Datch reached through the projection screen and grabbed the screaming sorcerer by the throat, dragging him out in front of the screen.
The ear-splitting screams suddenly stopped.
Seeing the hand emerging from the black-and-white footage, the sorcerer's eyes filled with unparalleled terror, like an ordinary person witnessing a ghost.
The staff brimming with evil power slipped from his grasp. The daemon eye at its tip let out a terrified shriek.
The moment it hit the ground, seven or eight legs sprouted from beneath the daemon eye and it scuttled away into the distance.
Don't mess with unknown beings!
"There's a saying: run fast and you'll reach a better world. Run slow and you'll die quickly."
Master, I'm not disloyal. It's just that the Nameless One is too terrifying.
The sorcerer desperately pounded at the hand gripping his throat, trying to break free.
But the hand was as hard as iron. No matter how hard he struggled, it did not budge.
Datch stared at the struggling NPC, then slowly clenched his fist.
A crisp sound of bones shattering echoed, sending a chill down the spine.
Finally, with a sharp crack, the sorcerer's head lolled to one side.
Datch crawled out of the projected image and tossed the sorcerer's corpse aside.
The traitors nearby witnessed the scene and were struck speechless. They stood frozen for a long time.
Datch wasted no words and made no unnecessary movements.
He took the Infinity Gauntlet from his game inventory and used the power of the Space Stone to open a spatial portal, from which golden light erupted.
On the other side of the portal was the Throne Room of the Terra Palace.
Through the spatial channel, the Emperor could be clearly seen seated upon the Golden Throne.
Trajann and the Custodians stared in complete shock at the sight before them.
Brother, if you want us to work, just say so.
Why open a portal straight into the Throne Room for no reason?! What exactly are you trying to do?!
Since the Great Crusade, the only time rebels had managed to breach the Palace was during Horus's rebellion.
Now the situation had truly descended into chaos. The Nameless One could open teleport portals whenever he pleased.
The Emperor was practically becoming a tourist attraction for Chaos traitors!
Even the Emperor seated upon the Throne looked stunned.
Another portal already? It hasn't been long since the last one opened.
"What does it mean to take the Emperor hostage and give orders to the Custodians?" This is exactly what it means.
The 13th Primarch needed a title to command the Custodians, but an unknown figure had been given a mission that allowed him to deploy the Custodians without any room for discussion.
"Corpse King! It's the Corpse King!" a Chaos Space Marine shouted. "That's the King…"
The others were equally excited. Passing through the spatial portal would let them enter the Throne Room — a place even Horus's rebellion had failed to breach.
Before the traitors could recover from their shock, Trajann charged through the portal.
As he activated, the long-handled battle axe in the Imperial Custodian Commander's hand became wreathed in arcs of bright electricity.
The electrical arcs crackled, and the scent of burning flesh filled the air.
His speed was immense, leaving multiple afterimages across the battlefield.
The moment a Chaos Space Marine tried to fire his weapon, Trajann's axe split the traitor's skull in two before his finger could even fully squeeze the trigger.
The helmet shattered into pieces. Blood sprayed outward as the corpse crashed heavily to the ground.
Another traitor lunged from the side, swinging a roaring chainsword toward Trajann's back.
Without turning around, Trajann merely shifted slightly and brought his axe down in a swift arc, cleaving the rebel in half at the waist.
Upper and lower body separated. Blood and viscera erupted violently from the cut.
The Imperial Custodians charged in formation and immediately unleashed a barrage of fire at the roaring enemies.
The moment the triggers were pulled, a storm of explosives erupted.
Everything in their path was torn to shreds in an instant.
Traitor bodies were ripped apart. Blood and flesh flew everywhere. Walls of blood and meat were blown away as bodily fluids splattered across the bridge.
Screams, explosions, tearing metal, and splattering flesh mixed into a cacophony that echoed deafeningly inside the bridge.
When the smoke cleared, the entire bridge was buried under corpses.
Even Chaos Space Marines blessed by the gods had been reduced to mangled remains.
Blood flowed across the floor in spreading streams.
Star Stealer Haarken, Abaddon's right hand, who had just been shouting "I'll be back!" moments earlier, was now gripped by terror at the sight.
The terror of the Nameless One had already become legend among the forces of Chaos. Even the gods found him a massive headache.
