Aqua had her tongue sticking out, uncharacteristically focused. Her brow was sweating lightly as she was as careful and precise as she could be, not wanting to mess up this delicate procedure. After all, putting a decent pupil on an un-helmeted space marine was harder than surgery.

As soon as she got the eye just right, she relaxed and set the model down. She smiled and breathed a huge sigh of relief. "And with that, my first army is finished! Eris, Eris, look! Doesn't it look great?" Aqua asked her junior, motioning towards the assembly of space marines and vehicles. "I think I'll do Imperial Guard next, their outfits are so snazzy."

Eris's smile was slightly strained as she nodded along with Aqua, feeling a twinge of jealousy. This was the blue-haired goddess' first army and the paint jobs already looked better than most of her own models. "That's nice Aqua." Looking at the familiar blues of the army, it sparked a memory. "Oh, have you checked in on Kazuma recently? It's been a few weeks since his last death, right?"

Aqua crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks. "I'm still mad at him. He didn't have to go and die during every single surgery. Upper management gave me so much crap about that and told me I had done everything the wrong way! It isn't my fault it was easier for me to make him a marine this way."

Eris shook her head, unsurprised at her senior's childish attitude. "Well, I suppose that's a good thing, right? That must mean he's made a decent warrior once he was done with training."

Aqua considered that before smiling and nodding. "Yeah, you're right! The stupid Demon King isn't going to stand a chance against my champion!"

As she said that, a loud crashing noise and the crushing of a wooden chair filled the room. Turning to the sound, the goddesses are met by a large, scarred man in space marine armor, a chainsword in one hand and bolt pistol in the other. His eyes were wild and full of rage with underlaying terror. He eventually noticed the two of them, his eyes locking onto them. "Foul witches! What sorcery is this?!"

Eris and Aqua blinked in confusion before Eris hit her palm lightly with her fist, remembering something. "Oh, right. Hypno-indoctrination is a thing. He probably thinks we're witches."

"Is that a bad thing?" Aqua asked as Kazuma started up his chainsword, marching towards them.

"Oh yeah," was Eris's deadpan response, starting to inch behind Aqua.

◹†◸ ◹†◸ ◹†◸

Apothecary Log, GL-11062-01

The new batch of recruits have appeared promising so far. Mortality rates are ten percent lower than average, leaving us with only three initiates lost during implementation of phase one through three. All other operations were routine save one. Initiate 1337, Satou Kazuma, died during phase one, on the table. As the attending Apothecarian was preparing to reclaim the heart for future use, Initiate 1337 started respiration without outside assistance. The surgery team, met with the bizarre turn of events, proceeded to finish the surgery with no further complications.

Personal Note; The will of the Emperor must be strong in Initiate 1337. Further observation has been recommended.

Apothecary Log, GL-11062-02

Installation of Haemastamen and Larraman's Organ occurred in Initiate batch 11062. Two further lives lost, but still within acceptable deviance. Information was discovered during the procedure about Initiate 1337. The age of the Initiate is far past optimal age for conversion into an Astartes. Investigation into how his file was allowed to slip between the cracks has begun. No leads as of writing. Once again, the initiate expired during surgery, but recovered rapidly without assistance.

Apothecary Note; Initiate 1337 has shown extreme reluctance to die. His attitude and temperament also appears to be at odds with normal recruits. For future procedures, do not pause during surgery should the subject die. Chapter Librarian informed head Apothecary that given time, the subject will recover from death during any surgery.

Apothecary Log, GL-11062-1337

With information given by head Librarian of the Griffon Lord's, the Apothecarians of have approved of a research test in order to push the limits of a psyker's ability to see. There was a 'vision' given to the Librarian that the Emperor would preserve Initiate 1337 during his conversion from man into warrior of the Imperium. To test the accuracy of this vision, it has been approved that Phases six to twenty two may be enacted in one surgery. To summarize, Initiate1337 was given up to five minutes to regain vital signs after expiration. The longest time the subject remained without signs of life was less than one minute. All procedures were completed with the assistance of his self reviving. The priests insist that this is the act of the Emperor himself, but no exotic energy signals were detected, making such interference unlikely. There was also no warp influence, so the possibility of 1337 being a latent psyker is near zero. Initiate has been put into an accelerated hypnotherapy course to fast track his training. Welcome to the Griffon Lords, Battle Brother Kazuma.

