Chapter Summaries

Ezekiel’s force fought its way to the sorcerer, where the Lictor faced Lucius the Eternal, while Fulgrim confronted and killed one of his corrupted sons. Elsewhere, Insel and Priest Ragnatinos returned to a stabilized battle line, where Insel resolved to protect the mortal soldiers who had witnessed the Emperor manifest.

• Ezekiel led the Lictor and his brothers through the traitors until they reached the sorcerer, but Lucius emerged from hiding and challenged the Lictor.
• Givadoron warned Ezekiel that Lucius returned through the body of whoever killed him, so Ezekiel ordered his men to clear the other traitors and leave the duel undisturbed.
• Fulgrim found a scarred Slaanesh traitor who recognized him as his Primarch, accepted his apology, and killed him with Saul Tarvitz’s power sword.
• Insel and Priest Ragnatinos returned to the lowest level with a device as the battle line stabilized and learned that Cadian soldiers had fought unusually well.
• Insel warned his subordinate that the Inquisition might target the mortal soldiers who had seen the Emperor manifest, and heard reports of a massive flying dragon in the enemy rear.

Angron and Fulgrim reached the defenders at the bottom of the Hive City, where empowered Cadians and Insel’s forces were already pushing back the traitors. Elsewhere, Deep Destruction captured Lucius in a confinement beam while Lictor watched.

• Angron and Fulgrim followed He Shenyan’s guidance toward the Hive City’s lower defensive line, and Fulgrim set the bodies of his sons alight as they went.
• Anno and the Cadians fought alongside the Astartes, while Insel and his guard joined the counterattack with golden flames that spread among the traitors.
• Angron charged into the battle, while Fulgrim stayed behind the lines to burn the corpses of his sons.
• Ezekiel ordered Deep Destruction to use its confinement weapon on Lucius, and Lictor told Lucius to look up as the beam trapped and sliced him apart.

Angron led the Imperial forces through the battle on Bandar Planet, where Insel rallied his warriors as the enormous stranger urged him to accept that the war was not over. Aboard Deep Destruction, He Shenyan destroyed Lucius and left Lictor with a black sphere, saying it would be useful when the time was right.

• Angron slaughtered traitors with his lightning axe while Insel and the others fought on, and Insel set aside questions about the stranger to focus on the battle.
• Malish protected Insel from an ambush, killed the attacker, and accepted Insel’s reminder not to become what the enemy wanted.
• The enormous warrior told Insel that the war’s end was not for either of them to decide, then charged back into battle; Insel rallied his Chapter with a cry of “For the Emperor!”
• Aboard Deep Destruction, Lictor found Lucius restrained in a cell and unable to speak after knives were placed between his vocal cords.
• Golden light burned Lucius until his body compressed into a black sphere, which Lictor picked up at He Shenyan’s instruction.

After the fighting on Bandar Planet ended, Ezekiel and Givadoron prepared to return to the Vengeance while Angron confronted the Iron Snakes and teleported the surviving forces to safety. The ship’s captain revealed that he would destroy Bandar Planet, and the chapter ended with the planet annihilated and one more update promised.

• Ezekiel confirmed that no Slaanesh cultists remained and questioned Givadoron’s cold refusal to rest after the victory.
• Angron confronted Insel and Malish, refused to reveal his identity, and warned that Insel could not yet bear the truth about the test.
• Angron teleported the surviving resistance forces away, leaving Fulgrim alone among the burning corpses of his sons.
• Insel and the Iron Snakes arrived aboard the Vengeance, where its captain explained that he had rescued them and recovered their Gene Seeds.
• The captain fired the Composite Magic Cannon and completely destroyed Bandar Planet.

He Shenyan became the newly certified Living Saint and ordered the Iron Snakes to serve him, while Klan Samps and Guilliman removed Ecclesiarch Baldos II and issued the official declaration. Back aboard the Vengeance, Angron teased Fulgrim about the appointment and apologized for mocking his dead sons, leaving Fulgrim to curse him.

• He Shenyan introduced himself as a Mage to Insel and the Iron Snakes, but a golden vision convinced them he was the Emperor’s chosen Living Saint, and he told them to serve him.
• Ecclesiarch Baldos II rejected the announcement and demanded to see the Emperor, but Klan Samps confronted him over his corruption and killed him.
• Guilliman arrived, learned Klan Samps was a clone who called himself Batman, and used Baldos II’s terminal to issue the Living Saint declaration with the Inquisition’s certification.
• A disguised man took Baldos II’s appearance as Guilliman said he looked forward to meeting He Shenyan, while Klan Samps warned that He Shenyan might not match his expectations.
• Angron mocked Fulgrim over He Shenyan’s appointment and Fulgrim’s dead sons, then sincerely apologized; Fulgrim cursed him, and Angron laughed.

