Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor

Chapter 265 - 266: Magnus: Who Is It, Who Exactly Is It?!

Lunar Battlefield.

Outside the atmosphere, the Pilgrimage Expedition Fleet's warships held their defensive line, facing off against the incoming Thousand Sons fleet.

On the surface, the Tizca Pyramid of the fallen Primarch of the Thousand Sons, the Crimson King Magnus, shimmered with sorcerous light, continuously tearing at the Webway Barrier.

He was attempting to rip open a Webway Rift.

The ground forces led by Guilliman were battling against the Chaos Daemons summoned by the Crimson King in front of the pyramid.

They had to destroy the pyramid before it could tear open the Webway Barrier!

However, the situation took a drastic turn. Guilliman was struck down by a sorcerous spell cast by the Crimson King, pinned under hundreds of tons of scrap metal, and thrown into a crater.

His fate was unknown.

"In the name of the Emperor, banish this darkness..."

Saint Celestine, the silver-haired angel, hovered mid-air. With her prayers, her white wings and armor radiated golden light.

When that divine energy struck—

She suddenly swung her Ardent Blade, unleashing a golden flame whip that swept through all the daemons blocking her path, turning them to ash.

Then, the silver-haired angel flapped her wings and charged towards the one-eyed crimson demon ahead.

"Filthy corruption, die, all of you!"

Simultaneously, Inquisitor Greyfax also launched her attack.

She fired her weapon while cutting down daemons with her power sword, charging toward the Crimson King.

It was a desperate assault!

"Pitiful fools of faith, your struggle is all in vain."

Magnus shook his head lightly and gently waved his Wavering Blade Staff. Several azure fireballs shot forth.

The azure fireballs rapidly expanded, blasting the two of them away.

The remaining flames burned at their souls, the intense pain temporarily robbing them of their ability to fight.

But the Crimson King was far from satisfied.

He pointed his Wavering Blade Staff at the ground.

Boom—

A brilliant wave of flame burst through the rocky ground, burning the unfortunate Imperial soldiers caught in its range.

Hundreds, even thousands, of Imperial soldiers were incinerated.

The flames were so terrifying that even the most determined Space Marines couldn't help but let out cries of despair.

But this agony did not crush those loyal and brave warriors.

"Fear no evil, fear not death, my soul shall return to the Throne!" A warrior of the White Scars uttered his prayer before death.

"For the Emperor!"

"Courage and Honor!"

A squad of Ultramarines veterans continued to fight through the flames, one after another falling not far from the Crimson King.

Their bodies turned to charred remains.

Magnus looked at all of this with cold indifference, mocking them:

"Watch closely, the False Emperor cannot protect you, and your deaths are utterly meaningless."

Bang!

A bolt round struck the Crimson King's single eye.

"Chaos watchdog, coward!"

The Ultramarine veteran unleashed one last attack before falling, his cold smile still on his face as his body turned to a scorched corpse.

Magnus touched his slightly stinging eye, remained silent for a moment, and then unleashed an even fiercer assault.

The followers of the False Emperor all deserve death—this is their destiny!

In an instant, the battlefield was filled with an even more terrifying storm of blood and death. Countless loyal warriors were reduced to ashes.

Behind the Crimson King, the chanting of the high-ranking sorcerers of the Thousand Sons within the Tizca Pyramid grew louder.

The ritual had entered its final stage.

The glow of the pyramid deepened—an omen that the ritual was about to be completed.

The Webway Barrier was on the verge of collapsing.

...

On the edge of the battlefield.

The Dreamweaver stealthily approached, its entire hull almost blending with the starry void.

Inside the bridge.

"Hiss~ That's terrifying..."

Through the monitoring equipment he had deployed, Eden saw the horrific scenes on the lunar surface.

He couldn't help but take a sharp breath.

Magnus was too powerful.

That horrifying ability to foresee and those bizarre methods made him nearly impossible to guard against.

The Crimson King was a fallen Primarch, the most powerful psyker in the physical universe aside from the Emperor, known as the Sorcerer King.

Arguably one of the most powerful beings in the universe and one of the most troublesome types to deal with.

Even Guilliman fell into the traps laid by Magnus and was sent flying.

Even though Eden was located at the edge of the space battlefield, he didn't dare to look directly at the surveillance footage. Instead, he viewed it after several layers of transcription and processing.

To avoid attracting Magnus's attention.

