Under Deus Krieg's words, Ignatius Dorn gradually regained some composure.
He was a governor, a governor groomed by Noah.
He was calm, he told himself, and he gradually recovered his usual tranquility.
"You're right. First, suppress this rebellion. You send one Grand Company. I think one regiment isn't enough for the PDF. We'll mobilize 30 regiments!"
"I know this wasn't their intention; they were just misled by Chaos.
But we must also make them see the consequences of betrayal, and we must make them see that the power on our planet cannot be changed by their actions."
Deus Krieg did not argue with the governor this time; he also nodded in agreement.
Force was necessary; otherwise, what would happen if Chaos cultists exploited the people of the hive city?
An order was issued, and the PDF forces began to move. PDF Regiments 140 to 170 from Nerrus, a force of 30 regiments, were mobilized. They were equipped with weapons previously only available to the Imperial Guard.
Thirty PDF heavy infantry regiments completed their assembly within three hours. These were no longer traditional PDFs.
They were equipped with master-crafted power armor, wielded the latest laser rifles, and behind them roared columns of Leman Russ tanks and Manticore self-propelled artillery. Each PDF regiment was also equipped with six Baneblades.
"In the name of the Emperor! In the name of the Grand Marshal! For the manifest destiny of humanity, the purge begins!"
With the commander's order, the first wave of heavy armored vehicles rolled over the barricades erected by the rioters.
The Leman Russ main cannons spat out destructive flames, turning the Chaos-corrupted buildings and the traitors within them into ash.
Each time a Baneblade fired, it obliterated anything that looked like cover, and the traitors inside were directly purified by the flames.
"Identify targets! Prioritize eradicating mutated entities!"
The PDF soldiers formed a dense net of fire. Amidst the roar of bolters, rioters with blasphemous runes appearing on their skin fell in droves.
But even more terrifying were the Chaos Spawn that lunged from the shadows.
These twisted creatures tore through the vanguard's defenses at an alarming speed.
"Damn it! Large mutated entity at 3 o'clock! Requesting –"
Communication was suddenly cut off by a piercing shriek.
The Tzeentch cultist floated in mid-air, his body decomposing and reforming. Eight octopus-like tentacles emerged from his back, each covered in writhing eyes.
"Ignorant ants… Do you think… you can defy fate…?"
His voice became a thousand overlapping echoes. A dozen PDF soldiers suddenly clutched their heads and screamed, blue flames erupting from their orifices.
Just at this critical moment—
"For the Grand Marshal!"
A crimson figure descended from the sky.
A power sword arced with scorching light, severing the Tzeentch Daemon's tentacles at their base.
The Space Marine Grand Company, personally led by Deus Krieg, had finally arrived on the battlefield.
Amidst the roar of bolters, the Khorne cultists let out excited howls: "The Blood God grants us worthy foes!"
But their fanaticism quickly turned to despair.
These Space Marines might not be battle-hardened, but this was the First Company, the strongest 1,000 Space Marines out of 10,000.
When they charged into the ranks of these ordinary Khorne cultists, the battle was almost a rout.
The Space Marines crushed the rebels like harvesting wheat.
Power fists shattered skulls, meltaguns vaporized flesh, and even the most powerful Chaos Spawn were torn to shreds within seconds.
The Chaos cultists could no longer withstand the combined assault of the Space Marines and the PDF.
Infantry-APC coordination and infantry-tank coordination continued to push through the streets.
To be honest, when the PDF received the order to suppress the rebellion, their anger was no less than the governor's.
Noah's PDFs were required to receive sufficient education.
Therefore, they were knowledgeable and understood how hard-won their current lives were.
They also knew they should protect their world and planet.
Ordinary PDFs, like the governor, were aware of the kind of life and days lived on other worlds in the Mists Nebula, beyond the 108 worlds, and in the dark corners of the Imperium.
Going hungry was the most common, but the most terrifying was living hand to mouth.
To be taken by the Chaos Gods after death, their souls subjected to eternal torment, unable to return to the Golden Throne, only to become playthings for Daemons—this was the most terrifying fate.
