Chapter 397: The Enemy Can Go There, And So Can We!
13th Day, 10th Month, 817.M41
"In addition to eliminating three Greater Daemons, this operation also requires testing multiple projects, including whether the Raven Guard Legion of the Damned has an advantage in direct conflict with daemons of the Four Gods, application testing of Grey Knights units in direct combat against warp daemons, stress testing of protected psyker units against daemons, etc..."
After one hundred and sixty-nine days and nights, following the last phase of adaptability training for the warriors, the War Council's briefing repeated constantly in the comms of relevant personnel. Every unit commander received the detailed plan they were to execute.
Arthur led Aglaia and several members screened by the Assassin Temples along the edge of the pathway.
"What do you think of them?"
Arthur asked.
Beside the Grand Master Inquisitor was a young apprentice.
After many years, this Inquisitor who once aspired to a peaceful retirement seemed to have found her successor.
This apprentice was born on an industrial world within the Dawnstar Sector, a natural psyker with unique golden eyes. Lucky enough to encounter the Dawnstar Sector's reforms, and capable enough herself, she successfully entered the Inquisition forces under the Dawnstar Sector after twenty-six years of effort.
"No opinion, my lord."
Aglaia replied. As they stepped into the fully operational military control zone, the gate forged of Blackstone closed behind her.
They crossed the access bridge, passed Spirit-Forged Titans disguised as statues, and joined the busy flow of people on the main road. The Tower of Dominion appeared before them, wrapped in gravity shields, with weapon turrets hanging from every platform and ledge.
Above their heads, the sky was a pulsating purple like a living thing, intertwined with the black cosmic background.
The apprentice could almost see ripples of light on the tower, and in the southwest, deep green light flashed alternately in the sky.
"They are a bit terrifying."
Aglaia finally admitted.
"Terrifying?"
"I used the wrong word," Aglaia pondered, then said: "It's a kind of eclecticism, a denial of the basic logic of the world, making it somewhat unacceptable to ordinary people, like—"
"A miracle?"
Arthur added.
"Exactly. Although as the parties involved, I imagine you lords do not like such a title, but that is the reality."
"Because this universe is full of despair, they are dedicated to finding things that can provide hope."
Arthur replied, acting relatively indifferent: "This is normal. Any human, even including us, is looking for imagery that puts our minds at ease."
After speaking, he pointed to the surrounding buildings. These buildings were constructed relying on the triskaidekaphobia-defying principle of thirteen, deliberately connecting to thirteen in almost every element.
Speaking of superstition, this group was quite superstitious, liking to pick an auspicious day for everything.
"But this does not mean humanity should exclude one of their individuals."
The apprentice who had remained silent suddenly spoke, golden eyes watching the surging warp tides in the sky.
"You don't want the Emperor to help humanity?"
Aglaia replied.
"I hope He will."
The young apprentice said: "I think He will, but not because He is a god."
Aglaia nodded.
They walked on, crossing the central plaza, passing through the crowd where souls and entities intertwined. The echoes from the warp were isolated with the contact of the Lord of Knights, turning into clear, slow images.
"Did I offend you just now?"
The young apprentice asked.
"What?"
Aglaia was surprised, then shook her head.
The Dawnbreakers welcomed questioning. With the Regent and the Lord Protector as examples, as long as it wasn't picking bones from an egg, the Dawnbreakers had sufficient patience for questioning.
"No, I just think you are very much like the old me."
"When were you like that?"
Aglaia replied: "Of course, when I knew nothing about the world."
At that time, the thirst for knowledge conquered everything, believing everything could be explained, thus leaving little soil for faith to exist.
"Then what made this belief disappear?"
The apprentice looked like a curious baby, pressing: "Witnessing so-called miracles?"
"It didn't disappear."
Aglaia stopped and turned to look at the young woman.
"I don't spread so-called faith now either, because essentially it is more like some kind of spiritual comfort, causing the truth belonging to this universe to be easily ignored due to the cruel status quo of the galaxy."
