Asmodai!

It was not just the Monolithic Fortress. Standing at the hatchway entrance, Azrael also saw the Gloriana-class Battleship Crimson Tear in the distant void, as well as the Emperor-class Battleship Glorious Lord, once Makarius's vessel and now Saint Doraemon's flagship, and the Abyssal-class Battleship Doraemon Cabinet, which he had reclaimed from the great traitor Erebus.

What kind of enemy required such a vast force in the void, including so many Astartes?

Azrael shook his head slightly. That was not what he needed to concern himself with now.

He was merely a Black Shield Astartes. Obeying orders was the only thing he needed to do.

Yes. Obey orders. Set foot upon the Monolithic Fortress.

Azrael stepped onto the ceramite-forged boarding bridge and looked at the rough stone floor just one step away, a wave of dizziness washing over him.

His throat tightened, his mind went light, and his head seemed to float as though it would turn into a firefly and fly out of his body into the sky.

How could this be such a coincidence? Or was it truly a coincidence?

He had escaped the Monolithic Fortress and abandoned the position of Chapter Master, yet now... now fate had sent him back to the Monolithic Fortress.

Azrael even suspected there might be some blue Tzeentchian scheme behind this.

Just as Azrael hesitated, a hand gently patted his back, producing a crisp metallic clang.

"There is no need to fear. Calm yourself. Such a large-scale mobilization cannot possibly be aimed at you." Hraell stood beside Azrael, his voice low yet reassuring.

"...You?" Azrael was slightly startled. For an instant, he even thought his identity had been exposed.

"Do not worry. I do not know who you are. I merely sensed that you feared the Monolithic Fortress." Hraell shook his head, signaling