Scarlet burning streaks tore across the sky. The blue heavens were choked with clouds scorched crimson by raging fire.
The firmament was engulfed in flame. Countless shells screamed downward like a meteor shower, striking in waves.
Amid the explosions, orderly apartment buildings collapsed into rubble. The beautiful riverside gardens were reduced to scorched earth. Fire from the blasts surged forth like serpents of flame.
On the horizon, the entire city burned, structures consumed within a roaring inferno. Blazing light erupted skyward, crimson radiance bursting outward as if the abyss of hell had descended.
High above the boundless sky, innumerable colossal steel leviathans entered the atmosphere. As their immense mass pressed downward, tempests howled, oceans churned, and the earth trembled.
Thick energy beams fired without cease. Amid the sea of fire, the ships' void shield generators operated relentlessly.
Shipborne defense cannons calculated the trajectories of missiles launched from the planet's surface, destroying them before they could approach the fleet or interfere with the army's descent.
Every citizen in the metropolis looked up as streams of fire pierced through the clouds. In an instant, they understood—this was a catastrophe beyond salvation.
Drop pods and Thunderhawk assault craft plummeted from the heavens. According to preloaded coordinates, onboard systems computed optimal landing zones.
Before the heavy dust clouds had even settled, before the scorching air had cooled, ramp doors and boarding planks slammed down with thunderous force.
Figures clad in power armor of varying heraldry surged forth from the rolling smoke. Encased in heavy plate and wielding brutal, terrifying weapons, they unleashed storms of blood and electromagnetic sparks.
Like precise surgical blades—cold, efficient, swift yet steady—they dismembered every resisting force.
Whether city garrisons of human regimes, mechanized forces of World Serpent and Anti-Entropy, synthetic monstrosities engineered by Jackal through structural research on Honkai Beasts and zombies, or even the quantum shadows summoned by Kevin—resistance was merely a question of duration.
Without exception, all were swallowed by the tidal onslaught of the Astartes landing forces.
It was not that their resistance was weak, nor that their individual strength was lacking.
There were simply too many Astartes.
Endless. Overwhelming. Blotting out the sky.
Even if only a portion of each of the twenty Astartes Legions had been deployed—this was still twenty Legions.
Using such military strength to conquer a single planet was no longer a matter of overkill.
It was akin to firing a Gustav super-heavy cannon at a mosquito.
To be honest, when Budo learned that Selene had mobilized such overwhelming force to subjugate one world, he pondered repeatedly without understanding.
Who had offended Her Majesty so deeply?
Or was this world truly so special?
At this moment, in the center of the city, the once-towering structures had been flattened by orbital bombardment. Within a circular crater spanning over a dozen kilometers, cold winds howled and thunder reverberated. Ice and snow pressed down upon flame in unnatural defiance.
Massive glaciers rose like sculptures forged from ten-thousand-year frost—majestic and breathtaking, radiant like masterpieces. Within the glow of lingering explosions, they refracted brilliant prismatic light.
Kevin and Raiden Mei stood quietly at the heart of the frozen thorns.
Opposite them, within a raging thunderstorm, the roar of lightning eclipsed all previous moments.
Even Kevin—no longer merely human—felt the immense soundwaves hammer against his eardrums with discomfort.
As for Raiden Mei, she herself was one of the sources of lightning. Such effects meant nothing to her.
All lightning-based abilities shared one common flaw—too much noise.
On this point, Budo understood all too well.
In the past, rebel forces mocked him for remaining stationed in the Imperial Capital like a stubborn old turtle. But did they think he wished it so? He wanted to strike personally.
Yet his Teigu's power was far too conspicuous. The moment he moved, thunder rolled and roared across heaven and earth. Even dozens of kilometers away, enemies would know he was coming. Anyone with sense would flee.
Thus, aside from decisive frontal battles, in routine security operations, guerrilla campaigns, and suppression missions, Budo's efficiency was always lower than others.
"How interesting. You wield the authority of lightning as well. You must be the traitorous Herrscher Her Majesty mentioned."
With grave expression, Raiden Mei scanned her surroundings. She could sense tens of thousands of Honkai-source signatures converging.
