The Glory of Death, the Shame of Life (Part One)
Sean Kruger is a 300-year-old veteran who served in the Dark Angels Chapter. He later passed the Inner Circle selection and entered one of the Six Wings, "Ravenwing," where he carried out numerous top-secret missions, including infiltration, exploration, and the capture of Fallen Angel.
Many Dark Angels spend their lives witnessing secrets, and Sean was no exception.
He once secretly infiltrated Armageddon, witnessing the tragic end of the Orks war, and also pretended to be kidnapped by Aeldari Corsair, enduring cruel torture, all in order to find the whereabouts of the Fallen Angel.
Unlike the other Inner Circle brothers, the Ravenwing carry out missions that are mostly clandestine and often bear the responsibility of "reconnaissance." Before the arrival of the main force, they search for intelligence on the battlefield in a perilous environment, creating favorable conditions for the Chapter's assault.
It's fair to say that Ravenwing faces a near-death experience every time he undertakes a mission!
But today's mission, for Sean, is among the most dangerous missions he has ever carried out in his life.
Dozens of Ravenwing warriors, lightly equipped, must rely on their experience and intuition to find their scattered Chapter in this land shrouded in Warp magic, amidst the ever-present threat of Chaos encirclement!
After they broke through the encirclement, seemingly sensing Ravenwing's intentions, Chaos's cunning commander also dispatched many reconnaissance squads to pursue them along their tracks.
The already scattered Ravenwing were further embroiled in bloody battles. In the end, more than a dozen of their Chapter Brother were caught up in the Chaos Reconnaissance Squad while covering the retreat of the rest, and their fates are unknown.
Using his skillful techniques, Sean concealed his presence and found a group of dilapidated buildings that looked like they had just experienced a fierce battle.
To avoid being detected by the Chaos Radar equipment, he shut down most of the functions on his Power Armor, discarded all electronic devices that might reveal his location, and even turned off the Auspex.
Anyway, because of the Chaos Scrapcode and the demonic sound, all their communication arrays, Auspex, and other electronic equipment were paralyzed and rendered useless.
He moved cautiously, using the ruins of the dilapidated building as cover, in the shadows of the corner, while carefully observing his surroundings.
In this dilapidated Chaos complex, shell casings are scattered everywhere, and there are many bullet holes in the walls. Even the lingering smoke in the air confirms one thing—a fierce battle between loyalists and Chaos recently took place here.
Although the outcome is unclear, judging from the absence of any loyalist members, he speculates that the Dark Angels are the most likely victors!
Thinking of this, Sean immediately bent down and sniffed the blood in the air, on the walls, and even seeping into the soil.
The implanted "Omophagea" organ gave him a superhuman sense of smell, enabling him to accurately detect pheromones of his own kind from the chaotic odors.
It was this organ that confirmed Sean's suspicions: there were indeed Dark Angels here, and they had been gone for no more than five hours!
This discovery undoubtedly boosted Sean's confidence. As long as he could find the general direction in which the Chapter had left, he would be able to complete his mission of delivering intelligence!
He picked up a piece of dirt and put it in his mouth.
After chewing for a moment, a gleam appeared on Sean's face. "It's 'Deathwing' Dalian!"
Space Marine can obtain information by consuming matter, and the blood in this soil allowed him to identify that the force that fought here was none other than Deathwing of the Dark Angels!
Very good!
In an instant, a surge of ecstasy rushed into my brain.
This is not only because they finally found their brothers, but more importantly, because of the "Deathwing" unit.
They often carry a large amount of heavy equipment, including the "Dreadnought," and have the strongest frontal assault capability in the Dark Angels Chapter!
Moreover, before they parted ways, he remembered that Deathwing's Grand Master was with Supreme Grand Master Azrael, so finding Deathwing meant finding the Supreme Grand Master!
This handful of soil was like a lifeline!
Sean gripped the soil tightly, his eyes shining. He looked up, trying to find his way. Amidst the stench of gunpowder, he managed to locate a direction that was very likely the direction from which "Deathwing" had retreated!
