Chapter Summaries

Abaddon joined forces with Vashtorr and led his upgraded fleet to an ancient ruin beyond the Milky Way, seeking an artifact that could harm Yog-Sothoth. The chapter also revealed Lord Cypher’s secret mission and showed Corax sending Daemons through the Webway to gather intelligence in other universes.

• Abaddon recognized Vashtorr’s ambition but accepted his help, then gathered rebel forces and sailed through the Warp toward the ancient ruins.
• Lord Cypher revealed that he had infiltrated Abaddon’s ranks to study Vashtorr and uncover the Warp’s secrets as part of a mission given by the Dark Watchers.
• Corax oversaw the deployment of controlled Daemons, including Maka, through a portal to other universes to gather intelligence for the Imperium.
• Abaddon’s fleet emerged near a black hole, and Abaddon ordered the Arks of Omen to enter it despite warnings from his crew.
• The Arks of Omen passed through the black hole and reached a vast orbital structure surrounding a Blue Dwarf Star, where Vashtorr promised to guide Abaddon to the artifact.

Abaddon found an ancient Trident capable of opposing the Warp’s gods, then planned to use the Imperium and the Cancerous Legion against each other. Meanwhile, Bruce and Superboy-Prime slaughtered the Guardians on Oa as Bruce prepared to build an army from the Emotional Spectrum, while the Winged Giant approached the Injustice League’s headquarters.

• Abaddon and Vashtorr explored an ancient orbital structure, found its creators’ history, and recovered the Trident from a temple without encountering any guardians or traps.
• After returning to the Milky Way, Abaddon learned that Guilliman and Calgar had routed the Cancerous Legion and that Bonebreaker had become emperor of the Orks.
• Abaddon discovered that Dorn and Calgar were preparing to attack Cadia Fortress, then planned to lure Calgar there so the Imperium and the Cancerous Legion would weaken each other.
• Bruce and Superboy-Prime massacred the Guardians on Oa, and Bruce used the Emotional Spectrum to prepare an army of demons fueled by fear and despair.
• Bruce leaked the Injustice League’s location to the Imperium, and the Winged Giant arrived near its headquarters with his army.

Sanguinius confronted the rebel heroes in the Prometheus System and swiftly killed Golden Superman and Doctor Manhattan. As the Imperium fleet began its assault on the planet, Doctor Fate failed to escape and the heroes faced the Imperium’s overwhelming attack.

• Sam watched the Imperium fleet approach Prometheus and saw Golden Superman move a companion star toward it, throwing the system and its planet into chaos.
• Sanguinius intercepted Golden Superman, pierced him with a spear that nullified his healing, severed his head, and erased his body and soul.
• Sanguinius defeated Doctor Manhattan by resisting his attempts to disassemble him and redefining the quantum hero until he dissipated.
• Doctor Fate tried to open a magical portal but found his spells suppressed as the Imperium warships entered the planet’s orbit.
• The Imperium began bombarding the planet with Lances, Antimatter Bombs, and Pulse Bombs, leaving the heroes unable to escape.

The Imperium annihilated the superheroes trapped on the Earth-like planet in the Prometheus System, then assigned Titus to hunt the Gods of Apokolips and New Genesis while Sanguinius began studying the Source Wall. In a Warhammer-like world, Valerian led an expedition to seize besieged Middenheim from Vlad’s Undead Legion, while Dax headed to a village plagued by Skaven.

• The Imperium’s bombardment shattered the Green Lantern Corps’ shield, killed heroes including Hammond and Doctor Fate, and buried survivors when Tech-Priests accelerated the planet’s tectonic collapse.
• Sanguinius ordered the planet destroyed by drawing the star toward it, assigned Titus to eliminate the Gods of Apokolips and New Genesis, and stayed behind to establish Source Wall research facilities.
• Dax’s squad rescued Udi’s village from bandits, and the survivors explained that Vlad had returned from death, turned Jeric into a Vampire, and driven their forces from the war.
• Valerian decided to lead most of the expedition to retake Middenheim, while Dax took a squad and Udi toward the village where Skaven had been reported.
• Dax’s squad used hovering metal vehicles to travel toward the Skaven stronghold after confirming that the village had been raided by a small group of Skaven.