Apothecary Note; Battle Brother Kazuma now holds the record for most deaths of any Astartes on record at sixteen times.

Chapter Master's Log

It has been brought to my attention the existence of a young brother that has been causing waves. After reading his medical history, I am not surprised he has done such. One Brother Kazuma has been nearly as odd as his name for this sector. He has shown a near aversion to following the intent of the codex, despite following the letter of it. This has served him well several times, allowing him to turn a situation that should have been a final stand into a surprise victory. In one instance, his tactics allowed him to use a fighting withdrawal to save a settlement from what the codex would declare a lost cause.

While I must officially condemn his disregard for protocol, on a personal note, I commend his spirit. At the end of the day, it is our duty to protect the Imperium and all of His children. Brother Kazuma risked sanction and life to save three hundred men, women, and children. While from a strategic standpoint, their significance is nothing compared to a single Astartes, the morale he brought through his heroics can not be understated. After hearing of his stand, the planetary defenders were possessed by the Emperor himself, fighting all the harder to know His Angels were with them.

I do not write this without cause. Should I die, may my successor find these notes and keep this in mind should Brother Kazuma's decisions find him in trouble.

It is my intent that, after he is officially rebuked, that Brother Kazuma be put in charge of his own squad of scouts. His tactics seem to lean towards mobile forces in small numbers. It is my hope that he may impart some of his instincts and heart on the younger Brothers. Special attention shall be kept on his squad and members' progress until further notice.

Addendum; Scouts trained under Brother Kazuma have proven to have a higher success rate to similarly trained Brothers. Investigation into integration of some of his principles of combat to the codex of the Griffon Lords is currently under review pending further investigation.

Battle Log of Battle Brother Kazuma, final transmission

Battle Brother Kazuma Satou. Current situation is grim and I expect this to be my final message. Mission objective successful, but at a high cost. Battle Brothers Peter Baptist and Colin Thatcher have both fallen. My left leg was bitten clean off by a Carnifex, but we were able to buy enough time for the other members of my squad to load the escape ship up and take off with the few survivors we were able to find. The genestealer cult has far exceeded what we expected, but we were able to behead their leadership. Unfortunately, it appears that the xenos have already taken root and had begun converting biomass into monstrosities. The spawning pool has been destroyed by our combined efforts. I have set up demolition charges across multiple key points of the hive and intend to collapse the entire structure with my dying breath. I will fight on until my last. I ask that should this message be heard quickly, you glass the hive in hopes of containing the infection and saving the rest of the planet. Emperor protect. Brother Kazuma, end transmission.

◹†◸ ◹†◸ ◹†◸

The Kazuma marching at the two goddesses had little in common with the young man they'd sent to the 41st Millennium but a few weeks ago. He was no longer a young man, for one. He had survived over a century in one of the most brutal universes ever devised and had the scars to prove it. He didn't even have memory of his life on earth anymore, only knowing his days as a marine and the training to become one. And right now, he was in an unfamiliar place with 'magically' floating objects in the middle distance and two bizzare looking women.

"Aqua, do something!" Eris shouted, cowering behind her senior.

"What do you want me to do?! I'm not a fighter!" Aqua shrieked back, trying to pull Eris in front of her.

"I don't know! Maybe brainwashing will count as a status effect?"

"Divine Heal!" Aqua shouted, hoping it would work, pointing at the massive brute that was nearly upon them.

The healing quickly overtook Kazuma, repairing a lot of his blemishes, growing his hair back where it had been scared away, fixing his crooked nose and more. The bigger benefit was the rage and panic leaving his eyes as he recognized the two before him. "Aqua? It… it wasn't a weird dream?" He croaked, his last hundred years of life suddenly feeling quite empty and hollow.

"Weird dream? What are you talking about? You wanted to be a Space Marine, didn't you? I honestly didn't expect you to last so long once you managed it though," she admitted, crossing her arms proudly.

