The next day.
A ray of Sun pierced the darkness.
The cultists, who had rested for a night, once again surged madly into the Mid-Hive from the narrow Under-Hive passages, and the silent heavy artillery once again began to roar!
Smoke filled the air, and artillery fire thundered!
Countless fresh lives, in the brutal slaughter, spilled their blood into the dilapidated ruins, once again falling into a stalemate, which then gradually evolved into street fighting.
Then, in the afterglow of the setting Sun, the frenzied cultists took away all the flesh, heads, and corpses they could, retreating to the Under-Hive like a receding tide.
It was just like... a repeat of yesterday!
And then, countless repeats.
This meaningless battle had lasted for ten full days. No one knew what the cultists were thinking; they seemed to be simply... seeking death!
Each time, they retreated when they couldn't hold on any longer.
It was as if they had precisely calculated the limits of the PDF, not to break through the hive city, but to exhaust their strength!
Emrys, who had endured several days of bloody battle, had a face covered in bloodstains, mud, and dust kicked up by artillery, looking grimy; even if an acquaintance came, they probably wouldn't recognize him.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, looking at the people around him.
Today's battle was even more brutal than yesterday's, because the conscripted civilians suffered heavy casualties, and it was now the turn of the Defense Force, the Adeptus Arbites, and the Enforcers to fill the gaps on the front line.
It proved that, under the cultists' fanatical human wave charge, regardless of life or death, even the well-trained Defense Force still suffered extremely heavy losses.
Out of a company of 120 men, less than half remained after today's battle, and this was even with Emrys having a 'x-ray map cheat' that allowed him to see the situation of personnel in local battlefields; they still suffered such heavy losses.
Many other companies were even reduced to single digits!
The quartermaster brought today's rations; the entire company of over fifty men only had ten cans of corpse starch!
Emrys' lips curled into a bitter smile; it seemed that logistics were struggling to even supply corpse starch cans.
Not only that.
He found that the frequency of heavy artillery fire had also been greatly reduced; basically, a shell reinforcement was only possible if the defensive line was completely overrun.
Clearly... there weren't many shells left either!
All signs seemed to prove that the Defense Force was on the verge of its limit; at most five days... even if the cultists couldn't break through the defensive line, they would fall into a state of complete collapse due to ammunition shortages and insufficient food.
"Captain... aren't you eating?"
The short-haired boy next to him, half his face scarred by a cultist's sword, still looked cheerful, hungrily eyeing the portion in his hand.
Over fifty people sharing ten cans of corpse starch, and after a day of fierce fighting, let alone being full, it would at most be a small bite for everyone.
Looking at the familiar faces surrounding him, Emrys was deeply moved.
In ten days of bloody battle, he could already call out everyone's name, even knew what they liked, disliked, and... every warrior who died for the Imperium!
"You eat it, Ditz."
Emrys threw the corpse starch can over, intending to go discuss with Commissar Gray, as this couldn't go on.
"Alright, thanks, Captain!"
Ditz happily shared the corpse can with his other brothers, each taking a small bite.
Pushing aside the tent flap, before Gray could erupt, Emrys spoke directly: "Commissar, is there... no news from the Upper-Hive?"
"I know what you want to ask, but..." These past few days, Gray's hair had almost turned White with worry, with two large dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not slept for a long time: "You have to understand, no news now... is the best news."
Emrys naturally understood this, but the problem was... the army was now short on food, ammunition, and men; if they weren't resupplied in time, it would truly be over!
"I know what you're worried about."
Commissar Gray sat in his chair, pressing his throbbing temples, his face full of bitterness: "I can even roughly guess that the reason the cultists leave every day is to exhaust our strength, until we are completely desperate."
"But... I have no choice."
This was the first time Emrys had seen this tough commissar look so weary since joining the PDF, as if his entire being had been hollowed out.
To be honest, the fact that this PDF unit had held on until now, with its morale miraculously not collapsing, was entirely due to this commissar's efforts; if Gray had been absent, he wouldn't dare to imagine what would have happened.
"Ha... now, the only hope is to pray, to pray to the God-Emperor." Gray sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sorrow: "I hope the Departmento Munitorum... no, it should be that there's a regiment of the Astra Militarum and an Astartes Chapter nearby."
The current situation of the hive city was no longer something the PDF could resolve.
