The High Command on the Vigilant Star was already operating at a frantic pace. Staff in the corridors hurried about—more running than walking—their footsteps rapid and heavy. A messenger clutching a data-slate and documents burst around a corner and nearly collided with a tech-sergeant rushing in the opposite direction. The two exchanged a quick nod, then parted without stopping, each continuing toward their destination.
Officers' cloaks billowed behind them while soldiers' boots struck the floor in fast, rhythmic beats. Tech-priests of the Mechanicus marched on mechanical legs, producing a steady metallic cadence. Every sound carried the same urgent truth: time was running out.
The Chaos fleet had broken through the final defensive line and was closing in on the Vigilant Star. A war on a scale that dwarfed even apocalyptic prophecies was about to erupt. Never before in history had five daemon Primarchs and four loyalist Primarchs stood on opposing sides of a single battlefield.
Corvus Corax moved unseen through the chaos. No one knew he was here. As his twisted nature awakened, his ability to remain hidden grew ever stronger. He could melt perfectly into any shadow; even the most advanced sensors could not detect him.
Corvus Corax stood in the shadow of a pillar, his massive frame blending seamlessly into the darkness. Even if someone passed directly beside the pillar, they would never notice the Raven Lord.
Using his innate talents, Corvus Corax quickly assessed the situation. This was the High Command of the Vigilant Star—one of the Human Imperium's most critical military strongholds in the Nachmund Sector. And here, he was not the only extraordinary being present.
Roboute Guilliman the Ambitious, Sanguinius the Great Angel, the aging Lion King Lion El'Jonson, and the newly resurrected Ferrus Manus had all gathered. When Corvus Corax learned that Sanguinius and Ferrus Manus were still alive, he first suspected a mistake or some Chaos ploy. Only after observing the four Primarchs from the shadows did he become certain—it truly was Sanguinius and Ferrus Manus. They had truly been brought back to life.
He had learned from those in the know that these two brothers, like himself, had been resurrected by the Nameless One. Corvus Corax felt conflicted, yet he did not rush out to reunite with his brothers or seek answers. He longed to convey his yearning and guilt to Sanguinius and Ferrus Manus, but the Raven Lord suppressed his emotions and remained hidden in the shadows.
Mortarion and his traitorous brother Fulgrim were preparing to launch their attack. Corvus Corax's influence from the shadows would prove greater than if he revealed himself openly. He could strike with a decisive ambush at the critical moment and grant the Imperium a massive advantage. This was the Raven Guard way of war—not a frontal charge or honorable duel, but striking from the darkness when the enemy was weakest.
Like a true raven, Corvus Corax lurked in the dark, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He would turn the traitors' blood and screams into the finest gift for his return.
…
Datch stood at the edge of a massive volcanic crater, gazing down at the boiling lake of magma below. A scorching heat wave carrying a pungent sulfur stench struck him, distorting the air into eerie ripples. Orange-red magma erupted endlessly, occasionally shooting pillars of flame that lit up the entire sky.
His current side quest was to address the root causes of rebellion and corruption in the Dortria District. As the Vigilant Star's designation implied, this region experienced the most intense volcanic activity. The geological structure here was extremely unstable, with relentless lava flows. Yet it was precisely this extreme environment that made the area ideal for energy facilities. Countless geothermal plants, plasma reactors, and lava cooling towers clustered around the volcanoes, resembling a herd of steel giants sprawled across the land, sucking its blood.
These facilities were maintained by the sages and priests of the Forge World of Underworld VIII. Drivers integrated their semi-mechanical bodies into the equipment, operating complex machinery with robotic arms and monitoring data through optical lenses.
However, since the Great Rift opened, rebellions had become frequent. In addition to the inhuman exploitation by oil producers who routinely worked slave laborers to death, another terrifying threat lurked within: the Cult of Tzeentch's Flame.
Besides the well-known change and sorcery, Tzeentch's daemons were also the Warp entities most closely associated with the concept of fire. No matter how hard the rulers tried, they could never completely eradicate this cult from the volcano-dense Dortria region. The treacherous fire-worshipping cult had operated in secret for countless years through a complex and intricate network.
Cultists blended in among the slave laborers, using sweet words and false promises to cleverly corrupt the common people.
Datch had come here to suppress the rebellion and purge the cult. Over the following days, he proceeded steadily according to plan. First, he used the "Golden Hammer" to repair the aging equipment. The ancient machines that had operated for thousands of years were given new life by his hammer; their machine spirits roared with joy, and their efficiency increased dramatically.
