Chapter Summaries

Sandamel led Talos and a squad in a high-speed boarding attack against an enemy ironclad fortress, aiming to place a guidance beacon for Agrid’s strike. Meanwhile, Sanguinius learned that Curze’s troops had neither Gene-seed nor Astartes modifications and that the Eighth Legion’s technology remained independent of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

• Dante shared strategic intelligence with the Eighth Legion, revealing that the enemy stronghold was protected like an iron shell and was best approached through boarding actions.
• Sandamel proposed ramming the Nightfall into the target, but Curze instead ordered him to lead a squad aboard an enemy Combat Ship and plant a guidance beacon for Agrid’s macro-cannon strike.
• Talos joined Sandamel, and the squad strapped themselves into the Combat Ship as Sandamel launched at reckless speed.
• Sanguinius questioned whether Sandamel was truly Curze’s son, and Curze explained that his troops had never used Gene-seed or undergone Astartes modifications.
• Curze described the Eighth Legion’s Nostramo-based technical support and its tailored recruitment program, while declining Sanguinius’s request to exchange technology.

Sandamel and Talos crippled the enemy flagship and enabled Sanguinius’s fleet to strike its forces. As the Evernight Judges prepared to join the ground battle, Sandamel revealed that the Machine Spirit could operate their battleship while the legion fought.

• Sandamel led a squad in a suicide attack on the enemy flagship, while Talos infiltrated the Rebel Leader’s escape craft and placed a Locator Beacon on the planet.
• Sanguinius exploited the flagship’s disabled shields, and Agrid’s Macro-cannons struck the beacon’s position to open the way for an assault.
• Curze accepted Shen’s proposal to assign fighters by exam scores, prompting the Evernight Judges to argue over who would stay aboard.
• Sandamel explained that the Evernight Network could link the Machine Spirit to Curze and let the battleship run itself during the ground battle.

Curze agreed to lead the Eighth Legion into battle, linking its forces through a Psychic network that made their attacks unnervingly coordinated. The legion’s civilian officials proved devastating fighters, and after Agrid’s explosions opened the way, Sevatar led them charging beside the Blood Angels.

• Curze agreed to serve as the central node but revealed he could join the battle through his Power Armour’s neural interface, and he ordered the Eighth and Ninth Legions to prepare.
• Curze linked the Evernight Judges Legion into a Psychic network that improved its coordination, and its warriors silently killed enemies in rapid, practiced attacks.
• Curze ordered positional warfare, and Agrid unleashed Portable Micro-Exterminatus rounds to bombard the battlefield.
• Agrid hurled the remaining rounds by hand, causing simultaneous explosions that shook the battlefield and stunned Sanguinius.
• Sevatar led the Evernight Judges Legion in a charge that reminded the Blood Angels of the Space Wolves’ fighting style.

Dante joined the Eighth Legion’s Evernight Network and saw how its battlefield intelligence helped the Legion fight. Curze handed control of the network to Night Haunter, who transformed the Legion’s performance, and Sanguinius left considering whether the Blood Angels should train in the Imperium’s civil service.

• Dante entered the Evernight Network and received its battlefield intelligence, including plans for the planet’s development.
• Curze asked Night Haunter to take over the network so he could fight without managing battlefield coordination.
• Night Haunter’s control sharpened the network and boosted the Evernight Legion’s speed, strength, perception, and clarity.
• The Eighth Legion wiped out the enemy in less than half an hour, and Sanguinius questioned why the Administratum kept them handling paperwork.
• Curze assured Sanguinius that administrative work had helped strengthen the Legion, and Sanguinius considered sending the Blood Angels to train in the civil service.

Sanguinius ordered the Blood Angels to follow the Eighth Legion’s example and gain experience in the Imperium’s administrative system, while Dante reluctantly agreed to carry out his father’s plan. Malcador learned that both legions were returning and hoped their administrative work would give him a five-day vacation.

• Sanguinius told Dante to arrange for Blood Angels officers and noncommissioned officers to gain experience in the Imperium’s administrative system, and Dante agreed despite his doubts.
• Sevatar and the Nightfall crew praised Curze for persuading the Ninth Legion to enter the Administratum, then agreed to keep the plan secret.
• The Eighth Legion led the returning fleet through the Warp, and Ninth Legion officers marveled at the Eighth Legion’s strength and behavior.
• Malcador learned that the Blood Angels were returning with the Eighth Legion and had been ordered to spend at least four months in the Adeptus Administratum.
• Malcador imagined the two legions taking on much of the Imperium’s administrative workload, which could let him take a five-day vacation.

