It was the first time Axis had arrived at the Holy Terra of this universe, or perhaps, it was more accurate to say the Holy Terra of ten thousand years later.
Upon entering the perimeter of the Sol System, Axis felt a marvelous sensation. It was a perception unique to deities; in the direction of Earth, Holy Terra, there existed a presence of immense power.
Yet, it was a dark consciousness, the will of this world's Corpse Emperor. Even from the orbit of Jupiter, Axis could clearly perceive just how terrifyingly strong that consciousness was.
"This is far too close to Holy Terra. I dare not imagine the consequences if the Aeldari had launched a sudden assault on us in the past; their Webway exit is practically in Jupiter's orbit," Roboute Guilliman sighed.
He resolved that the defenses here would need to be strengthened in the future. Although they were currently allied with the Aeldari, that alliance only extended to the Craftworlders, the Exodites, the Harlequins, and the forces of the Death God. The strongest faction of the Aeldari—the Drukhari, or Dark Eldar—had certainly not allied with the Imperium of Mankind.
They were in a state of absolute hostility. After all, the favorite pastime of the Dark Eldar was pillaging common Imperial citizens and dragging them back to Commorragh to be tortured and tormented.
"Jupiter's orbit? You are thinking too small. The nearest Aeldari Webway route is actually right on Luna," Axis scoffed, interrupting Guilliman's optimistic fantasy. "Please, brother. The Aeldari Webway opens onto the Moon itself. During the War of the Beast, members of a Harlequin Troupe broke into the Imperial Palace on Holy Terra and slaughtered quite a few Custodes. They nearly reached the Corpse Emperor on the Golden Throne."
It was said that the group of Aeldari had intended to deliver an important message to humanity, but the matter ended in blood and silence. In the original timeline, the most recent person to use the Webway to reach Holy Terra was Guilliman himself.
The Lord of the Thirteenth Legion had first been dealt with by that unfilial son, Huron Blackheart of the Red Corsairs, near the Maelstrom. Taken prisoner, he had managed to escape with great difficulty, only to be attacked by Magnus the Red. Battered and exhausted, the Primarch had fled through the Webway system to Luna, finally arriving at Holy Terra.
"Near Luna! Is this true, Yv?" Guilliman asked, looking at his wife, his face pale with shock.
"Why the fuss? The ancient Webway system spans almost the entire galaxy," Yvraine replied calmly. "And your human Emperor once tried to develop a section of the Webway directly connected to Holy Terra. There is indeed a passage on Luna, though it is quite narrow and unsuitable for large spacecraft. Otherwise, we could have taken that route; it would have been much faster."
"That really isn't good news. For humanity, I mean. I am not worried about you, but I am concerned about the Dark Eldar," Guilliman said grimly. "Those beings are not benevolent. I have reviewed the Imperial archives. They are in a state of absolute war with the Imperium. In fact, the reason the Imperium was previously so hostile toward your Craftworlds and Exodites was largely due to the heinous crimes of these Dark Eldar."
The Dark Eldar and the Imperium were like fire and water. Alliances with the Craftworlders were acceptable, but the Drukhari had to be exterminated. Even though his wife was Aeldari, Guilliman would not be soft-hearted on this matter.
"The Drukhari are fallen Aeldari, the degenerate descendants of the ancient empire's nobility. They are not my people, nor are they worthy of becoming my people," Ynnead, the Aeldari God of the Dead, spoke up from the side. "Those twisted monsters are not true members of the Aeldari race."
"Isn't that the truth?" Axis added. "Over ninety-nine percent of the population in Commorragh are not natural-born. They are clones mass-produced by the Haemonculus Covens using genetic cultivation systems."
Axis had already discussed this with Ynnead. They would show no mercy in dealing with the Dark Eldar. Although these creatures claimed to use special methods to avoid having their souls devoured by Slaanesh, what they actually did was more akin to offering sacrifices to She Who Thirsts. They offered the pleasure derived from torture and agony to the Chaos God in exchange for their own temporary survival.
That was the only reason they had survived until now, becoming the strongest single faction among the Aeldari.