Next, Datch improved the living conditions and welfare of the local slave laborers. These workers had originally lived in squalid shacks, eating moldy bread and drinking contaminated water. They worked sixteen hours a day and were whipped for any laziness. Datch demolished the shacks, built new dormitories for the workers, and provided clean water and ample food. He reduced working hours to eight per day and introduced one rest day per week.
The sages and priests of Underworld VIII would never tolerate actions that significantly reduced efficiency. In their philosophy, efficiency was everything. Sacrifice was inevitable; laborers were merely expendable resources for the Emperor to offer up. But this time, no matter how much they disliked it, they had no choice but to endure. After all, this was the work of the Nameless One. Even if the engine-oil enthusiasts harbored resentment, they would never dare harm the Nameless One. Even if efficiency declined, the Omnissiah was unlikely to punish them. However, those who opposed the Nameless One would truly transform into the God of All Machines and appear to crush them personally.
Most importantly, even if attacked by the Nameless One, there was no place to seek justice. Mars, Terra, and the Primarchs all supported the Nameless One.
Seeing their living conditions improve, the laborers praised the Nameless One and regarded him as the true God of All Machines.
Datch ignored the NPCs' worship and continued his investigation into the fire-worshipping cult. With the help of his shapeshifting ability, Datch investigated recent accidents and uncovered the truth behind them—a series of sacrificial rituals. Every so-called "accidental explosion," "lava eruption," and "equipment failure" had the shadow of cult members behind it.
Deathmark's betrayal of his former employer was truly cruel. He had thoroughly exposed the Tzeentch cultists' schemes and even personally investigated the incidents, as if fearing that some unknown existence would be unable to find his former master.
Datch pursued every clue to locate survivors of unexpected events. Through the information he gathered, the organizational structure of the fire-worshipping cult gradually became clear. Once sufficient evidence was collected, the purge would begin.
He exposed the cultists who had infiltrated the Imperial administration one by one. Without their cooperation, these accidents could not have been covered up, so they had to be eliminated first. These corrupt labor supervisors and oil barons were thrown into the volcano as atonement for their sins.
Thanks to Datch's efforts, the fire-worshippers suffered repeated defeats and continued to lose territory. However, Datch eventually discovered their headquarters—a massive cavern hidden deep underground.
Leading a force of Mechanicus troops, Datch launched a surprise assault on the underground cavern, intending to wipe out these despicable traitors. Upon learning of the attack, the traitors had constructed strong defensive lines around their headquarters. They used stolen automated turrets and laser weapons to block every passage and built a network of heavy firepower.
Behind these defensive fortifications, Tzeentch daemons chanted ancient evil spells, summoning twisted flames and mutated creatures.
The defensive structures built by the cult were extremely sturdy. Unfortunately for them, they had encountered the Nameless One. Using the power of the shapeshifting spirit, the cultists quickly fell into internal conflict. Datch seized the opportunity and led his heavily armed guards in a fierce assault.
During the battle, Datch swung his golden hammer, repeatedly smashing damaged guardians and Mechanicus combat vehicles in a relentless charge. No matter how powerful the cult's firepower was, it would prove futile.
"For the Omnissiah! For Flame Angel!"
Datch shouted with all his might, inspiring the Mechanicus forces. They broke through the enemy's defensive lines with terrifying firepower and successfully penetrated deep into the cavern.
At the deepest part of the cavern stood a massive altar thirty meters tall, constructed from countless bones. Strange crystals were embedded between the bones, within which eerie flames flickered. At the top of the altar, a huge chaotic sigil rotated slowly. With every rotation, waves of energy spread outward.
Before the altar stood a Chaos sorcerer—Zaraphiston, Abaddon's chief magical advisor. From the surrounding situation, it was clear the opponent had been waiting here for some time.
Dozens of Chaos sorcerers in black robes stood behind Zaraphiston, forming a circle and chanting distorted, eerie spells.
Zaraphiston grinned when he saw the Nameless One arrive.
"Nameless One, I knew you would come here."
"I know full well that even the Gods cannot defeat you, but do not think we can do nothing against you."
"Even if we cannot kill you, there is a way to stop you from interfering in the war between the Gods and the Imperium."
Zaraphiston raised both hands high, and a strange object slowly floated upward between them.
Datch frowned. The opponent held a metal sphere the size of a fist. Its surface was engraved with countless ancient runes, and strange energy rippled across it.
