The Warp Relay Station of the Baal System is located at the highest point of the Shattered Mountains on Baal Secundus.
It was built into the towering, cliff-ridden peaks.
The slopes were steep, covered with dry, cold boulders, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
At this moment, the area was a mess.
Black smoke from intense battles billowed everywhere,
and charred craters from explosions were ubiquitous.
Hundreds of thousands of Tyranids / Tyranid corpses lay sprawled among the boulders,
the cold from the low pressure freezing their bodies.
Some Tyranid that hadn't fully died yet would occasionally twitch.
Harkin, the Chapter Master of the Crimson Blades Warband, gazed coldly at the Tyranids / Tyranid corpses.
Mortal soldiers moved among the bodies, inspecting the battlefield,
searching for comrades who still breathed and delivering killing blows to aliens not yet dead.
Harkin calculated in his mind that this was likely the 48th assault launched by the Tyranid.
Wave after wave,
these aliens seemed to know no fatigue, nor did they care about casualties; each attack was incredibly frenzied.
Harkin's brothers fell one after another, growing fewer in number.
The mortal soldiers were also exhausted and covered in wounds.
But no matter what, they would not compromise.
Even if they fought to the last man, the sons of the Angels would not yield.
Harkin had lived for four hundred years, but he had only become Chapter Master a few days prior.
The previous Chapter Master was Jian,
an experienced, powerful, and highly skilled swordsman, an Imperial hero with remarkable achievements.
But not long ago, Jian fell.
During the 32nd Tyranids / Tyranid assault,
countless Tyranid surged forward like a tide; everywhere the eye could see, there were only Tyranid.
Seeing that the Warp Relay Station was about to fall,
Jian selected an elite squad to execute a decapitation strike.
He aimed to kill the node creatures and secure victory.
Harkin had wanted to follow, but Jian ordered him to stay behind.
"Someone has to lead them."
"Before, it was me; if I don't return, it will be you."
"Harkin, you are the only one I can trust."
After leaving these words, Jian departed with his squad.
The decapitation strike succeeded; the Tyranid routed, leaving piles of corpses as they retreated.
However, Jian and his team did not return.
When Harkin led his troops out and found Jian, he was standing atop a mountain of corpses,
a massive node creature lying dead beside him, beyond any doubt,
and nearby lay the shattered remains of several brothers' bodies,
none of them intact, all torn to shreds, a desolate sight of death.
"First Blood, you won."
Harkin called out to Jian, but received no response.
He climbed over the mountain of insect corpses to Jian's side, only to discover that he had long since died.
Jian's body was impaled by the sharp limbs of the insects, his internal organs spilling out,
yet he leaned on his sword, standing atop the pile of corpses,
his helmet shattered from the fierce battle, his weathered, scarred face exposed to the cold air,
and anger still lingered on his resolute face.
Harkin saluted his deceased Chapter Master and brought Jian's and the fallen brothers' bodies back.
Afterward, Harkin assumed the position of Chapter Master.
As of now, they had only 157 brothers left.
Harkin didn't know how much longer they could hold on,
but he knew clearly that without reinforcements, their defeat was only a matter of time.
"First Blood."
Tech-Sergeant Karnok saluted Harkin,
his right hand clenched into a fist, striking his chest armor with a dull thud.
"According to reconnaissance, the enemy appears to be in disarray; it seems the Hive Mind has been disrupted by changes in the Warp."
"Should we attack, First Blood?" Karnok inquired.
Harkin looked up, unable to see the stars or the Warp warships.
Strange lights rolled like waves; everything had changed.
"The Astropaths must live," Harkin stated, "That is our primary mission."
"Alright, First Blood." Karnok bowed.
"Tell the soldiers to rest, repair their weapons and equipment as much as possible, and resupply the auto-turrets with ammunition and power cells; we must be ready for the next round of combat."
Harkin paused, then added after a moment's thought,
"One more thing, go to the communications station and see if you can contact anyone. Anyone at all; we need to know what's happening outside!"
"No news," Karnok said. "I try every three hours. Since receiving news of Kharbanda's invasion of Baal Secundus five days ago, I haven't received any further information."
"That doesn't mean they're all dead. Keep trying to contact them. Bring the Astropaths here; we need to check their condition and have them pray to prevent demons from entering their souls without us knowing."
"Uh! Perhaps that won't be necessary," Karnok shrugged, pointing behind Harkin, "Because they're already here."
Harkin turned around and saw Master Lit walking over, supported by Gino and another servant, his face alight with excitement.
"What's happening?" Harkin frowned.
"He's here," Lit said, "The Angel, the Angel is here."
Harkin scrutinized Lit, searching for unusual characteristics.
He suspected the psyker had been replaced by a demon.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"It's the Angel," Lit repeated incoherently, "Believe me."
"The Angel died ten thousand years ago, at the hands of his rebellious brother," Harkin stated. "You might have seen something, but it was absolutely not the Angel, understand?"
"Maintain calm and reason, Master Lit, in the name of the Emperor, begin your prayers now."
At Harkin's request, Lit began to pray.
Faith makes one strong, and it also calms one.
Lit's inner excitement was suppressed, and he began to calmly recount everything he had seen.
A lighthouse not of Reality, a magnificent hymn, and a divine Angel with pure white wings, clad in golden armor, and wings on his back.
"That was the Angel; he was exactly the same," Lit emphasized. "He said he would save Baal, and he's on his way."
"Could it be Saint Geleno?" Harkin remained skeptical.
Sanguinius was dead, his body preserved in the crypt beneath Angel Keep.
According to the Librarians, the Angel's soul was shattered, with no possibility of resurrection.
Saint Geleno, however, was a common occurrence.
Whenever the sons of the Angels were in danger, there was a certain probability of seeing Saint Geleno.
