A Debt Repaid, A Grudge Avenged

The entire ship was crawling with Greenskins.

Greenskins are creatures whose blood carries spores. When a Greenskin dies, if its blood spills, spore sacs will grow everywhere, hatching more Greenskins.

So, compared to animals, Greenskins are more like plants.

With the quarantine zone breached due to damage, Greenskins were everywhere and would only multiply. Furthermore, without the Chapter Master's psychic suppression, they would grow even stronger.

This strike cruiser was unsalvageable.

But with no planets nearby, everyone would die if they left the cruiser.

Lu Jin could only slaughter Greenskins to keep the ship running, at least so they could reach somewhere instead of drifting alone in the void waiting to be plundered again by passing warbands.

For every hundred meters he walked, he encountered at least ten Greenskins.

Lu Jin could only kill them and then use the flames from his staff to cleanse the blood.

Besides flames, this staff could also release shockwaves.

Since the Chapter Master wasn't around, he had imbued the staff with these two psychic spells.

Amidst the slaughter, Lu Jin discovered something.

Even Greenskins killed by the staff's psychic spells could still replenish energy, drawing a sliver of power from the fallen. Though the amount was small, the efficiency was high.

"Before you were modified, you picked up a hammer from me."

"You really want to kill me?"

The Chapter Master spoke inexplicably.

"I don't want to kill you. If you let me go, I wouldn't have to fight. Besides, I can't kill you. Being modified into a Space Marine and then joining Chaos is more unacceptable than death in my eyes. Better to die!"

"Better to die? Alright."

Lu Jin's mechanical arm, gripping the staff, pointed forward, unleashing flames that purified the entire corridor.

The Greenskins knew where he was and were swarming towards him.

With every step he took, the number of Greenskins he encountered increased.

When hundreds of Greenskins charged at him, Lu Jin initially intended to use psychic spells to clear them. But remembering the characteristics of the Greenskin race, a new plan suddenly formed in his mind.

The staff was not raised by the mechanical arm.

Lu Jin raised his battle axe and warhammer high, striding towards the dense horde of Greenskins in the narrow corridor.

"Come and fight!"

With a roar, Lu Jin charged at the Greenskins.

He smashed through a Greenskin's chest with his shoulder, then wildly slaughtered them with his warhammer and battle axe.

The heavy two-handed hammer and axe were as light as daggers in Lu Jin's hands, even lighter than daggers. His attack speed was so fast that the Greenskins couldn't react.

After killing dozens of Greenskins in quick succession, the morale of the remaining ones broke, and they turned to flee. But they didn't get far before the flames from the staff caught up, burning them to ashes.

Lu Jin continued forward, reaching the armory.

He found the armory had already been emptied by the warband, not even a single Laser Rifle meant for mortals was left.

It was like robbers stripping their victims bare, even taking the elastic bands from their underwear.

But the Chaos warband was so desperate for supplies that they had no qualms about taking anything.

Lu Jin pressed on.

The journey was uneventful, filled with nothing but fighting.

Only when he reached the engine room did Lu Jin stop to survey his surroundings after the surrounding Greenskins scattered and fled.

The engine room was largely undamaged.

This was good news.

Lu Jin turned back.

Upon returning to the sanctuary, he found that everyone had organized themselves and begun clearing the corridors Lu Jin hadn't reached.

Lu Jin recalled these people and ordered them, "Take everyone to the engine room and ensure the ship can still navigate."

"We need someone to go to the command deck to initiate the navigation procedures," someone said.

"After resting in the engine room, I will personally lead a group to the command deck," Lu Jin said. "The engine room is safer than the sanctuary; even the floor there is forged from adamantium."

Everyone immediately sprang into action.

Lu Jin led the way, with others following behind, and armed personnel covering the rear.

They didn't encounter any Greenskins blocking their path along the way.

There were only a few scattered Greenskins hiding in the shadows, quietly observing Lu Jin.

Once everyone had transferred to the engine room and set up defensive positions, sealing the doors, Lu Jin began the most crucial task at hand.

