Legion of Shadows, Book 3: Let the galaxy burn Chapter 5: When angels fall, Part 1, a Warhammer + Naruto Crossover fanfic

Chapter 5: When angels Fall, part 1

-0-

"Magnus has committed a crime that cannot be ignored!"

The Emperor of mankind sat upon the golden throne, as his anger had burst forth when Naruto had explained how the breach in the webway had happened. Naruto had a hesitant look upon his face yet told his father what had happened, now seeing the anger reflecting off his father he had doubts he should of disclosed this information.

Unfortunately, his father would have known regardless due to the presence of his loyal custodians at the time.

"Dad... Magnus knew about Horus. He was trying to tell me a warning about him before he was 'taken' away somehow and the tear happened. I know you are angry about this but you have to understand"

"About what? That your brother used a forbidden technique and nearly destroyed the one chance Humanity has to be rid of the warp?! That he nearly caused the deaths of thousands of loyal soldiers to the Imperium?! What is there to understand?"

"Dad! You have to see. He was just trying to do what was right! Just like me he risked himself and his legion to send a message. This being the betrayal of your favoured son... He didn't have any other choice"

"He could have sent this message through normal means"

"How? How could he? Would you rather Horus knew that you were being told about his betrayal? That a loyal legion to the Imperium be killed for doing the right thing?! Where is the justice in that?"

The Room was silent for a minute, yet the Emperor merely gave a groan of frustration as he rubbed his head of the headache he had just acquired. Naruto merely looked at his father, his eyes tired as he gave a small sigh.

"Naruto... what your brother had done... This cannot be underestimated...he has to answer for what he did"

"Dad... I know your angry. But it worked out in the end, the webway is safe. Helios and his company are destroying the last remnants of the daemons. I agree that Magnus needs to return here for explaining. But he did nothing wrong"

"Why do you defend him so? Even after what you had to endure"

Naruto gave a small smile, looking upon his father with hopeful eyes.

"Because he is my brother."

The Emperor gave an audible sigh as he muttered to himself, looking at Naruto with a firm look he pointed towards his son.

"Then I will give you this task. You are to return Magnus here to Terra, I will question your brother on his actions and will judge him accordingly."

One of the Companions of the Emperor brought forth a golden parchment, it's surface rippled with psychic energy as a quill manifested itself in mid air.

The Quill etched words upon the parchment, as it's tip was glowing with the psychic powers of the Emperor, the ink, a dark, almost abyssal black formed the decree that floated before the Emperor, before the master of mankind pricked his finger and a single drop of blood floated before the sheet, finally crystallizing into a seal of the Imperial Aquila.

"This is my decree Naruto. None others shall hinder your work, should our enemies try to hinder you then you have my blessing to do what is necessary to resolve it. I await your return to good tidings"

"It shall be done Dad" Naruto said, giving a bow before walking away from the throne.

"Naruto" The Emperor said, holding the primarch before he could take another step.

The Emperor snapped his fingers as two dozen custodians marched into the room, their presence and heraldry proclaiming them the Emissaries Imperatus, also known as the Emperor's heralds.

"These are my heralds, they are my voice within the Imperium. They shall accompany you to ensure the legitimacy of this decree. You shall also have one of my closest confidants to assist you"

At this, one of the two closest Custodians standing next to the Emperor gave a short bow before Naruto, he stood at attention before the primarch as the Emperor continued.

"Uzkarel has served as proconsul in my Hetaeron Guard for many centuries. His council has been invaluable for many years. He will serve you well during this journey"

"I am honoured to serve you young primarch" Uzkarel Ophite said as he gave a bow of respect to Naruto.

"Now go Naruto. And may the light of humanity shine brightly on your journey" The Emperor said as Naruto excused himself from the throne, the sounds of multiple footsteps following him.

"Inari do you copy?" Naruto said, talking into his vox communicator as he walked out the Imperial palace.

"Loud and clear big bro... what's happening?"

"Get the crews ready pronto. We've got a job to do and we don't have time to waste"

"On it. Where are we heading?"

"We're going to Prospero."