They had no way out elsewhere, but here, Noah had given them a way out, brought them hope to survive. Here, they lived like human beings.
In other Imperial armies, canned fruit was a monthly ration only for Imperial Guard officers, or even commissars.
But here, everyone could eat canned fruit every day. They weren't eating protein bars, but real food.
Their families also ate real food, their families got jobs, and their family's lives were improving. They absolutely did not want their beautiful lives to be disturbed or interrupted.
The PDF's combat will far exceeded the Space Marines' imagination.
Logically, the Space Marines would be at the front, with the PDF following behind in support.
However, the current scene was far beyond their expectations.
No PDF soldier wanted to be in the rear. Instead, they advanced in squads ahead of the Space Marines, constantly eliminating cultists who might appear at any moment. They wanted to unleash their fury upon these traitors.
Traitors must be executed by white phosphorus, they must die, atoning for their sins.
Although the sins they had committed now could not be atoned for even if they died ten thousand times.
When dawn broke, the riot had been suppressed.
The streets were littered with charred bodies, and fire trucks were extinguishing the last flames. Surviving civilians were gathered at temporary shelters for psionics purification checks.
Although the PDF were furious and wished to eliminate all these traitors, the residents were ultimately innocent, and they still chose to rescue them.
The street rebellion had been successfully suppressed, and the bodies of those corrupted by Chaos were not immediately purified.
Instead, with the help of several psykers, they were sealed and paraded throughout the hive city.
These individuals had to be paraded to show others what they had done, and to serve as a warning to other hive city residents, preventing further contamination and erosion by Chaos.
At the same time, this was a disgrace for Nerrus!
Everyone in Nerrus had to remember this disgrace; some of them had actually chosen to betray!
The Space Marine forces suffered no losses in this operation, so they quickly returned to their respective guard positions, while the PDF collected the bodies of their comrades.
During the suppression of the rebellion that night, 600,000 cultists were slaughtered, but in the process, over 2,000 PDF soldiers sacrificed their lives for the Grand Marshal and the God-Emperor.
Chaplains performed their final prayers for them, and their souls were re-collected by Noah's soul containment device to prevent them from falling into the hands of Chaos Daemons.
They could continue their lives within the soul containment device until their souls completely dissipated and their lives truly ended.
Each soul containment device was a world; they could continue to live there anew.
The rebellion in the hive city was successfully suppressed. Although the cultists caused some losses to Nairus, these losses were still acceptable.
To prevent such incidents from recurring, the PDF strengthened patrols in the Underhive and Midhive areas, fully committing to patrolling these locations to avoid further Chaos corruption.
Although the losses were acceptable, accepting them also meant that an entire industrial district was completely ruined.
The destroyed district was responsible for producing Leman Russ components. Due to its destruction, the production quantity of Leman Russ tanks would inevitably be reduced.
These Chaos cultists were truly insidious.
They not only wanted to cause trouble for the Imperium of Man but also to reduce the output of this industrial world, thereby minimizing damage when Khorne's army arrived.
Additionally, the public displays truly yielded some benefits.
Under the patient persuasion of PDF officers and officials from the Ministry of Political Affairs, the human Citizenry of the Imperium also recognized the dangers and problems of cults.
This naturally made it harder for the cultists to recruit followers, but the reduction in rations was a real and undeniable fact.
And the human Citizenry of the Imperium, especially those in the Underhive, were mostly the lowest class, truly lacking in wisdom.
While the Ecclesiarchy constantly promoted the Emperor and the Grand Marshal, these Chaos followers, when deceiving people, also promoted the Emperor and the Grand Marshal.
So, when they were meant to be deceived, they still would be, which sometimes led to ongoing conflicts in the Underhive and Midhive.
This point Daemonstrated that Noah treated these human citizens too much like actual people.
He was, after all, from the Terran Federation, so he regarded the human Citizenry of the Imperium as people too.
But the problem was that his kindness towards them was only viable if they could develop stably without accidents, and if their understanding could be raised.