The Lords of Commorragh had abandoned their faith and their traditions. They were thoroughly fallen beings that had to be purged. Furthermore, purging these Dark Eldar, which would result in the death of at least seventy percent of the existing Aeldari population, would grant Ynnead immense power.
It was beneficial for the God of the Dead, and beneficial for Axis. Once the Aeldari God grew stronger, he could better trouble Slaanesh. Currently, in the material universe, unless Ynnead encountered Axis, Sanguinius, or Axis's son Kratos, the God of the Dead was effectively invincible.
"Do you need our help clearing out the Dark Eldar?" Guilliman turned and asked.
"No need. This is an internal matter for the Aeldari. I will deal with them myself," the God of the Dead smiled, rejecting Guilliman's proposal. When establishing his authority, he could not allow others to steal the spotlight. Destroying the Dark Eldar would strengthen him and weaken Slaanesh.
Yvraine, standing nearby, sighed softly. Within the ranks of the Ynnari, there were many who had been born in Commorragh. Although she was originally from a Craftworld, she had been very rebellious in her youth.
Upon reaching adulthood, she had abandoned the Path, ran off to become a Corsair, and eventually ended up in Commorragh where she became a gladiator, a Wych in the arenas.
Truthfully, Commorragh was a terrible place, yet it was also the freest place in the universe. If you were strong enough, you could obtain anything there.
If the Death God truly intended to slaughter the entirety of Commorragh, she would find a way to save those she once knew, allowing a portion who were willing to pledge loyalty to Ynnead to survive. As for the rest, there was no helping them; theoretically, they were already worshipers of Slaanesh.
"Let's go, Father, and Uncle Guilliman. We must reach Holy Terra quickly before the garrison reacts," Kratos said.
Their arrival was meant to eliminate the existing military opposition on Holy Terra. It was best to act fast and neutralize the Terran defenders.
"Wait. We are not rebels or a crusade of conquest. We are here to clean out the parasites of the Imperium, so there is no need to sneak around. We will travel to Terra openly and honestly," Guilliman declared.
If Roboute Guilliman were to sneak into Holy Terra, where would he put his dignity?
"Great Father, the High Lords are madmen. If we approach Holy Terra like this, we will absolutely be ambushed. They do not trust us," Marneus Calgar warned. having served as Chapter Master for centuries, Calgar knew exactly what kind of people the current rulers of the Imperium were. How many innocent Space Marines had been forced into rebellion by them, becoming Chaos Space Marines? How many planetary tithes were completely unreasonable?
"It matters not. We shall proceed directly to Holy Terra. The Terra of this moment likely desires our arrival more than you think," Axis said.
"Lord Axis is correct. Humanity currently has no time to worry about us. They are dealing with something far more terrifying," Ynnead observed.
As the only two deities present, he and Axis could sense the catastrophe unfolding on the Throneworld. A massive army of Chaos Daemons had poured out from the Gate of Khaine on Terra. They were launching a frenzied assault, and the human defenders were locked in a bitter struggle, having no spare attention for this incoming fleet.
"What! In that case, Axis, let us go support them immediately!" Kasha exclaimed. Although he was a father from another world, she was still worried. Besides, there was another version of herself on Holy Terra.
"It's alright. Don't worry, we are departing now. We will make it. The Adeptus Custodes of Holy Terra are not to be trifled with, and the Imperial Fists Chapter is there as well," Axis reassured her.
Axis's words struck like thunder within the bridge.
Chaos Daemons had reached Terra? This was a hundred times more deadly than any conspiracy of the High Lords. Guilliman's face instantly turned iron-gray. The composure of the Lord of Ultramar could no longer hide his shock, anger, and anxiety. Holy Terra, the heart of humanity, the dwelling of the Emperor—it must not fall!
"All ships! Condition One! Target: Holy Terra. Proceed at maximum speed, regardless of the cost! Calgar, order all forces to prepare for immediate planetary assault!"
"For the Emperor! For Guilliman!" Calgar's war cry echoed through the fleet's comms system, met with the thunderous response of the Ultramarine successor chapters and the Primaris forces.
