Where Did This Stinking Outsider Come From?

Kai turned back around, his gaze locking onto the Chaos warrior.

When he spoke, his voice was still childish, yet it seemed steeped in the golden flames in his eyes, carrying a grandeur and chill that transcended time and space:

"You have betrayed your race."

He took a step forward, and the light on his sword flared brighter.

"You have forsaken your former ideals."

"You embraced Chaos corruption and defiled humanity's glory!"

His steps grew steadier and faster.

The longsword in his hand seemed to become an extension of his body, its light flickering and surging.

The surrounding darkness was forced back, and the air gave off a low hum.

Bathed in intertwining golden and silver radiance, his small body somehow began to exude an inviolable, awe-inspiring bearing!

"Heretic!

I hereby pass judgment upon you!"

"Roar—!!!"

For the first time since the battle began, the Chaos warrior let out a roar filled with emotion—utter loathing and fury!

That light, that scent of hope, that declaration of judgment—each was like a red-hot brand searing into its Chaotic essence!

With a casual motion, it flung the woman clenched in its hand away as though tossing out garbage.

The boy's mother crashed into a distant patch of rice, letting out a muffled groan. Whether she lived or died was unknown.

With a metallic clang, the Chaos warrior drew the chainsword at its waist.

Its thumb brutally pressed the activation button—

"Bzzzz—!!!!!!

The horrific roar of the saw blade instantly drowned out every other sound in the rice field!

Five rows of rapidly spinning teeth, caked with blood-rust and bone fragments, became a crimson afterimage of death beneath the power field's drive!

This was a vicious weapon born to tear through armor and pulverize flesh!

"Die, insect!"

The Chaos warrior roared, all traces of playfulness gone. It now regarded Kai as a threat that had to be crushed.

It began striding forward with steps heavy enough to make the earth tremble, its chainsword dragging at its side and carving through mud and rice stalks.

Like an out-of-control steel beast, it launched a savage charge at that "hateful light" and the tiny figure within it!

Every step shook the ground, while its killing intent swept toward him like a tangible tide of ice!

And Kai—

"Aaaaaah—!!!"

He too unleashed his own battle cry!

It was no longer imitation, but the most primal and blazing cry erupting from the depths of his soul!

The sword in his hand was so "heavy," because it bore all of a child's conviction to save his mother and his endless hatred for the enemy that had destroyed his family;

Yet it was also so "light," as though light itself had no weight and merely followed the direction of his will.

The fear in his heart was utterly real. His body trembled instinctively, and the premonition of death was cold and piercing...

But none of it could affect him any longer!

For those he cherished, he chose to die with honor!

"Kill—!!!"

Kai's roar completely overwhelmed the Chaos warrior's bellow in sheer force!

Within that voice was pure, desperate resolve—the courage of a mortal facing gods and demons head-on!

Then an even more astonishing change occurred.

Under the illumination of the golden and silver sword light, Kai's tattered roughspun clothes, soaked in mud and water,

and the sun-browned skin exposed beneath them,

began to glow from within with a faint, ember-like red light!

This red radiance was not evil. Instead, it brimmed with blazing vitality and violent fighting spirit.

It enveloped Kai, making his childish figure seem like a tiny war god burning amid the light!

The courage to fear neither life nor death, the power of a wildfire's rage!

In a distant realm beyond the physical universe, within the domain ruled by madness and blood,

a dreadful existence seated upon a colossal brass throne built from endless skulls seemed to stir slightly.

Its eyes, burning with eternal war, appeared to glance through countless dimensions at this tiny scene in Gracia's rice fields.

The unfeigned courage to die erupting from that whelp, the pure and blazing fire of fury kindled by the suffering of his loved one...

Pleased the Blood God!

A satisfied chuckle, low as the combined wails of countless battlefields, rippled through the raging tides of the Warp.

An invisible gaze descended, and an extraordinarily faint Warp projection representing the Blood God's glance and approval

appeared like a mirage against the night sky behind Kai, lit by his radiance.

It was the vague outline of the Brass Throne, along with the towering bloody phantom seated upon it!

He was watching, admiring this impending drama of slaughter, where strength was so uneven but courage so commendable!

After this child died, he would draw him into the Warp and forge him into one of his servants.

However—

"Get lost!"

An even grander, more glorious, and more unquestionable rebuke

crashed into that Warp projection like billions of stars igniting at once!

The faint phantom of the Brass Throne was as though an invisible giant foot blazing with golden flames had kicked it viciously.

It shook violently and instantly became blurred beyond recognition!

What stinking outsider dares bestow blessings upon the brave sons of my humanity?!

That glorious will declared.

The next instant, brighter, purer, warmer golden light burst forth like a celestial river breaching its banks from the silver sword in Kai's hand!

It instantly overwhelmed the faint red glow appearing around him and completely scattered and annihilated Khorne's newly formed projection!

The Blood God bestowed a blessing, praising his fearless courage to die!

The Emperor bestowed a blessing, protecting the light of his undying humanity!

That warm yet steadfast golden light seized absolute dominance.

It absorbed and transformed the red battle frenzy into a more condensed, controlled power of resolve!

Kai did not know of this clash taking place beyond dimensions.

He only felt an indescribable warmth and strength deep within his boundless rage.

Like winter sunlight, like his mother's embrace.

It poured ceaselessly from the sword in his hand and from some illuminated place deep in his heart!

The golden flames in his eyes burned to their limit, completely merging with the golden light on the blade.

Staring at the black colossus of destruction charging toward him with its terrifying chainsword raised, he made his final—and first—declaration of battle:

"The Emperor—is with me!!!"

"God-Emperor! Grant me strength! Let me slaughter all enemies of humanity!!!"

As his voice fell, the boy charged!

His small body erupted with astonishing speed, every step striking the ground with firm strength as mud and water exploded behind him.

The night wind swept through his hair and clothing, both burning with faint golden light. On his dirt-streaked face remained only the purest will to fight.

Fear?

It had long been burned away by fury and faith!

Retreat?

Everything he needed to protect lay behind him. There was nowhere to retreat!

This was an ant charging a mountain!

This was a cub challenging a dragon!

This was, amid despair, the unyielding light of humanity launching its most resounding—

Counterattack against Chaos's dark tide of destruction!!!

"For the Emperor!"

The childish yet earth-shaking roar, accompanied by dazzling sword light and the howling crimson afterimage of the chainsword,

collided upon Gracia's scarred fields.

With a thunderous crash!