"Traitor? Her Majesty? I have no idea what you are talking about. I merely follow my own heart."
"Hmph. That figures. You people who wallow in selfish disorder, accustomed to freedom and indiscipline, understand nothing of loyalty to sovereign and nation."
The words were brazenly hypocritical and arrogantly imposing—forcing one's own values upon others.
Yet Budo felt not the slightest psychological burden.
In a feudal hierarchy under absolute imperial rule, the emperor imposed will upon all. Those of higher station imposed will upon those below. In Budo's eyes, this was only natural.
To him, the Great Crusade was merely an expanded and intensified version of the Empire's historical campaigns against foreign tribes beyond its borders.
During those conquests, the enlightenment and liberal ideologies of many worlds were no different from heresy and cult doctrine in Budo's steadfastly loyal view—and he suppressed them accordingly.
Truly, the rigid Great General Budo lived up to his reputation.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
In the city and across the surrounding plains, drop pods and Thunderhawk assault craft continued to crash down.
From the corner of their eyes, Kevin and Raiden Mei saw large numbers of heavily armored Astartes appearing along the rim of the bombardment crater.
Compared to such scale, the two of them seemed like a lone skiff adrift upon a vast ocean.
This feeling—neither Kevin nor Raiden Mei had ever experienced it before.
Not even when Kevin faced the Herrschers of the Previous Era.
Outnumbered.
"The righteous have many allies. The unrighteous have few."
Kevin had never imagined that the word "few" would one day apply to warriors who fought against Honkai.
It had always been humanity encircling the Herrscher.
But what was this situation now?
Humanity... surrounded by the Herrscher's subordinates?
If the enemies were Honkai Beasts or zombies, no matter how numerous, Kevin would not have cared.
But those heavily armored warriors—what were they?
Though Honkai energy signatures radiated from them, Kevin knew clearly—they were human. They possessed independent consciousness.
Why would humans serve Finality?
"Is this your reliance?"
Raiden Mei drew forth the crimson-black Domain of Sanction. Violet-red lightning flickered within her eyes as her gaze shifted restlessly, as if searching for an opportunity to break free.
For Raiden Mei, joining World Serpent had always been a temporary measure.
Her ultimate goal—the only driving force behind everything she did—was Kiana.
Help World Serpent? Comradeship? Fighting alongside Kevin? Saving the world?
None of it mattered as much as Kiana.
'I only know that in my heart, compared to this world, you are more important. If saving you is a sin, then let me be the sinner.'
For Kiana's sake, even if she appeared ungrateful— even if she were cursed as a traitor—it did not matter.
Suddenly, Raiden Mei's gaze sharpened.
Behind Budo, a cluster of prismatic violet light flared quietly. A trans-spatial teleport tore open reality itself. From within the distorted black cavity, overwhelming presences surged forth.
More enemies?!
Dozens of heavily armored giants stepped through the warped veil and onto the frozen ground.
They did not belong to the same Legion—their heraldry and armor colors differed. Some wore gray-white, others blue. Their shoulder emblems varied—wolves, a golden 'U'...
Yet one thing was certain.
They were officers.
Their master-crafted power armor bore intricate reliefs, ornate sashes, and medals of honor.
Yes—the Legion Commander Honor Guard.
The most elite warriors within each Astartes Legion.
Their presence meant only one thing.
"Great General! The other sectors Dorn is overseeing are secure. Roboute and I have come to reinforce you!"
Before the speaker fully arrived, his voice—rough and wild—echoed throughout the crater.
He was even larger than the other armored giants by a significant margin. Wild golden hair flowed down his back. His very presence was oppressive—raw destructive energy crackled around him.
His specially crafted gray-white power armor was adorned with the fangs of beasts. His pauldrons were thick and engraved with complex runes and rivets. Upon his chest gleamed the Imperial double-headed eagle and a wolf sigil.
Around his gorget, sculpted like the maw of a beast, golden laurel patterns intertwined, while the numeral "VI" proclaimed his identity.
"Russ? Roboute?"
A flicker passed through Budo's eyes. He had expected Roboute to remain aboard his flagship to command centrally. He had not anticipated that the famously refined Legion Commander would descend personally to the front lines.