He Shenyan considered why the Emperor had empowered and warned him, while Chapter Master Insel asked him to address the Iron Snakes’ growing religious fervor. He Shenyan agreed to visit their station and preach.

• He Shenyan reflected that the Emperor’s efforts to strengthen his psionic abilities and warning of danger suggested a terrible vision.
• Insel told Ezekiel that the Iron Snakes’ fervent sparring had overwhelmed their medicae bay and asked how he could meet He Shenyan.
• Ezekiel reassured Insel that He Shenyan welcomed an informal visit and directed him to the main control room.
• Insel nervously asked He Shenyan to visit the Iron Snakes’ station and deliver a sermon to calm the Chapter.
• He Shenyan agreed to set a time for the sermon, accepting that his new power came with responsibilities.

He Shenyan confronted the Iron Snakes over their self-destructive attempt to prove their loyalty and ordered their Chaplain to return to his duties as punishment. Later, Angron explained his grief over his traitorous sons, and He Shenyan left him with a strange story about a species’ death and rebirth.

• He Shenyan addressed the Iron Snakes, praised their defense of a Hive City, and condemned their ritualized brawling as foolish and needlessly dangerous.
• The Chaplain confessed that he had incited the Chapter and tried to strip away his emblem, but He Shenyan ordered him back to the ranks and tasked him with fighting heretics for the rest of his life.
• He Shenyan told Angron that the Chaplain planned to remain silent and seek the most dangerous battles, and Angron approved of his resolve.
• He Shenyan teased Angron about losing a fight to Fulgrim, and Angron admitted that he felt guilty because he understood Fulgrim’s grief over his sons.
• Angron said he would leave his traitorous sons’ bodies on the battlefield as his final mercy, and He Shenyan answered with a story about a species that repeatedly became reefs and mist.

Arianto reflected on the Chapter’s painful past and accepted Techmarine Zachary’s request to join the Death Company as his memory deteriorated. Meanwhile, Ezekiel confronted the inquisitors for questioning a Cadian captain, then learned they had become unusually eager for battle after returning from Bandar Planet.

• Arianto wrote to an absent brother about the Chapter’s duty, the removal of the Butcher’s Nails, and the need to preserve its purity.
• Techmarine Zachary reported that the Crossing Engine was unusable and requested transfer to the Death Company because his memory was worsening; Arianto approved.
• A Cadian captain told Ezekiel that inquisitors had questioned him, and Ezekiel went to order them not to trouble the captain or other soldiers.
• An inquisitor explained that his companions had acted strangely since returning from Bandar Planet, and Ezekiel told them to save their strength for the boarding action.
• The inquisitor became excited at the prospect of close combat and ranted about killing and burning the traitors.

Sergeant Priad and the Iron Snakes began a reconnaissance mission to investigate a planet where the Vengeance had detected a possible STC. After reaching a deserted mountain settlement, Priad was separated from his squad and trapped in a strange phenomenon as a muddy skeletal hand seized his foot.

• Chapter Master Insel assigned Sergeant Priad and the Iron Snakes to investigate a suspected STC, with Elder Givadoron joining them.
• He Shenyan showed the squad scans of a lush planet with no living beings and teleported them to its surface to place a scanning beacon.
• Priad led the squad through the jungle, where they found an unmarked lake, then reached a mountain after seven hours.
• Priad and Givadoron climbed toward the summit, investigated an empty settlement, and entered a wooden house.
• Night fell abruptly, Priad lost contact with the others, and the path out of the settlement disappeared.
• A muddy white-boned hand rose from the ground and grabbed Priad's left foot.

Givadoron faced a daemon wearing the form of Angron in a vision and rejected its demand to become its vanguard. Angron reached him with He Shenyan’s help, and the two prepared to fight as the daemon revealed its death on Nuceria.

• Givadoron lost contact with his squad, was transported into a dark void, and encountered a daemon that resembled his former gene-father.
• The daemon demanded that Givadoron become its vanguard, but Givadoron denounced it as a coward and attacked with his Chainsword.
• Angron sensed Givadoron’s distress, saw him suffering in a vision, and asked He Shenyan for help.
• The daemon beat Givadoron down, but Angron arrived in the void with a Lightning Axe and drove it back.
• The daemon claimed Angron had died on Nuceria with his brothers, and Angron answered that it would die there.