Looking at the Tizca Pyramid on the screen, Eden felt troubled: "Goodness, is that guy trying to make another Webway Rift?"

Ten thousand years ago, Magnus had already created a Webway Rift, known as 'Magnus's Folly.'

Now, he was trying to create 'Magnus's Folly 2.0.'

A repeat performance, huh?

If a new Webway Rift emerged, Holy Terra would be doomed, and the Imperial administrative structure would likely have to relocate.

The Imperial forces would most likely have to establish defensive lines around the Sol System, drawing forces from everywhere to be thrown into the battle.

All to prevent Chaos Daemons from spreading from the Rift to other places.

If Magnus succeeded this time, it would be like striking the Empire's major artery. With continued blood loss, it could very well be the end of the already weakened Empire.

He had to be stopped!

"Lord Savior, the Holy Nova Cannon has been fully calibrated and can be fired at any time!"

The Tech-Priest in charge of the warship's main cannon reported.

Eden rubbed his hands, filled with anticipation: "This thing should be able to destroy that pyramid, right?"

The Dreamweaver's Nova Cannon was a relic from humanity's Golden Age, capable of blasting a hole through Urth's moon.

To be honest, even though he had owned the Dreamweaver for so many years, Eden had never experienced the full power of the Nova Cannon in a real battle.

Today, he would test it out!

But Eden didn't act recklessly; he didn't even allow the Nova Cannon to aim at the pyramid.

He feared that if he aimed at it, Magnus would immediately detect him.

Even though the Dreamweaver was over a hundred thousand kilometers away, Eden didn't feel the slightest bit safe.

After all, one particular Nurgle-corrupted Primarch had previously single-handedly corrupted and destroyed an entire fleet.

Compared to him, Magnus was in no way inferior.

Not long ago, this Crimson King had used a sorcerous ritual to drag the entire Pilgrimage Expedition Fleet into a massive Warp Vortex.

Even if the Dreamweaver was resilient enough to withstand his sorcerous attacks, Eden couldn't forget one simple truth:

The mainstream tactic in this world was boarding assaults and decapitation strikes. If Magnus somehow infiltrated the Dreamweaver,

No one aboard the ship would survive.

This clone body of his would probably be crushed by Magnus in an instant.

If his original body were here, he might be able to withstand Magnus for a while, perhaps even exchange a few blows.

But not for long.

So, Eden was waiting for an opportunity.

Someone needed to keep Magnus occupied, leaving him with no chance to react.

Only then would Eden dare to operate the Nova Cannon to attack the pyramid.

He adjusted the surveillance feed to focus on a crater on the lunar surface. It clearly showed a massive hole on the side of the crater.

The sorcery-bound Guilliman was buried under the scrap metal, his condition unknown.

Yet Eden wasn't the least bit worried.

Guilliman would not fall so easily. After all, this Primarch had endured countless severe blows and emerged unscathed.

Falling down was merely the beginning of Old Guilliman's counterattack!

But time was pressing, and Eden desperately hoped the Primarch would break free from his restraints sooner.

Watching the surveillance feed, Eden felt anxious: "Get up, my brother!"

As soon as Eden spoke, the screen changed—Guilliman... stood up!

...

Lunar Surface, Crater.

Only darkness filled Guilliman's vision.

Ear-piercing alarms echoed within his helmet, blood-red warning runes filling the display.

The Primarch's senses were dulling, even the searing pain from torn organs and shattered bones was fading away.

So be it...

He wanted to fall into a deep slumber and never wake again.

But he couldn't.

His father's Imperium awaited salvation; humanity was suffering through the darkest era of extreme hardship!

He couldn't leave.

He, the Thirteenth Son of the Emperor, had once hesitated and made terrible mistakes.

But this time, no fallen brother would stop him again.

Humanity shall rise again under my leadership!

Blood surged, and power boiled—

Boom!!!

Guilliman smashed apart the scrap metal that buried him, and with a thunderous roar, he flung away the remaining debris on his body.

The Primarch leaped into the air, aided by his armor's power systems, covering several kilometers in one bound.

He landed with a massive crash right before Magnus.

As the dust cleared, Guilliman stood there, bathed in the cold lunar light, his body battered and torn, but his fighting spirit undiminished!

On the distant battlefield's edge, Eden watched the surveillance footage with excitement.

"Guilliman, battle-damaged version—this is the complete form. This is solid!"

