If the Flesh Tearers were merely sinking into the abyss of self-destruction due to the curse of the Black Rage, then the Blood Knights Chapter had completely fallen under the torment of the Blood Thirst, eventually being branded as traitors by the Imperial authorities.
As inheritors of Sanguinius's noble bloodline, the Blood Knights, like other Blood Angels successor Chapters, constantly fought against the dual curses within their Gene-Seed—the maddening Black Rage and the unending Blood Thirst.
However, fate was particularly cruel to them; among all Chapters that inherited the Blood Angels's Gene-Seed, the Blood Knights's craving for blood was the most intense, and they were the most easily overwhelmed by the Blood Thirst.
The Blood Knights once launched a galaxy-spanning crusade in the name of righteousness, vowing to cleanse all heretics and xenos within the Imperium's borders.
Yet, as the crusade progressed, the Chapter members gradually lost their sanity under the erosion of the Blood Thirst.
They began to slaughter indiscriminately, friend and foe alike, perpetrating countless horrific atrocities on the battlefield.
These insane acts eventually led to their judgment by the Terra High Lords Council, and in early M41, the Blood Knights Chapter was officially declared a renegade Chapter.
In other words, this Chapter that had come to answer the call of the crusade was a renegade Chapter.
But what was even more lamentable was that even bearing the stigma of traitors, the Blood Knights still held firm to their loyalty to the Emperor.
Some Chapters disregarded the High Lord's judgment and maintained close ties with the Blood Knights, but others viewed them as traitors and were keen on purging them.
Because of this, the Blood Knights adopted a solitary combat style; they deliberately kept their distance from all potential allies, partly to avoid harming allies when the Blood Thirst struck, and more importantly, to protect these Chapters from the Inquisition's scrutiny.
This self-imposed exile made this already cursed Chapter appear even more solitary and tragic in the galaxy.
This also plunged the Blood Knights Chapter into an extremely difficult predicament—they not only lacked crucial supplies like weapons, equipment, ammunition, and Gene-Seed, but even the basic manpower to maintain the Chapter's operations was stretched thin.
As a Chapter officially marked as "renegade" by the Imperium, they lost most of their supply channels and could not receive regular support from Forge Worlds and the Imperial Department of Military Affairs like other orthodox Chapters.
Even worse, they suffered a severe shortage of even the most basic Chapter serfs, which directly threatened the Chapter's sustained combat capability.
According to the codex astartes, a Space Marine Chapter's official combat strength is indeed limited to around one thousand Astartes Warrior, but this certainly does not mean that the Chapter's total personnel is only that many.
In fact, to maintain the combat effectiveness of these one thousand Space Marine, a Chapter often requires the support of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of auxiliary personnel.
Just the ship crews, Tech-Priest, logistics personnel, and others on warships alone consume vast human resources, not to mention the Chapter serfs specifically responsible for maintaining weapons, equipment, manufacturing ammunition, and servicing Power Armor.
Donning and maintaining a suit of Power Armor is itself an extremely complex undertaking.
Even though Dora Khaur's improved MK10 Power Armor has achieved modular donning and can adjust armor modes according to different battlefield needs, its maintenance and operation still require the assistance of a large number of skilled serfs.
Normally, each Space Marine requires at least seven or eight serfs specifically responsible for his Power Armor—including daily maintenance, pre-battle donning, post-battle cleaning, servo-system calibration, and other tedious tasks.
Without the support of these logistics personnel, the Space Marine's combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced.
The sources of Chapter serfs are diverse.
Some are mortal retainers who have served the Chapter for generations, steeped in Chapter culture from a young age, and are loyal and reliable; others are those selected who failed to pass the new recruit trials.
Not all Chapters, like some extremist factions, execute or abandon failures.
Some Chapters—especially the relatively moderate successor Chapters—integrate these failed candidates into the Chapter's auxiliary forces, allowing them to continue serving the Chapter as serfs or auxiliary troops.
These individuals might not compare to true Astartes Warrior on the battlefield, but they can still undertake logistical support, light combat, and even reconnaissance missions, becoming an indispensable force for the Chapter.
However, the Blood Knights Chapter struggled to maintain even such basic manpower.
