Chapter Summaries

Qin Mo fought through the Nurgle Demon Army to reach the Tyran Army Souls, then killed the Nurgle Greater Demon and devoured the demon souls with the Crone Sword. After the battle, he found that the dead soldiers remained trapped in their old roles in the Sea of Souls, unable to recognize him.

• Qin Mo carved through the Nurgle demons toward the Orbital Dock, where the Tyran Army Souls charged the enemy under their commanders.
• The Tyran Army Souls and a Cadia Soldier Soul reenacted their final battles, and Charger Nai’s bomb blast tore open the Nurgle line.
• Qin Mo fought his way to the Nurgle Greater Demon and killed it with the Chainsword and Crone Sword.
• Qin Mo’s Crone Sword devoured the defeated demons’ souls, restoring his strength as the surviving demons fled.
• Albert saluted Qin Mo and repeated his old report, revealing that the souls still acted out the roles the living remembered them by.

Qin Mo reunited with the souls of fallen Tyran soldiers, then led them and the living Orbital Dock toward Nurgle's Domain to counter the daemons' assault. The chapter ended as they entered the bizarre, pus-filled realm, where Qin Mo struggled to make sense of its Warp landscape.

• Sector-wide memorial rites briefly restored the fallen soldiers' awareness and strengthened their souls.
• Qin Mo answered the soldiers' questions about the sector and promised to restore their sanity and give them peace.
• Albert saluted Qin Mo and declared his regiment ready to counterattack the rebels before the souls followed Qin Mo to the Giant Whale.
• Qin Mo ordered the souls and the Giant Whale to attack Nurgle's Domain and dismantle the daemons' assault.
• The Giant Whale carried Qin Mo and the army into Nurgle's Domain, where Qin Mo found its strange landscape difficult to comprehend.

Qin Mo led the Tyran Army Souls to destroy a Nurgle demon army in the Warp, then followed the Crone Sword’s guidance toward a warrior in need. He reached a ruined manor and saw a silver-armored warrior thrown outside.

• A Greater Demon assembled a lax Nurgle army to invade the Tyran Sector’s structure in the Warp and spread plague.
• A Black Sphere bombarded the demons, and Qin Mo arrived with the Tyran Army Souls to attack them.
• Qin Mo routed the demon army with flames and lightning, killed the Greater Demon, and led the Tyran Army Souls onward.
• The Crone Sword spoke to Qin Mo and guided him through Nurgle’s shifting garden toward a warrior fighting nearby.
• Qin Mo reached a ruined manor, where a tall warrior in silver armor was thrown outside and crashed into the ground.

Qin Mo and Kaldor Draigo joined forces against a Daemon Prince in Nurgle’s Domain. They killed it, and the Crone Sword devoured its soul to strengthen Qin Mo.

• The Daemon Prince emerged from the damaged manor and attacked Kaldor, who recognized Qin Mo and the Tyran Army Souls as real rather than illusions.
• The Daemon Prince unleashed maggots and plague through its censer, transforming the manor, while Kaldor fought back with psychic power.
• Kaldor was driven into the ground by the censer, but Qin Mo severed the Daemon Prince’s arm and stabbed its chest with his Chainsword.
• Kaldor began reciting the Daemon Prince’s true name, but Qin Mo urged him to kill it instead, and Kaldor gathered his psychic strength.
• Qin Mo decapitated the Daemon Prince with the Crone Sword, which devoured its soul and grew stronger.

Qin Mo rescued Kaldor from Nurgle’s Domain, where the Grey Knight Grand Master had fought for 350 years, and brought him to the temple to recover. As Kaldor learned about the Imperium’s recent history, Qin Mo told him that Logan had killed Grey Knight Grand Master Joross during the Month of Shame, leaving Kaldor stunned.

• Kaldor destroyed the Daemon Prince’s censer and revealed he had fought in Nurgle’s Domain for 350 years and twenty-two days.
• Qin Mo used the Black Crystal to teleport Kaldor and the Tyran Army Souls to the temple on the Giant Turtle’s back.
• Kaldor rested, prepared food, and explained that he had entered Nurgle’s Domain to pursue the Daemon Prince and its censer.
• Qin Mo told Kaldor about the Month of Shame, the Battle of Cadia, the Defense of Baal, and the Tyran Sector.
• Kaldor laughed at the story of Logan attacking an Inquisitor, then froze when Qin Mo said Logan had also killed Grand Master Joross.

Qin Mo and Kaldor discussed the Month of Shame and how both the Grey Knights and Space Wolves had acted according to their duties. Qin Mo then asked Kaldor to take him to Nurgle’s Domain to stop a plague, and Kaldor armed himself and gave Qin Mo the Scythe of Azagoth before they set out to face the gathering demons.

