Before Alex could finish speaking, the expressions of the six Astartes instantly froze.
The Heavenly Lion Battle Group's Chapter Master frowned deeply, Blood Knights Chapter Master Amit shook his head in disappointment, and even the usually composed and expressionless Imperial Fists' Third Captain couldn't help but show a bitter smile.
The First Legion's Gene-Seed Primarch was equally out of their reach.
However, just as everyone's spirits hit rock bottom, Alex changed the subject: "Although the First Legion's Lord and the Thirteenth Legion's Lord will return first, other Primarchs are not destined to remain absent.
On the contrary, they will all return."
"Is that true?" The six Astartes straightened their bodies almost simultaneously, and the light of hope rekindled in their eyes.
If all Primarchs could return, it would be a dream come true, a gospel they had long yearned for.
Alex nodded solemnly in confirmation this time, thinking to himself: Even if those Primarchs are unwilling to return themselves, I can deploy their clones onto the battlefield. The question of authenticity can then be left to the Emperor to decide—this will undoubtedly be a genuine "Primarch return."
Captain Tycho's sharp gaze was fixed on Alex, trying to see through the Inquisitor's true intentions.
"So what do you want us to do?" His voice was steady and strong, but inwardly he was regretting—perhaps Chief Librarian Mephisto would have been a more suitable candidate for this meeting; that wise man would surely be able to grasp the direction of the situation more accurately.
Facing Tycho's inquiry, Alex first exchanged a meaningful glance with the Custodian next to him. Only after receiving an almost imperceptible nod from him did he slowly begin: "While the return of the Primarchs is indeed exhilarating news, before that, the Imperium will first experience an unprecedented catastrophe. This will be the Imperium of Man's darkest hour in ten millennia."
"Darkest hour?" Captain Galadon immediately seized on this keyword. He leaned forward and pressed: "Lord Alex, you mentioned this last time as well. Could you please explain in detail what this darkest hour truly means?"
Alex took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the solemn faces of every warrior present.
"The Despoiler Abaddon will tear the galaxy apart through means we cannot yet comprehend." The name he uttered made the air itself still.
Although among fans, he is always jokingly referred to as the 'ever-victorious Abaddon,' in the real 40k World, the name of this first among Chaos's forces below the Primarchs indeed carries a terrifying deterrent, enough to stop children from crying at night.
Alex's finger traced a straight line on the table, as if dividing the galaxy: "A massive rift will traverse the entire Imperial territory. Half of the Imperial Worlds will forever lose the guidance of the Astronomican, while the other half will be long exposed to the erosion of Warp abominations."
This description instantly turned the faces of the six Astartes Warriors ashen. Even Cawl, who had lived for ten thousand years, involuntarily tensed his mechanical body, his bionic eyes rapidly adjusting focus as if trying to discern this terrifying future.
This well-informed Adeptus Mechanicus's Archmagos had only one thought in his mind at this moment:
I've lived for ten thousand years; what kind of scene haven't I witnessed?
But this scene, I truly haven't seen.
Captain Galadon straightened his back, the servo-systems of his power armor emitting a faint hum.
He looked directly into Alex's eyes, his voice steady and firm: "Then what do you want us to do? Stop Abaddon?"
His fingers unconsciously caressed the Bolter at his waist, "This might require summoning all of Dorns Sons, or even activating the last wall protocol."
Every warrior present understood the weight of that statement.
For the Imperial Fists and their successor Chapters, when a Dorns Sons says they will activate the last wall protocol, it means that the entire Thirteenth Legion's bloodline will stand ready, prepared to rejoin the Legion ranks at any moment.
And if it were to stop the Despoiler Abaddon, activating the last wall protocol would not be unacceptable.
However, Alex merely shook his head slowly, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes: "The Imperium failed to prevent the Despoiler from achieving his goals in the past twelve Black Crusades… This time, it will likewise be unable to stop him! The tearing of the galaxy is a foregone conclusion; the Chaos enemy will not allow us to reverse this outcome."
Captain Galadon was momentarily speechless, unsure what to say. The information Alex revealed was simply too astonishing.
As the Imperial Fists' Third Captain, facing Alex's categorical assertion, this battle-hardened warrior didn't know how to respond.
Alex didn't give him time to think, continuing: "However, the Imperial Fists' last wall protocol must still be activated! The moment the Phalanx fortress leaves Holy Terra, that is when you will activate this protocol."
"Activating the last wall protocol takes time, and it's a matter of great importance." Captain Galadon cautiously pressed, a rare hesitation in his voice: "May I ask what our objective will be once we activate it?"
Deep worry lay hidden behind this question.
Once the protocol was activated, all Dorns Sons scattered throughout the Imperium would answer the call, allowing the Imperial Fists to once again become the complete Seventh Legion.
This not only concerned the fate of tens of thousands of Astartes, but it would also shake the entire military structure of the Imperium. Even a slight misstep could lead to incalculable chain reactions.
Alex did not directly answer Galadon's question but instead meaningfully countered: "What was the Imperial Fists' objective the last time you activated the last wall protocol?"
"To defend Holy Terra…" Galadon instinctively replied, then suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression changing drastically: "Are you saying Holy Terra is in danger?"
"Not Holy Terra," Alex gently shook his head, then continued as everyone just breathed a sigh of relief: "It's the Imperial Palace."
This simple addition instantly made all the Astartes' faces turn pale.
The air in the conference room seemed to solidify; even Cawl's mechanical joints ceased their operation.
For the enemy to breach Holy Terra was already unimaginable, let alone the Imperium's most heavily defended Imperial Palace?
"The Imperial Palace is in danger?" Galadon's voice was tight, wanting to confirm again.
But Alex merely gave him a meaningful look, then turned his gaze to the Blood Angels' representatives.
The three Sanguiniuss sons simultaneously tensed their bodies.
Unlike the Imperial Fists, the Blood Angels lineage did not have a plan similar to the "last wall protocol" that could gather all successor Chapters.
They exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what this Inquisitor would demand of them.
"I have only one demand for the Blood Angels!" Alex's voice suddenly became exceptionally serious, "And that is to expand your forces! Expand your military strength by all possible means."
He paused, his gaze deepening: "Although Lord Dante will gather all Sanguiniuss sons to defend Baal, these forces will be far from enough compared to the enemy you are about to face."
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