Chapter Summaries

The Ork Warboss Skullcrusher Mag Uruk Saraka brooded over his defeat at Armageddon and craved a new war. After receiving a vision of humans fighting Chaos on Dragon Forest Star, he rallied his Boyz to march there.

• Skullcrusher Mag Uruk Saraka hid in his fortress on an Ork-overrun Imperial world, wounded and furious that Sebastian Yarrick and Heber Recite had ruined his plans.
• Skullcrusher Mag Uruk Saraka crushed the heads of Ork Boyz who were brawling outside his palace, finding relief in slaughter.
• Skullcrusher Mag Uruk Saraka saw a vision of humans battling Chaos Daemons and warriors on Dragon Forest Star.
• Skullcrusher Mag Uruk Saraka declared that the gods had given his Boyz a new Waaagh and ordered them to follow him to Dragon Forest Star.

Azrael led the Dark Angels and their successor Chapters to Dragon Forest Star, while Vashtor used the invasion to attack the weakened Stone Fortress and seize the Key hidden by the Nameless Gate. As Vashtor reached the gate, Lion El'Jonson appeared to block his path.

• Azrael gathered a massive Dark Angels force to destroy Dragon Forest Star and conceal the secret of Caliban's destruction.
• Several successor Chapters abandoned the Indomitable Crusade fleet, then joined Azrael's forces at Dragon Forest Star.
• Vashtor lured most Dark Angels onto the planet before his Chaos Fleet attacked the Stone Fortress and its successor Chapter ships.
• Azrael realized Vashtor had targeted the Stone Fortress, but Chaos forces and corrupted communications trapped his army on Dragon Forest Star.
• Vashtor disabled the Stone Fortress's defenses and led Daemons and Chaos Legions toward the Nameless Gate to claim the Key.
• Lion El'Jonson appeared before the Nameless Gate and struck Vashtor's Energy Shield with his blade.

Azrael’s isolated Dark Angels forces were rescued from a Chaos encirclement by the mysterious Sons of the Forest, whom he recognized as the Fallen Angels. Humiliated by their rescue and their deliberate Caliban salute, the Dark Angels turned their fury on Chaos and began searching for the Fallen Angels.

• Chaos forces surrounded Azrael’s scattered Dark Angels on Dragon Forest Star, leaving them cut off and nearly out of ammunition.
• A mist-shrouded forest appeared behind the Chaos lines, and black-armored Sons of the Forest ambushed them and destroyed their heavy weapons.
• Azrael led the Dark Angels through the weakened encirclement, but the mysterious warriors gave them an ancient Caliban knightly salute and vanished into the forest.
• Azrael recognized the rescuers as the Fallen Angels, while Asmodeus flew into a rage and demanded that they return.
• Azrael, Asmodeus, Ezekiel, and Belial led the enraged Dark Angels in a brutal slaughter of the Chaos forces.
• Azrael ordered his warriors to search for the Fallen Angels and kill them.

Alvin led the Sons of the Forest through the Warp to rescue the Dark Angels trapped on Dragon Forest Star while the Lion King went to protect the Stone Fortress. After using his foresight to guide their movements, Alvin ordered the force to jump behind the Chaos Daemon Army and target two Chaos Dreadnoughts.

• Alvin and the Lion King decided to save the Dark Angels and preserve the Stone Fortress rather than risk the trapped forces being destroyed.
• The Lion King headed for the Stone Fortress to face Vashtor, while Alvin took the Sons of the Forest to rescue the Dark Angels on Dragon Forest Star.
• Alvin used his foresight to locate a safe jump point as Afkar admitted he was worried about the Dark Angels despite their history with the Fallen Angels.
• After resting for five minutes, Alvin ordered the Sons of the Forest to jump behind the Chaos Daemon Army and attack two long-range Chaos Dreadnoughts.

The Ravenwing launched a desperate assault on a Chaos palace to stop a summoning ritual, but overwhelming defenses nearly destroyed them. The Sons of the Forest arrived from behind the Chaos army, turning the battle and giving the Ravenwing a chance to break through.

• The Ravenwing Grand Master learned that a Chaos ritual inside the palace threatened to summon a Greater Daemon and ordered the Librarian to warn the other Chapters.
• The Ravenwing charged the palace through heavy fire from Chaos Daemon Chariots and fortress weapons, suffering devastating casualties.
• The wounded Ravenwing Grand Master rallied his warriors to continue the attack rather than let Chaos complete the ritual.
• The Sons of the Forest, led by Alvin, struck the Chaos army from behind with a psychic blast and charged into battle.
• The Ravenwing Grand Master ordered his warriors to support the Sons of the Forest and break through while Alvin sent Afkar to face two Chaos Dreadnoughts.

