-Cadia-
The Cadia Battle Fleet and the Black Crusade finally clashed. The initial torpedo barrages revealed the true ships from the illusions, allowing them to be marked on the star maps.
However, the inhabitants of the Eye of Terror didn't hesitate to fight back.
The power of the Plasma Generators was diverted to the Void Shields, teleporting the blocked shots to the Sea of Souls while the thrusters burned at full speed towards the only stable escape route, the Cadian Gate.
The defenders wouldn't allow that to happen. Torpedoes, Flak Turrets, Macro Batteries, Lance Batteries—every weapon was directed at the approaching wall of shields and corruption.
Inside the flagship of each Warband of Chaos—be it the Thousand Sons, Word Bearers, Emperor's Children, Death Guard, Iron Warriors, Night Lords, Alpha Legion, or Lost and Damned—every sorcerer and psyker present gathered in a grand ritual.
In deep chambers filled with altars and runes, countless slaves were sacrificed to the Dark Gods while priests and cultists recited chants and sorcerers and psykers used their powers to manipulate time and space.
Souls screamed, lightning bolts, each the color of the respective worshipped God, coursed across the walls and ceiling, bringing blood, mutation, disease, or euphoria; voices grew louder as the spell neared its conclusion.
However, there was a problem, something all the leaders perceived in almost perfect synchronicity: Where were the World Eaters?
Through magical mirrors, portals, holographic screens, or congitators, many felt like tearing their hair out in frustration as they watched the ships of Angron's children make a nearly ninety-degree turn toward Cadia, to the point of entering the range of the void and orbital defenses.
By the Chaos Gods, these fools will ruin everything! That was the unspoken message, so, in a moment of despair, the ritual intensified.
With the crack of whips, the sacrifices occurred at the rhythm of a well-oiled machine, the sorcerers leafed through their books, their many eyes scanning the profane words, runes were carved into the skin with the precision of a master sculptor, and as soon as the ships reached the edge of the Cadian Gate, the ritual was complete.
A white light consumed the entire fleet, including the World Eaters who, had they been going a little faster, would have been left behind. When the light faded, the fleet had vanished. The fired ammunition being one of the few pieces of evidence of its existence.
"What is the status of the Astropath Choir?!"
Lord General Creed demanded, and his subordinates were quick to respond.
"According to the choir's divination, this is the destiny of the Black Crusade."
The information was passed from a Data Slate to Creed's personal Cogitator, who, upon reading it, ordered an astropath message to be sent to the wider Imperium and Space Marine chapters.
"Thousand Sons, Word Bearers, Emperor's Children, Death Guard, Iron Warriors, Night Lords, Alpha Legion and Lost and Damned, a Black Crusade is moving towards the Forge World of Hidrus in Ultramar, a world so valuable must not fall into enemy hands."
And so it was done, the message traveled through the void of space, heading towards its destination. Unfortunately, astropatic messages were never that precise, and words tended to leak to unwanted locations, capturing the attention of peculiar individuals.
-Solemnace-
"My Lord, I believe this will be of interest to you."
Trazyn the Infinite looked away from one of his many displays—in this case, a new full-scale diorama with real pieces composed of Imperial Guard and Eldar clashing on a Maidenworld—and turned toward one of his many Crypteks, analyzing the information with half-interest.
There was a drop of irritation at having his pastime interrupted. After all, he needed to perfectly adjust the positions of each combatant and each formation; however, this soon turned into the closest thing to joy he could feel upon seeing the Black Crusade recordings and the transcription of the astropatic message.
"Prepare my Acquisition Phalanx."
-Mandragora-
Orikan the Diviner descended from his floating lotus position, the various pulsating runes ceasing their brilliance and power as his feet approached the ground.
The situation was worrying, not because of the destruction the war would inevitably cause, nor because fate had changed and the conflict between Imperium, Chaos, Necrons, and some Eldar interference should never have happened, but because one of his predictions, commissioned by a powerful dynasty, would have its events delayed by ten seconds due to the confrontation.
He had been offered a generous payment in technology and resources if he predicted the best travel route, and if the prediction proved wrong, he would have to return it, and unfortunately, he had already spent almost all of it.
With determination in his systems, he ordered his ship, the Zodiac's Fury, to be prepared, because the sooner the war ended, the faster his prediction would be back on track.
-T'au Empire-
"This is bizarre, old friend. I wonder why the rebels thought painting themselves blue was a valid combat strategy."
Nemessor Zahndrekh commented to his bodyguard and friend, Vanguard Obyron, as he oversaw the destruction of the blue beings and their massive battle suits.
Right now, the last fortification fell, overwhelmed by the march of its warriors and swarms of scarabs. Slowly, the screams and gunfire ceased, consumed by the green fire.
The great Necron known as Obyron sighed, already accustomed to the quirks of his master and friend, and nodded in confirmation, swinging his massive scythe and splitting in two a previously unseen battle suit and its pilot who had come too close for his liking.
Both stood silently, watching the burning horizon. Suddenly, Zahndrekh murmured in curiosity as a series of data entered his system.
"Well, well, it seems a rebel fleet is moving towards a nearby sector. What do you say, Old Friend? I know you're tired of fighting, but are you willing to participate in one more battle?"
