Ian raised his other Hand. An antique Pocket Watch emitting a soft red glow appeared in his Palm—the Time Red Leaf Watch. His slender Fingers gently adjusted the Hands on the Watch.
Buzz!
The Flow of Time around them instantly underwent a twisting change. The speed at which the Ultimate Power Planter Pots absorbed Energy immediately increased exponentially, turning into Energy Vortices that devoured everything.
"Aaaahhh—!" The Great Devourer's Hiss turned into an utter Wail of Despair. Its Consciousness and Energy rapidly dissipated under the extremely accelerated Energy Extraction. Its Existence was drawn away, decomposed, and absorbed little by little. Whether it was the Energy accumulated over hundreds of millions of Years, or Its Essence as an Evil God, everything turned into the constantly increasing EMC Value in the Ultimate Power Planter Pots.
The Wail became weaker and more ethereal, until it finally disappeared completely.
In the depths of the Warp, that massive black Consciousness that once terrified countless Civilizations and made the Chaos Evil Gods wary, was eternally annihilated. And there was no possibility of any Resurrection.
Ian put away all the Planter Pots and the Watch of Flowing Time. The Darkness that enveloped him collapsed rapidly and dissipated like a curtain that had lost its support, revealing the still chaotic and grotesque Warp scenery outside.
His Expression was calm, as if he had just done a trivial thing.
With the complete demise of the Great Devourer, all Broodlords in the Real Universe instantly lost their connection to the Hive Mind. The billions of Tyranids spread across the Battlefields fell into a dead silent Chaos.
Having lost unified Command, the deep-seated Bloodthirsty Instinct in their Genes erupted. Everything Organic around them became a Target, including their own Kin. Bugs started attacking Bugs; Self-Slaughter began.
The Ultramarines seized the opportunity. The efficiency of Bug Killing dramatically increased. Bolters poured out fire frantically, and the sound of Chainswords tearing through Carapaces rose and fell.
Simultaneously, Tyranid Fleets deployed in several other Star Sectors met the same Fate. Having lost the Psychic Connection of the Broodlords, they became confused and directionless. The Ultramarines Fleets, which had been waiting for a long time, swiftly cut in like precise Scalpels, launching an efficient Clean-up.
The Battle soon ended. On the Planet's Surface, the Ultramarines began to reorganize. The cold Blue Power Armor was stained with Tyranid Blood, but the Warriors' actions were still meticulous.
Most Warriors quickly boarded the Landing Craft and returned to the War Planet hovering in Orbit.
Engines roared. Inside the massive War Planet, the Wormhole Engine began to charge. Space was torn apart, and a huge Wormhole, shimmering with Golden Radiance, unfolded in the Void. The Fleet sailed into the Wormhole. They would rush to the next Battlefield that needed Purification. The Footsteps of the Great Crusade paused for no moment.
One War Planet and some Astartes remained. This War Planet slowly descended. Its huge Shadow enveloped the Planet that had just been baptized by War.
On the Surface, the surviving Civilians and Astra Militarum Soldiers looked up at the Sky. Fear? No!
The massive Metal Construct did not bring a Sense of Oppression. It emitted a soft Golden Light, like the Gaze of the God-Emperor.
"What... what is that?" A young Astra Militarum Soldier muttered, his Voice full of Awe.
The Old Veteran patted his Shoulder, his Eyes filled with Fanaticism.
"That is the God-Emperor's Creation. It is our Salvation."
The War Planet's Outer Shell began to deform, slowly opening like Petals. Instead of landing directly, it acted like a huge Shell, preparing to envelop the Planet. The internal Structure of the Planet lit up. Countless Golden Runes flowed, like a Sacred Network. The Light became softer and warmer. The Survivors bathed in the Light, feeling an unprecedented Sense of Security. The Wounds of War were being soothed. When the War Planet finally completely enveloped the Planet, the Golden Light became even more brilliant.
Subsequently, the Light swept across the Ground. The Tyranid Corpses scattered across the Planet dissolved like Ice and Snow under this Light, transforming into the purest Energy and Matter. This Energy and Matter was unceremoniously absorbed and stored by the War Planet. The Plundering Method on which the Tyranids relied for Survival was now being executed by the Imperium of Man in a more efficient and thorough manner.
