This is the bonus chapter for reaching 1200 Powerstones.
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Not all World Eaters had fallen; there were still warbands that held onto their original convictions.
Angron's most admired sons—the last of the War Hounds—had still swung their butcher's knives at him when he fell. They would rather kill their genetic father than watch him sink into the abyss.
Most of them had died long ago in the bombardment of Isstvan III, leaving very, very few survivors now.
Angron's next plan was to gather them back together and remove the Butcher's Nails from their minds as well.
Angron walked up to Zeke.
"The World Eaters and I," Angron's voice echoed around them, "will walk through fire and water for you."
"That won't be necessary. To be honest, the things I, Zeke, can do, you might not be able to do, and the things I cannot accomplish, you guys most likely won't be able to either."
"But If I really had to say, there is one thing you can do for me right now." Zeke pointed at Abaddon's Vengeful Spirit in the sky.
"Abaddon." Angron naturally knew the one who had summoned him here.
He quieted the clamor of the World Eaters Legion.
"My sons, the time when you are needed has come. This is your first battle, a battle to prove yourselves."
"A battle to prove ourselves!" Roars erupted from the World Eaters, their will to fight surging.
"Abaddon?" The Lion heard this somewhat familiar name.
Beside him, the Dark Angel introduced the Warmaster. "The Imperium's greatest external threat right now is likely Abaddon."
The Lion suddenly understood. "Ezekyle Abaddon? The First Captain of the Sons of Horus? He's still alive?"
"Even stripping away the various rumors and propaganda," the Dark Angel continued, "from the news I've heard, he has usurped power capable of rivaling a Primarch."
"He once intended to destroy Cadia," the Dark Angel added, seeing no reaction from the Lion. "A famous Imperial Fortress World near the Eye of Terror."
The Lion snorted coldly. "Well then, it seems my brother's wayward son truly needs a good lesson."
With the World Eaters stopped by Angron, the Dark Angels were also freed from the combat.
After a brief explanation, the Lion gathered the Dark Angels and prepared to assault Abaddon's flagship.
At this time, Guilliman, who had returned to the Imperium to request reinforcements, also led the Ultramarines to Wyrmwood to assist.
Four Legions—the World Eaters, Ultramarines, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels—all aimed their spearheads at the true enemy: Abaddon.
Streaks of fire flashed across the sky above Wyrmwood, trailing long tails of flame.
A few hours ago, these streaks were various missiles dropped from Abaddon's Vengeful Spirit, but now, the direction of the fire had reversed, becoming the four Chapters rapidly advancing toward Abaddon.
On the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit, Abaddon suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
"Vashtorr, are you sure your plan is proceeding in an orderly manner? I have an ominous premonition."
Abaddon spoke to a mechanical being hidden in a hood beside him—a hunched, humanoid mechanical daemon with scythe-like wings.
"Soon. The Key fragments on Wyrmwood will soon be found. As long as we gather all the fragments and reassemble them, we can open the Old Ones' vault known as 'The Lock'. Inside are various weapons and knowledge left behind by the Old Ones. With it, you can possess the power to destroy the Imperium. And I, Vashtorr, will have the opportunity to ascend as the fifth Chaos God of the Warp."
Vashtorr, the unaligned Chaos demigod of profound seniority, the Lord of the Soul Forge, the Warp's greatest arms dealer.
He was born from the desires of sapient beings for curiosity and exploration, the impulse to create and invent, and the obsession with technological advancement.
He partnered with Abaddon to search for fragments of an ancient relic known as "The Key".
Vashtorr stared at Abaddon. "Abaddon, with the Arks of Omen I built for you, what are you afraid of?"
Abaddon touched his topknot, where a chunk of hair was missing.
Since experiencing his Waterloo at Cadia, Abaddon had learned from his painful mistakes, searching for the reasons behind his failures.
It was then that Vashtorr came knocking, proposing reasons for mutual cooperation. After making his choice, Abaddon finally agreed to the partnership.
Facts proved his decision was correct.
Abaddon's Sorcerers and Warpsmiths, utilizing Vashtorr's techniques, found many Space Hulks in the violently shifting Warp and used forbidden arts to transform them into the Arks of Omen.
Abaddon's fingers left his topknot and clenched into fists.
That sudden chill had been cast to the back of his mind, replaced by confidence.
"Right," he muttered, as if responding to Vashtorr, and also as if convincing himself. "The ones who should be afraid are my enemies."
"Warning!" A creature surrounded by trembling limbs and bulging eyeballs suddenly spoke up.
This was a daemonic entity known as a Ferryman, serving as the operator of the Ark of Omen.
"Reporting: It is an assault craft of the Dark Angels. Calculations indicate their intention might be a boarding action. There are reinforcements behind them—the Blood Angels."
The Ark of Omen was a massive fleet. To think a single force of Dark Angels and Blood Angels could breach it was too naive. Abaddon was dismissive.
Abaddon recalled that he had recently kept hearing rumors in the galaxy about Sanguinius's resurrection.
He believed this was nothing but fake news released by the Imperium. A Chapter with genetic flaws was nothing to fear.
"There are also Ultramarines." The Ferryman compared the battle reports coming from the ground and discovered that it was highly likely the Ultramarines were also participating in the boarding action.
Guilliman has also come to join the fun. Abaddon calmed his nerves. It doesn't matter. We have Vashtorr.
"The World Eaters also seem to be participating."
Weren't the World Eaters the Chaos forces on our side? What do you mean 'they too' are participating?
"Ferryman!" Abaddon's roar shook the bridge. "Can you finish your report all at once?!"
The twisted mass of biology flinched. All its eyeballs closed simultaneously, then opened again simultaneously.
"Lord Warmaster, their assault craft models are largely identical. I must compare, analyze, and calculate to determine exactly which Space Marine Chapters they are, so there will be some delay in time..."
Abaddon's chest heaved as he pondered why the World Eaters would betray him.
Forcibly suppressing the fury surging in his throat, he said, "Continue."
The Ferryman fell silent, calculating madly in its brain. After about half a minute, it delivered the results all at once.
"Based on the situation on the ground, I deduce that there are four Chapters participating in the boarding action."
"Furthermore, people on the ground have witnessed the figures of the Lion, Lion El'Jonson, the World Eater Angron, and the Regent Guilliman. Coupled with the Blood Angels fleet in the air, although Sanguinius has not shown his face, according to my calculations, there is an 80% probability that he is also present."
With every Primarch name he heard, Abaddon felt his heart sink further.
When all four Primarchs were announced, Abaddon was entirely dumbfounded.
Four Legions, and their Primarchs?!