A spear, burning with pale golden flames, was thrown from Alexander's hand, cutting a sharp straight line through the air, piercing through the Illithid's crown-like chitinous carapace as if cutting tofu, and impaling its large, exposed brain.
Alexander instinctively flapped the wings behind him, like a swooping falcon, stepping on the Illithid's head and forcefully pulling out the spear, which was condensed from scorching psychic energy. Blood and brain matter gushed out.
The Illithid let out a sharp wail, and a powerful psychic shriek was released with its death.
This uncontrolled psychic power spread through the Tyranid's connections, and very quickly, psychic flames erupted from the brainbugs floating around the Illithid.
Without the Illithid, they could no longer restrain their own psychic energy, and their own Warp power set their heads ablaze.
Other lower-level Tyranid, who relied on the wisdom of the Illithid and brainbugs, also wailed.
The spreading psychic shriek ignited the nerves of these Tyranid, and most of them convulsed and fell to the ground.
Only a few remaining Tyrant Guards and the hive Tyrant itself still stood, staring intently at Alexander, who had pure white wings and was stepping on the Illithid's head.
Alexander, while stuffing the daemons on the ground into his four-dimensional pocket, stared fixedly at the hive Tyrant.
In his eyes, the hive Tyrant's figure became somewhat blurry. Its chitin-covered head seemed to turn into a shining bald head, and its entire carapace transformed into power armor inlaid with the Eye of Horus.
He was as massive as a giant. Horus, The Deceiver Horus, traitor Horus, his brother Horus.
Tyrant Guards—no, Horus' Sons—guarded their blasphemous father.
Was this Ashford or the Vengeful Spirit?
Alexander couldn't tell.
He only knew that he would vibrate his wings and make his final flight—
Alexander's figure arrived next to the hive Tyrant in a blink of an eye, his burning eyes filled with deep darkness.
"Horus!!!!"
Alexander roared, and the flaming spear in his hand slashed down in an instant.
The Horus' Sons in power armor blocked his path.
But they were instantly pierced through by the Spear of Accomplishment. The hard ceramite power armor was like paper, and their bodies, blessed by the Chaos Gods, were so vulnerable.
Alexander watched as five Horus' Sons—no, five Tyrant Guards—were instantly cut into pieces by him.
The hive Tyrant let out a near-terrified roar, frantically swinging the tentacle whip and bone greatsword in its hands.
Alexander looked at the Worldbreaker and Horus' Claw attacking him, letting out a roar filled with anger.
Kill!!!!
The spear instantly shattered the hive Tyrant's bone greatsword, while the tentacle whip was caught by Alexander with one hand.
"Horus!!!"
Alexander raised the spear high in his hand—
Slash!!!!
The spear instantly chopped off the hive Tyrant's arm that held the tentacle whip.
Alexander proudly looked down at Horus, whose arm had been severed, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
How could Horus be so weak?
Thinking this, Alexander swung the spear down again.
The hive Tyrant hastily dodged, but the arm holding the bone greatsword was also severed at the shoulder.
"Roar!!!"
All four of its remaining limbs touched the ground, and it unhesitatingly rushed into the ruins.
"Horus!!!!!"
Alexander's roar was almost like a blood-soaked beast's.
He again raised the spear high in his hand, looking at Horus, who was fleeing in a panic.
"My brother! Are you truly so cowardly?!"
"Brother! Don't run!!!"
The spear transformed into a burning streak of fire, piercing diagonally into the Tyrant's body, pinning it firmly in place.
"Ha!!!"
Alexander let out a nearly joyful roar, his wings vibrating. In an instant, he was stepping on the Tyrant's back.
The wings behind him burned fiercely, turning into fire and dissipating.
Horus was firmly pinned under his feet.
No—
Alexander paused for a moment.
I am not Sanguinius, I am Doraemon.
No, I am Alexandora. No, no, no, it's Dora Alexander, that's not right either, I am Alexander.
Forget it, I can't tell!
Alexander discarded the jumbled thoughts in his head.
He only knew that he had to kill this Horus or hive Tyrant in front of him; he had to stuff it into his four-dimensional pocket.
Alexander grabbed the Tyrant's body, intending to drag it towards the four-dimensional pocket on his stomach.
The hive Tyrant struggled, trying to escape. It understood that if it were dragged in, it wouldn't even have a chance to return to the hive mind and be resurrected.
The complete death of an experienced Tyrant was a huge loss for the hive mind.
The hive Tyrant raised its only two remaining arms, picked up its bio-cannon, and aimed it at its own head.
Bang!!!!
Blood splattered, and the hive Tyrant's head shattered into bloody chunks.
"Damn it." Watching this scene, Sanguinius' mouth twitched slightly as it said, "You forced the hive Tyrant to commit suicide."
"Your Black Rage symptoms… how are they worse than my sons'? It shouldn't be, logically speaking."
Alexander dragged the hive Tyrant's remains into his four-dimensional pocket, turning his head to look at Sanguinius.
"Holy crap, Horus, why do you have wings too?!"
"Emperor, hurry! There's a winged Horus here!"
Sanguinius' mouth hung open, speechless for a moment.
"So you're telling me I have Black Rage?"
In a civilian house in the Upper hive, which the Astra Militarum had made their new stronghold.
Alexander looked at Sanguinius with a bewildered expression.
Now, the white light surrounding his body was mixed with some strange blue, and he himself had become translucent.
"Similar to Black Rage. Ha, someone even called me a winged Horus."
Sanguinius said with deep resentment:
"You absorbed that part of my power, which is equivalent to absorbing a small piece of me. It's normal to have illusions similar to Black Rage."
"But you don't need to worry too much. That part of my power has been exhausted, and your own Warp essence is so stable that it won't be affected by it."
Alexander only vaguely remembered that he had instinctively mobilized the part of his power that had seeped into reality.
Then, the scene in front of him began to blur slightly. The Tyranid seemed to turn into Horus' Sons and daemons entrenched in the Vengeful Spirit.
And the hive Tyrant commanding them… had turned into a four-armed Horus.
Alexander couldn't quite recall what happened next.
He glanced into his four-dimensional pocket.
[Item Name: Brainbug Subspecies - Illithid]
[Origin: Nether Shield Star System - Ashford Star - Tyranid Hatchery]
[Description: A powerful psychic unit manufactured by the Tyranid. Possesses Alpha-level psychic power. It is the leader of the brainbugs, responsible for helping them control their psychic powers. Tastes pungent and salty, neutral in nature, dispels wind and relieves spasms, dissolves phlegm and dissipates masses. Main indications: stroke, epilepsy, headache. Not suitable for consumption.]
[Production Time: 998.M41]
[Status: No gifts this holiday, only brainbug Gold!]