Alvin’s conspicuous custom Power Armor drew the attention of two Chaos Dreadnoughts, and one relentlessly pursued him across the battlefield. He survived by using his armor and foresight to evade its attacks while leading it through the Chaos forces.

• Alvin’s gray-white Power Armor, customized by Avalon’s Tech-Priests, made him stand out among the black-armored Sons of the Forest.
• A Chaos Hellbeast targeted Alvin and fired its multi-barreled melta cannon, but he escaped behind a broken wall.
• The Hellbeast charged and unleashed its Heavy Bolters, battering Alvin until his armor’s defensive field protected him from being killed.
• Alvin deliberately led the mad Hellbeast through the Chaos Daemon Army, causing it to blast its own forces as he dodged its attacks.

Afkar fought his way through the Chaos army and destroyed a Desolator Dreadnought, then killed the Chaos Lord inside its sarcophagus. The Ravenwing Grand Master watched in astonishment as Afkar defeated the ancient war machine without help.

• Afkar charged through Chaos Space Marines and Daemons to challenge a Desolator Dreadnought.
• The Ravenwing Grand Master ordered the Ravenwing to strike the fortress’s gun platforms while Afkar distracted a Chaos Hellbeast.
• The Ravenwing Grand Master tried to assist Afkar against the Desolator Dreadnought, but Afkar told him to stay back because he was missing an arm.
• Afkar shattered the Dreadnought’s incoming bolts, blasted off its left arm with a Plasma Gun, and pierced its sarcophagus with his Power sword.
• Afkar ripped out the sarcophagus, destroyed the Dreadnought with a grenade, and dragged out and beheaded the Chaos Lord inside.

Afkar and the Sons of the Forest fought alongside the Dark Angels, brutally killing Chaos forces and destroying a Chaos Hellbeast. After learning that Chaos Sorcerers were close to summoning a Daemon Prince inside the Demon Forge Palace, Alvin agreed to lead his warriors there and stop the ritual.

• Afkar destroyed a Desolator Dreadnought, then used Melt Bombs and his Power sword to tear a Chaos husk from a Chaos Hellbeast and shoot it.
• The Sons of the Forest copied Afkar by mounting severed Chaos heads on their weapons and charging the enemy.
• Alvin told the Ravenwing Grand Master that displaying enemy heads was a normal way to intimidate foes.
• The Ravenwing Grand Master revealed that Chaos Sorcerers were conducting a vast summoning ritual in the Demon Forge Palace, likely to summon a Daemon Prince.
• The Ravenwing Grand Master explained that his wounded warriors could not break through the Chaos defenses, and asked Alvin's forces to stop the ritual.
• Alvin agreed to lead the Sons of the Forest to the Demon Forge Palace while the Ravenwing Grand Master contacted the other Chapters.

The Lion fought Vashtor in the Hall of the Blessed until Belak intervened, revealing that the battle was meant to keep the Lion occupied. The Lion realized Khorne’s real target on Dragon Forest Star was Alvin, but Vashtor taunted him that he had understood too late.

• The Lion led the Dark Angels in defending the Nameless Gate while suspecting Vashtor was deliberately stalling.
• The Lion overwhelmed Vashtor with close-range attacks and used his golden shield to reflect the Daemon’s Chaos Scrapcode.
• Belak appeared and struck the Lion away just as he was about to banish Vashtor.
• Belak told Vashtor that their master had paid a heavy price for his ambitions, and Vashtor accused Belak of using him as bait to hold Ryan El'Jonson in place.
• Vashtor asked the Lion to guess what the Blood God had prepared on Dragon Forest Star, and the Lion realized Khorne’s target was Alvin.

The Lion King fought Daemon Prince Belak while Vashtor revealed he had only pretended to accept Khorne’s deal and had used Belak to advance his own plan. Vashtor offered the Lion King a choice between continuing the fight while Dragon Forest Star suffered or helping him drive Belak away so they could pursue separate goals.

