Boom! Boom! Boooom!!!
The four magnificent structures, built from the pure concept of the Warp and the extreme emotions accumulated over endless eons, embodied the very essence of the four Chaos Gods.
When Guilliman unleashed his full power, the force carrying the essence of Order grew even stronger. It emitted a ceaseless, dull, hair-raising roar and began to shake violently.
From the deepest recesses of the four buildings came successive, terrifying bellows filled with rage and terror.
Among all beings that had ever existed, Guilliman was the only one to have ever directly assaulted their true domain.
Even the Emperor who had challenged them in the past had ultimately been defeated and besieged by a united front. In the end, he had been beaten so badly that one side of his body was paralyzed. To this day, he still lay upon the Golden Throne, cosplaying as a paralyzed old man.
Under the will of the gods, the Warp energy boiled completely. Chaotic energy vortices appeared, resisting the invasion of Order's power.
However, once the defeated Mortarion was dragged away by Nurgle, the planet Ax lost its most critical Chaos anchor point—the one tied to the depths of the Warp.
The power emanating from the fundamental laws of the material universe continued to grow, transforming into an invisible repulsive field. They had forcibly torn the projections of the gods' domains from the canvas of reality.
The gods refused to accept defeat and let out roars of fury. Yet without Mortarion as a crucial pivot, their power was like rootless duckweed. No matter how star-shaking their might, they struggled to find a place to exert sustained force and were gradually suppressed.
Finally, after a violent tremor that convulsed the entire Warp, the resistance of the four Chaos Gods ended in failure, leaving behind anger and resentment for future generations.
Pushed back by the ever-growing power of reality, they were driven into the bottomless abyss of the Warp.
With the four gods defeated, the true power of the universe began to act upon spacetime itself—and upon their daemons.
The planet Ax, which had been clinging to the Warp, was gradually peeled away and pulled back into the vast, ordered embrace of the material universe.
ROAR!!!
The daemons still remaining on Ax's surface—those not yet fully eradicated—let out howls mixing terror, rage, and despair.
The flesh that constituted their existence was mercilessly denied by the laws of reality. In the next instant, many daemonic bodies crumbled like weathered sand sculptures, turning into sparkling ash that was scattered by the strong winds.
The entire planet groaned in pain, yet at the same time felt relief.
The boundary between matter and illusion, reality and Warp, was slowly and cruelly torn apart and stripped away. From that space came a low, muffled sound—like fabric being ripped.
On the ground, living landscapes and structures made of flesh, plague, and blasphemous energy withered instantly like snow exposed to a blazing sun, turning into gray-black dust. They slowly vanished with the wind, revealing the planet's original rock and soil beneath. These were heavily damaged, but slowly repairing themselves under the laws of reality.
The forces were forcibly dragged back from the material universe to Nurgle's mansion in the Warp.
Even Isha, the Goddess of Life imprisoned in a cage, sensed the turmoil in the Warp.
Just moments ago, the entire Garden of Nurgle—even the will of the merciful Father God—had vanished in an instant. From outside the mansion came unprecedented roars and tremors. They mixed anger, irritation, and a shock she could not understand.
It was the fury of the Chaos Gods.
"What happened outside?"
"It reached the point where Nurgle had to temporarily leave his beloved cauldron and garden to deal with it personally… and even the other three were enraged…"
Isha was tormented by endless confusion.
Suddenly, a thought she had not entertained once in all her years of imprisonment sprouted stubbornly in her mind, like a frail new shoot desperately struggling to emerge from a crack in the rock.
Could it be… that my people, the Aeldari, have risen again, forcing the Chaos Gods to join hands—and even driving Nurgle himself to leave his dwelling?
This idea stirred great excitement in Isha's heart.
Her gaze fixed on the window, now almost completely opaque and covered in viscous liquid. A ray of hopeful light appeared in her eyes.
It must be so.
My children have learned from history. They have inherited the power of the ancient saints who created them and are now settling the score with the Chaos Gods.
They will come one day.
They will step into this filthy abyss of Chaos, this decayed mansion, to rescue me.
