Chapter Summaries

Liang Bing’s stasis field began failing as the Bloodthirsters were empowered from the Warp, so she left Apocalypse One to fight them herself. She charged into battle while Guilliman and the Hilling Valkyries dealt with the remaining Khorne demons.

• The Bloodthirsters began breaking free of Liang Bing’s stasis field as a force from the Warp strengthened them, and a curious gaze from the Golden Throne settled on her.
• Liang Bing teleported to Eternal Gate Square with the five Hilling Valkyries and startled Guilliman, who backed away from her before she identified herself as his reinforcement.
• Liang Bing summoned the Angel’s Sword and warned Guilliman not to touch the Bloodthirsters because she had claimed them as research material.
• Liang Bing charged at a newly freed Bloodthirster while Guilliman turned to fight the other Khorne demons, and the Valkyries moved to protect her and clear lesser enemies.

Liang Bing helped Guilliman turn the battle at Eternal Gate Plaza, then captured a wounded Greater Daemon of Khorne for research aboard Apocalypse One. As the surviving Imperials regrouped, the captured daemon’s agonized roars revealed that her experiments had begun.

• Liang Bing attacked Khorne’s Greater Daemons, giving Guilliman the chance to rally the Imperial forces and command a counterattack.
• Apocalypse One swept the plaza with purification beams while Guilliman reinforced the defensive line and helped contain the demonic tide.
• Liang Bing fought the Greater Daemons in close combat, delighting in the battle as Imperial warriors and Celestine watched.
• When Khorne recalled the Greater Daemons, Liang Bing ordered Apocalypse One to capture the weakest wounded Bloodthirster, while the others escaped.
• After the battle, Liang Bing dismissed Guilliman’s thanks and vanished to begin researching her captured specimen.
• A furious, agonized roar from inside Apocalypse One made Guilliman and the Imperial warriors realize that Liang Bing’s research was underway.

On Hilling Star, Hua Wei learned why he had gained only twelve million Emotion Points and discovered that raising his star rating would upgrade the system. He spent most of his points assembling a new force, ending with the summoning of Master Chief John-117.

• Hua Wei questioned the system about the Emotion Points lost during the Terra campaign, and it explained that the Warp and the Emperor had absorbed most of the emotional energy.
• Hua Wei considered provoking the Emperor and Chaos for more points, but the system warned that the plan was dangerous and revealed its star-rating-based upgrade module.
• Hua Wei decided to prioritize broad deployment and bought the Spirit of Fire, then configured its crew, management staff, engines, shields, weapons, and AI core.
• Hua Wei summoned one hundred fully equipped three-star Spartans and spent another million Emotion Points to summon the five-star Master Chief John-117.

As Terra's leaders tried to assert control over the Hilling Empire, Guilliman defended its allies and arrested an Inquisitor who threatened Obi-Wan. Meanwhile, Glory waited on Luna and Liang Bing ignored the political turmoil to experiment on a captured Bloodthirster as Terra's internal storm continued to build.

• Guilliman ordered officials seeking private meetings to wait while Terra's defenses and wounded received priority, and Glory dismissed the Imperium's probing overtures from the Luna base.
• Department of Justice representatives demanded information from Obi-Wan, who diplomatically refused to reveal the Hilling Empire's secrets or join the Imperium's political struggles.
• An Inquisitor demanded that Obi-Wan and the Hilling forces submit to inspection and surrender their weapons, but Guilliman arrived and had the Inquisitor arrested for undermining the alliance and his authority.
• Guilliman assured Obi-Wan that offenses against the Hilling Empire would have consequences, while Obi-Wan noted that Liang Bing cared chiefly about her research.
• Liang Bing ignored a Terra noble's repeated communications and continued experimenting on the captured Khorne Bloodthirster aboard Apocalypse One as political tensions on Terra gathered.

After learning that the Black Legion had captured seven of the eight Warp nodes surrounding the Solar System and was attacking Volus, Guilliman ordered the Imperial fleet to reinforce it. He overruled Minister Voss’s attempt to keep the main fleet at Terra and left for Volus, while Voss secretly relied on a hidden trump card.

