A Father's Love and a Son's Devotion; Brotherhood Between Brothers

Let's rewind to a few hours ago.

In the Upper-hive, the domed sanctuary of the Ecclesiarchy, incense wafts and fills the air before the magnificent statue of the Emperor, and blessed scrolls of prayer are hung everywhere.

Outside the domed temple lay mountains of corpses.

Some were Daemon, some were noble private soldiers, and there were also many young and courageous nobles who all gave their lives for the Imperium!

The entire domed temple of the Ecclesiarchy was shrouded in a powerful Void Shield and equipped with powerful heavy weapons such as automatic cannons and Melta weapons, which is why the Daemon were unable to break through it after a long siege.

Meanwhile, the priests of the Ecclesiarchy chanted the Lectitio Divinitatus all day long.

This is done to avoid the influence of Chaos. By penetrating deep into the sacred dome of the Ecclesiarchy, the Emperor's glory and blessings will eliminate the temptations emanating from Chaos as much as possible!

Kanoon knelt before the Emperor statue, praying devoutly.

The distress signal had been sent to the Department of the Munitorum before Upper-hive was completely sealed off, but... those in the know understand. Given the Imperium's administrative efficiency, unless it's a miracle, by the time reinforcements arrive, Losel will most likely already be in the clutches of Chaos.

Even knowing this, Kanoon remained steadfast in his resolve, vowing to live and die with Losel, and vowing never to cede the Imperium's territory to the evil Chaos before shedding his last drop of blood!

"Father... I... I've figured it out."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

Kanoon, who was praying, slowly opened his eyes, remaining in a praying posture without turning around.

Seeing that the old man ignored him, the obese Mati became somewhat nervous. Looking around and finding no one else there, he seemed to muster his courage and raised his voice, "Father, I... I think you're right. Since we are nobles, we must shoulder that responsibility, to defend the Imperium's territory for the sake of the Imperium and His Emperor!"

Kanoon seemed somewhat surprised, turning to look at his son, scrutinizing him seriously for the first time in his life. "You... are you serious?"

Mati had been a top nobleman in the Hive City since childhood, living a life of luxury. Kanoon had been disappointed in him before, thinking that he shouldn't be his own bloodline. But unexpectedly... after this incident, Mati's sudden change made Kanon look at him in a new light.

"Yes, yes, Father."

Mati kept his head down, afraid of revealing the madness in his eyes. Suppressing his voice, he clenched his fists and said, "Now that I have inherited the name 'Meyer,' I will also become a hero of the Imperium, just like you and Governor Garken!"

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Kanoon's eyes welled with tears. He suddenly felt that he had not failed the Emperor's grace in his life. "This is my son, this is the courage that the bloodline that inherits the name 'Mayer' should have!"

He looked at his son and a smile appeared on his face.

"Father, I... want to hug you, may I?"

Mati seemed somewhat frightened and asked in a trembling voice.

Hearing this, Kanoon felt a pang of guilt. He had paid too little attention to Mati, had been very strict with him since he was a child, and now he was forcing him to his death.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Kanoon let his guard down—or rather... he was completely unguarded when it came to his own bloodline.

Kanoon was too old. Even the Imperium's Life Extension Surgery could not prevent him from aging. After more than a dozen days and nights of bloody battle command, he was too tired. His thinking and senses were not as sharp as they were in his youth.

So much so that... this old man who had fought bloody battles across the stars failed to notice the madness hidden in Mati's eyes!

"Come, my child..."

Kanoon stepped forward and embraced his own flesh and blood, tears welling in his eyes, but he bravely held them back. "Child, it's your turn... Don't blame me, this is the honor bestowed upon us by the Emperor. After death, we will return to the Golden Throne together!"

The nobles who remained in the temple were either forced to fight to the death or executed; now, only women and children remain.

Mati was his last child!

But for the sake of the Imperium, Kanoon felt it was his duty. He suppressed his heartache and was determined to send his offspring to the battlefield where they were doomed!

"Father..."

Mati's eyes burned with intense resentment as he silently drew the poisoned blade hidden beneath his round belly.

"Um?"

Kanoon looked at Mati with doting eyes.

But at that moment, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen as a sharp knife plunged in, violently twisting and shredding his intestines and organs.

Kanoon's pupils contracted sharply, only to see Mati raise his head, revealing a twisted face filled with hatred, ferocity, and a vengeful ghost, laughing wildly, "Father, the one who should die... is you, not me!"

Kanoon clutched his stomach, his face filled with disbelief, and staggered backward, collapsing before the Emperor's statue. His abdomen, ripped open, was oozing intestines and blood...

"Mati, you..."

He couldn't help but cough up blood, as if only now understanding what had happened, his pupils blazing with boundless rage. "Mati!!!"

Mati was still trembling, but his contorted face held an indescribable sense of pleasure. "Hahahaha... Die, you old bastard! Are you willing to die with me? I'm going to join Chaos! Do you understand?!"

"Brute!!!"

Suddenly, Kanoon sprang into action.

He was old, but the tactical skills remaining in his body, the experience of countless battles in the galaxy, and his steely willpower allowed him to unleash tremendous power!

Kanoon drew his Duelist Sword from his waist and, to Mati's horrified gaze, flashed it like lightning!

His movements were even somewhat off-standard.

At least, he's nowhere near as standard as he was in his youth with the Astra Militarum, but he's definitely more than qualified to deal with a piece of trash!

"No, no, Father!"

Mati screamed in terror, rolling haphazardly to dodge the first sword strike, but his unwavering determination to kill still left a bloody gash on his neck!

"Help... help me!" Mati's obese body could hardly dodge the second sword. He placed all his hopes on some Chaos Gods, hoping to be saved.

Unfortunately... the Chaos Gods didn't care about him at all.

Swish!

Clean, swift, a single sword stroke severed his neck!

A head as fat as a pig, with two wide-open eyes, the pupils still holding a deep sense of fear and doubt.

It's as if it's saying... why didn't the Chaos he sought refuge with save him?

Having personally slain Mati, Kanoon collapsed onto the red carpet before the Emperor Statue, seemingly utterly exhausted, gasping for breath. Yet his eyes remained resolute. "No... I cannot die yet, at least not now!"

"Beautiful swordsmanship!"

Suddenly, a slightly deep, aged voice abruptly came from the shadows of the temple, carrying a hint of admiration, as if it were very familiar. "I didn't expect that after decades, your swordsmanship has not deteriorated at all, Kanoon."

Kanoon's pupils constricted instantly. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw that his face, already pale from blood loss, had turned even paler.

He... knows that person!

"What? Don't you recognize your old comrade-in-arms?"

The man who emerged from the shadows of the colonnade slowly removed his hat, revealing an extremely aged face. Looking at the shocked Kanoon, he smiled and said, "Long time no see, my dear brother... Kanoon Mayer."

Looking at that face, Kanoon felt a chill run through his body, as if an icy coldness had seeped into his bones. His lips trembled, but his chest was filled with rage, and he roared with eyes wide with fury, "It's you— Garken Hadley!!!"

"It's me, my old comrade-in-arms."

Garken smiled, looking down at Kanoon, whose face was contorted with rage and who was dying from the poisoned blade.

Bad news... I'm going to have hemorrhoid surgery in the next few days. Updates will continue, hopefully it won't be too painful...