Inside the smuggling vessel, the hunt had reached a fever pitch. The hum of eerie green death rays and bolters intertwined within the intricate metal structures, performing a dance of death where silence and explosions coexisted.
The Custodian Guard Captain, like a hound chasing shadows, clung to the faint energy traces left by the death mark sniper and burst into a wide pipe, over five meters in diameter, used for transporting energy or supplies. The inner wall of the pipe was smooth, and echoes stretched and distorted, adding to the eerie atmosphere. The Death Mark's figure ahead flickered in the dim light; its body, composed of living metal, granted it agility beyond mortal comprehension. Its two slender yet powerful metallic limbs rapidly tapped along the inner wall of the pipe at an astonishing speed, leaving even the full-sprinting Astartes Brother far behind.
Suddenly, the Death Mark, speeding ahead, fired a shot over its shoulder without looking back! The eerie green nerve shredder ray, as if it had eyes, precisely targeted the Custodian Guard Captain's face!
"Hmph!" The Captain was prepared, and the Storm Shield he held in front of him thrust forward! The energy field violently collided with the ray, erupting in a dazzling burst of energy sparks that instantly illuminated the dim pipe. The ray was successfully deflected, striking the inner wall of the pipe and silently melting a deep pit.
Using the momentary gap created by the block, the Captain's leg power armour servo system suddenly outputted maximum power, and the metal sole of his foot let out a harsh scraping sound. He shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, accelerating abruptly! At the same time, the combat knife, held in his left hand in a reverse grip, lunged out like a venomous snake, accompanied by a shriek that tore through the air, stabbing directly at the Death Mark's seemingly unguarded back!
This lunge and stab were fast, precise, and ruthless! They embodied the Captain's lifelong combat experience and the Ultramarines' tempered skill.
However, just an instant before the blade tip was about to touch the cold living metal, the Death Mark's eerie green teleportation light screen had already lit up in front of it. The Captain's combat knife ultimately only sliced through the residual energy glow left by the dissipating teleportation gate, missing its target by mere millimeters!
"Damn it!" the Captain cursed in a low voice, steadying himself, his expression under his faceplate extremely grim. Such an elusive ability was truly the tracker's greatest nightmare.
At the same time, according to the tactical arrangement, the Melta Gun Custodian, who was attempting to outflank from the other side of the pipe's exit, had just arrived at the designated position. His massive body was hidden in the shadows of the exit, the cold muzzle of his Heavy Bolter pointed into the pipe, waiting for his prey to walk into the trap.
However, a cold, needle-like killing intent struck him from behind without warning! His combat intuition, far exceeding that of ordinary men, instantly made the hairs on his body stand on end! Without thinking, relying on the powerful torque provided by his power armour, he spun around on the spot, simultaneously pressing his Storm Shield tightly against his front, and instinctively turning the muzzle of his Heavy Bolter towards his rear!
But his reaction was still half a beat slower than the long-planned ambush.
Just as he was halfway through his turn, and before his shield had fully covered his rear-side, an eerie green ray had already shot out from behind a ventilation grate, not aimed at him directly, but with pinpoint accuracy, striking the melta gun slung across his back!
"Sizzle—!"
There was no deafening explosion, only a grating sound of metal dissolving. That precious and powerful melta weapon, along with its complex energy delivery pipes and part of its backpack interface, rapidly disintegrated and vaporized under the nerve shredder ray's sweep, like ice in the sun, leaving only some twisted, molten remnants hanging on the backpack frame, emitting wisps of smoke.
The enormous impact and energy feedback made the Melta Gun Custodian stumble, nearly falling. He suppressed the numbness in his arm and the rage over the lost equipment, quickly completed his turn, and his Heavy Bolter roared, unleashing a furious rain of bullets in the direction of the attack!
"Bang bang bang bang!"
bolter rounds riddled the walls and ventilation facilities in that area, sending debris flying. But the spot was already empty, leaving only the dark, gaping hole behind the destroyed grate, as if silently mocking his futility.
The Death Mark, like an elegant yet cruel dancer, moved through the dark stage. It seemed to relish the feeling of toying with powerful prey, constantly changing positions using its teleportation ability, launching attacks from the most unexpected angles, wearing down the prey's stamina, equipment, and patience.
It reappeared on a high platform near the pipe exit area, where the view was open, overlooking a large area below. Its multi-faceted eyes, burning with green fire, coldly scanned the two Custodian Guard who emerged from the pipe, looking somewhat disheveled. The nerve shredder rifle was raised again, and an eerie green light condensed at its muzzle.
Below, the newly reunited Custodian Guard Captain and Melta Gun Custodian immediately felt a deadly threat. Both made evasive maneuvers almost simultaneously and raised their shields towards the source of the threat!
"Buzz!"
The deadly green ray flashed past!
Although both reacted extremely quickly, the ray was too cunning and swift. As the Captain turned sideways and raised his shield, the edge of the ray barely grazed his left shoulder guard!
There was no loud bang, no explosion. The master-crafted power armour shoulder guard, swept by the ray, along with a Radiator grille on the power backpack below, instantly vanished without a trace, as if erased by an invisible eraser. The cut was smooth as a mirror, revealing complex internal wiring and interfaces flickering with electrical sparks. The Captain felt a lightness in his left shoulder, followed by a faint alarm indicating system damage.
Both were shocked and enraged, immediately looking up at the high platform, their bolters already aimed in that direction. However, the high platform was empty; the Death Mark's figure had once again vanished like a ghost.
It had already used this attack to attract attention, activating its teleportation again, silently reappearing in the shadows of the entrance to the wide pipe they had just exited, behind them. It crouched, its nerve shredder rifle steadily aimed at the back of the Custodian Guard Captain, who had just been damaged and had his back to it.
In its cold combat logic, perhaps a hint of "satisfaction" at the imminent completion of the hunt flickered. Its finger gently squeezed the trigger.
Just at this critical moment!
"Bang!"
A distinctly different, crisp and deadly bolter shot rang out from a higher, extremely concealed firing port!
A specially calibrated armor-piercing bolter round, moving faster than the eye could follow, as if precisely calculated, passed accurately through the gap between the two Custodian Guard below, without harming them in the slightest, and then... "Crack!"
The bolter round directly struck the Death Mark's metallic head, which was about to pull the trigger! The powerful kinetic energy instantly tore through the living metal, entering from one side of its head and exiting from the other, leaving a hideous, massive hole! Green energy fluid and metal fragments splattered everywhere!
The enormous impact flung the Death Mark's entire body violently from its crouched position, sending it crashing heavily onto the cold metal floor with a dull thud.
It was the Custodian Guard sniper hidden in the dark! He was like the most patient spider, constantly weaving his web of death. He had long since locked onto this cunning opponent, waiting, waiting for an absolutely fatal opportunity, a moment when the opponent was focused on the hunt and let down its guard!
The Death Mark's severely damaged body twitched violently on the ground. At the edge of the large hole Penetrate ing its forehead, the living metal began to writhe as if alive, attempting to repair the fatal wound, green energy flickering at the wound, healing at a visible speed!
It struggled to get up, simultaneously raising an arm with difficulty, trying to activate a teleportation gate again to escape.