• The Lion King realized his dream of a burning forest referred to Alvin and unleashed his forest domain against Belak.
• Belak pursued the Lion King, who fought back with his sword and shield as the Dark Angels attacked Belak with weapons fire.
• Belak demanded Vashtor’s help, but Vashtor watched and taunted him while the Lion King pressed the attack.
• Belak accused Vashtor of betraying their deal, and Vashtor revealed he had deliberately drawn Belak out to the open.
• Vashtor told the Lion King he wanted the key behind a door and proposed they drive off Belak before pursuing their separate goals.
• Vashtor dismissed Belak’s appeal to keep his word and said he knew the four others had secretly joined forces against him.

Vashtor exposed Belak’s role in a scheme on Dragon Forest Star and persuaded Lion El’Jonson to help stop him, claiming Alvin Valshius mattered more than the key. Their alliance collapsed into a chaotic battle, while the Lion secretly planned to defeat both and head for Dragon Forest Star himself.

• Vashtor accused Belak of using him as a decoy while plotting to make Alvin Valshius ascend to Daemonhood on Dragon Forest Star.
• Vashtor offered to work with Lion El’Jonson, and the Lion agreed because protecting Alvin Valshius mattered more than claiming the key.
• Vashtor attacked Belak, and Chaos Space Marines and the Lion joined the assault as Belak tried to defend himself.
• Belak charged Vashtor despite the Lion’s attacks, turning the fight into a chaotic clash between the Daemon Prince, the Chaos forces, and the Dark Angels.
• Vashtor called for the Lion’s help, but the Lion held back and planned to defeat both enemies before going to Dragon Forest Star.

Alvin sent the Sons of the Forest, with the badly wounded Librarian Malvin, through a mysterious path to disrupt the nearly completed Chaos summoning ritual at the Demon Forge Palace. The Ravenwing stayed behind to hold their position and sent lightly wounded warriors to find the scattered Dark Angels Chapters, leaving their survival uncertain.

• Alvin saw that the Demon Forge Palace was too heavily fortified for a direct assault, while the Chaos ritual neared completion.
• Malvin asked to join Alvin's mission, and the Ravenwing Grand Master explained that the Librarian could protect the Sons of the Forest near the ritual.
• Alvin summoned the Sons of the Forest and led them, with Malvin bringing up the rear, onto the mysterious gravel path.
• The Ravenwing Grand Master ordered the seriously wounded to defend the position and the rest to carry a message to the scattered Chapters because Chaos had jammed communications.
• Dozens of Ravenwing warriors charged through the Chaos Legion, split up, and disappeared into the desert as their brothers covered them.

Alvin led the Sons of the Forest into the Demon Forge Palace to stop a Chaos ritual summoning a Daemon. They fought through the World Eaters, but the ritual succeeded, and a towering blood-red Daemon emerged.

• Alvin led the Sons of the Forest through the Demon Forge Palace's defenses and found Chaos Sorcerers performing a ritual on a brass altar.
• Alvin's ranged attack failed against the Sorcerers' Psychic Power barrier, so he charged the altar with his warriors.
• Afkar urged Malvin to help stop the ritual, and Malvin shielded the charging force from the Sorcerer's Warp shriek.
• Alvin broke through the World Eaters and thrust his Power sword toward the ritual's core, but a huge hand caught the blade.
• A towering Daemon emerged from the blood-red light and roared, "Blood for the Blood God, Skulls for the Skull Throne!!!"

A blood-red Warp Rift opened in the Blood Palace despite Alvin’s belief that he had stopped the summoning ritual, and Daemon Primarch Angron emerged. Angron nearly killed Alvin and gravely wounded Afkar, leaving the Sons of the Forest facing the terrifying daemon.

• The Warp Rift opened, and Angron began forcing his way into the Blood Palace as Alvin realized his foresight had failed.
• Angron reached for Alvin, but Afkar pulled him out of the way.
• Angron swung his Chainaxe at Afkar, shattering his Power sword and severing his right arm.
• Afkar charged Angron with a dagger and Melt Bomb to buy time, but Angron kicked him across the altar and left him near death.
• The Sons of the Forest saw Angron’s monstrous daemon form as he called out Alvin’s name.

Alvin and the Sons of the Forest faced Daemon Primarch Angron after the Chaos ritual succeeded, and they fought to escape the Blood Palace. Malvern sacrificed himself to hold Angron back, leaving Alvin and the others a chance to flee.

• Alvin recognized the summoned daemon as Angron and ordered his companions to retreat.
• Angron sent the World Eaters to surround Alvin and his group, then charged toward Alvin through the collapsing Blood Palace.
• Alvin carried the wounded Afkar while the Sons of the Forest fought through the encirclement, but Angron ignored the others and pursued Alvin.
• Malvern stepped forward to repay his debt to the Ravenwing and unleashed destructive psychic power to separate Angron from Alvin's group.
• Malvern remained on the far side of the chasm and said, "For... Ryan."

