Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor-Chapter 243 - 244: Confirmed—Guilliman Is About to Return!

What kind of major event could possibly cause the Warp to become so restless?

Eden pondered.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him.

Could it be... that blue grandpa is about to awaken?

The Emperor's thirteenth son, the Primarch of the Ultramarines, the Avenging Son, the future Lord Regent—Roboute Guilliman—might be on the verge of returning?

The Imperium is now on the brink of collapse, as if lying in the ICU with its oxygen tube pulled out.

It is at the point where everything could break down at any moment.

Guilliman's return is akin to plugging the oxygen tube back in for an emergency rescue.

One could say that Guilliman is the lifesaver who prolongs the Imperium's lifespan.

For Eden, this is a wonderful thing. After all, if the Imperium collapses, he would not fare well either.

From a certain perspective, however, it is also a crisis.

A Primarch's return heralds the call to war, and the Great Rift–induced Chaos onslaught will grow even fiercer: The fall of Cadia was only the beginning, from the ravaged Fenris Sector to the greenskins rampaging on Armageddon, then onward to Attila and the Baal System torn by the claws of Chaos.

Warp rifts will spread at an unprecedented scale.

Malevolent glows flash among the stars; foul creatures lurk behind the veil, drooling fangs and abhorrent eyes peering into reality.

Raging wars will engulf every territory of the Imperium. No world will be spared.

The future is grim indeed, and everything depends on how Guilliman fends off this unprecedented disaster.

However, there is an even more pressing problem at the moment!

"Why is Ka'Bandha stirring up trouble on Macragge?" Eden finished reading the news sent by the daemon Bal and felt entirely numb.

His presence seems to have altered the original course of events.

In his recollection, upon learning that Belisarius Cawl was heading to Macragge with some unknown holy artifact, Abaddon the Despoiler sensed a critical threat. He promptly dispatched a Chaos fleet to intercept it and also ordered the destruction of the shrine on Macragge where Guilliman's body was kept.

Abaddon is one of the Imperium's greatest enemies. He commands hundreds of thousands of Chaos Space Marines, tens of billions of human traitors and Chaos cultists, as well as vast fleets, countless powerful war machines, daemon engines, and so on.

His might is extremely formidable.

Now, it appears that Ka'Bandha—Khorne's chief Greater Daemon—has gotten wind of something and is also preparing to attack Macragge.

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Eden tried to deduce the reason for this development.

After all, Abaddon's relationship with the four Chaos Gods is more of a collaboration.The moment he conquers Holy Terra and topples the Imperium, he'll likely cut ties with Chaos altogether and proclaim himself humanity's new Emperor.

But to be honest, that's quite difficult to accomplish.

Over the millennia, Old Abaddon's inexplicable maneuvers have led him to fail thirteen times in a row.

In other words, Abaddon and the Chaos Gods are not in perfect harmony and do not fully trust one another.

On the Chaos Gods' side, Ka'Bandha, having just become a chief Greater Daemon, has drastically increased in power and urgently needs a magnificent achievement to prove himself.

Hence, he has every reason to insert himself into this situation, leading a daemon host to invade Macragge to bolster his track record.

Yet this makes the situation extremely dire.

In the original timeline, Guilliman's resurrection was already difficult enough.

When the shrine's defenses were breached by the Chaos Space Marines, they nearly reached the stasis field containing Guilliman's body.

They were very close to disrupting the resurrection ritual.

Now, both the Chaos Space Marines and Khorne daemons are joining forces, greatly boosting the power of the attacking side.

The scales of victory tip toward Chaos!

If Chaos truly manages to breach the shrine and disrupt Guilliman's resurrection ritual, preventing him from awakening...

It's game over. Without the great savior Guilliman, the Imperium of Man will plunge into endless darkness!

Eden was anxious: "No, I must find a way to send news of the Chaos invasion to Macragge to warn them!"

At the very least, let the Ultramarines be prepared in advance—ideally, even set up an ambush.

But the real challenge is that Eden cannot even leave this sector. Between Urth and Macragge, there is also the Solar System region in between.

The distance is unimaginably vast, and with the Great Rift's interference, sending this message is virtually impossible.

Fortunately, there might be a solution:

The Webway!

Right now, only by controlling the Webway and locating the portal leading to Macragge can they deliver a message.

And it must be done quickly—very quickly!

Eden does not know the exact day Guilliman will awaken, but given the current situation, it has to be soon.

If they delay, Chaos might attack before the warning arrives.

Then, things would become irreparable.

Eden's heart pounded. He hadn't expected to be so quickly involved in a major event that impacts the fate of the galaxy.

It's too stressful.

Humanity cannot afford to lose its savior...

Initially, he had planned to wait three more months for the Ork armies to grow stronger before letting them into the Webway to exterminate the daemons.

But now, it seems they must act in advance!

Eden took out his communicator and contacted the Department of the Army, ordering them to carry out the Webway clearance plan immediately!

