I am Lion El'Jonson, Lord of Kaliban, the Emperor's eldest son, the foremost among the Primarchs, and the commander of the First Legion's Dark Angels. I have shattered worlds, judged traitors, and made the stars tremble with my fury. And now you tell me to endure this?!
The Second Empire is indeed a real event, but publicizing it on such a massive scale is unforgivable.
The Lion King Lion pushed Mordachi aside and glared at his own child. Mordachi and the other Dark Angels could only stand there awkwardly.
There was no option to block or not block the original content. At that moment, they all felt that everything they had done was wrong.
"Are you allowing this absurd master, this nameless one, to behave like this?" The Lion King still held a faint hope that one of his descendants would step forward.
Just like during the Great Crusade ten thousand years ago, he had resolutely protected the glory of his Primarch. However, the only response he received was Mordachi and the others lowering their heads in silence.
Who would dare try to stop the nameless one?! Even the Emperor and those stubborn Custodians wouldn't have the courage to consider such a thing!
Lion felt a little disappointed. It seemed he had been away from the Dark Angels for too long, and his children's affection for him had faded.
When Sanguinius and Guilliman first returned, what on earth had happened? It must have been even worse than what he was facing now.
At that moment, Datch flashed with light and appeared right in front of Zabril. Zabril's body tensed instinctively, preparing for either fight or flight.
This nameless man's actions were far too bizarre. Even if a fight broke out, he wasn't confident he could win.
Datch pulled out the rejuvenation ray gun he had recently acquired from his game inventory. Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled the trigger at Zabril's chest.
Buzz...
A beam accompanied by a sensation like ripples in spacetime pierced into Zabril's body. He couldn't dodge it in time.
Zabril was gripped by terror. He thought it was all over for him.
There was no pain at all—only an indescribable warmth.
The effect spread rapidly from the point of impact, reaching every part of his body.
At the same time, a subtle notification appeared: Points -5.
"Eh? It costs points?"
Datch realized that the rejuvenation gun was different from a magical ray gun. It was a paid service.
"Still, I can't overuse it. If I don't add an exclamation mark before using it, I'll end up losing out."
As the light entered Zabril's body, strange changes occurred immediately.
The deep wrinkles etched on the Fallen Angel's face—marks of years of hardship, wandering, and inner torment—vanished in an instant, as if smoothed by an invisible hand.
His dry, gray-streaked hair and beard regained a vibrant, rich brown luster from the roots. It thickened and smoothed at a visible speed.
His body, once slightly hunched and gaunt from long-term malnutrition and excessive combat, now surged with new energy. His muscle lines became fuller and more defined, stretching his worn power armor until it felt extremely tight.
In just a few seconds, the exhausted, weather-beaten exile disappeared. In his place stood an Astartes warrior in the prime of life, with a resolute expression and sharp gaze—far more dashing than even Lion remembered.
Then Datch took out a golden hammer and lightly tapped Zabril's power armor. The armor instantly repaired itself to perfect condition, shining like new.
Zabril felt energy filling his entire body. An expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
He suddenly looked up at Datch, his eyes filled with shock and reverence.
The surrounding crowd gasped in voices mixed with astonishment and awe.
They were witnessing a miracle. An old soldier had regained his youth and the prime of his life.
This went far beyond their understanding of Imperial technology—or even the sacred doctrines of the state religion.
"This must be the power of the Emperor."
"Praise Him."
"..."
The crowd offered prayers to the Emperor and the nameless one.
Lion's pupils dilated violently. His heart pounded like fierce waves, unable to find peace.
This man truly possessed the ability to rewind time and restore youth.
If he did the same to himself, could he regain his former peak?
Of course, just because I possess this magical ability doesn't mean I'll endlessly indulge your nonsense.
I am Lion El'Jonson, the immortal lord of the First Legion.
Of course, if you take the initiative to restore vitality to my body, I might look at you more kindly.