Dax and the Primaris Warriors descended beneath a village and slaughtered the Skaven occupying an underground town. After discovering a Warpstone mine and an unfinished rail line tied to the Council of Thirteen, Dax planned to report the find and request tunneling vehicles.

• Dax and his group found the Skaven entrance beneath the village altar and followed scanners through a cavern labyrinth.
• Skaven guards attacked with weapons and magic, but Dax and the Primaris Warriors cut through them while their technology deflected the attacks.
• Dax killed a Rat Ogre and a Skaven warrior as the group advanced toward the underground town.
• Dax and the Primaris Warriors slaughtered the Skaven in the town and destroyed the statue of the Great Horned Rat.
• Dax discovered a Warpstone mine and an unfinished rail line, then decided to report the find and requisition two tunneling vehicles.

Fisher’s refugees were saved when Valerian and his warriors destroyed the undead around them, then captured Vlad and reclaimed Middenheim. At the chapter’s end, Jaghatai’s emergency team responded to a Scarlet-class lockdown at a Rest Station after workers brought back an anomalous object from the Warp.

• Fisher led exhausted refugees toward a town, where Vlad’s forces surrounded them and the dead included Karras and the soldiers who had stayed behind.
• Valerian and two Metal Giants arrived by aircraft, annihilated the surrounding undead and enemy forces, and told Fisher that Middenheim was their target.
• Fisher rode back to Middenheim and found it in ruins beneath golden Aquila banners as survivors began clearing the city.
• Valerian’s warriors attacked Vlad and his followers, captured the Vampires and necromancers, and began establishing an Imperium base in Middenheim.
• Jaghatai arrived with an Emergency Team at a locked-down Rest Station and ordered surveillance footage of the Warp anomaly analyzed.

Jaghatai learned that a Heavy Hazard Class Rubik's Cube had infected the isolated Rest Station, turning failures into puppets and spreading through anyone who saw it. He led a squad inside to eliminate the infected and recover the object.

• The Imperium classified strange Warp-born objects by danger level and used harmlessness-treated objects to equip external personnel.
• Jaghatai received reports that the Rubik's Cube marked anyone who saw it, forced them through puzzles, and created puppets when they failed.
• Technicians explained that the Cube could spread through images, that its owner would control the puppets, and that Warp-restricting fields weakened it.
• Jaghatai ordered his squad to use radiation-sensing mode, communicate only by voice, and avoid Cube-related images.
• Jaghatai opened the Rest Station's sealed entrance and led his squad inside.

Jaghatai contained the Rubik’s Cube infection at the Rest Station but discovered that intelligent infected had hidden among the survivors, prompting a wider investigation. After Daven received the Imperium’s tools and vowed to overthrow the Reincarnation Game, a delirious girl who had conquered her world approached Qiu Chen and asked to join her Lord’s kingdom.

• Jaghatai’s squads executed infected throughout the Rest Station, recovered Patient Zero’s Rubik’s Cube, and sealed it in an Anti-Magic Containment Device.
• Jaghatai exposed the Rest Station supervisor as an infected puppet and ordered the Inquisition Team to investigate everyone before the lockdown ended.
• The Imperium sent the Rubik’s Cube to the containment center in Universe 02 while Jaghatai began improving the tunnel’s protections.
• Daven collected his Reincarnation Game rewards, accessed the Imperial Intelligence System through Qiu Chen’s Proton Detector, and planned to seize his world for the Imperium.
• A white-haired girl told Qiu Chen that she had conquered her world and asked to travel to her Lord’s kingdom.