However, the Ultramarines would not give the enemy any breathing room!
Just as the Death Mark attempted to rise, a deep blue figure suddenly lunged out of the shadows behind it like a ghost! It was the Custodian Guard Captain, who had previously "missed"! He had, at some unknown point, used the complex structure of the pipe to circle behind the Death Mark!
His combat knife did not miss this time! With long-simmering rage and precise calculation, the sharp blade tip plunged into the very center of the Death Mark's chest from behind, the likely location of its energy core or main processing unit, like a hot knife through butter!
"Thud!"
The Captain violently twisted his wrist, then pulled upwards with all his might! The immense force directly flung the Death Mark's still partially-risen body into the air!
The Death Mark, like a broken doll, traced a brief arc in the air before crashing heavily to the ground again. This time, before it could react, an even heavier, power armour-clad giant boot, like a mountain, stomped down with a thud!
It was the Melta Gun Custodian! He had rushed forward, fueled by the rage of his ruined equipment, and stomped his heavy boot fiercely onto the Death Mark's regenerating head!
"Crunch—Squish!"
Like crushing a ripe fruit, the living metal head instantly deformed and shattered under the absolute force! Green energy fluid and tiny metallic components splattered everywhere! The burning green fire flickered violently for a moment, then completely extinguished.
But this was not enough! The Melta Gun Custodian bent down, his massive power armour-clad hand gripping the Death Mark's broken body, and as if venting, he brutally tore, broke, and disassembled it into several irregular metal fragments, ensuring it could never be repaired again.
A moment later, the three Custodian Guard converged beside the Death Mark's "remains." Looking at the pile of living metal fragments on the ground, still faintly twitching and flickering with unstable green light, the sniper also emerged from his hiding spot.
"Ensure complete destruction," the Captain said in a deep voice, his voice through the faceplate carrying a hint of post-combat weariness and coldness.
The Melta Gun Custodian silently took a melta grenade from his ammo belt, pulled the pin, and accurately threw it into the center of the pile of fragments.
"Sizzle—Boom!!"
After a brief fuse delay, a searing white light instantly engulfed the area. The extreme heat melted and vaporized the living metal remnants along with the deck beneath, ultimately leaving only a molten metal pit whose edges were still glowing red and emitting acrid smoke.
Only then did the three Custodian Guard truly breathe a sigh of relief. This elusive, extremely dangerous phantom had finally been completely terminated.
The Custodian Guard Captain connected to the Macragge's Honour's communication link, his voice returning to its usual steady tone:
"Captain Cassius, this is the Custodian Guard squad. The death mark sniper lurking inside the smuggler ship has been confirmed cleared. Repeat, threat cleared. Requesting extraction."
Eiras woke up and, through the cabin's observation window that simulated the day-night cycle, found that it was already afternoon in ship time. Laya had already gotten up to deal with the seemingly endless paperwork, leaving her alone in the cabin, contentedly occupying the entire large bed.
She stretched with a big yawn, her short pink hair messy and disheveled, and a hint of sleepiness still lingering in her large green eyes. Her not-so-bright little head struggled to turn for a while before she remembered—oh, her rotation period was over, and today it was her turn to maintain the dreadnoughts sleeping in the Hall of Heroes.
"Ugh, I wish I could sleep a little longer..." she mumbled, yawning, slowly climbing out of bed, and sluggishly putting on her small boots. After tidying her oil-stained Tech-Sergeant uniform, she took small, wobbly steps towards the Armory.
However, trouble always seemed to find her. Not long after she left, she ran straight into Captain Cassius, who was patrolling with a squad of Terminators, at a corner of a main corridor leading to the Armory.
Eiras's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to shrink back around the corner or find a place to hide, pretending she didn't exist. But Cassius's sharp gaze had already locked onto her like a searchlight.
"Eiras." Cassius's voice came through his helmet, carrying his usual severity, even deeper than usual.
Eiras knew she couldn't escape, so she braced herself, forced a small, ingratiating smile, and turned around: "Cap...Captain, good morning!"
"It's already afternoon," Cassius mercilessly pointed out. He walked in front of Eiras, his tall figure almost completely enveloping her. "I just received a complaint from the Adeptus Mechanicus."
Eiras's small face instantly fell.
"A Tech-Priest reported to me that you 'took' five high-strength alloy plates, used for repairing the ship's internal decks, from Maintenance Warehouse Number Three without any authorization or reporting," Cassius's voice was devoid of any inflection, but full of oppressive power. "Additionally, Magos Tokmus also informed me that you have 'damaged' four of his combat servitors this month, causing severe delays in several of his research projects. Eiras, do you have any explanation?"
Eiras's small head spun rapidly. Alloy plates? Those plates had long been hammered and combined with other junk by her to make that ugly wardrobe for Sister Laya; they definitely couldn't be returned. Her eyes darted around, and she decided to lie:
"Uh...the alloy plates! I used them to...to conduct impact tests for new armor connection technology! Yes! Tests!" She tried to make her tone sound righteous, but her flickering eyes betrayed her.
Seeing Captain Cassius's helmet tilt slightly, clearly disbelieving her, she immediately changed her reason, speaking rapidly: "Ah, no! I remember now! They were used for emergency repairs to a damaged left engine casing of a thunderhawk gunship! The situation was urgent then, and there was no time to file a report!"
This reason sounded slightly more plausible than the last, but it was still full of holes. The maintenance of thunderhawk gunships had strict procedures and records; how could a small Tech-Sergeant casually interfere and even use reserve alloy plates?
Just as Cassius was about to press for more details, Eiras, as if springs were attached to her feet, suddenly jumped up and shouted, "Captain, I have an urgent matter to maintain the dreadnought! Magos is still waiting for me! I'm leaving now!"
Before her words finished, she had already shot past Cassius like a startled rabbit, her two short legs moving at an astonishing speed, deftly bypassing the squad of Terminators behind her, who were like iron towers. She instantly disappeared to the other end of the corridor, leaving behind only a series of rapidly fading footsteps.
Cassius watched the small pink head disappear around the corner and shook his head helplessly. He, of course, knew the little one was spouting nonsense, but with the complex internal affairs of the ship at hand, tracking down a few alloy plates and servitors was not a priority. He sighed, realizing that he would have to find a way to deduct this from the First Company's budget or his own rations to appease those meticulous Tech-Priests. He only hoped that Eiras's so-called "maintenance" of the dreadnought wouldn't cause any bigger problems.
Meanwhile, the search operation for suspicious Warp beacons inside, jointly conducted by the Honor Guard and Librarian members, was still proceeding at full speed. After multiple rounds of psychic scans and physical inspections, several areas with repeatedly weak anomalous energy readings were marked again. Although these readings were extremely faint and mostly explainable by the chaotic energy cells and half-finished devices in Eiras's room, based on the principle of rather over-investigating than missing anything, the search team once again targeted Eiras's "small workshop" filled with parts.
As the search team moved towards Eiras's room, inside the room, the crimson helmet of a World Eaters Champion, picked up from Drathemiandas, was quietly placed in the center of Eiras's cluttered workbench.