• Qin Mo asked Kaldor what he would have done during the Month of Shame, and Kaldor said he would have insisted on Exterminatus but dodged Logan’s strike.
• Qin Mo agreed that the Grey Knights and Space Wolves had both acted from duty, then explained that he would defend the Tyran Sector against either side if necessary.
• Qin Mo asked Kaldor to take him to Nurgle’s Domain to stop a demon plague, and Kaldor warned that several Demon Armies were gathering.
• Kaldor prepared weapons and ammunition from his Warp warehouse, then gave Qin Mo the Scythe of Azagoth, which could kill demons completely.
• Qin Mo accepted the scythe, and Kaldor armed himself with a Heavy Bolter, shield, Titan Sword, and explosives before declaring they would face the demons.

Qin Mo and Kaldor fought their way through Nurgle's Garden, destroying two assembled Demon Armies and killing a Daemon Prince. After Kaldor sensed a possible route back to the Real Universe, Qin Mo chose to delay their escape and attack Nurgle's lair.

• Kaldor lost his Heavy Bolter when Nurgle's Garden shifted its paths, but the Crone Sword later guided Qin Mo and the group toward a Demon Army.
• Qin Mo attacked the demons brewing a plague, and Charger Nai charged into their ranks with a Cadia Soldier before they both died in an explosion that killed the demons around them.
• A second Demon Army arrived, and Qin Mo and Kaldor fought together to kill its Daemon Prince and drive the surviving demons into retreat.
• Kaldor used his Psychic Power to investigate the Tyran Sector and discovered that its people were preparing technology and a portal to the Warp.
• Kaldor concluded that he and Qin Mo might be able to leave the Warp together, but Qin Mo proposed that they first attack Nurgle's lair and burn it with his Matter Flame.

The war for the Tyran System escalated as reinforcements and unexpected factions entered the conflict, while Vanessa delivered the Psionic Matrix prototype to researchers on Talon Secundus. The researchers confirmed it could help bring the Lord of Tyran back from the Warp and enable scientific observation of the Warp.

• Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Adeptus Mechanicus, and the Pilgrim Expedition Fleet fought to break through Huron’s blockade, while Huron’s forces faced attacks and incursions from Cadians, Necrons, Aeldari Harlequins, and Orks.
• Vanessa descended to Talon Secundus carrying a case containing the Psionic Matrix prototype and research materials for Tyran’s Seven-Person Council.
• The Emperor explained to Vanessa that he had entrusted the research to mortals to test whether Tyran could endure the war and recover its ruler through its own efforts.
• Custodians took the case from Vanessa, and Soulless researchers confirmed that the prototype could help return the Lord of Tyran from the Warp and support further study of it.

Qin Mo and Kaldor advanced toward Nurgle’s manor as Tzeentch invaded Nurgle’s Domain and defeated the Plague God. With Tzeentch moving to seize Nurgle’s authority, Slaanesh rushing toward the Demon Realm, and Khorne attacking both, a cold black sun appeared.

• Qin Mo and Kaldor followed the Crone Sword through Nurgle’s Demon Army toward the manor while Tzeentch’s assault on Nurgle’s Domain pushed them to advance deeper.
• Tzeentch and Nurgle clashed across the Warp, killing countless daemons as their battle sent storms and upheaval across the Real Universe.
• Khorne watched the battle from his Brass Throne, while Slaanesh gathered its Demon Army and waited for a chance to seize Aisha.
• Tzeentch defeated Nurgle but suffered grave wounds, then moved to take Nurgle’s authority as Slaanesh charged toward the Demon Realm.
• Khorne attacked Tzeentch and Slaanesh with a massive axe, but Tzeentch kept closing in on Nurgle before a cold black sun appeared.

Qin Mo and Kaldor fought through Nurgle's Garden, destroying plague stores as the Emperor's arrival drove Tzeentch away. They reached a locked room in Nurgle's manor and found Aisha, the Goddess of Life, imprisoned inside.

• The Emperor appeared as a Cold Sun and burned Tzeentch, who fled to the Demon Realm while Nurgle concealed itself in its garden.
• Qin Mo toppled Nurgle's plague-brewing cauldron, spilled its poison, and set it ablaze despite Kaldor's warning.
• Qin Mo, Kaldor, and the Army Ghosts fought into Nurgle's manor, where Qin Mo burned rooms and destroyed a warehouse of diseases.
• A Nurgling threatened Qin Mo with Nurgle's plans to brew a plague, but Qin Mo blasted it with lightning.
• Qin Mo grew stronger by devouring demon souls as the group fought through Greater Demons and reached a locked room.
• Kaldor smashed open the room's door, revealing Aisha, the Goddess of Life, imprisoned inside.

