Warhammer [413-415] (Patreon)

Chapter 413: The Crazed Dark Angels

"This is the Emperor's order. You have no need to question it! And I can tell you one more thing:

The Eldar worked with humanity to help resurrect Lord Roboute Guilliman, as well as the Master of Salamanders," said Ultraman.

The return of Lord Vulkan, the Salamanders' master, was a good thing for the Imperium, but cooperating with Xenos was something he found hard to accept.

Supreme Grand Master Azrael of the Dark Angels even suspected that something had gone wrong with the Imperium, questioning whether the Emperor had truly awakened.

Could these people really be passing down orders from the Emperor himself?

And when they first arrived, what exactly did that Custodes mean by his question?

No one should know about the Fallen Angels—within the entire fortress, only the Inner Circle brothers knew of their existence.

Other successor chapters sometimes helped capture the Fallen, but their existence was kept strictly secret. Only Chapter Masters and the Librarius knew some of the truth.

The Dark Angels' secrecy about the Fallen was so absolute it bordered on obsession; even those tasked with hunting them only knew of their existence.

Privately, all discussion of the Fallen is strictly forbidden. Everyone knows different information.

This is how the Dark Angels preserve their secrets. Only the Chapter Master knows the full truth, and they meet within the Rock.

The chief Librarian Ezekiel also knows some, but the true guardian is the Chapter Master.

After the previous Chapter Master died, he too entered the Rock, and in its most hidden chamber, met that eternal sinner—

Luther!

The criminal who nearly killed their Primarch, Lion El'Jonson, and sent him into perpetual slumber. Luther had been captured by the Dark Angels ten thousand years ago!

Only each generation's Chapter Master knows of Luther's existence, not even the chief Librarian. Only upon succession does a new Chapter Master learn the truth, then drag Luther out for a beating before locking him back into stasis.

"As for the matter of Horus, I will report directly to the Emperor. You need not concern yourselves further. Now, you Dark Angels will follow the Emperor's orders. First: Accept the Primaris Space Marine upgrade.

This is a powerful new breed of Space Marine, with strength matching even the Custodes of old.

Primaris Marines, after surgical upgrades, will see their abilities rise dramatically." Ultraman explained to Azrael about Primaris Marines.

These new Astartes were indeed promising. The Custodes who hadn't yet undergone the Superbeast transformation couldn't match them.

However, the Custodes' upgrades were still ongoing. Once completed, the Superbeast Custodes, capable of growing to immense size, would easily crush the Space Marines.

"This new surgery to strengthen the Legion is naturally acceptable," Azrael replied.

Rhodes did not simply send Primaris reinforcements as in the original timeline, but instead provided the technology, materials, and medical pods for the chapters to upgrade themselves.

This maximized the deployment of Primaris upgrades, as the technology was given, but the Marines remained their own.

"Second order: The Dark Angels Legion is to be re-formed, with all successor chapters recalled and reconstituted as one Legion," Ultraman said.

"This is a good thing for the Dark Angels. The First Legion will obey," Azrael responded.

This had already been communicated. The Dark Angels were closely linked to all their successors, unlike some other chapters.

As Supreme Grand Master, Azrael could command all successor and company leaders—who were all Inner Circle members.

The Dark Angels' obsession with secrecy is so extreme, there's a saying: If a Primarch tries to investigate the Dark Angels' secrets, then the Primarch disappears.

"Third order: Soon a Great Crusade will be launched. The Dark Angels must gather at least thirty thousand troops to participate," Ultraman said.

Azrael frowned at this. While they followed the Codex Astartes, their numbers were limited due to their ongoing hunt for the Fallen.

Even combined, their numbers did not exceed thirty thousand. Rebuilding into a full Legion meant recruiting new Marines, but Dark Angels' recruitment was extremely strict.

Even after passing through the induction process and psychic memory screening, if a recruit was deemed unfit or unable to keep secrets, they'd be turned into a servitor.

Even with new upgrades, they could not expand recklessly, or their secrets would be compromised.

As Supreme Grand Master, Azrael had to ensure the Legion's secrets remained safe.

"I'm sorry. Even if we agree to re-form the Legion, deploying thirty thousand troops in just a few years is impossible.

