The barrage was ferocious. The Void Shields of the Macragge's Honour were teetering on the brink of collapse. Inside the pyramid's crystal gallery, Magnus watched the battle with a delighted sneer.
He had reassembled the Thousand Sons specifically for this war. Against such overwhelming firepower, what could anyone possibly use to stop him?
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned. Magnus smiled with joy.
But facing the artillery fire of the Thousand Sons, Guilliman showed no weakness. He launched a full-scale counterattack. Fighter squadrons raced ahead, vying to be the first to pounce on the enemy lines. Crimson lances flared brightly against the deep darkness of space, and ship batteries roared like thunder. The warriors of the Imperium poured every ounce of their strength into the assault.
Yet, these were all feints. The real attack had begun long ago.
In a quiet corner of the Thousand Sons fleet, cherry blossoms drifted through the void. The figures of Zeke and a Primaris Marine flashed past in rapid succession. Using the teleportation ability granted by the 'Enderman' modification, the Marine warped himself and Zeke directly onto the enemy fleet.
The series of jumps left the Primaris exhausted; the distance between the fleets had been vast, consuming almost all his energy.
Fortunately, the objective was achieved. Zeke constructed a Nether Portal, and the boarding action began before the enemy noticed a thing. Fearless Ultramarines and Solar Auxilia poured from the portal, storming the Vengeful Spirit of Tizca.
It was a fast, ruthless, and precise lightning strike. Roboute Guilliman himself, wielding the Emperor's Sword, stepped through the Nether Portal.
He knew Magnus could not possibly react in time. He was here to cut off his fallen brother's future and eliminate this calamity.
Zeke pulled out the Medusae Head. "Magnus," he thought, "this is prepared just for you."
A fallen Primarch was a precious prize to the Chaos Gods, a force that could not be ignored. Trading a disposable item to take one down was absolutely worth it.
Zeke knew his next move would undoubtedly anger a certain blue bird—Tzeentch. But what did the actions of "Zufal, servant of Khorne," have to do with Zeke?
He took Zufal's Skull from his backpack and placed it on his head. Instantly, his appearance transformed into that of Zufal. The scent of blood ignited around him.
Zufal: A Khorne champion Zeke had killed with the Harlequin's Kiss in the Ancient City. This skull allows the wearer to mimic his appearance.
Whether it would fool Tzeentch was unknown, but if it caused the Chaos God some trouble, Zeke would be happy to see it.
"I won't change my name or surname wherever I go! I am a Great General under Khorne!"
Zeke roared, mimicking the angry stereotype of a Khornate believer. He swapped his weapon to Grug's Heavy Hammer to sell the act. He also equipped the Blackstone Armor set to block Warp energy. In front of this armor, all Psykers were rendered useless.
Guilliman held the Emperor's Sword, which blazed with flames. The sword whispered to him that the essence of the man who had suddenly changed appearance hadn't actually changed.
"Is it equivalent to a mask?" Guilliman realized.
--
Magnus sat on his Crystal Throne, reveling in the sight of the Macragge's Honour trembling under his fire. Suddenly, a sorcerer rushed forward with impossible news: the ship had been boarded by Ultramarines.
Magnus stood up abruptly. He had no time to figure out how they got there; he immediately ordered his sorcerers to intercept them.
But it was too late. Firelight flooded the corridor. Melta bombs rolled into the chamber, thrown at Magnus and his circle. Through the flames, Magnus saw his target: Guilliman.
Truly foolish, Magnus sneered.
The forces on his ship didn't fear Guilliman at all. You dare to walk right into my trap?
Then, Magnus saw the red figure behind Guilliman. His eyes widened in rage.
Why is a Khorne follower here?!
Magnus was horrified. Did Guilliman ally with Khorne? Are you kidding me? Was he captured by Khorne? That's impossible too.
"Look over here, you red, one-eyed Ogryn!" Zeke shouted in a pinched voice.
If you ask me, the ultimate move should be used first. Zeke lifted the Medusae Head and began to charge it.
Magnus's expression wavered, but he couldn't worry about the details. Accompanied by the chanting of his sorcerers, Magnus raised his arms, roaring ominous incantations. He intended to wipe out this group of enemies with a single psychic blast.
Aetheric power turned into winding tentacles, lashing out at the Ultramarines—but they vanished into nothingness before touching Zeke.
With the Blackstone Armor acting as a dampener, a void formed around Zeke. No aetheric energy could penetrate the barrier. Magnus's spell fizzled out.
The Medusae Head in Zeke's hand began to hiss like a venomous snake.
Charging... 3...
First, Ultramarines jumped onto his ship out of nowhere, then a Khorne warrior appeared, and now his magic failed. Magnus refused to believe it. He gathered his psychic energy again and unleashed a powerful spell.
Just like before, the boiling energy silently disappeared without a trace.
Sisters of Silence? That was the first thing that came to Magnus's mind.
Furious, Magnus drew his khopesh, resolved to settle this in melee combat. If the Warp would not destroy his enemy, the Crimson King would crush them with his bare hands.
The Medusae Head continued to charge. 2...
Guilliman drew the Emperor's Sword. The two Primarchs collided head-on with unstoppable force. At this moment, no brotherhood of the past remained between Guilliman and Magnus.
The eyes of the two demigods reflected only hatred for their nemesis. Their weapons clashed, tearing at each other with immense power.
Magnus noticed the strange skull-like object in Zeke's hand. At first, he thought it was just a fetish of this Khorne follower—after all, they loved skulls. Then he sensed something was wrong. The skull seemed to be accumulating power.
First, rule out the Warp and psychic energy. Even I can't use it, let alone this Khornate brute. What exactly is it?
Guilliman's storm-like offensive left Magnus no time to think. Stripped of his best psychic abilities, he had to fight with his physical body. The eight sorcerers around him were already tied up by the Ultramarines.
As long as I can defeat Guilliman... No, I can't kill him. He is a precious Primarch. I will bind him and present him to the Changer of Ways to claim credit.
1... The Medusae Head finished charging.
"Guilliman, dodge!" Zeke shouted.
Venomous snakes danced wildly around the head. From the empty eye sockets of the Medusae, a silent, gray-white beam shot straight toward Magnus.
--
Next Bonus Chapter on 250 Powerstones.