Merely hearing the name "Nameless One" caused countless warp daemons to pale and flee in fear.
How could the Chaos Gods possibly defeat such an opponent?!
"Stop!!"
Haarken roared and ordered his elite guards to charge.
These were veteran soldiers who had served him for millennia, blessed by the Chaos Gods. Their heavy Terminator armor was etched with blasphemous runes.
In any normal battle, their presence would have struck terror into countless Imperial troops.
Unfortunately, they were facing the Imperial Custodians.
Even thick Terminator armor was no better than paper before the Custodians' weapons.
A sharp halberd pierced through a traitor's chest. Concentrated explosive fire tore his limbs apart.
The moment a Chaos Space Marine raised his chainsword, he was impaled by a Custodian's halberd.
Bright red blood ran down the halberd's shaft and dripped onto the floor.
With a casual swing, an Imperial Custodian sent another Chaos Space Marine flying. The traitor slammed into a wall with a heavy thud, his fate unknown.
Another guard leaped into the air, raising his axe to strike, only to be bisected mid-air by a Custodian's power armor swing.
The severed limbs flew far from the momentum, creating a gruesome scene.
The fierce battle lasted only thirty seconds.
The entire bridge, once packed with traitors, had been completely annihilated — whether they were Chaos Space Marines or not.
Only Abaddon's right hand, Star Stealer Haarken, remained.
The Chaos Lord gripped a spear wreathed in bright electricity in one hand.
His other hand was fitted with razor-sharp steel claws capable of easily tearing through both flesh and steel.
Turbine thrusters mounted on his back hummed softly, ready to ignite at any moment.
The eight-pointed spiked rack on his back was decorated with the skulls of enemies he had personally slain.
Haarken took a deep breath and charged straight at Trajann, the Imperial Custodian Commander.
The turbine thrusters roared as the blades spun at terrifying speed, propelling his body forward at blistering velocity.
The spear thrust toward Trajann's throat while the claws traced a lethal arc toward his flank.
His attacks were fierce and deadly, each strike carrying lethal intent.
Trajann charged forward. Battle axe and spear clashed violently.
Clang… Clang…
The sounds of impact rang out without pause.
Shockwaves spread in all directions. Chunks of flesh and blood coating the distant walls were violently stripped away. Fragments of corpses on the ground were torn apart and scattered.
After several clashes, Haarken felt his arms going numb.
Clang!
Another loud impact rang out.
The spear flew from Haarken's hands, spinning several times in the air before slamming heavily into the thick meat-covered wall in the distance.
Star Stealer Haarken tried to resist, but Trajann kicked him away. His heavy body crashed into the wall with a dull thud.
As he tried to rise, Custodians on both sides pinned him down, forcing him to his knees and rendering him immobile.
Haarken struggled to lift his head. His gaze passed over Trajann, who held the long-handled battle axe, and landed on Datch.
Who the hell are you?
The war between the Imperium and Chaos had lasted ten thousand years.
The Imperium had repeatedly crushed Abaddon's Chaos forces through sheer scale, yet thanks to the Four Gods and the power of the Warp, the traitors remained undefeated.
No matter how many times they were beaten, they always returned.
But the appearance of the Nameless One had completely overturned this balance.
The foolish servants of the Corpse King still stubbornly believed the Nameless One was the Emperor's incarnation.
Only those who swore loyalty to the Chaos Gods truly understood how terrifying this hostile force was.
The Emperor's power was immense, yet it still operated within the laws of the universe and was not invincible.
Horus's rebellion had nearly claimed the Emperor's life.
But the Nameless One's power had no limits, and his abilities had no upper bound. He could do anything.
To become an enemy of such an existence was to feel nothing but despair.
Datch walked past the scattered corpses on the ground and stood before Star Stealer Haarken, looking down at him from above.
The silent Custodians stood guard in two rows on either side of him, like the most loyal protectors.
(Emperor: This scene feels familiar… Isn't this my grand scene from ten thousand years ago?)
Ah, I've been replaced!
Due to genetic seed influence, Haarken's appearance somewhat resembled the Night Haunter, Curze.
Who the hell are you?
Despite the pressure from the Imperial Custodians, Haarken raised his head and stared fixedly at Datch, demanding an answer.
Seeing the NPC's incredibly realistic expression of pain, Datch's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I won't tell you. Figure it out yourself."