Curze arranged for his Legion’s officers to gain administrative experience so he could avoid returning to office work, while Han Mingxuan took leave to visit Nostramo and Solemnace. Malcador then proposed that Sanguinius join the Imperium’s governance, leaving the Emperor to consider the request.

• Curze persuaded Malcador to place officers of platoon rank and above from his Legion in the Adeptus Administratum, and Malcador agreed to arrange positions for them.
• Malcador told Curze to visit his father, and Sanguinius went with him to make the administrative arrangements.
• Han Mingxuan told the Emperor he was resigning, but clarified that he was taking leave to visit Nostramo and then Solemnace to help his Necrontyr ally.
• The Emperor suggested making New Nostramo humanity’s secondary capital and calling it Earth, but Han Mingxuan refused because he feared the Imperium would take over Nostramo and its surrounding planets.
• Han Mingxuan invited the Emperor to visit Nostramo with his children when Angron returned, then left with Endymion.
• Malcador asked the Emperor to let Astartes participate in governing the Imperium and recommended Sanguinius.

Malcador persuaded the Emperor to assign Sanguinius and the Blood Angels to the Administratum for six months, then received permission to take five days of leave. He went to Han Mingxuan’s home to ask for a ride to Nostramo, where they would depart after Curze returned from the barracks.

• Malcador recommended that Sanguinius and the Blood Angels join the Administratum, and the Emperor agreed to a six-month assignment.
• Malcador asked the Emperor for leave, negotiated five days, and decided not to take the Alpha Legion with him.
• Malcador visited Han Mingxuan and asked to travel with him to Nostramo for his vacation.
• Han Mingxuan said they would wait for Curze to return from the barracks before setting off, while Nobira prepared tea.

Han Mingxuan gave Curze a copy of his violent version of the Lunyu to pass to Sanguinius, hoping it would help the Blood Angels cope with their work in the Administratum. Han then set off for Nostramo with Malcador, who eagerly anticipated a vacation.

• Curze returned to Han Mingxuan's home and joked with Malcador about the Blood Angels working at the Administratum.
• Han Mingxuan introduced Curze to his students, Nobira Gulsartu and Renato Gulsartu, then asked him about the Blood Angels.
• Han Mingxuan gave Curze his annotated copy of the Lunyu to pass to Sanguinius if the Blood Angels' work became unbearable.
• Han Mingxuan departed for Nostramo with Malcador, who burned Warp creatures with his Psychic Power during their journey.
• Han Mingxuan reminded Malcador that the Peaceful Star System was largely free of Warp influence, and Malcador declared that Nostramo felt like heaven.

Han Mingxuan visited Hope Primary School on New Nostramo and met its history teacher, who revealed himself as the Perpetual Oll Persson. Oll began explaining that he had come to the planet after sensing changes, leaving Han poised to hear more about the Perpetuals.

• Han Mingxuan and Kamon entered Hope Primary School, where Han stopped to observe Nisaeol teaching history.
• After class, Nisaeol approached Han, praised his teaching, and invited him to discuss New Nostramo.
• Nisaeol told Han that he had returned to his homeland and recognized Terra as Earth, revealing that he was a Perpetual.
• Han identified Nisaeol as Oll Persson, and Oll explained that he had sensed changes years earlier and come to see the blue mother planet.

Oll Persson told Han Mingxuan that the Perpetuals had gathered on Nostramo because New Nostramo restored their lost home, and that they had agreed to protect him. He then gave Han Mingxuan an Obsidian Bracelet containing the complete system of Enuncia, a dangerous power intended to help him survive.

• Oll Persson explained that New Nostramo resembled ancient Earth and had drawn nearly half of the oldest Perpetuals to it.
• Oll Persson told Han Mingxuan that the Perpetuals had unanimously agreed to ensure his safety.
• Oll Persson identified Susan as a former member of humanity's Mystery Cult and Hawk Hasanti as a renowned weaponsmith who had publicly pledged to protect the planet.
• Oll Persson recounted how he and Neoth split over Enuncia after finding its complete system in the Tower of Babel.
• Oll Persson gave Han Mingxuan an Obsidian Bracelet containing Enuncia, which Han Mingxuan doubted would be useful to him.

Han Mingxuan traveled to Solemnace to use his power to awaken the Necrontyr there. His words dissolved the black curse across the Tomb World, and the golden rain fell over the dormant bodies as Trazyn caught him when he nearly collapsed.