The colossal steel torrent accelerated, the massive fleet charging toward the center of the solar system, toward the burning battlefield.
"We can help with this war as well," Ynnead remarked.
Slaanesh's claws were so rampant... Good. He had been looking for a place to vent. Killing some Slaaneshi daemons would serve as collecting interest.
Tens of minutes later, the fleet arrived in high orbit over Holy Terra. Below them, a densely packed army of demons was already visible.
Kratos clenched his fists tight. His hair turned gold, and his entire body radiated a golden light that seemed to blend the Emperor's power with the aura of a Super Saiyan. "Finally, I can stretch my muscles. Let those demons taste true rage!"
Seeing his son so excited, Axis gave him a thumbs up. A true Saiyan should bravely jump from space orbit and thrash demons.
Nodding to his father, Kratos did not even board a drop pod. He leapt directly, plummeting toward the surface of Holy Terra.
Guilliman stood at the prow, looking down. The sight moved even him. The planet that once symbolized human glory was now covered like a festering wound. The golden region of the Imperial Palace still stood, but the entire planetary atmosphere had been stained by Chaos energy into sickly hues of reddish-purple, filthy yellow-green, ominous dark blue, and hallucinogenic pink.
A massive Warp rift lay across the sky above Terra like an ugly scar, with countless demons pouring out of it like locusts, diving toward the ground.
It was strange. Why was Holy Terra suddenly under attack by such a massive force of Chaos Daemons? Had something happened with the Webway?
"Don't worry. It wasn't the Webway system that failed. These demons were prepared in advance. Originally, they had arranged two ambushes along the road to deal with you," Axis explained with a smile.
The forces of Chaos had never dreamed that Guilliman would marry an Aeldari woman and then use the Webway to reach Terra. This method had exceeded everyone's expectations, rendering the ambushes the Chaos armies had set along the Warp routes completely useless. When the news of Guilliman's awakening had spread, Chaos had made extensive preparations. Even Magnus, who had been dormant for millennia, and Fulgrim had mobilized, intending to personally end Guilliman.
Mortarion, the Demon Prince of Nurgle, had even spread the God-Blight near Macragge, though the plague had not yet fully disseminated before Guilliman had already reached Terra. These demons attacking the Throneworld were originally intended as a final gift for Guilliman; now, they had become the first greeting. The fallen Daemon Primarchs who had planned to ambush Guilliman were likely very confused as to why he hadn't shown up yet.
Below, the battle was intense.
The Adeptus Custodes, the Emperor's most loyal golden guardians, had left the inner sanctums of the palace they had guarded for generations. They established defense lines on the surface of Terra that, while tottering, remained unbreakable.
Their golden auramite armor shone brilliantly amidst the filth of Chaos. Every swing of their weapons carried a sacred power that purified evil, annihilating swathes of lesser demons. However, the number of demons was infinite, and powerful Greater Daemons ravaged the battlefield.
Bloodthirsters of Khorne wielded massive axes, shaking the earth with every strike; Lords of Change of Tzeentch wove vicious conspiracies and spells at the edges of the fray; Great Unclean Ones of Nurgle spread fatal corruption; and Keepers of Secrets of Slaanesh tore at mortal minds with twisted enchantments.
Though the Custodes were mighty, they were numerically inferior. Their defense lines contracted, shattered, and reformed under the repeated impacts of the demonic tide, suffering heavy casualties.
Just then, a golden figure suddenly descended onto the battlefield. He radiated a golden psychic power, an energy that moved every Custodian present, for it was the power of the one they served, the power from the Golden Throne.
Trajann Valoris, Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes, revealed a look of shock. Who is this young man?
Kratos let out a cold snort.
Slowly spreading his hands, he formed the golden light into a hundred-meter-long giant sword, then ruthlessly cleaved it into the midst of the demons.
With a deafening boom, countless demons were reduced to ash by the strike. Then, dancing in the sky, he unleashed a barrage of golden light bullets from his body, bombarding the demonic horde.
The Custodes watched, completely dumbfounded, as Kratos unleashed his divine might.
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ps?