Qiu Chen turned away Asagami Shion’s request to meet the Lord of Salvation, prompting her to pursue more conquests in His name. He entered the Sacrificial Island dungeon and arrived among roughly a thousand B-Rank Players, suspecting they had been gathered for another Bloody Harvest.

• Qiu Chen recalled how Asagami Shion had transformed from a grieving girl into a powerful, bloodthirsty Player after joining the Salvation Society.
• Asagami Shion asked Qiu Chen to arrange a meeting with the Lord of Salvation, but he refused and urged her to focus on her mission.
• Asagami Shion decided to conquer more worlds and become an S-Rank Player to earn the Lord’s attention.
• Qiu Chen used a dungeon selection card and chose to enter the Sacrificial Island dungeon immediately.
• Qiu Chen arrived on a beach crowded with about a thousand B-Rank Players and suspected the dungeon was a Bloody Harvest.

Qiu Chen investigated Sacrifice Island, rejected Su Xiao’s attempt to trade information, and identified Lite and Si as potential recruits. Meanwhile, Guilliman visited Natal to bless Khaine and Andy’s newborn son, named Arthas, then revealed that he was heading to reclaim Cadia.

• Qiu Chen examined Sacrifice Island’s clues, spoke with the islanders, and agreed to attend their midnight ceremony while Su Xiao secretly monitored him.
• Su Xiao searched the temple and resolved to kill Qiu Chen if he needed information, believing his Dream Heaven talent could defeat anyone.
• Qiu Chen watched a Player unlock the military base’s database and identified Lite and Si as potential recruits because they resisted the Reincarnation Game’s brutal values.
• Guilliman arrived in Natal after Arthas was born, blessed the child, and named him Arthas.
• Guilliman told Khaine that Calgar’s army was preparing to fight the traitors at Cadia and that he would personally oversee the campaign.
• Khaine and Natal’s officials pledged their service to Guilliman, while Guilliman told Khaine to remain with his wife and child.

Guilliman praised Khaine and the people of Natal before departing with his fleet, while Calgar assaulted the lawless Void Five station in pursuit of Abaddon. Abaddon escaped again, but Calgar discovered a previously unknown Warp route to Cadia and extracted information from a captured Cultist.

• Guilliman praised Khaine and warned that dangerous wars and the renewed Great Crusade were approaching, and Khaine vowed that Natal would be ready to sacrifice itself.
• The Natalians and visiting guests declared their loyalty to Guilliman as the Sovereign Supreme departed through a Warp entrance.
• Calgar and his honor guard fought through Void Five, defeating Chaos Warriors and containing metal puppets that repeatedly reassembled.
• Calgar broke into a sealed room and killed its defenders, but found that Abaddon had escaped again.
• Calgar discovered star charts showing an unknown Warp route to Cadia and ordered a captured Cultist interrogated for intelligence.

Calgar captured Void Five Transit Station and planned to use its hidden route to trap Abaddon on Cadia, then entered a chamber for his fourth Primaris enhancement. Remembrancer Kakar prepared to interview Lion before the chapter shifted to Tiers taking command of the Blood Angels’ Tenth Company and arriving at Armageddon to begin its final cleansing.

• Calgar reviewed intelligence extracted from a Cultist, learned of Abaddon's hidden route to Cadia, ordered the traitors executed, and sent his fleet to circle behind the Cadia battlefield.
• Calgar entered the enhancement chamber to undergo his fourth Primaris enhancement while vowing to capture Abaddon.
• Kakar received approval to interview Lion, traveled to his study, and began recording Lion's account of arriving on Caliban and meeting Luther.
• Corbulo and Dante promoted Tiers to Captain of the Tenth Company and assigned him to cleanse Armageddon before rejoining the Blood Angels at Cadia.
• Tiers led a fleet to Armageddon, where the damaged planet's fortresses were under attack by enormous Orks.

