Chapter 470: The Four Madmen of Kossorax

In some ways, the Dark Angels can indeed be considered a model chapter.

They lack the severe genetic mutations seen in the Space Wolves or the Blood Angels.

They do not harbor the hatred for flesh or obsession with mechanical ascension found in the Iron Hands.

Nor do they inspire suspicion of ambition like the Ultramarines.

Their apothecaries and librarians assist mortal women in childbirth and are moved by the birth of children.

They protect mortals, respect the Astra Militarum, and fight alongside their allies with reliability and loyalty, never retreating.

They are true knights, the continuation of Caliban's spirit, a reincarnation of the ancient Terra legends of King Arthur and his court.

But all this holds true only when their little secrets are not involved.

Once those secrets are touched, the Dark Angels become a band of extreme fanatics, seeking to kill anyone who might learn their secrets, abandoning all duties to hunt down the Fallen, descending into madness rivaling that of Blood Angels gripped by Black Rage.

If they are told of Laine's whereabouts, they will only come to disrupt, interfere with Zhou Yun's hunt for Airebas, and refuse to obey orders.

Guilliman's concern is primarily political: if he informs the Dark Angels of Laine's condition but refuses to retrieve him, he may trigger a dangerous reaction, destabilizing the situation.

It is not that Laine is forbidden to return, but in Guilliman's view, now is not the right time for his return.

At least one more Primarch must return first, to achieve balance and contain Laine before it is safe.

"If Airebas's scheme involves Laine, the situation changes." Guilliman turned his head slightly: "Should I or Sanguinius intervene?"

Both are currently occupied—one managing the Imperial Holy Realm, the other the Imperial Dark Side—neither can easily be spared.

But given Zhou Yun's safety, Guilliman is willing to sacrifice several worlds.

"No need." Zhou Yun shook his head slightly.

Zhou Yun has Yebi Daxiong beside him; Guilliman does not know Yebi Daxiong can serve as a vessel for the Emperor's divine descent. If Zhou Yun is in danger, the Emperor will surely come to rescue him.

Even without Yebi Daxiong, Zhou Yun recalled his discovery among the demonic Tarot cards from Kayang—at the critical moment, that Tarot card could prove more useful than Guilliman or even Sanguinius.

"And if both of you intervene, you might directly force Airebas to abandon his hold on the Conqueror and flee."

"Then all our preparations would be wasted, failing to wear down Airebas."

This was Guilliman's plan: a slow, dull blade cutting flesh—never forcing Airebas into desperation at once, but gradually weakening him until escape becomes impossible.

"The fleet under Mephiston has already formed a ring. Airebas will soon lose his chance to jump away with the Conqueror."

Sanguinius said cheerfully:

"He clearly intends to rely on the Conqueror and fight you."

"No rush. Let's play with him." Zhou Yun smiled slightly.

By now, Captain Kalein, Titus, Sarokin, and Kahn should have begun their operations.

Twisted, blood-soaked corpses were dumped from a barrel by Kossorax.

These corpses were crewmen who killed each other—food for the horrific beast before him.

A hundred hands, a hundred arms, a chaotic beast resembling the ancient mythic Hecatoncheires filled one corner of the bridge.

Seeing Kossorax dump his food on the ground, the boy's head buried within the beast's crimson flesh slowly emerged, its face raving as it devoured the corpses.

Kossorax likely knew the beast's origin: Airebas held a horrific sacrifice, eight hundred million lives slaughtering each other, and this child was the final survivor—yet became the vessel of Chaos energy, twisted into this form.

"Eat, eat. I, the mighty Regent of the World Eaters, feed you. What a fortune you have." Kossorax grumbled with slight displeasure.

The Fleshripper spike on his head hummed, and Kossorax struggled to suppress the fury unleashed by this terrible machine.

Logically, this task should not fall to Kossorax.

But the beast contains the power of the Blood God; any World Eater who approaches it activates the Fleshripper spike, consumed by rage and bloodlust, attacking the beast—and being killed by it.