He immediately walked to the firing platform, activating the Nova Cannon, and began gathering energy.

By now, the Tizca Pyramid was entirely engulfed in crimson light.

"You cannot break through the line to reach me, Roboute. Your defeat is certain..."

Magnus looked at the not-so-distant Guilliman with a mocking smile.

Once again, he raised his Wavering Blade Staff, summoning even more daemons.

At the same time, the warriors of the Thousand Sons poured out from within the pyramid, their numbers swelling with each passing second.

Sorcerers riding on discs formed layers of barriers in front of Magnus.

Scarab Occult Terminators and Chaos Space Marines charged forward.

An overwhelming horde, dozens of times their number, was surging forward, threatening to drown the expedition forces!

The expedition forces' warriors watched this scene in stunned despair, feeling utterly powerless.

"This is trouble..." Inside the Dreamweaver, Eden frowned as he watched the surveillance footage.

If Magnus couldn't be restrained, there would be no chance to attack the pyramid.

But then, the signals detected by his sensors made his eyes widen.

On the battlefield.

Guilliman gazed at the overwhelming force surging towards him and his warriors, led by Magnus. He could feel the despair gripping his soldiers.

However, hope remained.

He raised the Emperor's Sword, its scorching flames roaring to life, and declared firmly,

"You shameless slave of Chaos, you cannot stop us!"

As his words echoed, light flooded the sky.

Just before hope was completely extinguished, the Emperor's salvation descended upon the battlefield.

Golden fighter jets emerged from the void, diving down and sweeping across the surface with piercing roars.

Wherever they flew, devastating barrages of fire tore through the ranks of Chaos Space Marines and daemons, reducing their filthy flesh to scattered fragments.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Thunderous roars filled the void of space, originating from the massive starships of adamantium and plasteel.

The Terran Defense Fleet had breached near-lunar orbit!

The overwhelming fleet blotted out the sky, overshadowing the Thousand Sons' Chaos Fleet.

"Reinforcements are here! Counterattack! Counterattack!"

Shaheim roared in excitement, piloting the Govindi, charging toward enemy ships.

The Imperial Fleet began pushing past the defensive line, unleashing volleys of fire like torrential rain upon the Thousand Sons' Chaos forces, roaring with wrath.

The Thousand Sons' fleet fell one by one, exploding into flowers of fire in the void of space.

On the lunar surface, the energy of the teleportation arrays converged, sketching swirling shapes in the dust—golden-armored giants stepped forth, bearing their spears.

They were the Adeptus Custodes!

Upon reaching the battlefield, the Adeptus Custodes immediately launched their assault, a torrent of bolt shells crashing into enemy lines.

The sorcerers frantically directed their puppets to defend, but it was futile.

Swift as the wind, fierce as fire!

The golden-armored giants tore into the enemy ranks, their massive blades mowing down sorcerers like wheat.

The barriers before Magnus were beginning to fall!

With the arrival of reinforcements, the expedition forces regained their fighting spirit. With renewed fury, they launched a counterattack against the enemy.

Grey Knights and Dreadnoughts charged forward heroically, crushing the daemons before them.

The silver-haired angel soared through the air, the golden flames of her Ardent Blade carving a brilliant path through the Chaos lines.

Below her, Inquisitor Greyfax fought with relentless fury, bolter fire erupting toward the enemy hordes.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Another wave of Imperial reinforcements arrived.

Bright yellow drop pods crashed into the ground, and squads of Imperial Fists emerged, unleashing a torrent of gunfire against the enemy.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several red-and-black Valkyrie gunships from the Astra Militarum's elite units streaked deep into the battlefield, the area where Guilliman and Magnus were locked in combat.

The Valkyries swooped low, and squads of Silent Sisters leaped down, working together to dispel all the barriers surrounding the Crimson King.

"Blanks!"

Magnus roared with fury, his tainted tendrils and azure flames surging forth.

However, the Crimson King's sorcery dissipated before it could even reach the Silent Sisters.

These Pariahs created a null zone around them, rendering all psychic powers ineffective within their vicinity.

"Your dark magic is useless. Face me head-on!"

Guilliman had been waiting for this moment. He launched his charge at Magnus.

The Crimson King's face twisted with rage as he drew his Wavering Blade Staff. If his sorcery couldn't crush his Primarch brother,

Then he would personally take his brother's head.

...

Final Battle!