"Magnus's homeworld? Been a while since we had gone there. I'll get the boys all ready to go"

Naruto continued to hurry to lion's gate port, his escort of custodians following suite behind him. Even though he understood why his father had been angry, he realized that Magnus was merely given a bad hand and tried to do what was right with what he had.

Yet something in his gut felt that this was beyond just Magnus sending a message of the betrayal, Naruto couldn't help shake this feeling that his brother was actually in true danger.

He just hoped he wasn't too late.

-0-

Months had passed since then.

Survivors from the Eisenstein had relayed the news of the betrayal of Istvaan III, at first Rogal dorn, praetorian of Terra had nearly killed Nathaniel Garro for the audacity of proclaiming the betrayal of the warmaster, yet it was the testimony of those whom were with the warmaster, among those being the Remembrancer Euphrati Keeler whom would tell the praetorian of his brothers betrayal.

The Emperor, already privy to this information due to Naruto, approved a strike force of no less than seven legions, these being the forces of the Iron hands, Salamanders, Raven guard, Alpha legion, Night lords, Iron Warriors and the Shadow foxes. These forces would be requisitioned and given orders by the praetorian to bring the warmaster Horus to answer for his treachery.

Now, many months later, the first four legions, these being the Iron hands, Salamanders, Raven guard and shadow foxes looked upon the Istvaan system, through co-ordinated efforts they were able to arrive before their secondary reinforcements.

Bee looked at Ferrus, he could see that the primarch had an almost incessant itch upon him as he looked upon the world.

"Something feels up" Bee said, looking around the command deck "There should have been at least a fleet presence to hold us back"

"That just means that we have a good chance to strike the enemy. Better that we teach these traitors a lesson"

Bee could understand Ferrus's willingness to seise the moment, yet he was taught to never assume an enemy is leaving you a vulnerability.

"Lord Ferrus. Scans of the planetary defences are complete. Showing now"

Ferrus gave a grin as he watched the various forces, he could tell that their defences were woefully underprepared as they were still accumulating, with no fleet response the conditions were perfect to smash aside this rebellion.

"My lords, Salamanders and raven guard with their Shadow Fox fleet forces have arrived. Still no ETA on the reinforcing second fleet"

"Ferrus... I don't know why... But something feels wrong" Bee said, his voice carrying a hint of concern.

"Bah... Bee I appreciate your concern, yet this is the perfect chance to deal with these traitors. The strength of five legions will be enough to crush them"

Ferrus looked upon Bee, his face holding a look of comradery as he held out his hand.

"Can I count on you brother? So that we may achieve victory this day?" Ferrus asked Bee.

He grasped the hand of the primarch, as the two of them showed a mutual sign of respect.

"I got your back brother. Always"

The forces of the warmaster had taken defensive positions within the Urgall Despression, they had constructed their defences upon their edges, the emperor's children had masterfully created layered defensive trenches and fortifications using the time and resources at hand.

They would be soon tested as fire parted the skies.

The first orbital strikes from the loyalist forces ignited the air and devastated the planets surface, thousands of orbital beams wracked the planet, cracking parts of the surface due to the concentration of firepower.

This continued for close to three hours, yet in that time the traitors had taken shelter in specialized underground systems that left then relatively unscathed.

Horus merely smiled upon his position in one of the ancient ruins of the planet. Smug in knowing that the Imperium underestimated the scale of his liberation. He would make sure they would pay for their hubris.

As his thoughts became more confident, he could see the sky itself be flooded with the rain of endless drop pods.

-0-

[Entry Log 23-048-006.M30:]

[Leonard Here]

[after a week of coercing Alabast to allow me to make the 'thing' I now have the lovely assistance of my own new assistant. I have decided to name her Emma. Say Hi Emma]

[….H...i...h...i..i..i]

[Ohh right. Forgot that they have the cognitive functions of a child when first created. Amazing how chakra can be manifested in such a combination. It is almost incredible, as long as certain individuals do not get word of this]

[Speaking of... I just realised we haven't actually given a name to these spiritual constructs. It's almost as if they are the intelligence of a spiritual energy rather than a computation of intelligence...]

[I think I have the perfect name for you lot. Spiritual Intelligences. Or S.I for short]

[P...a...p...p...a..p..a...papa?]

[Umm... I guess I could be considered your papa? Yea why not. I've never considered to have a child before but this will be rather interesting]

[Papa!]

