The transformation of Septicus into the Angel of Life sent shockwaves through every living being on the battlefield—especially the daemons.
The mere fact that this opponent stood there was enough to upend the gods' order and shatter the daemons' understanding of dimensional distortion.
Life energy surrounding the Angel of Life surged like visible waves, rising and spreading outward in successive ripples. Wherever this power flowed, soft green buds and vibrant little flowers sprouted at speed from the scorched earth stained with blood and poison. In an instant, a lush, vibrant grassland appeared beneath the opponent's feet—utterly mismatched with the hellish landscape around it.
The scent of a rain-soaked forest and a dawn meadow filled the air, completely erasing the foul stench brought by Nurgle's daemons.
The Angel of Life sheathed the scales he had held. Immediately afterward, a swirling green light appeared, and a longsword with clearly visible wood grain materialized in his grasp, naturally entwined with emerald vines.
The blade was adorned with budding leaves and tiny white flowers.
"Imbalance is suffering, and decay is distortion. In the name of life and harmony, all things should walk their respective paths and restore balance."
The Angel of Life's voice was like a clear spring that moistened dried-out souls and healed those poisoned by the chaotic gods. He then joined the battle, swinging his sword against Nurgle's daemons.
Famine, the Beggar; Throat Pain, the Dwarf; and the Black Death—once Ku'gath's subordinates alongside Septicus—saw their former colleague transformed into an enemy and were filled with complex emotions.
Their laughter and cheerful conversation vanished.
On that fat face made of rotting flesh and mosquitoes, a rare human-like expression appeared: a faint mix of surprise, bewilderment, and anger at betrayal. His swollen body writhed violently, and the plague censer on his shoulder shook nonstop.
They could no longer endure this absurd and destructive emotion caused by their former colleague turning against them.
But the war did not end. After only a few seconds of shock, the fighting reignited.
The roar of cannons, the cries of sorcery, and the clash of blades echoed intermittently, quickly escalating into a new phase of fierce combat.
Yet the atmosphere on the battlefield had changed.
The chaotic side's morale visibly plummeted. Deeper terror and cognitive dissonance sprouted and spread within the daemons' hearts.
They had once served the Chaos Gods and firmly believed Chaos embodied the ultimate truth and power of the universe… but what had this nameless man just demonstrated? He could freely reconstruct Chaos daemons and completely reverse their essence.
Even the powerful entities of the Immaterium could not achieve such a feat. If it were possible, the eternal war in the Warp would never have occurred; the victor would have been decided long ago.
And now, this nameless figure had accomplished it. Was this opponent truly a creator who surpassed even the Chaos Gods?
Septicus's transformation had an impact no less significant than the early stages of the Horus Heresy. The shock felt by Imperial soldiers—those who had firmly believed in the Emperor's truth—upon witnessing gods' existence was comparable to what they had experienced back then.
Even the Chaos Gods, especially Nurgle, considered retreat. If the battle continued and more of them were captured, what would happen? Would the enemy only grow stronger while their own losses mounted? In the end, if they all transformed into the Angel of Life, what meaning would there be in living?
The two strongest individuals on the battlefield, Guilliman and Mortarion, naturally noticed Septicus's change. Mortarion's eyes widened in shock, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Brother, why have you stopped laughing?"
Guilliman dodged Mortarion's fierce scythe strike, slashed diagonally with the Emperor's Sword, and forced his opponent back half a step.
"Is it because you never liked laughing in the first place? Or because you can no longer laugh?"
"To be honest, I still prefer the rebellious you from earlier."
Guilliman's tone was mocking; he even imitated Mortarion's manner of speaking.
"You know nothing about the power of the Chaos Gods."
"Well then, let me return the favor. You know nothing about the power of the Nameless One."
Mortarion's breathing grew ragged, and the green toxic mist leaking from the gaps in his visor thickened. Septicus's transformation in front of everyone shattered his plans and threw his schemes into disarray.
The methods of the Nameless Ones were terrifying.
"Roboute Guilliman, I'll let you feel smug for a while."
Mortarion suppressed his rage and distanced himself from Guilliman. "However, the final outcome remains uncertain. Your dependence will ultimately become an uncontrollable variable."
Before he finished speaking, the Primarch swung down the massive scythe in his hand. It tore through space and time, creating a rift. Through the gap, one could vaguely see a sea of swirling pus and a landscape of twisted flesh—a hellish scene from Ax's plague world.
It was the place Mortarion had chosen as the final battlefield for himself, Guilliman, and the Nameless Ones.
"I will fight you until the last battle, but not in this ruin."
Mortarion raised his scythe, pointed it at the rift, and said to Guilliman, "In Ax, under the watchful eyes of our loving father, let us settle everything cleanly and see who laughs last. At that time, your life will be harvested, and your Ultramar will become fertile soil nurturing new life. Fight to the death like a true Legion Master! Don't run away like a wounded stray dog!"
Guilliman roared provocatively. "Or are you still hiding in Typhus's shadow, having to beg Nurgle even for the courage to face me?"
