Thirty seconds is a short time, yet it feels like an eternity.
Everyone looked up, gazing at the night sky, waiting for the light of judgment that could purify everything.
Just seconds before the light spear was about to fall, a sudden change occurred.
Nine multicolored, semi-transparent energy ribbons simultaneously rose from the direction of the fissures in the nine factories.
The ligaments, like a glowing river, converged towards the massive tumor in the center.
Bishop Jensen could see clearly that countless tiny points of light surged within those bonds, each glimmer representing a soul being devoured.
There were civilians, soldiers, Chaos Cultist, and remnants of Aberrant.
Thousands upon thousands of souls were refined, compressed, and transformed into the purest Warp energy, which was then injected into the core of the tumor.
This is the true purpose of the ritual; all life in the nine factories was a sacrifice from the very beginning.
Whether they rebelled, submitted, lived, or died, they all became nourishment for this tumor.
The tumor, infused with the soul, instantly swelled up, almost doubling in size.
The surface blood vessels glowed with an eerie, iridescent light, and countless souls screamed in agony, creating a distorted and terrifying energy fluctuation.
Just then, a golden beam of light pierced the night sky, carrying a devastating force, and struck the tumor precisely above it.
Everyone held their breath.
The anticipated massive explosion did not occur.
The outermost capsule of the sarcoma suddenly opened slowly like a flower bud, and layers of flesh and blood petals stretched outward, revealing the bottomless core at the center.
An invisible energy wave spread out from the center of the flower, forming an unseen barrier that forcefully suppressed the light spear that was powerful enough to melt through mountains.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
A beam of azure high-energy light hung above the flower of flesh and blood, melting away inch by inch, like ice and snow meeting a raging fire.
The immense energy was gradually devoured and dissolved by the flower of flesh and blood, without even a ripple remaining.
In just a few seconds, the orbital spear of light, powerful enough to destroy a Titan God-Machine, vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.
Immediately afterwards, an even stronger energy surge swept out from the flower of flesh and blood.
Centered on the tumor, an area spanning several kilometers was instantly drawn into a strange realm.
The surrounding factories and chimneys disappeared, replaced by a vast backdrop of stars.
Countless distorted stars dotted the pitch-black sky, and nine enormous vortex fissures were evenly distributed along the edge of the domain, like nine eyes gazing upon reality.
All the external artillery fire, holy flames, and attacks struck the edge of the domain and vanished without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea, not even causing a ripple.
This Warp Domain is like an independent little world, completely isolated from the outside world.
Bishop Jensen took a step back, his hand holding the scepter trembling slightly.
He knew that things were completely out of control.
Just as everyone was trembling with fear, deep within the enormous flower of flesh and blood at the center of the domain, the most central rift slowly widened.
A tall figure stepped out from the crack.
He was clad in Power Armour that shimmered with a deep blue light, the armor covered in twisted and ever-changing runes, the overall color scheme being predominantly blue with gold accents.
The beetle-shaped horn atop the helmet pierced the void, its body enveloped in a faint, ethereal magical aura.
The power backpack behind him was decorated with a pair of extended staffs on both sides. His eyes under the helmet were empty and lifeless, or rather, they were completely devoid of gaze.
Bishop Jensen stared intently at the figure, his throat tightening.
His extensive knowledge of Imperium history led him to almost immediately utter a term:
" The Thousand Sons."
This is a derogatory term, a contemptuous name used by the Imperium for the Thousand Sons that had surrendered to the Great Enemy of Change.
However, no Imperium general would want to confront these traitors directly.
The surrounding Iron Guard soldiers and Sisters of Battle were clearly still unaware of the weight of this name.
As the most senior clergyman in the Midtown Diocese, Jensen understood better than anyone else what this force meant.
That was the Thousand Sons, which betrayed the Emperor during the Horus Heresy; it was the wizard legion under the command of Magnus the Red; it was one of the most dangerous entries in the Departmento Munitorum's heretical archives.
But that's all.
The Imperium knew very little about this rebel legion.