• Han Mingxuan met Orikan, who revealed he had become a professor of Cosmic Mysticism and agreed to contact Trazyn about a visit to Solemnace.
• Orikan summoned Imotekh by telling him Han Mingxuan planned to bring new life to the Necrontyr, and Imotekh immediately returned from his expedition.
• Han Mingxuan and his companions arrived at Solemnace, where Trazyn and the assembled Necrons welcomed him and prepared the awakening ritual.
• Orikan recited an ancient prayer, and Han Mingxuan wrote “Come back, souls” in the air with water from Jia’s basin.
• Golden light spread across Solemnace, melted the black curse, and fell as rain over every body; Trazyn steadied Han Mingxuan as he grew dazed.

Han Mingxuan fell asleep after granting souls to many Necrons, and Trazyn awakened the rest of Solemnace’s dormant Necrons. The resulting Echo alarmed the Chaos Gods, and Khorne revealed that his wound from Nuceria had changed him.

• Han Mingxuan struggled to sleep after overdoing his soul-granting, so Trazyn used a magnetic field to put him to sleep.
• Jia warned that the many new souls in the Warp could attract its predators, and Imotekh revealed he had brought an army.
• Trazyn activated Solemnace’s Forced Awakening Protocol, awakening the remaining Necrons and creating a powerful Echo across the Warp.
• The Chaos Gods debated how to respond, and Nurgle urged them to hold back while Tzeentch said Mr. Han made everyone’s destiny impossible to read.
• Slaanesh pointed out Khorne’s fear, and Khorne explained that bringing his true body to Nuceria to protect Angron had changed him and left him with a lingering wound.

Khorne revealed that Sevatar’s wound carried a trace of the authority he had cast aside, linked to Han Mingxuan, and proposed that the gods reclaim their former authorities. Tzeentch rejected the idea and searched his labyrinth for an answer, while the Necrontyr on Solemnace waited through an uneventful night.

• Khorne showed the gods his scar and explained that Sevatar’s strike had left behind a trace of his discarded authority, tied to Han Mingxuan.
• Khorne said the gods might reclaim their former authorities, but Tzeentch accused them of cowardice and insisted there was no hope.
• Nurgle recognized that Tzeentch feared reclaiming the authority of hope most, and the gods left the matter of the Necrontyr aside.
• Khorne regrew his arm, while Tzeentch searched his labyrinth for an answer and rejected the one Han Mingxuan had given.
• On Solemnace, the Necrontyr found that their preparations had been unnecessary, though they were relieved that their people had awakened.

Slaanesh appeared in person on Solemnace and visited the sleeping Han Mingxuan, then returned to the Warp and made a doll from Slaanesh's own flayed skin. Han Mingxuan woke from a nightmare to learn that Slaanesh had said Slaanesh loved him, and he jumped up in shock.

• Trazyn, Imotekh, and their companions detected Slaanesh outside Solemnace and recognized the Warp entity.
• Slaanesh sat beside the sleeping Han Mingxuan, took his hand, kissed it, and hurried away.
• Slaanesh returned to the Warp, endured a beating from an unknown being, and fashioned a doll from Slaanesh's face and hands.
• Han Mingxuan woke after dreaming of a red pig's head trying to kiss him and told Orikan about the nightmare.
• Lao Xin told Han Mingxuan that Futia's sword contained a Slaanesh daemon and that Slaanesh had said Slaanesh loved him.
• Han Mingxuan jumped up in shock at Lao Xin's revelation.

Han Mingxuan visited the mass resurrection site and found the newly awakened Necrontyr overwhelmed by the sensations of being alive. After Jia arranged a new star system for them, Han Mingxuan left Solemnace while Trazyn began awakening and guiding the rest in batches.

• Han Mingxuan learned that the Warp gods could not currently touch him, then went with Trazyn and Imotekh to see the resurrected Necrontyr.
• The newly awakened Necrontyr tasted clothes, apples, and Tomb World walls, and Jia put them all to sleep when the commotion threatened Trazyn's collection.
• Imotekh challenged Han Mingxuan to give the next resurrection slots to the Sautekh Dynasty, and Han agreed.
• Jia offered the Necrontyr a prepared star system with eight habitable planets, where her dynasty had already settled.
• Orikan took Han Mingxuan and the others back to Nostramo, while Trazyn stayed on Solemnace to record the event and organize the Necrontyr's gradual awakening and guidance.