"Wherever you go, I will go."
Zahndrekh's smile couldn't have been wider after hearing those words.
-Void of Space-
Crusade.
That was another of the leaked words that echoed through space.
Crusade.
Slowly, it approached a fleet of dark ships from a Chapter known for its Unwavering Faith.
Crusade.
Inside the Flagship, High Marshal Helbrecht entered his chambers, dressed only in his toga after months of relentless combat.
Crusade.
In a rare moment of rest, the Marshal lay down on his bed, covering himself and closing his eyes; however, a word entering his ear prevented him from falling asleep.
Crusade.
Immediately, the High Marshal rose, as if struck by lightning. With a fanatical gleam in his eyes, he already knew where his fleet should travel.
-Noble Fleet, Surroundings of Hidrus Terceirus-
The Void shields of Sabathiel's ship flickered, threatening to fail at any moment under the constant fire of the small fleet pursuing it. Fire and smoke filled the corridors as the crew rushed to perform emergency repairs.
Simultaneously, a new portal to the Imaterium opened, the Warp Drive roaring as it had to perform a new jump immediately after completing the first.
Before the process was complete, a small object was launched from the ship into the dark seas of the planet below, falling like a shooting star, then the ship disappeared.
The object continued its trajectory, burning up as it entered the atmosphere, but its material resisted, hitting the water like a meteor, creating a roar and parting the seas, followed by a cloud of vapor.
Little by little, it sank, revealing itself as a gigantic silver cylinder now embedded in the deep rock.
Some smaller marine animals swam away, startled by the abrupt arrival. Some resembled crustaceans with many legs and claws, others octopuses that were basically a giant eye with stubs to move.
The larger ones, imitations of sharks and whales with empty eyes and mouths large enough to swallow vehicles, approached the cylinder with primal curiosity.
This curiosity turned to confusion, then panic, and finally pain when the strange object opened and released a strange liquid from beneath the water.
The mutation, a mixture of science and sorcery, was immediate. The bodies of the marine animals grew to absurd proportions, their flesh tearing, muscles growing, shells and bones becoming dense.
The same was true for their organs, now adapting to life outside the water, with new appendages emerging for locomotion.
Yellow blood painted the water, eyes, teeth, and tentacles appeared like tumors, and marine life revolted, consuming the unmutated and spreading the transformation.
Eventually, even the plants joined the horde. Anemones with circular mouths full of teeth, clusters of algae now with humanoid bodies, masses of coral covered in spines—they gathered and marched toward the landmasses where the population lived.
Unlike Hidrus Quintus, fishing on Hidrus Terceirus was massive, as the planet exported seafood-based foodstuffs to various regiments and smaller planets, with rare delicacies going to those who could afford them.
Cargo and fishing vessels, veritable floating cities, were halted in their routes, their crews confused, as the Cogitators' damage report stated that something large had seized the vessels.
One of the ships creaked and rocked, nearly throwing the crew from the upper decks into the sea, while something pounded against the walls of the lower levels, causing fear to spread among the humans present.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The metal crumpled inward, cracks formed, and water leaked out. With a final blow, the hull gave way, allowing the dark, oil-like liquid to enter.
The initial jet pushed the workers away, dragging them along the wall. Some were saved by clinging to door frames, railings, or pipes; however, drowning proved a better option when beasts worthy of the horror stories told by old sailors invaded the corridors.
In the end, the crew's screams echoed through the ship, and any calls for help through the Vox channels yielded similar results. Another ship was broken in three by colossal tentacles, another was torn apart by legions of monsters escaping its walls.
Smaller fishing boats sailing near the coast, people waking early to get their food or produce to sell, suffered the same fate. However, due to the proximity of population centers, it was immediately realized that something was wrong.
People gathered on the purple sand and rock beaches, murmuring and whispering amongst themselves, watching as each small boat vanished into thin air.
Everything fell silent when the first creature emerged from the water: a two-headed shark with multiple eyes, arms and legs, and muscles big enough to face an Ogryn.
Wide eyes and contorted faces of surprise and disbelief turned to fear as a roar ripped through the air.
"RRROOOAAARRR!"
The crowd moved like a stampede as the beaches were overrun. Warning sirens blared, and the Defense Force was mobilized. It wasn't long before blood stained the ground and gunfire echoed in the distance.
This was just one of many cities scattered across the planet; those far from the sea were safe for now, oblivious to what was happening.
High in space, a fleet watched everything unfold, the main figure being a pair of Nobles who had been appointed leaders of this force. If they were capable of changing their expressions, they would be speechless at how quickly everything spiraled out of control.
In a flash, an ancient coin appeared in Ananotek's hand, a relic from the times when his species was flesh-and-blood.
Turning to Kamamitet, who slowly turned towards him, he spoke without his characteristic pride and arrogance.
"Would you like to decide who will handle this?"
"Heads." Kamamitet replied immediately.
"Tails."
With the sides chosen, Ananotek tossed the coin and both prayed that the opposite side would land. There was a tomb to be awakened on the planet, but both wished they were anywhere but here.
END OF CHAPTER