Tiers led the Blood Angels in clearing Ork ships and killing an Ork Warlord on Armageddon. Meanwhile, Guilliman gathered Imperial and Aeldari leaders to discuss the Ork threat and proposed replacing Bonebreaker with a controllable Ork Emperor.

• Tiers ordered the Imperium fleet to destroy the Ork ships, whose shields failed under near-light-speed shells and antimatter attacks.
• Tiers teleported the Blood Angels' Tenth Company into the Ork tide, where they fought through Greenskins and killed the Ork Warlord.
• The Orks fled after Bonebreaker's champion died, and Tiers resolved to clear Armageddon of the remaining Orks and Warp threats.
• Guilliman met with Imperial, Aeldari, and Harlequin leaders to discuss the enemy alliance gathering on Cadia and ways to limit Imperial losses.
• Guilliman explained that the Old Ones' research suggested WAAAGH energy could pass from a dead Ork leader to another powerful Ork who defeated his rivals.
• Guilliman proposed replacing Bonebreaker with an Ork Emperor the Imperium could control.

Guilliman proposed using Orks as biological weapons and identified the cunning, unusually cowardly Ufthak as a possible replacement for Bonebreaker. Ufthak arrived with his fleet to confront Bad Humies, believing he had come to rescue them.

• Guilliman explained that the Old Ones' research could make Orks into controllable biological weapons, and he proposed finding an Ork leader who could replace Bonebreaker.
• Guilliman revealed that an unusually cunning Ork Warlord had repeatedly fled battles, switched clan emblems for advantage, and grown stronger over time.
• Guilliman identified the fleeing Warlord as the best candidate and ordered research into ways to create and control Orks.
• Ufthak learned that seventy or eighty Humie ships awaited his fleet and initially prepared to retreat, thinking they were Good Humies.
• Ufthak learned the ships belonged to Bad Humies, ordered his fleet to attack, and announced that he had come to save them as Abaddon watched in disgust.

Abaddon yielded to Ufthak’s Orks, then betrayed them when the Imperium arrived, leaving Ufthak stranded as the Imperial fleet closed in. Elsewhere, Lion recounted his failures on Caliban to Kakar, while Qiu Chen offered to save Lite and Si from Sacrifice Island and claimed he had already solved the dungeon.

• Abaddon held back from fighting the Orks, let Ufthak’s forces pass, and allowed them to loot Agri and build a fortress.
• When Dorn’s Imperial fleet arrived, Ufthak fled with his Orks, but Abaddon crippled the Ork flagship before escaping; Imperial weapons then thwarted Ufthak’s retreat, forcing him to return to the surface.
• Lion told Kakar how he had taken control of The Order, destroyed the Knights of Lupus, and exiled Luther and other warriors after the Sashiro Incident.
• On Sacrifice Island, Qiu Chen spoke with Lite and Si, claimed he could clear the dungeon the next day, and offered to take them out alive.

Qiu Chen used footage and military records from Sacrifice Island to explain that the island’s monsters, strange red moon, and spreading danger were connected to sacrifices offered to an eye in the sky. He then revealed a dimensional observer capable of displaying microscopic anatomy, leaving Lite to explain how such technology could transform science and civilization.

• Si doubted that Qiu Chen had uncovered the dungeon’s truth, while Lite asked him to explain it.
• Qiu Chen replayed a recording of a terrified woman describing sacrificed tourists, walking dead, and a monster that attacked the military investigators.
• Qiu Chen analyzed the footage and military evidence, pointing out the eye in the sky, the devastated base, failed nuclear missiles, and the expanding lockdown zone.
• Qiu Chen displayed a native’s anatomical cross-section using dimensional observation, which Lite said no Player item could provide.
• Lite explained that high-dimensional observation could open up the microscopic world and accelerate scientific and civilizational advances.

