Apocalypse-Prelude!

At first, Alvin thought they still had time to make detailed preparations, perhaps even enough to improve the firing positions in every trench and fortress as much as possible before the Chaos Legion's full-scale assault arrived.

But it didn't take long for him to realize just how "naive" that idea had been.

Plenty of time?

A perfected formation and detailed plans?

No!

The Chaos God who roared with fury and cruelty, embodying war and slaughter, proved his resolve through the most direct action imaginable!

War—or rather, the apocalypse—had suddenly descended upon this planet in the most terrifying form!

The filth-laden storms of the Warp swept across the sky, carrying torrents of blood-red lightning. Like a raging monarch, they roared as they tore apart Dragon Forest Star's heavens!

Twisted nebulae resembled festering scars, oozing a nauseating, dark-red light.

The banners of Khorne, the roar of the Lord of Skulls, and undisguised greed and surging malice poured forth from the festering, suppurating wounds in Realspace!

"They're here!"

Azrael, Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels, gripped the Secret Sword. Nearly losing control, he bellowed hoarsely into the communications channel, his voice barely audible over the deafening roar. "Dark Angels—prepare to engage! For Ryan! For the Emperor!"

The sky churned with clouds of sulfurous smoke and the exhaust trails of Daemon Engines. Demons blotted out the heavens, converging into a crimson torrent that cleaved the sky like the blood axe of the Lord of Skulls!

On the distant horizon, the earth groaned and cracked, spewing red-hot magma like molten rock.

The Veil, the barrier between Realspace and the Warp, seemed to grow terribly fragile in that moment. Its anguished, tearing wail echoed all around them!

There was no probing attack, no formation.

There was only destruction and war: an abstract concept made flesh