Han Mingxuan checked on Malcador during his vacation, then ran into the Emperor skipping work to fish on Nostramo. The three went to a property sales office so Malcador could look for a home and the Emperor could browse as well.

• Han Mingxuan found Malcador after his sea-fishing trip and learned that Malcador planned to buy a house on Nostramo.
• Malcador and Han Mingxuan met the Emperor, who admitted he was on vacation and had left some Imperium affairs to Sanguinius.
• The Emperor asked Han Mingxuan about Angron, but Han Mingxuan said he was taking Malcador house-hunting.
• Malcador named Roboute Guilliman as his successor, and the Emperor joined them to look at homes.
• Han Mingxuan, Malcador, and the Emperor arrived at a quiet property sales office, where a reservist recognized Han Mingxuan and welcomed them.

Han Mingxuan, the Emperor, and Malcador failed to buy a house after Slazov turned them away for questioning Nostramo’s fairness. Malcador recruited Slazov and nineteen other reservists to fight corruption on Terra, where they would work with the Eighth Legion after undergoing Astartes modification.

• Slazov separated the property listings for Nostramo locals and outsiders, then angrily refused service when Malcador questioned whether the homes were sold fairly.
• After the group left without a house, Malcador asked Han Mingxuan for people to help him fight corruption on Terra, and Han agreed to provide twenty.
• Malcador chose Slazov and requested reservists like him, warning that their crackdown would cause many deaths.
• Han Mingxuan gave the twenty reservists secret orders to fight corruption on Terra and coordinate with the Eighth Legion through Sevatar and Curze.
• When Malcador’s vacation ended, he told the reservists they would undergo Astartes modification before beginning their work.

Twenty Nostramo judges received Gene-seed and joined the Eighth Legion, where Slazov tested their combat skills and formed the Evernight Reserve. Slazov prepared them to fight corruption on Terra, while Malcador ordered Sanguinius to support the campaign.

• Archmagos Herbert successfully implanted Gene-seed in twenty Nostramo recruits, and Curze and the Council of the Long Night guarded the surgery.
• Sevatar introduced the recruits to the Eighth Legion, and Slazov challenged its fighters to prove the newcomers' worth.
• Slazov defeated Laxus and Weiss, then assigned five hundred Centurion-level fighters to the Evernight Reserve and left the rest as Enforcers.
• Slazov ordered the reserve to gather evidence and fight corruption on Terra under the Evernight Code and the Red-Black Ledger.
• Malcador insisted that fighting corruption was imperative, and Sanguinius objected that the campaign would endanger his Scions and the Imperium's stability.
• Malcador told Sanguinius that he would become the Head of the Vermin if he refused to support the campaign.

Malcador argued with Sanguinius over the Blood Angels being made to handle administrative work, while Curze proposed a combat test to sort the Legion between the front lines and rear duties. After Sanguinius accepted the plan, Curze left to support the White Scars and agreed to let Sandamel join the mission for one high-speed run.

• Dante prepared the Blood Angels to leave for war as Sanguinius argued that Malcador had broken their agreement by assigning the Legion to paperwork.
• Curze returned from vacation, offered Sanguinius fruit, and suggested assigning administrative work to the weakest fighters while sending the strongest to the front.
• Malcador agreed that corruption had to be rooted out, and Sanguinius ordered Dante to prepare a Decimation test for the Blood Angels.
• Curze gave Sanguinius a combat-training method and left with Sevatar to support the White Scars.
• Sandamel asked to join the mission, and Curze allowed him to speed once.

Sevatar sensed danger as Sandamel led the Eighth Legion’s supply convoy to the White Scars at extraordinary speed. After Curze joined the Khan’s victory feast, the Khan persuaded Sandamel to take the flagship for a race, leaving Sevatar trying to stop him.

• Sevatar warned Curze that he had a bad feeling, but Curze trusted the Night Haunter and sent the Eighth Legion’s convoy onward with Sandamel at the helm.
• The White Scars finished their battle, and the Khan learned that Curze had sent supplies and reinforcements through the Department of General Affairs.
• Sandamel’s convoy reached the White Scars in fewer than five days, astonishing the Khan with the Nightfall’s speed.
• Curze declined the Khan’s invitation to race, but invited him to meet Sandamel after the White Scars offered Curze a place at their victory feast.
• The Khan proposed driving the flagship, and Sandamel’s excitement surged despite his promise to speed only once, while Sevatar tried to restrain him.