Chapter Summaries

Imotekh trapped Bona aboard the Eternal Expedition and revealed the Imaginary Number Engine, which began erasing Bona from existence. Just as Bona was about to die, time stopped and a middle-aged scholar appeared to confront Imotekh.

• Imotekh's fleet overwhelmed the human forces, and he demanded that Bona surrender the Scepter of Eternal Glory.
• Magnus and Bona dragged the opposing fleets into the Warp, where Bona led a boarding assault on Imotekh's flagship.
• Bona broke through the throne hall's defenses and confronted Imotekh, who revealed that the Imaginary Number Engine was powered by thirty-six pulverized C'tan.
• Imotekh activated the engine, causing Bona's body to turn transparent as it began to vanish.
• Time stopped, and a middle-aged scholar with a Two-Headed Parrot appeared, accusing Imotekh of nearly ruining things.

The scholar changed fate so the imaginary-number engine killed Imotekh instead of Bona, leaving Bona with no memory of the Overlord. After the rebellion was crushed and the Necron Overlords submitted, Bona turned toward the next campaigns as the Lion and three Primarchs attacked Octarius.

• The scholar redirected the imaginary-number engine from Bona to Imotekh, who died as time returned to the moment Bona entered the Throne Room.
• Bona found the Overlord motionless on the Throne, then left with Captain Dakan to support Perturabo against another C'tan Shard.
• Fulgrim killed Zahndrekh, and Bona forced the surviving rebel Overlords to undergo biotransference without replacement bodies.
• Bona searched the archives and learned that Imotekh had led the extinct Sautekh Dynasty, then asked Amarkun why he had kept his metallic body.
• Bona learned that most Necron Overlords had submitted to him, while the Lion and three Primarchs launched an assault on Octarius to kill Bonebreaka.

Guilliman assembled an enormous Imperial expeditionary force to destroy the Ork Empire of Octarius while reforming the Space Marine military structure. He visited Cawl’s research facility, where Cawl warned him of a serious problem concerning the Golden Throne.

• Guilliman watched the Death Korps and reviewed the vast army mobilized for the campaign against Octarius.
• Lion El'Jonson arrived with Azrael and Zabriel, reviewed Guilliman’s report, and departed for a meeting with the Grand Master of the Officio Assassinorum.
• Guilliman reformed the Astartes by expanding Chapter forces and allowing Chapters to unite under a single command when necessary.
• Guilliman entered Cawl’s research facility and found Cawl examining a restrained Tyranid Tyrant.
• Cawl told Guilliman that he had discovered a serious problem concerning the Golden Throne.

Cawl warned Guilliman that the Golden Throne was irreparably failing and could unleash a warp rift larger than the Eye of Terror, leaving Guilliman to prepare for a catastrophe he dreaded. Elsewhere, Bonebreaka exposed a Raven Guard Kommando and declared that the Orks would reclaim Ullanor.

• Cawl told Guilliman that the Golden Throne was breaking down from within and that its destruction could create a vast warp rift.
• Guilliman ordered Cawl to erase their conversation, then privately considered the contingencies he had prepared and thought, “Then let Terra burn again.”
• Ork Warbosses brought a maimed Raven Guard before Bonebreaka, while the Orks mocked the captive for not being WAAAGH! enough.
• Bonebreaka recognized the Raven Guard as a Kommando, accused him of scouting the Orks, and told him the Orks would reclaim Ullanor.
• Bonebreaka threw the Raven Guard to the floor and led the Orks in a WAAAGH!

Titus reflected on what life after the war might mean for the Astartes before his Thunderhawk crashed during an assault on an Ork camp. After defeating the Orks and reuniting with Gadriel and Karon, he ordered the survivors to prepare for a far larger battle.

• Titus considered Naruf’s question about what the Astartes would do if humanity’s enemies were defeated, but an alarm interrupted him.
• Ork fire crippled Titus’s Thunderhawk, forcing it to crash near an Ork camp and scattering its supplies and crew.
• Titus and his battle-brothers emerged from the burning wreckage, killed Orks, and drove the survivors toward their camp.
• Titus killed the Ork Warboss and repaired the damaged communications system while his surviving battle-brothers treated the wounded.
• Gadriel and Karon arrived with the remaining Eighth Company members, and Titus ordered them to deploy their beacons and fortify the Ork camp.
• A Titan, Ork Gargants, and a new wave of Drop Pods and transporters appeared, prompting Titus to order an immediate advance.