It will take hundreds of years before we could gather such numbers," Azrael said.

"All other founding Legions can meet this quota. Even the newly established Deathwatch can do it. Are you saying the Dark Angels cannot?

Your gene-seed is stable and excellent—on par with the Ultramarines. In fact, your successor chapters are second only to the Space Wolves," Ultraman said.

The Dark Angels were once the Emperor's first Legion, under his direct command before Lion El'Jonson's return.

In personal combat, the Dark Angels were the strongest of all Astartes. Thanks to the Lion's powerful and stable gene-seed, yet after ten thousand years, they had only a handful of successors.

Just as Lord Rhodes said, these Dark Angels had all become obsessed—especially the Inner Circle, who only cared about keeping secrets and hunting the Fallen.

"We can field five thousand within a few years—this is our limit. Also, I wish to personally visit Holy Terra and meet the Emperor," Azrael said.

He doubted the Emperor's awakening. The presence of Custodes made it seem real, since they obey no one but the Emperor—not even the Primarchs.

He had to see for himself the attitudes of the old and new Primarchs who returned.

Would they, as before, seek to build a Second Imperium? Had Roboute Guilliman already become the new Emperor?

Azrael believed that among all the Primarchs, Guilliman was the most ambitious. If anyone would become the next Emperor, it would be him.

Some records in the Legion even suggested that a Second Imperium briefly existed, with its capital in Ultramar.

Thus, he suspected the Emperor's awakening was false, and that Guilliman was usurping his place.

"I can take you to the Emperor. The Dark Angels should indeed return to Holy Terra in pilgrimage. Before, the Imperium's shadow prevented you, but now, with the Eldar's webway, it's possible," Ultraman said.

"Understood. You may rest in the Rock, but do not enter the Pillar Fortress. Remain in your own quarters," Azrael said.

The Rock contained many secret chambers, each holding secrets. The deepest secret was the sleeping Primarch—and the prisoner, Luther.

"Don't be hasty! I haven't finished delivering the Emperor's orders. The fourth order:

Bring the sleeping Primarch Lion El'Jonson in the Rock to Holy Terra for treatment. It's time the Lion returned," Ultraman declared.

At these words, the entire monastery fell silent. Some Dark Angels placed hands on their weapons, ready to fight.

The Primarch's slumber inside the fortress was known only by the Chapter Master and his predecessors. Perhaps the rogue trader family that had aided them guessed, but didn't know the truth.

That family had their own bodyguards assigned by the Lion, ostensibly to protect the Primarch, but really to ensure the Legion's secrets remained safe.

If not for their deep ties with the Dark Angels, even the rogue trader family might have been destroyed!

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Literally. Don't play dumb. This is to save the Primarch. The Emperor can heal him. If you want your Primarch to return, do as I say.

If not, the Custodes will make it happen—willing or not, we're taking Lion El'Jonson," Ultraman said.

These Custodes were all Superbeast-modified—though there were only a few dozen, Rhodes had sent ten here.

Ten Superbeast Custodes could even fight a Primarch in giant form!

If the Dark Angels insisted on keeping secrets, he'd follow Rhodes' orders and beat them into submission! As long as no one died or was seriously injured, it was fine.

"I will meet the Emperor in person. The Primarch is not in the monastery. Don't try to find him," Azrael said coldly.

"I wasn't asking for your opinion. I made myself clear. And don't think your secrets are so well kept—the Imperium already knows about the Fallen."

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The moment "Fallen" was uttered, all the Dark Angels drew their bolters and opened fire on the Custodes.

But their bolters could not harm these golden giants, not even Rhodes' sons who'd come to assist.

"Just as Lord Rhodes said. Listen up, everyone:

Incapacitate every Dark Angel in the Rock! Don't kill, but missing limbs are fine," Ultraman grinned, transforming into a sixty-meter-tall golden giant before their shocked eyes.

The Custodes with him did the same, activating their giant forms, towering fifty meters tall.

Rhodes had given these Custodes the most basic Superbeast modification—a highly simplified version.

"For the Legion's secrets, kill them!" Azrael ordered.