If the Upper-Hive had not been sealed off, the PDF could have relied on the Upper-Hive for continuous supplies and more powerful weapons, and perhaps had a chance to eliminate the cultists.
But... the PDF, with its retreat cut off, was now like being trapped in the middle, waiting to be caught in a jar!
He had pushed tactics to their limit, but he still couldn't overcome the sheer numbers of the cultists, who were gradually tilting the scales of victory towards them with their lives.
"Commissar, I... can get some emergency food." After much thought, Emrys decided to reveal a little, after all, if the Defense Force was completely wiped out, where could he hide?
"You? Forget it..."
Gray shook his head, not taking it seriously at all.
How much food could one person get, even if he could get some?
How could it possibly meet the needs of the PDF?
"At least it's better than nothing, right?"
Seeing Emrys' sincere look, Gray was simply resorting to desperate measures, reluctantly nodding: "Alright, then you go get it; just enough to feed your own company will do."
Just then, both of them suddenly felt a pang in their hearts.
It was an inexplicable premonition, that surging malice from the highest heavens, pouring out from the Warp like a torrent, making them tremble all over, every pore filled with fear!
They exchanged glances, seeing the deep-seated terror in each other's eyes, originating from the depths of their souls.
Boom!
A tremendous roar echoed through the hive city's night sky!
Immediately following was a piercing, sharp alarm, blaring in the dark night sky; the entire sky and even the ground seemed to be shaking violently!
"Oh no!"
Emrys and Gray rushed out of the tent at the first instant, looking towards the source of the shaking and the sharp alarm.
They saw that the sealed gate of the Upper-Hive was slowly rising, and from within the heavy iron gate, countless ugly, hideous, and terrifying Warp 'daemons' poured out!
They let out terrifying shrieks, like a blood-red cloud, pressing down on them in a mighty surge!
The Upper-Hive... had opened its gates!
But, it wasn't opened voluntarily, but rather... had been breached!
"Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!!!"
Commissar Gray's eyes were wide with fury, raising his bolter, he roared with all his might, his voice hoarse: "Everyone, prepare for battle immediately, for the Imperium!!!"
At this moment... the apocalypse had arrived!
And the cunning cultists, contrary to their usual behavior, took advantage of the Upper-Hive's fall and the daemons' emergence to surge madly from the Under-Hive!
The PDF, the hive city... were completely trapped in a desperate situation!
Good news, reinforcements have arrived!
Bad news... they are Chaos reinforcements!
Even worse news, they are sandwiched between Chaos and the cultists, like minced meat on a chopping board!
Let's rewind a few hours.
Up-Hive, the Imperial Creed's Dome Cathedral Hall, was filled with fragrant incense before the magnificent statue of the God-Emperor, and blessed holy scriptures were hung everywhere.
Outside the Dome Cathedral, mountains of corpses were piled up.
Some were abominations, some were noble private soldiers, and there were even many young, courageous nobles who had all sacrificed their lives for the Empire!
The entire Imperial Creed's Dome Cathedral was enveloped by a powerful Void Shield, and equipped with automatic cannons, meltaguns, and other formidable heavy weaponry, which was why the abominations had been unable to take it for so long.
Meanwhile, the priests of the Imperial Creed chanted holy words day and night.
This was to prevent the influence of Chaos from deeply penetrating the Imperial Creed's Dome Cathedral; the Emperor's glory and blessings would eliminate the temptations from Chaos as much as possible!
Karnon knelt before the Emperor's holy effigy, praying devoutly.
A distress signal had been sent to the Departmento Munitorum before the Up-Hive was completely sealed, but... those who understand, understand; with the Empire's administrative efficiency, unless a miracle occurred, by the time reinforcements arrived, Roselle would most likely already be in the hands of Chaos.
Yet, knowing this, Karnon remained resolute, vowing to live and die with Roselle, and never to surrender Imperial territory to the evil Chaos until his last drop of blood was shed!
"Father... I, I've come to a realization."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind.
Karnon, who was praying, slowly opened his eyes, still maintaining his praying posture, and did not turn around.
Seeing that the old man ignored him, the corpulent Matty became a little nervous, looking left and right to find no one else, and seemed to pluck up his courage, raising his voice: "Father, I... I think you're right. Since we are nobles, we must shoulder that responsibility, to defend the Empire's territory for the Empire, for His Majesty the God-Emperor!"
