Chapter 1075: A Familiar Yet Strange Face

"Tartarus-IV," a core border world of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

This is a planet used by the Feng Qi Xing Alliance as a secret research base.

The planet's surface is covered in dense, purple forests that emit a faint fluorescence, and the atmosphere is filled with perpetually lingering psionic mist.

The Fengqi conduct various forbidden energy experiments here, utilizing the "Spirit Node" naturally formed deep within the planet to manufacture superweapons.

The Dusk Raiders fleet, led by Mortarion, has been hovering in orbit for three days.

Their task is to clear the Feng Qi Xing Alliance's research facilities, seize or destroy all dangerous technology, and bring this world under the control of the Star Alliance.

As a Primarch, Mortarion personally leads the ground assault.

"Father, the Third Company has cleared the eastern research station and is currently collecting data."

The voice of the frontline Commander comes through the communication channel.

"The Fourth Company has encountered the automated defense system on the perimeter of the main facility and is currently launching an assault."

"Strong energy fluctuations detected coming from deep within the planet; coordinates have been marked."

Mortarion stands on a destroyed Fengqi fortification, gazing into the depths of the forest in the distance, which flickers with an eerie light.

His psionic perception tells him that there is an energy source there that has been forcibly bound and twisted.

Mortarion mutters to himself.

"That is the true purpose of the Fengqi on this planet. They are attempting to manipulate power that should not be manipulated."

"All companies, assemble at the energy source coordinates. Prepare to storm the main facility. Be aware, the enemy may fight like a cornered beast and use unconventional means."

The planet's main research facility is dug three kilometers deep into the ground, built directly above that natural Spirit Node.

When the Dusk Raiders' troops break through layers of defense and reach the Zhongyang Kongzhishi.

In the center of the control room is a deep well with a diameter of one hundred meters, the mouth of which is sealed with a certain transparent material.

Through the material, one can see below—it is not crustal rock, but a mass of pure energy that is constantly churning and changing colors.

Dozens of Fengqi researchers and technicians are trapped in the control room, and an elderly researcher hisses in a low voice.

"Xiu Luo Saint Human... you plunderers! You don't know what you are destroying!"

Mortarion walks into the control room, and the Dusk Raiders Space Marines secure all exits.

Mortarion looks around, his gaze landing on the energy well in the center.

"Feng Qi Xing Alliance, stop all experiments immediately, hand over all data, and surrender to save your lives."

"Surrender?"

The old Fengqi lets out a sharp laugh.

"We have no way back! But you cannot take this away! This is the gift of Tartarus! It is our final weapon!"

Mortarion's psionic perception suddenly blares an alarm; the core energy is spiraling out of control!

"Stop them!"

The old Fengqi looks at Mortarion.

"If the Fengqi Civilization is destined to perish... then let everyone be buried with us! The wrath of Tartarus will Devour everything!"

All the screens in the control room erupt with white light simultaneously.

The transparent seal of the energy well begins to crack.

"All units, evacuate to a safe distance immediately! Repeat, evacuate immediately!"

Mortarion orders over the communication channel, while he has already begun to mobilize his own psionic power.

The Dusk Raiders Space Marines are well-trained and begin to retreat outward.

Mortarion stands in the center of the violently shaking control room; his Power Armor begins to glow, and the psionic energy surging within his body flows over the Runes on the surface of the armor.

Mortarion stretches out his hands, palms facing the energy well.

"In the name of the Emperor, by the Light of Humanity, by the anchor of reality..."

Mortarion's psionic energy surges out, colliding with the primordial Spirit Vein energy erupting from the well.

The space in the control room begins to twist, light bends, and the gravitational field becomes chaotic.

That primordial power within the energy well seems to have a consciousness of its own.

It resists Mortarion's suppression, attempting to break its bonds and drag the entire planet and even the surrounding star sector into the turbulent energy flow.

Mortarion uses his psionic power to forcibly "comb" through that chaotic energy, attempting to guide it back onto the right track.

"You... impossible..."

The old Fengqi collapses beside the Control Console, watching this scene in shock.

He had never imagined that a life form could go head-to-head with the Spirit Vein of Tartarus.

But Mortarion is indeed holding it back.

Under Mortarion's psionic guidance, that primordial, violent energy begins to become docile; the chaotic fluctuations gradually subside, and the trend of it being Out of Control is curbed.

Just as Mortarion is exerting all his strength to suppress the Spirit Vein energy, dozens of red turrets suddenly light up in the shadows of the control room.

These turrets fire "Catalyst Energy Beam"s at the energy well, completely detonating the Spirit Vein to create an irreparable, massive explosion.

"Go to hell! Xiu Luo Saint Human!"

The old Fengqi cackles.

Mortarion roars, pushing his own psionic output to the limit.

A silver-white psionic flame erupts from his body, forming a massive energy vortex.

The erupting Spirit Vein energy, the red Catalyst Energy Beam, and Mortarion's own psionic energy—three forces collide violently.

Then, space tears open.

At the intersection of the three energies, the fabric of reality is like torn cloth, revealing an irregular rift with edges shimmering with iridescent light.

Inside the rift is some kind of... void, swirling nebulae, shattered geometric shapes, and an incomprehensible torrent of light.

And at the very moment this rift formed, a white figure rushed out from the breach at extreme speed.

His speed was so fast that even a Primarch like Mortarion could only barely capture his trajectory.

That figure charged straight at Mortarion, brandishing a curved blade burning with eerie pale flames in his hand.

The Blade went straight for Mortarion's throat.

At the critical moment, Mortarion shifted his body, and the curved blade grazed his neck armor, leaving a deep slash on the dark gold Ceramite.

If he had not dodged in time, this strike would have been enough to sever his neck.

Mortarion retreated with the momentum, simultaneously swinging his Great Scythe with his right hand.

Only then did Mortarion see the face of the attacker clearly.

And then, upon seeing the other party's face, Mortarion froze.

It was a warrior of similar height to him, clad in white Power Armor.

A face that Mortarion was familiar with to his very bones.

Golden skin, high cheekbones, slightly upturned eyes, and long black hair tied behind his head.

It was the face of Jaghatai Khan.

It was the face of his brother, the Primarch of the White Scars Legion, the Eastern Eagle of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, the Jaghatai who should have been executing a Task in the Sixth Star Sector.

But this "Jaghatai" before him was completely different.

The light in his eyes burned with some kind of dark flame.

A twisted smile hung at the corners of his mouth.