[Wow... your very clingy aren't you Emma?]

[Papa]

[I guess I will need to put caring for a Spiritual Intelligence as one of my objectives in this project as well...I am rather excited about this]

[Until next time. Leonard and Emma out]

[Papa]

[Entry Log 24-052-006.M30:]

[Leonard here]

[I have been rather immersed in this 'child caring' thing. Who knew having an offspring could feel this rewarding?]

[Papa... I found da thing... da thing]

[That is called a camera sweetie... a camera]

[ca..me...ra?]

[That's right my girl. A Camera]

[Camera!]

[Yea... you got it! Anyway I have been teaching her basic language and such. She is a rather good learner for her theoretical age. I just feel a sense of accomplishment when she is able to learn something new]

[Papa... wha is this?]

[Lets see...hmm...ohh...uhmm... That is something you don't want to know about yet sweetie. That's a boo boo word]

[Boo... Boo... word?]

[That's right... bad word for now okay?]

[Word... bad... bad word...]

[On the other front. I have found a few more combinations to use in the fusion process. Going to eventually test those combinations out, but not expecting much. I feel it's going to be a while before I can have Emma be at the level in which my marker point experiments can be achieved. But I guess it's the journey that matters]

[papa... want hug... please?]

[Ohh you are just the cutest little thing aren't you. Come here my little sweetie]

[*Shuffling and giggling in the background*]

[*Distant noises*]

[* Sounds of footsteps approaching*]

[Now what the hell are you doing Leonard? And how many times have I told you to make sure the camera is not left on when your recording]

[*End Transmission*]

[Entry Log 25-056-006.M30:]

[And what is this?]

[A...a... Bird]

[That's right. And what is this?]

[A...a Cat]

[You are really on to this my sweetie... And what is this?]

[…. Tha...That...that is umm... ]

[You can do it Emma. You almost got it]

[That is... a jaeger]

[That's right. Ohh you are just soo smart my little girl]

[Ohh... right this is actually recording. Anyway. I am currently teaching Emma how to discern pictures and objects, her mind is like a fresh little sponge, yet I am finding the act of teaching her and caring to be rather relaxing during my off times working in the lab]

[Speaking off... Emma sweetie, would you like to explain what we were doing today?]

[Okay. Papa was making another shiny crystal. This one was very pwetty and shiny and was soo cool when it went *puah and *whoosh. Papa said that this one was not what he wanted so he put it in the case with the other crystals. Sometimes I look in the boxes and find the prettiest ones to play with. Papa says I could be hurt but I trust my Papa]

[And with that I think we should get you, my little rascal to bed. I think it's time for your nap]

[Aww... but I wanna watch Papa make the next one]

[Tell you what sweetie. When you wake up in the morning. Papa will give you the chance to make the next crystal... okay?]

[Promise?]

[Pinkie promise]

[Yay]

[*sounds of movement]

[That girl is a ray of fresh air upon my tired eyes. I feel that she is not only giving me opportunities to unwind from the stress of this research. She is also making me appreciate the journey of life. Makes you wonder doesn't it.]

[Anyway. I have about four samples I need to run through the reactor. Hoping these give me some improvements]

[Leonard Out]

-0-

"What is our course of action father?"

This was the echo within Tizca as Magnus tried to salvage the situation his legion was facing.

Already he could feel within the warp the presence of a massive fleet, through it's ebbs and flows he could feel the many vessels in this fleet yet did not know what their purpose or whom the ships belonged to.

This put a great fear into the primarch.

"Have the civilians train in evacuation drills. Alert the populace to expect an assault by Imperial forces"

"But father... that would bring chaos to Prospero. To notify the civilian proper about an imminent attack will incite riots and panic through the population."

"What would you have me do my son? Leave them to die not knowing?" Magnus said, his voice frustrated as he slumped into his command seat.

Lumnos stood before his primarch, his face was set in a grim look yet nodded at his fathers words

"Indeed father. Such matters must indeed be told to those whom had no fault in what happened. It is our burden to tell them of our actions"

"My reclusiam shall make the necessary arrangements with those in command. The warnings will not be the entire truth, yet will ensure that the population will remain in some form of order."

