Whirlwind Missiles devastated Mountain City, killing its defenders and residents as they fought, prayed, or tried to flee.

Rorschach returned from Mountain City and reorganized security at the Japanese base before bringing Natasha, Yelena, and recovered Black Widows to Twin Islands. There, Deadpool secretly infiltrated the base but was discovered by a Power Fist and dragged away.

• Zheng Xian offered to build an outpost in Mountain City's ruins, but Rorschach refused and evacuated with his team after the Abominants cleared the battlefield.
• Iron Man David investigated the Japanese base's personnel, while Rorschach and Old John visited the Loyal Son Academy and discussed the Berserker trainees' growth.
• Rorschach led the support team back to Twin Islands, where Taskmaster fought Natasha and the Abominants; Doom restrained the combatants, and Rorschach ordered Iron Man David to brainwash Taskmaster.
• Rorschach welcomed Yelena and several recovered Black Widows to the team and let them settle in before assigning them work.
• Deadpool slipped out of a Thunderhawk Gunship and tried to sneak through the base's ventilation duct, but a Power Fist attacked him and dragged his regenerating body deeper inside.

Rorschach tested his equipment on a support mission, then helped Catachan repel Chaos Demons before returning to Twin Islands Base to rest. The Simulator replaced a mission with a distress prayer from the Sanguinary Chapter, and Rorschach prepared to respond.

• Rorschach and Iron Man David tested Rorschach’s weapons and armor on a support mission, then David suggested finding special abilities to improve Rorschach’s combat power.
• After David’s armor was repaired, Rorschach and David traveled to Catachan, helped its inhabitants eliminate invading Chaos Demons, and established contact with the settlement.
• Rorschach and David returned from Catachan, removed possible spores from their armor, and rested at Twin Islands Base.
• The Simulator awakened Rorschach with a new distress prayer mission from the Sanguinary Chapter, noting increased chances of recruiting its Astartes and attracting Orks.
• Rorschach called for an Auto-Servitor Robot and ordered it to notify David about the new mission.

Rorschach and Iron Man David led a rescue force through a spatial rift to aid the Sanguinary Chapter, which was surrounded by an Ork horde. After emerging from an abandoned mine, Rorschach launched a charge against the Orks while David led half the legion around to draw their attention.

• Rorschach assembled a rescue force with Iron Man David, five hundred Abominants, and five Star Fortress Sentinels, then opened the Simulator's support mission for the Sanguinary Chapter.
• The force arrived deep inside an abandoned mine, and Rorschach ordered the Abominants to scout for a path to the surface.
• After hearing a battle above, Rorschach and David led the legion out of the mine and saw Orks attacking the Sanguinary Chapter and mortal slaves.
• Rorschach ordered David to take half the legion around to distract the Orks, then charged the horde with Frostfang and an Antarctic Vibranium Power Sword.
• Rorschach and the Abominants cut into the Ork formation, and the battle quickly intensified.