Chapter Summaries

Guilliman’s forces arrived at Davin and searched the ruined Delphos Temple for signs of Horus’s corruption. Sanguinius found a hidden altar where the vision revealed Horus’s transformation, while the temple’s deeper mysteries remained unresolved.

• Guilliman ordered the assembled Ultramarines, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels to establish defenses across the basin.
• Lox, the three primarchs, and the temporarily paroled Konrad Curze approached Delphos and found the ancient temple abandoned and unnaturally decayed.
• Curze said he could see nothing of Davin’s future, and Lox used Veronica to punish him when he remained silent.
• Invictor Guard, Sanguinary Guard, and Deathwing Space Marines searched the temple but found only ash and ruined chambers.
• Sanguinius sensed an invisible door beneath the dome and led the others into a hidden chamber containing a black-stone altar.
• The group witnessed a vision of Horus bleeding on the altar as entities performed a blasphemous ritual that marked his transformation into the traitor leader.

Sanguinius entered a portal on Davin, hoping to change his prophesied death, and Konrad dragged Lox in after him. They arrived aboard the Vengeful Spirit, where Lox saw Horus kill Sanguinius.

• Sanguinius challenged fate and entered a glowing portal despite Lion and Guilliman warning him not to.
• Konrad seized Lox and plunged into the portal after Sanguinius, leaving Guilliman behind as the gate closed.
• Lox restrained Konrad with Veronica, then released him after Konrad explained he wanted to see whether Sanguinius could escape his destined death.
• Lox and Konrad explored a blood-soaked warship that Konrad identified as the Vengeful Spirit, Horus's flagship.
• They reached the throne room and saw Horus pierce Sanguinius's breastplate with his power claw and kill him.

Lox and Curze witnessed Sanguinius die repeatedly in a vision of his battle with Horus, until a mysterious power of light helped Sanguinius defeat him. Sanguinius declared Horus executed and the Imperium destined to prevail.

• Lox and Curze watched Horus kill Sanguinius again and again as the battle reset, while they could not reach or help them.
• Sanguinius drew on the Black Rage and Red Thirst, gaining enough strength to fight Horus for a time but still dying to the Horus Talon.
• A voice offered Sanguinius the light of the Warp, and he accepted its power after Horus shattered the Vengeful Spirit's keel and sent him crashing below.
• Sanguinius hurled the Spear of Telesto through the darkness, mortally wounding Horus and ending the battle.
• Lox questioned the sudden victory, Curze kicked him, and Sanguinius declared that Horus had been executed and the Imperium would ultimately prevail.

After Sanguinius defeated Horus, the loyalists crushed the rebellion and returned to Terra, where the Emperor offered Sanguinius the throne. But Sanguinius began to recognize the peaceful victory as an illusion, and Lox was the only one who seemed to see it too.

• Lox questioned Sanguinius's sudden change after a Warp-born light merged with him, but Sanguinius said he was better than ever and flew off to join the others.
• Sanguinius led the loyalists to victory, killing traitor Primarchs and ending the Horus Heresy as the Ruin Storm dispersed.
• The Emperor freed himself from the Golden Throne, admitted his past mistakes, and announced that he would entrust his authority to Sanguinius.
• Sanguinius questioned the Emperor's praise and offer of the throne, then noticed that his brothers' smiles looked like painted figures.
• Sanguinius looked to Lox, who silently mouthed that everything was false, and felt a chill.

After ten years trapped in a Warp illusion, Sanguinius rejected the false Emperor and struck at him, breaking the dream. The daemon Madail revealed itself and demanded that Sanguinius become Chaos’s Angel of Destruction, while Lox welcomed the return to reality.

• Lox reflected on how he had endured the illusion for ten years by speaking with Konrad imprisoned within Veronica.
• Sanguinius remembered rejecting the Warp’s promise that its power could spare him from his fated death.
• Sanguinius recognized that the Emperor before him was false and aimed his Red Blade at him.
• The false Emperor urged Sanguinius to accept Chaos’s power and change fate, but Sanguinius swung at his neck despite his guilt.
• The false Emperor transformed into the Greater Daemon Madail, which demanded Sanguinius submit and become Chaos’s Angel of Destruction.
• Lox felt relieved that the illusion had ended and prepared to face Madail in reality.