[Value: 1,300,000]
[Item Name: Hive Tyrant]
[Origin: Nether Shield Star System - Ashford Star - Tyranid Hatchery]
[Description: One of the most elite units in the Tyranid, a commander within the Tyranid. Only produced when the Tyranid encounter an enemy that must be decapitated. Possesses extreme intelligence and autonomy, each one is an experienced master of combat. Tastes salty, cold in nature, has effects of clearing heat, dissipating masses, and nourishing the liver and kidneys.]
[Production Time: 998.M41]
[Status: Senior ]
[Value: 1,700,000]
But it seemed he had indeed dealt with the brainbug and the Tyrant. Although he didn't capture the Tyrant alive, allowing its consciousness to escape.
Alexander's savings also reached ten million and fifty, just over a million short of the anywhere door.
It was almost time.
"My sons are also about to arrive in the Netherworld Star System," said Sanguinius.
Its figure was as translucent as a thin veil, hanging at the corner of Alexander's eye.
"Infiltrating the real universe is always so exhausting. I'm sorry, but I might not be able to offer you much more help after this."
"When the Tyranid begin to engage my sons, the battlefield there will need my presence more."
"By then, I might be unable to communicate with you like this for a long time."
Alexander nodded slightly, indicating understanding.
It was almost time for him to leave the front lines of the fight against the Tyranid.
His next goal was to exchange for the item that could resurrect Sanguinius.
Alexander slowly walked out of the room and towards the Astra Militarum's position outside.
The few remaining Cadia soldiers had tired and pained expressions, a lingering effect of the brainbug attack.
Even resilient Cadia soldiers developed cracks in their minds after suffering psychic attacks from the brainbug.
As Alexander walked out of the room, the Cadia soldiers around him had expressions of reverence or awe, and some even bowed their heads in prayer towards Alexander.
Some even kept staring at Alexander's back, as if wanting to see if there was a pair of wings there.
Even Reyna, standing not far away, looked at Alexander with a hint of awe.
"A pathetic thick barrier has formed between us," Alexander said with a mournful tone.
"Is that my fault?!" Reyna's tattoo of the Holy Word Records twitched a few times.
"You suddenly grew wings behind you, then claimed to be Sanguinius himself and told me to bow to you."
"Then you mumbled about Horus, brothers, Vengeful Spirit, and such, and in a few moves, you whittled the hive Tyrant down to a stick, even scaring it into committing suicide on the spot. Who wouldn't shiver after seeing that?"
At this point, Reyna paused, then couldn't help but ask:
"You—you're not really—"
"Yes, I am Sanguinius himself. Hurry and bow to me," Alexander said, spreading his arms.
"I just received a communication. Chapter Master Dante's flagship has entered the Netherworld Star System."
Reyna said, her mouth twitching:
"Do you want to say that to his face?"
"I can't help but hear the sound of a Bolter being cocked," Alexander said, his mouth twitching slightly.
For now, he had no intention of meeting with Lord Dante.
If Alexander were to directly tell Lord Dante that he intended to resurrect Sanguinius,
not only might he be targeted by some blasphemous entities in the Warp, but that statement alone would be enough to give any Astartes familiar with 30k history instant PTSD.
Back then, the Horus' Sons had sent Horus into Davine's temple in an attempt to save their genetic father, leading to his corruption by Chaos.
Even Belisarius Cawl, an Archmagos, had researched how to resurrect Guilliman alone, only revealing his purpose upon reaching Guilliman's Static Field.
Moreover, Alexander would have a harder time gaining the trust of the Astartes than Belisarius Cawl.
Cawl was at least an Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus; Alexander...
Alexander had grown "blue-glowing wings" in front of the Astra Militarum.
Just knowing that much would be enough for the Blood Angels to unleash their Bolters.
"Blue," "wings," and "resurrect Primarch" — these words together were simply too sensitive.
"Are you leaving?" Reyna asked, looking at Alexander with some concern.
Alexander had told her before that he would leave when the Astra Militarum's battle reached its final stages.
Now, that time had come.
After enduring successive attacks from Tyranid swarms, Behemoths, and Neurothropes, few of the Cadians who had followed General Drost to Ashford remained.
The entirety of Ashford had almost become a graveyard for the Cadians.
And the remaining Cadian warriors, having experienced the Neurothropes' psychic attacks, now had cracks in their will, and their combat effectiveness was far from what it once was.
The Upper hive was inevitably indefensible; they had to further tighten their lines, using the Top hive's starport as their final stronghold.
Reyna was silent for a moment.
She didn't say anything about wanting to go with Alexander.
In this galaxy, from the Emperor to the humblest worker, everyone had their own duty.
Reyna's duty was to command the remaining Ark Gang members and assist the Ashford residents and Astra Militarum in their evacuation.
This duty was heavy, and she could not abandon it.
Alexander also didn't want to take her with him, as the Truth and Falsehood Divination Machine only guaranteed his own safety.
"May the Emperor protect, may Sanguinius protect," Reyna said, placing her hand on her chest and giving Alexander an aquila salute.
Alexander nodded slightly, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Next time, I'll buy you melon seeds."
Before Reyna could react, Alexander walked towards the exit of the Astra Militarum stronghold.
He saw General Drost sitting there.
General Drost now looked more like an old general over a hundred years old.
The aging that had been suppressed by rejuvenation surgery had now erupted all at once on General Drost's grey, wrinkled face.
Alexander looked at General Drost, their eyes meeting.
In General Drost's eyes, in his will, there was a grotesque wound.
It was a trauma caused by the Neurothrope, tearing at General Drost's will and soul.
General Drost now resembled a ghost from the past, bearing no resemblance to the resolute general he once was.
But Alexander could vaguely tell that even the powerful psychic abilities of the Neurothropes had not completely broken this old general.
He was still holding on, even with his soul and will shattered, he was still holding on.
"Thank you," General Drost said, simply nodding at Alexander without further words.
Alexander, however, stopped in front of General Drost.
"If you return to Cadia, remember to tell Kreed, Lord of the Fortress to be careful that Abaddon doesn't play fair and just drops the Blackstone Fortress."
"Oh, and if you see Abaddon himself, remember to tell him that the age of the Primarchs isn't over yet."
Listening to Alexander's words, General Drost was momentarily stunned.
But before he could ask further, Alexander's figure had already vanished at the entrance of the stronghold.
The pitch-black void was torn by a crimson light.
The Blood Angels' flagship, the Avenging Blade, traversed the dark Warp Shadow and pierced into the Netherworld Star System.
More warships followed the Avenging Blade, jumping into reality.
The moment they entered the star system, the weapon arrays on their ships roared, announcing their arrival.
This was because the Tyranid bio-warships entrenched in the Netherworld Star System were displeased by those who disturbed their feeding.
Enemy fire stirred up ripples on the Void Shields.
The Blood Angels' artillery also tore through the Tyranid's chitinous carapaces.
Dante stood on the wide observation deck, gazing at the scene before him.
The Imperial Navy was no more; Dante could occasionally see their burning wreckage drifting through the starry sky.
