The explosion and destruction of a hive city had already cast a shadow over Caleb's gameboard.
Visibility was extremely low across all major fronts.
The smoke and dust thrown up by the explosions caused the entire planet's temperature to plummet.
Parts of the Boiling Sea froze over, many daemonic forces could even directly cross the ice to attack the remaining Hive Cities.
Profane Daemon Engines began joining the battlefield in increasing numbers, Ever since Caleb had directly twisted Khorne's Angron away, Khorne had ramped up his investment in this planet.
On a single front alone, dozens of warlord-class titans might appear, and Warhound-class and Reaver-class Titans would only outnumber the warlord-class titans.
Both sides on the front lines had already produced iconic scenes of an Apocalypse War: Titans dueling each other across a vast front filled with death and destruction.
At this time, Caleb did not command his pieces to join the fray, and Lion also chose not to join the battlefield, instead remaining in a state of rest and reorganization.
They made contact with the Astartes Council and confirmed that a new Chapter would be joining the battle.
When he first heard this news, Lion was optimistic.
At the very least, he wouldn't be holding the line alone, and he could see how the sons of another Primarch were doing these days.
However, when he learned the name of this Chapter, Lion's face turned a bruised, iron-blue.
He felt like the Astartes Council was playing a joke on him, of the nine loyalist Legions, which one couldn't they have sent? Why did they have to send this lot just to spite him?
Lion's expression was extremely ugly, and Caleb's expression was equally grim.
[Apocalypse War: Armageddon.]
[Fortified Defense Battle initiated!]
[You will garrison the remaining 5 core areas. Every time the enemy captures a strategic point, task rewards will decrease and task duration will increase.]
[You may also reorganize an offensive to retake lost points, but if you lose all points, this campaign will be judged a failure.]
Soon, all the hive city locations on the gameboard lit up, various troop deployments were displayed above these points.
Clearly, one could also judge the progress of the enemy's offensive by the yellow and red bars above.
Once the red bar overtook the yellow bar, it was clear that the forces of Khorne held the advantage.
At such times, troops had to be committed and urgently deployed to the specified area to help the defenders hold the line.
Once the yellow bar completely overtook the red bar, the defense was clearly successful.
That point would not suffer from Chaos incursions or threats in the short term.
However, as it stood, every single point was currently being contested.
The Hive worlds in the core regions and the main continent were doing alright, with the yellow bars mostly maintaining a significant lead.
Local Titan Legions and Knight Houses were successfully garrisoning several important nodes.
As long as the Planetary Governor didn't throw these legions away, they could basically hold out.
But near the sub-continents and the jungle sections, it was a bit of a prison sentence.
Khorne had clearly committed more strength there than on other fronts.
The power bars for both sides were basically locked in a state of intense struggle.
Some points were even showing as actively being fought over.
[Current Mission Objective: Defend Armageddon. Failure Condition: Lose all Hive Worlds on Armageddon.]
[If the failure scenario is unlocked, you will be forcibly transmigrated into the Warhammer world, you will personally play as a piece, struggling to survive in that harsh universe.]
[Survival duration is 30 days. During this period, you must escape the Imperial kill-zone.]
[Normal Scenario: You successfully defend Armageddon. Subsequently, the Grey Knights will destroy the Gate of the Red Angel...]
[Upon completion, you will receive rewards of Telepathy and Prophecy, and gain the psychic strength of a Beta-level Psyker.]
[Simultaneously, successful players, will be gifted life-extension surgery from the Adeptus Mechanicus, a Void Shield pendant, and expandable mechanical prosthetics.]
[Special Condition: Losing a hive city will grant you an additional 2000 deployment points...]
[The Most Difficult Task: Turn the defensive war into an offensive one and destroy the Gate of the Red Angel ahead of schedule.]
[Ensure 30% of the planet's population survives, and put all demons on the planet to the torch.]
[Extra Rewards: One panacea STC construction template, one Artificial Womb from the Dark Age of Technology, and one set of Gene-Editing technology.]
"Huh?"
Caleb hadn't even popularized the laser technology he had on hand, and now the game arrives to reward him with a panacea STC template, plus an Artificial Womb and gene-editing from the Dark Age.
What was he supposed to do with these rewards in his hands? Change the world?
If these two technologies were spread, it would certainly be a massive change for this world.
However, it would also likely bring about moral disasters and a certain risk of societal collapse.
"Whatever, I'll get them first. How to use them or popularize them is a matter for later!"
"At the very least, that panacea STC template is an absolute divine artifact!"
