Chapter 56: Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [56]

This time, Rhodes intends to give the Tyranid swarm a grand gift, making them experience ultimate ecstasy! After drawing out the cosmic robot's massive Iron, his mechanical Ace Robot essentially reset the cooldown on his ultimate ability. Iron itself can absorb energy—it can absorb the Tyranid swarm's firepower and even extract energy from the surrounding stars. Moreover, Iron can be strengthened from scratch, rapidly restoring energy to recharge the Ace Robot. This time, the Tyranid swarm will find it hard to survive! Did you think that just because you fled to an astronomical distance, I wouldn't be able to reach you? That I had no way to deal with you? This time, I'm going to strike you down in less than a day! The Tyranid retreat happened only a few hours ago. Aren't you the Great Devourer? This time, I'll make you submit! Soon, Elena had finished equipping herself and met Rhodes on the bridge. "Lord Rhodes, I'm ready. Let's depart!" "Elena, I have something very important to tell you. My identity is crucial and cannot be exposed to the general public of the Empire for now. So, our actions must remain covert. Our only goal is to save this planet. I don't need the people of the Empire to know who saved them, nor do I need to be remembered or praised. So, once we land, all negotiations will be handled by me. You must not reveal any information about me. Do you understand?" Rhodes said. For now, his identity had to remain a secret. Everything had to be planned carefully. "I understand, Lord Rhodes. I will follow your orders completely," Elena nodded and replied. Rhodes nodded in satisfaction. The two of them loaded the remaining equipment onto the spaceship. Then, Rhodes piloted a small Pedan-class spaceship, departing from the Pedan mothership and flying toward the ruined city below. ... About ten minutes later, Rhodes' Pedan ship hovered over a ruin and prepared to land. Upon hearing the commotion, the remaining Deathwatch soldiers immediately rushed out. However, upon seeing the golden-red, disk-shaped spacecraft before them, they frowned—it didn't resemble any of the Empire's standard transport ships! Some of the Space Marines, armed with bolt pistols, were already chambering rounds. However, the Deathwatch lieutenant shook his head and signaled the others to lower their weapons. "Sir, what if... what if they are Xenos?" A Deathwatch soldier asked nervously. "That golden, warm radiance—it cannot be faked. That is the Emperor's light," the lieutenant replied. "If they truly are damned xenos, then we will fight them to the death and return our souls to the Golden Throne," a member of the Blood Angels grinned. The spaceship's hatch slowly opened, and Rhodes, along with Sister Elena, emerged. Upon seeing their attire, the Deathwatch soldiers' hostility visibly lessened. Rhodes was clad in the standard carapace armor of an Imperial Commissar, while the other was wearing a Hospitaller Sister's carapace armor. At the very least, they were wearing Imperial gear, even if their weapons were unfamiliar. But at least they were human—this much was certain. "You do not seem to be a Living Saint," the Deathwatch lieutenant remarked. He had expected an angel with massive wings, radiating golden light from head to toe! Living Saints were supposed to look like that—legendary figures like Saint Celestine fit that description perfectly. She was the most well-known Living Saint, frequently appearing in battles against Xenos across the Imperium. "Astartes, standing before you is the Emperor's chosen. You need not question it," Rhodes declared, revealing a golden psychic glow. His eyes gleamed with radiant light, and an indescribable brilliance emanated from his entire being. The sight stunned the Deathwatch soldiers. "By the Emperor... You... You are truly chosen of the Emperor?" One Deathwatch member asked, astonished. "Without a doubt, I am His chosen. I can prove it to you. Your Chapter Chaplain spoke to me before he lost consciousness. Though my identity is highly classified, I could not ignore your plight. That is why I have come to aid you. Your Chaplain, Magro, entrusted me with sending a distress signal. But by the Emperor's will, I have arrived personally to rescue you," Rhodes explained. "I can confirm this! Before Chaplain Magro lost consciousness, he mentioned speaking with a man who radiated the Emperor's light! I never expected you to come to our aid in person," the Deathwatch lieutenant nodded. Now, he fully believed in Rhodes' identity. After all, within the halls of the Black Ships, no heretic could infiltrate. To emanate the Emperor's divine brilliance—there could be no explanation other than that he was truly the Emperor's chosen. "My identity is of utmost importance, Astartes. I will be leading you on a mission and providing you with a new type of weapon—one crafted during the glorious Golden Age. But remember, everything you witness today, every mission you undertake, is classified as the highest Imperial secret. You must never speak of it to anyone," Rhodes commanded. Thanks to the Inquisition, the Grey Knights, and other Imperial secrecy organizations, the Imperium had many secrets that had to be protected. Sometimes, to maintain secrecy, an entire planet could be purged without hesitation. Rhodes knew that simply telling the Astartes that his identity was an Imperial secret would be enough—they would not question further. "I understand, great Emperor's chosen! Give us your orders! The Emperor's Death Angels will faithfully carry out your commands—it is our honor," the Deathwatch soldiers saluted Rhodes, placing their hands over their chests. "First, we must tend to the wounded. Bring your Chaplain aboard—the ship has a small medical chamber that can heal his injuries," Rhodes gestured for the Deathwatch to carry Chaplain Magro onto the ship. "Great Emperor's chosen, aside from our Chaplain, several of our battle-brothers are in a state of suspended animation. Can your medical equipment restore them?" The Deathwatch lieutenant asked. When Space Marines suffer fatal injuries, one of their nineteen genetic enhancements, the Sus-an Membrane, allows them to enter a protective state of suspended animation. This state can last for years, even decades. Typically, only an Apothecary can revive them. During their battle against the Tyranids, many of their brothers had fallen into this state.