When she had nothing to do earlier, Eiras had dug out this "useless junk" and, using her small tools, roughly repaired the shattered eye lenses. She also cleaned the bloodstains and dust from the helmet's surface, making it look much "nicer." During the cleaning process, she noticed a clear and ferocious pattern carved on the demon-horn-like decorations on both sides of the helmet—a gaping maw full of sharp teeth.
This pattern felt somewhat familiar to her, as if she had seen it somewhere before, but with her forgetful nature, she had completely forgotten it. She just thought the pattern was quite "cool," completely unaware of the bloody and murderous meaning it represented.
Just as the search team was about to reach the door, something strange happened. The crimson helmet, which had been sitting on the workbench, as if possessing a life of its own, its crimson sheen flowed eerily across its surface. The next second, it vanished into thin air! Only a faint circular imprint remained on the workbench, as if it had never existed.
"Bang, bang, bang." Knocks sounded, and then an Honour Guard Warrior and a Librarian walked in.
"Routine security check, Tech-Sergeant Eiras. Oh, it seems she's not here," an Honour Guard Warrior said formally. They quickly and professionally checked every corner of the room, psychic perception sweeping like mercury over every pile of parts, every tool rack. The result was the same as the previous times: besides the disorganized, energy-fluctuating half-finished inventions and batteries, there were no abnormal Warp signals or suspicious items.
"Everything is normal." The Librarian withdrew his psychic power and shook his head at the Honour Guard Warrior.
The group did not linger and quickly left the room, heading to the next inspection point.
Shortly after they left, Eiras, having finished maintaining the dreadnought, hummed a tuneless song as she returned to her small nest. She pushed open the door, her gaze casually sweeping over the workbench, then she paused slightly.
"Huh? How did this junk appear again?" She looked at the crimson helmet, which had mysteriously reappeared in its original spot on the workbench, and scratched her head. She distinctly remembered having stuffed it into some pile of parts earlier.
However, she was too lazy to delve deeper. Perhaps a passing Tech-Priest or servitor had put it back? She walked over, laboriously picked up the heavy helmet, and casually tossed it into the even taller pile of parts in the corner, almost touching the ceiling, creating a clattering sound.
"Alright, annoying thing, go away!" She clapped her hands, satisfied with the cleared workbench. Then, she excitedly pulled out a large roll of crumpled blueprints and carefully spread them out—it was her "elara's storm" design, which had endured nearly nine hundred failures but still captivated her.
She picked up an electronic pen, bit the tip, and began to concentrate on solving the long-troubling heat dissipation problem, her small brows tightly furrowed, completely immersed in her technical world.
She was completely unaware that behind her, the crimson helmet she had thrown into the pile of parts, in the depths of its eye lenses she had just "repaired," was now emitting an extremely faint but incredibly pure crimson glow, like the slowly opening eyes of a demon in the darkness.
She was even less aware that as she focused on the blueprints, a tall, burly, distorted shadow was slowly materializing from nothing on the floor behind her. The shadow was covered in power armour adorned with spikes and blasphemous runes, and the demon-horn-like decorations on its helmet cast a ferocious silhouette, all indicating its owner's identity as a Khorne berserker.
The shadow was silent, without substance, yet it exuded suffocating brutality and killing intent. It silently "stood" behind Eiras, its crimson gaze seemingly piercing the boundaries of reality and the Warp, firmly locking onto the unsuspecting, head-down, innocent little Aeldari.
The shadow had already descended. Its target was this girl, who had unwittingly become the vessel of a source of disaster, yet remained completely oblivious to it.
Eiras was propping her head with her hand, her large green eyes fixed on the blueprint for "elara's storm" on the table, which was covered with complex circuits and heat dissipation designs. Her small brows were furrowed tightly.
The nine hundredth improvement plan seemed to have hit a dead end again, with only a negligible increase in heat dissipation efficiency.
She irritably ran her fingers through her short pink hair, feeling as though her little head was about to smoke from overthinking.
Just then, an extremely subtle sensation, yet one that sent chills down her spine, quietly emerged.
It was as if... something was standing behind her, silently watching her.
She spun around abruptly, looking behind her with alert.
The room was still as she knew it—mountains of parts, tools scattered everywhere, and the statue of Primarch Guilliman she had assembled from stolen scraps in the corner stood tall... Other than that, there was nothing.
"Oh, I must be overthinking it..." Eiras patted her face, muttering to herself, "It's this damn blueprint, making me all neurotic."
She didn't notice that the grotesque shadow belonging to the World Eaters, filled with brutal killing intent, had quietly faded away like ink dissolving in water the moment she turned, concealing itself.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the inexplicable chill, then turned back, refocusing her attention on the troublesome blueprint.
However, just as she lowered her head, that cold and mocking voice resonated as if directly from the depths of her soul:
"A Dark Eldar, clinging to a son of guilliman... truly... rare."
Eiras stiffened all over, and spun around again!
This time, she saw a sight that made her soul flee in terror—behind her, that shadow was no longer a flat outline, but rapidly became three-dimensional and solid, as if stepping out of an ink wash painting!
Dark red power armour, covered in deep scratches and blasphemous runes, gradually appeared, with grotesque spikes and Golden patterns on the shoulder pads emanating an ominous aura.
Finally, a tall, burly Astartes of the World Eaters, as if crawled out of a blood-filled hell, fully materialized and stood before her!
Behind the shattered visor, two points of crimson light seemed to be fixed on her.
"Ah—!" Eiras's scream of terror had barely begun to escape when a massive hand, covered in rough power armour, clamped around her slender neck like an iron vice, with a speed she couldn't possibly react to!
Immense strength instantly deprived her of breath and voice, and she was lifted effortlessly off the ground like a helpless chick, brought before those crimson visors.
She struggled desperately, her small hands and feet flailing against the indestructible power armour, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree, unable to move it in the slightest.
Lack of oxygen quickly turned her face from white to red, then purple, and her large green eyes were filled with extreme fear and pain.
"An xenos race that should have been slaughtered and sacrificed, now clinging like a pet under the wings of its former enemy..." The World Eaters' voice, with its metallic, abrasive quality, was filled with undisguised contempt and killing intent, "You should feel ashamed!"
With that, he let out a low, cruel sneer.
Immediately after, his massive body began to blur and distort, like melting wax, rapidly collapsing and liquefying, finally transforming into a dense, dark red shadow reeking of blood, which, like a living fluid, forcibly drilled into Eiras's body along her constricted neck!
"Ugh...!" Eiras convulsed violently like a fish thrown ashore, then the grip on her neck disappeared, and she fell heavily onto the cold floor with a thud.
She curled up on the ground, coughing violently, gasping for precious air.
However, her consciousness was rapidly overwhelmed by an external, cold, and brutal force.
Her once clear and lively large green eyes now gradually took on an ominous, increasingly deep crimson hue, as if injected with blood.
Finally, her gaze completely lost focus, her head lolled to the side, and she passed out.
The World Eaters' consciousness, or rather, the fragments of his soul imbued with strong obsessions and malice, forcibly invaded Eiras's relatively fragile and simple Eldar mind.