...
The departure from the Warp also stripped away the blessings the gods had granted to the Chaos traitors.
Those despicable traitors were left isolated and helpless in the material universe, with only one man remaining.
Without the power of the Dark Gods, they were extremely weak. Nothing remained to them except the mutations in their bodies and the madness in their minds.
The combined forces of the Imperium and the Human Alliance began a merciless purge without the slightest hesitation.
The roar of bombs, the howl of energy weapons, and the screech of chainswords once again echoed across Ax's gradually clearing skies.
The weakened traitors, facing a well-trained and well-equipped alliance army, fell one after another like lambs led to the slaughter.
On the battlefield, there were no longer fierce clashes—only one-sided purges and executions.
"These things are not worthy of being called human."
Victor, commander of the Human Alliance, looked at these traitors corrupted by Chaos and refused to acknowledge them as human.
Genetic differences were tolerable, but if their appearance differed, if they could not reproduce, or even if the shape of their skulls was different, then they were enemies.
Enemies that had to be completely eradicated.
On the battlefield, the holy power of the Order gods receded like a tide.
The aura of Order surrounding Guilliman vanished in an instant.
The dignified Primarch staggered violently, dropped to one knee, and breathed heavily. With every breath, it felt as though scorching air flowed and metal scraped with a hiss.
Though the five gods of Order had done their best to merge their power with the Primarch as gently as possible so as not to harm him, wielding a force capable of contending with the four Chaos Gods had placed an enormous burden on both his soul and body.
Guilliman was utterly exhausted. He did not want to move even a single finger.
Other Imperial heroes, including Tribune Carken and Sicarius, rushed over. They skillfully brought out a stretcher and placed the Primarch upon it.
Nothing special. Practice makes perfect.
At that moment, the Angel of Life, Orange, carried Pugh and flew deep into the ruins of the battlefield.
As the Warp energy dissipated, grotesque, illogical, and still malevolent structures emerged.
This was the core that Mortarion had positioned and operated with the Hand of Darkness for his blasphemous rituals.
Pugh extended her small, translucent emerald-green hand and gently pressed it against the Chaos artifact without hesitation.
From Pugh's palm surged boundless vitality and harmony—powerful, pure life energy. It poured ceaselessly into that evil creation!
A miracle occurred!!
The polluted psychic network that had once spread across the entire Ultramar system to connect and corrupt everything began to undergo a fundamental transformation under the influence of Pugh's pure life force.
The network's nodes and pathways rapidly changed from an oily green that reeked of decay and disease to a vibrant emerald green radiating vitality and healing energy.
The effects of this change instantly transcended interstellar distances.
On the worlds of Ultramar, where the remnants of the Death Guard, plague walkers, and cultists continued to fight…
Imperial soldiers were stunned as a warm, powerful life force suddenly flowed into their limbs and bones from nowhere. Fatigue vanished instantly. Bleeding from wounds stopped. Injuries healed at a visible speed, and even their exhausted mental strength from the long battle recovered!
Their enemies—the roaring plague undead charging forward—collapsed like puppets that had lost their strings. They fell to the ground one after another without a sound.
The arrogant cultists lost their Chaos blessings. Worse, they were attacked by those very blessings. Amid piercing screams, they fell one by one. Their bodies crumbled and melted into the earth.
Immediately afterward, soft green sprouts emerged from where they had fallen, blooming with bright, non-toxic flowers.
Pugh successfully reversed the situation and seized the problematic instrument. She took control of the network and absorbed a portion of the authority over Life, Death, and Cycle that had originally belonged to Nurgle.
Though incomplete, this authority held tremendous significance.
Deep in the Warp, within Nurgle's eternal Garden of Plagues.
The entire garden shook once more—more violently than before. Countless pus-filled lakes were struck by raging waves. Vast stretches of decayed forest collapsed. The ancient black mansion trembled. Moss and slime peeled from its walls.
"No…"
Nurgle slammed his spoon against the great cauldron and let out a roar mixed with sorrow and rage.