• Guilliman received confirmation that the Black Legion had seized seven Warp nodes and was landing on Volus, the last link to the Solar System.
• Guilliman ordered Captain-General Trajan to send Custodes to Volus and assemble the Imperial Navy fleet for a relief mission.
• Minister Voss, backed by conservative officials, opposed sending the main fleet away from Terra and demanded that Apocalypse One leave Terra’s space.
• Marcus Aurelius supported Guilliman’s deployment, but Voss tried to limit the mission to Guilliman’s forces and part of the rapid strike fleet.
• Guilliman threatened Voss and ordered the entire fleet to depart for Volus immediately.
• As Guilliman left for his flagship, Voss watched him go and recalled the hidden trump card he believed could turn the tables.

The Valkyries received orders to investigate Tyranid threats and report Liang Bing, but Glory delayed reporting her presence and chose to help Guilliman open the Woles Passage. As Guilliman's fleet and the Valkyries headed for Woles, Abaddon prepared the Black Legion to intercept them.

• The Valkyries received Supreme Wisdom's directive to investigate Tyranid development nodes and report Liang Bing's whereabouts.
• Glory decided to delay reporting Liang Bing while the Valkyries focused on breaking the Woles blockade.
• Glory asked Obi-Wan to inform Guilliman that the Valkyries would assist at Woles and requested passage aboard an Imperial warship.
• Guilliman welcomed the Valkyries' support, promised Imperial cooperation with their investigation, and ordered his fleet to Woles.
• The Valkyries boarded several Imperial cruisers and prepared to intervene in the battle.
• Abaddon learned that Guilliman's fleet was approaching and ordered the Black Legion to form an interception force.

Glory and the Valkyries joined the Custodes and Sisters of Silence aboard the Profane Maw to stop its corrupted Blackstone Spire from reaching orbit. As they fought toward the Spire, the Spirit of Fire arrived and devastated the Chaos escorts, leaving Abaddon's Iron Ring plan under threat.

• Guilliman spotted the Profane Maw carrying a corrupted Blackstone Spire and recognized that it could seal the Warp routes around the Woles Galaxy.
• The Custodes and Sisters of Silence fought through the Profane Maw but were pushed back by its Chaos defenders.
• Glory led Prinz Eugen, Nimi, Prince of Wales, and Joan of Arc in a direct assault on the flagship, rescuing the surviving defenders and advancing toward the Spire.
• Abaddon ordered the Claw of Destruction squadron to reinforce the Profane Maw, but Guilliman pinned it down with concentrated fleet fire.
• The Spirit of Fire emerged from the Warp, and its magnetic accelerator cannons and missiles crippled the Chaos frigates guarding the Profane Maw.

The Imperium and its allies captured the Profane Maw, destroyed the Blackstone Spire’s foundation, and forced Abaddon to retreat after the Spirit of Fire blocked his flagship’s attack. Guilliman celebrated the victory as Captain Anders prepared to inspect and disinfect the captured warship.

• Master Chief led Spartan squads to support the assault on the Profane Maw and seize its bridge while the Valkyries and Adeptus Custodes attacked the core reactor and Blackstone Spire.
• Abaddon learned that the Profane Maw’s bridge and reactor defenses had fallen, ordered his fleet to retreat, and directed the Vengeful Spirit to fire on the captured ship.
• The Valkyries, Adeptus Custodes, and Spartans destroyed the Blackstone Spire’s foundation, disabling its Warp-sealing field, while Master Chief’s force secured the bridge.
• Captain Anders maneuvered the Spirit of Fire between the Profane Maw and the Vengeful Spirit, blocking its main-cannon strike and protecting the captured ship.
• Abaddon fled through the Warp as Guilliman declared victory, and Captain Anders ordered an inspection and disinfection of the Profane Maw.