"No, I've seen Saint Geleno before. He resembles the Angel, but he's easily identifiable," Lit said. "This was a true Angel, perhaps not the one from Baal, but an Angel belonging to the Emperor, belonging to humanity."
"Regardless, he is coming, bringing salvation and hope."
"What should we do?" Karnok looked at Harkin.
Harkin pondered for a moment, "Try to contact other forces and tell them that reinforcements are coming."
"Aren't you going to confirm this news?" Karnock said.
"Can things get any worse, my brother?" Harkin looked at Karnock, "No matter what, the sons of the Angels are heading for defeat."
"Give them some hope, at least so they don't die in despair, and so they can hold on as long as possible."
Karnock placed his fist on his chest, "Alright, I obey your command. We will send messages non-stop until this news is spread."
Harkin nodded, his gaze fixed on the distance.
An Angel?
Who could it be?
Did the Emperor use His power to resurrect Sanguinius elsewhere?
Although Sanguinius's death had long been confirmed, who could be 100% certain that a Primarch could not be resurrected?
Several of the Emperor's sons had experiences of dying and then being resurrected.
"Could it really be Sanguinius?"
Harkin thought to himself.
Just then, an alarm sounded.
The previously collapsing Tyranid recovered and launched a new round of attacks on the Astropathic Relay Station.
49th assault.
Harkin put on his helmet, counting silently in his heart.
...
At Angel Keep on Baal Prime,
The Grand Cathedral.
The sons of the Angels had painted their armor black.
Survivors from various Warbands were prepared to sacrifice themselves.
When the Great Rift opened, the Tyranids / Tyranid swarm collapsed; the Hive Mind was torn apart by the Warp Storm.
The unorganized Tyranid once became targets for the Space Marines' slaughter.
They drove the enemies out of Angel Keep through a series of battles,
Reorganized their forces, and controlled important defensive positions.
However, their luck soon ran out; the Hive Mind once again took control of the swarm.
They launched a more ferocious offensive, determined to completely engulf Baal.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The cannons of Angel Keep were still bombarding the swarm, and the massive vibrations and explosions reached the Cathedral.
In front of the Sanguinius statue in the Cathedral, Dante, the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, was kneeling, confessing to his gene-father.
This battle would be the swan song for the descendants of Sanguinius.
The various Warbands participating in this battle would never be able to recover.
Tears streamed down Dante's face, grieving for the destruction of the Primarch's legacy in his hands.
When the confession ritual ended, Dante stood up.
Odamael, who was a priest, walked over.
"My lord, everyone has gathered according to your command."
"What about the Death Company?" Dante stood up, his face showing sorrow.
Odamael nodded gravely, "They are also ready. The guards of the Tower of the Lost are prepared to open the gates to the tower at any time."
"I must remind you once again that this command cannot be stopped. Once those cursed warriors are released, they will fall into an eternal frenzy until they burn out their lives."
"I know." Dante stepped out of the Cathedral.
Outside, numerous Space Marines in black armor had gathered.
Baal's last defenders knelt on their weapons, singing loudly, chanting 'Blood of Death' in unison,
Preparing to give their lives in their final service to their Primarch and the Emperor.
Dante joined their chorus and, after the chorus ended, addressed them.
"The Tyranids / Tyranid is recovering. When the Great Rift unfolded, it was severely wounded, shattered into pieces. But with time, it has grown strong again."
"Soon, they will become a whole once more, and then we will face complete defeat."
"I have not received any news of reinforcements arriving, which means we are isolated and can only rely on ourselves."
"Ten thousand years ago, our Primarch was the first to die. To win victory, he calmly accepted his death, facing an insurmountable enemy, instead of hiding in a fortress and being a shameful coward."
"And today, it is our turn. We still have a chance to fight. If we can slay the swarm's leader, we can deal a fatal blow to the Tyranids / Tyranid and save worlds beyond Baal."
Dante took off his mask, revealing his aged face.
"Now, let us cast off the Red Thirst one last time and fight with wrath, just like our Primarch."
"For the Emperor, for Sanguinius, let us seek our fated death. Let the fires of our wrath burn on the corpses of our enemies until we destroy them, or destroy ourselves."
"For the Emperor, for Sanguinius!" the black-armored warriors shouted, responding to Dante.
Dante nodded, "Then let us go to battle, Priest Odamael. Have the guards of the Tower of the Lost open its gates, and let all the sons of the Angels go forth together."
Odamael nodded, and he contacted the guards of the Tower of the Lost.
Subsequently, solemn and resonant bells rang, guiding the lost sons of the Angels, bringing their will and souls back to Reality.
With the help of priests and Mechanical Priests, the insane warriors were awakened, and they howled.
"Horus, why? Why did you betray us?"
Desperate cries echoed through ten thousand years,
These words were spoken on the Avenging Spirit,
Repeated countless times, and passed down to present-day Baal.
Unfortunately, there would never be an answer.
The restraints on those warriors opened, and they howled as they rushed out of the Tower of the Lost, charging towards the Tyranids / Tyranid swarm outside Angel Keep.
Dante, having removed his Angel mask, listened to the howls of his blood brothers consumed by the Black Rage, a look of relief on his face.
He raised the Axe Mortalis and shouted,
"Sons of the Angels, advance!"
"For Sanguinius, for the Emperor, for fated death!"
The black-armored warriors roared and charged together.
The final trial had arrived.
The descendants of Sanguinius would face their ultimate battle.
Meanwhile, in the communications room of Angel Keep.
The working Servitor trembled. It had received a faint signal from Baal Secundus.
The Cogitator system worked, receiving and translating the information.
Click! Click!
The sound of the printing device continuously echoed, printing out the received message.
The Mechanical Priest responsible for its maintenance walked over and picked up the paper with the read and translated information.