"Summon the legions ships. They must be given warning of the incoming omen. Hopefully the worse case scenario will not happen, yet we will prepare as such"

"As you command father" The room replied, as they returned to their task.

Magnus could feel the tension in his body, as countless scenarios played within his mind of what could happen.

He hoped that such measures taken will give them time, or a means to resolve the matter without the need for violence.

-0-

Naruto could feel the warp around them churning.

The travel towards Prospero should not have been this difficult, yet it seems the eyes within the warp had noticed their intention and have stalled their actions.

"Thandesious... what is our heading looking?" Naruto asked through the communications within the control console, the shutters of the ship sealed from the outside by thick sheets of metal.

"The path before us is turbulent my lord. It is even a miracle that we have been able to travel this long without any complications" Thandesious, the head navigator of the Will of Fire said as the ship continued it's voyage within the immaterium.

"Big brother... we're being hampered intentionally. Something is trying to stall us" Inari said as the groans of the ship echoed across the area.

"It has already been a month since we had left Terra. By all accounts we should have reached at least to one of the outlying systems of Prospero, yet we have only made a third of the progress... something is up"

"I know what you mean Inari" Naruto replied, looking at the charts upon the system monitors at their approximate space within the galaxy. Naruto had calculated that at their current speed, they would reach Prospero in three months.

Yet he felt in his gut that Magnus didn't have three months.

"We have no other options. The only other path would set us back even longer. Damn these warp tides and their unpredictability" Inari cursed as they could do nothing but wade out the delays.

Naruto tried to feel within his soul for knowledge, the merging left his soul fatigued and fractured regarding information that he could use. Some of it still felt ancient and alien to his conscious thoughts even if it is embedded into himself.

If he would describe such a thing, it was as though the knowledge was more of a subconscious feeling than tangible. Yet he was willing to dive into it's depths to help them in this scenario.

He felt his chakra fluctuate, his eyes were closed as he whispered into the air, a golden glow basking beneath his eyelids.

"ᛟᚲᛖᚾ ᛟᚠ ᛊᛟᚢᛚᛊ. ᚺᛖᛖᛞ ᛗᛁ ᛊᛟᛜ, ᛈᚨᚱᛏ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛏᚢᚱᛗᛟᛁᛚ ᚨᚹᚨᛁ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᛟᚢᚱ ᛈᚨᚦ, ᛊᛖᛏ ᛏᚱᚢᛖ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛏᛁᛞᛖᛊ ᛏᛟ ᚱᛖᛊᛏ."

The ship jolted as their orientation as the Will of Fire felt a sudden rise, the rush of the Immaterium parted aside the mighty vessel as it's direction did not feel so choppy. A gasp across the vox alerted Inari.

"Thandesious, what is wrong?" Inari asked across the vox.

"The warp... the tides... they are settling? I have never seen such a thing. It seems we have picked up a tailwind in the warp. A lucky break in this turmoil."

Inari took a glance towards Naruto, whom still had his eyes closed. He gave a suspect look at the primarch before replying into the vox.

"That is good. How will this effect our travel?"

"If such good conditions continue. We should reach Prospero by the end of the month"

"Keep me posted if the warp changes. Do not strain yourself, it is not worth the risk"

"Understand Captain"

Inari tapped Naruto on his shoulder, pulling the primarch out of his trance, he looked upon Inari with a look of confusion.

"That was you just now... wasn't it" Inari said in a low tone, Naruto just gave a slight nod as Inari gave a small sigh.

"Just what the heck happened to you in the Palace to get a skill like that?" Inari asked, his tone curious yet Naruto looked at him with a serious look.

"Classified" Naruto said swiftly

"Classified ehh?" Inari said as he took a deep sigh, already he could feel that more 'stuff' was going to happen during this mission.

He could feel it coming a mile away.

-0-

The drop was a mess.

What should have been a decisive move turned out to be a massacre, thousands of battle brothers and sisters stormed the traitors in their sanctum, delivering a strike that would have shattered lesser beings.

Yet these were not lesser beings.

Iron hands and Shadow foxes pushed up the death pits, great feats of chakra rending the planet asunder as kin fought tooth and nail to find purchase upon the scorched earth.

