The forest's rotten stench had been replaced by the intense smell of blood and gunpowder within Crescent Fortress.
This outpost fortress, painstakingly maintained by the Vermilion Crescent Chapter, had now become a nest of Chaos blasphemy.
The walls were covered in bolt craters and energy scorch marks. Shattered Imperial eagles and Blood Angels insignias littered the ground, trampled beyond recognition.
The air was thick with the foul mixture of cheap fuel, rotting flesh, and Warp filth.
Zaporiel pointed at the ruined fortress before them, his voice carrying a trace of sorrow. "This is Crescent Fortress. The brothers of the Vermilion Crescent Chapter... fought to the very end. The Thousand Eyes Warband overwhelmed them with tricks and numbers."
Sanguinius's golden eyes instantly blazed with icy fire! A nearly tangible pressure and fury radiated from her body.
Her children had been harmed by these maggots who had betrayed the Emperor's Glory!
"The Thousand Eyes Warband..." Sanguinius's voice was like shattering ice, every word filled with the will of judgment. "They will pay the price. Their blood will wash away the filth here!"
Lion El'Jonson had already been simmering with rage over the previous misunderstanding and Horus's mockery. Now, his fury was ignited completely!
With a low roar, like an enraged lion, he did not even wait for the others to react. His dark-green figure became a violent bolt of lightning, charging into Crescent Fortress first!
The Inner Circle Terminators followed close behind, and the roar of their bolters instantly tore apart the fortress's deathly silence.
Sanguinius and Horus exchanged a glance. Without the slightest hesitation, they too transformed into golden and gray streaks of light, following the Lion King inside!
Sanguinius sought vengeance, while Horus simply wanted an outlet.
Luke, He Xi, Liang Bing, Glory, Joan of Arc, and Pandora followed at