Trajann and the other Custodians twitched the corners of their mouths.
The Nameless One remained as abstract as ever.
Haarken's eyes widened. Clearly, he had not expected this kind of response.
As expected of the Lord of the Absurd.
Would a normal person even give an answer like that?!
Datch raised the Moon Sword in his hand and brought it down, severing Star Stealer Haarken's head.
Thus ended the evil life of this Chaos Lord.
Meanwhile, on the void battlefield outside, the situation had turned decisively in the Imperium's favor. The Chaos fleet attempting to retreat was being slaughtered like lambs led to the slaughterhouse.
On the bridge of the Imperial Hammer, Prisca's eyes were glued to the holographic footage.
The image showed the Chaos fleet's flagship, the Cursed Pioneer, exploding.
It seemed the Nameless One had succeeded in killing Star Stealer Haarken.
"Commit the entire fleet. Full assault. No prisoners."
The moment Prisca finished speaking, the Imperial fleet's bombardment intensified.
The Chaos battleship Bloodhound was simultaneously targeted by three Imperial vessels.
Blinding energy lances struck its hull at the same time, overloading its shields.
This was followed by over ten minutes of concentrated fire.
Explosions tore the ship's armor to pieces. Its internal reactor triggered a violent secondary explosion.
Scorching flames erupted from inside the hull, ripping the entire vessel apart.
Another Chaos battleship, the HMS Poxslave, attempted to escape but was hit in the stern engine section by an Imperial warship.
Now powerless, it became an easy target. After a barrage of fire, it exploded, transforming into a short-lived yet magnificent sun in the endless void.
One after another, famous Chaos warships such as the Flame of Change, Dark Fang, and Doomsday Messenger sank.
Explosive flames burned brightly in the air before fading. Debris scattered everywhere like a grand fireworks display.
The remaining Chaos warships had completely lost their will to fight.
They stopped organizing counterattacks and stopped covering for one another. They simply fled desperately.
The Imperial fleet relentlessly pursued these traitors, destroying enemy ships one after another with concentrated fire.
They chased them all the way to the edge of the galaxy, near the Great Rift, before finally stopping.
The Battle of the Colossal Rift ended in an overwhelming victory for the Human Imperium.
"We won."
When Prisca declared victory, the bridge of the Imperial Hammer erupted in deafening cheers.
The crew brought out their finest wine to celebrate.
At the same time, Datch received the mission completion notification.
[Mission Complete! Congratulations on supporting Imperial Navy Admiral Prisca, securing victory in the Battle of the Colossal Rift, and eliminating Star Stealer Haarken.]
[Quest Rewards: 3,000 EXP, 3,000 Points, +800 Reputation, Gotham Joker Transformation Trial Card ×5]
As he thought about it, the quest reward item appeared in his hand.
It was an exquisitely crafted card. On the front was printed a clown with green hair, a red outfit, and a mouth split in two.
The figure's face was covered in pale makeup, and his blood-red lips curved into a mad smile.
[Item: Gotham Joker Transformation Experience Card (from the DC Universe)]
Using this card transforms you into the most terrifying villain in Gotham — the Joker.
Let out a mad laugh at your enemies and make them tremble at the mere sight of you.
Comment: "Today was the worst day ever, so let's have some fun."
Datch glanced at the card and decided to use it without hesitation.
The card floated into the air and disappeared into his body as streaks of light.
The golden armor of the Imperial Custodians vanished, replaced by a red suit worn over a green vest.
His face was covered in corpse-like pale makeup. His lips were painted blood-red, and his mouth was split open all the way to both cheeks.
His hair had turned emerald green and hung messily over his forehead.
"Best game costume ever! If I combine this with the DJ turntable and Michael Jackson's Crazy Dancer suit, it'll definitely look insanely cool!"
"When the time comes, I'll have the Imperial Custodians fight on the front lines while I hold concerts in the rear. I'm going to be super cool."
Datch was very satisfied with the reward item.
Honestly, buying the Warhammer Universe had definitely been worth it.
He could try anything he wanted.
…
Bridge of the Vengeful Spirit
Abaddon sat upon the throne in silence for a long time as he received news of the Battle of the Colossal Rift.
His right hand, Star Stealer Haarken, had been killed by the Nameless One.