With that command issued...

Various institutions in his domain began operating, and the war machine was set in motion.

The Storm Group Armies and the Chapter's warriors were assembling step by step; they would board warships bound for the Webway.

They would join the Ork forces in exterminating daemons.

About three group armies, plus nearly a thousand Space Marines, would be deployed this time.

...

On the Moon...

Clamor rang out in waves.

Everyone was busy overnight. Large numbers of engineers, technical experts, and researchers packed up their equipment and evacuated.

They left the Ork flagship, known as the "Steelfang," entirely to the Ork hordes.

Inside the Steelfang...

Thud, thud, thud—

A colossal figure emerged from the shadows.

Bonegnasher Steelfang brandished his massive alloy claw, summoning his underbosses to declare the War Announcement.

The Orks now look very different.

Each Ork boss is clad in heavy powered armor made by Big Meks, wielding chainswords and bolters with extra-large magazines that never overheat.

The rest of the Ork warriors are fully armed too, with lasguns, flamers, hand cannons, big saws, and more.

They even possess many large vehicles:

Such as super-heavy Venomblade Grot tanks, Rogo Kongo walker mechs, heavy anti-air trucks, bone-crusher trucks, ground-walking heavy artillery, and so on.

They also have an aerial force:

Dozens of meters-long Dakka Jets, standard Blitza-Bommers, Burna-Bommers, and so forth.

In addition...

The Ork horde now owns a fleet: The Steelfang—about eight kilometers long—crudely modified with scrap armor and painted all over in Ork colors.

Two unnamed, cobbled-together escort ships.

According to the Tech-Priests' tests, after the Ork Meks dismantled and randomly reassembled them, their performance is somehow superior to the originals...

From now on, the Ork horde is officially established, operating independently.

It will be permanently stationed in the Webway as the main force to cleanse daemons and any enemies that intrude into the Webway, thus safeguarding it.

Given the nature of the Webway, there are always all sorts of enemies infiltrating.

The Ork army will face a constant stream of battles.

That's good news. The Orks need war to remain vigorous and continue growing.

Also, the domain will keep supplying them with more resources so they can freely engage in warfare.

Once the Webway is fully secured...

The Ork horde can appear anywhere in the galaxy and fight in any war.

Wherever there are heretics or xenos, the Orks will show up to loot resources and slaughter all of Eden's enemies!

Endless war plus abundant resources—his Ork army will grow to unimaginable proportions.

Eden's goal is to train this army scientifically, transforming the Ork horde into one of the galaxy's top forces! He has already directed the Department of the Army to establish an Ork-Xeno War Command. In the future, they will thoroughly evaluate the Orks' capabilities.

They will select suitable opponents for them.

Once the Ork horde is large enough, he's even thinking about offering mercenary services.

Those worlds ravaged by invasions could pay resources to hire the Ork horde for their battles.

In this back-and-forth, war would pay for war, further enhancing their strength.

It's pure profit!

Of course, these are just hopeful plans. How things will actually turn out remains uncertain.

At least for their very first battle, the Ork horde must not screw up.

Otherwise, it's all over.

Waaaagh—

The Orks are extremely excited, eagerly awaiting the coming war!

...

On the Dreamwaver, in his bedroom...

After issuing the orders, Eden pulled down his eye-shield and lay down again.

At this point, he might as well get some rest.

Mobilizing large armies will take at least several days, if not longer, and there is no point in him fretting.

Soon, night passed.

When Eden woke, he took a dropship back to the Spire residence.

He had a very important matter to attend to.

...

The Spire residence.

The elevator.

After passing through several layers of strict security, Eden stepped into the elevator.

"These circumstances are growing more troublesome..." He frowned, still thinking about Guilliman's return.

It seems that merely warning them may not be enough.

Amid the era of the Great Rift, even if Macragge knows Chaos is coming, they may struggle to muster many reinforcements in a short time.

Even if they do receive the warning, the Ultramarines may not take it seriously.

They can't just mobilize all their forces to Macragge based on an unclear message and neglect defenses elsewhere.

What if it's the enemy's ploy?

Moreover, the shrine was always the heart of Macragge, guarded by a massive army.

Eden was deeply worried. To ensure Guilliman is successfully revived, he must have a backup plan.

Just in case.

One approach: use the Webway to send a warning so the Ultramarines can prepare.

Simultaneously, closely monitor this war. If it starts to spin out of control, he will risk stepping in to help.

That involves enormous danger.

After all, Chaos Space Marines are extraordinarily powerful. Many wear Terminator Armor, and they possess numerous top-tier war machines:

Daemon Engine—Heldrakes, Chaos Dreadnoughts, Chaos Knights, and possibly even Chaos Imperator Titans!

Besides the Chaos Space Marines, Ka'Bandha also commands an army of daemons.