Having been condemned as renegades by the High Lords of Terra, they could not openly recruit serfs or selected candidates like other Chapters, which kept the Blood Knights's logistical system on the verge of collapse, further exacerbating their predicament.
Moreover, compared to other Astartes Chapter, the Blood Angels and their successor Chapters have a special and cruel requirement—blood serfs.
These carefully selected mortal serfs must not only perform the duties of ordinary Chapter serfs but also be ready at any moment to offer their lives to alleviate the Blood Thirst of Sanguinius's sons.
This unique "blood sacrifice" tradition makes the Blood Angels lineage of Chapters' logistical system more complex and burdensome than other Chapters.
Beside Chapter Master Dante, there was once a loyal old blood serf who served for an entire century.
This nameless hero eventually offered his own life when Dante, having not consumed blood for a long time, fell into extreme weakness.
As the hot blood flowed into Dante's parched throat, the millennia-old Chapter Master regained his strength, and the old serf completed his final service with his life.
Such tragic sacrifices are common in the Blood Angels Chapter; every blood serf knows their ultimate fate.
It must be specifically stated that the Blood Angels's Blood Thirst is by no means a simple physiological need.
This curse, originating from the Primarch's Gene-Seed, is far more than just a craving for blood; it is a spiritual hunger accompanied by a killing impulse.
Sanguinius's sons must take the victim's life while drinking their blood; to some extent, it can even be understood as devouring the victim's soul.
Only through this complete "hunt-and-drink" ritual can the torment of the Blood Thirst be temporarily suppressed, sometimes even granting a brief surge of power.
This also explains why simply drinking blood cannot inhibit the Blood Thirst, only temporarily alleviate it.
Blood Angels who fail to satisfy their Blood Thirst for extended periods will gradually undergo terrifying mutations.
Their skin will become pale and withered, like weathered parchment; their canines will grow uncontrollably, eventually piercing their lower jaw; their limbs will strangely elongate, and their joints will twist and deform; their faces will become increasingly grotesque, eventually resembling the legendary vampiric monsters.
This terrifying process of degeneration can only be reversed through fresh hunting and blood consumption.
For this, every Blood Angels successor Chapter must maintain a considerable force of blood serfs.
Some Chapters regularly execute the population of their homeworld through rituals to obtain blood sustenance; others establish complex blood serf breeding systems, raising specialized blood donors from childhood...
But no matter what, no descendant of Sanguinius can truly escape this curse—even a legendary Librarian like Mephisto, who successfully overcame the Black Rage, must periodically succumb to the instinct of the Blood Thirst.
Precisely because of this, when the Blood Knights Chapter was declared renegade, they faced not only the cessation of regular supplies but, more fatally, the drying up of their blood serf sources.
Without a stable supply of blood sustenance, the Chapter members' Blood Thirst symptoms worsened daily, leading to more uncontrolled atrocities, a vicious cycle that dragged them deeper into this path of no return.
However, this time, when Mephisto brought the sanctus wine, capable of suppressing the Blood Thirst, back to Baal, Dante immediately thought of the Blood Knights struggling in the darkness.
He knew that no other Sanguinius's sons needed this salvation more than these cursed brothers.
He specifically ordered a secret shipment of sanctus wine to the Blood Knights and invited them to Rostov—this was not just a precious gift, but also represented the Blood Angels's main Chapter's unbroken fraternal bond with this renegade Chapter.
The Blood Knights did not immediately respond to the summons due to multiple complex considerations.
Firstly, as a renegade Chapter explicitly wanted by the Imperial authorities, every movement they made carried immense risk.
Without orders from the Imperial Department of Military Affairs or transit permits, they had to move cautiously like ghosts in the shadows, avoiding the patrol routes of the Imperial fleet, a situation that made their travel speed far less smooth than that of orthodox Chapters.
A deeper reason was the Blood Knights's lingering shame and self-reproach.
Chapter Master Yorl and his brothers always believed that their disfigured appearance, tormented by the Blood Thirst, was a desecration of Sanguinius's noble bloodline.
They were unwilling to appear in Rostov in such a disgraceful state, as if shamelessly begging for mercy from their brother Chapters.
The Astartes Monks' sense of honor made them yearn to earn salvation as warriors—they hoped to step forward when Rostov faced a true crisis, proving their worthiness of this grace through military achievements and blood.