Karnon seemed somewhat surprised, turning to look at his son. For the first time in his life, he seriously scrutinized him: "Are you... serious?"
Matty had been a top noble in the hive city since childhood, living in luxury. Karnon had once been very disappointed in him, believing he shouldn't be his own bloodline, but unexpectedly... after this incident, Matty's sudden change made him look at him with new eyes.
"Yes, yes, Father."
Matty lowered his head, afraid that the madness in his eyes would be seen, suppressing his voice, and clenching his fists: "Since I have inherited the name 'Meyer,' I must also become a hero of the Empire, like you and governor Galarion!"
"Good, good, good!"
Tears welled up in Karnon's eyes. He suddenly felt that he had not failed the Emperor's grace in his entire life: "This is my son, this is the courage that a bloodline inheriting the name 'Meyer' should possess!"
He looked at his son, a smile appearing on his face.
"Father, I... I want to hug you, may I?"
Matty seemed a little afraid, asking in a trembling voice.
Hearing this, a hint of guilt surged in Karnon's heart. He had paid too little attention to Matty, had been very strict since childhood, and now he was forcing him to his death.
In his guilt, Karnon let down his guard, or rather... he had no guard when dealing with his own bloodline.
Karnon was too old; even the Empire's life-extension surgeries could not prevent him from succumbing to old age, and after commanding bloody battles for over a dozen days and nights, he was truly too tired, his cognitive senses far from as sharp as they had been in his youth.
So much so that... this old man, who had once fought bloody battles across the galaxy, failed to notice the madness hidden in Matty's eyes!
"Come, my child..."
Karnon stepped forward, embracing his bloodline, tears welling in his eyes, but he bravely held them back: "Child, it's your turn... don't blame me, this is the glory bestowed upon us by the Emperor. After death, we will return to the Golden Throne together!"
The nobles remaining in the cathedral were either forced to fight to the death or executed. Now, only women and children were left.
Matty was his last descendant!
But for the Empire, Karnon had an inescapable duty. He endured the heartache, sending his descendant into a certain death battle!
"Father..."
Matty's eyes were filled with intense resentment. He quietly drew the poisoned blade hidden beneath his rotund belly.
"Hmm?"
Karnon looked at Matty with doting affection.
But just then, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen as the keen blade plunged in, violently twisting and shredding his intestines and organs.
Karnon's pupils constricted, only to see Matty raise his head, revealing a twisted face full of abomination, ferocity, and looking like a vengeful ghost, laughing wildly: "Father, the one who should die... is you, not me!"
Karnon clutched his stomach, his face full of disbelief, stumbling backward and collapsing before the Emperor's holy effigy. From the gash in his abdomen, intestines and blood spilled out... "Matty, you..."
He couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, as if only then did he finally understand what had happened, his pupils filling with endless rage: "Matty!!!"
Matty was still trembling, but in his distorted facial expression, there was an indescribable exhilaration: "Hahahahaha... Die, you old man! Who wants to die with you? I'm going to join Chaos! Do you understand?!"
"beast!!!"
Suddenly, Karnon erupted.
He was old, but the residual tactical movements in his body, the experience of countless bloody battles in the galaxy, and his iron will made him unleash immense power!
Karnon drew the dueling sword from his waist, and under Matty's terrified gaze, it flashed like lightning!
His movements were even a little imprecise.
At least, far from as precise as when he was young in the Astra Militarum, but to deal with a good-for-nothing, it was absolutely more than adequate!
"No, don't, Father!"
Matty shrieked in terror, rolling clumsily and dodging the first sword, but the resolute intent to kill still left a bloody mark on his neck!
"Save... save me!" Matty's corpulent body found it difficult to dodge the second sword. He placed all his hope in a certain Chaos Great Power, hoping he would save him.
But unfortunately... the Chaos Great Power didn't care about him at all.
Whoosh!
Clean, precise, one sword severed the neck!
A head, fat as a pig's, with wide-open eyes, still held a deep fear and question in its pupils.
As if asking... why didn't the Chaos he wanted to join save him?
Karnon, who had personally slain Matty, seemed to be utterly exhausted, collapsing onto the red carpet before the Emperor's holy effigy, gasping for breath, but his gaze remained firm: "No... I cannot die yet, at least, not now!"
