The Vigilant Star system had become a completely bloody and brutal war hell.
In the void, short but fierce battles occasionally erupted.
Dense shells and beams intertwined, creating a net of death.
Blindingly bright energy beams sliced through the darkness, and dozens of ships turned into burning wreckage amid violent explosions.
The wreckage slowly tumbled through the vacuum, flames gradually fading and growing cold.
Some were captured by gravity and fell toward nearby planets, leaving long trails of flame in the atmosphere.
Others flew toward the edges of the floating galaxy, drifting endlessly.
With the support of the Star Rail, the Imperium had built an exaggerated defensive line in this star system.
Magnificent star fortresses and armed space stations floated in the void like steel beasts.
Their size rivaled small celestial satellites, their surfaces densely covered with turrets and launch tubes.
Each fortress possessed firepower powerful enough to destroy an entire world.
They were arranged in a geometric formation, bringing every channel leading to the Vigilant Star within range and creating an imposing, intimidating presence.
From afar, the fortresses looked like a crown of steel encircling the Vigilant Star, gleaming coldly beneath the starlight.
And the most important planet—the Watchtower itself—now floated quietly at the center of this war's fog.
Over 160 billion people lived on this planet.
From space, the super-hives looked like massive metal masses, densely covering the planet's surface.
Countless streaks of light moved between hive capitals, tracing the paths of transport ships and shuttles. They were like the planet's lifelines, carrying supplies and people to every location.
Recruitment operations took place daily. Many qualified individuals were selected and sent to military camps as reserves for training.
Eventually, the Guard Corps would become as famous throughout the galaxy as the Krieg or Cadian Corps.
The moon of the Vigilant Star—New Hao Star—was tightly bound by gravity, its rotation and orbital periods identical.
New Hao Star was a typical domestic political world, home to many Imperial bureaucrats.
Their daily work included ship navigation through the Nachmund Corridor, material transfers, personnel movement, and managing policies from Macragge.
The entire planet had been transformed by the Mechanicus.
From a bird's-eye view in planetary orbit, one could see rows of government buildings towering into the clouds.
These buildings were densely packed with meditators and Imperial bureaucrats, covering the entire planet's surface.
These government agencies operated around the clock, processing vast amounts of trade data, route information, and inventory lists.
Countless merchant ships lined up at the Star Rail platform of the Vigilant Star system, waiting in formation.
Their cargo holds were packed with materials, ores, grain, machine parts, weapons, ammunition—everything imaginable—gathered from every corner of the Imperium.
After obtaining administrative documents, they unloaded, transferred, and reloaded cargo.
The entire process was efficient and orderly, like an unstoppable giant machine.
The Star Rail connected the Vigilant Star to the Chidi Star and branched into several other Star Rails, each leading to important planets like Baal.
The existence of the Star Rail bound scattered worlds together, continuously transporting armies and supplies into a single unified entity.
Protecting the Star Rail platform of the Vigilant Star system and maintaining the Vigilant Star tower of the Nachmund Corridor had become the Human Imperium's primary strategic objectives in this star system.
The Chaos faction opposing the Imperium controlled the Soul Grasping Star at the edge of the galaxy.
Krinring Star had once been a bustling industrial planet, but was now a Chaos fortress.
From space, it looked like a rotten eyeball, its surface covered in twisted, pulsating patterns of flesh.
The once-towering factory smokestacks were now covered in flesh and blood materials, spewing black smoke relentlessly day and night.
After the Great Rift descended, the entire Soul Grasping Star was plunged into unimaginable chaos.
The sky split open and blood erupted.
Mad whispers echoed from deep within the earth.
Factory machinery grew eyes and teeth.
Cults grew in the shadows, and order collapsed overnight.
Eventually, the entire planet was swallowed by a Chaos tsunami.
When the Chaos tide temporarily receded like the tide back to the star's orbit,
the Imperium discovered that this planet had been transformed into a daemon world by the Chaos faction.
Countless humans had been enslaved, twisted, and turned into flesh and blood in daemon factories.
They worked day and night in those twisted factories, using daemons and subspace evil iron as materials to create various combat machines born for slaughter and destruction.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Vigilant Star, on the planet Omiss Pylon, another war raged fiercely.
The Tau Empire had made a fatal mistake during the Fourth Sphere Expansion.
Due to ignorance of the subspace and urging from the Ethereal Council, they used immature AL38 undercurrent modules to create a massive subspace storm.
The Fourth Sphere Expansion fleet was swallowed by subspace turbulence and was ultimately freed with the help of the subspace entity called "Shangshandao."
Most of the fleet passed through the opened Star Tide Hub and headed toward the new domain on the dark side of the Imperium.
However, some ships were scattered across the galaxy, and part of the Tau arrived by mistake at Omiss Pylon on the edge of the Warden Constellation.
