Abyss-class Warship Forged by the Fabricator-General for the Warmaster-Its First Victory Was over the Sons of Horus

In the Solar Segmentum, Lucius's flagship, the Abyss-class warship Blade of the Monarch, translated into the Cthonia system.

Nathaniel Garro's flagship, the other Abyss-class warship Monarch Unbroken, also arrived at its anchor point in realspace.

On the bridge of the Fist of Cthonia, a massive warning icon flashed continuously across the observation window.

Captain Sergio leaned forward on the command throne and asked urgently.

"Proximity warning."

"It's a ship—I have never seen a ship like this before."

"Open the observation window," Sergio ordered.

With a click, the reality outside came into view.

Sergio saw a purple warship shaped like a trident.

Three enormous decks extended from its hull, like the prongs of a trident.

It was turning, exposing its port side, where a pitch-black blade had been painted.

Sergio frowned. He had never seen such an emblem before.

At the same moment, blinding red light flared, filling his entire world.

"By the Wolf-Herder God." Sergio sucked in a sharp breath. "Forward shields, maximum power!"

The first barrage came screaming in.

A row of consoles to Sergio's right exploded violently. Shrapnel shredded four Servitors and burned thirteen officers to death.

The bridge shook fiercely. The officers clung to their consoles while Servitors sprayed foam over the flames.

"All power to the lances!" Sergio roared.

His mind reacted to the situation before him.

The enemy's first volley had pierced the Void Shield at standard power and inflicted real damage on the bridge.

His ship could not withstand such terrifying firepower. To maximize the damage they could inflict, he gave an order entirely different from the first.

"Send a warning to the surface. We are beyond saving."

Sergio's gaze followed the blazing beams as they struck their target.

The light faded, but the fireball he had expected did not rise.

*It did not