What had they sensed?
Light? No, that was not light.
It was the sun!... A golden sun!
The Warp creatures, formed from pure despair, deceit, and rage, sizzled like slugs doused in concentrated sulfuric acid the instant they touched those golden flames, rapidly dissolving and disintegrating! Their psychic essence was utterly ignited and purified by the fire.
Inside the ship.
The hideous faces retreated into the walls, screaming.
The venomous whispers became terrified wails, then abruptly fell silent.
The mortals who had already succumbed to madness and despair suddenly came to their senses, as though jolted awake by a sharp blow. They stared blankly at their hands and the steel walls around them, now restored to normal, with no idea what had just happened.
But they could feel that the cold and fear that had seeped into their very bones were gone. In their place was a warmth and peace that came from deep within.
Beyond the windows, against that bizarre backdrop of countless twisted colors, a faint halo of pure gold enveloped the entire ship like a gentle, indestructible eggshell.
"It's the Emperor... It's the Emperor's holy light!"
An old woman sank trembling to her knees, clasped her hands, and began to pray softly.
"The Emperor protects! The Emperor hasn't abandoned us!"
Like falling dominoes, one after another, thousands, tens of thousands, millions of mortals knelt. With the deepest reverence, they offered their respect and gratitude to that golden light, to the one faith in their hearts.
The ecstasy of survival and incomparable devotion converged into a mighty torrent of faith, surging through the ship.
Karen looked at the golden barrier beyond the viewport, then at the mortals kneeling in prayer. Finally, his gaze settled on Malakai and Saul in his arms.
He remained silent for a long time,