He wanted to see what had transformed or corrupted this xenos' inner world, allowing her to coexist so harmoniously with the Ultramarines, her ancient enemies.
He "saw" fragmented memories:
A little girl, trembling and struggling to survive in the dark corners of Commorragh, in the cruel Dark Eldar society, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.
The scene shifted to a giant in deep blue power armour, as reliable as a mountain, bringing her back from that place of despair; the little girl's initial tension, curiosity, and a subtle, almost imperceptible longing for warmth in her eyes.
Finally, the focus of the memories converged on four distinct, most intimately related deep blue figures—Golden, Luna, Gaius, and Dorian.
The World Eaters' consciousness, with scrutiny and disdain, swept over these "enemies" one by one.
Golden, First Company Lieutenant, steady and capable, like a sharp sword in its sheath, his aura contained yet powerful, but seemingly... within comprehensible bounds.
Luna, silent and reliable, focused on technology and equipment, her soul as orderly as her workbench, also showing no abnormalities.
However, when his "gaze" fell upon the soul projections of Gaius and Dorian, his originally aggressive and disdainful consciousness instantly froze as if solidified!
In Eiras's pure mental vision, what was reflected was not their usual appearance.
Gaius's figure now stood majestically, no longer in his deep blue artificer power armour, but transformed into a solemn and eerie Daemon Prince body!
His physique became even taller and more robust, his body no longer covered by ceramite and plasteel, but by deep blue armour seemingly forged from solidified shadows and twisted knowledge.
This armour was covered with countless eye symbols that slowly opened and closed like living things, flashing with ethereal blue and cunning pink-purple light; they seemed to be whispering, prying into all the secrets of the world.
On his head grew two curved and majestic daemon horns, shaped like an ancient crown, emanating a mind-confusing sense of oppression.
Behind him, a wide cloak billowed without wind, embroidered with a huge and eerie blue eye symbol using psychic threads, as if the Lord of Change's true form was gazing at the intruder through this symbol.
He stood there silently, without movement, yet he seemed to be the center of all trickery and change, and the surrounding space subtly warped due to his presence.
And Dorian's soul projection was even more terrifying!
He had already transformed into an undisputed Khorne Chosen body, his ferocity and rage almost tearing apart this mental space!
His physique had expanded to a horrifying degree, like a small giant, covered in grotesque spikes and thick chitin, as if a war avatar crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
His original power armour was almost fused with his bulging muscles, each muscle knotted and distended like steel, containing destructive power.
Most unsettlingly, he manifested four incredibly thick, dark red chitin-covered arms, each arm seemingly born for pure slaughter.
Raging fury and palpable killing intent swept from him like a blood-red storm, as if in the next moment he would tear everything before him to shreds and offer it to the blood god's brass throne.
"This... this is...? !" The World Eaters' consciousness let out a silent, utterly terrified scream.
He couldn't comprehend why such... such terrifying existences would be hidden among Guilliman's loyal sons!
One was clearly a Daemon Prince under Tzeentch, and the other a Chosen Champion whose Khorne power was almost solidified!
Just as his mind faltered due to this shocking discovery, Dorian's soul projection, like a Blood God Avatar, seemed to sense this external, malicious prying, and suddenly let out a roar of endless fury that shook the entire mental space!
"Roar—!!!"
Immediately, that massive, spiky and muscular four-armed Chosen body, with a terrifying momentum that could crush everything, charged towards the direction of the World Eaters' consciousness!
Its speed was far beyond reality!
The World Eaters' consciousness couldn't even muster a thought of resistance before it was instantly overtaken by the raging crimson figure!
Four huge, chitinous-clawed hands tore, pulled, and pulverized his consciousness as easily as ripping paper!
The feeling was as if his soul had been thrown into the most violent furnace, utterly annihilated by the purest power!
And just before his consciousness completely dissipated, he "saw" Gaius, who had been standing still, clad in a blue robe adorned with countless eyes, merely raise a finger.
An invisible and cold force, representing absolute order and confinement, instantly descended, firmly imprisoning the fragments of his soul that were about to completely collapse, and then... like wiping away dust, a gentle swipe.
Without even a silent wail, the last vestiges of this World Eaters Champion were completely obliterated and reduced to nothing in the depths of Eiras's mind, by the combined efforts of the two hidden "monsters."
In the real world, Eiras remained unconscious, but the ominous crimson in her eyes slowly receded like a tide, finally returning to its original emerald green, though her face remained pale and her breathing faint.
At the same time, the hangar of the Macragge's Honour was a scene of bustling activity.
Warriors of the Second Company and Eighth Company successively returned to the battleship aboard thunderhawk gunships.
They carried the scent of gunpowder, and their power armour bore many new scratches and scorch marks, but their morale was high.
According to the reports from Lieutenant Titus and Captain Sibilus, they successfully cooperated with the Sisters of Battle and the Planetary Defense Forces to dismantle several main Necrons teleportation devices established on the surface of Planet Shad, and gradually cleared the remaining Necron warriors.
Although the process was intense and there were casualties, they ultimately succeeded in containing the Necron invasion and stabilizing the Forge World's defensive line.
As the last batch of warriors and equipment was recovered, the massive Ultramarines fleet began to adjust its formation, preparing to depart from the Vespastor region.
The next destination had been determined—an agricultural world on the eastern edge of Ultramar.
According to the distress reports from there, traces of Slaanesh corruption were suspected on the world, requiring immediate investigation and purification.
The fleet's engines spewed dazzling exhaust plumes, slowly moving into the designated jump point.
As the navigators concentrated, chanting ancient prayers, the massive warships suddenly shuddered, boldly tearing open the veil of the real universe, and plunging headfirst into the bizarre and perilous Warp.
Almost at the moment of entering the Warp, in chamber i-10-a, Kolesa suddenly curled up, as if suffering immense pain.
She broke out in cold sweat uncontrollably, her face instantly turning ashen white, and her slender fingers gripped Gaius's arm guard tightly.
"Something... something outside..." Her voice trembled, filled with unspeakable fear, "They are watching me... so many... curious... hungry... they want... want to taste my soul..."
As an Eldar, she had an innate, deeply ingrained fear and sensitivity to the Warp, especially to Slaanesh daemons who savored Eldar souls.
She could clearly perceive that beyond the battleship's Gellar Field, countless greedy and curious Slaanesh gazes, like sharks smelling blood, were scrutinizing the colossal steel vessel that had intruded into their domain, eager to tear open its defenses and feast.
Gaius, who had just returned to the chamber after finishing his watch, immediately held her tightly in his arms, using his solid body to shield her from the unseen terror.
"Don't be afraid, Kolesa, look at me, I'm here."
His deep and steady voice seemed to carry a calming power, and at the same time, his soul essence, which originated from the depths of his being and had once transformed into a Daemon Prince to sever the Mark of Change, subtly radiated a trace of Tzeentchian majesty and mystery that even Slaanesh daemons found daunting.
This subtle aura made those greedy gazes somewhat restrain themselves, not daring to be too presumptuous.
Under Gaius's comfort and the protection of his aura, Kolesa's trembling gradually subsided, but her face remained pale, and she clung tightly to him, seeking her sole sense of security.