The defenders within the Ringworld were also silent; their resistance seemed to have completely ended.
The Leviathan's bio-warships filled the entire star system like locusts; even the light of the two blasphemous twin stars seemed to have dimmed slightly.
In just three days, the shadow of the Leviathan had covered the entire star system.
However, Dante knew that the Astra Militarum and Battle Sisters who had arrived in the system earlier were still resisting on the ground.
On Lexio, High Sister Magda was still leading the local nomads in battle.
And on Ashford, the battle situation on Ashford had exceeded Dante's expectations.
Local gangs and the Astra Militarum had joined forces, actually blocking the Tyranid swarm in the Lower Nest.
A large number of local residents were thus able to survive and were being sent to Melos Port in the Top hive.
Dante knew what he had to do.
Rescue survivors as much as possible, prevent the Tyranid swarm from gaining large amounts of biomass, and ideally find a way to inflict damage on the Tyranids in the Netherworld Star System to reduce the future pressure on Baal.
But this was very difficult.
And besides that,
his Blood Priests—the apothecaries unique to the Blood Angels—had brought Dante a possibility.
According to Chief Blood Priest Corbulo,
governor Augustus Flax on Ashford Star might hold the key to curing the Bloodthirst and the Black Rage.
The Flax family's genes seemed to have undergone a unique mutation under the illumination of the crimson twin stars, allowing them to overcome illusions and discern falsehoods.
And this ability had reached its peak in Augustus Flax.
Chief Blood Priest Corbulo believed this could help the Blood Angels overcome their twin afflictions.
Chapter Master Gabriel Seth of the Flesh Tearers, a successor chapter that arrived in the Netherworld Star System with the Blood Angels, scoffed at this.
This successor chapter of the Blood Angels was heavily affected by the Red Thirst and the Black Rage, and now no longer believed it could be overcome.
But Dante had to hold onto hope.
He himself felt the allure of the Bloodthirst and the Black Rage at all times; he knew this was by no means a gift from their genetic father, nor should it be the destiny of the Blood Angels' descendants.
"My Lord."
Captain Kaelen, First Company Captain of the Blood Angels, wearing Terminator power armor, stood behind Dante.
This power armor, forged from blood-red ceramite, contrasted with the golden armor Dante wore.
Especially since Kaelen wore no helmet, while Dante wore a golden mask sculpted with the face of Sanguinius.
Kaelen knelt before Dante—
"Dispense with it!" Dante interrupted Kaelen's salute: "I am not in the mood."
Dante turned his head; he could also sense a slight emotion in Kaelen's heart.
This emotion was because the first wave of assault troops was landing on the city of Verdian on Ashford Star.
As First Company Captain, Kaelen should have overseen the mission to land on the planetary capital.
This was his duty and the honor he rightfully deserved.
"You are still part of the vanguard."
Dante patted Kaelen's Terminator power armor shoulder.
On his shoulder pad was a pure white Terminator cross.
It was said that the Emperor's own Terminator power armor was shattered in the battle where the Archangel died,
and those fragments were embedded in every Terminator cross, just like the one on Kaelen's shoulder.
May the Emperor protect, Dante thought.
If what Mephiston saw was true, then we truly need the Emperor's protection.
"Your objective is still Verdian city, but the mission is different," Dante said, carefully choosing his words.
"Augustus Flax, our Blood Priest tells me… he is useful to us."
Upon hearing the words "Blood Priest," Kaelen immediately showed an expression of understanding.
What the Blood Priests sought was no secret, but Kaelen clearly had doubts; did that governor truly still live?
Dante was certain he was alive; this came from Mephiston's divination.
But the divination also indicated that two other forces were approaching governor Augustus Flax.
"Bring him back, or his descendants, his remains, or even blood samples will suffice," Dante said.
"Speed is of the essence, brother; you will proceed directly to Verdian city via teleportation technology."
"As you wish, My Lord," Captain Kaelen humbly bowed his head and said.
Dante nodded slightly; this operation was entirely secret, and he had avoided all factors that could expose it.
Hopefully, Captain Kaelen and his Terminator brothers would successfully find Augustus Flax before the other two unknown forces discovered him.
"My son is coming soon," Sanguinius said to Alexander.
"It's the elite Terminators of the First Company, led personally by Captain Kaelen."
"If you don't hurry, they'll get there first."
Alexander stood on Praetorian Street, near the governor's Palace, looking out over Verdian city.
As the Astra Militarum began to withdraw, the Tyranid swarm further encroached upon the city.
Countless small organisms crawled through the city, devouring everything within.
Spore chimneys erupted from the backs of Tyranid Behemoths, and toxic crimson smoke enveloped the entire city; grotesque Tyranid capillary towers, like towering beanstalks from a fairy tale, reached to the clouds.
Only, they led to Tyranid bio-ships, not golden-egg-laying geese.
"You just sold out your son's movements like that?" Alexander asked teasingly.
"Because Augustus Flax cannot cure the Bloodthirst or the Black Rage. If the Bloodthirst could be easily cured, I would have succeeded in 30k."
"And the Black Rage… the causes of the Black Rage are extremely complex."
Listening to the words of Sanguinius, Alexander nodded gently, then released the divining staff in his hand.
"Augustus Flax," Alexander murmured softly.
"..Card number one, the Emperor."
Sister Adelaide watched the Lower Nest girl named Ereite draw a card from a deck of exquisite emperor tarot belonging to the Order of the Sacred Rose.
The young girl was discovered by Adeleide among the Lower Nest refugees.
The girl was involuntarily using her psyker abilities to tell fortunes for others.
Adeleide knew that many people are born with a certain degree of psyker talent, only it is so faint that most people may never notice it in their lifetime.
This young girl named Ereite was one of them; she possessed some psyker talent, especially in fortune-telling.
After Adeleide confirmed the girl's loyalty and was certain she had only used the emperor tarot for divination, she took her in as her attendant.
Ereite, this scrawny Lower Nest girl, had a deeper understanding of the emperor tarot than many specialized diviners, and she was pure and loyal.
Most Battle Sisters felt disgust towards psyker,
but Ereite's psyker power was not strong enough to be repulsive, and the Order of the Sacred Rose was relatively gentle and practical.
So Adeleide ordered the young girl to guide the refugee team and help them evade the increasing numbers of Tyranid.
"The Emperor card indicates that hope still exists in the cold darkness."
Inside a house in the Upper hive where the refugees were hiding, Ereite whispered to Adeleide.
Hope still exists?
Adeleide silently looked out the window, where some lower-level Tyranid were wandering the streets.
Their team also had thirteen Battle Sisters and twenty-six Novitiates.
If they didn't encounter more dangerous enemies, they could protect this group of refugees to Melos Port.
That would be Ashford's last safe haven.
When General Drost ordered the Astra Militarum to begin evacuating, the refugees protected by the Battle Sisters also began to move towards Melos Port.
