Chapter 453: I Am Just an Ordinary Raven Guard

Titus slightly bowed his head in reverence to his gene-father.

"My Lord, I am no longer a Company Captain; I am now merely a Black Shield of the Deathwatch."

"As far as I know, the current Second Company Captain is Cato Sicarius—he is an excellent commander."

"You will always be a Space Marine of the Ultramarines, Captain Titus."

Roboute Guilliman did not stop writing, but lifted his head to look at Titus and said:

"Now, tell me, my son, why have you not returned to your brothers?"

"I have repeatedly violated the Codex Astartes. I have immersed myself in the corrupt energies of the Warp. The Inquisitor deemed me tainted."

Titus spoke truthfully to the Primarch:

"I believed I had brought shame upon the Ultramarines, unworthy to bear their name."

"That is why I chose the Deathwatch—to hunt xenos until death claims me."

"My child, a fallen Inquisitor has no right to strip your honor, nor can he deny that you are my worthy son." Roboute Guilliman paused his pen for three seconds, speaking solemnly to Titus, then resumed his work.

Titus, head bowed, felt his heart leap violently—even his unyielding will was stirred by the Primarch's words.

"Demetrius Titus, do you wish to bear once more the name of the Ultramarines, to serve the Emperor and fight for Mankind?" Guilliman asked Titus.

"It is my duty, My Lord," Titus replied. "Whatever task you assign me, I swear by the Emperor's name to fulfill it faithfully and never disgrace the name of the Ultramarines."

"Good. Do you know what task I shall give you? It is a duty only you can fulfill. Your resolve is steel, your resistance to the Warp is exceptional, and your adaptability allows you to act according to circumstance—all essential for this task."

Titus pondered a moment, then raised his hand and asked: "Is it for the Indomitus Crusade, My Lord? Do you need me to serve in the Indomitus Crusade fleet?"

This was what he had learned from public reports: the Indomitus Crusade was about to begin, and Roboute Guilliman would personally lead the fleet to reclaim the Holy Worlds of the Imperium.

Perhaps the Primarch wished him to serve in the Indomitus Crusade—to join the mission to reclaim the Emperor's holy domains?

Roboute Guilliman shook his head, rejecting Titus's assumption.

"Then is it the Dark Imperium Crusade?" Titus thought again and asked.

This was the other face of the Indomitus Crusade: Saint Guilliman would journey across the Great Rift to the Dark Imperium, centered on Baal, reclaiming regions beyond the reach of the Astronomican's light.

It was a harder mission—one requiring unyielding will, resistance to Chaos corruption, and flexible adaptability, exactly as the Primarch had described.

But Guilliman again shook his head, leaving Titus puzzled.

"You must already know of Saint Dora."

Titus gave a slight nod at Guilliman's question.

"He hails from the twenty-second century, has a fondness for the number twenty-two, and regards it as sacred."

As he spoke, Guilliman's expression was oddly strained, though Titus did not notice.

Each time he mentioned a "sacred number," Guilliman could not help but recall the Great Sage and Saint Mortarion of numerology.

"Thus, Saint Dora also has twenty-two personal guards—he has chosen you as one of them."

To serve as Saint Dora's bodyguard?

Where in this task would unyielding will be needed? Where resistance to corruption? Where adaptability?

Guilliman believed this task absolutely required unyielding will, resistance to corruption, and adaptability.

Without unyielding will, you would be driven mad by Zhou Yun's mouth; without resistance to corruption, you could not endure Zhou Yun's surroundings or his enemies; without adaptability, you would inevitably try to kill Zhou Yun.

Though he did not understand why his gene-father had assigned him this task, Titus voiced his doubts earnestly:

"My Lord, this is a vital and critical duty—should it truly be entrusted to me?"

"Do you believe yourself unfit?" Guilliman raised an eyebrow slightly.

"No, My Lord. I only believe such a critical position should not be given to one like me, tainted and possibly influenced by the Warp."

Titus spoke these words purely from reason and reflection.

He understood the importance of Saint Dora; serving as his bodyguard meant becoming the closest to him.

Therefore, one should choose someone utterly pure, without even the faintest suspicion.

Someone like Titus—with clear doubts—should not hold such a position.

"I believe the guards surrounding that Lord must be utterly pure, loyal, and rational, with not a single flaw," Titus said.

"." Guilliman stared at Titus, his pen still.