They had initially planned to build a new home here, suppress the local human forces, and spread the glory of the Greater Good.
However, this planet, though not colonized by the Human Imperium, was not unclaimed territory. Ancient cosmic undead lurked beneath its surface.
The subspace disturbance had alerted an ancient dynasty that had slept for 65 million years.
This led to conflict between the two sides.
The Tau Clan and the Space Necrons waged a bloody, chaotic battle amid the ruins of Omiss Pylon.
The flames of pulse rifles intertwined with the green glow of gauss weapons. Flesh and blood clashed against immortal metal, scattering fierce sparks.
Imperial intelligence agencies immediately detected the anomaly on Omiss Pylon and reported the situation to the Vigilant Star High Command.
Vigilant Star, High Command Center.
When Datch emerged from the green teleportation light tunnel,
the five Primarchs were gathered around a massive strategic round table, discussing matters concerning Omiss Pylon.
Sanguinius sat in the main seat, his perfect white wings folded behind his back.
Whether in terms of charisma or achievements, Sanguinius's leadership was unquestionable.
Even the elites of Terra, who constantly claimed Guilliman was ambitious and occasionally questioned Terra's Number Thirteen's throne-usurpation plans, did not attempt to point out faults.
As Imperial Regent, Guilliman sat to Sanguinius's left, and Lion to his right.
The last two were Ferrus and Corvus Corax.
"Omiss Pylon isn't worth much, but my suggestion is to cleanse this region—whether Tau or Space Necron, wipe them all out."
Ferrus's tone was stern. He did not like xenos jumping around within Imperial territory.
Damned cosmic undead—why sleep in Imperial territory??
"I wouldn't recommend that," Guilliman said, shaking his head, disagreeing with Ferrus's approach.
The Primarch reached out and enlarged Omiss Pylon's position on the holographic star chart.
"Omiss Pylon doesn't mean much to the Imperium, and the Imperium has never ruled this world."
"Rather, our attention should be directed toward Cudi Twelve."
Guilliman reached out and operated the projection screen, displaying another data set.
The planet's mineral distribution map unfolded in the air. The abundance of rare mineral resources was astonishing.
"This planet contains many rare minerals that the Imperium's advanced industry and cutting-edge equipment urgently need."
"Whether the Imperium occupies it or not, the entire galaxy belongs to humanity."
Lion's words were closer to Ferrus's position.
The Eldar prophet Natase and Ketok of the Samhan Ark world, who had been invited to the meeting, wore faint expressions.
The Eldar had already ruled countless stars of the galaxy long before humans descended from the trees to the ground.
But now these backward people naturally claimed "the galaxy belongs to humanity."
"Don't say things that will make our guests uncomfortable," Sanguinius said, sensing the strange atmosphere among the Eldar prophets.
Lion shrugged and said nothing more.
"Leave those xenos on Omiss Pylon. This galaxy will become a butcher's grinding ground for a long time to come."
"Rather than using human lives to fill holes, it's better to let those xenos share the pressure of Chaos."
Corvus Corax was realistic. He had fought Chaos fiends for many years.
Even with the Nameless One's help, it was well known that it would be extremely difficult for the Human Imperium to completely eliminate Chaos forces from the Warden Star battlefield.
This place was destined to become a prolonged war of attrition, with both armies continuously shedding blood in this region.
"Chaos was never a matter of race," Guilliman picked up the conversation, speaking in a sincere tone.
"Humanity is currently the strongest, but to completely eradicate Chaos, we also need the help of other races."
As a supporter of cooperation between Eldar and humans, Guilliman affirmed the Eldar's contributions.
The Primarch also understood that the spirit race did not have pure hearts, but the help they gave humanity was real.
The Great Limit Lord was different from the old father who liked to burn bridges after crossing the river.
(Emperor: If you want to negotiate, negotiate. Scheming all day long is meaningless!)
While the Primarchs were engaged in heated discussion, the returning Datch drew their attention.
Seeing Datch riding a rooster clad in armor, everyone wore surprised expressions.
The rooster wore golden heavy armor and stood over four meters tall.
Its vibrant feathers and red comb were like burning flames, exerting tremendous pressure.
An eerie silence fell over the command center.
Ke Ken, the representative of the Custodian Guard who had accompanied the expedition, widened his pupils, his face filled with disbelief!!
Imperial Custodian Guard??
A giant rooster??
He had served in the Imperial Custodian Guard for many years and had seen every kind of scene without ever losing his composure.
But the sight before him truly darkened his vision.
An Imperial Custodian Guard riding a giant rooster entering the command post.
Except for the Nameless One, no ordinary person could come up with such an abstract idea!!
Ignoring everyone's gazes, Datch flipped and jumped down from the rooster's back.
After looking around the room, his gaze fixed on Calgar standing behind Guilliman.
A golden exclamation mark was flashing above this NPC's head.