Qin Mo rescued Aisha from Nurgle’s prison and fought with his allies while they waited for a way back to the Tyran Sector. Scholar and a small force of Iron Men and human veterans arrived through a portal, leaving them to battle their way toward it through the demons.

• Qin Mo recognized Aisha’s voice as the one that had guided him through the Crone Sword and freed her from her cell.
• Qin Mo offered Aisha refuge in the Webway, and Aisha chose to leave Nurgle’s Domain despite the Nurgling’s warning that Slaanesh would pursue her.
• Qin Mo, Kaldor, Aisha, and the Army Ghosts fought through Nurgle’s manor and established a defensive position on a mountain.
• Scholar opened a Living Metal portal and led Iron Men, Custodian, and two elite human combat squads into the Warp, protected by a Psionic Matrix.
• Qin Mo and his allies saw the reinforcements arrive, but the force was vastly outnumbered and still had to fight a thousand meters to reach the portal.

Qin Mo and his companions fought their way to the portal, but Kaldor stayed behind to hold off the Daemon Princes and was swallowed by the Demon Army as the others escaped. Qin Mo returned to the Tyran Sector after eight months in the Warp and learned that the war had reached a stalemate.

• Qin Mo and his companions reached the portal while Kaldor fought the Daemon Princes covering their retreat.
• Qin Mo sent Kaldor a power-bearing weapon and a teleportation beacon, but the Cauldron's interference prevented Kaldor from escaping as the Demon Army surrounded him.
• Qin Mo and the others passed through the collapsing portal and returned to the Real Universe, while the portal foundation self-destructed.
• Grey, Adam, and the others welcomed Qin Mo back to the Tyran Sector and knelt before him.
• Qin Mo learned he had been in the Warp for eight months and that the Blackheart King, Daemon Warships, Red Corsairs, and demons had strengthened the enemy, leaving the war at a stalemate.

Qin Mo learned that many former allies, including the Necrons, had joined the war, and set out for the Dead Domain before leading an army to Beisu. In the Tyran Gate, Overlord Koren fought a Bloodthirster until the Lord of Tyran emerged from a Warp Rift and killed it.

• Adam told Qin Mo that the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Cadia, the Adeptus Mechanicus, Klein, the Harlequins, and the Necrons had come to help.
• Burner showed the council that the Necrons had brought Blackstone, and Qin Mo ordered an army raised before departing for the Dead Domain.
• Overlord Koren led Necrons and Iron Men through the Tyran Gate, using Blackstone Obelisks to suppress the Warp as they fought demons.
• Koren confronted a Bloodthirster, which destroyed his Serpent construct and tore off his shield-bearing arm.
• The Lord of Tyran burst from a Warp Rift, severed the Bloodthirster's head, and appeared before Koren.

Koren joined Qin Mo on the daemon world to answer for the disaster his past actions had caused, while Qin Mo prepared to counter the daemons with a Warp shadow. The Necrons redirected their Blackstone to amplify Warp energy, and the resulting shadow cut the daemons off from their gods as Word Bearer sorcerers began to die.

• Koren thanked Qin Mo for defeating the Bloodthirster and explained that he had returned to remedy the harm his actions had caused humanity.
• Koren asked Qin Mo for proof that leading his army back into the Tyran Sector did not violate their earlier agreement, and Qin Mo agreed.
• Qin Mo told Koren to use the Necrons' Blackstone to amplify Warp energy so Scholar's Psionic Matrix could create a shadow that severed daemons from their gods.
• Koren ordered his guard captain to redirect the Blackstone, which resonated with the Word Bearers' towers and drove Warp influence to its peak.
• The Warp shadow covered the star system, cutting daemons off from their masters and causing Word Bearer sorcerers conducting rituals to burst apart.

With the demons trapped in the Real Universe, Qin Mo unleashed the Crone Sword’s fire to wipe out the demon army and devastate two planets. He asked Koren to seal the demon world with Blackstone Obelisks, then left for the Beisu System as Koren ordered the Pariah Nexus constructed.

• The shadow severed the demons’ ability to open portals to the Warp, forcing the Chaos armies to rally and charge toward its source.
• Koren prepared the Lychguard and Necron forces to withstand the demon tide, while Qin Mo walked alone toward it.
• Qin Mo drove the Crone Sword into the ground, unleashing a sea of fire that destroyed the demons and scorched a nearby planet.
• Qin Mo asked Koren to establish Blackstone Obelisks across the demon world before heading to the Beisu System to fight.
• Koren said the Kallon Dynasty would help Qin Mo and ordered his guard captain to construct the Pariah Nexus.