Following the book 'an ogryn's guide to Tyranid biology' written by Alexander and General Drost's judgment,
the Astra Militarum and the refugees were split into small units, evacuating in batches and in different directions.
This was because large gatherings of people were a rich feast for the Tyranid, likely to attract concentrated attacks from the Tyranid.
Conversely, small units were less likely to attract the Tyranid's attention and were therefore safer.
Adeleide looked at the sparse Tyranid outside the window.
At least the road ahead was safe, but there was a corner at the end of the street that turned in another direction.
Adeleide worried that they might encounter an ambush there.
And Adeleide was protecting an important individual; she dared not take too many risks.
Adeleide looked at the delicate Saint Girl in the arms of the Novitiate beside her.
The Saint Girl had dry blonde hair, tightly closed eyes, small freckles on her face, and shallow burn scars all over her body, exuding a simple sense of purity.
Joan, the child's name was Joan.
Adeleide thought with a heavy heart.
In the story told by Lord Alexander, this child was a Saint Girl chosen by the Emperor.
Adeleide found it somewhat hard to believe, but instinctively felt that Alexander was not lying.
Regardless of whether this Saint Girl was truly divine, Adeleide had promised Alexander, in the Emperor's name, that she would protect her.
But staying here indefinitely was not an option; eventually, they would have to risk moving forward.
Adeleide glanced at the emperor tarot card.
The tarot card depicted the Emperor seated on the Golden Throne, His empty eyes gazing at Adeleide.
Looking at the Emperor's face, Adeleide felt inexplicably at ease.
She performed a gentle aquila salute and nodded lightly to her Battle Sister comrades beside her.
Under the protection of the Battle Sisters, the refugees quickly poured out of their hiding place.
The lower-level Tyranid around them immediately turned their greedy, crimson eyes towards them.
The sound of bolter fire echoed, and a Hormagaunt attempting to pounce was shattered into fragments by Adeleide's bolter.
"Flamers!!!"
At Adeleide's command, Battle Sisters armed with promethium flamers moved to the front of the queue.
The scorching promethium flames formed a roaring inferno, incinerating the Tyranid attempting to intercept the refugee team.
"Advance!" Adeleide pointed to the corner ahead.
The refugee team began to run under the Battle Sisters' protection.
Yes, at this speed, they would definitely reach Melos Port today.
Adeleide thought to herself.
Suddenly, she noticed that the ground's tremor was somewhat unnatural.
The sound of claws tearing through the air rang out, and four sharp, long blades stabbed towards the refugee team.
"You wish!!!"
Adeleide roared, snatching up her bolter and firing.
Bolter rounds roared, colliding with the four sharp blades, creating a shower of sparks.
Adeleide then raised her Chainsword high, clashing with the four biological blades.
Sparks flew in the air for a moment, and the giant beast quickly shifted its body, forcefully pushing Adeleide back.
Adeleide was thus able to see the full form of the giant beast.
It was a giant beast, seven or eight meters tall, with four sharp, long blades, and its entire body covered in hard chitinous armor.
Screamer-Killer!!!
Adeleide's eyes widened suddenly; it was a Screamer-Killer!!
The most vicious and terrifying of the Tyranid Executioner subspecies!
The Screamer-Killer quickly put distance between itself and the refugee team.
This was certainly not because it intended to let the refugee team go, but rather—
Screeeeech...
A sharp, hideous roar, like surging electricity, emanated from the Screamer-Killer's mouth.
Chilling and terrifying.
"Disperse the formation!!!!" Adeleide roared loudly.
She knew what that sound portended; she had read about it in the book 'an ogryn's guide to Tyranid biology' written by Alexander.
Bio-plasma, bio-plasma powerful enough to easily destroy Dreadnought armor.
Adeleide discarded the bolter in her hand; she knew it could not inflict effective damage on the Screamer-Killer.
She gripped her Chainsword tightly, moving through the refugees who were frantically fleeing to either side.
Adeleide vaguely saw electrical light gathering in the Screamer-Killer's mouth.
She wondered whether death or victory would reach her first.
She seemed to hear the Novitiates beside her exclaiming something, but at this moment, Adeleide's eyes only saw the Screamer-Killer.
She raised her Chainsword high and lunged at the Screamer-Killer.
And the plasma from the Screamer-Killer's mouth also spewed forth.
Soft footsteps sounded.
Adeleide's body stopped in mid-air.
The bio-plasma also stopped in mid-air.
Time stood still, atoms hung in the air, the flames of bolter fire paused, blood arced through the air.
Everything was like a stage with the pause button pressed.
Adeleide stared dumbfounded as the Saint Girl with dry blonde hair slowly walked past her.
Flames burned in the Saint Girl's eyes, and scorching light ignited her hair, forming an arc behind her head.
Adeleide looked at her, feeling her throat dry and choked.
Joan, it was the girl named Joan.
Joan slowly extended her finger and gently pointed towards the Screamer-Killer.
The Screamer-Killer seemed to ignite from an atomic level, turning into ashes and dissipating in the blink of an eye.
"By the Emperor," Adeleide murmured softly.
She watched Joan's body sway a few times, then fall to the ground.
Time then began to flow again.
An ocean of chitin covered the entire Ashford, and colossal capillary spires rose from the earth, like giant trees from a demonic realm.
Beneath the capillary spires were bubbling pools of biomass, with viscous biomass churning within them.
Smaller Tyranid threw the biomass collected from the entire planet into them.
General Drost stood on a high point in Melos Port, looking down at Fadia city, feeling only sorrow.
This was the graveyard of the Ashfordians, and also the graveyard of the Cadians.
Of three million Cadians, now only less than a mere 130,000 remained standing in Melos Port.
More than two million Cadians had fallen on the battlefield.
Now all the survivors on Ashford were gathered at this Melos Port.
The Tyranid also followed, but fortunately, General Drost had dug a moat around the airport in advance, filled it with promethium, and set it ablaze with a fierce fire.
The fiercely burning flames temporarily formed a city wall, protecting the survivors within.
But General Drost knew this would not last long.
He touched his stubble, which he hadn't shaved in a long time, his face full of fatigue and pain.
Since Alexander left, the communication equipment carried by the Astra Militarum was once again affected by the Warp Engine, making it almost unusable.
General Drost wondered if he could hold out until reinforcements arrived—
The sound of fierce fire scorching the atmosphere rang out, and General Drost suddenly looked up.
Astartes drop pods descended like a sky full of fiery rain, tearing through the crimson clouds.
On the outskirts of the governor's Palace, next to a collapsed Emperor statue,
the monster named Hellworm gripped the statue tightly with its four arms, stood up, and gazed at the sky full of fiery rain.
The song of the hive mind echoed beside it, an eternal song of billions of years, a grand symphony of consumption and survival, of magnificent design and myriad Weird.
The symphony was calling the Hellworm, but it suddenly snorted, resisting the call of the hive mind.
