The Emperor’s Angel of Death

The sudden arrival of the Mantis Warriors surprised Solzhenitsyn, but then he remembered that they had indeed said they would visit him after finishing things on Terra, but it had been so long since he had heard from them that he had forgotten about it.

So Solzhenitsyn received this chapter, which had ended its crusade of atonement early, at the Star Knights' Chapter Monastery Fortress. The Mantis Warriors had obviously been replenished, with their numbers increasing to over five hundred, and their warships increasing from the original three to seven, with a few more frigates. It was unknown whether they had received them from the High Lords of Terra or somewhere else.

In addition, the leader of the Mantis Warriors was not their original Chapter Master, but the Second Company Captain Metellus, who had returned from the Great Vortex Expedition. He had become the new Chapter Master of the Mantis Warriors, which made Solzhenitsyn a little puzzled.

These doubts were not resolved until after the welcome banquet, when Solzhenitsyn spoke privately with Metellus.

"Captain Metellus, oh no, I should call you Chapter Master Metellus now. Your arrival was too sudden, and the reception was not adequate. Please forgive me."

On an open-air platform of the Chapter Monastery's high tower, Solzhenitsyn and Metellus stood behind the guardrail, from where they could see the distant city's bustling lights.

Metellus wore a brand new suit of exquisitely crafted power armor, and his temperament was even more profound.

"It is we who have visited suddenly. I hope we have not brought you any trouble."

"It has been nearly ten years since we last parted. After leaving Terra, you—"

Metellus said nothing, but took out a letter and handed it to Solzhenitsyn.

Solzhenitsyn took it and saw a line written on the envelope.

To the Chapter Master of the Star Knights, Solzhenitsyn·Alexei.

Opening the seal, inside was a light, folded piece of letter paper. Gently shaking it open, Solzhenitsyn carefully examined the words on it.

Respected Chapter Master Solzhenitsyn·Alexei, thank you very much for severely damaging the traitor Huron, helping the Mantis Warriors wash away their sins, and pacifying the chaos caused by our mistakes. After I was sentenced to life imprisonment, I have been thinking about a question, that is, how did everything get to this point? I once swore to serve the Throne and the Empire with my life. From the moment I joined the service, I engraved loyalty and obedience in my soul. I am the guardian of Modrekhna and the Ussika region, the watcher of the Great Vortex. I should have returned to the Throne with a clear conscience after a glorious death, but in the end, I became a traitor. I have been thinking, how did I get to this point?

Even the Inquisition believes that my mistake did not stem from hatred and selfishness, but was misled, deceived, and confused by people with ulterior motives, like an Imperial civilian who believes that Chaos can promise wealth, power, and honor. Perhaps this shows that I am an unqualified Astartes, weak-willed and dull-witted, allowing my Chapter brothers to do evil deeds without realizing it, but what I am concerned about is far more than this.

Metellus told me a lot about you, your words and deeds, your style of doing things, and your leadership charisma. He admires you very much, especially your wisdom and skills in fighting against the Imperial bureaucracy, which makes him believe that you are the best of us in this era. However, even so, I am still uneasy. I do not intend to offend, but I have finally realized how everything got to this point—it all comes from credulity, a kind of blind credulity that arises from one's own understanding. I once firmly believed that Huron was the best of us.

When we were alone, he often expressed his anger and concern about the current situation of the Empire. When the fires of Badab first ignited, Huron told me that the burden of saving the Astartes Chapters fell on our shoulders, and we were the last hope of the Emperor. In the end, I chose to trust him unconditionally, and that was the beginning of everything.

Originally, I thought this kind of credulity would not appear in Metellus, because he is the wisest of us. He was also the most opposed to joining Huron's war alliance at the beginning, but now I see my shadow in him. Could it be that this kind of credulity is really a kind of holistic defect in the Mantis Warriors' gene-seed? I am not accusing you of being the same as Huron, but I cannot help but be afraid, which means that I no longer trust anyone. This is also a mistake, a suspicion rooted in the soul. It has shrouded me for too long, and I cannot get rid of it. I am no longer able to assume the position of Chapter Master. I have transferred the position of Chapter Master to Metellus, but I do not want him to repeat my mistakes. After all, if the same mistake happens again, will there be a place for the Mantis Warriors in the Empire?

I only hope that all these tragedies will not be repeated. Respected Chapter Master Solzhenitsyn·Alexei, I am very grateful for everything you have done for the Empire, for humanity, for the Mantis Warriors, and for me. If you had not extended a helping hand, I would have ended up as a rotting corpse in the dark dungeon. I am afraid it will be difficult for me to repay you in this life, and Metellus and the Mantis Warriors will become your firm allies. I also hope that you will always remember that His light is not vague, on the contrary, it is bright, firm, and brooks no suspicion or doubt.

I am a sinner, I do not need forgiveness, nor do I seek mercy.

I wish you eternal glory and fearlessness of evil.

—Repentant Mantis, Hethsen·Neotera

After reading this handwritten letter from the former Chapter Master of the Mantis Warriors, Solzhenitsyn was filled with thoughts. Astartes are mostly unusually firm and even stubborn in nature. It is difficult to imagine what Hethsen·Neotera had experienced in the dark prison of the Inquisition that could make an Astartes so self-doubtful and self-examining.

And the words above are like a raging fire, searing Solzhenitsyn's heart. If the other party stood in front of him and asked such a question, how could he answer it?

He did not know.

Doing what you think is right does not necessarily lead to the right result. This fact is often chilling. Solzhenitsyn himself is not sure whether everything he is doing now will really have a good end in the future.

After a moment of silence, Solzhenitsyn put away the letter. Metellus did not know what was written in the letter, but seeing Solzhenitsyn's expression, he thought it was something bad, so he explained.

"Hethsen has been locked up for too long, and the Inquisition's various humiliating tortures on him may have made him become—"

Solzhenitsyn waved his hand.

"It's okay, where did he go after he was released from prison?"

"He insisted on serving in the Deathwatch, and we can only respect his wishes."

"Deathwatch, that's good too."

Solzhenitsyn nodded slightly.

"No one there will talk about what he used to do, and I hope he can find his own peace in the battle with the aliens. The Emperor is tolerant and will forgive his mistakes. Although life is always a step in the wrong direction, it is an abyss, but if there is a chance to reform, I think it is more meaningful than simple punishment."