The regency council launched an immense campaign to eradicate the Orks of Octarius, with Lion El’Jonson commanding the war and planning a diversion at Ghaikarakh. As Bonebreaka remained impossible to find, Lion asked Guilliman to bring his Aeldari girlfriend to help.

• The regency council mustered hundreds of millions of troops and vast resources for the campaign against the Orks.
• Lion El’Jonson took overall command as the Ultramarines established landing zones, but Roaring Ironjaw and his Steel Legion launched a fierce counterattack on Kazath.
• Lion learned that Ork resistance was growing stronger and that Bonebreaka had disappeared, despite the efforts of infiltrators and the Raven Guard.
• Lion planned an assault on Ghaikarakh to draw Ork forces away while he led a strike toward Octarius to kill Bonebreaka.
• Guilliman entered with news, and Lion asked him to bring his Aeldari girlfriend.

Guilliman asked Yvraine for Aeldari help in tracking down Bonebreaka, but she warned him that the Black Sun’s birth was inevitable and urged him to flee the galaxy’s edge. He refused to abandon Terra, leaving Yvraine to depart without asking him to come with her.

• Lion El'Jonson told Guilliman that the Aeldari called him Yvraine's boyfriend and asked him to recruit their help in finding Bonebreaka.
• Guilliman dispatched envoys to search for the Aeldari while he managed the campaign's administrative affairs.
• Yvraine appeared in Guilliman's room and agreed that finding Bonebreaka might require the Harlequins' help, since the Golden Throne's power made prophecy dangerous.
• Yvraine warned Guilliman that the Black Sun's birth was inevitable and that the Craftworlds were fleeing toward the Outer Ring, while Terra might become the next Eidolon.
• Guilliman warned Yvraine not to reveal the prediction, then apologized for his anger and promised to contact her when Bonebreaka was found.
• Yvraine left without asking Guilliman to flee with her, knowing he would remain on Terra out of duty.

Bonebreaka dreamed that Gork and Mork condemned his fear and ordered him to lead a Waaagh, then woke and launched a massive Ork invasion aimed at reclaiming Ullanor. As the Orks headed through the warp toward Armageddon, Lion El'Jonson ordered the Imperial forces to pursue and stop them.

• Bonebreaka dreamed that Gork and Mork berated him for avoiding battle and commanded him to lead the Orks against the humans.
• Bonebreaka woke, gathered the Clan bosses, and announced a galaxy-spanning Waaagh to retake Ullanor.
• The Orks swept aside the Imperial forces around Octarius and advanced toward Armageddon with their immense Gorkamorka Star.
• Lion El'Jonson saw the Ork fleet enter a warp rift and condemned the Inquisitors' faulty intelligence.
• Lion El'Jonson ordered all Imperial forces to proceed to Armageddon and stop the Orks.

Leman Russ returned to the Space Wolves and challenged their leaders to a drinking contest, winning over the assembled Wolf Lords and greeting Bjorn. Lion El'Jonson learned that Russ had led the entire Space Wolves force and its successor Chapters into the Warp without authorization.

• The Space Wolves gathered aboard their flagship and drank heavily while celebrating their reunion.
• Leman Russ challenged Logan and the other Wolf Lords to outdrink him, then defeated them all.
• Bjorn recognized Leman Russ, who helped him up and said they had more important things to do.
• The Departmento Munitorum master told Lion El'Jonson that the Space Wolves and their successor Chapters had abandoned the order of battle and vanished into the Warp.
• Lion El'Jonson realized that Leman Russ was responsible and angrily wondered what his brother was doing.

Russ and the Space Wolves ambushed the Ork fleet at Armageddon, then rammed the Hrafnkel into Bonebreaka to launch a boarding assault. Lion El'Jonson ordered the Imperial forces to join them and kill Bonebreaka.

• Russ kept his fleet hidden among orbital wreckage while Ork forces poured through a Warp Rift and devastated Armageddon's defending fleet with the Gorkamorka Star's Gravitic Whip.
• Imperial reinforcements arrived at the Mandeville Point, and Russ waited until the Orks turned to attack the Ultramarines.
• Russ ordered the Hrafnkel and the Space Wolves to attack Bonebreaka, and the flagship rammed an Ork warship despite suffering a direct hit from the Gravitic Whip.
• Guilliman told Lion El'Jonson and Sanguinius that Russ had begun a boarding assault, and Lion ordered assault teams to board Bonebreaka and kill it.

