Another Cup!

Halfway through the banquet, the Dark Angels had completely succumbed to temptation.

At first, they persisted.

"We are Dark Angels, noble knights, and champions of civilization."

How can I lose my composure in front of delicious food?

"Yes! We must hold the line! We can't be like those savage wolf cubs!"

"A couple of bites are fine, but you absolutely mustn't get addicted!"

Then, a Blood Angels brought over a plate of "Old Terra Braised Pork".

The Dark Angels swallowed hard, staring at the glistening chunks of meat and inhaling the rich aroma.

"Just... just a small piece?"

"Yes, just a small piece, just to taste it."

An entrance.

In that instant, all the defenses collapsed.

"What--what is this--!"

"It's so delicious--!"

"I've lived for five hundred years, and this is the first time I've ever known meat could taste so good!"

"Damn it, what a load of rubbish those nutritional supplements were!"

The Dark Angels frantically scrambled for the plate of braised pork, completely forgetting what they had just said about "just a small piece."

After finishing their meal, they slumped in their chairs, their faces showing a mixture of satisfaction and complex emotions.

A young Dark Angels murmured to himself:

"Is this the food of Old Terra...? It's so delicious... so delicious..."

An old soldier patted him on the shoulder:

"Calm down, bro."

We're just grabbing a bite to eat, it's fine.

The young angel nodded:

"Yes, it's okay."

These foods are delicious and contain absolutely no toxins.

It won't affect your brain anyway.

Another angel chimed in:

"Yes, yes, it doesn't affect the brain."

We can still keep it a secret.

"Of course we can keep it a secret! It's just a meal, not a betrayal!"

They comforted each other, trying to convince themselves that it was just eating something, nothing serious.

But their eyes betrayed them.

That's the look in a foodie's eyes.

It's that "one more plate" look in their eyes.

Then, the Blood Angels took out his treasured blood wine.

The Ultramarines also pulled out Ultramar liquor.

The Dark Angels looked at the blood-red liquid and the blue nectar, a hint of wariness appearing in their eyes.

"This is... wine?"

The Blood Angels nodded, smiling brightly:

"Yes! Blood Wine, a special offering from the Blood Angels!"

Dark Angels frowned:

"We Dark Angels don't drink alcohol."

"That's something only wolf cubs do."

The Ultramarines laughed:

"Brother, this isn't your average wine."

This was a modified organ developed by the Adeptus Mechanicus under the personal supervision of Lord Guilliman, specifically for Space Marines.

I guarantee you'll experience that feeling for the longest time.

Dark Angels shook his head:

No, no.

We are knights, the representatives of civilization.

How can we drink and eat meat like those savage wolf cubs?

"Completely drunk?"

He paused, his face full of disdain:

"Leman Russ's wolf cubs are nothing but a bunch of savages."

The Blood Angels and the Ultramarines exchanged a glance, both revealing meaningful smiles.

"Just one bite?"

"Yes, just one bite."

Anyway, it doesn't make you drunk.

The Dark Angels hesitated.

He stared at the crimson liquid, at the blue nectar, and smelled the rich aroma of the wine—and swallowed hard.

"Just... a tiny bite?"

"Yes, just a small bite."

He took the glass and took a small sip.

At that moment, he felt like the whole world had changed.

The liquid slid down his throat, burning like flames, then transformed into a warm current that flowed to his limbs and bones.

Every organ, every cell, every modified organ of his reveled in that warm current.

His eyes widened:

"This--this is--"

The Blood Angels smiled brightly:

"How about that? I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

The Dark Angels remained silent for three seconds.

Then, he downed the glass of wine in one gulp.

"Another one!"

After three drinks, the Dark Angels had completely let loose.

"Hahaha--This wine is fucking delicious--!"

"Again! Again!"

"Let me tell you, we Dark Angels are absolutely the strongest Chapter in the Imperium!"

A Dark Angels, his arm around the shoulder of Ultramarines, was blushing.

"Your Ultramarines may outnumber us, but we Dark Angels are all elites!"

Ultramarines are not to be outdone:

"So what if they're elite? We outnumber them! Two hundred and fifty thousand! How many of you are there?"

The Dark Angels waved his hand:

That's not important!

The most important thing is—secrets! We've kept countless secrets!

He leaned close to the Ultramarines's ear and whispered:

"I'm going to tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone else."

The Ultramarines's eyes lit up:

"What secret?"

The Dark Angels said mysteriously:

"Actually... there's a tradition in our legion..."

"What tradition?"

"Every time new recruits enlist, we..."

He paused for a moment, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

Ultramarines can't wait:

"What can you do?"

Dark Angels laughed heartily:

"They'll all give him a nickname!"

Ultramarines paused for a moment:

That's it?

The Dark Angels nodded:

Yes! That's it!

And those nicknames are all really awful!

He counted on his fingers:

"For example, 'Shorty' -- even though that recruit was 2.3 meters tall."

For example, 'bald' – even though someone has a lot of hair.

For example, the 'coward'—even though he later became a hero.

Ultramarines's mouth twitches:

"What kind of secret is that...?"

Dark Angels spoke righteously:

"That's a secret, of course!"

"If those nicknames get out and outsiders hear about them, it will really affect morale!"

Another Dark Angels leaned closer, also lowering his voice:

"I have a secret too!"

"What secret?"

"Actually... one of our Ravenwing pilots has a severe fear of heights!"

The Ultramarines and Blood Angels around them were stunned.

Fear of heights?

Are Ravenwing pilots afraid of heights?

"Really?"

The Dark Angels nodded seriously:

"Real!

That person's name was Koltan, and he would recite "May the Emperor bless you" three times before each flight.

Once, his Jetbike malfunctioned in the air, and he was so frightened that he fainted on the spot.

In the end, it was the autonomous driving system that brought him back.

The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment, and then burst into laughter.

"Ravenwing pilot with a fear of heights -- hahahaha--!"

"What kind of god-like setting is this?!"

The Dark Angels was laughing so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

"The key point is that he later became an ace!"

He always charges ahead in every battle!

His secret, it's said, is to plunge in headfirst before you even realize it!

The laughter grew even louder.