The Astra Militarum's defensive lines were fracturing, and the supporting Space Marine ranks were thinning fast. Fortunately, Zeke's commitment had arrived.
The Ten Thousand Strong Custodes Regiment, spearheaded by three colossal Star-Whisper Battlesuits that formed their core, materialized instantly, no lengthy orbital deployment needed.
Blinding golden psychic lightning tore through the combined Chaos and Ork hordes. On the Astra Militarum's shattered line, the Custodes appeared, firm and unyielding.
"Protect the Emperor!" was their silent psychic battle cry.
They unleashed continental-shattering energy, vaporizing the enemy before them. Their Guardian Spears swept in arcs, creating massive attack ripples that annihilated greenskins and common Chaos cultists alike.
The Astra Militarum soldiers stared, dumbfounded, at the golden-armored giants. Not everyone recognized them, but the Space Marines did. They realized these were the legendary Custodes Astartes.
But there was a jarring difference: their heraldry. Instead of the Imperial Aquila, each golden pauldron bore the Terran Dominion's red-backed, single-headed eagle.
This cannot be disloyalty, the Space Marines concluded. Perhaps the Emperor has issued a new decree? After all, the Custodes had changed their cloaks to black, and recently even ventured beyond the Sol System. Nothing they did could surprise the Astartes—except treachery.
Then came the second, greater shock: the sheer number. The entire ten thousand-strong regiment seemed to be present. Was this truly the Emperor's own force?
But as the Custodes unleashed their power, destroying units wholesale, the Space Marines were truly stunned.
The Custodes were using psychic power.
The Legio Custodes were famously resistant to the Warp, and psychic support was typically provided by external Librarians. The sight of a Custodian initiating a psychic attack was unheard of.
A monstrous Khorne Daemon roared, charging the formation, its great axe burning with the Blood God's rage. The leading Custodian Squad Leader simply raised a palm. A bolt of pure, coruscating golden energy instantly pierced the Daemon's essence, obliterating it.
"This is impossible... how can the Custodes use psychic power?!" an Ultramarines Librarian whispered in horror.
Yet the truth was undeniable: these Custodes not only wielded the power, but their ability far surpassed that of most Imperial Psykers. A mere psychic shockwave kicked out by one of them annihilated tens of thousands of enemy troops.
The Custodes then locked down the perimeter. Powerful Dark Energy Shields, projected from their ranks and amplified by the Star-Whisper Suits, interlocked to form a massive defensive dome. This field enveloped the entire battlefield, perfectly blocking incoming corruption and hostile Warp energy.
Though such protection was incredibly energy-intensive, the Star-Whisper Battlesuits' dark energy cores provided a virtually limitless supply. The Astra Militarum, seeing this raw, overwhelming power, finally felt hope surge through their ranks. The Death Korps of Krieg silently loaded ammunition, and the Cadian Shock Troops gripped their weapons, their morale soaring.
True reinforcements had arrived.
However, the Chaos Gods would not concede. The Warp rift widened again. More and more endless Warp spawn, Daemons, and Daemon Princes poured forth.
The Four Ruinous Powers, having witnessed the Custodes' effectiveness during the Siege of Terra, were stunned only for a moment before deciding to commit every force available. Even Nurgle disgorged his lesser entities from his toxic Garden to flood the battlefield. They intended to drown Zeke's forces in sheer numbers.
The Emperor, who had chosen to remain on the Golden Throne to observe the unfolding events, watched with concern. He felt the immense power radiating from Zeke's Custodes—they were far stronger than his own—but the adage of "ants killing an elephant" still applied.
Cadia was now so saturated with Warp energy that it was virtually indistinguishable from the Immaterium itself, allowing the Chaos armies to manifest without hindrance and boosting their combat strength exponentially. He estimated that even Zeke's elite Custodes would be hard-pressed to contend with this endless tide.
"Is now the moment?" the Emperor asked Zeke, who stood beside him in the psychic realm. "The Four Gods are emptying their coffers. Why wait until they've depleted yours further?"
Zeke shook his head, his eyes burning with cold calculation. "Patience. Let my forces exact a toll. This is an energy sink for them. I want these initial assaults to shatter against my defense, draining their strength before we engage."
"These guys are coming for me; they want to drain all my energy. If that's the case, they shouldn't expect an easy time. I might get bruised, but they must be left wailing and shattered on a sickbed."
Zeke's intent was lethal. These Gods had gone too far. He had merely freed the Emperor for five hours, burned Nurgle's garden, and stabbed Tzeentch. They dared to retaliate with an entire Black Crusade. Outrageous!
"Alright, I'll follow your arrangement," the Emperor conceded. "When you require my action, simply reinforce the seal beneath my throne, and I will fight alongside you."
This was his 'little brother's' business, and his immediate action depended entirely on Zeke's ability to provide him with freedom. Following Zeke's instincts was the wisest course. This battle was inevitable, and when the time came, he would rise and hack away at those four infuriating entities. He had waited ten millennia for this moment.