He thought over what she'd just said before chuckling lightly. "You two are why I couldn't stay dead on the operating table, aren't you?"

Eris chimed in this time, finally feeling safe, "Yup! We even got in trouble for reviving you too many times."

Kazuma nodded, stepping back and putting his weapons away. "Well, thank you for that I suppose." Gently, his hand traced the familiar contours of his bolt pistol, his mind running with too many thoughts. "So, all those people I saved…"

"Technically, all of them were in hell already, but you did make their lives better!" Eris answered, knowing where his mind might have wandered.

Kazuma smiled, letting a breath go he hadn't realized he had been holding. "That's good. So, now I have to go to this other world for you, right?" He sounded so exhausted. A reasonable response for somebody who had effectively been fighting for decades straight already.

Aqua felt that weariness and her smile faltered. After all, she might be an idiot, but she wasn't malicious. "Well, you can take a break first if you'd like?" She saw her army out of the corner of her eye. Perking up, she stepped forward, grabbing the behemoth's wrist and pulling him over to the table. "Here, I made my army based on your chapter! Did I do a good job?"

Eris materialized a chair for Kazuma, allowing him to comfortably sit down. He carefully picked up a model, a sad smile on his face. "You did great Aqua. I could mistake this for one of my Brothers, were it large enough."

Aqua beamed, "Thank you! So, me and Eris talked about sending you to Belzerg while you were gone and were able to get some… exceptions, for you, since we did kind of send you to hell in advance."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow, leaning back. "Oh? Like what?"

Aqua puffed out her chest, "Well, since a lot of your Astartes 'plot armor' comes from your faith in the Emperor, the higher ups allowed us to transfer that to me."

Kazuma gave her a look before crossing his arms. "I want to make it clear that if you hadn't hit me with that whammy, I would be tearing you apart for equating yourself to Him."

Aqua paled, nodding in understanding. "We know, we know, but keep in mind Eris helped make him, so I'm like his aunt anyway?"

Kazuma shook his head. "Keep going. What do I have to do?"

"Alright, so, you're going to officially be my champion! Isn't that cool?" Seeing his unimpressed look, she elaborated. "So, that means you'll be able to invoke me occasionally and even summon me! In addition, I'll be able to take some direct actions in the world so long as you're there." Here she grumbled, crossing her own arms. "I also am stuck retrieving your armaments and repair kits as you need them. Hephaestus told me I could go pick them up myself instead of bumming them off of him."

Here, Kazuma finally let out a laugh. "You're stuck being a war clerk!" He giggled at the absurdity of it all. A goddess, reduced to gopher for her own champion because she made a mistake.

"Stop laughing at me! It's to make your cheat item worth anything! And to think I even got Hephaestus to make you a custom Rhino!" Aqua jumped onto the marine, pulling at his cheeks and only making him laugh harder. Eris giggled at the byplay between the two, knowing they'd be just fine.

◹†◸ ◹†◸ ◹†◸

Iris, princess of Belzerg and next in line for the throne was sulking alone in her room. "Stupid daddy. Stupid guards. Nobody lets me go out and have any fun. I just want to have adventures of my own, is that so wrong?" She grumbled, crossing her arms as she sulked on her bed. She looked out the balcony window of her room, watching the night sky and trying to let the stars calm her rage. She saw a shooting star and quickly moved to the window.

Kneeling, she clasped her hands and prayed. "Goddess Eris, or hell, even Aqua at this point. Please, free me from these stifling pageantry. I don't want to be little more than a dress up doll, forced to play politics. I want to go out into the world and adventure, slay beasts, and fight the Demon King's forces. Please, won't you send me a friend or something to escape my gilded prison?

In the distance, over Axel, that shooting star wasn't what it appeared to be. Instead, it was a rapidly plummeting hunk of ceramite and plasticrete, created specifically by the gods to survive entry. In the field of giant toads, it crashed, lighting up the night sky for miles around and its thunderous landing audible for even further. Inside, an Astartes smiled, prepared to defend the people of this world.