The volley of lasguns emitted a blinding light. Zeke felt as though he were standing in a desert wasteland, surrounded by light on all sides. Cadian soldiers formed a wall of guns, their energy trails sweeping across the battlefield toward the Chaos host. This overwhelming firepower converged on the unstoppable Abaddon.
However, ordinary firepower could do nothing against him. An aura of daemonic essence enveloped the Warmaster, isolating him from the external bombardment. Leading his elite Bringers of Despair, Abaddon charged through the rain of shells, heading straight for Creed. Since the Great Crusade, Abaddon had been famous for his decapitation strikes alongside his Justaerin Terminators; now, he sought to repeat that glory by killing the enemy leader.
But he failed. Ring-shaped buildings rose from the ground, shielding Creed from view. Abaddon lost sight of his target. These were Cadian-style bunkers—one of the first structures Zeke had recorded in his blueprints. Unlike the original versions, many parts were replaced with reinforced obsidian to better fulfill their role. With the obsidian's reinforcement, these bunkers were immune to most explosions and could hold out for a significant amount of time against the surging Chaos forces.
If they broke, Zeke would simply rebuild them. Given enough time, Zeke could even replicate the Tyrok Bastion 1:1 inside the Blackstone Fortress. While Zeke only needed to click his blueprints and spend some building materials, the Chaos forces had to risk real soldiers to charge these positions without cover. Even if a bunker was reduced to a single pillar, it would not collapse, allowing Cadian warriors to move safely through them.
Zeke selected a bunker toward the rear and built a pyramid of iron blocks inside. The second Nether Star in his backpack finally had a use. He chose the two buffs the battlefield needed most: Swiftness II and Regeneration. The bunker's walls hid the beacon's light, keeping it concealed while allies nearby felt their bodies grow light and their movements become faster. Zeke further protected the beacon with six layers of obsidian so that even if the enemy discovered it, destroying it would be a major task.
Beyond standard and beacon bunkers, Zeke also mixed in "Trap Room" bunkers. Abaddon, relying on his powerful physique, crashed through a bunker wall only to find it filled with TNT and various bombs. Without Creed inside, it was a trap. The resulting explosion was deafening, and the obsidian walls confined the blast, increasing its lethality. Abaddon emerged with his topknot turned into an "explosive" mess. Another bunker hid a pit of lava beneath pressure plates; any reckless Chaos follower who stepped on them would be burned to ash.
While Abaddon dismissed these as "useless, flashy traps," Zeke ignored the criticism since the Warmaster still hadn't found a trace of Creed. Eventually, Abaddon lost count of how many bunkers he had stormed, finally tearing a dummy inside one to pieces in frustration.
Above Abaddon, a blue figure watched. This was Cerantes, an Ultramarine sub-commander and one of Trazyn's collection pieces. Though Cerantes didn't know how he had appeared on the battlefield, his doubts vanished when he saw the Warmaster.
"Down with the Horus rebels! Remember Calth!".
The blue figure raised a volkite pistol engraved with the symbol of the Five Hundred Worlds and descended from above to attack Abaddon. Abaddon reacted quickly, parrying with his daemon blade. In that moment, Cerantes recognized the man—not Horus, but an old acquaintance.
"Abaddon," Cerantes glared at the traitor, sneering.
Abaddon extended the Talon of Horus, assuming a provocative stance.
"When I drag you before the Emperor to confess and be judged, you'll regret not dying by my sword." Cerantes clashed blades with Abaddon.
But don't forget, Abaddon was accompanied by the elite of the Black Legion. They surrounded Cerantes.
Trazyn, realizing he had to "spend money to make money," put away an empty cube and threw another. This time, it was a golden-armored giant—a living member of the Adeptus Custodes. In 0.001 seconds, the Custodian assessed the situation and swung a blue ether-blade at the nearest Bringer of Despair.
The impact of the clash shattered the bunker, spilling the fight outside. Abaddon finally realized his Chaos army was being forced into a retreat. Soaring in the sky, Saint Celestine spotted him. "He's there!". Following her lead, the Legion of the Damned charged through flames toward the Warmaster. Bloodhowl and his Space Wolves, along with Marshal Amalrich leading the Black Templars, joined the hunt.
Abaddon now saw enemies everywhere he looked. Ultramarines, Legion of the Damned, Space Wolves, Black Templars, Kasrkin, and Battle Sisters.
Behind Abaddon, Celestine advanced relentlessly, sword in hand. Her sword was wreathed in writhing flames from hilt to tip. She drew back her arm, gathering strength, and thrust upward.
"Hold him down, hold Abaddon," Bloodhowl Wolf Lord bellowed, veins bulging, eyes bloodshot. All mobile forces around Abaddon used every method possible to trap his attempts to escape. Zeke even tossed a few potions of slowness.
Celestine's blade sank deep into Abaddon's lower back, up to the hilt. It passed under the power cylinders connecting the Talon of Horus, severing its power cables, then upward along the bottom of the breastplate, finally jamming.
The Warmaster's agonized howls echoed across the entire battlefield.
"AAAAAHH"
Zeke saw Abaddon's health bar plummeting. Creed appeared and fired his sidearm at Abaddon, while Zeke pressed his Manyullyn Chainsword against Abaddon's neck, trying to saw off his head. Suddenly, a familiar light flashed—the same teleportation glow that had brought Abaddon there in the first place. Abaddon utilized a teleportation beacon and escaped, leaving his Chaos troops behind.
Your Chaos troops are still here, and you fled alone? Zeke thought.
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