End, Planetary Support

Quan Tiehua felt a sense of panic for some unknown reason.

Daemon Serindal was severely wounded, but something felt off.

Normally, a daemon at this point would have lost its ability to act. However, the tentacles around Daemon Serindal's waist began to writhe.

As a creature of the Warp, as long as Daemon Serindal wasn't immediately banished, Chaos could fully restore its injuries with a slight glance.

But this was the real universe, without many Chaos followers for sacrifices, and it wasn't summoned by followers through ritual sacrifice.

Ritual sacrifice summoned by followers was like sweet talk.

Useless, but it could push things open.

The tentacles thrashed. Several nearby Astartes couldn't dodge in time and were directly impaled through the heart.

"This thing still isn't dead?" Quan Tiehua was panicking, subconsciously muttering, "The Emperor protects," before drawing his plasma pistol.

The plasma pistol now had a faint golden glow on its surface.

The Emperor was speechless and even focused his gaze for a long time.

The Machine Spirit of the plasma pistol was excited. Even its overheating drawback had disappeared.

Bang bang!

Dozens of consecutive plasma attacks instantly melted Daemon Serindal's entire lower body, even severing its tentacles at the root.

This scene once again shocked the surrounding Battle-Brothers. In the next second, they shouted, "For the Emperor!"

"The Emperor protects." Of course, when uttering these words, the cold sun of the Warp always carried an inexplicable emotional fluctuation.

"Cut him down!"

Quan Tiehua watched as the daemon, having taken two hits, began to tremble all over. He roared, holding the plasma pistol in one hand and a power sword in the other.

With a leap, he flew in as the gravity field disappeared.

However, due to his own weight, he rapidly descended. He aimed the plasma pistol. The fanatical Machine Spirit meant it would never overheat.

Several consecutive plasma attacks instantly melted over half of the daemon's body. As its injuries worsened, the barrier between the Warp and the real universe became increasingly solid.

In the Warp, Slaanesh was extremely anxious. Although filled with rage, recalling the previous words, it couldn't help but feel a hint of excitement and anticipation.

However, the Emperor did not grant its wish; their powers clashed in the Warp. The Word Bearers and the Daemon Legions engaged in fierce combat.

Even within the astropathic choir near Terra, the scattered skirmishes at this moment erupted into a terrifying, all-encompassing war.

Countless Slaaneshi daemons led the charge, launching a frenzied assault on the positions constructed by the Adeptus Custodes, Sisters of Battle, Astra Militarum, and Skitarii.

Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the Imperial Palace on Terra.

Even Guilliman, who was in his office, looked grim at the alarm. At the same time, he began to doubt everything. After all, how long had it been, and so many twists and turns had already occurred?

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the power sword plunged fiercely into Daemon Serindal's skull. Using the Astartes' formidable self-weight and strength, he forcefully pulled downwards, cleaving Daemon Serindal in two.

Terrifying screams echoed through the real universe and the Warp. Especially at the moment Daemon Serindal was split in half, a psychic shockwave erupted, blasting him far away and smashing him hard against the ship's wall.

As space stabilized and this Great Daemon was finally banished, the battle briefly returned to peace.

In the entire battle, out of over 270 Astartes, only a little over 130 survived.

Among these 130-plus, over 30 were severely wounded and disabled. Only eighty to ninety Astartes remained healthy and combat-capable.

Of the more than 40 veteran soldiers, over a hundred years old, only seven survived. And of the new recruits brought out for training, only three survived. Among them was Quan Tiehua.

The veterans wearing Terminator Armour were almost all annihilated.

Especially the few who later covered the Chapter's withdrawal were intercepted by pursuing Noise Marines and the remaining daemons, disappearing into the universe along with an explosion.

The losses in this war were undeniably immense.

And yet, that daemon was not even in its final form, as it had not undergone a summoning ritual or the soul offerings common for summoning daemons from the Warp.

This battle had directly shattered the Chapter, which had just received a significant reinforcement and was full of confidence.

Of course, if it ended here, the Chapter could recover for a few hundred years and perhaps fight again.

But now... everyone who had retreated to the Blood Angels looked down at the planet below that needed their support.

They all knew that a brutal battle lay ahead. The Chapter might be annihilated here.

For a time, the atmosphere on the entire ship was somber. The wounded and maimed were urgently attended to and rescued.

The intact warriors, after simple treatment and armor repair, arrived fully armed in the chapel.

Looking at the almost completely empty chapel, all the brothers standing in line were filled with sorrow.

A few hours ago, the chapel, which had a relatively large area for the queue, had shrunk considerably. In just a few hours, most of the brothers had returned their souls to the Golden Throne.

As everyone slowly gathered, Chapter Master Affos finally walked onto the podium. His posture was still upright.

But his once golden long hair had now turned completely white, his eyes were filled with exhaustion, and the wrinkles on his face all indicated his current state of mind.

"I take full responsibility for this command. After this mission, I will voluntarily go to the Deathwatch. And my position as Chapter Master..." He paused here.

His gaze, filled with sadness and self-reproach, swept over the more than 90 Astartes brothers who could still stand there. Then he let out a self-mocking laugh.

What difference did it make whether the position of Chapter Master was chosen or not? Perhaps of all the brothers present, not many would remain after the battle to support the planet below.

It was uncertain whether the entire Chapter would even survive.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the walls around them, at the history of their Chapter that they had finally managed to recover after its restoration.

Their Chapter, as one, was a Chapter that lagged far behind in all aspects of strength. In the past, if injured Battle-Brothers who were too damaged to fight could be fitted with prosthetics, they would be.

If not, then unfortunately.

They would either be transferred to logistical support roles. After all, even with their current strength, they didn't have the resources to build Dreadnoughts.

As for those Battle-Brothers who had lost all four limbs, they would be allowed to choose according to their wishes.

But most, after being persuaded by their surrounding Battle-Brothers, would transfer to auxiliary positions. However, after a short while, they would strongly request to be allowed to return to the Golden Throne with dignity and honor.

Everyone understood their mindset. Although their hearts ached, they had to comply.

"Regarding the position of Chapter Master, Quan Tiehua will temporarily handle it for now. After the Imperial investigators arrive, everyone will jointly select a new one."

No one expressed any emotion about Quan Tiehua's brilliant combat performance and strategy in this battle, which had almost saved the entire Chapter.

If it weren't for him, the Chapter would likely have been annihilated.

As he spoke, Chapter Master Affos slowly drew the Power Sword from his waist, looked at the Battle-Brothers below, turned to face the Emperor's statue, knelt on one knee, and shouted, "Only through sacrifice can salvation be deemed worthy! With our bodies, we forge a flesh-and-blood defense, protecting humanity's eternal existence!"

Saying this, he stood up, raised his Power Sword, and shouted loudly, "For the Emperor!"

"For the Emperor!"

The drop pod tore through the darkness of the sky, smashing into the dark earth with high temperatures and flames, bringing light and warmth to the people.