The Battle of Pyeonggwang

Several days later, Dante, Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, was en route to provide support when he received a heartbreaking message through the Warp.

It had been sent by Cedric Hamilton, Imperial Navy admiral and commander of the Iron Judicator Fleet; Patrick Dias, Marshal of the Astra Militarum's Nineteenth Expeditionary Group; Zane Farrell, former Grand Sage of the Mechanicus on Avalon; and Hal Kusman, former planetary governor of the Hive City.

Avalon, an Imperial Industrial World in the Idolater System, had fallen into the hands of Chaos!

"There's no need to go to Avalon."

After reading the entire message, Dante lowered his eyes. His expression was blank, and his voice betrayed not the slightest emotion.

Several aides, the Blood Angels' Company Commander, and even the busy Tech-Priests all looked over in confusion.

The message through the Warp was encrypted; only the commander had clearance to read it.

But the deeper meaning in Dante's words made everyone's expressions shift repeatedly. At last, the Blood Priest asked, "Chapter Master, has Avalon... fallen?"

Dante slowly closed his eyes. After a long pause, he sighed. "Yes. The Hive City of Avalon was occupied by Chaos two days ago. Aside from a small number of Imperial ships that managed to evacuate, there were no survivors."

The news hit like a thunderbolt!

The Blood Priest, who was also Dante's aide, looked especially stricken. "How could this happen? We were still too late!"

They had done everything they could.

But the Warp was a raging sea, full of hidden dangers. Even though they had risked taking the nearest route, they still hadn't arrived in time!

With Avalon fallen, the Dark Angels Legion on Dragon Forest Star and at the Stone Fortress would be completely surrounded by the Chaos Legion, with no support left behind them.

"We