The next day.
After waiting a full day, there was still no news from Hilda, but Emrys wasn't too anxious; he believed that with Hilda's ability, rescuing Rosales from the Outskirt Hive would be no problem.
"Lord, Drayne' servitor has arrived."
Elsa delivered the news after he finished his breakfast.
"Drayne" Emrys narrowed his eyes slightly; yesterday, he learned a secret from Rosales.
Drayne was secretly in contact with the Dark Mechanicum, and for unknown reasons, betrayed Rosales, which led to him being hunted everywhere.
Now, Emrys felt a certain wariness towards the Archmagos, but the superficial work still had to be done, as his stated purpose for this trip was to purchase a small energy shield device.
"Good, please tell him I'll be there shortly."
Changing back into his noble attire, Emrys followed the servitor to Drayne' residence.
Cables and massive mechanical constructs were everywhere, like a factory, with many discarded products piled up, and Archmagos Drayne was standing before a huge mechanical construct.
The Archmagos Mechanicus of the Stygies VIII Forge world operated a giant mechanical crane, sitting in a 'cradle-like' device, constantly manipulating the surrounding mechanical arms to repair the construct.
To be honest, having seen so many 'oil-boys,' Emrys always had the illusion that they all looked pretty much the same.
With several mechanical prosthetics on their backs, their entire bodies undergoing minor or major mechanical modifications, implanted with many mechanical objects, and their hairless, grimacing, twisted faces, if it were a different Worldview, they would be textbook villains.
"It's a pleasure to see you, Lord Drayne."
Emrys, adhering to noble etiquette, greeted the Archmagos Mechanicus.
"Carol said you're here to buy a small energy shield device?" Drayne, sitting in his mechanical cradle, was slowly lowered by the crane until he was at eye level with Emrys.
The gaze of the Archmagos Mechanicus was filled with an indescribable meaning, seemingly asking about the energy shield, but mixed with a hint of interrogation.
For some reason, Emrys always felt that Drayne seemed to have a hidden meaning in his words.
But he couldn't grasp the other party's intentions, so he could only pretend not to understand, playing dumb: "Yes, Lord Drayne."
"Good, for Carol's sake, I will give you what you want."
Drayne seemed to lose interest, glanced at him, and then turned away, manipulating his mechanical arm.
This... was it over?!
Emrys was a bit bewildered; he was suddenly called by a servitor, and after two questions, it was over?
"You may leave."
Drayne, who had turned away, seemed to be busy with something, but didn't forget to add a reminder: "This is a Hive controlled by Stygies VIII; whatever your intentions, you'd best not cause me trouble. Stygies VIII is not Agamemnon, understood?"
The last sentence carried a strong threat.
Clearly, the matter of Emrys secretly manipulating Agamemnon in the Hyperia Sector could not possibly be hidden from the eyes of the Mechanicum.
Emrys, of course, wouldn't assume that his little trick could fool the Mechanicum: "Of course, Lord Drayne, I guarantee no accidents will happen; once I get the energy shield device, I will leave immediately."
Drayne didn't turn his head: "You may leave; I will arrange for someone to deliver the energy shield device to you."
He seemed to genuinely just be warning Emrys not to cause trouble on Stygies VIII's territory.
As Emrys was about to turn and leave, he hesitated for a few seconds, then turned back and said, "Lord Drayne, I heard that the Outskirt Hive is infested with a large number of genestealers; why don't you eliminate them directly?"
"This matter is none of your concern."
Drayne' tone was firm, and he said indifferently: "They are merely a bunch of low-level scum from the Underhive; no matter how many of them gather, what can they do?"
"Lord Drayne, although genestealers are individually weak, they are ultimately the tendrils of the Tyranid Hive; if they are not eliminated as soon as possible, I fear" Even at this moment, Emrys was still trying his best to prevent Siluria from falling into the predicament of the original plot.
But unfortunately... proud as the Mechanicus priests of Stygies VIII were, Drayne never took the genestealers seriously: "You don't need to instruct me; we have ways to deal with those disgusting bugs. My Skitarii will eliminate them very soon, including those Orks outside!"
Looking at the proud Drayne, Emrys was truly helpless; he completely abandoned his plan and instead decided to leave as soon as possible.
Can't save them at all; let them die!
From beginning to end, Stygies VIII never took the so-called genestealers seriously. These fanatical oil-boys were full of Necron Blackstone constructs, no wonder they almost allowed the plan of the Honored Ancestor Dragon to succeed later on.
Arrogance is humanity's greatest enemy.
It makes humans lose humility and respect; weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival, but arrogance... is the original sin!
The value of this statement continues to rise.
Emrys sighed deeply in his heart, knowing that he couldn't change the outcome. If that was the case, he could only stay away from them, lest he get splattered with blood when they died... "By your look, it seems it didn't go very smoothly?"
Upon returning to the mansion, Elsa, seeing his unusual expression, asked with concern.
"Get everyone else ready." Emrys rubbed his throbbing temples and sighed: "Once the energy device arrives tomorrow, we'll leave immediately; I'm not staying to die with them."
Drayne' attitude sealed the fate of Stygies VIII. No wonder the sneaky ones could steal their home; if this were a game, they'd be a terrible teammate, undeserving of victory! Emrys, annoyed, sat in his chair, contemplating his next move, when a reminder sounded in his mind.
[Traveler, a new world has been discovered for you]
[Would you like to proceed immediately?]
The Traveler's reminder pulled Emrys' thoughts back to reality; he hadn't expected it to happen at such a time.
"Not immediately." He shook his head, refusing the Traveler System's immediate Warp travel request.
The situation in the Siluria Hive was even worse than expected. He had clearly warned them, almost 'explicitly,' yet Drayne' reaction still showed no concern.