Don't overthink it. The point is, instead of trying to please others, just be a bit more tolerant.
Datch didn't notice the complex, expectant expression in the Lion King's eyes.
Seeing the question mark above Zabril's head disappear, he casually returned the rejuvenation gun to his game inventory.
Then he gently approached and stopped in front of the small boy curled up in a woman's arms. The boy's eyes were filled with terror but also stubbornness.
Opening the target's info bar started the story dialogue.
"Little Oliver, is there anything I can help you with?"
The boy looked up at the strange man before him. Somehow, the man's terrifying appearance had created a miracle.
He quietly scanned the injured adults around them.
The sorrow and anger long suppressed instantly overpowered the fear.
In a childish yet murderous voice, he said:
"Then help me with revenge. Kill all those villains in terrifying armor with evil eyes."
"They came down from the sky, burned our homes, and killed my father, mother, and little sister."
"Can you kill them all? Can you take back our city and our planet?"
[Mission: Expel the Chaos forces occupying Planet Kamas.]
After the Great Rift opened, numerous Chaos forces surged into Imperial territory, committing all kinds of horrific crimes.
The Chaos force known as the Thousand Eyes launched a surprise attack on the Red Moon Chapter's outpost on Planet Kamas and successfully seized its headquarters.
Countless people were massacred; only a handful survived.
A boy has asked you to avenge him, defeat the Chaos enemies, and reclaim his homeland.
[Quest Rewards: 1300 EXP, 1300 Points, Reputation +200, Doom Summon Card ×5]
"Oooh!!"
Datch's eyes sparkled with delight.
"This game's algorithm is pretty excellent. It detected that I was about to enter the Warp for exploration and retreat, and actually sent me teammate cards."
"That way, I can summon a powerful escort squad, sweep the entire map, and make a glorious retreat."
"Alright, I'll help drive out those villains."
Datch nodded, stood up, and surveyed the entire room.
Finally, his gaze landed on the Lion King's head, where a golden exclamation mark flashed.
Seeing the nameless man approach, a spark of hope reignited in Lion's heart.
Finally… is it finally my turn?
However, the opponent's words shattered his modest expectations in an instant.
"Come on, great Warmaster, Lord of Kaliban, Primarch of the First Legion."
"Let us join forces to eradicate the Thousand Eyes Chaos Warband and restore peace and justice to this world."
"…Yes, for the sake of the innocent people who were massacred!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the exclamation mark above Lion's head disappeared.
Datch turned and left, summoning his mechanical warhorse and heading straight for the destination. He was fully prepared to end the battle quickly.
Lion El'Jonson stood frozen in place, speechless with confusion.
No, wait! It feels like something's missing!
Hey! Hey! Help me regain my youth!
Zabril, reinvigorated, walked over to the Lion King's side.
He glanced at the nameless man riding away on horseback, then looked at his own restored body and asked cautiously:
"Do you wish for that nameless person to help restore you as well?"
"No need," Lion said, enunciating each word clearly. Then, with an expressionless face and chest puffed out, he followed after him.
"Rejuvenation holds no interest for me whatsoever."
"So-called youth is nothing more than fleeting clouds to me."
"Fighting is the only path."
Lion continued muttering to himself in an attempt to console himself.
Zabril and Mordachi exchanged glances, sensing each other's helplessness.
But they said nothing more and simply followed Lion in silence.
During the journey, Zabril shared some information about Kamas with the Lion King.
This planet served as an outpost for the Red Moon Chapter. The human colonies built here primarily aimed to extract a special compound.
Since this compound required coordinated production from multiple plants, maintaining vast forest regions was essential.
Kamas's technology and culture were relatively advanced. Its inhabitants could navigate space and contact other Imperial worlds.
Therefore, they did not blindly worship superhuman guardians or rulers like primitive tribes.
The Red Moon Chapter's fortress was built atop a mountain called Santic, surrounded by dense forests.
It was connected by road to the nearest city, Hume Falls, but Hume Falls had recently been destroyed by the invading enemy.