After all, Space Marine are honor-bound; they longed to provide timely assistance to Alex when Rostov faced a crisis or problem, thereby earning the sanctus wine that could suppress the Blood Thirst.
Furthermore, centuries of solitary habits also influenced their decision.
Even knowing Dante's goodwill, the Blood Knights instinctively maintained their distance from other Chapters.
They feared that their renegade name would implicate allies, and even more, that they would harm innocents when the Blood Thirst struck; this self-exiled mentality had been deeply imprinted in the soul of every Blood Knights.
The stalemate was only broken when the Flesh Tearers arrived in the Mariupol Sector.
As a brother Chapter similarly plagued by curses, Chapter Master Gabriel Seth personally had a long talk with Chapter Master Yorl.
The two Chapter Master finally reached a consensus—rather than sinking alone in the darkness, it was better to seize what might be their last chance at salvation.
Thus, with the Flesh Tearers as witnesses and companions, the Blood Knights finally mustered the courage to appear before Alex in the most solemn manner.
They shed their former frenzy and gloom, displaying a long-lost warrior's dignity, ready to face this potentially fate-changing moment in a new light.
However, both Chapters that came to support were in very poor condition.
The Flesh Tearers had only four fully-manned companies left, while the Blood Knights were slightly better off, but still only had six companies that were not fully-manned.
The combined forces of the two Chapters barely amounted to a normal-sized Space Marine Chapter.
If not for the miraculous efficacy of the sanctus wine, which restored sanity to the warriors in their respective Chapters who had fallen into the Black Rage and been assigned to the Death Company, adding approximately three companies of combat power, these two beleaguered Chapters would probably struggle to meet even the most basic operational needs.
However, compared to the insufficient troop strength, what Alex found even more troublesome was the infamous reputation of these two Chapters within the Imperium.
The Flesh Tearers were known for their brutal bloodlust, and the Blood Knights bore the stigma of "renegades."
He could imagine the uproar and protests that would arise when other Imperial forces discovered they had to fight alongside such "allies."
"Two Chapter Master, on behalf of the Inquisition, I acknowledge and thank you for stepping forward at the Imperium's moment of greatest need." He paused, his gaze shifting between the two Astartes, who exuded a bloody aura: "Especially the Blood Knights Chapter; even bearing the name of renegades, you still hold firm to your loyalty to the Emperor. This loyalty is deeply moving.
But considering your Chapter's... peculiar reputation within the Imperium, I must ask, did Chapter Master Dante have any specific instructions or arrangements for this journey?"
The atmosphere in the room immediately became heavy.
Chapter Master Yorl's face, pale from prolonged Blood Thirst, twitched slightly, while Gabriel Seth unconsciously clenched his fists—they both heard the implicit concerns and distrust in the Inquisitor's words.
The two Chapter Master exchanged a complex look, their eyes containing anger at being questioned, resignation at their own stigma, and a hint of worry about possibly being ostracized again.
"Chapter Master Dante gave us no special instructions! But we are Sanguinius's sons! The blood of angels flows in our veins!" Chapter Master Seth's fist slammed against his chest, emitting a dull metallic thud: "The Flesh Tearers will wash away their shame with blood and sacrifice! We will pile up glory with the heads of our enemies! The Imperium and humanity shall be guarded by our blades!"
Chapter Master Yorl slowly raised his head, his pale face appearing particularly grim in the dim light.
"Inquisitor, the Blood Knights request a crusade of atonement." He spoke slowly, a beast-like growl seemingly suppressed in his throat, his fingers tightening slightly, his knuckles cracking softly, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Give us a chance, and we will use the blood of our enemies to prove our loyalty! We shall not fail Sanguinius's blood!"
"Not fail Sanguinius's blood..." He repeated the phrase softly, shaking his head, his tone tinged with helplessness, yet subtly revealing a hint of expectation.
"Very well, Sanguinius's sons." He slightly raised his chin, his gaze sharpening: "I will trust you this once; prove to me—that my trust in you is worthy."
The air in the room seemed to solidify for a moment, and both Chapter Master straightened their postures simultaneously, battle lust burning in their eyes.
They knew this was not just a promise of battle—it was a vow concerning honor and salvation.
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