The War Planet plundered Matter and intercepted Souls. The Imperium of Man performed the work of the Tyranids and the Warp Demons, and did it better.
As the last Tyranid Corpse vanished, the entire Planet was refreshed. Immediately after, streaks of Emerald Green Light shot down from inside the War Planet. The Light was like Spring Rain, sprinkling upon every corner of the Land.
The injured Civilians and the battle-scarred Astra Militarum Soldiers watched their Wounds heal at a visible Speed under the illumination of the Green Light. Even the Mental Trauma caused by the War seemed to be alleviated in this warm Light.
"My Leg... my Leg grew back!" A Soldier who had lost both Legs discovered with Delight that new Limbs were rapidly growing out.
"The God-Emperor has manifested His Power!"
"Praise the God-Emperor!"
Countless People knelt on the Ground, their Faces streamed with Tears, praying devoutly toward the Golden Miracle in the Sky.
Meanwhile, in Space. The Starships that had fortunately escaped the Tyranid Attack but had not fled far had long been captured by the War Planet's Gravity Field. The High-Ranking Officials and Wealthy Merchants aboard the Ships were now trembling with fear. Astartes Warriors boarded the Ships and carried out a ruthless Judgment. Cold Logic Engines scanned everyone's Mind. Any trace of Betrayal against Humanity, any slightest selfish Thought, was exposed.
"Execution," a cold Voice sounded. Bolters fired. There was no Pity, no Hesitation, only the most efficient Clean-up.
Subsequently, the Humans judged to be Loyal were sent back to the Planet's Surface. They stepped out of the Landing Craft, looking at their refreshed Homeland and their healed Fellow Citizens, feeling as if they had entered a different World. Some wept bitterly over their Survival after the Calamity. Some knelt and Repented for their previous Cowardice. More People, however, joined the fervent Prayer on the Ground.
Next, the true Miracle began. Inside the War Planet, the massive Planetary Transformer started operating. Invisible Power swept across the Land. Collapsed Houses were leveled, then rebuilt in a stronger, more beautiful Form. Destroyed Factories were reconstructed on the spot, and more advanced Production Lines were added. New Roads, new Bridges, and new Infrastructure were continuously built. The entire Planet was recovering its Vitality at an unimaginable Speed, becoming more Prosperous than before the War. This was the Productivity of the Imperium today.
But this was not all. While the War Planet absorbed the Tyranid Biomass, it also intercepted the Souls that perished in the Battle. Of course, not all Souls. Only those Souls judged to be kind, Loyal, and worthy of Salvation were preserved. As for the evil, twisted, and malicious Souls? They were thrown directly into the Engine, not even qualifying to enter the Warp and become Demon Fodder. The pure Souls that were intercepted were injected into freshly cultivated Newborn Embryos prepared inside the War Planet in batches. These Embryos were placed in the Time Acceleration Field. Only a brief moment had passed in the Outside World, but inside the Field, more than a Decade had elapsed.
Finally, the Hatch opened. Teenagers, full of Vitality and around their early Teens, walked out. They looked around blankly, then at each other, and then their Memories began to awaken.
"I... I'm still alive?"
"Is this... where?"
They were the Civilians who had died in the recent War, and the Astra Militarum Soldiers who had bravely fought until the last moment. Now, they were reborn in new, young, and healthy Bodies.
They were then sent to the Surface. People saw those familiar Faces reappear in an incredible way.
"Allen? Is that really you, my Child!" A Mother rushed toward a Teenager who had just walked out of the Field, still somewhat dazed, and tightly embraced him.
The Teenager froze for a moment, then Memories surged, and Tears streamed from his Eyes.
"Mom!"
"Captain! You're not dead!" Several Astra Militarum Soldiers surrounded a similarly young "Teenager," excitedly pounding his Shoulder.
"It's the God-Emperor... the God-Emperor resurrected us!"
The Joy and Tears of Reunion unfolded across the Planet.
Watching all this, the Ultramarines Captain who remained behind was expressionless, but the corner of his Mouth under the Helmet slightly curled up. This was how the Imperium of Man ought to be.