Guilliman visited the Spirit of Fire and witnessed the Hilling Empire’s advanced automation, AI, equipment, and logistics, deepening his sense of what humanity had lost. Though Captain Anders could not authorize technology transfers, Obi-Wan arranged for Imperial Tech-Priests to observe the Hilling engineers analyzing the Profane Maw, creating an initial opportunity for cooperation.

• Guilliman agreed to let the Hilling Empire study the Profane Maw in exchange for the Blackstone Spire being handed over after its engineers collected data and samples.
• Guilliman and an Imperial delegation toured the Spirit of Fire, where AI Dina, automated systems, and the ship’s clean, advanced facilities astonished them.
• Carter Squad rejoined the Spartans, and the Master Chief told them their new MJOLNIR Armor was ready for collection.
• The Imperial visitors sampled the Spirit of Fire’s nutrient paste, and Guilliman asked Anders about limited technological exchange; Anders explained that he lacked authority to approve it.
• Obi-Wan proposed that Imperial Tech-Priests observe the Hilling engineers analyzing the Profane Maw, and Guilliman accepted the arrangement.

Guilliman returned to Terra to begin rebuilding the Imperium, while Liang Bing appeared aboard his flagship and negotiated for access to Primaris research. The chapter ended with Guilliman summoning Terra’s officials to face a purge of the corrupt bureaucracy.

• Guilliman and the Hilling warriors exchanged farewells in the Volus Galaxy, and his fleet departed for Terra.
• Guilliman learned that Apocalypse One had vanished from orbit, and Obi-Wan explained that Liang Bing had cloaked it.
• Guilliman ordered Cawl to abandon research on MJOLNIR fragments and focus on the Primaris project.
• Liang Bing appeared on Macragge's Honour and asked to study Guilliman and Primaris Space Marines; Guilliman agreed to provide blood samples but forbade tissue slicing.
• Liang Bing revealed that Apocalypse One was nearby under stealth and left to explore Terra.
• Guilliman summoned Terra’s officials to a council meeting and prepared to purge the Imperium’s bureaucracy.

Guilliman sought Obi-Wan Kenobi’s advice on how to overcome the Imperium’s dysfunctional bureaucracy. Obi-Wan urged him to centralize wartime authority and curb rival institutions, and Guilliman resolved to begin purging corruption.

• After a meeting with Imperial officials stalled amid bureaucratic resistance, Guilliman asked Obi-Wan for advice on reforming the Imperium.
• Obi-Wan recommended creating a centralized wartime council under Guilliman, limiting the Ecclesiarchy’s political influence, and shortening the decision-making chain.
• Obi-Wan argued that Guilliman should wield absolute authority himself and use extraordinary forces to carry out his orders rather than let them compete for power.
• Guilliman considered the risks of Obi-Wan’s proposal and concluded that the Imperium’s chronic illness required strong medicine.
• Guilliman sat in the chair of authority and vowed to clear away those clinging to the Imperium’s lifeblood.

Guilliman ordered a secret purge of officials he believed had colluded with Chaos, then established the Imperial Privy Council to take control of wartime resources. The chapter ended with the new council beginning its work under Guilliman’s authority as Terra remained tense.

• Guilliman ordered Trajan to launch Operation Void-Clearance against the officials on his list, using the Officio Assassinorum, Adeptus Custodes, and Grey Knights.
• As his allies vanished, Julius Voss summoned the Minotaurs Chapter and fortified his estate while preparing to unleash Nurgle’s Grail.
• Adeptus Custodes stormed Voss’s mansion, stopped the artifact’s activation, captured him, and sealed the Grail.
• Several days later, Guilliman convened the newly established Imperial Privy Council and granted it supreme authority over wartime resource allocation.
• Guilliman warned that obstructing the council’s orders would count as treason and authorized the Adeptus Custodes and loyal Inquisitors to purge offenders.

The Spirit of Fire and the newly rebuilt Hope departed for the Orpheus Sector to investigate signs of Tyranid activity. On Terra, Liang Bing helped Cawl improve the Primaris process, and Guilliman approved a monitored trial that successfully produced a stronger Space Marine.