Chapter Master Calgar also had a strong reaction to Warp travel.
Upon entering this twisted dimension, he felt as if countless voices were whispering in his ears, murmuring messages of temptation, doubt, and confusion.
These insidious whispers of the Warp daemons tried to interfere with his judgment and stir his emotions.
Already irritable from dealing with mountains of administrative duties, he now felt as if his head was about to explode.
"Enough!" Calgar roared, abruptly rising from his throne, and ordered through the communicator, "Inform the Tech-Priest to raise the Gellar Field's output power to maximum!
I don't want to hear any more voices I shouldn't hear!"
The order was swiftly executed.
A nearly imperceptible hum of energy seemed to grow heavier, and an invisible barrier, protecting the internal reality stability of the battleship, was reinforced to its utmost.
Finally, those annoying whispers, as if blocked by a soundproof wall, rapidly diminished until they completely disappeared.
Calgar sank heavily back onto his throne, let out a long sigh of relief, and rubbed his still throbbing temples.
Warp travel was always so detestable.
He only hoped this journey would be smooth, that they would reach their destination quickly to face tangible enemies, rather than these mind-entangling, eerie whispers.
The fleet, in the bizarre torrent of the Warp, steadily sailed towards the agricultural world shrouded in Slaanesh's shadow.
Eiras slowly awoke from her coma, her consciousness surfacing like a drowning person, bringing with it a wave of disorientation and weakness. She found herself lying on a cold, hard floor, surrounded by her familiar, parts-strewn workshop. She struggled to sit up, but a clear, burning pain shot through her neck, as if it had been clamped by red-hot tongs.
Instinctively, she reached for her neck, her fingertips touching a visible bruise, turning from red to purple. The sensation was real and stinging, instantly shattering the last sliver of hope in her heart that 'this might just be a nightmare.'
It wasn't a dream.
That dark red, nightmarish behemoth, those cold, crimson eye lenses, that giant hand that choked her throat, almost crushing her windpipe... everything had truly happened!
A tremendous fear and lingering dread, like a cold tide, instantly engulfed the little one who was usually fearless. She had never felt the breath of death so closely, that suffocating despair and helplessness, causing her tiny body to tremble uncontrollably.
She scrambled to her feet, her eyes instantly reddening. Her large green eyes filled with tears, her vision blurred as she scanned the room, finally settling on the corner—where stood a 'statue' cobbled together from various discarded metal parts, broken wires, and even a few unknown gears.
That was her image of Primarch Guilliman.
It must be said, this statue... was uniquely ugly. Its proportions were severely distorted, one arm thick, one arm thin, and its face was abstract, only vaguely indicating features with a few rivets. The Primarch's majestic aura was twisted into a comical clumsiness by this crude craftsmanship. But Eiras had poured a great deal of 'effort' into it, using the 'best' materials she could find, hammering and welding it together piece by piece. In her innocent heart, this ugly statue represented the greatest blue giant who protected her, allowing her to live peacefully and wreak havoc on this steel behemoth.
Now, in extreme fear and grievance, this ugly statue became her only spiritual anchor.
She stumbled and rushed over, embracing the cold, rough metal statue tightly with all her strength, as if it could offer her a tiny sense of security. Then, she could no longer suppress the fear and grievance within her, burying her face in the statue's uneven 'chest' and bursting into tears.
"Waaah—!!!!"
Her cries were heartbreaking, filled with the terror and helplessness of surviving a disaster, a stark contrast to her usual carefree and mischievous demeanor. The cries echoed in the small chamber, even penetrating the not-so-soundproof door and reaching the corridor outside.
Coincidentally, a squad of Honor Guard Warriors on an internal patrol mission was passing through this corridor with heavy steps. The unusually loud, sorrowful cries instantly made them stop. The Captain of the Honor Guard, who led the squad, made a gesture, and his team immediately spread out to guard, while he walked to Eiras's chamber door and listened carefully.
After confirming that the crying was indeed coming from inside, and seemed to be Eiras's voice, the Captain of the Honor Guard knocked on the door: "Tech-Sergeant Aila Si? What's happening in there?"
The only response was even louder and more aggrieved crying.
The Captain of the Honor Guard hesitated, motioned for his team to remain vigilant, and then gently pushed open the unlocked chamber door.
The sight that met their eyes made even these battle-hardened Honor Guard Warriors, accustomed to life, death, and brutality, feel a moment of bewilderment and... an indescribable pang of sadness.
They saw Eiras, usually optimistic and cheerful, as if she had no worries, sitting on the ground without any regard for her image, tightly hugging the uniquely ugly Guilliman statue they often joked about in private. Her small face was red from crying, gasping for breath, tears and snot smeared across her face, and her tiny body trembled violently from sobbing.
"Eiras?" The Captain of the Honor Guard crouched down, trying to make his voice sound gentler, "What happened? Who bullied you?"
However, Eiras was completely immersed in a huge emotional turmoil at the moment and couldn't utter a complete sentence. She only sobbed intermittently: "...So scary... red... big guy... choked me... waaah... Primarch Guilliman..."
The Honor Guard Warriors exchanged glances. From her broken words, they realized that the matter was probably not simple, definitely not an ordinary squabble or grievance. But these giants of steel were truly not good at dealing with a little girl crying so heartbrokenly.
The Captain of the Honor Guard quickly made a judgment. He contacted the bridge via internal communication, briefly explained the situation, and made a suggestion: "...Eiras is extremely unstable and unable to communicate effectively. Request to contact Tech-Sergeant Luna; she has a close relationship with Eiras and might be able to calm her down and understand the situation."
This request was quickly approved; having Luna, who was like a teacher and mother to Eiras, calm her down was indeed the best option.
Soon after, heavy footsteps sounded again, and Luna, clad in deep blue power armour, having just put down her repair task, appeared at the chamber door. As soon as she entered, her gaze immediately locked onto Eiras, who was sitting on the ground, crying so hard she was almost fainting.
Luna's usually steady, even somewhat indifferent, face instantly showed a clear hint of distress. Without the slightest hesitation, she quickly walked to Eiras, knelt down, and extended an arm, covered in power armour but moving with unusual gentleness.
"Eiras." Luna's voice came through the helmet's loudspeaker, carrying a unique, reassuring, steady strength.
Hearing this familiar voice, Eiras suddenly looked up, seeing Luna's figure through her tear-filled eyes. She seemed to have found the most reliable safe harbor, immediately letting go of the ugly statue in her arms, and, like a startled small animal, plunged into Luna's embrace, hugging her cold power armour with all her might, as if trying to merge into it.
"Luna... boohoo... Luna..." She buried her face in Luna's chest plate, her crying becoming even more aggrieved, but no longer the desperate wailing, but rather dependent sobs.
Luna said nothing, only gently patted Eiras's back with her broad palm, again and again. This simple action, however, contained silent comfort and support. She was like a silent mountain, providing solid reliance for this frightened little one.
Seeing this, the Honor Guard Warriors silently retreated outside the door, leaving the space to them, but still maintaining vigilance.