But the battle's outcome was overwhelming. The Custodes' power utterly dwarfed the Dark Angels.

After a brutal fight, every Dark Angel in the Rock was dragged into the main hall, all badly injured and incapacitated!

Chapter 414: All Dark Angels Arrested and Sent to Holy Terra

The defeat of the Dark Angels was shockingly fast!

They fought with all their might, but no one had ever seen these foes before.

Originally, Supreme Grand Master Azrael planned to cover it up—after all, this was not the first time the Dark Angels had stabbed someone in the back. The Deathwatch and other chapters had all been betrayed by them at some point.

Normally, the Dark Angels were the most loyal Astartes, but when it came to the Fallen, they became the most fanatical zealots.

But this time, they'd kicked not an iron wall, but a steel one. The Custodes instantly overwhelmed even the First Company, and the new Astartes were unbelievably powerful.

Before they even realized what was happening, their bolters were gone, their chainswords and power swords snatched away, their limbs severed.

Even the powerful psyker Ezekiel was knocked out in an instant by a mysterious Astartes—Rhodes' secret weapon, Mephiston from the Blood Angels.

This mighty Librarian had followed Rhodes for over a year, training his own Librarians and sometimes learning from Magnus the Red.

After receiving the Primaris upgrade, Mephiston's psychic might was beyond what any normal Librarian could match, including Ezekiel.

In the past, if the two met, Mephiston might barely win, but now, after the upgrade, Ezekiel had no chance.

To ensure the Dark Angels' defeat, Rhodes had specially dispatched this psychic master!

Originally, Mephiston didn't want to intervene, but the Dark Angels chose the most foolish path. Luckily, Lord Rhodes had pleaded for them.

This time, the Dark Angels would only be taken to Holy Terra—once their Primarch returned, he'd personally discipline his wayward sons.

To attack the Custodes, the Emperor's chosen, was treason. If not for Rhodes' intervention, the Dark Angels would have been erased, becoming the tenth traitor Legion.

"Dark Angels, pray! Be grateful!

Thank the great Emperor for his mercy, and Lord Rhodes for pleading your case.

If not for him, for your attack on the Custodes, I'd have executed you all," Ultraman said coldly.

This was a one-sided slaughter—they hadn't suffered a single injury. The new Astartes' combat power was far beyond the old.

With the Custodes present, the Chapter Masters and Captains were easily subdued.

Terminator armor looked powerful, but the new Mark XII modular power armor designed by Salome matched or even exceeded it.

The Dark Angels thought themselves the mightiest Astartes, but even with the Primaris upgrade, without special metal tendons or the 19 extra organs, they couldn't even match the old Custodes.

Rhodes' sons could survive in vacuum, resist cosmic radiation, and transform in battle, utterly overpowering the Dark Angels.

"You're Guilliman's lapdogs, aren't you? Guilliman has usurped the throne!" Azrael shouted, struggling up.

They'd planned to kill the Custodes and new Astartes, but were instead defeated without inflicting a single wound.

He'd failed the Rock, the Legion's secrets, and all the Grand Masters before him.

The Dark Angels' final secret had been discovered, and they'd even attacked the Custodes.

He could already foresee their fate—the first founding Legion in ten thousand years to be declared traitors.

"You are too extreme, Dark Angels. I thought the Blood Angels kept secrets, but you are even more ruthless," Mephiston said.

The Blood Angels' Black Rage and Red Thirst were known secrets, but not guarded as insanely as the Fallen, and the Imperium knew some details.

The Blood Angels had many successor chapters, some even exiled for their blood-drinking, like the Flesh Tearers.

But the Dark Angels' secrets were so tight that even their closest merchant allies only guessed the truth.

Mephiston had probed the minds of several Dark Angels to check for loyalty, and found that each knew a different truth.

Most incredibly, about the Fallen—none of them actually knew why the Fallen rebelled or the details!

Many mysterious Dark Angels had fought valiantly for the Imperium, like Cypher, who once appeared before Rhodes.

Now he knew—these were the so-called Fallen. Without Rhodes, who knows how long these secrets would have lasted!

"Don't worry, you won't be executed, but you will be tried on Holy Terra. Once your Primarch returns, he'll apologize to the Emperor himself," Ultraman said.