Sanguinius awakened and exposed Madai’s deception, forcing him and Lox to escape the Warp illusion. As they regrouped with Guilliman and Lion El'Jonson, a daemon fleet emerged in orbit, including the corrupted Iron Truth, leaving the expeditionary fleet on the brink of battle.

• Sanguinius’s awakening destabilized Madai’s illusion, and Sanguinius, Lox, and the others fought their way toward the portal.
• Guilliman demanded proof that Lox was himself, and Lox revealed Guilliman’s secret wish to become a farmer.
• Lox told Guilliman that a Greater Daemon was behind the scheme and that Sanguinius was still fighting it inside the portal.
• A Red Alert detected a powerful Warp presence in orbit, and an unfamiliar daemon fleet emerged near the skull planet.
• Iron Hands veterans recognized the corrupted Iron Truth among the enemy ships, and Iron Father Crux ordered its nature analyzed.
• The daemon fleet advanced toward the expeditionary fleet, preparing to begin a naval battle.

The expeditionary fleet confronted the daemon warships near the Skull Planet, with Lion El'Jonson's New Caliban leading the attack. The New Caliban and its allies annihilated the enemy fleet, including the corrupted Iron Truth, ending the void battle.

• Lox realized that the plan to make Sanguinius fall had failed and that the enemy intended to trap the expeditionary fleet by force.
• The commanders consolidated the fleet, and the New Caliban led the warships into position using the Blackstone Array and automated systems.
• Gantula Noyan Khan and the White Scars accelerated the New Caliban to extreme speed and unleashed its guns, lances, and torpedoes against the daemon fleet.
• The three Gloriana-class Battleships supported the New Caliban with nuclear warheads as the daemon vessels were destroyed.
• The New Caliban fired its planet-killer cannon into the corrupted Iron Truth, destroying its core and purifying the Warp-tainted warships.

The Four Gods unleashed daemons across Davin after Sanguinius was delayed by the Greater Daemon Mardel. Guilliman and Lion led the Loyalists’ prepared forces into battle, ending with the Space Marines vowing to make gods and daemons bleed on the world where Horus fell.

• Marius Gage commanded Macragge's Honour as the Loyalist fleet battled daemon warships, while the Iron Truth repeatedly regenerated after being destroyed.
• Lox and Curze emerged from a portal without Sanguinius, and Lox learned that Mardel had delayed him.
• Lion ordered the Deathwing to assemble as daemons of all four Warp gods flooded Davin and attacked the Loyalists.
• Lion led the Space Marines through the daemon lines with Wolfblade as Blackstone bolts and Untouchable units weakened the daemons.
• Guilliman ordered the Space Marines to fight to the bitter end, and one hundred thousand Astartes shouted the Emperor's name beneath the collapsing temple.

A vast host of Chaos daemons attacked the human forces on Davine as Lox entered the battle inside Veronica and Konrad Curze fought on foot. Lox helped the Lion defeat a Brass Bull, then felt Khorne's power surge through Veronica before its Blackstone Array suppressed the influence.

• Countless daemons erupted from Davine and charged the human lines while the forces of the four Chaos Gods fought one another.
• Veronica dropped Curze at Lox's position, took Lox inside, and left Curze to fight without his armor or weapons.
• Curze stole lightning claws, killed Slaaneshi daemons, and made a cloak from one of their hides before charging into battle.
• The Lion battled a Tzeentchian daemon and then struggled to hold back a charging Brass Bull.
• Lox arrived in Veronica, struck the Brass Bull down, and beat it into the ground until it died.
• Khorne's power gave Veronica a brass-colored glow, but Veronica's Blackstone Array quickly suppressed it.

Lion, Guilliman, and Lox fought their way through the daemons, while Sanguinius battled Mardel inside the collapsing portal. Sanguinius killed the Greater Daemon and returned gravely wounded, burdened by the fate he believed awaited the Blood Angels.

• Lox used Veronica and Blackstone weapons to support Lion, Guilliman, and their forces as they fought through the battlefield.
• A Soul Grinder killed two Dark Angels veterans with its corrupted greatsword, and the Space Marines attacked it while Guilliman and Lion struck together to bring it down.
• Lox waited by the portal as Sanguinius fought Mardel inside, where the daemon warned that the Blood Angels would suffer the Red Thirst and Black Rage.
• Sanguinius accepted that his sons might perish under their curse, then killed Mardel with the Spear of Telesto despite being pierced in the chest.
• Sanguinius emerged gravely wounded, and Azkaellon saw pain and despair in his eyes as the Sanguinary Guard welcomed him back.