Not yet. Not yet. It still had an old grudge to settle.
The Hellworm swayed its body, and in a blink of an eye, disappeared into the shadows of the palace, leaving no trace.
Alexander stood on a nearby high tower, glanced at the staff pointing at the Hellworm, then turned his gaze to the sky.
Drop pods carrying the Blood Angels were descending; the Emperor's Death Angels had arrived at Ashford.
"Wow, this is truly a ghoul—oh no, an angel descending to my side," Alexander exclaimed involuntarily.
"You really deserve to die, you truly deserve to die," Sanguinius said through gritted teeth.
The roar of the Storm Bolter echoed through the air.
The governor's palace was shrouded in shadows, with only the muzzle flashes providing momentary illumination.
genestealer, seemingly endless, swarmed out of the palace's shadows, Pounce twenty Blood Angels Astartes of the Holy Blood Angels First Company, clad in Terminator Power Armor.
Captain Calian swung Baal's Wrath, heavily crushing a Pureblood genestealer that lunged at him.
Amidst the roaring energy field of the heavy hammer, the Pureblood Genestealers head burst into a thick pulp.
This master-crafted power hammer, named Baal's Wrath, was one of the Blood Angels' holy relics, meticulously forged by master craftsmen a thousand years ago, and personally bestowed upon him, the First Captain, by Dante.
The energy field accumulated within the heavy hammer surged out, transforming into sputtering blue arcs of electricity, pulverizing another death-defying Pureblood genestealer that attempted to approach him into charred, rotten flesh.
But at that moment, a sharp claw suddenly lunged at Captain Calian from his rear-left—
"Captain!!!"
The roar of a chainfist erupted, as Avery, a Terminator warrior guarding Captain Calian, slammed his chainfist into the face of the Pureblood genestealer attempting the sneak attack.
The chainfist whirred, tearing the Pureblood genestealer in half.
Captain Calian nodded at Avery, expressing his gratitude.
Terminator Power Armor was sturdy and reliable, but based on Captain Calian's experience, some Pureblood genestealers' claws could even cut through tank armor; compared to that, a Terminator might seem as delicate as silk.
"Maybe their claws have a disintegration field!"
Avery, as if knowing what Captain Calian was thinking, said jokingly.
"Do you think these mad bugs look like they have civilization?" asked Bartholomew, who was guarding Captain Calian on his other side, wielding a flamer.
As he spoke, he adjusted the flamer's nozzle, and scorching flames incinerated the approaching Tyranid into ash.
The alien turned into a pillar of fire, dying with a scream.
"Xenos! Die in the Emperor's and Sanguinius' flames!!!" Bartholomew roared.
Hearing this, Calian and Avery couldn't help but smile.
"Look, they look like they've been waiting to welcome us!"
Avery continued to joke:
"What thoughtful xenos, they probably even set up a welcoming committee for us!"
"Only civilized races provide such thorough service! Don't you agree, Bartholomew?"
In response to Avery's question, Bartholomew's only reply was even hotter flames: "Sorry, brother, I'm busy carrying out the Emperor's will! No time for your nonsense!"
The sound of the Storm Bolter rang out, covering Captain Calian as he used Baal's Wrath to crush the surrounding genestealer into a bloody pulp.
Captain Calian felt some irritation.
Although they had just made many jokes, their situation was not good.
There were too many genestealer; Avery was right, they were deliberately waiting for them here.
Ever since teleporting into the governor's palace, Captain Calian had felt uncomfortable, as if a pair of eyes... perhaps more than one pair, were watching him from the shadows, observing him.
The flickering gaze was sometimes full of hostility, sometimes full of patience.
This sent shivers down Captain Calian's spine.
"Too many!!" Avery roared, his roaring power fist tearing open the head of another Pureblood genestealer: "Have all the genestealer on this planet come to welcome us?!"
"More alien scum! More loyalty to the Emperor and Sanguinius!" Bartholomew roared with anger.
Short bursts of flame forced back the genestealer attempting to approach them.
"Avery is right!!!"
Captain Calian roared, and Baal's Wrath in his hand thrust out like a spear, violently crushing a genestealer against the wall, completely flattening its internal organs.
This corridor was too narrow, making it difficult for Terminator Power Armor to maneuver.
The genestealer, however, were smaller and more agile, better suited for combat in such an environment.
Calian pointed to a corridor ahead that led to the People's Hall, and roared to the First Company warriors beside him: "Go there, that place is better for us to fight!"
"Gladly!" Avery's chainfist rapidly tore through the bodies of the genestealer, and Bartholomew's scorching flames also erupted.
Under the cover of the two, Calian and several other Terminator warriors quickly rushed towards the corridor.
After the Blood Angels disappeared, a giant beast hidden in the darkness slowly revealed itself.
The red-armored giants… these were enemies it had never seen in its many years of life.
The Hellworm Astartes had only heard the name, and knew they were dangerous enemies.
Even at such a distance, the Hellworm could feel their terrifying violence.
To deal with them, the Hellworm had summoned all its offspring in Verdian city. The hive mind was displeased by this, but the Hellworm resisted its command.
This should not have happened.
The Hellworm extended its slender, crimson tongue, then quickly retracted it. Under the control of the hive mind, it should not have shown emotion, and should have unhesitatingly merged into the Leviathan's song.
But the Hellworm was angry, the Hellworm hated.
Bitter memories of the past always haunted its mind.
That man, Augustus, its brother, the brother who killed its parents, the brother who made it homeless.
The Hellworm hated him, wanted to kill him.
For this, even temporarily defying the will of the hive mind was worth it.
The Hellworm, leading its offspring, disappeared into the darkness.
Moments after the Hellworm disappeared, Alexander, wearing the Phantom Thief DX Suit, slowly emerged from the darkness.
This suit, named after a phantom thief, provided Alexander with various enhancements, with concealment being particularly outstanding.
Neither the Hellworm, the genestealer patriarch, nor the elite Terminator Astartes of the Holy Blood Angels First Company had discovered him.
This was normal, after all, the Phantom Thief DX Suit was an item made for theft.
Ever since entering the Top hive, Alexander had been continuously using the Seeker's Staff to determine the positions of Augustus and the Hellworm.
Augustus' position had remained unchanged, while the Hellworm had been constantly moving.
This genestealer patriarch was quite the coward, always retreating behind a large number of Pureblood genestealers.
All attacks against the Holy Blood Angels First Company were also carried out through its defiled offspring.
It always hid in the darkness, motionlessly observing the movements of the Blood Angels.
As for how Alexander knew... Alexander followed it, motionlessly watching it.
"You're even more cowardly," Sanguinius shook its head and said.
"There's nothing I can do about it," Alexander's lips twitched slightly.
If it were a one-on-one fight, the Hellworm could not possibly defeat the current Alexander.
But the problem was that this Hellworm not only had a large number of Pureblood genestealers protecting it, but also, as soon as it encountered any danger, it would not hesitate to flee.
