Good News: Reinforcements Are Here. Bad News: They're Orks!

Cold. Shaking.

Then came a powerful earthquake. Alvin had been jolted awake, and a cloud of dust mixed with gravel smacked straight into his face. His mouth filled with gritty dirt that reeked of blood.

He opened his eyes groggily, only for a bolt round to whistle past the tip of his nose and bury itself in a wall riddled with craters. It nearly scared him out of his wits, snapping him fully awake.

What the hell was going on?!

His brain was still booting up, and his memories stopped at the moment he was facing the Daemon Primarch Angron amid the ruins of the Blood Palace.

How had he opened his eyes and ended up here?

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!!

Suddenly, several shrill whistles came from above. Shells trailing waves of hot air landed with pinpoint accuracy not far away.

Boom!

The blast hit Alvin in the chest like a hammer. The dull impact left him dizzy, and nausea surged up his throat.

This was unbelievable!

He'd woken up in the middle of a battle!

Was this what Warhammer was really like?!

Alvin spat out a mouthful of phlegm and hurriedly glanced around, taking in the situation.

He found himself in an extremely crude defensive position, protected by only two broken walls. Outside, more than a dozen intersecting trenches had been dug around the fortification. Several towering Dreadnoughts served as mobile artillery platforms along the battle line, pouring fire at the enemy in the distance.

What was going on?

Why was he here?

Shell-shocked, Alvin's mind had gone blank. His memories were still back at the Demon Forge Palace. How had he opened his eyes and wound up here?!

"You're awake?"

A hoarse voice reached him.

Alvin turned toward it. It was Ezekiel, Chief Librarian of the Dark Angels Chapter.