The Dark Angels need to be reformed! Only some chapter cultures are worth preserving—like the Black Templars, Salamanders, Ultramarines, and the Blood Angels.

But the Dark Angels—these guys are even more ruthless than the Space Wolves. The Wolves are just wild, but the Dark Angels are truly possessed.

Ultraman thought Rhodes should have shown no mercy. The gene-vaults could make a new Dark Angels Legion and erase the old one!

To the Custodes, attacking the Emperor's chosen for the sake of secrets was ultimate betrayal.

Truly, the original Astartes were failures! Only the Custodes were ever truly loyal.

"The Dark Angels never betrayed the Emperor! This is a secret we've kept for over ten thousand years. How did you learn it?" Azrael asked.

"That's not your concern. Unless you have something to hide, know that before the Emperor, no human has secrets," Ultraman replied.

"You should thank Lord Rhodes and the Emperor for their mercy. This time, you're only missing limbs," said a Captain among Rhodes' sons.

In the past, losing limbs would cripple a Marine, but now, medical pods could restore them.

"Enough, Supreme Grand Master! Perhaps we really were wrong, and this may be a good thing!

If we go on like this, the Dark Angels may truly fall to Chaos. It's better to restructure.

We old relics should step down. If the Emperor and our Primarch truly awaken, we'll enter Dreadnoughts to atone," Ezekiel sighed.

The Dark Angels had kept their secrets too long. The old guard should all enter Dreadnoughts.

"Take all the Dark Angels aboard and return to Holy Terra for trial," Ultraman ordered.

The Astartes with him immediately began packing up the now-helpless Dark Angels.

Chapter 415: The Watchers in the Dark, the Fallen, the Lion

Upon hearing the order, the local Arbites quickly packed up the limbless Dark Angels, loading them onto ships.

Soon, only Azrael was left, even Ezekiel was taken by Mephiston.

Even limbless, Ezekiel had to be personally watched due to his psychic powers.

"Now can you take me to the Primarch?" Ultraman asked Azrael.

Under the Rock, there were many chambers—so many that even the Dark Angels had lost count.

The regular Dark Angels weren't allowed in; only the Chapter Master and Inner Circle could enter.

Only the current Supreme Grand Master knew where the Lion slept.

Given the situation, Azrael had no choice but to nod and agree to lead Ultraman to the Lion's chamber.

But the other secret—the imprisoned Luther—he would not reveal.

Several Custodes followed, taking Azrael into the depths of the Rock.

Upon entering, the Custodes immediately sensed discomfort. In the darkness, something seemed to watch them.

They even heard whispers, but could find nothing, no matter how they searched.

"There are others here, aren't there? A force hidden even from the other Dark Angels?" Ultraman asked Azrael.

Though unseen, the Custodes' enhanced senses told them there were other lifeforms present.

At this, the Custodes drew weapons, power swords shining with golden light.

"Don't worry. Besides us, there is another kind of life here: higher-dimensional beings, called Watchers in the Dark," Azrael explained.

"How many secrets do the Dark Angels have? The so-called Legion with no secrets has the most secrets of all! What are these Watchers?" Ultraman asked.

Are they secret troops? How were they trained? What beings can evade even the Custodes' senses?

"The Watchers is what we call them. Few know of their existence—only the Chapter Master communicates with them.

Perhaps others have, but I do not know. They appear as small, hooded, scythe-bearing sprites.

My predecessor died fighting Chaos. As acting Chapter Master, I was guided by the Watchers to the secret chamber where I inherited the Legion's secrets," Azrael said.

The Dark Angels have many secrets—some known only to the Chapter Master. If the Chapter Master dies unexpectedly, the Watchers become their guides.

"Will they attack us? How did you find them?" Ultraman asked.

Even Lord Rhodes didn't know about the Watchers—if he did, he'd have warned them.

"No one knows where they came from. Since the Legion moved into the Rock, they appeared.

Earlier Grand Masters speculated they might be the spirits of Caliban. As for whether they'll attack you—I don't know.

You are the first non-Dark Angels to enter," Azrael explained.