Caleb stuck to his usual way, first ensuring he could complete the defense mission for Armageddon.
As for directly destroying the Gate of the Red Angel, that would depend on whether he had surplus troops.
Furthermore, the mission for this defensive campaign was very interesting; losing a point would add a full 2000 extra deployment points!
On the whole of Armageddon, there were only 5 Hive Cities that needed defending now.
If he lost 4 points, he could practically become the Emperor himself.
Suddenly, Caleb's eyes lit up!
Because he thought of a very flashy way to play this.
That was to intentionally let the daemonic forces occupy 4 Hive Cities at the critical moment.
Meanwhile, he would move most of the population to the Volcanic Hive on the main continent, then he'd have extra deployment points to drop a batch of troops and take out the Gate of the Red Angel directly.
This way, not only could he complete the original campaign mission, but he could also earn the extra reward mission.
And this would be much better than the original lore where the entire planet was purged clean by the Grey Knights.
Caleb didn't dally; he acted as soon as he spoke.
He sent the strategic deployment map of the entire planet to Lion on one hand, and on the other, he transmitted his strategic plan directly into Lion's mind via thought.
Lion El''Jonson: Concentrate on defending the Volcanic Hive while evacuating and saving over 30% of the population?
The defense mission isn't that difficult, but ensuring over 30% of the population survives, that truly is a bit difficult!
In a rest area of a military camp, Lion calmed his heart and emotions, temporarily ignoring the fact that the Space Wolves were about to join the battlefield.
In any case, the Space Wolves were technically allies now, as long as the two sides didn't come into contact, anything else was fine.
He just hoped no idiot would interfere with his mission, after all, the task assigned by Father this time was quite hard, requiring the preservation of over 30% of the Hive population.
Caleb: Yes, if we don't do this, the traitors' goal will be achieved! They come to the material universe specifically to harvest mortal souls.
Only by stopping them can I help you. Only then will I have the chance in the future to resurrect the Emperor of the Second Imperium, right?
Looking at the sand table in his hands, Lion almost lost it again, hearing "Second Imperium," his head thudded heavily against the edge of the sand table desk.
The surrounding Dark Angels hurriedly pulled their Primarch up, from the Primarch's expression, one could see his face was truly strained now.
Lion El''Jonson: Say no more, say no more!
That was all an accident. We didn't know your condition. At the time, Guilliman, Sanguinius, and I all thought you were dead...
That's why we reluctantly agreed to Guilliman's proposal to establish the Second Imperium. It was all an accident! Honest!
Seeing Lion's reaction on the gameboard, Caleb was truly about to burst out laughing.
It looked like he had grasped the little Lion's weak spot; just a little squeeze and the little guy would bristle.
"My Lord Primarch, what's wrong?" The surrounding Dark Angels were all worried about the Primarch's current state. Although the Primarch had awakened some superpowers he didn't have before...
...his mental state seemed to have become even more peculiar.
Genetically, they were certain this person was absolutely their Primarch.
But from their current feeling, this Primarch before them was truly, strange...
"It's nothing..."
"Sigh, it seems the secret regarding the Second Imperium has been fully exposed!"
"But fortunately, only Father knows. Others don't know yet!"
The knight captain was slightly stunned, but then said righteously: "Doesn't that mean the Emperor has permitted our actions?"
"And the Emperor also believes that we were doing it to save the Imperium!"
"My Lord Primarch, this is a great thing!"
"If it's truly as you say, and the God-Emperor has a way to resurrect Sanguinius, then there's no reason we couldn't re-establish the Second Imperium!"
"Stop, stop right there!" Lion poked his palm with his finger; he didn't want to mention this mess anymore.
It was all a confused account from the era of the Great Heresy; he didn't want to touch it now with a ten-foot pole.
Are you kidding? Dad is right inside my head, and you want to build your damn Second Imperium?
Are you trying to roast your own mother-figure over a fire?
These brats must be starving for trouble to even think of such a sacrilegious thing!
"Let's just finish the upcoming mission first!"
"Having received enlightenment, our mission this time is to ensure the survival of over 30% of the Hive World's population and destroy the Gate of the Red Angel if possible!"
"Currently, our forces are very thin. Relying solely on ourselves, we certainly won't be able to destroy the Gate of the Red Angel!"
At this point, Lion paused slightly.
Then, he had his brats look at the sand table again. He placed the pieces representing the Space Wolves around the Gate of the Red Angel.
"I have two proposals here!"