Since their rebellion, the Thousand Sons have been hiding deep within the Warp and rarely appear on the front lines.
They are more like conspirators hiding behind the Veil, weaving destinies, altering reality, and using ingenious witchcraft and far-reaching schemes to overturn planets.
They would never stoop to charging forward with machetes like the Khorne Warriors.
Regarding their internal structure, the forbidden techniques they possess, the source of their power, and their weaknesses, most of the records only contain vague and fragmentary accounts.
Even an old bishop like Jensen, who had dealt with the great enemy of Chaos for many years, had very little useful information.
But he knew that the core of this legion was the wizards.
Countless tragic battles have proven the same thing: the fighting power of the Thousand Sons is entirely dependent on the Chaos Sorcerer commands them.
If the leading wizard can be killed, the strength of his warriors will be greatly reduced, or even brought to a standstill.
As for the deeper secrets, such as the legendary Rubric spells that supposedly caused the entire legion to completely lose its flesh and blood.
There are also nine sects that split off from them due to the nine unique aspects of their Tzeentch.
The Imperium high command was completely unaware, and Jensen had never even seen the relevant files.
"Attention all units," Bishop Jensen's voice echoed through the communication channel to every soldier's tactical headset, and was simultaneously transmitted to the receiving end in Governor's Palace, Isolde.
"The enemy is the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marine, belonging to the Fifteenth Betrayal Legion, with Chaos Sorcerer as their core fighting force."
"Highest tactical priority objective: Eliminate the enemy wizard unit."
"Once the wizard falls, the enemy's overall combat strength will plummet."
His voice was calm and powerful, without a trace of panic, but only those holding the scepter in their palms knew that it was already soaked with cold sweat.
The Thousand Sons personally intervened.
This is by no means an ordinary Chaos Cult rebellion.
The wizarding legions, which previously stirred up trouble from behind the scenes, have now torn off all pretenses and stepped directly into the Realspace.
This means that Brevis's value far exceeds everyone's expectations.
The seriousness of the situation has transcended the scope of a local rebellion and risen to a level that could shake the very survival of the entire galaxy.
"Commander William," Jensen turned his head to look at the solemn-faced commander of the Iron Guard beside him.
"Immediately issue the order: all outer garrison troops to converge inward and establish three lines of defense along the city streets."
"Notify all dioceses in the Midtown to enter a state of combat readiness. Activate all sacred objects and holy oils, and utilize all available combat forces."
He paused, then turned his gaze back to the area shrouded in the Warp Domain, his tone calm yet resolute:
"I will lead all the battle clerics and nuns to remain at the forefront."
"We'll stay here and hold out for as long as we can."
"To buy time for the Governor's Office, the Noble Council, and the entire Brevis to deploy a comprehensive defense."
Commander William was startled and abruptly turned to look at the bishop.
Stay here?
On the other side were the Thousand Sons, the Warp Domain that could withstand the orbital spears, and an endless army of Chaos.
Staying on the front lines is no different from sending someone to their death.
But when he looked at Bishop Jensen's graying temples and the unwavering determination in the other's eyes, he swallowed back the words of advice that were on the tip of his tongue.
He knew that Midtown was the industrial heart of Brevis, home to millions of people.
Once this breach is torn open, the army of Chaos will spread along the streets, and the entire Midtown will be turned into hell within hours.
If they back down, hundreds of millions more innocent civilians will die behind them.
"Understood." Commander William took a deep breath, raised his hand and pounded his breastplate, his voice hoarse but firm.
" The Iron Guard 6th Regiment, all personnel remain on duty."
"To the death do us part!"
The order was given, and there was not a commotion on the position.
The Iron Guard soldiers setting up heavy artillery didn't stop their work, while the Sisters of Battle checking the Boltgun silently loaded the magazine with the last purification round.
The pastors, who were reciting prayers, grew louder and louder.
No one asked, "Can we survive?" and no one complained about the cruelty of the orders.
They are the Emperor's warriors, the shield of Brevis.
Our homes are right behind us; there's no way to retreat.