Jaune screamed a mighty fury as his sword impaled the chest of a traitor, their blood splattering across his face as he used his aura to shield those under his protection. His cousins, these Iron hands marched across the fields of blood and death, delivering vengeance upon those whom had forsaken their oaths to inflict madness upon mankind.

Across the battlefield, shadow foxes provided the lynchpin to those legions deployed beside them, often being targeted and killed first as the traitors realised their multiplier upon the anvil of battle, with devastating consequences to those they protected.

Ferrus had pushed his forces into the heart of the enemy, anger burning in his eyes as he saw the senseless slaughter of his sons, of those they had bonded over and are bleeding with. He had seen countless shadow foxes push themselves into the line of fire to defend those they called friends, family and those whom even felt love for their fellow kin.

Yet the burning anger and hatred in his heart blazed furiously as he raged against the filth before him.

Across the expanse, Raven guards and salamanders rushed into flanking positions, their shadow foxes providing critical support as they rushed to aid their brothers. Vulkan and Corvus, along with their shadow fox captains Bee and Darui provided escort and support as the might of the legions was being brought to bare against the enemy.

Yet the traitor still persisted, ever goading them onwards.

Horus looked upon the battlefield with a smile of glee.

Already he could see the battlelines of the loyalist pushing ever more into the vice he had set. It did not matter that Naruto's legion contributed heavily to their survival, what mattered was that the variables were accounted for and neutralized.

Vox chatter echoed firing solutions, these mostly prioritizing the shadow fox operatives within the loyalist as priority targets, their deaths usually resulted in the traitors able to deliver devastating blows into the legions. Second was to feint a retreat, bringing even more forces into the trap.

The third factor lay beyond the planet, a signal to mark the end of the resistance, and the start of the true slaughter.

The roars of battle horns echoed across the expanse, as the towering figures of the titan legions were brought to bare, their colossal weapons of war unleashed devastation upon the battlefield, yet some pockets still resisted these beings, often with the use of ungodly amounts of chakra fluctuating across the ground and sky.

Other loyalist forces joined in the struggle, the mechanicum providing titan support to the loyal legions as their weapons provided the ground troops with precious time. Great barriers of earth and air were brought forth by those shadow foxes who's chakra shined pure, even as the strain was breaking their bodies.

A thousand battles and a thousands deaths echoed every second.

It was a battle unlike any within the Imperium's history.

"Push Forward! Kill the traitors!" Shouted the voice of a Sister, her eyes glowed a viscous blue as she tore the landscape apart, providing an entryway for her Iron hand kin to push into the enemy trench without suffering.

Her powers had felt draining to her, even as she screamed profanities to those traitors in her sights, she could feel her chakra lessen with each engagement, each brush of death and tactical push into the enemy heart, yet she endured for the sake of those she cherished.

For those she had lost.

Her heart died when she saw the burning corpse of her love, hatred burned hot as she only saw red, massacred before he could even eject from his drop pod, it's panels blasted opened as the fire raged.

She had felt a sadness that was sickening, a pain that was raw and fresh.

Yet her hatred gave her warmth in these harrowing times.

She pushed forward, along with those of her Iron hand kin as they breached the trenches, she willed her chakra to destroy every filthy traitor that left her heart feeling this pain, each kill making her hatred even stronger even though the pain in her heart did not lessen.

She had taken shelter as return fire singled her out from the impromptu squad, her Iron hands kin opened vicious return volleys as she salvaged what she could with the use of her chakra, the very ground becoming the enemy to the traitors as they were swallowed and crushed.

Yet she felt her chakra run out, and with that she felt the burst of power that flowed from her dying body.

A burnout, inevitable with the excessive use of chakra she had used.

Yet through sheer hatred she continued onward, providing everything to ensure her squad succeeded at breaching the wall before them.

Forgoing defence, she rushed forward as the ground around her shuddered and changed, her aura started to bleed a bloody red as her body released plumes of condensed steam and heat, yet even with such things happening to her, she continued onward.

Even as those she had protected watch her burn like a great star.

She screamed hurdling herself into the enemy, a rupture of power levelling the enemy fortification with a force unlike any other.