"That's beautiful swordsmanship!"
Suddenly, a slightly deep, aged voice came from the shadows of the cathedral, carrying a hint of admiration, as if very familiar: "I didn't expect that after decades, your swordsmanship hasn't deteriorated at all, Karnon."
Karnon's pupils immediately constricted. Following the voice, his already pale face from blood loss now turned even paler.
He... knew that man!
"What? Don't recognize an old comrade?"
The man who emerged from the shadows of the pillar slowly took off his hat, revealing an extremely aged face. He looked at the stunned Karnon and smiled: "Long time no see, my dear brother... Karnon Meyer."
Looking at that face, Karnon felt a chill run through his body, as if a biting cold had seeped into him. His lips trembled, but his chest was filled with rage, and he roared with bloodshot eyes: "It's you—Galarion Hadley!!!"
"It's me, old comrade."
Galarion smiled, looking down at Karnon, whose face was filled with anger and who was dying from the poisoned blade, from a position of superiority.
Karnon had thought a lot, even suspecting everyone.
But, the one person he never suspected was Galarion, the hero who was born with him on a remote world, endured countless bloody battles together, and was awarded numerous honors by the Imperium... could actually be the true mastermind behind all of this!
"How could this be, my brother... Galarion?"
Karnon's heart was like dead ash. He lay on the red carpet in front of the Emperor's holy statue, his eyes wide with rage, using all his strength to let out a sorrowful, desolate roar: "Why... why is it you, Galarion Hadley!!!"
He didn't understand.
Why had the former Astra Militarum hero, a child who emerged from a desolate lower hive on a remote star system world, endured the brutal bloody battles of the galaxy, and was awarded the position of planetary governor by the Imperium, turned into such a state!
"Why?"
Hearing this, Galarion couldn't help but laugh: "Do you think I'm afraid of death, which is why I've come to this point?"
"Isn't that right?!"
Karnon glared at him. Although his life was rapidly ebbing away, he was still like an angry lion, wishing he could tear the Imperium's enemy in front of him to shreds!
"No, you're wrong, my brother."
However, Galarion shook his head, his face full of mockery: "I've never been afraid of death. I just don't want to be deceived."
"Deceived... What did the Imperium deceive you about?"
Karnon gritted his teeth, feeling that the familiar face before him had become much more unfamiliar: "You are a planetary governor. The Imperium has never treated you unfairly, Galarion!"
However, as soon as this was mentioned, Galarion instantly became furious!
"I dedicated everything to the Imperium! But... what did I get?" He was completely hysterical, veins throbbing around his eyes, even dark blue veins clearly visible on his neck, showing how agitated he was. He grabbed the medals on his chest, forcefully pulled them off, and threw them to the ground: "Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Besides these few broken medals, there's nothing!"
Amidst the crisp sound of metal hitting the ground.
Over a dozen medals awarded to a hero by the Imperium were discarded by Galarion as if they were trash, thrown onto the ground.
Among them were the Iron Aquila, Mortal Aquila, Winged Skull, Crimson Sash, and Triple Holy Skull.
Undoubtedly, most of these were mortal honors that officers of the Astra Militarum would find difficult to obtain in their entire lives!
It was no exaggeration to call him a hero of the Imperium!
"What 'return to the Golden Throne'?! It's all fake! A lie! It's the lie of those insects in the Imperium!"
Galarion's emotions were very agitated, as if to prove the correctness of his actions, he roared loudly: "Do you know? My brother... every night, as soon as I close my eyes, those terrifying images of Chaos appear before me, tormenting me constantly!"
"Is this... the reason you betrayed the Emperor?"
Karnon suddenly wasn't angry anymore. Instead, he looked at the hysterical Galarion with a pitying gaze, and even a hint of mockery curled at the corners of his lips: "Just for... this?"
"No, you don't understand anything, Karnon."
Looking at his once close old comrade, now with a face full of mockery, Galarion sneered and said: "You've never been affected by the demons of Chaos, so you don't know... how terrifying they truly are. I'm afraid... I've dedicated my life to the Imperium, offered everything to the Emperor, but why... must I suffer this torment in my old age?!"
Karnon remained silent, coldly watching the completely deranged Galarion, his eyes filled only with deep disappointment.