If no accidents occurred, Emrys guessed that soon the 'Pauper Prince' cult would join forces with the Ork Warbosses, sandwiching the Siluria Hive from both sides.
Even with the Iron Hands and Brass Claws in the Hive, it would be difficult to withstand the combined assault of the Orks and genestealers under such circumstances.
This place is not suitable for a long stay!
Siluria would soon be caught in a pincer attack by genestealers and Ork Warbosses, so after rescuing Rosales and purchasing the small energy shield device, he had to immediately flee this place of trouble.
Only after returning to the Excalibur would he have ample time and energy to plan for the next world.
He also wondered how Hilda's situation was.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Just as he was thinking about whether to contact Hilda, the Warp seemed to fluctuate, and a psychic message arrived.
It was Hilda; she said Rosales was currently safe and had been successfully rescued.
Fifty Gene-Seeds, MK7 Aquila Power Armor, and implanted organs were all hidden in the Webway by her, temporarily guarded by Aeldari Warriors.
But Hilda also brought him bad news.
The Ork Warboss Kroda Ka was leading a large number of Ork Kommandos and Speed Freekz, completely surrounding the Siluria Hive. The Mechanicum had currently sealed all entrances and activated the highest level of defense protocols!
The fortress-grade energy shield device had completely enveloped the entire Hive, turning Siluria into an 'isolated city,' where one could neither enter nor leave!
And there was even worse news.
Hilda discovered that a large number of genestealers lurking in the Outskirt Hive had suddenly disappeared. She guessed that they must have infiltrated the Main hive city along those ancient pipelines.
In just a few short hours, the situation in the Siluria Hive had suddenly taken a turn for the worse.
It seemed as if everything was spiraling out of control!
"Is there any worse news?"
Emrys sighed, rubbing his forehead; how did he feel like his bad luck aura had become even more severe!
As if to confirm his thoughts, a strong, ominous premonition suddenly seized his heart.
Emrys felt an inexplicable panic and instinctively cast his gaze towards the sky outside the window. Although it was forbidden to look up at night on Vigilus, he didn't care about such trivialities.
It was this glance that made Emrys' pupils constrict!
Boom!
A scorching meteor streaked across the sky!
Enveloped in churning air currents, a sharp whooshing sound and layers of sonic booms instantly echoed throughout the entire Hive, causing countless people to look up.
That streak of light, piercing the sky, descended from above Siluria at an astonishing speed, passing over it and plummeting directly into the area just outside the energy shield, not far away!
Rumble—!!!
The explosion and Firelight from the impact were like a dazzling Sun, impossible to look at directly. As the ground violently shook, a mushroom cloud nearly a hundred meters high clearly rose into the air, and terrifying air currents carrying dust slammed against the energy shield like a tsunami!
Dense ripples spread across the energy shield!
What on earth had fallen on the edge of the Hive?
After the brief explosion subsided, the entire Hive's sound array was suddenly invaded by an unknown force, and then an extremely harsh, fear-inducing sound emanated from it!
"I am Harken, vanguard of the great black Legion, Raptor Lord under the Warmaster of Chaos, Abaddon!"
The blasphemous words of Chaos came directly from the public communication array, echoing throughout the entire Siluria Hive, the evil whispers of Chaos like a daemon tempting hearts: "I, representing the great Warmaster of Chaos, Abaddon, declare the arrival of death and annihilation to you, subjects of the Corpse-Emperor!"
"From this moment, eighty days and nights!"
"I will seize Vigilus and dedicate it to the master of the black Legion, the great Warmaster of Chaos... Abaddon!"
Oh no, it's 'brother Eighty'!
Upon hearing the blasphemous Chaos warning from the amplification array, Emrys froze in place, only snapping out of it after a full half-minute.
Harken the Star-Slayer, Chaos Lord of the black Legion, was a capable general under Abaddon the Warmaster of Chaos. He would often plunge a spear into the surface of a world to declare the world's death!
His specialty was to sow the seeds of Chaos and terror, undermining the will to resist on a world before the main black Legion fleet arrived, thereby making it easier for Abaddon to conquer the world.
As for why he was called 'brother Eighty,' there was a reason: Harken declared he would take Vigilus for Abaddon in eighty days, but the final outcome was, of course, failure, earning him the polite nickname 'brother Eighty.'
Joking aside, it didn't diminish the fact that Harken the Star-Slayer's strength was absolutely outstanding and excellent within the black Legion.
It is rumored that Harken had studied the heretical book 'The Blood Tome of Nostramo,' filled with terror theories, written in the blood of kings by the traitor Primarch, 40K Batman 'Konrad Curze,' as well as 'The Scroll of Congealed Blood,' written by the mad Angron, which had become a legendary Chaos artifact.
Harken had even, at the cost of some of his sanity, peered into 'The Book of Magnus,' the monumental sorcerous tome in the hands of the Thousand Sons, which contained various arcane legends from across the galaxy!
To be well-versed in both letters and arms, combining the strengths of three, was to describe Harken.
But... it shouldn't have been this fast.
According to the plot development on Vigilus, Harken would only appear on Vigilus after Calgar's fleet arrived, and the location where he threw his Hellforged spear should definitely not be in the Siluria Hive; it should have been the Hyperia Sector!
It's all ran, all ran!
It seemed that his butterfly effect had caused the entire situation on Vigilus to spiral out of control...
The ominous premonition that had always lingered in his heart seemed to be confirmed at this moment: the arrival of Harken the Star-Slayer meant that... the black Legion of Chaos was about to arrive at Vigilus!
Where is Calgar? Save us!
Guilliman, for the sake of the Second Imperium, make Calgar hurry up! If he doesn't come soon, Vigilus will be lost, and your Indomitus Crusade will end before it even begins!