However, when faced with war, these individuals, who had gained paltry benefits, were unwilling to sacrifice their own interests; many still wanted to preserve them.
With over 160 billion people, all kinds of individuals existed, so those who thought this way were naturally not few. Even if they only accounted for one-thousandth, that would still be over 100 million people who could be incited by cultists.
Moreover, how could it be? How could such people only account for one-thousandth?
Even with the most generous estimate, there would be at least 1% of the population, which amounts to billions of people.
Therefore, during the period when the World Eaters Fleet advanced towards the orbit of this industrial world, within each hive city, the PDF was exhausted, constantly suppressing cultist rebellions in conjunction with local arbites.
However, they were largely able to keep things under control, as ordinary citizens themselves possessed little combat capability.
And the PDF's equipment was indeed excellent; they were equipped with everything from Leman Russ tanks to Basilisks and venomcrawlers.
With such good equipment, they were not at a disadvantage against some deluded cultists.
As the World Eaters Legion's fleet gradually approached the planet, true war was about to arrive.
At the center of this World Eaters Warband's combined fleet, on their flagship, the battleship Bloody Ground, the Chaos Lords of 10 World Eaters Warbands stood.
The Bloody Ground, the flagship of this Chaos Fleet, was formerly an Emperor-class battleship, which underwent Chaos modifications after the World Eaters betrayed the Imperium.
It now stood as the strongest battleship among these 10 Warbands.
"Karusuo, make our fleet go faster! I feel the call of the Chaos God summoning me ahead. I want to be the first to offer slaughter to the Chaos God!"
A Chaos Lord stood next to the commander of these 10 combined Warbands and expressed his opinion.
However, Chaos followers did not live in peace. When he so recklessly walked directly next to Karusuo and urged him, Karusuo extended his large hand and delivered a forceful slap across the other's face.
Snap—
With a crisp sound, the Chaos Lord who dared to stand next to him and rush him was directly slapped away.
Such a scene explained why he became the commander of these 10 Chaos Warbands and not others—it was because his combat power was strong enough to subdue everyone else.
"When did it become your turn, you piece of trash, to speak next to me? You can only advance when I say so, understand? Otherwise, you die."
The slapped Chaos Lord struggled to get up, then nodded and bowed repeatedly, acknowledging.
"Yes, yes."
Karusuo didn't even look at the coward next to him whom he had subdued with a single slap; instead, he looked through the battleship at the planet before him.
How beautiful the green planet appeared to him! He felt as if the planet possessed some magic that was calling to him; this was definitely an extremely habitable planet.
Although Nairus was not a planet directly under Noah's command, it was, after all, one of the famous Misty Star Domain 108 Worlds, so it had received some improvements and refinements.
Due to resource issues, it had not yet been completely transformed into a Gaia World.
But it was still part of the transformation, and this part alone was enough for the World Eaters to feel the planet's habitability. This was a planet habitable for everyone.
Not to mention these Chaos Space Marines, even Chaos Daemons would find this planet extremely habitable.
All species would be 100% suitable for living on such a planet; this was the power of a Gaia planet.
"This planet is truly beautiful. If I could seize it as the base for my Warband, that would be wonderful."
The habitability of the Gaia planet wildly attracted him, even causing him to momentarily override his devotion to Khorne and his intention to offer loyalty and slaughter to Khorne.
Theoretically, someone should have scoffed at his words now, but in reality, it wasn't like that.
When he spoke these words as if no one else was present, the other Chaos Lords also turned their gaze to the planet.
With just one look, their eyes were completely drawn to this planet; its powerful characteristic of being suitable for all species deeply attracted them as well.
Gulp... The sound of swallowing saliva echoed in the ears of all the Chaos Lords. They looked at each other, each seeing the other swallowing saliva.
The allure of the Gaia planet was simply too great. They exchanged glances, then all at once shifted their gaze to Karusuo.
The meaning was clear: they were obviously asking, "Why don't we just forget about this 'corruption' business and simply bring this planet under the rule of a few Chaos Warbands?"
