The Emperor’s Angel of Death

"Kanto, you are an Astartes! Don't forget what our mission is! What our duty is! If the Empire suffers because of our momentary lapse, that is our responsibility! The responsibility of the entire Crimson Fists! Don't let the entire Chapter bear the blame because of you alone! And I can tell you, if the Eldar launch an attack, it will definitely attract the attention of the Ordo Xenos Inquisitors. Do you think those vultures won't notice the suddenly appearing grain? Won't notice that ship? If they trace it all the way back... Kanto, don't let the Crimson Fists become the Chapter Exemplar!!"

Kanto was silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Cortez, I ask you three questions."

"What?"

"What is Ryne's biggest threat right now?"

"The Greenskins."

"Have we eliminated this threat now?"

"No, we haven't."

"Can we rely on reinforcements to eliminate most of the Greenskins on the planet in a short period of time?"

Cortez hesitated for a moment, but ultimately shook his head.

"It's difficult, especially the Greenskin group in Desolation Valley. They hold on to the dangerous terrain and are not easy to deal with. Even with the support of the Titan Legions, it's difficult to exert their power in that kind of terrain."

"Then why are we in such a hurry to make trouble for ourselves?"

"This"

"Don't forget, Snagrod the Arsonist of Charadon is not here, and may return at any time. The longer we delay, the higher the risk. If Snagrod really leads the main force to Ryne again, Cortez, even if we can defend the planet, what will we have left? If the situation develops to the worst possible point, and the Empire cannot resist Snagrod, what do you think the Empire will decide?"

"You mean Exterminatus."

"At least Steelport will not accept Ryne's fall and becoming a springboard for the Greenskins to attack the forge world. It would rather choose to destroy Ryne."

Cortez looked at Kanto and finally nodded.

"I understand. Then, okay, do it your way, but I hope this is out of consideration for the overall situation, not your personal sense of honor."

Kanto did not answer, but walked past him.

"Everyone remember, everything seen here must be kept strictly confidential. Without my order, you are not allowed to reveal it to anyone!"

"Yes!"

The Crimson Fists, having suffered heavy losses in the bitter fighting, had only less than two hundred warriors left. After a long siege, they regained their confidence in the Chapter Master. Therefore, although Kanto's decision made some people feel puzzled, they would still obey unconditionally.

"First Company, stay here to defend this place. Notify the Adeptus Mechanicus to send people and equipment as soon as possible. Many relics of the Chapter may still be buried underground and in the ruins. In addition, there may still be Greenskins active nearby, so we need to establish a basic defense system as soon as possible."

Kanto made a series of deployments as quickly as possible. Around dusk, a large number of ornithopters arrived at the fortress ruins deep in the Hell's Blade Mountains, carrying various equipment. Then, the Adeptus Mechanicus activated the temporary generator sets and set up a large number of surveillance devices and automatic turrets, and then began to orderly advance the construction and excavation work.

At this time, Kanto had already left with his men. He had no time to rest and chose to go straight to the north of the continent.

There, the Empire's attack on the last Greenskin group on the main continent had already begun. The leader was High Commissar Mordred von Hocht of the Astra Militarum. He had deployed more than three million Astra Militarum soldiers here, and was about to launch an attack on Desolation Valley. The Greenskins, after experiencing a series of failures, had not extinguished their fighting spirit and still had a strong desire to fight, waiting for their true boss to return.

This time, the offense and defense will be reversed, and the Greenskins will have to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

But what no one knew was that on the other continent across the sea, the continent of Kaliona, there was also a secret war.

When Yvan was in the Kingdom of Lyrasus, he had always loved the sea. His childhood was spent on the diamond-like beaches of his hometown. The havens of the Sea Dragon Clan nestled securely on the brilliant coastline. The ocean of the rising sun and the setting sun wove his oldest memories, and included the creaking sound of bare feet stepping on the soft sand, the gentle lapping of the waves, the scent of salt and sand, and the booming thunder when a rare storm was about to sweep the coast.

But this beach belonging to humans was another sight: rocky cliffs, sea cliffs were extremely sharp, as if carefully carved on a divine weapon, the wind howled around the reefs, and the sound of the raging waves hitting the shore was like the hammering of thousands of blacksmiths.

Even so, Yvan still found it to be a very beautiful coast.

And it was only four hundred kilometers away from Black Reef City.

After weeks of carpet searches, relying on tracking and deduction of Greenskin activity near Black Reef City, the Royal Court Expedition finally discovered evidence of Greenskin gatherings on this dangerous beach by the sea.

There may have once been a hidden human naval base here. Its history was quite old, so old that the residents here, including the Crimson Fists who came later, did not know of its existence. The ancient local natives built ships that could submerge in the water in that hidden base, possibly to fight enemies on another continent, but after the arrival of the Empire, the hostility ended, the base was forgotten, and there was no further mention of it.

However, the Greenskins discovered it, and it must be said that this was a bit ironic.

So now Yvan came to personally confirm what the hell the Greenskins were doing in this place!

"Are you sure this is the place?"

Along the low hills, Yvan and his party quickly swept across the jagged coastline like phantoms in the night, and then stopped near a small earthen hill.

"Yes, Prince, this should be the place. The Greenskins have built a bunker, which is very well hidden. It should be the entrance directly to the base below."

Yvan used the cover of the bushes to look at the small earthen hill. It was about fifty meters high and seemed very ordinary. It was just a pile of various rocks and soil, and there were even trees, but a closer look would reveal the clues. Its outline was too regular, and you could see four sloping sides. In addition, dim light shone through some rock crevices.

After retracting his gaze, Yvan turned and scanned the warriors behind him. There were a total of twenty people, all of whom were Dragon Knights under his command, and also his clansmen. They wore spirit bone armor decorated with jade and animal bones, and were equipped with weapons of personal preference such as pistols, long swords, spears, and double knives. Their helmets were all carved into dragon shapes.

No matter when and where, having clansmen to assist him always made him feel most at ease and reassured. All the Barbarian People firmly believed in the bonds and power of blood.

"Wait a moment."

Letting everyone stand by, Yvan grasped the spear and pierced the tip of the spear into the soil, then sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and probed a wisp of extremely weak perception into the unreachable darkness.