Alexander had already witnessed this once when he was in the Bottom Nest.
It ran without any regard for dignity, with six limbs on the ground, running like a giant centipede.
And if an attack was not successful, the hive mind would also discover him through the Hellworm.
At that time, what Alexander would face would not be just one Hellworm.
He had to be patient and wait for the moment the Hellworm relaxed, then strike a fatal blow and hunt the Hellworm.
"So cowardly," Sanguinius couldn't help but exclaim.
Alexander was basically using its offspring to attract the Hellworm's attention now.
However, Sanguinius had no complaints about this.
Fighting the enemies of humanity required not only warriors like the Astartes who fought head-on, but also cunning individuals like Alexander.
"But my offspring are fighting pretty well, aren't they?" Sanguinius asked.
Alexander nodded in approval.
It should be said that they were indeed the elites of the Holy Blood Angels First Company; when they cooperated, the twenty individuals acted as one.
It was just a pity that their numbers were too few.
Perhaps even Commander Dante had not anticipated that Augustus had such a genestealer patriarch as an enemy.
Twenty Terminators thrown into the torrent of genestealer would simply not be able to retreat unscathed.
Unless Dante sent reinforcements.
"Not just their reinforcements," Sanguinius said indistinctly: "It will also be your reinforcements."
When the twenty Terminator warriors of the First Company entered a relatively safe room, standing under a relatively open dome,
"A spacious hall, too bad there's no banquet," Avery joked: "What an uncultured—"
Avery's voice was suddenly interrupted as he saw a shadow moving in the corner; his chainfist quickly swung out.
A genestealer hidden in the shadows dodged Avery's attack.
Its sharp claws directly stabbed at Avery's ankle, forcefully cutting through the Terminator Power Armor and slicing into Avery's flesh.
Blood and oil gushed from the shattered ceramite, and Avery let out a low growl, half-kneeling.
The genestealer rapidly lunged at him.
"Get lost! Damned xenos!"
Baal's Wrath's hammer-wind roared, shattering the genestealer that had lunged at Avery, and Calian swiftly guarded Avery's front.
Bartholomew, with unspoken anger, rushed in front of the two, his heavy flamer spewing scorching tongues of fire.
In his visor, the figures of genestealer wailing and dying in the flames were reflected.
"Can you still walk?" Captain Calian tried to help Avery stand up.
The heavy Terminator Power Armor now seemed to be a burden.
"No, my leg is finished," Avery leaned against the wall and shook his head.
Even with Calian's help, he couldn't stand up.
"Damn it, it's probably all severed," Calian said, looking at Avery's wound.
Such a wound would almost kill a mortal, but Avery was a Blood Angel... huh?
Calian suddenly noticed that Avery was staring intently at the dome, as if he had discovered something.
"Captain!" Avery gasped.
Calian followed his gaze.
He saw that the dome above them was writhing.
Wriggling, hundreds of six-limbed bodies wriggled on the pitch-black dome.
Captain Kaelen and Avery watched this scene with bated breath.
"By the Blood of Sanguinius!" Captain Kaelen exclaimed involuntarily.
Only then did he realize that what he was seeing was a large group of genestealer clinging to the stained glass at the top of the dome.
The genestealer rained down from the sky.
The crimson double suns of Ashford shone through the stained-glass windows, casting a chaotic array of colors across the entire hall.
Captain Kaelen could clearly see that the stained-glass window depicted the great sacrifice of Sanguinius.
"Get back, Captain!!!"
Avery roared, his Chainfist buzzing as it tore through the genestealer attempting to close in on the two.
Captain Kaelen frantically swung his Baal's Wrath, smashing the heads of the approaching xenos.
"Damn it, they really prepared a welcome for us!" Avery cursed, unable to contain his fury.
The other eighteen Terminator warriors formed a line, firing at the rain of genestealer continuously falling from the sky.
Blood rained down thickly from the sky, splattering onto the crimson armor of the Astartes.
"Captain!" Avery yelled at Captain Kaelen, tearing off a xeno's head, "You should go!"
His Chainfist cut through several genestealer bodies that were closing in on him; xeno blood splattered on the warrior who had lost a leg.
He struggled to stand against the wall, fighting to maintain his balance under the relentless assault of the xenos:
"I'll buy you time! I'll make them pay in blood!"
"Go! For Sanguinius' sake! Don't let me be a burden!"
Hearing Avery's roar, Captain Kaelen hesitated for a moment.
But his long training still made him react immediately.
He cursed his own incompetence, quickly moving closer to the remaining eighteen Terminator warriors.
Captain Kaelen heard Avery's Chainfist roaring in anger, as if the machine spirit itself was raging and unleashing its last ounce of power.
Then, a torrent of xenos engulfed Avery, and Captain Kaelen had to move.
Xenos were pouring out from all directions; he had to retreat quickly, or the remaining nineteen men would suffer the same fate.
"For the Blood of Sanguinius!!!!!" Avery's roar echoed behind them.
The Hellworm walked over the corpses, most of which were its offspring.
Looking at the corpses of its offspring, a part of the Hellworm's soul that should not have existed seemed to be stirred.
Logically, as the representative of the hive mind on this planet, and as a genestealer patriarch, it should not possess such emotions.
Everything will eventually die, and after death, it will return to the digestion pool, becoming part of the hive mind collective, and ultimately gaining new forms and new meanings.
The Hellworm knew all this, understood all this, and knew that besides these, there was no other path for itself and its offspring; it accepted this fate willingly.
But despite this, the Hellworm still felt angry at the death of its offspring.
It stepped over the bodies of its offspring, knowing that it had launched a failed attack.
Too many of its offspring had died, and little had been gained; more red-armored warriors had fled into the depths of the palace.
All that was left for it was—
The warrior in red power armor was still fighting.
His weapon was damaged—before it broke, it had claimed the lives of many of its offspring.
His armor was also torn, with broken cables, ceramite, and mechanical components visible everywhere.
One of his legs was broken, and blood flowed all over the ground; an ordinary person would have died from shock long ago.
But even without hope, he was still fighting its offspring bare-handed.
The Hellworm's mind should not contain the emotion of "admiration," but looking at him still fighting, a strange emotional fluctuation arose within it.
"Roar!!!"
The Hellworm let out a low growl, heavily pouncing on the red-armored warrior, pinning him to the ground.
Claws tore off his helmet, revealing slightly pale skin and golden hair.
"Xeno!" He spat a mouthful of saliva onto the Hellworm's face.
The Hellworm didn't care about these things; it only wanted to see the warrior's will.
Psionic fluctuations surged around its body, carrying its blasphemous will and piercing into the warrior's mind.
The Hellworm ignored the warrior's struggles and curses, focusing only on exploring his mind, picking out each thought in his head for careful examination.
It wanted to know, why did they come here? And why did they intrude into its territory?