"One is to cooperate with the Space Wolves for a joint assault on the Gate of the Red Angel. If we do that, there's a probability of destroying it directly."
"However, if we do that, we'll have to send a representative to negotiate with the Space Wolves."
"Who among you is willing to take this mission?"
Lion looked around at the brats who were staring at each other blankly.
Their hearts were filled with bitterness. Asking the Space Wolves for help? Were those words that could actually come out of a Primarch's mouth?
"My Lord Primarch, what is the second one?" the knight captain asked.
"The second one is to migrate the vast majority of the population to the Volcanic Hive!"
"They'll have to pass through the dense jungles, and we must ensure at least 30% of the population reaches the Hive!"
"Then, if any hive city falls along the way, Father will use his influence to send reinforcements!"
"Once the reinforcements arrive, we can strike and destroy the Gate of the Red Angel, during this time, we only need to ensure the Volcanic Hive doesn't fall and that most of the population survives!"
Lion laid out the two simple mission paths before every one of his children.
It was better to discuss things, or at least that's how Lion intended to act on the surface.
Two choices, two answers.
The first choice was extremely risky and required them to swallow their pride and beg the Space Wolves for help.
In comparison, the second was clearly more reliable. Not only would they have the God-Emperor's support, but the mission pressure overall seemed easier.
Of course, for the Dark Angels, compared to sucking up to those Space Barbarians, they were much more willing to choose the second option, even if it was harder.
"Lord Primarch, I believe the second option is more reliable!"
"Those Wolf Pups are just a bunch of savages. Fighting alongside them, we're only likely to fail!"
"These aren't two choices; there's clearly only one choice!"
"Exactly!" the other veteran Terminators nearby couldn't help but chime in.
"The knight captain is right!"
"Executing a mission with a bunch of uncivilized savages, no matter how you think about it, it's just wrong!"
"His Majesty is still too kind to those barbarians. The God-Emperor surely doesn't know how unreliable those guys are!"
*Lmao!*
Watching this little drama unfold, Caleb really couldn't keep a straight face.
That first plan wasn't even his idea; it was clearly Lion using such tactics to provoke his children.
As expected of being born from the same mother, these brats' grievances against the Space Wolves were indeed still at a maximum.
Rather than being teammates with the Space Wolves, they'd rather go it alone to protect the vast majority of the Hive people.
The Dark Angels had a strong aversion to cooperating with the Space Wolves, when the two Chapters met, it was a miracle if they didn't start fighting each other.
"Mm." Lion nodded with satisfaction, a hint of a successful scheme flickering in his eyes.
Clearly, he was extremely pleased with his brats' performance. If any brat had actually dared to suggest cooperating with the Space Savages...
...Lion was prepared to immediately judge that veteran as a Fallen Angel and lock him up first.
"Sigh..." Although Caleb didn't have Telepathy yet, how could he not guess Lion's thoughts?
One could only say Lion's heart was narrower than a needle's eye. Couldn't he be a bit more magnanimous and show some conscience?
Though, if he did open up his heart, Slaanesh would probably die of laughter.
However, to complete this mission, Caleb naturally couldn't simply let Lion use brute force to move the population.
Caleb had to take a curved path to loyalty, utilizing the Orks in the forest to further deplete Khorne's offensive forces.
As the saying goes, the essence of Warhammer 40k is one big chaotic brawl.
As someone who could deploy countless pieces, Caleb naturally couldn't just use Imperial pieces.
At this moment, Caleb actually had a squad of Orks in his hand, he even had a Warboss like Ghazghkull.
But if he released standard Orks, it would inevitably lead to conflict with the Imperium, which would have a serious negative impact on his mission.
But what if he could command these wild Orks?
Then wouldn't they become his helpers?
Caleb focused his gaze on his Marvel Hulk figurine.
Why couldn't he be a Warboss?
It would be quite reasonable to let the Hulk, the Green Menace be an Ork Warlord, wouldn't it?
Picking up the Hulk piece, he walked over to the gameboard.
Then, Caleb used his Designate ability on the piece.
"You are the strongest Ork Warboss ever!"
"You will lead these greenskins to create a massive Waaagh!"
"You will kill those daemons to prove you are the biggest and most Waaagh 'round, and you always believe you are a human, but that doesn't stop you from feeling like the chosen of Gork and Mork."
[Designation successful. Deploy directly?]
[This deployment of a special piece will consume one thousand deployment points!]
"Yes!"
With a smile on his face, Caleb placed the piece into that dense jungle.
And at this moment, there just happened to be an Ork clan resting and recuperating there.