Sergeant Priad fought through the dead while continuing his reconnaissance, and Angron battled a daemonized version of himself as Givadoron watched. When He Shenyan discovered the other Astartes had been lured into the Warp, he attacked the Warp and brought a traitor fleet into view, declaring war to force their return.

• Sergeant Priad fought his way through the skeletons, descended a cliff with his Alloy Rope, and climbed back toward the summit to continue his mission.
• Givadoron watched as Angron fought a daemon that claimed to be his copy and had once been the Primarch.
• The daemon praised Givadoron for refusing it, then resumed its attack on Angron with a black Runic Greatsword.
• He Shenyan discovered that the other Astartes were concealed in the Warp and refused Insel's suggestion to abandon them.
• He Shenyan unleashed magic and psionic power into the Warp, drawing a fleet of traitor ships into view around Vengeance.
• He Shenyan ordered Insel to prepare for battle and vowed to kill the traitors unless they handed over the missing Astartes.

Kharn the Betrayer fled the Vengeance after sensing danger, while Cadian soldiers used its Composite Magic Cannons to destroy the traitor fleet. He Shenyan identified Abaddon's flagship among the enemy and prepared to lead a boarding assault.

• Kharn ordered the Butcher Gang to flee the Vengeance, and its guns soon destroyed nearby traitor ships.
• A Cadian soldier fired a Composite Magic Cannon, astonishing Tech-Priest Ragnatinos by communicating with its Machine Spirit.
• The captain learned that the First Company had destroyed 135 enemy vessels and urged the Cadians to keep aiming carefully.
• Ezekiel, Lictor, and Insel identified the Vengeful Spirit at the center of the enemy fleet.
• He Shenyan ordered 300 Champions to prepare to board the Vengeful Spirit while Ezekiel and the Iron Snakes remained aboard the Vengeance.

He Shenyan rammed the Vengeful Spirit’s fleet with the Vengeance and threatened to hunt Abaddon until the Chaos gods intervened. The Vengeful Spirit was left unable to move as He Shenyan prepared for the coming battle.

• He Shenyan told Insel that the Vengeance would ram the Vengeful Spirit rather than teleport aboard.
• Abaddon’s fleet was forced out of the Warp, and the Vengeance destroyed ships that tried to stop it from reaching the Vengeful Spirit.
• Abaddon contacted nearby Chaos warbands, but Kharn’s ship departed and Flayer cursed him, prompting Abaddon to send Black Legion warriors after Flayer.
• Abaddon questioned Ushio about the attack, then lost contact with her and received a threatening message from He Shenyan demanding that he pray to the Chaos gods.
• He Shenyan broadcast his threat to three hundred Astartes, while Abaddon collapsed and realized the Vengeful Spirit could no longer move.

He Shenyan and the Iron Snakes stormed Abaddon's flagship, the Vengeful Spirit, and forced the Warmaster to pray to the Chaos Gods against his will. Abaddon began transforming into a monster empowered by the Four Gods as He Shenyan dismissed his final explanation for why he had betrayed.

• The Vengeance rammed and destroyed a traitor frigate as it approached the Vengeful Spirit, and He Shenyan ordered the ship to stop nearby.
• He Shenyan slaughtered the Sons of the Cyclops through their minds and telepathically taunted Abaddon.
• Three hundred Iron Snakes teleported aboard the Vengeful Spirit and fought the Hounds of Abaddon under Insel's command.
• Abaddon refused to submit to the Chaos Gods, but He Shenyan crushed his legs and forced him to pray to them aloud.
• He Shenyan restrained Abaddon and cut his throat with a blade of golden flame as Abaddon said he had betrayed for someone else.
• Abaddon's body began transforming into a monster with the power of the Four Gods.

He Shenyan confronted Khorne over Abaddon's corpse and demanded the return of his people, threatening to hunt down every believer if Khorne refused. Meanwhile, Fulgrim faced Drach'nyen aboard the Vengeful Spirit and attacked the daemon sword, leaving their duel underway.

• He Shenyan waited until Khorne began claiming Abaddon's corpse, then seized the corpse and tore out a vertebra to force the Chaos God to listen.
• He Shenyan demanded that Khorne bring his people back and threatened to hunt every believer of Khorne across the universe; Khorne refused and said He Shenyan was the one it wanted.
• Fulgrim entered the Vengeful Spirit's Throne room to confront Drach'nyen, the daemon born from humanity's first murder.
• Drach'nyen challenged Fulgrim's ability to abandon his human nature, but Fulgrim summoned Saul Tarvitz's Power Sword and said he was not his father.
• Fulgrim advanced and attacked Drach'nyen.

