Ferrus Manus.
The Tenth Primarch, the gene-father of the Iron Hands Legion. A Primarch who once vied with Horus for the position of Warmaster, a leader exceptional in both strategy and tactics, and an absolutely loyal, formidable Primarch. Ultimately, he met his end on Isstvan V, dying at the hands of his brother and friend, Fulgrim. His skull was presented to Horus and was only recovered by Rogal Dorn after the end of the Great Heresy.
During the War in the Webway, the Emperor of Mankind used his divine power to summon the souls of vast numbers of fallen warriors to fight for him and cover the Custodian Guard. The leader among them was Ferrus Manus.
Yuki recalled everything he knew about this Primarch. Having become a member of the Legion of the Damned, his strength would only be more terrifying. And after experiencing death once, he would show no mercy to any enemy.
Unsurprisingly, one of Yuki's bodies was effortlessly crushed by the hammer, while two others attempted to pin Ferrus down—only succeeding for a single second. A fourth body tried to drive a bone blade into his neck, but Ferrus reacted instantly and punched it away. However, it wasn't entirely without fruit; the bone blade managed to slash a small opening, from which fire flowed like liquid.
Yuki had seven bodies remaining. His aggressive tactics stalled Ferrus for ten seconds at the cost of a minor, inconsequential wound. Unless Yuno could deal with the Emperor-blessed Tigurius within fifteen seconds, he needed to switch to a more conservative fighting style.
In the next moment, he realized that a "conservative" style was physically impossible. Ferrus swung his hammer, and forget Yuki—even a Hive Tyrant would have been smashed into paste. Is a Primarch's power really this terrifying?
With the help of the Legion of the Damned, the Ultramarines regrouped. Behind them, the heavy guns of the warships fired at point-blank range in the deep void. This was the Warhammer world: a war could be fundamentally altered by the appearance of a single entity.
"Yuno, can you handle this? If not, let's get out of here!"
"Why are you always thinking about running away?"
"Isn't it normal to retreat if you can't win?"
Yuno was momentarily speechless. She also noticed that the Tyranid units currently on the field were incapable of stopping a Primarch's advance. After using her peerless wisdom to think for a moment, she understood Yuki's point.
"Running when outmatched was indeed my style in the past."
Furthermore, Yuno noticed more irritating developments: the Tau Empire fleet was nearing. Once they arrived in this sector and the Imperium joined forces with the Tau again, things would get complicated.
"Then let's retreat."
Sunk costs were not to be factored into decisions. The situation was urgent—withdraw!
Yuno's psychic impact knocked Tigurius back. With one hand, she halted Ferrus's charge and sent him tumbling away. She then grabbed Yuki, and space began to turn illusory. Like twin meteors, they vanished from the Honor of Macragge.
Seeing the two flee, Calgar immediately moved to pursue, but more Tyranid Mycetic Spores blocked their path. However, the Emperor had no intention of letting them go.
While the warriors of the Legion of the Damned fought the Tyranids for the Ultramarines, Ferrus boarded a Thunderhawk gunship. Flames scorched away the Ultramarine livery on the craft, replacing it with patterns of black and fire. Without any Ultramarines following, they watched him fly straight toward the Hive Fleet.
Their Chief Librarian, Tigurius, also underwent a strange transformation. "I hear His call, Chapter Master. He says these are the ultimate enemies of mankind. I must pursue."
"Go, Tigurius."
A psychic portal opened, and Tigurius followed.
The Aether Fleet's failure to destroy the Imperial fleet in time—specifically the Honor of Macragge—brought severe consequences. A massive number of Tau and Imperial ships converged, and the Hive Fleet lost its numerical advantage. As these warships drew closer, the Aether Fleet would suffer heavy losses if they didn't break away immediately.
"Yuki, sacrifice a portion of the ships. Prepare to disengage."
"Why does it always end up like this?"
"Once my main fleet arrives, everything will be fine!"
Yuki commanded the outermost ships to launch a suicide charge against the enemies closing in. If they could stall for enough time, the fleet could successfully enter FTL travel. Additionally, the Tyranids left behind on various planets established massive orbital bio-acid cannons to intercept the incoming warships.
Yuki felt that leaving wouldn't be an issue. The Aether Fleet had already abandoned the Tyranid organisms that were difficult to extract, so most of the biomass could be preserved. With a bit of development, they could recover to the scale of Hive Fleet Kraken. Furthermore, the Second and Third Fleets had not yet returned. If—
His thoughts were interrupted. He saw a Thunderhawk gunship flying toward them.
"What the hell is going on?"
Before he could think further, Yuno's psychic power tore the gunship apart. The headless giant wielding the hammer leaped from the wreckage. Yuno was about to strike, but a golden light flared. Yuki looked out into the void and saw that Tigurius's face had become blurred and indistinguishable. A phantom silhouette appeared behind him.
"Emperor of Mankind, do you wish to challenge me? Yuki, stall that Ferrus. I'll be right back!"
Yuki felt a wave of bitterness. Was a Primarch really something I can 'stall' just because I want to? But the Emperor clearly wasn't going to let him off easy. Even if he couldn't do it, he had to try.
"Ferrus, come on!"
After a single exchange, Yuki was sent flying hundreds of meters, slamming heavily into a warship. The impact was so great that the massive vessel tilted slightly in space. Damn it, this is impossible to fight! Ferrus's strength, speed, and combat techniques were all superior. No matter how he fought, he couldn't bridge the gap.
There was an insurmountable wall between a Primarch and other units. Only entities beneath the level of the Chaos Gods themselves could truly contend with them. Yuki was definitely not his match.
As Ferrus swung his hammer again, Yuki prepared to risk everything.
BOOM!
A streak of light shot past, passing directly through Yuki's position. The figure kicked the warhammer, actually knocking Ferrus's attack aside by sheer force.
Who?
Yuki recovered his senses and looked clearly at the newcomer's face.
Yuno?
No, she had short hair and wore a military-style uniform. The aura on her face was completely different from Yuno's! Could it be—
"War, you actually dare to return?"
"You flatter me. No matter where I go, I will always return."
War Yuno gripped the warhammer as Ferrus swung it again. She turned to Yuki and said, "Please, step back."