Rescuing the Navigator.

This Fierce Angels Chapter strike cruiser is twelve kilometers long.

The engine compartments and Navigator's Sanctum are located at the very front and rear sections, respectively.

Traveling twelve kilometers wouldn't take too long if it were just fighting and moving, but the problem is that the Navigator's Sanctum is on the topmost deck.

With all internal transport methods now crippled, it's estimated to take half a solar month just to walk to the Navigator's Sanctum.

But there's no choice; Lu Jin can only grit his teeth and fight his way through.

A full solar month passes.

Lu Jin's armor is covered in scratches, tattered and torn.

His helmet vanished long ago.

The pauldron on his right arm was shattered previously, exposing his brawny right arm.

The greave on his left leg shattered half a month ago, leaving his left leg exposed as well.

Fortunately, his warhammer and battle-axe are still usable. The warhammer, being a blunt weapon, wouldn't dull, but the battle-axe, after becoming blunted, could only be used as a semi-blunt weapon, relying entirely on Lu Jin's brute strength to cleave into the Greenskins' heads.

During this solar month, the Greenskins have gradually evolved.

The degraded Greenskins, modified by the previous Apothecary and suppressed by the Chapter Master, are gradually evolving into normal Greenskins, becoming taller, stronger, and less prone to collapsing morale.

As he continued his journey as usual, Lu Jin found a Greenskin corpse lying in the corridor ahead.

He stopped in his tracks, but didn't make a move.

"You're going in circles."

"You were here a day ago."

The Chapter Master spoke through his scepter.

"I'm really impressed," Lu Jin finally felt the exhaustion, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. "This place is like a maze."

"Pull yourself together," the Chapter Master encouraged. "I'm sorry, I can't teleport you, nor can I guide you. There's nothing I can do besides talk..."

Lu Jin didn't reply and continued walking.

Upon reaching a chamber a hundred meters away, he knocked on the door.

The blast door opened, and dozens of terrified crew members crowded around him.

Along the way, Lu Jin had discovered many people scattered throughout the ship, hiding in various shelters.

The ship was too massive, with too many crew members; this was a good thing.

"Sir..." a crew member stepped forward. "Why have you returned?"

"I got lost," Lu Jin said. "I need someone to guide me. I promise to ensure that person returns safely."

A mortal soldier stepped forward. "I'll go with you."

Just as Lu Jin was about to say that these people still needed protection, the soldier spoke again. "No Greenskins have tried to break in since you left."

The soldier then walked outside the cabin door and pointed to a spot on the wall next to the blast door that Lu Jin had previously overlooked.

Lu Jin looked and discovered a painting hanging there.

The painting depicted Lu Jin crouching low, his warhammer and battle-axe crossed in front of him, his expression fierce and savage... exactly as he had looked when he came to rescue them in the previous chamber.

"It really works."

Lu Jin recalled what he had done a month ago.

He knew that Greenskins were psionic beings, who revered violence and were social creatures; certain events and legends would spread among them.

Lu Jin had deliberately acted as ferocious as possible during his battles to cultivate a terrifying image of himself among the Greenskins.

And now, these people using him as a guardian spirit proved that this was indeed effective.

"Weak Greenskins will be scared away, but the strong ones will still break in," Lu Jin signaled the soldier to return. "Find someone else."

A crew member raised his hand. "Sir... I... I'm familiar with the ship's environment... but I... I'm scared..."

"Trust me, you'll be as safe by my side as you are in a shelter," Lu Jin said.

The crew member thought for a moment and nodded vigorously. "Yes, Angel."

Lu Jin took the crew member and continued on their path.

"Why did the Fierce Angels run into the Great Maelstrom?"

Lu Jin asked the Chapter Master as they walked.

"Which warband captured you?"

He began to consider what to do after finding the Navigator.

"We once fought for the Imperium..."

The Chapter Master slowly recounted their past.

"Most of the Chapters born within the Cursed Legions have gene-racial mutations. The Imperium believes this is proof of our curse."

"The Fierce Angels once numbered a thousand strong."