Even so-called Chaos planets didn't make them feel as habitable as this one. If they could live on such a planet, it would be extremely satisfying.
Karusuo naturally felt the gazes of others. To be honest, he was also very hesitant now whether to perform the so-called Chaos ritual, or to preserve this planet.
Really, this planet looks so good, he really doesn't want to harm it.
For some inexplicable reason, the World Eaters' fleet suddenly stopped advancing at this moment.
They froze in place, pondering whether to incorporate this planet into their own rule. It was truly captivating!
After a long period of deliberation, they did not come up with any answers. The World Eaters Legion was truly not suited for considering this problem.
What to do?
They should at least take this planet first, and then consider other things later!
Karusuo ordered, "Fleet accelerate! Blood Sacrifice to the Blood God, Offer Skulls to the Skull Throne!" This time, his shout carried a lot of emotion; he was now extremely eager for this planet.
This fleet, formed by ten World Eaters Warbands, began to accelerate majestically. In a space 400 light-years away, Noah's Patrol Fleet was docked.
Fishing.
They were fishing here, but besides that, Noah was reflecting on himself.
Since there was stellaris technology on Nairus, Noah naturally saw everything that happened that year. He saw Chaos Daemons corrupt his human citizens.
He saw these ordinary citizens, easily incited by a few words, already preparing to rebel.
Such an event left a deep mark in Noah's heart.
This was something he had never encountered in the Terran Federation.
Such things would not happen in the federation; humans were arrogant. Their arrogant equality discriminated against all races.
No matter if you were a so-called Chaos Gods or something else, they would not believe in any gods.
Although the Terran Federation used the ascension of 'Mind Over Matter, Transcending the Mundane to Become a Saint,' this was merely for everyone to become like a dragon. So-called gods were nothing more than civil servants within the federation.
Therefore, Noah, born in the Terran Federation, found it very difficult to understand everything that happened on his remote colonial planet. What on earth was this!
Why did everything happen? This was completely illogical. Why were humans so easily swayed by the Chaos Gods?
Where was their pride as humans, where was their arrogance as humans?
This wasn't the first time Noah had dealt with Chaos Daemons, but in the past, interactions with Chaos Daemons were always head-on. Either he would mobilize a large army to invade the Webway and fight the Daemons there.
Every battle with the Daemons was a direct confrontation, with both sides engaging in large-scale combat. There was no such thing as Daemons directly invading his planet and causing widespread corruption.
As for the Battle of Lion's Gate during the Battle of Terra, Noah did not see the full picture.
Although Khorne's followers corrupted the populace on Terra and brought a large Chaos Daemon Army.
However, Noah at the time attributed this to the common people not having enough to eat, and also to the overly powerful enemies who arrived. Their Chaos Daemons' corruption ability was indeed something ordinary mortals could not resist.
In short, it wasn't the fault of the humans themselves, but rather the enemies were too strong and the government was too poor.
It shouldn't be possible for these humans to have lost their pride, but now this scene showed Noah that they had clearly lost their pride.
To be incited by a few words, how could people be so foolish?
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Dos Santos walked up to Noah. He saw his teacher's confusion; his omnipotent teacher was actually in a state of bewilderment.
"Teacher, is there anything in this world that can stump you?"
"Oh, Dos," Noah heard his student's call. He slowly raised his head and looked at the spirited student in front of him.
"Nothing, I'm just thinking about why humans lose their pride."
Noah is a level 10 scientist, almost unrivaled in the field of science. Even in the Terran Federation, only one person surpassed him, becoming the leader of the Academy of Sciences.
He also had many studies in sociology, but this aspect of the Imperium of Man was simply too peculiar.
It was completely different from his pride as a human, which is why he couldn't quite grasp it now.
"Do you think you can understand why those people turned to Chaos Daemons?"
Dos Santos fell silent for a moment. His gaze pierced through the viewport, looking towards the distant Nairus.
Although separated by 400 light-years, he could at most look in that direction and not directly at that planet, he didn't have that ability, but he still looked in that direction.