"Yes, you've never experienced it, so you simply don't understand..." Galarion showed a pained expression, his temples bulging, his pupils bloodshot: "How terrifying those chaotic illusions truly are, and I clearly know... once I die, those will become reality!"
"I gave everything for the Imperium, for the Emperor!"
"But what did they give me? Besides being a planetary governor, besides those broken medals, what else is there?!"
"Once, I thought that as long as I lived up to the trust of the Imperium and the Emperor, and governed my world well, I would be able to return gloriously to the Golden Throne..."
"But, I was wrong. The great Lord of Change told me... I was wrong!"
"There has never been a Golden Throne!"
"Brother, after we die, we will only return to the Warp, our souls tormented eternally, forever!"
"What if you're a hero? This is an inescapable fate. I don't want this... it was the great Lord of Change who showed me the truth!"
At this point, Galarion's entire face, and even his body, began to undergo terrifying changes. Blasphemous symbols spread, and twisted, hideous flesh grew. It glared ferociously at the dying Karnon, sneering: "Let me tell you the truth. The so-called Emperor... is just a piece of salted meat playing with sorcery. He's already dead! Dead! Dead!"
"What a load of crap, Golden Throne!"
"What a load of crap, God-Emperor's glory!"
"It's all fake! Fake! Fake!"
Galarion cursed madly at the Imperium, at the High Lords, at the Administratum, at the Departmento Munitorum, and at... the Human Lord who had sat on the Golden Throne for ten thousand years, yet never opened his eyes to see humanity's lament!
He hoped for recognition, to find an 'excuse' for his actions, to demonstrate their correctness.
Galarion desperately hoped to see even a trace, a hint of fear on the face of his former 'brother', but he was destined to be disappointed.
Karnon was expressionless, staring at the hysterical Galarion, his eyes filled with intense mockery, as if he were looking at a ridiculous Joker: "How pathetic... Is this your faith? A ridiculous Lord of Change, fooling a stupid bastard."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
Galarion roared furiously.
"Hahahahaha..."
However, not only did Karnon not shut up, but his mocking laughter grew louder, echoing throughout the entire cathedral dome: "Galarion, you are nothing but a fool misled by Tzeentch, how ridiculous, you are a pathetic Joker!"
"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"
Galarion seemed to have his guilt exposed and flew into a rage.
"Look at you now, Galarion."
Karnon clutched the wound on his abdomen, his eyes filled with complex emotions such as disdain, contempt, and disgust: "How ugly. Is this what you seek? No... you're just afraid of death, Galarion. No matter what reason you give, you are just afraid of death. You are a coward!"
"Shut up! I told you to shut up!!!"
Shame, anger, resentment... all kinds of emotions entangled in his heart. Galarion refused to accept Karnon's accusations, and he would never accept... that it was because of his own cowardice!
"You are a coward! Galarion!"
Karnon laughed, full of mockery: "The Imperium will defeat you, your conspiracy will not succeed. I firmly believe this, and you... coward, you will only forever cower in the shadow of Chaos, fearing the Emperor's fire!"
"Ah ah ah ah ah!"
In a fit of rage, Galarion moved like the wind, directly smashing Karnon's fragile heart with a punch, piercing through his body. However, even this was not enough to vent his anger.
It crushed Karnon's head, tore his body apart, letting blood and flesh rain down, splattering onto its twisted, blasphemous body.
Blood, mixed with internal organs, flowed onto the red carpet at the foot of the Emperor's holy statue. Karnon, who refused to bow to Chaos even in death, died at the hands of the traitor 'Galarion Hadley', and rests here eternally.
"The Emperor? Just a piece of salted meat playing with sorcery!"
Galarion, now completely fallen to Chaos, looked up at the magnificent Emperor's holy statue and laughed wildly: "I will prove to you... who is right, Karnon!"
Karnon's soul wandered in the Warp.
He was very tired and closed his eyes.
"Ah... Your Majesty, I have failed your trust."
"I cannot stop my brother's fall, nor can I stop the spread of Chaos. I cannot defend the Imperium's territory. I... am a failure, but... I held onto my faith."
As his soul dissolved.
Karnon seemed to hear the prayers of the Ecclesiarchy priests.
"May the Emperor's loyal warrior return to the great Golden Throne. May the God-Emperor protect his warrior."
In a haze.
He seemed to see... a cold Sun.