The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Slumped on his command throne, Huron watched the wreckage and dazzling lasers drift past the observation window. Especially when the close-up switched to the huge aquila on the Mantis Warriors' ship, he suddenly felt that this symbol he had long abandoned was so glaring.

Garon, seeing that Huron seemed to have calmed down, said:

"Blackheart, I'm afraid we really have to retreat, otherwise once Sotha pulls his forces from the space hulk—"

Before he could finish, a commotion erupted on the bridge.

"Look, the Death Mandala!"

Garon turned his head and saw that the massive, invincible-seeming super-hulk was slowly disintegrating. Large amounts of wreckage peeled away from the main body like barnacles being blasted off by a high-pressure water gun, drifting into the surrounding space.

"This—"

Huron, however, seemed to feel nothing about it. He took a deep breath and leaned his head back.

"It's over, the war is lost. The Red Corsairs are not a Chapter. After this defeat, everyone will stand up against me, and no one will follow me anymore. But if you think I'll run away like a stray dog as I did last time, then you're all wrong!"

With that, he waved his hand weakly.

"Garon, you go. Do what you want to do."

Garon hesitated for a moment, then said softly:

"Chapter Master, you—"

"Ah, Chapter Master, you haven't called me that in years. I'm sorry, I let you experience defeat last time, and this time I've failed you again."

Huron sighed and looked up slightly.

"Is it just because I'm unwilling to kneel to the Warp that I'm destined to fail in everything I do? Do you want to force me to submit with this desperate situation?"

Suddenly, he lightning-fast drew the bolt pistol hanging on the side of the throne. It was the first bolt pistol his old sergeant gave him after he became a Space Marine, and he had carried it with him throughout countless years.

Then, amidst Garon's surprised cry, Huron put the muzzle against his own jaw.

"I won't let Sotha humiliate me, and I won't let you humiliate me! Garon, burn my body after I die!"

"Chapter Master, don't—"

"Blackheart, it doesn't have to be this way."

Just as Garon reached out to stop Huron, a slow voice rang out along with the sound of the airlock opening. Garon immediately turned his head, then said in surprise:

"Judas? Why are you here?"

From the shadows, a warrior in azure power armor with a helmet and shoulders decorated with vipers walked out.

Then Huron's command throne slowly turned to face the rear, the master of the Maelstrom with a face full of anger, the gun in his hand pointed at Judas.

"You! You promised me! The Blackstone Fortress would be safe!"

Judas walked up to Huron, remained silent for a moment, and then knelt on one knee.

"I'm sorry, Blackheart. I was unable to fulfill my duty because, in addition to the Eldar and those traitors, there were unforeseen factors."

"Excuses! What factors!"

"A Primarch, Leman Russ."

"Le—"

Huron was stunned, and Garon was also stunned. Then his gun lowered.

"Really?"

"Yes, the Space Wolves' Glory Queen also appeared. We had no way to fight a Primarch, and fortunately, its target seemed to be the Eldar, so we were able to escape."

"This—"

Huron looked suspicious. Although he already believed it seven or eight percent, it was difficult to accept immediately that a Primarch who had disappeared for ten thousand years suddenly appeared.

After that, Judas briefly explained the whole situation. After listening to the whole process, Huron basically believed it.

"Where did these Eldar come from? And what did Leman Russ do at the Blackstone Fortress? Besides, wasn't the Blackstone Fortress taken by the Eldar?"

"We had already withdrawn at that time, and the specific situation is unknown, but from the news obtained from the frigate I left to monitor the Blackstone Fortress, the Space Wolves' Glory Queen left the Blackstone Fortress in the end, and the Eldar did not stop it so the result should be that it fell into the hands of the Eldar."

"What is he doing here—"

Huron rubbed his forehead with some distress. To be honest, although he usually said a lot of big words, he was still afraid when he really encountered a Primarch, otherwise he wouldn't have been so wary of the Word Bearers of Galmek.

If Leman Russ really wanted to deal with him, then he might really not be able to stay in the Maelstrom.

"The specific reason is currently unknown, but it is definitely not aimed at us, otherwise it would have taken action long ago."

Judas's words made Huron feel a little more at ease, and then he waved his hand.

"Get up. It's rare that you can come back to report at this time. Although I rescued you from the Word Bearers in the past, you don't owe me anything after so many years. Now you see the situation. If you want to leave, you can take a ship with you."

"Why is Blackheart so discouraged? When you escaped from Badab, you only had a hundred people and only two ships. The situation was even more desperate than it is now, but you still cheered up and built the Red Corsairs, second only to the Black Legion. Why are you so disheartened this time?"

Huron shook his head with a wry smile.

"The situation is different. There is a saying that people are afraid of being famous and pigs are afraid of being fat. It's lonely at the top. Over the years, although the Red Corsairs have grown, I have also made many enemies, and many people are waiting to use me as a stepping stone. Now that I'm in trouble, how can they not kick me when I'm down? Not to mention Abaddon is watching covetously. And even if there are no other factors, will Sotha stop after winning? I can't keep New Badab. Where can I make a comeback?"

"But the current situation is not a dead end."

Hearing this, Huron's eyes flashed.

"Brother Judas, do you have any good ideas?"

Judas nodded.

"I have a plan to help Blackheart escape."

Huron frowned after hearing this, then sighed softly.

"Escaping is of course simple. If I really want to run, Sotha definitely can't stop me now. But what can I do after escaping? Hide? Or go and join Abaddon? Alas—"

"Therefore, I have another plan that can help you escape danger."

"Hmm!?"

Huron's eyes widened, and he stood up abruptly.

"Really!?"

"Absolutely true, but it requires your cooperation and unconditional trust in me."

At this time, Garon opened his mouth, wanting to remind Huron not to completely trust an Alpha Legionnaire, but he swallowed the words back. There was really no other way now. If Judas's plan could really help them escape danger, he couldn't say anything.

In fact, Huron himself was hesitating, but after turning his head and seeing that the Death Mandala had basically collapsed, he made up his mind.

"Okay, Judas, speak boldly, I'll do everything you say."