The Hellworm savored the taste of his consciousness, touching the depths of his mind.
Avery, the name of this warrior was Avery. And Bartholomew, Calian—one by one, the names were seen by the Hellworm.
It was able to know the names of these invaders.
A name is a very useful thing; a name is like a key, marking a person's identity.
The Hellworm once had a name; logically, it should not have a name.
No one in the hive mind is special; no one needs a name.
But the Hellworm did have a name.
Augustus, that small name it preserved in the deepest and most malevolent depths of its mind.
The name its parents gave him. But this name was betrayed.
Yes, betrayal. The emotion it had always felt throughout the long years, the anger of being betrayed.
It still remembered how its brother betrayed it, how those guards and nobles betrayed it, how they killed its parents.
They were all Traitors; not a single one was innocent.
It wanted to make the traitors pay in blood; it wanted Ashford to burn.
"Roar!!!!"
The Hellworm roared in anger and dissatisfaction, because the warrior named Avery refused to let his will reveal any important information.
The Hellworm still didn't know why they came.
Powerful psychic energy condensed into a point from the Hellworm's body.
It gripped Avery's head, concentrating all its energy to stare at him with its crimson single eye, completely ignoring his fists futilely pounding on its chest carapace.
The Hellworm saw what was in the depths of his mind.
His resistance, a negligible resistance, was torn apart by the Hellworm, exposing deeper things.
A craving, a craving for blood, cruel and mad.
An anger, an anger at death, terrifying and ferocious.
And a hope and a responsibility. Oh, this was their purpose, to heal the craving and the anger.
They needed to find… The Hellworm tasted that name.
Augustus!!!!
The Hellworm let out an uncontrolled roar of rage, expressing its fury at that name.
Its muscles tensed abruptly, almost tearing Avery's enhanced body apart————
"Announcement: Hellworm, Genestealer Patriarch, Augustus, I, KDDX, will steal your life."
A slightly awkward voice suddenly sounded.
A thin, sharp calling card then transformed into a dart and shot forth.
The Hellworm, completely immersed in its anger, did not even notice it.
Splat!!!
"Ah!!!!!"
Blood gushed from the Hellworm's only remaining eye, completely blinding the ferocious beast.
It violently threw Avery from its grasp, covering its eyes with both hands, letting out a ferocious roar.
Avery crashed heavily into a corner of the hall, staring blankly at the scene before him.
Brilliant light streamed down from the dazzling stained-glass dome, falling upon the figure in the center of the hall.
It was an elegant man, two meters tall, cloaked in black, wearing a black top hat and a monocle, and dressed in a black suit.
Strangely, the man's body was covered in a layer of silver metal, seemingly some kind of power armor.
Before Avery could react,
The man's figure vanished from its spot, transforming into an afterimage.
When he reappeared, he had instantly arrived in front of the Hellworm.
A metal-covered fist swung violently towards the Hellworm's face.
Although the Hellworm was blind, its psychic abilities still gave it the ability to sense its surroundings.
Layers of psychic energy formed a barrier, stacking up to block the punch of the one who called himself KDDX.
No.
Avery watched in shock as the Hellworm's psychic shield shattered layer by layer, like fragile ice.
Then, the metal fist struck heavily on the Hellworm's head; the muscles on its face twisted, and its nearly seven-meter body was violently sent flying.
Such incredible strength, such terrifying speed!!!
Avery had once seen Chapter Master Dante's prowess in the gladiatorial arena.
But even that old veteran was not as fast as this man, and his strength was far inferior.
Was it the effect of that power armor?
Such thin power armor possessed this kind of strength?
Or perhaps, the figure within that power armor was not human… but an Eldar or some other humanoid xeno?
Alexander looked at his metal-covered fist; beneath the Phantom Thief DX Suit, he was also wearing Superman Gloves.
But that punch just now, weakened by layers of psychic shields, was not enough to take the Hellworm's life.
With the arrival of the hive mind, the power of this blasphemous monster had increased again.
"Roar!!!!"
A beast-like roar erupted, and the Hellworm suddenly burst out of the smoke.
Half of its face was almost pulverized by Alexander's heavy punch, but it was still alive.
The xeno monster hesitated for barely a second, then turned and tried to escape.
At the same time, the surrounding genestealer also began to surge towards Alexander.
The Superpower Hat beneath Alexander's top hat suddenly moved, and ninety lasguns appeared around him.
Lasers poured out, each shot precisely taking the life of a genestealer.
Even Avery couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at this exquisite marksmanship.
And at this moment, Alexander quickly reached into his four-dimensional pocket.
To Avery's astonished gaze, a colossal steel behemoth appeared in the hall.
Avery stared dumbfounded at the scene before him.
The man calling himself KDDX had pulled out a tank from somewhere...
A scarred, almost completely damaged leman russ tank, its lower half practically destroyed.
This leman russ tank was painted in the common yellow-green camouflage, bearing the insignia of the Cadian Shock Troopers.
Its metal hull was covered in gashes from Tyranid claws, the tracks on its lower half were nearly severed, and it bore scorch marks from plasma burns.
However, the stubby cannon on its upper half was still largely intact.
Avery's training allowed him to identify it instantly.
It was a Leman Russ Eradicator.
A leman russ tank equipped with an Eradicator Nova Cannon, its main gun used sub-atomic core shells, and the powerful shockwaves from its explosion were enough to directly flatten an entire defensive position and kill the soldiers hiding behind it.
"Holy shit," Avery muttered, watching the man calling himself KDDX stand on top of the damaged Leman Russ Eradicator.
Apparently, under the influence of some psychic power, the cannon began to rotate, aiming at the fleeing genestealer patriarch.
This Leman Russ Eradicator Tank was picked up by Alexander on the battlefield earlier.
Its chassis was almost completely destroyed, but it still contained three perfectly preserved sub-atomic core shells, and the main gun was largely intact.
He had picked it up when the Astra Militarum soldiers weren't paying attention.
"Hey, hey, hey! Hope you're hungry"
Alexander's lips curved into an involuntary smile:
"Here comes the Leman Russ!!!"
Under the control of his psychic power, the sub-atomic shells inside the tank were loaded, and the main gun ignited once more.
A thunderous sound erupted, and the scorching sub-atomic core shell whistled towards the Hellworm.
Firing the Eradicator Nova Cannon required loading and rotating the massive barrel to aim.
In a normal battle, Alexander would hardly be able to use it.
But dealing with the Hellworm was different.
Alexander knew of the Hellworm's timidity and caution; at the slightest hint of danger, the creature would undoubtedly turn and flee.
This gave Alexander the opportunity to use this Leman Russ Eradicator!
The blind Hellworm sensed the approaching danger through its hearing and its own psychic powers.
But...
It instinctively turned its head, a slight look of confusion on its face.
Because both its psychic powers and hearing were telling it that a leman russ tank had fired behind it.