Under Luna's steady comfort, Eiras's emotions gradually calmed down. Her crying turned into soft sobs, eventually leaving only uncontrollable hiccups from crying for too long. Leaning in Luna's arms, she began to recount her terrifying experience in broken sentences.
"Luna... I... I secretly brought back a... red helmet... from below..." She quietly admitted her 'mistake,' her voice tinged with lingering fear, "I... I thought it was useless... so I wanted to fix it... see if I could trade it for some jelly..."
She sniffled and continued: "Then... then just now... it... it suddenly turned into a... very, very big... red... super scary big guy!" Her body couldn't help but tremble again, "He... he said I was an xeno... said I shouldn't be here... then... then he used his hand... to choke my neck... lifted me up... I was so uncomfortable... couldn't breathe... I thought... I was going to die..."
At this point, she couldn't help but cry softly again.
Luna listened quietly, her face beneath the faceplate growing heavier as Eiras narrated. A red helmet... turning into a big guy... World Eaters... choking her neck... all the clues instantly connected!
That World Eaters helmet, inadvertently brought back by Eiras, was not some useless trophy at all! It was a deadly trap, an evil relic attached with the soul of a Chaos Daemon or a fallen one! It was it that leaked the internal coordinates of the Macragge's Honour, attracting the Necrons' precise teleportation attack! And now, it had directly posed a life threat to Eiras herself!
Luna suddenly looked up at the Captain of the Honor Guard waiting outside the door, her voice through the loudspeaker carrying an unprecedented seriousness: "Immediately notify the Chapter Master! Highest priority! We have found the source of the leaked coordinates, and it just tried to kill Eiras!"
Upon hearing this, the Captain of the Honor Guard's face beneath his helmet also changed, and he immediately reported the information directly to the bridge via an encrypted channel.
In the Chapter Master's office, the oppressive atmosphere was almost solidified into ice.
Marius Calgar sat on the obsidian throne, listening to Luna's clear and calm report, and Captain Vitrius's supplementary account of when the Honor Guard found Eiras. Beside him stood First Company Captain Cassius and the Librarian, who had been urgently summoned.
When he heard that the World Eaters helmet, picked up by Eiras from Drathemiandas, was not only a Warp beacon that caused the internal invasion of the battleship but also had a malicious soul attached to it, and had just materialized, almost choking Eiras to death... Calgar's long-suppressed rage finally erupted like a volcano that had accumulated for millennia!
"Bang!!!"
His giant fist, covered in power armour, slammed heavily onto the incredibly hard obsidian desk! The desktop, capable of withstanding artillery bombardment, actually trembled slightly from the punch, and tiny cracks even appeared at its edges!
He suddenly rose from the throne, his tall figure exuding a terrifying, almost tangible pressure. The air in the entire office seemed to freeze. The Primarch's successor's fury, like a storm, swept out, penetrating thick walls and layers of decks, almost spreading throughout the entire Macragge's Honour!
Every warrior walking in the corridors, every crew member working at their posts, even the Tech-Priests busy in the engine room, at that moment, clearly felt a chilling anger and majesty emanating from the heart of the battleship!
"Cassius!!!" Calgar's roar was like thunder, exploding in the office, even making the decorations on the walls hum, "Your company! Your defense sector! An evil relic attached with Chaos defilement! A beacon that caused our invasion and almost resulted in heavy casualties! It was actually picked up by a child as trash! Right under your nose! In the heart of our battleship! For so long!!! And you! And your subordinates! Knew nothing about it?!!!"
Captain Cassius lowered his head, his face pale beneath his helmet, his fists clenched. He had nothing to say; this was the undeniable dereliction of duty of the First Company. He recalled his previous inspections, even personally visiting Eiras's room, but was always misled by the chaotic energy field and the parts scattered everywhere, narrowly missing the real threat. Immense shame and self-blame almost drowned him.
"Vitrius! How did your internal clear-out go?! Twice! You swept that room twice! And told me everything was normal?! That evil relic was right before your eyes! Yet you allowed it to come and go like a ghost?!" The Chapter Master's anger turned to the Captain of the Honor Guard.
Vitrius also stood with his head bowed, enduring the reprimand. He knew this was the Honor Guard's dereliction of duty.
"And you! Librarian!" Calgar's gaze was like two sharp swords, shooting towards the Librarian responsible for psychic detection, "Where were your psychic scans? Can't the Librarians on our battleship even detect a Chaos soul attached to a helmet?! Or have your judgments been interfered with by the whispers of the Warp?!"
The Librarian bowed deeply, his voice heavy: "This is my dereliction of duty, Chapter Master. That evil relic was extremely cunning; its energy signature was perfectly concealed by the chaotic energy background in Tech-Sergeant Aila Si's room... We..."
"I don't need explanations!" Calgar roughly interrupted him, his voice trembling slightly from extreme anger, "I need results! A safe, pure, and undefiled battleship! Not a sieve where the enemy can come and go as they please, and even children are attacked internally!"
His chest heaved violently, like bellows. The pressure of daily administrative duties, the hidden danger of internal invasion, and the infuriating dereliction of duty and negligence discovered at this moment, all converged, finally breaking his usual glacial calm.
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!" He finally roared with all his might, like a wounded lion, "All relevant responsible personnel, give me a detailed self-criticism and rectification plan! I want to see improvement measures specific to every single link! If there's a next time... if anything had truly happened to Eiras today..."
He didn't finish, but the coldness and decisiveness in his unspoken words sent shivers down the spine of everyone in the office.
That day, Chapter Master Calgar's wrath became an indelible memory in the hearts of all members on the Macragge's Honour. Only the center of the incident, the small instigator and victim who caused everything—Eiras, in a more secure chamber temporarily arranged by the Honor Guard, due to dual mental and physical exhaustion, under Laya's guardianship, holding the ugly Guilliman statue, fell into a deep sleep again. Her tiny brows, even in her sleep, were still slightly furrowed, as if the previous fear still lingered.
Calgar's chest, covered in power armour, heaved violently. His fists, capable of crushing steel, were clenched tight, knuckles cracking from the force. His icy gaze swept like a tangible presence over the four figures standing rigidly before him—Cassius, Vitrius, Luna, and the Librarian.
An uncontrollable impulse surged within him, almost driving him to use the most direct, most Ultramarines method—his fists—to severely discipline these negligent individuals, to make them thoroughly remember this painful lesson with their bodies.
But he ultimately suppressed this violent urge with astonishing willpower. He was the Lord of Ultramar, the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, and he had to remain rational, even though that rationality was currently scorched and riddled with holes by his fury.
He took a deep breath, the sound a low hum in the silent office, like the prelude to a storm. He forced his voice to remain steady, but every word seemed to be squeezed out through gritted teeth:
"Now," he demanded, his gaze finally settling on Luna, "where is that damned helmet?"
Luna stepped forward, her posture still composed, but her slightly lowered head showed the immense pressure she was under. She reported clearly and concisely: "Chapter Master, according to Eiras's description, after the helmet materialized as a World Eaters entity and attacked her, it once again transformed into a shadow and forcibly... entered her body."
At these words, Cassius and Vitrius's breathing beneath their helmets hitched. Chaos entities invading living beings—this was usually a sign of corruption beginning!