The name "Typhus" struck like a poisonous thorn. Mortarion stiffened for a split second, almost imperceptibly. He never turned back. He left behind cold words: "Crude provocation will not shake my will."
With that, the Primarch stepped into the spatial rift he had created. In the next instant, the rift rapidly contracted and closed, as if it had never existed.
"Shameless coward, run—run with all your might. But one day, judgment day will come for you too," Guilliman roared toward where the rift had vanished; his voice echoed across the battlefield.
With Mortarion's withdrawal and the rising resistance against the Chaos Gods' retreat, Chaos forces began to pull back in extreme disorder. They either vanished like smoke or charged toward the remaining rifts, trying to flee back into the Immaterium. Only Chaos traitors and mutants who could not escape—or had been completely abandoned—were left behind.
Faced with the Imperial army, whose fury and morale had peaked, the abandoned rebels and cultists fell into despair. Their resistance was like a flickering candle in a storm—quickly overwhelmed and crushed by the torrent of steel and faith. Vehicles became blazing wrecks; traitors were slain by bombs and chainswords.
The battlefield instantly became a scene of one-sided slaughter.
At the same time, the Angel of Life placed Pugh on his shoulder. "Bring it to the three-tiered platform. That is where blasphemous rituals were once performed and which still emits pollutants."
"Pugh! Pugh! Pugh!"
Pugh placed his small hands on the cold, rusted metal and began to reverse the purpose of the evil ritual. Emerald-green life energy spread from the point of contact. Grime, rust, and bloodstains clinging to the platform melted away like snow under the sun. Twisted Nurgle runes transformed into natural patterns symbolizing growth and cycles.
From the once-foul base, clear fragrant dew began to seep, and small, sturdy vines and pure white flowers sprouted.
The triple platform, long a nexus of corruption, reversed itself and became a source of life energy that would nourish Parmenio and the surrounding galaxy.
With a dull rumble, Nurgle's garden deep within the Warp shook violently. In the decayed forest, soft green buds unexpectedly sprouted from rotten trees. Beside stagnant pools that had stood for millennia, small transparent ripples appeared, and delicate aquatic plants—utterly out of place—sprouted.
These sudden mutations quickly withered and rotted again under the intense power of decay. Still, the phenomena were enough to instill deep unease and terror in the garden's inhabitants.
The Plaguebearer who boiled plagues no longer smiled. Anxiety and fear were visible on his face.
…
Isha, the elven goddess of life imprisoned beside the great cauldron, watched with astonishment. This fat man had always worn a carefree, cheerful expression; she felt nothing but disgust when she saw him. She had never imagined someone in the real world could make him look so miserable. Unfortunately, she was trapped and had no idea what was happening outside.
The threat to the Chaos Gods had to have come from their own children.
The Imperial double-headed eagle flag was raised at the highest point of the mountain city Hekaton. The battle for Parmenio ended in the Emperor's victory.
…
Amid the cheers, Datch received a mission notification.
[Mission Completed. Congratulations.]
Proceed to the world of Parmenio and assist Roboute Guilliman in defeating Mortarion.
[Quest Rewards: 1500 Experience Points, 1500 Points, 300 Reputation, 1 Humanity Alliance Fleet Summon Card]
A beautifully designed black card appeared in the game inventory.
The card's background depicted a vast, endless universe, with streamlined, massive super-battleships—each the size and shape of a small planet—emerging majestically from a grand stargate. The card alone made it clear that the technological level of the Humanity Alliance far surpassed that of the Imperium of Man.
Datch took the card and studied it. Using this item would summon an ultimate fleet that transcended physical laws and reached the pinnacle of existence.
"This will definitely be incredibly effective against the Tyranids or Orks," Datch thought. He put the summon card away and surveyed the battlefield.
He saw a girl in a white dress being protected by fighting nuns. An exclamation mark flashed above her head. Datch approached and noticed the girl's condition was very poor. From forcibly enduring excessive Imperial authority, golden burn marks had appeared on her skin. Most heartbreakingly, she had gone blind—her brown eyes burned away by the Emperor's power, now white.
If Datch had not helped maintain and strengthen her body shortly after she was born, that strike might have killed her.
The Emperor's power far exceeded what ordinary people could withstand.
The girl breathed heavily, her body trembling. Without Canoness Yolande's support, she could barely stand. Datch said little. He took out his magical golden hammer and gently tapped her forehead.
Cling—golden ripples spread.
The burn marks on the girl's body faded and disappeared. A faint healthy color returned to her pale face.
The terrifying light in her eyes dimmed, and calm returned. Once again, clear, tired but grateful brown eyes appeared.
"Thank you, Nameless Savior," the girl said, weak but sincere.
Datch ignored her thanks and turned his gaze to Guilliman, above whose head a golden question mark floated.
"New mission, new mission."
Datch regained his energy, muttered to himself, and cheerfully asked if there was anything he could help with.
The moment Guilliman heard the Nameless Man's words, he snapped back to focus. Experienced in such matters, he immediately stated his next plan.