Airebas does not care about the World Eaters' lives, but Kossorax cannot afford to ignore them—they are his brothers, his Legion.

So Kossorax took on the duty of feeding the beast himself—whether it was this beast infused with the Blood God's power, or even before Angron himself, Kossorax could maintain his reason.

The crimson beast slowly extended its boyish head, its eyes vacant and mad, yet gently nuzzled Kossorax's hand, as if expressing gratitude.

Airebas believed the beast's will was reduced to nothing but rage and madness; the original boy's consciousness had long been devoured by the countless demons dwelling within him.

But Kossorax could faintly sense that a sliver of reason still lingered within the beast—undetected by Airebas. Of course, Kossorax had no intention of revealing this discovery to Airebas.

"Kid, if you get the chance, want to bite him hard with me?" Kossorax whispered. The boy's head lifted blankly, staring at Kossorax with dull confusion, offering no response.

This disappointed Kossorax greatly.

But he dared only speak—actual rebellion against Airebas?

His reason told him Airebas was beyond his power to oppose.

He was the Hand of Fate, the hidden architect of the Great Betrayal; resisting him meant only death.

In truth, Kossorax felt he had survived this long only because the Loyalists launched their assault so swiftly—so fast that Airebas had not yet seized control of Kossorax's former warbands. Airebas still needed Kossorax to command the World Eaters, so he spared his life.

This was, of course, deeply humiliating. But what could Kossorax do?

The Fleshripper spike hummed, urging him to swing his axe at Airebas.

But Kossorax knew it would be nothing but self-destruction.

He could only endure the humiliation—

The Conqueror suddenly shook violently.

A shrill scream blared from the bridge's speakers, like a roar of fury.

Intrusion—The Conqueror had been breached?!

"Send your men to hold them off." A whisper echoed in Kossorax's ear, sending a chill through his body.

He turned to Airebas, standing nearby, whose cold gaze ordered him to act immediately.

Kossorax shuddered and hurried to the command console.

The faint, weary apparition of the Lady appeared beside Kossorax.

"Lady Sarin, what has happened?" Kossorax asked respectfully.

He already knew the identity of this woman.

The Lady wearily raised one finger and tapped the console lightly.

A mass of twisted flesh instantly filled with blood; the blood rippled, reflecting a scene.

A tremor and flash of teleportation appeared in a remote cabin.

Out stepped a group of Blood Angels clad in crimson Terminator power armor, led by a man wielding a precision power hammer.

After these Blood Angels appeared, a pinkish-red wooden door opened, and a group of Ultramarines swiftly emerged.

Leading the Ultramarines was a man with a service rivet embedded in his skull, his face resolute.

From the insignia and markings on the first Blood Angel, Kossorax identified him as Captain Kalein of the Blood Angels' First Company.

But the Ultramarine—he did not recognize him, had no memory of him.

Though the service rivet proved he had served long, he bore no honor medals—likely just a minor figure.

Kossorax steadied himself and began issuing orders:

"Dark Apostle Kovein, Butcher-Medics Lorekai, Dimensional Smith Mogliwa, Decapitation Master Sharlock."

"Lead your forces and teleport directly to the intruders' location via the Conqueror's internal teleporters."

These four generals were gathered by Kossorax over ten thousand years; each was an outstanding warrior commanding a powerful warband.

Their strength was equal to, even surpassing, that of a standard chapter's chapter master, amplified by Chaos blessings.

Dealing with a single company captain and an unknown nobody should be easy.

Kossorax intended to crush these intruders outright, annihilating them before they could scatter across the Conqueror and become difficult to eliminate.

Dark Apostle Kovein, Butcher-Medics Lorekai, Dimensional Smith Mogliwa, and Decapitation Master Sharlock led their forces, appearing before the Blood Angels and Ultramarines in a roar of crimson light.

Kossorax smiled. Let these Loyalists witness the power of the World Eaters.

BOOM!!!!!!

(End of Chapter)