However, Luna immediately continued: "But, after we transferred Eiras to a secure compartment, the Librarian personally conducted a preliminary, most meticulous soul scan and vital sign detection on her. The results show... there are no traces of Chaos contamination within Eiras. Her soul is intact and pure. Aside from severe fright and physical damage to her neck, there is no abnormality. The World Eaters soul that invaded her body... seems to have been instantly annihilated and utterly obliterated by some unknown force, leaving no residue."
Hearing this result, Calgar's taut nerves relaxed for a moment. Regardless, Eiras was fine, which was a blessing in disguise. The one he had watched grow up little by little, from the trembling little one in the shadows of Commorragh to the mischievous but vibrant Tech-Sergeant she was now, had not been defiled by Chaos. This was more important than anything.
He even had an absurd thought for a moment: could it really be that the uniquely ugly Guilliman statue she had tinkered with had, in some unseen way, provided a kind of "blessing"? He immediately shook this impractical idea from his mind. The more likely reason was the special nature of Eiras's own Aeldari physique, or... some intervention they had not yet detected.
However, the crisis being averted did not mean dereliction of duty could be forgiven. Especially the inadequate supervision of Eiras!
Calgar's anger, which had just slightly subsided, immediately found a new outlet. He abruptly turned his gaze to Luna, the severity in his eyes almost turning into a tangible lashing.
"Tech-Sergeant Luna Aisa!" His voice suddenly rose, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart. "You! As Eiras's de facto guardian, as one of the people she trusts and relies on most! Have you never once cared about what she brought back?! Allowing an extremely dangerous evil artifact, imbued with a Chaos soul, to remain in her room, in the heart of our battleship, for nearly ten standard days! And you, completely oblivious to it?!"
He took a step forward, the oppressive presence of his massive body making the air thick:
"Has your mind, always preoccupied with machines and wrenches, become as dull as a servo-skull?! Have you forgotten the most basic vigilance and responsibility?!"
Calgar's rage was like tangible flames, scorching Luna. He naturally could not, and would never, unleash his fury or inflict punishment on Eiras, who was still immature in mind and essentially a child. But as her superior and guardian, Luna had to bear the full responsibility for this oversight.
"She's usually mischievous and undisciplined! Teasing Tech-Priests, making them complain endlessly! Bullying simple-minded combat servitors, affecting work efficiency! Secretly 'taking' various parts and tools, even swiping alloy plates from the warehouse! And her so-called 'inventions' that always fail, constantly blowing up in her face!" Calgar enumerated Eiras's 'transgressions,' his tone growing heavier with each one. "All of these! I can overlook! I even personally ordered that as long as she didn't severely impact the normal operation of the battleship, she could do as she pleased! Because she is still a child, a... child who needs protection and guidance!"
His voice carried a heartbreaking sense of disappointment, like iron that couldn't be forged into steel: "But what about you?! Tech-Sergeant Aesa! Did you completely abandon your duty to discipline and restrain her just because of that statement?! Allowing her to act on her whims, preventing her from realizing what is dangerous, what is right, and what is wrong?! Making her feel that this battleship, this world, can be explored at her leisure without any consequences?!"
He pointed at Luna, his finger trembling slightly with anger: "This time she was lucky! That Chaos soul was obliterated for some unknown reason! But what if next time, she picks up not a helmet, but a Maelstrom grenade about to explode?! Or a more insidious, more malicious cursed object?! Are you going to wait until something really happens to her, until we lose her, before you feel remorse?!"
"Luna Aisa! I don't want to see..." Calgar's words were like continuous artillery fire, relentlessly bombarding Luna's spirit, shattering the confidence she had built through her composure and technical skill. He meticulously pointed out every one of her supervisory failings, every complacent oversight, mercilessly dissecting all the root causes of this incident and exposing them before everyone.
This reprimand lasted a full thirteen standard hours.
The atmosphere in the office was suffocatingly oppressive. Cassius and Vitrius stood motionless like two iron statues, their breathing as light as possible, fearing the Chapter Master's wrath would extend to them. The Librarian kept his head down, repeatedly reviewing the previous psychic scan procedures, searching for any details that might have been overlooked.
Luna maintained a rigid posture throughout, silently enduring everything. Her faceplate obscured her expression, but her slightly trembling shoulder plates betrayed her inner turmoil. She could not refute him; every word the Chapter Master said was true. She had indeed relaxed her vigilance due to Eiras's innocence and the Chapter's leniency, immersing herself in her technical world, while also underestimating Eiras's capacity for mischief and neglecting the necessary guidance and restraint for the child. This self-reproach was more painful than any scolding.
Finally, Calgar seemed to have vented most of his pent-up anger. He suddenly waved his hand, as if shooing away flies, and roared furiously: "Get out of my sight, all of you! Disappear from my presence immediately!"
The four felt as if they had been granted a great pardon, but their hearts were incredibly heavy. They silently saluted, then turned and left the office, which still seemed to echo with the thunder of his wrath.
Just as they were about to step through the door, Calgar's cold voice came from behind them again, like a final judgment:
"Cassius! Vitrius!"
Their bodies stiffened, and they immediately turned to attention.
"You two, listen well!" Calgar's voice was unmistakable. "Within seventy-two standard hours, I forbid you to rest! Disarm! Personally lead teams and thoroughly inspect every compartment, every corridor, every storage room, and even every ventilation duct of the Macragge's Honour, from the bridge to the lowest reactor! Feel with your hands, see with your eyes, scan with your psychic powers! I want to ensure that not a single corner hides any more 'surprises' we don't know about!"
He paused, his tone growing even colder: "If there's any further mistake, even a tiny one... you needn't come to see me again. Go directly to Lord Guilliman! Report to him personally how you guarded his flagship, and how you disappointed him!"
This was undoubtedly the ultimate warning. Facing the Primarch and admitting failure was a humiliation more difficult for any Ultramarine to accept than death itself.
"Yes, Chapter Master!" Cassius and Vitrius responded in unison, their voices resolute.
"And you, Tech-Sergeant Aesa." Calgar finally looked at Luna. "Keep a close eye on Eiras! From today onwards, strictly restrain her behavior! Don't let her be interested in everything and pick up everything she finds! This time was a stroke of luck, next time she might not be so fortunate!"
His tone softened slightly, but remained stern: "Additionally, once she is emotionally stable, Librarian will personally oversee three more comprehensive, highest-standard soul examinations to ensure absolute safety. Afterward, change her quarters and arrange for her to be in a cabin near the First Company's main living area, to facilitate... your and Cassius's supervision!"
"Understood, Chapter Master." Luna bowed her head in assent.
Only then did everyone truly exit the office, the heavy alloy door slowly sliding shut behind them, cutting off the suffocating pressure.
It wasn't until they were outside the door that the four of them, almost imperceptibly, let out a collective sigh of relief. They exchanged glances, seeing solemnity and lingering fear in each other's eyes, and without further words, immediately split up to execute the Chapter Master's almost harsh orders.
Inside the office, silence returned.