Sergeant Priad completed his reconnaissance mission after an impossible climb, though his body had deteriorated to the point of death. He Shenyan honored him and tried to let him rest, but Priad’s armor rose and followed them, suggesting he still refused to leave his duty.

• Priad climbed the mountain for what felt like a century, driven by his determination to complete the mission.
• Priad placed the scanner on the planet and sent its data to the Vengeance, while the Magic Array Hub reported that he was medically dead but still moving.
• He Shenyan ordered Ezekiel to attack the Deep Destruction and went with Lictor to retrieve Priad.
• Lictor caught Priad as he collapsed, and He Shenyan found him withered into a skeleton beside the scanner.
• He Shenyan honored Priad and wished him peace, but Priad’s armor stood and followed them on its own.

At Sergeant Priad’s funeral, He Shenyan vowed that the Iron Snakes would hunt humanity’s enemies without respite. He later told Givadoron how Priad had completed his mission after centuries of suffering, then offered him Priad’s armor, which seemed willing to accept him as its heir.

• He Shenyan honored Priad and his missing squad at the funeral, then rallied the Iron Snakes to begin an uncompromising hunt against humanity’s enemies.
• He Shenyan spoke with the recovering Angron, who said his opponent had vanished before he could kill it and complained that his healing was taking too long.
• He Shenyan told Givadoron that Priad had climbed for 413 years, two months, and five days to complete the mission without ever calling for help.
• Givadoron explained that the Astartes had treated their lives as expendable and that Priad was their exemplar.
• He Shenyan showed Givadoron Priad’s armor and offered it to him; Givadoron accepted the inheritance.

He Shenyan uncovered a complete STC and assigned priest Ragnatinos to study it while ordering Insel to secure the planet. Meanwhile, Arianto and Targaryen returned from a deadly mission, where Targaryen’s worsening condition after the removal of the Butcher’s Nails forced Arianto to sedate him.

• He Shenyan revealed the complete STC beneath a lake, and priest Ragnatinos confirmed its authenticity and eagerly began preparing to study it.
• He Shenyan ordered Insel to station Astartes and the Deep Destruction around the STC, then returned to the Vengeance and anticipated a major war with Khorne.
• Arianto and Targaryen found a dead command Servitor and decided to take its skull with them after learning Zachary and their other brothers had died.
• On the transport, Targaryen voiced doubts about their mission and suffered a severe episode from the aftereffects of having the Butcher’s Nails removed, so Arianto gave him a sedative.
• Arianto brought Targaryen aboard their ship, handed him to Servitors, and asked for the captain while carrying the Servitor’s skull back to his room.

Arianto received the Inquisition’s final mission: investigate the Prodals System, with completing it tied to restoring the War Hounds’ name. Meanwhile, the captain and Cadian commander prepared for an approaching fight after a survey detected fifteen enemy ships in the system.

• The captain questioned Arianto about his depleted force and lack of reinforcements, but Arianto refused to explain their history.
• The captain gave Arianto a parchment containing the Inquisition’s final mission to investigate the Prodals System near the Great Rift.
• Arianto read the mission, then planned to clean his armor and meditate while awaiting departure.
• A Mechanicus priest reported that a remote sensing survey of the Prodals System would be ready in five minutes, then left to research the Composite Magic Cannon.
• The captain delivered the survey data to the Cadian colonel, who learned that an estimated fifteen enemy ships were in the system.
• The colonel ordered the captain to take his company and Second Company to train with prepared vehicles before they reached the Prodals System within five days.

He Shenyan and Angron discussed the traitors hiding in the Prodals system, while a flashback showed Kharn taking a captive boy named Iclo under his training. Fulgrim recovered in a medical pod and revealed that someone was calling to him from Isstvan III.

• Angron asked He Shenyan about the Prodals system, where traitors and possibly surviving residents were trapped, and praised his speech; He Shenyan said he would name the STC Priad.
• Iclo, a nine-year-old captive whose father had been killed by the traitors, defied Kharn and said he hoped to kill him.
• Kharn told Iclo he would train him to become strong enough to do so, and warned him to run whenever Kharn lost control to the Butcher's Nails.
• Fulgrim told He Shenyan that he could not kill the powerful daemon they had tested him against, and He Shenyan reassured him.
• Fulgrim said he had heard someone calling his name from Isstvan III, and He Shenyan checked that the call did not come from the Warp.