He clearly felt a part of his power being torn away and stolen. It felt as if a piece of his own flesh had been ripped off.
Nurgle was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Without the blessings or rituals of his followers, it was difficult to exert enough power to interfere with the material universe. Even if he forced his way in, he would not necessarily hold the advantage against an unnamed opponent.
What a rip-off!
What a rip-off!!!
Nurgle felt as if his heart were bleeding.
They had expected, through Mortarion's plan, to claim the rich lands of Ultramar and the Primarch as spoils. Instead, he had lost both his wife and his army—and even a part of his own essence had been taken.
After roaring for a while, Nurgle collapsed into a corner. Exhausted, he turned to look at Mortarion, who had yet to recover from the wounds of defeat.
He grabbed him and dragged him toward the great cauldron at the center of the mansion. Inside it, the most terrifying plagues in the universe boiled eternally.
"No… Father, please forgive me! Give me another chance!"
Realizing what was about to happen, Mortarion screamed in terror. He struggled desperately and begged for mercy.
Mortarion was no match for Nurgle. No matter what he did, he could not escape those massive, rotting hands.
Nurgle ignored his pleas. Guilliman had become far too powerful. Mortarion needed to become stronger too.
"Drink all of the carefully brewed plague soup."
"Gurgle… no… gurgle… no… gurgle… gurgle…"
Nurgle poured boiling liquid over Mortarion's body again and again.
The Death Lord resisted at first.
But soon his eyes widened, showing an expression of complete betrayal.
Yet Nurgle continued pouring the soup, trying to turn Mortarion into a giant cream puff.
In the material universe, under Pugh's influence after she seized control, the reconstruction of planet Ax progressed with astonishing speed.
Emerald-green light spread outward in rings from the center of the ritual site. Wherever it passed, fragrant grass grew on scorched earth. Clear springs gushed from cracked valleys. Polluted air was purified.
The once hellish planet Ax transformed in a short time into a vibrant, lush world overflowing with natural vitality.
After confirming there was no remaining threat, the Human Alliance fleet chose to depart. They had other missions and needed to head to the next sector requesting support.
The situation there was also urgent. During humanity's expansion, they had reportedly encountered a nest-like lifeform with an insectoid appearance and powerful intelligence. That species was called the Tyranids.
These abominable xenos had not only destroyed human civilization but also transformed humans into strange creatures.
They were traveling through time to destroy that abominable xenos civilization and restore the humans of that universe to their original forms.
After bestowing blessings upon the Human Imperium, the five avatars of the Order gods departed from the mirror of the reversed world.
They did not belong to this universe. If they remained for too long, they risked disturbing the threads of this universe's fate. It could also cause the two parallel universes to draw too close, triggering unpredictable fusion or collision.
Either outcome would be disastrous for ordinary citizens.
…
Meanwhile, Datch received notification that his mission was complete.
[Mission Completed! Congratulations! You have assisted Imperial Regent Roboute Guilliman, achieved a decisive victory in the Battle of Ax, repelled the will of the four Chaos Gods, and inflicted heavy damage upon the Daemon Primarch Mortarion.]
[Quest Rewards: 2500 Points, 2500 Experience, 500 Reputation, 1 Time Restoration Controller]
Datch glanced casually at the rewards and paid them no further mind.
With the four gods defeated and Mortarion dragged away, the Pugh Reversal Ritual…
The series of missions in the Ultramar region had temporarily concluded. It was time to turn his attention to other areas.
Datch took out his teleportation gun, fired a shot into the air, and opened a teleportation portal to the Astral Express.
The train was no longer as empty and desolate as before.
Mech-priests and technicians in red robes, adorned with mechanical parts, walked through the passenger cars. Their servo-motor skulls floated in the air, quietly scanning and recording the incomprehensible structures and energy flows inside the train.
There were also several daemons who had been forcibly enslaved to Datch by contract. They were treated as pals and made to assist Pam, the train conductor.
Datch entered the train's control room, took out a star map, and began planning the next phase of infrastructure construction.
