Waiting for a Comet

At that moment, the mortals airlifted to the planet's surface had yet to realize that doomsday was approaching. They had come from every corner of the vast galaxy. After Horus's rebels conquered their homeworlds, they had been brought here as slaves.

For most of them, it was their first time entering the Solar System. Fearful yet curious, they observed their surroundings. All they had to do was look up to see that not-so-dazzling point of light.

They were far too distant from the Sun, so distant that humanity's home star seemed rather unimpressive.

When tens of billions of people suddenly arrived in an unfamiliar environment, utter chaos was inevitable.

The Thousand Sons and the Word Bearers were still planning the details of the ritual. Aside from a daily food drop, the mortals on the planet's surface faced no restrictions whatsoever.

Under such unusual circumstances, the crowd naturally began to divide and form groups.

Some physically strong gang members and retired soldiers began using violence to establish the foundations of gangs. They seized the airdropped food and used it to coerce more humans into submitting to them.

Other Chaos cultists took the opportunity to preach among the crowds. They spread faith in the gods of the Warp, calling upon the mortals to abandon the false Emperor and throw themselves into the embrace of the true gods, so they could ascend to the divine realms after death.

Some of the more clever people tried to gather useful items from the ruins, even from completely wrecked aircraft, in hopes of escaping this damned planet.

Some revealed the inherent ugliness of human nature, while others displayed its precious brilliance.

Yet all this farce became meaningless once the ritual was complete.

"We sacrificed nine hundred and ninety-nine Space Marines loyal to the false Emperor, ninety-nine