Those Iron hands whom witnessed the heroic sacrifice payed their due respect, before proceeding through the completed hole into the enemy's sanctum, a quiet thanks given to the fallen astartes.

The sounds of bolter fire sang loud in the darkened abyss.

-0-

The initial fleet welcomed the reinforcements.

Bursting from the warp, the legion fleets of the Iron hands, Salamanders, Raven guard and shadow foxes all felt a sense of relief as the rest of the fleet moved into tactical positions, hails of thanks and relief flooding the vox.

Mochigawa Tokan looked from the deck of the Honourbound, the captain welcoming the additional reinforcements, yet he could not shake this feeling that something was wrong when he noticed an irregularity.

The strategy that was planned by the entire operation called for the secondary fleet to deploy their forces and proceed as a support unit to the main fleets as auxiliaries, yet he was seeing irregular patterns that gave him a cautionary glance.

These movements by their allies were not going as planned.

Other officers had merely seen them as a minor errors in communications due to the warp distances from each fleet, yet Mochigawa couldn't help but be concerned when he could see the heavy battleships take up planetary strike positions instead of returning to their auxiliary positions.

"Vox master, hail those ships that are in positions before us, something is concerning me, they should not be in those spots"

"Aye Captain"

The vox master opened a vox link to those vessels as Mochigawa started to speak.

"Fleet command Secundus. Confirming that missions parameters have been issued and understood"

Mochigawa said through the vox network.

"Honourbound. Indeed we have confirmed mission parameters, we are providing support drop for secondary elements as precaution"

"Acknowledge. Be advised sector J-2578 shows irregular deployment patterns from mission parameters."

"Understood Honourbound. Corrective actions are in progress"

The ships which were an anomaly corrected their course. Mochigawa looked at this with relief but still couldn't shake this feeling.

Something within his chakra was telling him that this felt wrong somehow.

And he had always listened to his gut in the matters of life and death, even when he was a shinobi.

-0-

The traitors started to retreat.

The reinforcements had taken position on the northern edge of the depression, the flood of supporting aircraft and mechanised units was a welcoming sight to those whom took the brunt of the initial assault.

Ferrus looked at this retreat and felt an ire rise within him. He had already suffered major casualties just to take this ground, yet the enemy taunt them by ordering a withdraw.

"Ferrus... Do you read me?" Corvus replied over the vox, he grunted as he opened a channel to his brother.

"I read you..."

"Our casualties upon your flank are bordering on unsustainable. Recommend our course of action is to regroup and consolidate with our allies"

"What? Are you saying we retreat?" Ferrus said, his tone gaining a hot temper.

"Corvus is right Fenrus" Vulkan said over the vox line "Naruto's supporting companies have suffered heavy for us to achieve this area. The traitors are singling them out and leaving our elements dangerously exposed. We must re group and recover our losses"

"I can't believe you are even saying this?!" Fenrus said over the vox "After what we have just lost? We can take the enemy on. Letting them re group will merely just lead us to lose the advantage. I cannot, I WILL not let the deaths of MY sons be in vain"

Ferrus dismissed the vox, his anger starting to boil within him as he watched Bee next to him deal with the last remnants of the traitors.

"That's the last of them" Bee said, sheathing his blades as he looked upon the primarch.

"What's the battle plan Ferrus?"

"My brothers want to retreat to recover our strength. After all that we have lost, after all this sacrifice."

Ferrus gave a frustrated roar as he slammed his armoured fist into a piece of ruined wall.

"What about you Bee? Will you fall back?"

Bee walked towards Ferrus, even here he could see the hatred and anger in his eyes, yet Bee merely gave a calming look as he dismissed Ferrus's concerns.

"My company is stuck with yours. Ain't no way we're gonna leave you alone that easy"

Ferrus gave a friendly bellow as he slapped Bee's shoulder, his look of anger replaced with genuine gratefulness.

"Then come Bee. Our moment of justice is at hand"

-0-

The sixth company continued supporting the Iron hands

Darui had to give credit to his former sensei, if anyone were to survive such a hellhole, it would be Bee.

His company had provided vital support to the Raven guard as their numbers were better off compared to those within his company.

Yet each company had been assigned with their primary legion they would support, and so they would follow their commands.