Sean Kruger found the Deathwing’s trail in a ruined settlement, but a World Eater warband ambushed him and revealed that many Ravenwing brothers had been captured and killed. Refusing the World Eater leader’s offer to join Chaos, Sean charged into battle, calling on his brothers and the Emperor.

• Sean used his senses to identify the Dark Angels’ Deathwing as the force that had recently fought in the ruins and determined the direction they had gone.
• Sean heard an approaching threat, took cover, and survived a shell blast as Chaos forces emerged from the smoke.
• A World Eater leader showed Sean a Ravenwing helmet and claimed that he had made it his twenty-seventh trophy.
• Sean realized that twenty-six Ravenwing brothers had been killed and that he might be the last of those who had broken through.
• The World Eater leader urged Sean to join Chaos, but Sean rejected him and charged with his Chainsword, crying out for Ryan.

Sean was overwhelmed by the World Eaters' leader and suffered a fatal axe blow, but as he prayed for more time to complete his mission, a cold light appeared and he rose from the blood. The World Eaters' leader turned back in shock, unable to understand how Sean had survived.

• Sean charged the World Eaters' leader, but his opponent overpowered him and drove him back with a relentless axe assault.
• The World Eaters' leader broke Sean's Chainsword and raised his axe to kill him.
• The World Eaters' leader cleaved through Sean's armor and shattered his heart, then ordered his followers to cut off Sean's head.
• As Sean neared death, he prayed for enough time to fulfill his mission and see the Supreme Grand Master.
• A cold light appeared, and Sean stood up in a pool of blood, leaving the World Eaters' leader stunned.

Sean Kruger fought Barrett O'Brien in a brutal fistfight after surviving injuries that should have killed him. Sean defeated Barrett and was allowed to leave, while Barrett revealed his name and unit.

• Sean rose from the blood despite his shattered armor and charged Barrett, declaring his loyalty to the Emperor and his duty to protect humanity.
• Sean intercepted Barrett’s blood axe and traded punches with him as the World Eaters watched.
• Sean’s relentless blows broke Barrett’s helmet and made him remember his former faith, leaving him unable to fight back.
• Sean declared that he would reach the Golden Throne while Barrett would face eternal Purgatory, then knocked him to the ground.
• Barrett told the World Eaters to let Sean go, named himself as the Third Assault Company commander, and heard Sean identify himself as Second Company Dark Angel Ravenwing.

Sean reached the Dark Angels and delivered a beacon after warning them about the Daemon summoning ritual at Demon Forge Palace, then died from his wounds. Azrael led the Deathwing on a direct assault toward the palace, while other Dark Angels successor Chapters followed beacons from Ravenwing survivors.

• Sean stumbled across the Dark Angels, warned them about Demon Forge Palace and the Daemon summoning ritual, and handed Chief Chaplain Asmodeus the beacon before dying.
• Asmodeus honored Sean, and an Apothecary removed his progenoid glands as Azrael ordered the Deathwing to advance on Demon Forge Palace.
• When the Chief Librarian detected Chaos energy ahead and suggested evading it, Azrael ordered the force to charge straight through.
• Asmodeus and the Dreadnoughts smashed through a Chaos Legion, and Azrael led the Deathwing onward using Sean's beacon.
• Ravenwing survivors reached scattered Dark Angels successor Chapters with more beacons, and the Chapters raced toward Demon Forge Palace.

Alvin and the Sons of the Forest fought through Khorne’s Daemon Legion as they tried to escape the Demon Forge Palace, but the bombardment and cavalry broke their defenses. Angron escaped Malvin’s psychic barrier, and Alvin charged the Daemon Primarch head-on.

• Alvin led the Sons of the Forest in a retreat through the Blood Palace while they battled waves of Bloodletters.
• Khorne’s Bloodcrushers charged the defenders, and Alvin rallied the Sons of the Forest to fire their heavy weapons at them.
• Flesh-and-brass daemon constructs bombarded the Sons of the Forest with corrupting flesh shells, while Flesh Hounds attacked Alvin from above.
• The Bloodcrushers broke through the Sons of the Forest’s defensive line, and Angron escaped Malvin’s psychic barrier.
• Alvin charged Angron and swung his sword at the Daemon Primarch, shouting that he was Angron’s dad.