Datch passed by the Primarchs who wanted to greet him and walked toward Calgar.
"Calgar, do you have a job you'd like me to take on?"
The five Primarchs fell silent, all staring at Calgar.
Calgar felt a bit awkward!!
Nameless Uncle, at least pay attention to the Primarchs before coming over to talk!!
If that doesn't work, at least consult Father first!!
His appearance is really terrible.
If he does that, I'll easily get sent to some remote place!!
Right now, I'm really scared that I'll get fired tomorrow for sneaking in with my left foot.
Seeing Calgar remain silent, Datch spoke again.
"Calgar, do you have a job you'd like me to take on?"
Seeing the Nameless One press the question again, Calgar ignored the Primarchs' gazes and forced himself to speak.
"Recently, the Vigilant Star has been subjected to frequent vicious attacks."
"Preliminary investigation results show that an entrance to a network channel was discovered inside the Vigilant Star."
"The Dark Eldar uses this entrance to repeatedly infiltrate our world, abducting Imperial residents and taking them to Commorragh."
"If possible, please go to Commorragh and rescue the innocent people."
The moment he finished speaking, a mission prompt appeared in Datch's vision.
[Mission: Go to Commorragh to rescue captured slaves.
Commorragh, the base of the Dark Eldar, is unimaginably terrifying.
Countless beings have been abducted to the nightmare city and become playthings of the dark spirit race cursed by the dark god.
They tortured the captives in various horrific ways to obtain pain and fill the void in their souls devoured by the dark god.
Commorragh is a fallen city deep within the network channel, possessing an unimaginable scale and wickedness.
Danger lurks in every shadow there, and every laugh heralds tragedy.
You must enter the nightmare city, find the abducted Imperial citizens, and bring them safely home.
Mission Rewards: 2,500 EXP, 2,500 Points, +800 Reputation, 1 Space Gem]
Datch's gaze fell on the item rewarded by the mission, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Space Gem—another Infinity Stone.
"This is the fourth one."
Datch's lips twisted slightly. He thought he would soon collect all six Infinity Stones and become the Warhammer version of the Purple Sweet Potato Spirit.
"Alright, I'll go complete this mission."
Datch accepted the mission, took out the teleport gun, set the coordinates for the Vigilant Star, activated the teleportation light tunnel, and headed out to investigate.
The Primarchs, who had been left hanging the entire time, stared at the disappearing light portal with expressions filled with helplessness.
The Nameless One really does love the new and tire of the old—a piece of trash.
When someone's outside, he doesn't even greet them—he doesn't even spare them a glance.
After all, newcomers are better than old-timers.
When Datch emerged from the teleportation light tunnel, he arrived on the surface of the Watchtower.
This mission didn't provide much information. He had to find Commorragh's location himself, rescue the abducted people, and return.
Guided by the minimap, he rode the giant rooster through the complex streets of the hive.
Along the way, people cast surprised or curious glances, but no one tried to stop him.
By this point, the environment of the Vigilant Star had improved considerably. The streets were lined with trees, and garbage was quickly cleaned up.
However, in some remote, sparsely populated areas, the original appearance had been preserved.
Rusted pipes and moldy moss crawled across old walls.
The sky overhead was sliced into countless fragments by countless overhead passages.
Streaks of light leaking through the gaps cast mottled shadows on the ground.
Datch passed through these areas and arrived at the region ambushed by the Dark Eldar.
Local law enforcement immediately established a cordoned-off area.
The soldiers guarding the scene watched Datch approach clad in Imperial armor and riding a rooster. They all straightened their backs and immediately stood at attention, offering a standard military salute.
Unlike ordinary citizens, they had already received photos of the Nameless Lord's latest attire, so they naturally knew that this newcomer was the legendary Imperial hero, the Nameless One.
Datch ignored the soldiers and jumped down from the rooster's back, entering the cordoned area.
His brow furrowed slightly at the chaotic scene before him.
The attacked location was a large warehouse where hundreds of workers had been working.
Most had vanished, and several had been torn apart, their bodies scattered everywhere.
Legal affairs personnel marked and collected the bodies.
Datch opened his game inventory and chose to use the detective suit.
A flash of light, and the heavy golden Imperial armor instantly disappeared, replaced by typical British-style detective attire with a pipe dangling from his mouth.
Then he switched to detective vision and searched for clues.
The view in his eyes changed instantly.
Bloodstains scattered on the ground glowed, flowing along the direction of the bloodstains and tracing the final paths of the deceased.
Datch's gaze swept across the entire scene. Countless clues appeared one after another before his eyes.
Datch followed the glow of the clues, passing through abandoned warehouses and collapsed passages, advancing through sunless places, and finally arriving at a ruined residential area.
Most of the buildings here had collapsed. The ruins were covered in strangely glowing moss, emitting a faint green light.