Calgar seemed to have been drained of all strength, slumping heavily back onto his obsidian throne. He raised a massive hand and vigorously rubbed his forehead and brow, feeling as if countless needles were piercing it simultaneously. After the intense fury, there was a deep weariness and an indescribable sense of powerlessness.
He looked up, his gaze falling on the large oil painting hanging on the wall behind the throne, depicting the valiant figure of Primarch Roboute Guilliman. In the painting, Guilliman's eyes were wise and resolute, as if gazing into the distance, guiding the future of Ultramar and the Ultramarines Chapter.
"Primarch..." Calgar whispered with a sigh, "Managing a Chapter, a star system... sometimes, it is more exhausting than facing endless tides of Tyranids or Chaos armies."
How he wished the Primarch could return, could personally take charge of this vast imperial legacy, and tell him how to deal with these endless internal problems, bureaucratic trivialities, and... mischievous children.
But he knew this was mere wishful thinking. Until the Primarch's return, he, Marius Calgar, had to bear it all.
He lowered his hand, took a deep breath, and once again gripped the electronic pen, which was as formidable as a warhammer. His gaze returned to the mountain of data-slates from various worlds of Ultramar that still piled up on his desk.
The anger had to subside, responsibility had to be fulfilled. He suppressed all personal emotions, and like the most precise machine, plunged back into that unseen but equally crucial battlefield of numbers, reports, and requests.
However, his tightly furrowed brow showed that the turmoil within him was far from truly settled.
Luna walked with slightly unsteady steps, leaving the office that seemed to still echo with the Chapter Master's thunderous rage. Thirteen standard hours of severe reprimand were not just a verbal assault, but a heavy interrogation of her sense of responsibility and professional conviction. She felt her spirit had been repeatedly forged like iron, and though it hadn't shattered, it was riddled with unseen cracks and exhaustion.
She went directly to the temporary secure cabin arranged for Eiras by the Honor Guard. At the entrance, two Honour Guard Warriors, clad in master-crafted power armour and resembling steel statues, stood guard. Their cold gazes swept over Luna as she approached, and after confirming her identity, they gave a slight nod but did not clear the path.
Luna explained the Chapter Master's orders regarding Eiras's transfer and examination to the two, and only then was she allowed to enter the cabin.
The cabin's lighting was soft, and Eiras was still fast asleep. She seemed to have cried herself to exhaustion and been thoroughly frightened; she was now curled up on the temporary bunk, her head resting on Laya's lap, sleeping very deeply. Her short pink hair was disheveled on her forehead and cheeks, her small mouth slightly agape, and a glistening trail of drool uncontrollably ran down, dampening a small patch of Laya's civilian uniform fabric.
Aside from the clear, horrifying pinch mark on her pale neck, gradually turning from deep purple to bluish-black, silently recounting the recent brush with death, her sleeping appearance was no different from the usual carefree little one who would cause trouble and then fall asleep.
Laya also looked very tired, her eyes slightly red, clearly having forced herself to stay awake to care for Eiras. Seeing Luna enter, she looked up, giving a worried and questioning glance.
Luna nodded gently to her, signaling that the situation was under control, but said no more. She walked to the bunk, bent down, and with extremely gentle movements, as if afraid of waking a fragile dream, carefully lifted Eiras from Laya's lap. The little one seemed to sense the movement in her sleep, smacked her lips discontentedly, rubbed her small head against Luna's hard, cold breastplate, found a relatively comfortable position, and fell back into a deep sleep, even emitting faint snores.
Holding this warm and light little body in her arms, feeling her steady breathing and heartbeat, the sting of dereliction of duty in Luna's heart grew stronger. It was this little one, whom she regarded as her own daughter, who had almost... because of her own negligence. She dared not think further.
Holding Eiras, Luna left the temporary cabin, preparing to head to the Librarian's Archives for a detailed soul examination. Not long after she walked out, heavy and hurried footsteps sounded from the other end of the corridor.
It was Dorian and Gaius.
They had evidently heard rumors of Eiras's attack after finishing their patrol mission, and without even having time to remove their power armour, they rushed over immediately. Both their faces showed undisguised anxiety and concern.
"Luna! How is Eiras?" Dorian spoke first, his voice rough with urgency. Though Gaius said nothing, his tightly furrowed brow and sharp gaze conveyed his worry.
Luna stopped, looking at these two comrades who were equally close to Eiras, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She briefly recounted the detailed events, Chapter Master Calgar's thirteen-standard-hour reprimand, and her own dereliction of duty, exactly as they happened.
"...It was my neglect in her usual upbringing," Luna's voice carried an undeniable hoarseness and self-reproach, "I was too focused on my technology and work, neglecting to guide and restrain her... causing her to lack the most basic understanding of danger, which led her to bring back that kind of thing as ordinary spoils... I have failed all the brothers who care about her, I have failed Eiras, and even more, I have failed the trust of the Chapter Master and Lord Guilliman..."
She lowered her head, looking at the sleeping Eiras in her arms, the bruises on her neck like a red-hot dagger, stinging her eyes.
Gaius was silent for a moment, then reached out and gently patted Luna's solid, power armour-clad arm, comforting her in a deep voice: "Luna, this isn't entirely your fault. Who could have imagined she would bring back a helmet with a Chaos soul attached from that death world? Moreover, that thing was so cunning, it evaded our several rigorous inspections. This isn't your sole responsibility."
Dorian was about to speak, probably intending to say something like "As long as she's okay" or "Keep a closer eye on her from now on" in his usual boisterous manner, but his and Gaius's private communicators blared almost simultaneously.
Captain Cassius's cold, stern, and unquestionable voice came through, clearly still carrying lingering anger and the pressure from the Chapter Master's orders:
"Dorian, Gaius, immediately fully arm yourselves. In ten minutes, assemble in the First Company's staging area and patrol the upper deck with me! Repeat, assemble within ten minutes!"
Military orders were absolute.
The words on their lips could only be swallowed back. Dorian slammed his leg armour in frustration, making a "clang" sound. Gaius, however, looked deeply at Eiras in Luna's arms and said to Luna: "We'll go carry out the mission first. Eiras... I'll leave her to you."
"Mm." Luna nodded.
Without further time for conversation, Dorian and Gaius immediately turned and, with heavy strides, sprinted towards the Armory at top speed, the heavy footsteps of their power armour quickly disappearing down the corridor.
Watching their retreating figures, Luna stood alone, holding Eiras in the empty and cold corridor, a complex, inexpressible emotion welling up within her. There was gratitude for her comrades' concern, shame for her own dereliction of duty, and a heavy sense of responsibility.
She lowered her head, looking at Eiras's defenseless sleeping face, at the glaring scar on her neck. In Luna's usually steady and resolute eyes, a never-before-seen determination flashed.
Softly, in a voice almost only she could hear, she made a silent vow to the sleeping child in her arms, and to her own heart:
"I will never let anything like this happen again... I will never let you fall into such danger again... Never."
This time, she would use actions, not words, to fulfill this belated but even more resolute duty of guardianship. She held Eiras tighter, as if to embed this vow into her very bones, then took steady steps towards the Librarian's Archives. Her silhouette, stretched long by the corridor lights, was filled with weariness, yet also carried a renewed, undeniable resolve.