This was the Time Rift—an arcane artifact capable of banishing targets into a temporal fissure.
Zaraphiston poured the power of the ritual into the Time Rift.
At that moment, the sorcerers behind him also began chanting loudly. As the ritual progressed, the Chaos sorcerers fell one by one, turning to ash and vanishing. However, through their sacrifice, the artifact—the Time Rift—was activated.
A beam of light shot from the temporal fissure and struck Datch.
Time and space warped. Past and future intertwined. Reality and illusion fused into one.
Immediately afterward, a time portal suddenly appeared above Datch's head. Countless strands of light swirled within the passage. Looking closely, one could glimpse the birth of the universe, the destruction of galaxies, the rise and fall of civilizations, and countless fragments of time flashing past in an instant.
Datch felt a mysterious force emanating from the passage, constantly pulling at him.
His first thought was to find a way to escape.
Suddenly, Datch noticed a golden exclamation mark appear above the passage.
"Being dragged through the passage is also part of the plot?"
In a game set in the Warhammer universe, exclamation marks usually indicated important main-story events. They could be skipped, but doing so would prevent experiencing key story points.
"For the sake of the story's progression."
Datch muttered something, then gave up resisting. The force seized him and hurled him into the passage.
Just before being completely swallowed by the light, Datch looked back. He saw Zaraphiston lying on the ground with a victorious smile. He saw Imperial Guards rushing over in terror, trying to stop him. He saw despair in the eyes of the Imperial soldiers shouting his name.
Then the passage closed, and everything returned to silence.
Fully armed guards stared blankly at the vanished portal, frozen in place. Someone dropped to their knees and burst into tears. Someone desperately rushed forward, waving mechanical arms in the air as if trying to grab something.
"Nameless One!!"
The first to react was a massive tech-sage equipped with various destructive weapons. He extended his mechanical arm toward Zaraphiston and roared in fury, "Capture him immediately and make him confess the Nameless One's location!"
The Imperial soldiers, who had been stunned by the Nameless One's disappearance, instantly understood what had happened. They roared and howled as they charged the surviving Chaos sorcerers. Their rage granted them boundless strength, and their grief at losing the Nameless One transformed into the most frenzied vengeance.
They stormed the enemy lines, smashing foes with rifle butts, stabbing with bayonets, beating them, and even biting with their teeth. The Chaos sorcerers and remaining traitors, terrified by this frenzied assault, offered no resistance. They tried to flee but were caught, pinned down, and bound.
Some cultists attempted to resist but were torn apart on the spot by the enraged Imperial soldiers. Some sorcerers knelt and begged for mercy, yet they were still pinned down and beaten until they stood on the brink of death. One tried to commit suicide but was restrained and injected with a high-concentration sedative.
Zaraphiston, however, escaped. The cunning sorcerer who served the Despoiler sensed something was wrong and immediately used a teleportation spell to flee the cavern.
The Imperial soldiers roared in fury but could only clench their fists at the sky to vent their rage. They had won the battle, but the culprit had escaped and the Nameless One had vanished without a trace.
…
The news was relayed to High Command.
Roboute Guilliman, Sanguinius, and the other Primarchs, who had been locked in a death struggle with the enemy, were all shocked and unconsciously questioned the accuracy of the report.
"How is this possible? The Nameless One should be able to freely enter and exit the realm of the Gods—how could he be swallowed by the enemy's evil magic?"
Calgar immediately began doubting the story's credibility. He had fought alongside the Nameless One and witnessed the man's abilities firsthand. Those incredible gadgets, those miraculous powers… Even the Gods could not match the Nameless One. A single sneeze from the Nameless One could kill countless Gods. Yet report after report arrived, all conveying the same fact: the Nameless One had been taken by Chaos's evil magic and his whereabouts were unknown.
With the Nameless One's disappearance confirmed, a heavy oppressive atmosphere settled over the entire Imperial camp. Many people were so distraught that they sought comfort in religion and the Emperor's mercy. However, even the priests of the Imperial Cult were deeply grieved and often shed uncontrollable tears instead of comforting others.
The Nameless One possessed extraordinary abilities to alter laws and terrain at will—methods rivaling those of the Creator. What terrifying means had the enemy used to abduct him? If even the Nameless One could not stop them, what could ordinary humans do?
These thoughts spread like a plague, causing morale in the Imperial camp to plummet rapidly.