Russ fought Bonebreaka, whose vision of the Orks’ origins awakened a vast Waaagh and transformed him into a giant resembling his ancestors. Bonebreaka declared that he had found his destiny as the battle with Russ continued.

• Russ killed the Ork Warboss guarding Bonebreaka and challenged Bonebreaka to battle.
• Russ charged through Bonebreaka’s cannon fire and severed his cannon arm with the Dionysian Spear.
• Bonebreaka struck Russ with his stump and swung his claw at him, but Bjorn shielded Russ and took the blow, wrecking both of his arms.
• Enraged by Bjorn’s damage, Russ stabbed Bonebreaka through the chest with the Dionysian Spear.
• Bonebreaka saw a vision of the Orks’ origins and their ancient war against the Metal Skeletons.
• Bonebreaka seized the spear, called a Waaagh that reached every Ork, and grew to the size of his ancestors before declaring that he had found his destiny.

The Lord of Change revealed that Bonebreaka’s transformation was part of a greater plan, while Bonebreaka escaped Russ and the Primarchs argued before learning he had teleported to Armageddon. Russ left to rest as the others faced the Ork threat.

• The Lord of Change watched Bonebreaka’s destiny unfold and said that events were changing.
• Bonebreaka transformed into a towering Warboss, declared the Orks’ supreme Holy War, and vanished by teleportation as Russ attacked him.
• Lion El'Jonson arrived and blamed Russ, prompting the two Primarchs to fight until Sanguinius stopped them.
• Guilliman reported that Cawl’s readings placed Bonebreaka on Armageddon.
• Russ said he would return to rest, leaving the others to deal with the situation.

The Steel Legion defended Armageddon’s Hive City against a newly organized Ork assault led by elite Kolt Orks, while Lion El'Jonson and Guilliman watched from orbit. After assessing the battle, Lion El'Jonson ordered the next move.

• The Orks attacked Armageddon’s Hive City in coordinated waves under the command of Kolt Orks loyal to Bonebreaka.
• The Steel Legion’s artillery and defenses inflicted heavy losses, but Orks crossed the minefield, breached the walls, and poured into the city.
• Kolt Orks and Kommandos struck key defensive positions, overwhelming defenders with powerful armor and Electronic Pulse Cannons.
• A Commissar rallied the Steel Legion at the front line as soldiers fought to hold the walls against the Orks.
• Lion El'Jonson watched the battle from orbit, confirmed matters with Guilliman, and ordered, “Move out.”

Bonebreaka fought Lion El'Jonson, Sanguinius, Guilliman, and a giant wolf, overwhelming them as they tried to attack him. As he prepared to finish them, Celestine arrived with the Armageddon Steel Legion, and Bonebreaka recognized Old One-Eye atop its Baneblade.

• Bonebreaka dismissed his Ork guards' battle and challenged Lion El'Jonson, Sanguinius, Guilliman, and a giant wolf to attack together.
• Lion El'Jonson's strike bounced off Bonebreaka's invisible defense, and Bonebreaka punched him into a pillar.
• Sanguinius pierced Bonebreaka's shield with his spear, but Bonebreaka seized him and hurled him toward Guilliman.
• The giant wolf bit Bonebreaka's palms, and Bonebreaka kneed him in the belly before slamming him into the ground.
• Bonebreaka struck at Sanguinius and Lion El'Jonson with his energized Warblade, badly injuring them, while Guilliman moved to protect them.
• Celestine arrived with her handmaidens and the Armageddon Steel Legion, and Bonebreaka recognized Old One-Eye standing on the leading Baneblade.

Sebastian Yarrick joined Guilliman’s forces against Bonebreaka and sacrificed himself to kill the Ork warlord. With Bonebreaka dead, the Orks fled, and Guilliman declared the battle over before collapsing from exhaustion.

• Yarrick and the Steel Legion charged the Orks as Bonebreaka led his warriors into battle, and Guilliman refused to evacuate.
• Yarrick and Bonebreaka began their duel, with Guilliman joining the fight and helping wound the Ork warlord.
• Bonebreaka impaled Yarrick, but Yarrick used his Power Klaw to tear Bonebreaka apart as he burned away.
• The Orks lost their will to fight and fled, while Imperial forces and the Adeptus Mechanicus pursued them.
• Guilliman formally honored Yarrick as the flames consumed him, then declared the battle over and collapsed.