However, good fortune never comes in pairs, and misfortunes never come singly.
Just as Sean was overjoyed at finding the whereabouts of "Deathwing," his "Leman's Ear" suddenly picked up a strange sound not far away.
The rustling sound was so jarring in this desolate ruin!
His pupils immediately contracted.
Immediately, almost instinctively, Sean executed a standard tactical maneuver, rolling away to dodge.
The nearest broken wall to him.
Boom!!!
The terrifying impact of the shells unleashed astonishing heat, accompanied by a surging shockwave that nearly blew away the broken wall and the room where he was hiding!
Shards of stone flew everywhere, striking the armor like bullets. In the billowing smoke, under the influence of the "visual controller," Sean's pupils clearly saw a large number of indistinct figures through the thick smoke.
"Found you, you lackey of the False Emperor."
A voice rang out, and the highest-ranking "World Eaters," clad in blood-red armor adorned with dozens of skulls and bound by iron chains, carried an axe blade stained with blood and filth. In his other hand, he held a... Ravenwing helmet!
The other man tossed the helmet over, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Sean. He sneered, "You lackey of the False Emperor, the cowardly son of a lion, your head will become my twenty-seventh collectible!"
Twenty-seven -·
Gazing at the tattered helmet, its interior stained with a sticky, blood-red substance mixed with white, Sean slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress the rage welling up inside him.
In other words, twenty-six of Ravenwing's brothers have already been caught up with and beheaded by the enemy!
The Ravenwing, dispatched by the Grand Master to carry out the mission, numbered only about fifty people. Several died during the breakout.
Later, when they were surrounded and killed, more than a dozen of them stayed behind to cover the retreat. Now, sixteen more have been discovered and tortured to death the remaining people. How many are left?
To be pessimistic, perhaps—of those brothers who broke through, he's the only one left!
Sean remained silent, looking at the Khorne Chapter, which numbered around a hundred, consisting of a small number of Daemon...
The World Eaters is the master, with Dark Tech-Priest and Mortal Servant Army members mixed in as assistants, and a Chaos Psychic Power Librarian as well.
And all this mobilization was just to deal with him, a lone Ravenwing.
I can give you a chance to live!
The leader of the World Eaters brought down his giant axe, smashing it into the ground and stirring up a gust of wind. His tyrannical gaze fell on Sean, as if he wanted to toy with him. "Kneel down, offer your loyalty to the great 'Blood God,' and I'll spare your life, how about it?"
What are you still hesitating about?
His seductive voice rang in Sean's ears. "Your brothers are dead, your mission is impossible to complete, so why don't you embrace the Chaos now?"
"The False Emperor will not listen to your prayers!"
"And Chaos —will bless you, just as I am now, granting you unparalleled power. This is the truth, not the empty words of loyalty you utter!"
"Children of the lion, look around!"
"You pledged your allegiance to the False Emperor, but what have you received in return? All you were promised was death."
But I—I have the blessing of Chaos!
"Join the Black Legion, sons of the lion! Let us join hands, storm the False Emperor's fortress, and tear the False Emperor apart today— Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne!"
Not one by one!
The response to the World Eaters was a powerful, resolute roar.
Sean gripped his Chainsword, and despite being surrounded, the light in his eyes remained undiminished. "Even as mere corpses, the Emperor's light still illuminates the entire galaxy. And the Chaos Gods you speak of are nothing but a disgusting, blasphemous coward, shameful traitors! Do you think your atrocities can destroy the Imperium of Man? No—never!"
"Humanity stands tall here!"
"I stand here!"
"My battlefield is here, my end is here, and I am here with my brothers!"
"And you, traitor!"
"Your fate is to burn in Hell!"
With Sean single step forward, the Chainsword flashed with terrifying ferocity amidst his roar and boom, slashing towards the leader of the World Eaters!
"The offspring of the lion, never yield!"
"For -- Ryan!!!"