The Maynarkh Dynasty, a Tomb World shrouded in the curse of the "Flayed Ones," was in the throes of a chaotic frenzy.
The Orks' WAAAGH! was having a grand time smashing and looting. The Aeldari Corsairs' "theft" operation was proceeding smoothly, too. Meanwhile, the civil war between Leo's "Third Legion," ostensibly fighting to "purge the ruler's corrupt entourage," and the Phaeron's "First Legion" was raging, perfectly illustrating how people hit hardest when fighting their own.
At Dock Thirteen, "Void," where the Dolmen Gate connected to the Webway.
Before Hekaton, the "Eternal Guardian," the enormous Dolmen Gate erupted with blinding surges of energy.
"Warning! Spatial jump detected!" Hekaton immediately raised his Gauss Cannon, its barrel thicker than a Space Marine tank, and aimed it at the portal.
"Leo! You have betrayed the Dynasty!"
Boom!
A green blur shot out of the portal at sublight speed!
Hekaton reacted with godlike speed, firing his Gauss Cannon instantly!
"Phase Translocation!"
The instant Leo burst through the gate, he activated his Phase Shifter. He had anticipated Hekaton's anticipation.
The shot struck the Night Shroud scout craft with perfect accuracy... or rather, its afterimage.
Leo's ship solidified again dozens of kilometers outside the portal, smoke pouring from its hull after the overload caused by the forced Phase Shift.
"Hahaha! You old relic! Is that your only trick... holy shit?!"
Before Leo finished laughing, he saw that Hekaton was ignoring him entirely and aiming his cannon at the Dolmen Gate behind him instead.
"He's going to... destroy the portal?!" Leo went pale with alarm. "Don't! My 'local specialties' haven't arrived yet!"
But Hekaton's orders were clear: the threat came from the Webway. Close the Webway.
At the critical instant when Hekaton was about to fire and seal off this "highway" for good.
One ship. Ten ships. A