"Teacher, your appearance in the Imperium is a secret. I'm not sure where you came from, but judging by your moral standards, you don't seem like the kind of existence we should have in the Imperium of Man."
"Please forgive my bold guess, old teacher, but you must have been born in a bright human civilization. In your world, human civilization must be orderly and free from any persecution."
"You possess a kind of arrogance compared to us, an arrogance more akin to what humanity should originally have. You disdain everything; even the Chaos Gods themselves, you still look down upon them."
"Although I don't know what words to use to describe this, I can sense from your attitude that you must view them as a bunch of bumpkins."
"In your view, even the Chaos Gods should bow down to humanity; it's what they should do."
"Everything about you is so natural, as if it should have always been this way."
"But here it's different—the people of the Imperium have lived in dire straits since birth."
As he said this, Dos showed a bitter smile on his face.
"Teacher, I only say this in front of you. Do you think the Imperium is truly a good nation?"
"I dare say that this Imperium of Man is neither great nor glorious, yet humanity still guards it with blood and soul, allowing it to continue to exist."
"It is neither great nor splendid, nor glorious."
"But we are still willing to support it, to protect it, because this is a human civilization. Without the protection of this Imperium, humanity's status in the universe would be even lower."
Noah frowned slightly. Born in the Terran Federation, Noah found it hard to imagine humanity falling to such a status in the universe.
When aliens dared to ride roughshod over humanity, it undoubtedly crossed Noah's bottom line.
Dos continued, "You gave them hope, letting them taste freedom.
But when that hope is suddenly snatched away, the backlash of despair is more terrifying than never having had it at all."
"What the Chaos Gods are best at is exploiting this kind of disparity."
"You allowed them to live lives that ordinary people couldn't even imagine. And after these people, who once couldn't get enough to eat, experienced such unimaginable lives, some of them are bound to indulge."
"A moment of indulgence could cost them their entire lives. This is not your fault; it's simply that the people of the Imperium have never enjoyed such good lives before."
"It's precisely because they've never enjoyed it and never had it.
Therefore, once they obtained it, they squandered it recklessly, and precisely because of this reckless squandering, they are even less able to withstand any changes."
"They are afraid. They are afraid that the blessings you bestowed upon them, Teacher, will disappear from them, stripped away by the governor."
"They worship you, but they don't trust the governor."
"They were born in darkness. Before experiencing light, they could naturally endure darkness, but you gave them light.
After enjoying the light, they will do everything in their power, at any cost, to hold onto that light."
"You also saw that even these followers of the Chaos Gods, to deceive these citizens, had to do so under your banner, under the banner of the Emperor."
"Perhaps this is one of the reasons, Teacher."
Noah was a great scientist, and precisely because he was a great scientist, he easily understood what his student was trying to convey.
It was naturally no problem for his powerful brain to ponder these things.
Noah quickly understood the reason behind it, and after understanding, the expression he directed at his student became even more benevolent.
"I never thought that one day I would need you to teach me. Indeed, an old saying from my homeland is true: 'Among three people walking together, one is sure to be my teacher.'"
"Although you are my student, you are also my teacher, and you have given me something I had never considered before. Very good."
Noah never stinted on his praise. Since his student performed so excellently, he was naturally willing to commend his good student.
Dos Santos' face instantly turned red, like a red apple, blushing and unsure what to say.
He had not expected his teacher to praise him so directly.
"Teacher, you flatter me. You would have figured out what I said in a few minutes anyway. I was merely showing off my meager skills before an expert," Dos Santos said, scratching his head, a little embarrassed.
"Don't underestimate yourself. The fact that I keep you by my side for guidance proves you have potential. Otherwise, why wouldn't I take someone else?"
It was good for his student to be humble, but Noah could sense that his student always had a lack of confidence.
Perhaps it was the disparity in their statuses, or perhaps he was too brilliant, making his student feel unworthy.
Therefore, Noah would sometimes do some psychological counseling for his student.