As Demael dragged Sanguinius toward the Warp, Sanguinius ordered the others to destroy Davin and end the Ruinstorm. Sanguinor took his place and vanished into the Warp with the daemon, leaving Sanguinius free as the evacuation began and Davin faced destruction.

• The wounded Sanguinius fought Demael again as Guilliman and the Lion tried to pull him free, while the daemon threatened his sons with the curse of his death.
• Sanguinius told Azkaellon and Lox to return to New Caliban and destroy Davin, explaining that the planet's destruction could collapse the Ruinstorm.
• Sanguinor appeared and offered to bear Sanguinius's fate, then stabbed Demael and was swallowed into the Warp with it.
• The daemons retreated as Davin's temple began collapsing, and Lox and Guilliman supported Sanguinius while the forces prepared to evacuate the planet.

The Lion ordered Davin destroyed after the evacuation, and the planet’s destruction weakened the Ruinstorm and ended the Iron Truth’s repeated attacks. The fleet saw the enemy vessel collapse into a singularity as its Warp power failed.

• The Lion and Guilliman completed the evacuation while Lox helped the wounded Sanguinius leave the collapsing Temple of Delphos.
• Konrad appeared and helped support Sanguinius after Azkaellon tried to keep him away.
• The Lion ordered the fleet to fire Exterminatus weapons and bombard Davin.
• The combined attack destroyed Davin and the Temple of Delphos, causing Sanguinius to see its possible futures fade.
• The Iron Truth shrieked, collapsed into a singularity, and vanished as the Ruinstorm weakened.

After Davin's destruction, the Ruinstorm began to dissipate, restoring starlight and revealing the Astronomican's light. As Guilliman and Lox returned to Macragge, the Five Hundred Worlds prepared to march toward Terra while Dantioch remained at Pharos.

• The Navigators aboard the New Caliban sighted the Astronomican, and Lox and the crews celebrated as the galaxy's stars reappeared.
• On Sotha, Dantioch and Pollux saw the Ruinstorm's final auroras fade, and Pollux urged Dantioch to accompany him to Terra.
• Dantioch refused to leave Pharos, explaining that his knowledge of the beacon made him more useful there, while he wondered whether its imprisoned C'tan shard could be controlled.
• Opheo petitioned Guilliman to let him join the campaign to Terra, while Ventanus also hoped to march with the primarch and Auguston celebrated with the Space Wolves on Macragge.
• Lox, Guilliman, and their companions returned to Macragge as Warp travel normalized, and the Five Hundred Worlds prepared to reinforce Terra.

The Lion, Guilliman, Sanguinius, and Ulthran discussed using the Tuchulcha Engine to return their forces to Terra and divided their roles in the war. The Lion and Sanguinius set out for Terra through the Webway while Guilliman took command of the remaining forces to attack the traitors from behind.

• The Tuchulcha Engine told Ulthran that it could send the group to the edge of the Solar System but warned that Terra’s defenses and Warp blockade made direct entry dangerous.
• Guilliman said one primarch should lead forces against the traitors’ rear, and the Lion and Sanguinius chose him for the task.
• The Lion and Sanguinius planned to travel to Terra through the Webway, leaving the Tuchulcha Engine with Guilliman and assigning him the Sunfire Titan Legion.
• The Lion told Guilliman to conceal the Second Empire’s existence, declaring that nothing had happened in the Eastern Fringe.

Lox and Guilliman returned to Macragge, where they prepared to divide their forces and head to Terra to support the war there. As Guilliman departed to gather the remaining forces, Lox assembled with Sanguinius, the Lion, and other warriors for the journey to Terra.

• Auguston received Guilliman's message announcing the primarchs' return and hurried to the orbital platform, eager to join the campaign to Terra.
• The New Caliban led the returning fleet through Macragge's defenses, and Lox told Guilliman he would travel to the Sol System with Sanguinius and the Lion.
• Lox and Guilliman took a commemorative photograph before Guilliman departed to gather forces for the journey to Terra.
• Lox learned that the New Caliban would undergo repairs at the Hera docks, while the Shattered Legions and other warriors assembled to return with Sanguinius and the Lion.
• Fafnir and the Space Wolves arrived freshly bathed and ready to fight, while Auguston and many Ultramarines joined the gathering force.
• Lox said goodbye to Guilliman and prepared to go to Terra.