The two Primarchs, their presence overwhelming, clashed with force.

The sharp, master-crafted blades collided with explosive sparks, and the shockwaves of their duel shattered the surface rock.

Clang!

Their weapons clashed again, locked in a deadlock.

Magnus laughed maniacally, "The ritual is nearly complete. Holy Terra is finished. Do you see this, False Emperor? Your Empire is about to collapse!

And you, Roboute, will witness everything you hold dear turning to ashes. This is your destiny!"

Buzz~

The crimson glow of the Tizca Pyramid reached its peak, and the Webway Barrier was torn to the brink of destruction.

In the Warp, the gathered daemon hordes grew restless.

They couldn't wait to invade the material universe and devour all fresh flesh.

The vast, chaotic aura even spilled over onto the battlefield.

"No!"

Guilliman looked at the scene before him, and an indescribable fear suddenly rose within him.

In his moment of distraction, he was heavily kicked in the chest, sending him crashing into a ravine.

Magnus's excitement reached its peak.

He had meticulously planned this grand ceremony to bury the Imperium along with his Primarch brother.

The plan was complete!

Hmm?

Suddenly, Magnus sensed something and cast his gaze toward the distant void of space.

But it was already too late.

Whoosh—

A beam of light shot from the far reaches of space, piercing through the lunar atmosphere in an instant. The blinding light nearly obscured everyone's vision.

Boom!

An immensely powerful plasma warhead crashed into the sorcerous barrier surrounding the Tizca Pyramid, the energies clashing and resisting each other.

Boom—

Even though the sorcerous barrier absorbed most of the energy, the plasma warhead still exploded.

An eruption of extreme heat swept across the surroundings, consuming the Thousand Sons troops around the pyramid.

The sky, scorched by the blazing heat, turned crimson, while the atmosphere itself flickered with brilliant auroras due to the plasma's friction.

When the searing flames finally faded, the Thousand Sons suffered massive casualties, their melted armor covering the ground, forming a layer of metallic surface.

The sorcerous barrier around the pyramid was burned away, fully exposing the structure, and the tearing at the Webway Barrier was temporarily halted by the violent shock.

...

On the battlefield.

Everyone stared blankly at the scene, deeply shaken by that mysterious and terrifying weapon.

"Who is it? Who the hell is it?!"

Magnus roared in fury.

He swung his Wavering Blade Staff, locking onto the source of the attack.

Then, pouring all his strength into the Tizca Pyramid, he launched a counterattack. Raging sorcerous energy gathered, and a terrifying beam shot toward deep space.

Simultaneously, he used the traces left on the battlefield to scry the identity of his enemy through sorcery.

"Whoever it is will face the most terrifying nightmare."

Magnus clenched his teeth.

Suddenly, he recalled the tarot cards he once consulted in his search for destiny.

According to the reading, he would soon be attacked by the Daemon-Eater.

Could it be that Daemon-Eater?!

Having obtained more accurate information, Magnus hastened the process of his sorcerous targeting.

This enemy would not escape!

...

Dreamweaver, Bridge.

"Yes! So satisfying..."

At that moment, Eden felt like he had just gulped down an ice-cold Coke in the scorching desert—pure, unadulterated pleasure.

He now understood why Kaul enjoyed firing the Nova Cannon so much.

And firing a sneaky shot like this was even more thrilling!

"Hurry, prepare for a second shot!" He rubbed his hands together with excitement. If he could fire one more time, that pyramid would be done for!

"What the hell? So fast?"

Just as he reached out to the firing console, he saw a sorcerous beam streaking toward him from the distance.

Boom—

The sorcerous beam struck the Dreamweaver's Void Shields, erupting in a crimson blast of energy that violently shook the entire ship.

Electrical arcs sparked along the circuits.

Fortunately, the tremors quickly stabilized.

But that single attack had already destroyed four layers of the Dreamweaver's Void Shields, and even the fifth layer was barely holding on.

The Crimson King's pyramid was undoubtedly a top-tier weapon.

The Dreamweaver might not survive another attack!

"Hurry, activate Warp Transit. Fire the Nova Cannon, and immediately jump away!"

At the main cannon's muzzle, the plasma glow of the Nova Cannon began to flicker.

"Fire!"

As the plasma energy reached its peak, Eden yanked down the lever.

The plasma warhead shot toward the moon, vanishing from sight in an instant...

(End of Chapter)

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