Build a stellar line straight from Macragge to the Sanctus Wall.
The Second Expeditionary Fleet was engaged in fierce combat there, trying to halt the expansion of the Eye of Terror.
In the future, many missions would undoubtedly be assigned to that defense line.
There were also places like the Red Saturn and the Warning Star. Behind these locations lay countless tragedies.
Ah, yes. He must not forget Baal, the homeworld of the Blood Angels.
The path had to be paved in advance…
Datch had many road construction plans, but his points were running low.
"There is no other way but to work tirelessly."
Datch opened the mini-map and zoomed in until the entire territory of the Imperium was displayed.
Soon, they discovered that the statue of Sanguinius, located on the dark side of the Imperium, was flashing with a golden question mark.
"Oh my, the Archangel has a mission."
"I hope I don't lose out this time."
Datch muttered a few words, then took out his teleportation gun and input the coordinates of the Blood Angels' flagship.
He pulled the trigger, and a green portal of light opened.
"Let's go see what good work the Archangels are doing!"
Filled with anticipation for new missions and points, Datch jumped into the portal.
…
Meanwhile, the strategy room aboard the Blood Angels' flagship, the Red Tear, was bustling with activity.
Messengers and diplomats had arrived in droves from war-torn planets on the dark side of the Imperium, seeking aid. They submitted blood-stained intelligence reports and desperate petitions to the duty officers.
The Archangel Sanguinius, with his perfect features and huge white wings, stood before the tactical star map.
He gazed at the specially marked planet, Sadrika.
According to intelligence, this planet housed a special ancient psychic beacon. Its signal remained relatively stable even amid Warp storms, serving as a vital navigation point for many Dark Side Imperial planets that had lost Starlight guidance, enabling limited Warp travel.
However, the latest emergency report stated that Chaos forces had set their sights on this crucial planet. The enemy planned to capture Sadrika and steal the beacon.
The Red Tear and its fleet were currently too far from Sadrika. Even if they rushed at full speed, they would not arrive in time.
A faint shadow of unease appeared between Sanguinius's elegant brows.
At that moment, green light appeared, and Datch emerged wearing the armor of the Lich King.
The Blood Knights immediately raised their guns, but Sanguinius stopped them. He told them not to harm the most respected figure in the Imperium.
"Nameless One," a smile appeared on Sanguinius's face. "It seems you helped resolve Guilliman's problem."
"Now that you finally have time, will you help solve this issue too?"
Datch looked at Sanguinius before him and felt a somewhat sentimental emotion.
As expected, everyone loved the Archangel—including the game developers. Such user-friendly design surely meant more computational modules had been added.
"Regent of the Dark Side of the Imperium, is there anything I can do?" Datch asked.
"Indeed there is." Sanguinius activated the projector. "The planet Sadrika possesses a beacon capable of guiding starships. Some Chaos forces are targeting that planet."
"If I were to go to the rescue, it would take far too much time. I need you to help them and support the beacon."
As soon as Sanguinius finished speaking, a prompt appeared before Datch.
[Mission: Support the garrison troops on planet Sadrika and defend the beacon.]
Due to the influence of the Great Rift, the Dark Side of the Imperium had lost the guidance of starlight. Every Warp jump now carried immeasurable danger.
Sadrika's psychic beacon had undoubtedly become a lifeline for many Imperial planets.
However, Chaos forces were targeting it, plotting to completely destroy the loyalists' faster-than-light travel capability.
Sanguinius, Regent governing the Dark Side of the Imperium, requests that you travel to Sadrika and support the local garrison troops.
[Quest Rewards: 1500 Experience, 1500 Points, +150 Reputation, Lightbringer Magic Gun ×1]
"A magic gun?"
Looking at the mission completion reward, Datch was surprised and clicked for details.
This was an item from the mecha-series universe. It could summon the Lightbringer.
It was a creation fusing magic and technology, possessing considerable combat power. Standing 5 to 8 meters tall, it matched the height of a small knight-type mech.
It would likely be useful in future missions involving knight-type mechs.