"We mean no harm. You don't intend to hurt the Dark Angels, so we'll remain silent. You may take what you need, and I will lead you to the Lion's chamber.

But do not enter any other rooms—many secrets and dangerous prisoners are kept here," said a Watcher, appearing as a black-cloaked, scythe-wielding wraith.

The sudden appearance of the Watchers made the Custodes tense—they'd never seen such creatures.

They did not seem to come from the Warp. Were they really the spirits of Caliban?

"I need to know your attitude toward the Imperium," Ultraman said coldly.

Azrael had criticized the Emperor's alliance with the Eldar, but these Dark Angels had kept such beings for ten thousand years!

Only now did Ultraman realize how many secrets the Dark Angels hid.

"We will guard the Lion's return, the new Dark Angels' return, and continue to guard the prisoners. We have no ill will toward the Emperor's servants."

A hundred Watchers appeared, circling the Custodes.

"I'll report this to the Emperor. When the Lion awakens, he must explain himself to the Emperor and the Imperium," Ultraman said.

"The Lion does not know of our existence. Only the Supreme Grand Master, chief Librarian, and a few others do."

"See to it. Let the Emperor and the Primarchs judge!" Ultraman said, signaling for the Watchers to lead the way.

He just wanted to retrieve the Lion and leave—this fortress gave him chills.

The deeper they went, the more it felt like an abyss filled with secrets.

Led by the Watchers, the Custodes passed many rooms, each holding warriors in Legion-era power armor.

Most of these prisoners were in stasis, time having passed little for them.

"These are the Fallen! I thought you killed all you captured," Ultraman said.

"We cannot confirm their true guilt, so we detain them until the Primarch returns to judge them," Azrael replied.

"So you don't really know what happened? Whether the Fallen truly betrayed you?" Ultraman asked.

"I can confirm they followed Luther. There were tens of thousands of them—the First Legion was the largest. In the later stages of the war, they were caught in a Warp storm.

Over ten thousand years, the Fallen have appeared at random times and places in the galaxy.

We have only captured a few thousand, with many still at large," Azrael said.

Over so long, they had caught only a few. The relentless pursuit had even driven some Fallen to Chaos.

Yet some Fallen insisted on their innocence, wandering the galaxy.

"You should have reported this to the Imperium! The Lion had not yet vanished, and after a century of his slumber, the Wolf Lord left. If you had reported it, things wouldn't have gotten so bad.

Countless innocents died in your secrecy," Ultraman said.

Rhodes had told him that not all Fallen were traitors. When the Lion returned, he would pardon those who had not joined Chaos.

Of course, those who had fallen to Chaos were true traitors.

Azrael was silent for a moment, then sighed. Things were not so simple.

The Legion had many internal conflicts. When the Lion first returned, not all respected him as other Legions did.

Luther, the Lion's foster father, was second only to the Primarch himself. Going from father to son was a huge psychological blow.

And Azrael wasn't Chapter Master then—who knew what the first Grand Master thought?

Other foundings also had traitors—why not the proud Dark Angels?

Still, it was a massive betrayal, involving tens of thousands.

"We will take all the Fallen you've captured as well," Ultraman said firmly.

Since they were still alive and merely imprisoned, they would be taken.

"No! They are true criminals and must remain here until judged by the Primarch," Azrael shouted.

No way—he could make many concessions, but not this.

"It's the Emperor's order. I won't repeat myself.

You are stripped of your title. All Dark Angels are now prisoners," Ultraman said.

"Let them take the Fallen. The Lion will soon awaken and judge them himself," said a Watcher.

The Fallen survived only thanks to the Watchers. Otherwise, the Dark Angels would have executed them.

"Since you say the Lion will judge, we'll take them to Holy Terra for his judgment."

Ultraman snorted, called for the Arbites, and had all the stasis-bound Fallen loaded onto the ship.

They continued deeper into the underground fortress.

In the depths, they found imprisoned Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines, and xenos.

"We're here. The Lion sleeps inside."

Led by the Watchers, the Custodes entered a hidden, luxurious chamber. Lying within was a tall, burly man with white hair—

The Emperor's first son, the Primarch Lion El'Jonson.