At that moment, Sanguinius stepped forward and addressed everyone, his image projected everywhere. In the footage, Sanguinius's wings were fully spread, and golden light radiated from his majestic form. The light was warm and gentle, dispelling the gloom in people's hearts.
"The Nameless One has not fallen. He wields supreme authority in this universe, and even the Gods must retreat before his wrath."
"He is merely imprisoned by the enemy's evil magic and needs our help. My friends, the Nameless One once saved us. Now it is our turn to save the Nameless One."
Sanguinius's words echoed across every warship, every fortress, and every space station.
"He showed the Imperium a new path, gave us hope, and protected us from countless disasters."
"We must win this war, capture the mastermind, interrogate him to find the Nameless One's location, and then rescue him."
Sanguinius's voice grew louder and more passionate.
"This is not about repaying a debt—it is about what we must do. The Nameless One has done so much for us so that we may once again have hope in this cruel world."
"Do not grieve. Do not give up. Rise, Imperium! My people! The Nameless One needs our help. We cannot let him face danger alone!"
"The enemy is powerful and may possess means we do not understand, but we possess courage and unity against our common foe."
"We may die, but our rage and sacrifice will save the Nameless One and bring him back to us."
Thanks to Sanguinius's words, the flagging morale gradually began to recover. Light returned to people's eyes—the light of hope, the light of rage, and the light of unyielding resolve. They would win this war and then resurrect the Nameless One.
"For the Nameless One!!!"
No one knew who shouted it first. Then a second, a third, a tenth, a hundredth, and countless more followed.
"For the Nameless One!!!"
The shouts echoed through the hall like a tsunami, shaking the windows. Soldiers gripped their weapons tightly. Officers straightened their backs. The Primarchs exchanged glances, seeing the same determination in each other's eyes.
For the Nameless One.
They would not hesitate to sacrifice their own lives.
…
As Datch entered the passage, he was drawn into a strange, endless, and mysterious space with no path forward. Countless bizarre strands of light flashed past him like countless colorful rivers carrying fragments of time.
Datch simply floated onward. Suddenly, he spotted a golden exclamation mark within the flowing space and stopped before it.
Datch stared at the golden exclamation mark, thought for a moment, then redeemed the item "Time Pickaxe" from the game store. This tool was perfect for the current situation—it could break through temporal barriers and allow the user to move through spaces blocked by time.
Datch swung the pickaxe several times, cracking the barrier. He then crawled out through the gap.
He felt as though he were passing through an invisible membrane. With each layer he ascended, the surrounding world became more real. When everything returned to normal, Datch found himself standing in a pitch-black place. Thanks to his powered armor, he could see in the darkness.
Datch looked around and realized he was surrounded by rough stone walls, with a low rocky mountain looming overhead. The air was damp and stuffy, carrying a distinct mineral smell. Several rusted tools lay scattered on the ground, and a short distance away sat a twisted, deformed mining cart.
The surrounding rock walls showed traces of mining activity. The minerals once buried within the rock had been plundered, leaving only bare stone walls.
A mine tunnel.
He had been discovered inside an underground mine tunnel.
Datch frowned upon receiving this information.
He strode forward, his boots crunching softly on gravel. The sound echoed clearly through the narrow mine tunnel.
He had not walked far when he noticed footsteps approaching from ahead. The footsteps were very faint and cautious, as if deliberately suppressing sound. Yet in this silent mine tunnel, no sound could be hidden.
Datch stopped and waited for the voice to draw closer.
The footsteps approached. Then a figure appeared around the corner.
It was a boy in tattered clothes, his face covered in dust, his hair disheveled. He still clutched a short dagger, his expression filled with vigilance.
When the boy saw Datch, his eyes widened and he instinctively stepped back. His movements were quick and agile; he immediately put distance between them.
Datch looked at the boy as a thought flashed through his mind.
An information panel appeared before his eyes.
[Nergüi, adopted son of Khageddon, leader of the Raider Tribe, the 16th Primarch created by the Emperor, Horus Lupercal]
Datch's eyes widened. This human was actually one of the most important NPC characters in the Warhammer universe—the mastermind of the Great Rebellion, Horus himself. The man who had personally slain Sanguinius, gravely wounded the Emperor, and nearly brought the Human Imperium to the brink of destruction. The Warmaster who had been slain by the Emperor himself.
And now he stood alive and well before Datch.
Oh…
So this is where it happens after all?
…
…
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