Guilliman sent a large force through the Webway toward Terra, but the gate could carry only part of the Ultramarines fleet. As the fleet traveled through the Webway, Konrad resolved to face the Emperor and try to change his fate.

• Guilliman appointed Valentius Dolor to govern Macragge and the Five Hundred Worlds, then prepared to reinforce Terra with Orpheo, Auguston, and Titus Praetor.
• Uslan opened Macragge's Webway gate, allowing the Dark Angels and Blood Angels to enter before the Webway rejected most of the Ultramarines fleet.
• Hill reported that the Victory Laurel and a dozen smaller ships had brought 49,657 Ultramarines, more than twelve million Ultramar Auxilia, and the Sunfire Titan Legion through the gate.
• The fleet traveled through the Webway under the guidance of the Ulthwé Craftworld while the Lion and Sanguinius communicated aboard their flagships.
• Konrad told Lox that he feared facing the Emperor and the sons he had betrayed, but vowed to confront his fate and try to change it.

A Warp presence noticed the loyalist reinforcements traveling through the Webway, and Uslan sensed its terrifying gaze but concealed his fear from Lox. On Terra, Rogal Dorn assessed the Alpha Legion’s sabotage campaign and sent Archamus to investigate the communications fortress Hydra.

• A Chaos God noticed the hundred thousand reinforcements traveling through the Webway and invaded the breached space.
• Uslan felt an incomprehensible presence watching him, then told Lox that he was merely tired.
• Rogal Dorn reviewed the Alpha Legion’s attacks across the Solar System as Archamus reported sabotage and unrest.
• Archamus identified Hydra near Pluto as the likely enemy target and urged Dorn to investigate it.
• Dorn ordered Archamus to lead Huscarls to Hydra and assess the situation.

Rogal Dorn ordered the Phalanx to reinforce Hydra after an Alpha Legion fleet attacked Pluto, overwhelming the Imperial defenders. As Captain Vendral prepared to ram the enemy with the last surviving cruiser, a vast golden gate opened and an enormous black-and-gold warship began to emerge.

• Rogal Dorn received an urgent distress plea from Hydra and ordered the Phalanx to reinforce the fortress, leaving Sukasan in charge.
• The Alpha Legion's Gloriana-class Battleship Alpha launched a surprise attack that shattered Pluto's small Imperial fleet led by Sigismund.
• Alpha Legion Lernaean Terminators boarded the defenders' ships and infiltrated Hydra, killing its personnel and destroying its communications and defenses.
• Captain Vendral ordered the Spear of Vilia to overload its engines and charge the Alpha Legion fleet in a final assault.
• A golden gate opened beyond Pluto, and an immense black-and-gold warship began emerging as Vendral and his crew watched in shock.

The Spear of Vilia and the Alpha Legion watched as a colossal warship emerged from a gateway near Pluto, leaving both sides uncertain of its allegiance. Captain Vendral recognized the arriving vessels as loyalist reinforcements, including ships of the Dark Angels, Blood Angels, and Ultramarines.

• Tech-priests aboard the Spear of Vilia detected an unknown warship emerging from a gateway, and Captain Vendral learned it was already over 65 kilometers long.
• The Alpha Legion fleet turned more than a hundred warships toward the gateway while Vendral hoped the newcomer was loyalist reinforcements.
• The colossal black-and-gold ship emerged fully at over 110 kilometers, and Vendral recognized the Dark Angels and Lion El'Jonson.
• The Indomitable Truth and the Blood Angels' Red Tear followed the first ship into realspace.
• A cobalt-blue warship marked with an Omega symbol emerged at 120 kilometers, and Vendral ordered the Spear of Vilia to send intelligence to the Indomitable Truth and the Red Tear.

Captain Wenderal brought the Spear of Velia into the arriving loyalist fleet after receiving orders from the Invincible Reason. Lion, Lox, and Sanguinius trapped the Alpha Legion near Pluto, and Lion prepared to lead an assault on the planet.

• Wenderal ordered the Spear of Velia to shut down its weapons and rendezvous with the fleet from the Ultima Segmentum.
• Lox arrived in the Solar System aboard the Victory Laurel after Ulthran diverted the fleet around Enslavers in the Webway.
• Lion ordered the fleet to trap the Alpha Legion and prevent Alpharius from escaping while protecting loyalists and the astropathic station near Pluto.
• Lion announced that he would lead the Space Marines in a drop assault on Pluto.