"After the Imperial Inquisition lured us away, we were slaughtered until only a hundred remained."

"We escaped, choosing to leave the Imperium, and along our flight, our numbers dwindled to twenty-one."

"Bena, the Inquisitor who sent you here, she's a good person. She gave us temporary refuge and cooperated with us. We found an ancient relic for her, and she sent you and a large supply of survival gear and weaponry."

After hearing the whole story.

Lu Jin felt that some people within the Imperium deserved to die.

"Regardless."

Lu Jin said.

"The Fierce Angels sheltered me and gave me a good period of my life, and you also opened up to me."

"At most, I won't join you, but I owe you a debt of gratitude."

"I have to rescue you... Tell me who took you."

Nearly a minute passed before a voice came from the scepter.

"Every solar cycle, one person is sacrificed by the warband and transformed into a mindless puppet warrior."

"Four people have already been sacrificed."

"..."

Lu Jin stopped in his tracks, then roared, "Then tell me the name of the warband that captured you! Even if all of you are sacrificed, I will avenge you! I will exterminate that warband!"

"You go rescue the Navigator now, and let the ship proceed normally..."

"Tell me! Speak quickly! You can't all die without knowing why..."

"You shut your mouth first!!!"

The Chapter Master's roar interrupted Lu Jin's words.

Then, his tone returned to calm and steady.

"You owe us nothing."

"The so-called favors from when we helped you and taught you during your failed augmentation are all nullified."

"You cannot handle this warband. What you should do is preserve the lives of the others and leave."

"If you truly want to do something for the Fierce Angels, then go find Bena and have her seek justice for us."

"The grievances of the Fierce Angels must be redressed. Only Bena is willing to do this. Go tell her everything, and she will help us clear all our grievances."

"Provided you are willing."

Lu Jin stopped.

The crew member beside him, who had been listening to Lu Jin's self-talk, also stopped when he did. He looked around, wary of any Greenskins that might rush out at any moment.

Lu Jin paused to think.

The Chapter Master was right.

He didn't actually owe them a debt.

Because the Chapter had forcibly augmented him and almost killed him in the process.

But sometimes, certain things couldn't be categorized by cold, rational principles.

Lu Jin recalled his brief life within the Chapter.

He recalled the Apothecary, as described by Carly, who roared "Do not disturb my battle-brothers!" before charging at the heretic Space Marines.

The right and wrong of it all was difficult for Lu Jin to summarize into a single question: "Should I help or hate the Fierce Angels Chapter?"

"Can you guarantee you will leave with the others?"

The Chapter Master asked.

He didn't even ask if Lu Jin was willing to seek justice for the Chapter.

"Sir... xeno..." The crew member urgently patted Lu Jin's shoulder.

Lu Jin stood up and, with a mix of resentment and complex emotions, charged at the Greenskins opposite him. His warhammer and battle-axe blurred as he swung, the screams of the Greenskins and the sounds of flesh being pierced echoing through the corridor.

"Give me your word!" the Chapter Master shouted. "It's my turn to be sacrificed this solar cycle, they're coming! Give me your word before I'm turned into a puppet!"

"I promise."

Lu Jin said.

One Greenskin was cleaved in two.

"I promise I will find out who captured you, and I promise I will annihilate them completely."

"I promise I will find out who wronged you, and I promise I will kill them all."

Lu Jin's choice was driven by his heart.

He sympathized with and respected this Chapter. Regardless of who owed whom, he simply wanted to intervene and do these things.

He would kill those who deserved to die in the Empire, and he would also kill those who deserved to die in the Chaos warbands.

Lu Jin recalled his nickname before his transmigration, which was "Slaughterer of All."

It was to "slaughter all those who deserved to die in the world"!

But the Fierce Angels did not deserve to die.

The Chapter Master heard what Lu Jin said.

Or perhaps he didn't.

In any case, no more sound or echo came from the scepter, a holy relic of the Chapter Master.

Only Psionics spells remained, which Lu Jin would unleash when he intentionally cleared the corridors.