"Nameless One, the victory on Parmenio is only temporary. The four Chaos Gods have joined hands, and their root conspiracy is far from eradicated. In this invasion, the source of corruption—and Mortarion's final stronghold—is the world of Ax. Countless daemons and traitors must have gathered there."
He pointed at the sky; the clouds had cleared, and the light of the Imperial warships' propulsion engines was visible. "If we attack Ax, it will inevitably escalate into an unprecedented war beyond the Apocalypse, determining the fate of Ultramar—and even the eastern Imperium. After the Imperial fleets and legions assemble, we will need your help to carve a path to Ax and achieve final victory in that plague garden."
As soon as he finished, the mission details appeared before Datch.
[Mission: Travel to the world of Ax the Plague and end the Plague War.]
The Plague War continues to erode Ultramar. Many planets have been infected, and countless people have lost their lives.
At the corrupted heart of the Plague War—the world of Ax—lies the Chaos artifact known as the Hand of Darkness.
Roboute Guilliman plans to travel to Ax, where Mortarion placed the Hand of Darkness. Wait for the Primarch to launch the general assault, then support him by clearing a path, thwart the Chaos Gods' conspiracy, and end the war.
Rewards: 2000 Experience Points, 2000 Points, 500 Reputation Points, and 1 River God Trial Card.
Datch skimmed the River God Trial Card.
[Item: River God Trial Card]
Function: Become the River God and help passersby who drop items into the river by retrieving them, testing their honesty. If they pass, you will receive rewards.
Comment: "The Milky Way is also a river!!"
Datch nodded and accepted the mission. "Understood. I'll help you win this war."
Before Guilliman could speak again, Datch turned and left to help clean the battlefield and tend the wounded Imperial soldiers. Guilliman watched the Nameless Man's retreating figure in deep thought.
At that moment, the Apostle of War Matthiew, Canoness Yolande, and the girl in white—the Saint of Delos—walked up beside the Primarch.
"Once, I firmly believed my confused brother Lorgar was a pitiful man who had strayed from the path," Guilliman said slowly. His voice was not loud, but it was clear. "I refuted his nonsense about gods and asserted the Imperial Truth: no gods exist in the galaxy—only powerful psykers and incomprehensible cosmic phenomena."
The Primarch watched as the Nameless One used the golden hammer to repair damaged Titans and machines, then continued. "But now, I must admit I was wrong."
"There are beings in this universe that can be called gods. However, this god does not reside in the highest heaven. He is among us, intervening in the real world in ways we cannot understand, yet his intervention is visible."
He turned to Matthiew and Yolande, his tone serious and resolute. "Our state religion does not understand this, and its ignorant believers cannot distinguish the true god. Father was stronger than those Warp entities, but only within a limited scope. He was humanity's guardian and guide, but not an overwhelming being capable of rewriting the rules at will."
Guilliman gazed at the Nameless Man, eyes filled with pious light. "However, the Nameless One is in a league of his own. The power he displays is the authority of creation and destruction—the ability to freely alter the fundamental laws of the universe. Whether he wishes it or not, the universe will submit to him."
"Therefore," Guilliman's voice was firm and decisive, "now is the time to reform the Imperial state religion and make it worthy of this era in which the true god has manifested. We must guide the devout who have lost their way, help them understand true holiness, and realize who the true god is—the one worthy of obedience, who can bring salvation and victory."
Matthiew was stunned and stammered. "Your Excellency, do you intend to take on the role of Ecclesiarch yourself and reform doctrine?"
"If such actions can please that unknown existence and keep him by our side, then I can become the Ecclesiarch." Guilliman had always been a realist. Becoming Ecclesiarch and aligning with the Nameless One would be an extremely advantageous move.
"Weren't you always the one asserting the Imperial Truth?" Tribunal Carken's lips twitched as he watched Guilliman's dramatic shift and struggled to adapt.
"Please don't say that anymore. Nameless One might misunderstand," Guilliman said. "We must respect objective laws."
"Doesn't the Nameless Man's action decisively prove that the universe is sacred?"
The Primarch waved his hand, signaling the topic was closed. "Carry out your duties. Assess the casualties, reassure the populace, and prepare for the next phase of operations."
The crowd dispersed with complex emotions, leaving only Guilliman behind. After resolving issues on the ground, the Primarch planned to return to the glorious land of Macragge. He would study the first edition of the Book of the Word, recovered by the Imperial Truth. It was a religious text painstakingly compiled by Lorgar, founder of the Word Bearers Legion.
Guilliman had always despised Lorgar's faith and methods of war, so he had never read it. On the Emperor's orders, he had personally burned the perfect city built by the other side—and had done so gladly. But now, Guilliman's thinking had changed. He needed to draw from the lifeblood of his brother who had once been the most devout believer yet betrayed the Emperor.
He would acquire relevant knowledge and use it to elevate the Imperium's faith system. He wanted a pragmatic approach, grounded in the miracles witnessed from the Nameless Ones. Considering the existing framework of the Imperial state religion, he set out to compile an entirely new doctrine adapted to this era.
Guilliman named it the New Testament of the State to guide the lost toward faith in the Nameless Ones.