The glow of the clues converged here, pointing to a wall at the end of the street.
Datch approached the wall and reached out to touch it. An information bar appeared.
[Network Channel Entrance, Sealed]
This seemed to be an entrance to a Dark Eldar network channel leading in and out of the Vigilant Star.
The network channel was sealed—a safety net set up by the Dark Eldar to prevent accidental intrusion.
But Datch didn't stop.
Rick's teleport gun could open portals to any dimension.
After setting the coordinates, Datch aimed the gun at the wall and pulled the trigger, opening a green portal of light.
Datch stowed the teleport gun, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.
The mist inside swirled endlessly, and faint strange sounds echoed.
Datch summoned the giant rooster and, following his detective insight, galloped fiercely through the network.
The thick mist slowly parted before Datch and closed behind him.
After more than thirty minutes, the mist cleared, and everything before him suddenly became clear.
He had arrived on an unbelievably wide main road. The winding path had transformed into a boulevard wide enough for dozens of warships to run side by side.
Within this massive passage, warships floated.
Their hulls were covered in fierce spikes and twisted reliefs, every detail exuding an eerie beauty.
Through the game information bar, Datch knew these were Dark Eldar slave-capture ships.
The pitiful souls abducted by the Dark Eldar were waiting to be transported to Commorragh.
Considering that Slaanesh daemons had special attacks against Dark Eldar, Datch took out a Poké Ball and summoned the Masque of Slaanesh.
"Master."
The sexy and passionate Masque of Slaanesh gave a light bow, her voice as beautiful as a nightingale's.
Datch raised his hand and pointed at the slave-capture ship.
"Clean up those Dark Eldar members. Leave a few alive. I want to interrogate them."
The Masque of Slaanesh looked up, her mouth curving upward slightly in joy.
Dealing with the Dark Eldar—this kind of work was truly something she enjoyed.
"Yes, Master."
The Masque of Slaanesh's form flashed for an instant and vanished from the spot.
The next instant, she appeared on the deck of the slave-capture ship.
The Dark Eldar sentries on the deck had only just noticed something was wrong and had no time to react.
A sword flash passed.
A thin line of blood appeared on the sentry's throat.
His eyes widened. Blood sprayed from his throat, and he collapsed, crushed against the deck.
The Masque of Slaanesh danced gracefully on the slave-capture ship. The Dark Eldar who saw her dance stood frozen in place, dazed until their throats were slit.
Dark Eldar raised poison crystal rifles, preparing to shoot the intruder.
The next instant, the Masque of Slaanesh appeared before them, but no matter what they did, they couldn't pull the trigger.
The Masque of Slaanesh's face was pressed against that of the Dark Eldar, her eyes meeting his, half-smiling as she completely captivated him.
The next instant, the Masque of Slaanesh's poison sword pierced his heart.
The Masque of Slaanesh massacred at a rapid pace, even devouring the souls of those Dark Eldar.
"Leave a few alive, leave a few alive."
After boarding the ship, Datch gave orders to the Masque of Slaanesh again and advanced toward the depths of the cabin.
Inside the cabin were many abducted humans, each with expressions filled with terror and unease.
Datch selected soldiers from among them, first rescuing them, then sending others to rescue the rest.
"Honored Nameless One, glory to you."
An officer who recognized Datch's identity performed the "Aquila Salute" toward him.
Seeing this, the others followed suit.
Datch ignored these NPCs and instead exited the cabin to find the Masque of Slaanesh.
By this point, the Masque of Slaanesh had annihilated the enemy, leaving only four survivors.
Datch approached two of the prisoners and got straight to the point without a word.
"You're going to Commorragh."
"Don't even think about it. We absolutely won't take you..."
Before the Dark Eldar prisoner could finish speaking, Datch turned to the Masque of Slaanesh and said, "He's yours now."
Hearing this, the Masque of Slaanesh immediately showed an expression filled with joy.
She pounced on the prisoner, slit his throat with a single sword, then pulled out his soul and devoured it in front of the others.
At this horrifying sight, the three prisoners trembled with terror, their legs almost losing all strength.
"Take me to Commorragh."
"Please, I can do it too."
"I can do it too. If your pet is hungry, you can eat both of them. I won't eat."
Being devoured by a Slaanesh daemon meant enduring eternal torment under that curse.
That was the fate the Dark Eldar feared most.
Even those who had betrayed Asdrubael Vect, the Supreme Lord of Comorragh, did not want to endure such a fate.
After successfully "persuading" the three members of the Dark Eldar to take him to Commorragh,
Datch opened the "Room of Requirement" and sent the rescued humans inside.
Then, using the teleport gun, he opened a teleportation light tunnel back to the Vigilant Star and sent all of them back.
Afterward, he teleported back and officially set out on his journey to Commorragh.
…
PS: Please support me and read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode