The wind, heated by artillery fire, carried a reek of blood. The light illuminating the battlefield did not come from the heavens, but from the hell on earth below. Rays and flames rolled like lava in the depths of hell—
Only making that darkness seem deeper still.
Corax watched the battlefield tensely.
Then, bzzz, bzzz—the sound of radio waves came through the communication channel. Corax tensed for a moment before Guilliman's voice emerged, laced with helplessness.
Corax, don't laugh at anything I'm about to say.
???
The mass of darkness that was the Lord of Ravens shrank slightly in the hot wind, but said nothing.
I am seriously informing you that, because of certain measures taken by the Emperor, an army wielding powers similar to Chaos will soon appear on the battlefield.
This was not news Corax found impossible to accept, but given Guilliman's opening statement, he decided to remain cautious.
The raven spoke in a hoarse voice, asking what he considered the most absurd question possible.
Friend or foe?
Guilliman fell silent for a rare moment before giving his answer.
Both friend and foe.
Guilliman...
Corax hesitated. He knew his next words would hurt, but he decided to say them anyway.
Have you noticed that you're becoming more and more like the Emperor?
The other end of the channel went silent.
Corax did not need to think to know that Guilliman had been struck dumb on the other end of the line. But he knew Guilliman would endure it, because he was Roboute Guilliman.
That was extremely hurtful, but I truly do need to reflect on it.
Guilliman let out a long sigh.
But the matter is very complicated. In short, you are about to see another Imperium entirely unlike ours, one that draws upon the power of