The Hellworm's body quickly began to dodge, its movements so fast that it left only fleeting afterimages in the air.
"Not good!" Avery suddenly felt a sense of dread.
While the power of sub-atomic core shells was indeed strong, this type of cannon shell was designed for engaging defensive positions.
For a single target like the Hellworm, the hit rate was already relatively low, and combined with the Hellworm's inherent agility...
"Don't worry, Son of Sanguinius," Alexander said with a grin, standing on the Leman Russ Eradicator, "I'm a good shot."
Avery blinked in confusion.
A good shot? What did being a good shot have to do with a tank's main gun? Was such a large-caliber Eradicator Nova Cannon also considered a gun?
However, what happened next completely exceeded Avery's expectations.
"Roar!!!!" A heart-wrenching roar suddenly erupted.
This was followed by a thunderous explosion, and a bright yellow light engulfed the Hellworm's location.
The powerful sub-atomic shockwave directly caused the entire palace to shake, sending countless rubble and bricks flying.
The Hellworm plummeted to the ground like a cockroach with half its body crushed.
Avery stared blankly at the scene, muttering, "It actually hit..."
Captain Kaelen heard the rumbling from within the palace, which sounded like an explosion.
"It sounds like a sub-atomic core shell. Have the Astra Militarum soldiers broken through?" Captain Kaelen murmured.
But he quickly shook his head, realizing it was impossible.
Not to mention that the Astra Militarum on Ashford could only defend themselves at the moment.
Even if they did arrive... how would they get a tank into the palace?
Captain Kaelen shook his head and looked at the servitor lying on the ground.
"Hopefully, we can find traces of governor Augustus Flax in here."
Alexander walked up to the Hellworm.
This genestealer behemoth, a parasitic demigod, had grown into a terrifying monster over long years, and its abilities were further enhanced after the hive mind arrived.
Even after taking a direct hit from a sub-atomic core shell, it had not completely died, thanks to its psychic power and physical toughness.
Its blind eyes seemed to be looking at Alexander.
"Augustus, the Hellworm of Ashford, the patriarch of the genestealer."
Alexander looked at the Hellworm lying on the ground.
Ashford's disaster had begun with its birth decades ago.
"You are the first. Your brothers will soon join you."
Alexander swung his fist, tearing off the Hellworm's head, then stuffed both the head and body into his four-dimensional pocket separately.
[Item Name: Genestealer Patriarch / Hellworm / Augustus]
[Origin: Nether Shield Star System - Ashford Star - governor's Palace]
[Description: A parasitic demigod born to spread the blasphemous genes of Tyranid, whose parents were the previous governor of Ashford infected by genestealer. It inherited the unique genetic sequence of the Flax family, possessing the special ability to resist illusions and discern reality, thereby resisting the control of the Tyranid to some extent. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, with effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, stopping bleeding, and resolving phlegm. Can be used for kidney deficiency, essence depletion, impotence and nocturnal emission, lower back and knee pain, chronic cough and asthmatic wheezing, consumptive cough with hemoptysis.]
[Production Time: 918.M41]
[Status: Where's my head??]
[Value: 1,300,000]
With 1.3 million in his account, Alexander looked at his 11.8 million, a smile playing on his lips.
The anywhere door cost 11.65 million, and Alexander had finally saved enough.
However, it was not yet time to exchange it.
According to the Truth and Falsehood Divination Machine's judgment, as long as Alexander did not exchange for the anywhere door before the Netherworld Star System was destroyed, he would not encounter any real danger.
And the hive mind had likely already learned his location through the Hellworm. The hive mind would certainly not let him go.
But as long as he didn't exchange for the anywhere door, even if the hive mind sent a Tyranid Titan, Alexander would not be in danger.
If he exchanged for the anywhere door now, he might instead encounter danger.
"..Your idea, it sounds so familiar to me..."
Sanguinius said faintly:
"I think you need to emphasize who the original creator is."
Alexander chuckled softly.
Sanguinius had a similar approach back then; he had foreseen his death at the hands of Horus.
But this also meant that as long as he didn't encounter Horus, Sanguinius wouldn't die.
"Next is..." Alexander took out his Seeker's Staff and gently laid it down: "Augustus Flax."
The staff pointed down a corridor.
General Drost sat in the distance at the landing pad, rubbing his calloused fingers over his rough chin.
The damage caused by the Brainworm was still spreading. Sister Adelaide and Joan had tried to heal Drost with faith and psychic power respectively.
But from the results, both faith and psychic power were the same; they could not overcome the rift the Brainworm had left in Drost's consciousness.
That rift continued to widen, even beginning to affect General Drost's body.
His leg inexplicably became lame, he couldn't walk, and he couldn't even stand steadily.
Fortunately, before he collapsed, the Blood Angels' reinforcements arrived.
They drove off the Tyranid surrounding the spaceport, like a group of golden blades falling from the sky.
The one leading them... the renowned Commander Dante, Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, an Astartes wearing Sanguinius' golden mask.
He was amazed that so many of the Astra Militarum and Ashford had survived.
And he understood the necessity of General Drost's cooperation with Reyna and Alexander.
Although Dante had visibly fallen silent when he heard that Alexander had grown glowing blue wings,
He eventually praised Alexander's achievements. And Chief Librarian Mephiston, standing beside him, quickly examined the souls of everyone present, ensuring no corruption.
But even Chief Librarian Mephiston could not repair the damage the Brainworm had inflicted on General Drost.
However, Commander Dante understood his inconvenience and allowed him to sit alone in the distance.
He should have been standing there with the Cadian delegation.
General Drost looked at the queue standing in the center of the landing pad.
Commander Dante and his golden Saint Blood Guards stood tall, towering over the Cadian warriors.
The Cadian warriors' faces were etched with the fatigue and wounds of war; even the Tech-Sergeant who replaced him in leading the team was just as exhausted.
Sister Adelaide and Joan, standing beside the Tech-Sergeant, were also not in good condition.
And what they were waiting for—General Drost was unwilling to use the word 'welcome'—was a group of tireless aliens.
Drost's throat moved slightly.
They were skeletons made of silver metal, and the one leading them was like an ancient dead man returned from death, with a faint, eerie blue light shimmering on his brass-gold skirt armor, standing face-to-face with Commander Dante.
Necron.
General Drost felt a chill run through him.
These aliens, like the embodiment of death, had recently extended an invitation for cooperation to humanity.
Dante, Lord of the Blood Angels, gazed at the Necron Overlord.
To Drost's surprise, after looking at Dante's golden mask for a few seconds, the Necron Overlord saluted Commander Dante with extremely elegant etiquette—it must have been some Necron custom.
Commander Dante returned the salute, using human etiquette.
"I am Anrakyr the Traveller, Necron Overlord."
Anrakyr the Traveller spoke to Dante in exquisite high gothic:
"Lord of the Blood Angels, Son of Sanguinius, Commander Dante, we should cooperate."