Lite and Si joined the Salvation Society after Qiu Chen explained its opposition to the Reincarnation Game and analyzed how to clear the Sacrifice Island instance. Elsewhere, Dorn offered Ufthak an alliance and the chance to become Ork Emperor, leaving Ufthak wavering as his Boyz coveted the Imperium’s gifts.

• Lite inferred that Qiu Chen belonged to an organization opposing the Reincarnation Game, and Qiu Chen invited Lite and Si to join the Salvation Society.
• Lite argued that Players should resist the game, and Si agreed to join; Qiu Chen showed them the Society’s equipment and explained the instance’s factions and sacrifice.
• Qiu Chen concluded that the sea folk and the other island faction were competing over the sacrifice, then left to attend the midnight ritual.
• Ufthak learned that the Imperium had destroyed the Chaos Warriors’ fortress and prepared his Orks to fight, but Dorn offered him surrender and an alliance.
• Dorn promised Ufthak an endless WAAAGH crusade, weapons, and a path to becoming Ork Emperor; Ufthak’s Boyz were tempted by the gifts, and Dorn awaited his decision.

Dorn established a preliminary alliance with Ufthak, who received supplies and prepared to pursue the Bad Humie. On Sacrifice Island, Qiu Chen joined the sea folk’s midnight procession as Players watched, while Su Xiao killed a Player, concealed the bodies, and hunted for more victims as he waited for his talent skill to recharge.

• Dorn secured Ufthak’s cooperation by promising to help him become Ork Emperor, then left with his fleet as Ufthak gathered his new equipment and set out to confront the Bad Humie.
• Qiu Chen walked among the sea folk toward their midnight ritual, prompting several Players to leave their houses and follow the procession under candlelight.
• Su Xiao killed a female Player after her substitute item was exhausted, collected her items, and burned the bodies of her and three other Players.
• Su Xiao entered the darkness with a candle, monitored the other Players, and sought his next target while waiting for Dream Heaven to recharge.
• Su Xiao rejected the idea of serving his country and resolved to use his power as he pleased, threatening anyone who tried to restrict him.

Qiu Chen uncovered the Sacrifice Island ritual’s genetic infection and escaped the instance with Lite and Rob, leaving Su Xiao behind to face the horrors of the Reincarnation Game. Elsewhere, Titus led the Imperium to demand New Genesis’s surrender, but Highfather refused and ordered the New Gods to resist.

• Qiu Chen used Proton Detectors to observe the midnight ritual, discovered that the Holy Water caused genetic infection, and pretended to drink it while the Players around him succumbed to the ritual’s influence.
• Qiu Chen explained Sacrifice Island’s two competing gods to Lite and Rob, completed the escape requirements, and reached the military base with them.
• Su Xiao confronted Qiu Chen at the base and was defeated; when Su Xiao later begged to escape, Qiu Chen refused to take him through the gateway.
• Qiu Chen, Lite, and Rob left through the gateway as Su Xiao was abandoned and dragged into the darkness by the beings behind the Reincarnation Game.
• Titus demanded that Highfather and New Genesis surrender to the Imperium, but Highfather rejected the demand, severed contact, and assembled the New Gods to fight.

Titus led the Imperium’s invasion of New Genesis, slaughtering the New Gods and destroying Supertown despite their resistance. After Orion and his companions fell, Titus entered the main hall, where Highfather watched the devastation and called the invaders daemons.

• Titus ordered New Genesis exterminated in the God-Emperor’s name, and Imperial warriors teleported into Supertown to attack.
• The New Gods and Supertown’s residents resisted, but Bolter fire and Imperial weapons cut them down as warships broke through the city’s protective barrier.
• Orion confronted Titus and attacked with his immense power, but Titus split his fist, killed him, and crushed his head.
• Orion’s friends joined the fight and were killed by the Primaris Warriors as the Imperium overran Supertown.
• Titus killed the last palace guard and entered the main hall, where Highfather watched the destruction and called the invaders daemons.