Based on Bal's intelligence, Ka'Bandha has become a chief Greater Daemon, vastly increasing his power.

He now leads an even stronger daemonic force.

Two terrifying forces attacking Macragge at once—simply horrifying.

Especially Ka'Bandha. He may be the most formidable of the two. Without a Primarch-level combatant, there is no real counter for him!

The elevator descended dozens of kilometers underground.

Crimson light illuminated Eden's face, making him look grimmer.

Though the enemy is dreadful, he is determined to intervene in this war if necessary.

He must prevent total disaster and keep Guilliman from failing to revive.

Ka'Bandha, is it?

No matter. I'll act if I have to!

He is a savior, after all, and he is not without trump cards.

With a sudden jolt, the elevator reached its destination. Eden stepped out into a long alloy corridor.

"Savior!" Several Thunder Guards came forward to greet him and escorted him deeper into the tunnel.

This secret base is one of the most heavily defended locations in his domain.

To ensure its security, Eden placed more than a dozen defense systems around it and stationed dozens of Thunder Guards around the clock.

Why so cautious?

Because one of his trump cards is stored here—a doomsday weapon that can protect his domain in times of crisis!

Eden emerged from the dim passage, his vision brightening under a warm, golden glow.

In front of him lay a massive alloy chamber filled with intricate machinery.

Countless cables channeled golden energy.

In the center stood a vast mechanical device that continuously siphoned energy from the void...

Then injected it into several mechanical platforms below.

Inside those platforms lay shell after shell of bone-like casings inscribed with intricate patterns—shells that would become Holy Ash Shells!

For over a decade, Eden has never stopped refining and manufacturing these Holy Ash Shells.

He has been continuously injecting them with energy drawn from the Golden Sun and the "Little Sun."

The process to create these shells is incredibly complex. Besides extracting marrow from his bones and running them through hundreds of processing steps, it also requires a long time.

To make and load a single Holy Ash Shell takes at least six years.

This base has been around for a while, but in total, they have only produced a dozen or so shell casings, of which only four or five are fully loaded.

They are extremely rare and can be used only if the domain faces great peril.

Eden walked to one of the mechanical platforms and picked up a half-meter-long Holy Ash Shell that was already loaded.

He examined it briefly, then shook his head and put it back.

Not enough.

He had used a similar Holy Ash Shell before, and it had failed to kill Ka'Bandha.

That fiend is even stronger now; this shell likely won't be sufficient.

Moreover, its area of effect is small, making it unsuitable for large-scale engagements.

Eden approached another platform.

There lay a shell about two meters in diameter and three meters in length.

He nodded in satisfaction—this one seems more reliable.

This extra-large Holy Ash Shell has been charging for over a decade and is nearly complete.

If the standard Holy Ash Shell is akin to a sniper missile, then this is a large-scale fuel-air bomb.

Holy Ash Shell—Super Enhanced Version.

Once triggered, it can produce a small golden sun in midair!

Eden asked the Tech-Priest in charge, who reported that this enhanced shell would be finished in about half a month, ready for use.

The timing should work out.

If the Ultramarines truly fail to hold the shrine, then he will have to shoulder this thing, utilize the Webway, head to the shrine...

And blast them with a mighty shot.

That is an exceedingly dangerous move.

Mainly because only Eden's true body, channeling the energy of the "Little Sun," can set this thing off.

He also has to consider the subsequent retaliation from Chaos. Abaddon operates in realspace, after all!

Therefore, his identity must remain hidden.

He absolutely cannot appear in public as the Savior clad in golden power armor.

Eden thought it over and realized he would need a special suit of power armor, something radically different from his current gear.

Suddenly, he recalled the fearsome statue in the dark zone of the "Little Sun," wearing a set of suitably intimidating armor.

The aesthetic was actually quite good—chaotic style.

He would simply have Kaul replicate that set of chaotic-style power armor so he can wear it without blowing his cover.

No one would guess that the grand Savior in golden armor is the same person in that monstrous chaos-themed armor, right?

No time like the present. Eden immediately sketched the armor design and his requirements, sending them to Kaul.

He wanted an identical set of power armor in that style.

Per his specifications, once worn, it must stand around five meters tall and possess multiple layers of energy shielding fields.

That way, it would confuse anyone attempting psychic or augur-based detection.

As for its actual combat capability, he didn't have high demands. He only needs it to shoot once and then retreat.

Essentially, the armor's appearance should be as wild and intimidating as possible to stun everyone on the field.

So no fool would dare approach him after he fires his shot.

After transmitting the message to Kaul, Eden breathed a sigh of relief. "That should cover all contingencies, right?"

He had done everything he could to prepare. Next step: secure the Webway and move forward with the plan!

––

At the Blackstone Gate...

The fleet began to assemble.

Covered in scrap plating and wildly painted in Ork colors, the gargantuan Ork flagship Steelfang moved forward.

The war... is about to begin!

(End of Chapter)

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