The earth-shattering explosion caused by the Phoenician Sword crashing into the surface was clearly visible even to the Imperial fleet in space.
The colossal fireball and mushroom cloud pierced the upper atmosphere, while radioactive dust nearly broke free of the outer atmosphere's restraints and surged into space.
Watching the scene before him, the Lion narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a measure of pleasure and satisfaction.
Within the inner forest that no one could enter, a naked beast with long blond hair spilling down its back cast aside all defenses and disguises, reveling in the destruction before it.
The Calibanite enjoyed the visual impact created by such moments of devastation, as if it were a subconscious projection of his deeply buried savage nature.
"This is the fate of rebels. They shall drown in their own blood. That is what is happening now. The Emperor's Children's rebels have been destroyed by their own warship. This is a declaration of war upon the traitors."
Unlike Sanguinius, whose presence brimmed with personal charisma, the Lion seemed forged wholly from iron and blood. There was not the slightest mercy in his proclamation. The stench of mountains of corpses and seas of blood seemed to rush forth, chilling all who heard it to the bone.
Even loyalists still feared the Lion's arrival.
The captured supreme commander, Elkenax, was brought before Lion El'Jonson. Veterans of the Inner Circle of the Order of the Sandalwood had been waiting for some time. They would squeeze every scrap of useful intelligence from the traitor's brain, whether he was willing to speak or not.
The strength of his will meant nothing to them. When one's brain was literally opened up, mental resistance was exceedingly fragile.
The process, however, would likely not be pleasant. If the Emperor's Child possessed sufficient willpower, he