Has It Already Ended?

"Which garrison?"

"What Xenos? How many troops did they have, and how did they launch the attack?"

Hearing that the Xenos had caused another complication, Horus could not help frowning.

The purge of the Xenos within the system was nearly complete, and they had continued advancing with the progress of the campaign.

Now, they were already in a relatively remote region of the system. Even an immediate return to defend the rear would require Warp travel.

Still, even if the rear had come under attack and suffered some losses, the overall impact on the campaign would not be significant.

As long as it was not the camp where the Sons of the Emperor were stationed—

"Unfortunately," Abaddon seemed to understand Horus's hesitation, "it is Silent Star, where the Sons of the Emperor are stationed, that has come under attack."

This was not good.

Astropaths also needed time to relay information, and the ever-shifting, unfathomable changes in the Warp made communication especially difficult.

Even over short distances within the same star system, it was the same.

By the time they received an astropathic message, it might already have been sent days ago.

Or even minus one day ago.

"Did the astropathic message mention their military strength? Do they need us to return and reinforce them?"

Horus still held onto a small sliver of hope.

What if this was merely some small Xenos force that had scattered and fled?

With the strength of the Sons of the Emperor's veteran Astartes, it was not impossible for them to deal with the enemy themselves.

"The situation appears to be critical."

But Abaddon did not seem to be bringing him good news.

The astropathic message was exceedingly clear: "Silent Star has been attacked by a large Xenos Fleet. Their warships' firepower and Xenos forces are completely beyond what we can contend with."

"Silent Star's orbit has been completely occupied. Without reinforcements, the destruction of the surface forces will only be a matter of time."

Now this was truly bad.

Even Horus, a Primarch, felt a headache coming on.

They had received the astropathic message, but who knew when it had been sent?

They were currently at the crucial final stage of exterminating the Xenos.

If they abandoned the purge and hurried back to reinforce the rear, allowing this small Xenos force to regroup and gain momentum, eventually becoming a guerrilla force like space pirates, then the cost of maintaining security around the Portal would inevitably rise sharply.

"Izekiel, what do you think?"

"I do not agree with going to rescue them immediately."

He gave a cold snort.

The black wolf pelt on his white shoulder armor stirred with the motion.

As the renowned Company Commander of the Lunar Wolves, he had earned his status with his own blade and gun, fighting his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

He could not stand well-connected beneficiaries like Kasgar.

Especially when the Lunar Wolves were expected to alter their tactical plans for him.

"With all due respect, from the moment Lady Fulgrim made that man Legion Acting Prefect, she should have been prepared for him to die on the battlefield."

At this critical stage of the campaign's extermination effort, if they delayed the opportunity to strike for his sake and caused unnecessary deaths among the Lunar Wolves' Battle Brothers—

Abaddon found the very thought unacceptable.

"That was, after all, a request from my sister, Izekiel."

"Besides, Kasgar still counts as family to me."

"If we are unwilling even to offer aid, then if something truly happens in the end, forget Fulgrim—I will not be able to forgive myself either."

Horus countered earnestly.

He was somewhat conflicted inside.

"We Lunar Wolves are also your sons, Lord Horus."

Abaddon did not seem swayed by his Primarch. There was still a trace of barbedness in his words.

"If this Kasgar truly possesses the command ability Fulgrim claims he has, then why would he need to send us an astropathic message asking for help?"

"Then why should we send reinforcements at all?"

"My proposal is this: at most, we send a small mobile fleet back as an advance reconnaissance force. If they can still hold out under the Xenos assault by now, that proves they possess the ability to be worth saving. We can send the main force afterward; it will not be too late."

"If the battle has already ended, hmph!"

"Then there is no need for us to waste any more effort on a useless man like him."

Was Fulgrim not saying Kasgar was impressive? Then let them solve it themselves!

Abaddon's meaning was clear. Though his words were unpleasant, his reasoning was indeed sound.

Every life had its value in war. If Kasgar truly was not worth saving, then his death would instead be a relief to the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet.

But if they truly followed Abaddon's plan—

By the time they went there and returned, everyone might already have been reduced to ash.

"Lord Horus!"

Just as he was wavering, the gilded ebony doors of the Staff Room were suddenly thrown open.

An emaciated old man in a dark green hooded robe stood there.

If Horus remembered correctly, he was the Master of the Astropathic Choir of the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet.

"What is it?"

"There is another astropathic message, a communication from Acting Prefect Kasgar."

"What did he say?"

"He said—"

"It has already ended."

The Astropath paused for a moment, as though considering how to render the other party's meaning accurately, expressively, and elegantly.

"The Xenos fleet has been utterly smashed. Annihilated under Kasgar's brilliant command."

Then the Astropath gave up.

"I could not be bothered informing Lord Horus about so few Xenos, but for some reason, there was a problem with Astropathic Communication. Right after I finished the previous part, Warp turbulence cut me off."

"If you received an astropathic distress message, please disregard it. This was not part of the plan."

"The Xenos Fleet has also been almost completely annihilated. The remaining stragglers will retreat through the Portal."

"Other than a victory feast and deeper study of us Sons of the Emperor, nothing else is needed."

"Good!"

Horus laughed heartily.

Impressive.

The sudden reversal in the intelligence made him beam with delight.

From this message alone, he could hear the pride in that boy Kasgar's heart.

Who would have thought that man was truly a hidden genius!

He had been lying low all this time, simply waiting for a resounding victory to establish his authority and secure his footing within the Legion!

Of course.

Fulgrim had been able to transform Chemos from an abandoned, barren dead world into a paradise world rare even within the Imperium of Man through her own efforts.

There was no way she could fail to see whether Kasgar, who had stayed by her side for thirty years, possessed genuine talent.

After all, that was thirty years!

They were the finest years he had spent as the First Returned Son, together with the Emperor.

Horus firmly believed that if someone studied at the Emperor's side as he had, receiving the Emperor's guidance—

Thirty years would be enough for even the most ignorant, dull-witted street thug to grow into a pillar of the Imperium capable of standing on his own.

Just like him, Horus Lupercal.

From the bottom of his heart, Horus's recognition of Kasgar rose considerably.

"You see, Company Commander."

Horus smiled at Abaddon. "You were right. Kasgar truly can resolve this himself."

"Hard to say."

Abaddon still seemed somewhat unconvinced.

"The description of the Xenos exists only in an astropathic message. Who knows whether he exaggerated?"

Then let me ask you.

Ah, then let me ask you.