The Emperor reflected on his failures and his guilt toward humanity and the child he had drawn into the war. As his consciousness faded, his ruthless other self took control, intent on destroying the false heaven even if humanity perished.

• The Emperor watched humanity suffer under the Ecclesiarchy and admitted that his attempts to guide it had caused immense harm.
• He blamed himself for treating his children and humanity coldly, and for drawing the child into a path that led toward death.
• An identical version of the Emperor appeared and argued that humanity had to escape the higher beings’ control, even if it ceased to exist.
• The Emperor rejected the other self as a cold executioner, but his strength gave out as the other self told him to rest and vowed to destroy the false heaven.

Little Tower and Little Card fought alongside the Astra Militarum on Azte II after the Tyranids lost contact with the Hive Mind. An Ultramarine rescued them from a Black Legion warrior and rallied the defenders to keep fighting.

• After the Ancient Ship was destroyed, the Tyranids across the galaxy lost their signal, and specially adapted Tyranids with independent minds were hatched, including Little Tower.
• Little Tower and Little Card prepared to defend Azte II from the Black Legion as Astra Militarum artillery battered the Chaos forces.
• Bloodmark charged into their trench, and Little Card smashed his head with a lasgun before Little Tower passed him a replacement.
• A Black Legion warrior knocked Little Card and Little Tower down, but an Ultramarine shot him with bolter fire.
• The Ultramarine helped Little Tower and Little Card up, then raised his Big Shoota and rallied the defenders to fight for Ultramar.

Bona met a woman who called herself Mother in a recurring dream, and she revealed that humanity’s attempt to become a supreme being destroyed the galaxy and created them both. Mother warned that Bona would forget their conversation when he awoke, but urged him to remember what he was fighting for if he hoped to defeat the Blood God.

• Bona entered a silver gate in his dream and confronted a woman who claimed to be his mother.
• Mother explained that humanity had once conquered the galaxy before building a machine to unite all human souls into one being.
• Mother revealed that the machine succeeded but its core black hole destroyed the galaxy, making the catastrophe humanity’s original sin.
• Bona said he did not blame Mother and would still follow Father to save humanity if given the choice.
• Mother warned Bona that he would forget their conversation upon waking and urged him to resist vengeance and rage to defeat the Blood God.

Bona learned that the Dark Throne’s damaged Blackstone core would be easier to repair with a structure from a Blackstone Fortress, so he decided to seek the one held by Huron Blackheart. He left for the Maelstrom system intending to meet Huron rather than simply seize the fortress by force, and Horus agreed to accompany him.

• Bona traveled to Desq II and inspected the Dark Throne with Archmagos Antonia and Cryptek Zaa.
• Zaa explained that the Dark Throne’s Blackstone core was severely damaged and that a Blackstone Fortress’s Pentagonal Triaxial Body could speed repairs.
• Bona recalled that Huron Blackheart possessed one of the remaining Blackstone Fortresses and weighed Huron’s past actions against the people he had sheltered.
• Bona ordered a fleet assembled to travel to the Maelstrom system and meet Huron.
• Horus questioned why Bona wanted to negotiate with Huron, then agreed to go with him.

Abaddon appointed Honsou to expand the Black Legion’s forces as the Imperium prepared a crusade, but Vashtorr arrived with a proposal to use the Legion against the Leagues of Votann. Abaddon accepted after Vashtorr provided a parchment, and promised to send a powerful lord to aid him.

• Abaddon appointed Honsou Lord Unifier and planned to use the Daemonculaba to produce Chaos Astartes in large numbers.
• Vashtorr appeared aboard the Vengeful Spirit and offered Abaddon daemon engines and a Forge of Souls in exchange for an army to draw the Leagues of Votann’s attention.
• Vashtorr showed Abaddon the Hearthkyn attacking daemon engines and said he had noticed interesting changes among the Leagues.
• Abaddon demanded proof of Vashtorr’s sincerity, and Vashtorr gave him a parchment.
• Abaddon accepted the deal and pledged to send his most loyal and powerful lord to aid Vashtorr.