• Hilling engineers and Mechanicus Tech-Priests rebuilt the Chaos flagship, and Captain Anders renamed it Hope.
• Obi-Wan confirmed Tyranid-like activity in the Orpheus Sector, so Captain Anders ordered the Spirit of Fire and Hope to depart there.
• Liang Bing analyzed Guilliman’s genes and redesigned Cawl’s Primaris procedures with new neural, regenerative, and psychic-resistance enhancements.
• Cawl urged Guilliman to approve Liang Bing’s work, and Guilliman authorized a closely monitored trial using a veteran volunteer.
• The volunteer survived the procedures and emerged as a powerful new Space Marine, while Liang Bing gave Cawl data for adapting the process to mass production.

Hua Wei completed Hilling Star’s initial construction and outfitted the captured Hope with a crew, combat craft, and two upgraded Shazabis. The Hilling fleet joined the desperate defense of the Blood Angels’ Red Scar Monastery, and the chapter ended as Dante arrived with reinforcements.

• Hua Wei oversaw construction on Hilling Star and spent millions of Emotion Points to crew Hope and acquire fighters, vehicles, and two upgraded Shazabis.
• Captain Anders and Dina traced the Tyranid Hive Fleet to the Carrion Galaxy and hurried there after finding Gloom-4 completely consumed.
• Spirit of Fire and Hope arrived at Blood Scar as Tyranids besieged Red Scar Monastery, and Captain Anders ordered an attack.
• Crimson Falcon and Iron Raven launched their Shazabis against the Tyranid fleet while fighters, vehicles, and warships supported the monastery’s defenders.
• Dina detected the Blood Angels fleet entering the system, and Dante led the Sword of Vengeance and reinforcements into battle.

After the Hilling Empire helped save Red Scar Monastery from a Tyranid attack, Dante contacted Guilliman and was appointed Nihilus Regent. Dante accepted the burden and formed an alliance with Captain Anders to coordinate resistance against the Tyranids and Chaos.

• The Hilling forces completed the purge of Tyranids on Red Scar Monastery while Spirit of Fire guarded the star system.
• Dante boarded Spirit of Fire, met Captain Anders and Dina, and learned that the Hilling Empire could communicate with Guilliman through Obi-Wan on Terra.
• Dante told Guilliman that Nihilus needed reinforcements and described the threats facing Baal and the wider region.
• Guilliman appointed Dante Nihilus Regent, giving him authority to command Imperial forces and resources throughout Nihilus.
• Dante accepted the appointment and agreed with Captain Anders to share intelligence and coordinate Hilling and Imperial forces against the Tyranids and Chaos.

Guilliman launched the Indomitus Crusade against Abaddon's blockade while struggling with the cost of abandoning worlds to attack its fortified nodes. On Macragge, Cawl successfully converted Ultramarines veterans into Primaris Space Marines, and their strength began to challenge the traditions of other Chapters.

• Guilliman divided the crusade fleet among strikes against the seven blockade nodes, including an assault led by Sicarius and a frontal attack led by Agemman.
• Guilliman confided his guilt to Obi-Wan Kenobi, who acknowledged the cruelty of his choices while understanding the pressure to save the Imperium.
• On Macragge, Cawl used Liang Bing's adapted conversion process on Chapter Master Calgar and other Ultramarines, with more than 85 percent of candidates passing the most dangerous stage.
• The first Primaris Space Marines demonstrated superior strength, speed, endurance, weapons handling, and resistance to psychic attacks during testing.
• Several Chapters, including the Space Wolves, Dark Angels, and Imperial Fists, voiced suspicion or opposition, while more Ultramarines volunteered for conversion.
• Guilliman sent the Chapters Primaris test data and left conversion to their choice; after studying the results, the Fire Hawks Chapter Master ordered his Apothecaries and Librarius to examine the process.