Its magnificent Gothic architecture lay in ruins. The devastated city, stripped of its ion field protection, was being encroached upon by the forest.
Datch and his companions crossed the scorched forest and reached the hillside. From there, the Red Moon fortress was visible in the distance.
The group walked through the charred forest.
The ground was covered in thick ash and carbonized branches that crunched underfoot.
The air was a mixture of acrid stench, traces of plasma burns, and the foul odor of decaying corpses.
Occasionally, they spotted twisted metal fragments or scorched bones half-buried in the ash.
After crossing the burned land, they climbed a sloping hill that offered a panoramic view.
In the distance, the silhouette of the Red Moon fortress rose on the mountaintop, majestic and grand.
The outer walls showed many clear signs of damage and blackening. Some turrets were tilted or collapsed.
The hilly terrain below the fortress and the roads leading to it were littered with battle debris.
Destroyed fortifications, minefields full of deep craters, and countless fallen bodies.
Among them were Astartes of the Red Moon Chapter in deep red power armor.
There were also numerous Chaos cultists in miscellaneous clothing, adorned with blasphemous symbols all over their bodies.
Clearly, the fortress's cannons had roared and claimed the lives of the attackers, but they ultimately failed to prevent its fall.
Several huge vulture-like creatures with filthy feathers circled above the piles of corpses, emitting ear-piercing discordant cries.
"The fortress structure itself remains, but the defenses have been breached. The enemy's numbers are unknown, but they may have deployed heavy weapons inside. Our personnel are limited, so we need to find weaknesses, plan an infiltration, or create chaos for an internal assault…"
Lion spoke in a calm tone while surveying the distant fortress and surrounding terrain.
But he hadn't finished speaking yet.
Datch raised his sword and shouted, "For the Second Empire! For the glory of the Warmaster! Charge!"
When Lion turned around, the opponent was already mounted on his mechanical warhorse, somehow having climbed onto a higher rock.
The horse reared on its hind legs. Datch held the greatsword high, its tip pointed straight at the distant Red Moon fortress.
That pose looked incredibly cool.
After the shout, Datch leaped from the rocky outcrop on his mechanical warhorse and charged toward the fortress.
At the same time, Datch took out Poke Balls one after another, summoning powerful companions like Skabrand, Masque of Slaanesh, and Zarhulash. The cute Pugh was also summoned, perching on Datch's shoulder and chirping "Pugh."
The Life Angel Orange flapped its emerald-green wings, desperately trying to catch up with the warhorse.
The vine-wrapped sword in his hand already glowed with a thirst for blood.
Lion and Zabril stared wide-eyed once again.
The Lion King Lion and Zabril stared in astonishment. They were not experts in exorcism, but they could sense that these beings were far from ordinary.
"Is he really okay?" Lion asked Mordachi with suspicious eyes.
"Completely fine, my lord," Mordachi said firmly and repeated himself.
"The summoned creatures are Warp daemons or fragments of star gods, and the nameless one controls them completely."
"No one can fully 'master' the Warp!" Lion warned solemnly.
"The last person who thought he could wield Chaos power for his own purposes dragged the galaxy into war and destroyed humanity's future. My father, the Emperor, had to destroy him with his own hands."
The Lion King fell silent for a moment before uttering the name the Imperium regarded as a calamity and ill omen.
"That man was Horus."
Mordachi hesitated briefly, then said, "Well, the nameless one has no intention of controlling the Warp. He simply beats it mercilessly into submission at his feet."
Lion: ...
This answer left him somewhat bewildered.
Even his father couldn't confront the powerful entities of the Immaterium, so what could this seemingly unreliable man before him possibly do?
At least it would be fortunate enough if he wasn't the one getting beaten by it.
With the help of the numerous summoned creatures, Datch easily stormed into the weakened Red Moon fortress.
After killing the Imperial loyalists, the enemy had not repaired the destroyed defensive facilities.