"Truth?"
"You want to know the truth?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Religion is a shackle engraved into our thoughts, a plague that has imprisoned us for tens of thousands of years. Faith almost destroyed us, countless times."
Aglaia recalled the classics she had seen: "However, humanity always fails to learn lessons from history, yet due to suffering brought by various aspects, flocks to those indescribable things like ducks. This binds us and also brings us countless real harms."
"Of course."
The apprentice nodded matter-of-factly.
"That is exactly what scared me, the reason why I once couldn't help but want to retreat."
Aglaia glanced back at the other: "Because it's true. Daemons, Evil Gods, are all real. At that time, I seemed to understand the meaning of the Imperial Truth's existence."
"Oh."
The other nodded again.
Aglaia asked: "If we must believe in the real existence of gods and daemons, how much suffering do people have to endure?"
"Countless."
The apprentice replied decisively.
They arrived at the top of the Tower of Dominion. Here, the warp tides were visible to the naked eye. Relying on powerful spiritual perception, even without the Lord of Knights unfolding his influence, they could see the creatures surging within.
Daemons. As long as human cognition of them does not exist, their interference with realspace is very limited. However, tragically, daemons do exist in reality.
They exist in the warp, and humanity can only rely on the warp for FTL travel.
This forms a paradox difficult to break. Daemons really exist, and the object of human faith really exists. Established under such conditions, these greedy hunters will only become stronger and stronger, inflicting endless wounds on humanity.
This is the truth of the world.
Too despairing. How can humanity deny something that actually exists and must be contacted?
"But now, we will tell the world another truth."
Beside them, Arthur, who had been silent for a long time due to tactical communication with Azrael, spoke up.
"What is it, my lord?"
The apprentice pressed, as if confirming something.
"Go find it."
An order, issued by Arthur, fell into Aglaia's hands, then passed to the apprentice.
The apprentice fell silent, heading to the designated post with many psykers under the leadership of her mentor.
Arthur stepped forward.
An invisible domain unfolded.
Outside 'Chronos Key', the waves of the Sea of Souls began to surge.
On the surface of 'Chronos Key', creations of realspace gradually gathered and solidified.
In the gap between the two, a veil slowly appeared.
It belonged neither to reality nor the Sea of Souls, nor to this universe.
It endowed this planet with a brand new law.
A law truly belonging to reality.
Giving death equally to all living things.
Below the tower, the war machines that had been accumulating for a long time began to turn.
Troops under the stars were scattered like chess pieces, ridgelines flowing with the sculpted wind like frozen waves.
Massive Spirit-Forged Titans flanked the road, responsible for guarding key facilities.
Custodians and Dark Angels listed among them were ready, waiting to defend the pass about to be torn open.
The remaining Grey Knights, Sisters of Silence, and psykers, the shadows wandering in the warp, these existences carrying and accepting the expectations and tasks of countless people were already prepared.
Hum—
Bright radiance suddenly shot down from the cloudless sky. The sky of this planet, filled with scorching colors, began to turn green, becoming more and more viscous.
Suddenly.
The apprentice subconsciously felt hot.
She began to sweat, feeling her clothes were unsuitable for this place.
Arthur lowered his head, the blade falling into the slot at the top of the tower, like a starting key.
His gaze fell uncontrollably on these excellent warriors.
The death brought by another war was sad, eventually turning into sudden anger.
"Take up arms, warriors."
The voice of the Lord of Knights began to echo in every warrior's ear.
For more than ten thousand years, the Imperium has been repeatedly defeated by Chaos, leading to wasted momentum and lost national prestige.
This situation must be completely reversed from now on.
"Let us interrogate this world."
Arthur looked up, watching the approaching fleet of the Pyrewing in the sky, and the fire meteors falling from the heavens.
"Let us witness another truth personally."
This operation was to tell the world and daemons clearly that from now on, offense and defense have changed places.
The enemy can go there.
And so can I!
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