After a while, Abaddon's gaze fell upon the hand equipped with Horus's Claw.
This weapon had been inherited from his father, Horus.
It had once torn apart both Saint Giles and the Emperor's body — the most terrifying weapon in the universe.
Yet even with such a weapon, he could not harm the Nameless One.
Back on the icy moon of Claras, he had used this claw to tear the Nameless One's body apart.
At the time, the Nameless One had not summoned many creatures and was not particularly strong. He could have been defeated easily.
But no matter how many times the opponent was defeated, he always returned.
"Father… what should I do?"
Abaddon was completely lost. His thoughts wandered back to the days he had spent with Horus.
He could not think of any way to defeat the Nameless One.
No matter what schemes or strategies he employed, he could not eradicate them.
Even if he banished them into a temporal rift, they could travel to the past and return to the present.
Abaddon collapsed onto the throne with a weary expression.
This war was hopeless.
Whoever wanted it could have it.
It was over.
He just wanted it to end quickly.
He was truly tired.
He would never fall in love again.
On the bridge, everyone remained silent, afraid of angering the Warmaster and not daring to speak.
Abaddon's chief sorcerer stood not far away with his head bowed, equally afraid to make a sound.
He had promised the Warmaster that using a Chaos artifact to banish the Nameless One would ensure he never returned.
And the result?
Not only had the other party returned, but he had also influenced the past and enraged the gods.
The Warmaster had nearly lost the protection of the gods.
This Nameless One had gained such immense power that he could ignore the constraints of time and freely wander through its flow.
Even the Chaos Gods might not possess such power.
Just then, Vashtorr emerged from the shadows.
His body was tall and twisted, a fusion of metal and flesh.
His frame was covered in gears, cables, and pipes. Every step he took was accompanied by the sound of rotating gears.
This demigod who ruled the domain of the Soul Forge held countless secrets and knowledge.
"I have a plan to deal with the Nameless One," his voice was harsh and high-pitched, like metal scraping. "If we can unlock the ancient treasure, dealing with the Nameless One will be as easy as eating breakfast."
Abaddon raised his head and stared fixedly at Vashtorr.
"What ancient treasure?"
Vashtorr's expression turned manic. This secret was extremely important to his ability to become a god.
"The ancient sages once attempted to ascend to a higher dimension and leave this universe. No one knows how far they reached, but they came extremely close to ascending."
"The secret vault should contain not only the secret arts to become a god, but also weapons capable of destroying anything. If we can open that vault, we might be able to destroy the Nameless One."
Abaddon pondered for a moment before asking, "What do you need?"
Vashtorr smiled. "The plan to collect the keys is nearly complete. All that remains is to find the three most important fragments needed to synthesize the key and prepare to unlock the ancient sacred treasure."
"Where are these important fragments you mentioned?" Abaddon pressed.
"The first one we must obtain is the Tuchucha Engine inside the Stone Fortress," Vashtorr said.
"Then let's find a way to seize it somehow," Abaddon replied. "We'll launch a full-scale attack and steal the Tuchucha Engine while the Lions aren't guarding the Stone Fortress."
"The Nameless One will definitely intervene," Vashtorr said. "We must find a way to divert their attention and buy enough time."
Abaddon paced back and forth for a while before nodding.
"I will order those combat units to launch simultaneous raids on various orbital transport stations, forcing the Imperium to dispatch reinforcements."
"This way, the Nameless One will be busy helping the civilians in grave danger and won't have time to concern themselves with the Stone Fortress."
"This plan is excellent."
…
After the Battle of the Colossal Rift, Datch continued fighting without rest.
Riding his giant rooster and using Rick's Teleport Gun, he traveled across various worlds in the Nachmund Corridor.
To support planets located at the edge of the Great Rift, the Sanctuary Wall Project had been launched to assist local residents by constructing Blackstone mechanisms that could suppress warp storms, along with Imperial statues.
They also helped the natives of those planets restore ancient facilities left behind by their ancestors.
This improved productivity and living conditions, allowing regional residents to become self-sufficient through sufficient resources and equipment.
In addition to helping the Human Imperium strengthen its power against Chaos, Datch had also accepted many missions to fight xenos.
For example, dealing with the Ork warlord Gulgrog, who had triggered a new WAAAGH!.
…
…
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