While the Indomitus Crusade fought toward Terra, Guilliman discussed historical records and Jedi training with Obi-Wan, then revealed the abandoned Second Imperium plan. An emergency report said Mortarion had attacked Macragge, and Guilliman ordered the fleet to defend Ultramar.

• Guilliman decided to establish the Messenger Association to uncover deliberately hidden parts of Imperial history.
• Obi-Wan found a reference to the Second Imperium in the Macragge Archives, and Guilliman explained how he, Lion El'Jonson, and Sanguinius had planned to rebuild humanity's resistance after believing Terra had fallen.
• Obi-Wan described the Hilling Empire's system for screening and training Force-sensitive children, from Younglings to Jedi Masters.
• A communications officer reported that Mortarion's plague fleet was attacking Macragge's orbital defenses and Nurgle's corruption was spreading across the planet.
• Guilliman ordered the fleet to head for Ultramar and purge Mortarion's corruption.

Guilliman planned to turn Iax into a fortified medical world to isolate and treat the plague spreading across Ultramar, while using it as a trap for Nurgle’s forces. Liang Bing arrived and won his permission to study Mortarion, as the Imperium fleet began its assault on Macragge.

• Distress calls reported that plague had overwhelmed Macragge’s orbital defenses and hive cities, and Guilliman ordered the infected isolated and treated.
• Guilliman chose Iax as a medical fortress and trap, a plan Obi-Wan supported while warning that it would attract Nurgle’s forces.
• Liang Bing appeared in an absurd disguise, then revealed her true appearance and offered to take Mortarion for study.
• Guilliman gave Liang Bing permission to do as she wished with Mortarion, calling the traitor a daemon who must be purified.
• Guilliman ordered the First and Third Strike Fleets to clear a path for the Ultramarines’ landing, and the fleet advanced on Macragge.

After Guilliman’s forces purged the Death Guard from Macragge, he revoked the Five Hundred Worlds’ autonomy and placed Ultramar under direct military rule. He ordered Calgar to turn Iax into a plague-fighting fortress and resolved to upgrade every Ultramarine, as his reforms began amid looming resistance and future battles.

• Guilliman’s fleet defeated the remaining Death Guard ships, and Ultramarines and Primaris warriors cleansed Macragge’s cities of plague forces.
• Guilliman revoked the nobles’ autonomy and placed Ultramar’s planetary governments, militaries, and resources under the Ultramar Theater High Command.
• Guilliman raised Space Marine Chapter establishment limits and ordered nobles’ wealth, factories, and private forces into the wartime system.
• Guilliman ordered Calgar to lead a task force to Iax and establish it as a defensive and medical fortress against Nurgle’s plagues.
• Guilliman resolved that every Ultramarine would undergo the Primaris upgrade and considered pressing Cawl to expand production.

After the discovery of daemon engines spreading corruption across Ultramar, Guilliman learned that Iax was under attack by Ku’gath and that Mortarion had blockaded the route there at Parmenio. Guilliman led his fleet and starforts against Mortarion, while Iax’s defenders continued to resist and the battle for Parmenio began.

• Felix reported that Ultramarines had retaken Adium and found a daemon machine called the Source of Corruption, and Guilliman ordered the engines destroyed after learning they were made from fragments of the Hand of Darkness.
• Calgar sent a distress signal from Iax, reporting that a Greater Daemon of Nurgle was attacking, and Guilliman ordered his fleet to rescue the medical world.
• Guilliman learned that Mortarion’s fleet and a Warp storm blockaded the route through Parmenio, while Mortarion abandoned his failing defenses and called Ku’gath to reinforce him.
• Ku’gath refused to leave Iax, where Calgar and his Primaris honor guard held the medical district against the daemon assault and Cawl’s defenses weakened the attackers.
• Guilliman ordered the starforts to attack Mortarion’s fleet and prepared the Primaris warriors for boarding actions, inviting Liang Bing to confront Mortarion.
• Guilliman’s fleet charged Mortarion’s forces above Parmenio, beginning a battle for boarding supremacy.