Perhaps because they had grown overconfident, believing they had eliminated all threats.
Datch charged deep into the fortress and quickly encountered the first cultist.
The creature wore deep crimson robes, had an eye on the back of its head, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and a long blue tongue protruding from it. It was a horrifying sight.
Datch decapitated it with a single sword swing.
Immediately afterward, enemies surged forward like a tidal wave, filling the corridors and every corner.
These creatures had been corrupted by Chaos power. Horns grew from their heads, their skin was covered in scales, their arms wore armor, and their hooves had cloven toes.
Endless frenzied mutations had completely destroyed their human genes, driving them to the brink of collapse.
Datch swung his sword, enjoying the thrill of mowing down enemies with unparalleled skill. Each strike delivered fatal damage.
The masked dancer Skabrand and the other summoned creatures joined the fray, causing utter chaos.
Lion roared and charged toward the enemy. His vision subtly shifted, sometimes transforming into a forest.
This allowed him to easily bypass the constraints of time and space, instantly appearing in front of or behind enemies.
During the battle, he glimpsed a sword embedded in a rock in a forest clearing.
While immersed in the forest hallucination again, he approached the sword and reached out to grasp the hilt.
With the sound of metal scraping against rock, a magnificent power sword was drawn.
Its size perfectly suited the Lion King. The cross-shaped guard in the center of the hilt bore the emblem of a winged sword.
It was the symbol of the Dark Angels and the personal emblem of the Primarch.
When he activated the power sword, the blade's disruptive field expanded with a crackling sound, instantly vaporizing dust particles in the surrounding air.
Armed with the sword, the Lion became even more efficient at slaying his prey.
He swung the blade mercilessly. Each unstoppable strike easily tore through enemy bodies, turning them into mangled, scattered corpses.
As they advanced, the signs of blasphemy became increasingly evident.
Blasphemous runes and brutally murdered corpses made everything in sight utterly horrifying.
Chaos Astartes also joined the battle.
They suffered limb deformities, and countless eyes were carved into their power armor.
These beings were blessed by the Chaos Gods and far more powerful than ordinary Astartes.
But they encountered Datch. His forces consisted of powerful daemons or fragments of star gods.
Additionally, there were original Dark Angels and Black Templar Space Marines.
They easily annihilated all the traitors who had invaded the Red Moon fortress.
Finally, the despairing sorcerer was reduced to ashes by the magical flames of the Changeling.
He simply couldn't understand why the servants of the gods were helping the minions of the Corpse Emperor.
After eliminating all enemies, Lion and his team discovered the imprisoned survivors.
They were nine chained Astartes.
They had been horribly tortured by the enemy's brutal and evil sorcery, undergoing terrifying transformations.
Each had pitch-black eyes, haggard faces, and long fangs, resembling a pack of wild beasts.
Without doubt, they were all warriors of the Red Moon Chapter.
Mordachi tried to communicate with them, but it was futile. The pitiful warriors had lost their sanity.
The sons of Sanguinius had their minds completely shattered by Chaos, transforming from noble warriors into mindless savages—beasts.
They howled incessantly, thirsting for blood.
"Execute them," Lion said. "Grant them a glorious death."
The Dark Angels and Black Templars led by Mordachi all looked toward the nameless one.
Lion felt irritated by this.
I am the Emperor's true son! Why do you always want to consult the nameless one?!
Datch saw exclamation marks above the survivors' heads. He took out the magical ray gun and fired at the insane sons of Sanguinius.
One shot per target.
Immediately afterward, the sons of Sanguinius stopped screaming.
Their mad gazes regained sanity.
They returned to their original state.
Pugh jumped down from Datch's shoulder to the ground, reached out to touch the Red Moon Chapter warriors, and quickly restored their health and vitality.
Lion: ...
No, is this even allowed in the first place?
They had already turned into monsters. How could they possibly be saved?
My father sits on the throne of Terra, yet what a useless son I am.
…
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