Pure, loyal, rational, without a single flaw—Zhou Yun's own chosen guards

"I fear I am not pure enough, My Lord," Titus said humbly, lowering his head as Guilliman remained silent.

Aren't you purer than Khorne?

Guilliman did not speak those words aloud.

The Lord of Light was a magnificent and splendid vessel, hovering above Terra like a golden sacred temple.

Its original master had been the legendary Solar Lord Macarius's flagship.

That greatest Solar Lord in history, in his mortal form, reclaimed a thousand worlds between the 392nd and 399th years of the 41st Millennium—just seven years—and pushed his campaign to the galaxy's edge, beyond the Astronomican's light.

After his death, the Imperial Cult canonized him; his flagship, the Lord of Light, was decommissioned, sent to Macarius's homeworld of Macaria, and refitted to fly both within atmospheres and in void, forever suspended above Macarius's tomb.

It was said that recently, the flagship prepared for Saint Dora by Mars had been damaged by the rebellion of the former Neiwu Force Minister, and soon after, the new Pope of the Cult received a vision of Saint Macarius.

Macarius declared that, following the Emperor's will, he offered his flagship, the Lord of Light, to Saint Dora, hoping this colossal vessel might aid him.

Thus, the Sisters of Battle traveled to Macaria and brought the Lord of Light back to Terra, where it became Saint Dora's new flagship.

Titus did not yet know whether this was legend, religious propaganda, or truth—but the grandeur of the vessel had deeply impressed him.

Sometimes, Titus felt a strange illusion: he sensed the ship's machine-spirit was unusually fervent, as if the will of Macarius himself still lingered within.

This gave Titus slight unease.

Though Guilliman had assured him he need not worry about his purity, standing upon such a pure and noble void-ship, Titus could not help recalling his past suspicions, his time immersed in the Warp's tide.

From a strict perspective, he was clearly not pure.

And those who would serve alongside him as Saint Dora's twenty-two chosen warriors—surely they were all meticulously selected: loyal, pure, noble. Titus felt he might stand out as an outsider.

He might even be met with suspicion and wariness from his comrades—only his actions could prove his loyalty, and that was precisely what he excelled at.

Following instructions, Titus arrived before the bridge of the Lord of Light.

His gaze fell upon the massive figure guarding the bridge entrance.

It was a Dreadnought painted black as the abyss, its left shoulder gleaming metallic blue; upon its iron coffin rested a small propeller.

Clearly, this ancient warrior was also one of Saint Dora's twenty-two personal guards—Titus's comrade.

Titus heard a thunderous rush of wind.

In an instant, the black Dreadnought shot forward at over eighty kilometers per hour, hovering before Titus.

Titus looked up, bewildered and confused, gazing at the Dreadnought.

He was relatively adaptable, quick to adjust—but.

But the hell how is a Dreadnought flying?!

"Ultramarine brat! Look at Kasso!"

The booming voice erupted from the Dreadnought's massive speakers, deafening:

"Tell Kasso who you are! Or Kasso's Storm Claw will smash your Ultramarine ass!"

"Kasso, don't scare him—he's one of us." A voice suddenly came from behind Titus, like a ghostly crow's cry, sending a chill down his spine.

He turned slightly and saw an Astartes clad in armor black as raven feathers, gripping a sniper rifle, two black twin blades hanging at his waist—standing less than half a meter away, unseen until now.

And Titus had barely noticed.

"Kasso fears another hidden identity!"

"The last one who hid his identity was you—you still haven't told us who you are!"

"The one before that? Ha—that was Kain!"

The Dreadnought boomed.

Kain?

Titus paused, stunned.

Traitor Kain?

No, that was impossible—must be a coincidence.

Titus shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought in his mind.

"I am merely an ordinary Raven Guard. The Lord ordered me to conceal my identity."

The Raven Guard with the sniper rifle replied to Kasso, then turned to Titus and said:

"The Lord is receiving a guest and advisor, but He said that once you arrive, you may enter directly—no waiting required."

Titus gave the Eagle Salute in thanks, then gently pushed open the door and entered the bridge.

Then Titus saw:

A blue Astartes bearing the Thousand Sons mark, his body inscribed with countless blasphemous sorcery runes, wielding a black staff.

Also in the bridge stood several grotesque, twisted, terrifying demons—apparently summoned and bound here.

"." Titus thought he might have accidentally been swept into a minor Warp storm.

(End of Chapter)