"Hey, Great General, why assume I must always command from the flagship?"
Clad in blue power armor trimmed in gold, short golden hair crowned with a laurel wreath, the golden 'U' emblazoned proudly, and the numeral "XIII" marked upon his gorget—Roboute spoke with mild exasperation.
The Roman numerals sent a chill down Raiden Mei's spine.
Crack—!
A sharp freezing sound rang out.
She abruptly realized that beside her, Kevin's azure eyes were locked rigidly upon the newly arrived blue-armored giant—Roboute.
Through the gaps of his black fingerless gloves, she could see the veins standing out across Kevin's hands.
A shockwave erupted from his body, whipping up a frigid gale.
Was it that sword?
Following Kevin's gaze, Raiden Mei focused on the dark greatsword hanging at Roboute's waist.
Its blade remained sheathed, but its hilt resembled the fusion of twin pistols, glowing faintly with orange-red light.
"There is no need for further words. Raiden Mei, I will hold him here. Leave. Go find Kiana. She is in Central Europe, in Kolosten."
The white-haired man stepped forward. The continent of ice beneath his feet—composed of irregular violet-blue crystalline blocks—shifted and trembled as though the ground itself were unstable.
Kevin's voice was cold, each word carrying a suffocating chill.
"How interesting... Hahaha! Roboute, that fellow's target is you!"
Laughing boisterously, Leman Russ slapped Roboute heavily on the pauldron.
"Roboute, your stage. Please." Budo raised a brow and stepped aside, yielding space.
"..."
Shrugging Russ' wolfish hand from his shoulder, Roboute's expression darkened.
Even a man of his refinement felt irritation.
Damn it.
Was he being treated as the softest target?
What was that supposed to mean? Did he look easier to deal with than Russ or the Great General?
Though perhaps it was a misunderstanding, among the three Legion Commanders present... he did appear the least ferocious.
Budo carried the iron-blooded aura of a battlefield veteran. Leman Russ radiated untamed barbarism.
Only Roboute seemed almost scholarly.
"Another wielder of ice, like Esdeath. Let me see how you compare."
Boom—!
Roboute stomped down fiercely. The frozen ground fractured like a spiderweb under the immense force. Grasping the sword hilt, crimson flames flared violently around his body.
Clang—!
As the scarlet greatsword left its sheath, Kevin finally lost control.
The Judgment of Shamash—before it returned to his hands—had been with Siegfried Kaslana.
How had this man obtained the materials and technology to replicate a Divine Key?
"The Judgment of Shamash was forged by Mei to defeat Honkai! Hound of Finality—you are not worthy to wield it!"
"Insolence! This is a gift bestowed by Her Majesty. Ignorant fool—you deserve death!"
"Shamash—Assault."
Hummm—BOOM!
Bang!
...
Elsewhere, in Kolosten.
"So this is the war you spoke of?"
Kiana and her group stood upon the charred remains of Kolosten. In the distance, the faint silhouette of a human city lingered along the horizon.
Against the smoke rising from towering flames, chimneys pierced the sky. Minutes ago, that city had likely still thrived in prosperity.
Scorching heatwaves swept across the outskirts. Sparse woodland around them shriveled under the hot wind, green leaves withering in bleak desolation.
Above, the Hyperion had already been captured. Its hull—less than three hundred meters long—appeared like a child beside Imperial Navy battleships stretching dozens of kilometers.
On the ground, Thunderhawk assault craft and Astartes drop pods stood in rows. Tens of thousands of black-armored Astartes assembled in formation.
Under the watchful escort of towering giants, Kiana and the others stood in tense silence. The atmosphere was awkward—heavy.
The ones who had ignited this war were human.
This was a civil war among humanity.
Were they truly to intervene?
This meant killing people.
Do not be misled by their formidable strength—unless they were among Schicksal's specialized units tasked with handling the dirtiest work, most Valkyries had joined under the banner of "Fight for all that is beautiful in the world." They were accustomed to saving lives.
They had not killed many humans.
Honkai Beasts and zombies did not count.
"Lord Alex. Lady Arisa. May I ask—when will we be permitted to meet the Empress you speak of?"