"Alright, let's not discuss these things anymore. Let's continue observing what Khorne's World Eaters Warband intends to do this time and see if we can lure Abaddon out."
Noah stopped their conversation and refocused his attention on the matter at hand.
It was time to observe the battlefield properly, as eliminating Abaddon was the most important task.
After coming to the Imperium of Man, Noah still maintained his full morality.
However, his heart had indeed grown much colder.
Or rather, a Level 10 scientist's heart would naturally be somewhat colder.
War never happens without casualties, and Noah had witnessed many sacrifices in warhammer.
Thus, he had also learned to be indifferent.
humanity was important, and human citizens had the right to live.
However, in such a dark universe, they were destined not to enjoy the same treatment as federation citizens.
Abaddon had to be dealt with. Noah could not tolerate such a thing constantly threatening his colony.
So, even knowing that doing so would cause heavy casualties on a planet, Noah still proceeded.
Moreover, he believed in the planets under his rule, believing they could withstand the attack from these forces.
And what he could do was, when Abaddon appeared, when the Black Legion appeared, to unleash humanity's wrath upon this traitor and make him pay a bloody price.
Noah's gaze once again passed through the warship's detection system screen, and he began to observe the actions of the World Eaters.
Meanwhile, the World Eaters' fleet began to arrive in Nairus' planetary orbit.
Looking at the green planet below, the World Eaters' mood grew increasingly excited. The closer they got to the planet, the more they felt how suitable it was for them.
It was a feeling like returning to a mother's womb, as if a mother was embracing them.
This feeling even made these Chaos Space Marines, who had pledged allegiance to Khorne, break free from Khorne's faith for a fleeting moment.
The Gaia World was just that miraculous.
However, they had been immersed in Khorne's faith for too long. Even with a momentary detachment, they ultimately sank back into it.
The World Eaters' fleet reached the planet's surface. They did not encounter any interception from warships; everything went smoothly.
Karusuo watched the planet below, becoming increasingly engrossed, and finally issued the first order.
"Send auxiliary troops for a trial aerial drop to test the enemy's firepower. Prepare for orbital bombardment!"
"The first wave will send down 100 Chaos Space Marines to scout!"
A strike force of 100 Chaos Space Marines was neither too many nor too few.
When attacking a giant planet, 100 Space Marines certainly couldn't take it down.
But as a vanguard, it should be just right.
Since they had already seen the planetary shield on the surface, these guys did not immediately begin orbital bombardment.
Orbital bombardment of an area with a planetary shield would be nothing short of idiotic behavior. A planetary shield was not something that ordinary cruiser could directly destroy.
The Chaos forces moved.
They deliberately avoided flying over the hive Cities, as large hive Cities all possessed powerful anti-air weaponry.
If a cruiser appeared casually in orbit and brazenly parked there, it would lead to serious trouble.
An ordinary strike cruiser would be directly destroyed by the anti-air fire above a hive city in just tens of minutes, or even a few hours. This was not something anyone dared to do.
The fleet cautiously flew into a spatial area between hive Cities, where they discovered a desolate mountain range.
Theoretically, it was impossible for there to be any powerful anti-air firepower there.
And indeed, it was true. They did not encounter any anti-air fire when they flew over this wasteland.
Immediately after, a small squad of Space Marines was air-dropped, along with 100,000 ordinary cultist auxiliaries.
Karusuo's gaze was fixed on the dropped forces. They would serve as their vanguard, testing the enemy's combat strength.
The other Chaos Space Marines were also the same; their eyes were fixed on this advance party, wishing they could be a part of it, as it was a great honor.
Under the collective gaze of everyone, the drop pods and assault boats of this small force were stopped head-on by an invisible shield.
Just by approaching the planet's surface, they collided with an invisible shield and were immediately bounced back, caught off guard.
The drop pods were even more dramatic, like marbles hitting the ground, bouncing up again, then captured by the planet's gravity, crashing into the shield again, and bouncing off again.
???
The scene before them made the World Eaters Warband widen their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.
What in the world was this?