While traveling to the Beisu System, Qin Mo designed a self-repairing, ammunition-free rifle and ordered the Tyran Army equipped with it before he arrived. He also told the Emperor he had entered Slaanesh’s Domain and left behind a defiant message.

• Koren built Blackstone Obelisks on every planet in the weakened Reality Membrane regions, while the Soulless One army and the Necron Overlord defended them.
• During the voyage to the Beisu System, Qin Mo designed a rifle that broke down matter into atomic or molecular ammunition and fired it through armor.
• Qin Mo explained that the rifle’s integrated Miniature Printer could repair its components, and he sent its blueprints to industrial worlds to equip the Tyran Army before his arrival.
• The Emperor questioned whether the complex weapon could be produced and maintained at scale, and Qin Mo explained that printers could rapidly manufacture rifles despite needing time to recharge.
• The Emperor asked Qin Mo why the Emperor’s other wills could not find him in the Warp, and Qin Mo said remaining hidden had allowed him to escape Slaanesh’s Domain.
• Qin Mo told the Emperor he had written that humanity would one day storm the Demon Realm and chop off Slaanesh’s dog head, and the Emperor regretted that he had not written “Qin Mo was here!”

Governor He Qizheng prepared to lead a civilian militia to relieve the besieged 44th Infantry Regiment on the devastated North Su Hive World. Qin Mo returned, promised victory, and led He Qizheng, Grey, and the reequipped forces toward battle against the Red Corsairs.

• He Qizheng assembled millions of mobilized civilians to reinforce the besieged 44th Infantry Regiment, despite an old Guard veteran urging him not to enter battle personally.
• A young soldier announced that Qin Mo had returned, and He Qizheng recalled how Qin Mo’s advice had once strengthened his resolve.
• Qin Mo arrived with armored regiments and Custodians, declared that they would win, and praised the sacrifices of He Qizheng and the militia.
• Qin Mo ordered the militia to take newly manufactured beam-firing rifles and led them and the reequipped regiments toward the teleportation platform to attack the Red Corsairs.

The 44th Infantry Regiment, Cadia civilians, and Klein’s forces were trapped in a canyon while fleet combat prevented their evacuation. Grot learned that the Seven-Person Council no longer existed after receiving orders to break the enemy line.

• Grot’s 44th Infantry Regiment fought alongside three Cadia civilian support corps and Klein’s troops rather than teleporting away and abandoning them.
• Klein and Grot discussed the canyon’s defenses and the delay in getting supplies and Protection Devices to the trapped forces.
• Klein’s strategic map showed the canyon surrounded by artillery positions protected by Void Shields, elite regiments, and Space Marines, leaving the defenders to wait for an opening.
• A messenger told Grot that Duncan’s armored regiment and Hive City militia would relieve the siege, then join the 44th in crushing the enemy battle line.
• Grot questioned the order, and the messenger replied that the Seven-Person Council no longer existed.

Qin Mo returned to the battlefield, using a storm and teleporting assaults to crush the besieging forces and reach the 44th Infantry Regiment. He rallied the soldiers to continue fighting, eased Grot’s concerns about his battle fervor, and learned that Klein had lost twenty years to a Warp storm.

• Qin Mo unleashed a storm of lightning and fire that swept through the attackers’ artillery positions overnight.
• The Tyran 87th Armored Regiment and Qin Mo’s forces teleported behind enemy defenses, routing units and destroying the attackers’ headquarters.
• Grot learned that the besieging forces had been crushed, and Qin Mo teleported to the 44th Infantry Regiment with the armored regiment and Hive City civilians.
• Qin Mo ordered Grot and the Cadia commanders to prepare their troops to continue fighting, while a Tairon Navy warship delivered protection devices and rifles.
• Qin Mo told Grot that the Warp’s negative effects no longer had to be endured passively.
• Klein told Qin Mo that a Warp storm had made him experience twenty years while only three days passed for his family, and that he had killed the competitor who set him up.

Qin Mo and the Cadians planned a surprise attack on Chaos forces across the southern battlefield, then teleported behind three corrupted armored regiments attacking the Adepta Sororitas. The 87th Armored Regiment struck first, while Grot’s Ogryns charged the enemy’s Shadowsword tanks.

• Grot recounted the storied history of the 44th Infantry Regiment as the Cadians and Freeblade Knights gathered with Qin Mo.
• Qin Mo reviewed the Navy’s scan results and marked armored regiments, mobile infantry, and Space Marines as priority targets.
• Qin Mo and the Cadian commanders led their forces through a teleportation screen and appeared behind three Chaos armored regiments.
• The 87th Armored Regiment destroyed the rear-row Leman Russ Tanks before they could fire.
• Grot’s thirty Ogryns charged six Shadowsword tanks as their Power Armor generated energy shields and accelerated them.