Darui got in contact with Lee in regards to his fighting strength, turns out Lee's company had bared the brunt of casualties, his former sensei Mortarion was using heavy biological weapons that proved to be absolutely demolishing to the salamanders, yet the casualties would have been much higher had Lee not been there with his company providing vital support for Vulkan's legion to survive.

Yet these tactics came at great cost.

Over twenty percent of their battle companies had fallen, either due to chakra burnout or grievous wounds or a combination of both. Yet the casualties of their supporting legion only capped out at a eight percent loss.

It seemed that the shadow foxes were being the anvil to withstand the hammer.

Corvus had pulled their forces back, bringing the wounded together to perform triage and administer what they could in the relative safety they had, he had a plan to let the others take the reins so that they could recover their strength and supplies, Darui had agreed that this was the best course of action to take.

"Secundus Command. We have multiple wounded and need supplies to replenish our numbers. Please send aid" Corvus hailed over the vox network.

They were only greeted with silence.

"Secundus Command. We require medical aid and assistance, Perturabo, Lorgar, Konrad, Alpharius... is anyone responding?"

The vox was still silent.

Darui had a sinking gut feeling that something was wrong.

"Secundus Command. Brothers, we need your help" Vulkan said across the vox, yet the silence was defining as the weary legions wanted a response, anything to know they acknowledge their plight. The companies were crossing over the trench line, their sights upon the newly created safe zone that was manned by their allies, yet many were still confused at why they were not responding to their calls.

A lone flare shot up from the enemies lines, it's colour was a viscous red, that was not part of any plan that Darui had known about.

Yet he watched as the line of allies levelled their bolters upon the wounded legions. Their looks portraying nothing yet Darui had felt a sense of overwhelming dread.

His voice echoed across the valley as his mind realized what was happening.

"AMBUSH!"

-0-

Ferrus pushed the Iron hands and shadow foxes into the lines of Fulgrim and his sons. The ruins of the traitors were still smoking as they pursued their quarry. He could see the sight of Fulgrim as his phoenix guard stood vigilant across the ruins of a broken land.

Iron hand and Shadow fox descended upon the traitors with a fury that was incredible, their clash with Fulgrims warriors actually giving the astartes no room to breathe as chakra ripped their lines with the fury of boltguns.

Ferrus had engaged his brother, the gorgon clashing with the phoenix as they wielded their weapons they had once forged for each other, firebrand burned a blistering heat as forgebreaker, the two brothers engaged in a duel that shook the landscape, even as the battle around them turned into a fight of two wills.

"Give up Fulgrim. You should have not betrayed our father. Now you will pay the price for your hubris"

"Brother. You are truly a fool if you think that. Horus will lead us to a new order, one better than this wretched Imperium"

"Do you not realise the folly you are in?" Ferrus said, as the two clashed their weapons, each trying to overpower the other "You have lost! Even now the full might of eight legions will come crashing down upon you"

Even during the colossal melee, Fulgrim couldn't help but laugh as the sight of a lone flare shot upon the air behind Fulgrim, showing a demented smile upon his face.

"It is you who is the fool. You fell right into the trap"

"What?"

Ferrus looked beyond towards their allies, confusion upon his face, yet his eyes widened as he could not believe what he was seeing.

The battered first wave was being hammered, bolter fire echoed across the valley as desperate shadow foxes tried to erect barriers of earth, yet some parts were too late to act and were slaughtered as waves upon waves of bolter fire ripped their numbers apart.

The allied forces had rushed back down the hill, their panicked retreat showing Ferrus everything.

He wished this wasn't real, that this was merely a trick, yet the sounds of the wounded and dying couldn't be denied as he watched two legions be slaughtered, a third trying desperately to save as many as they could.

It was in this moment that Ferrus roared in complete rage.

Even as the battlefield echoed with the sounds of the dying, as the very skies itself burned with fire and death, even as the bitter truth showed it's ugly face, Ferrus could do nothing but rage.

He would rage against the dying of hope, of brotherhood, of humanity.

It was all he could do.

-0-

Blake and Sun heard their captain shout the warning.

In less than a second the two had used their chakra to erect a wall, even as the first volley of bolters slammed into the barricade with a vicious explosion.

The line had folded in an instant as the vox was lit up with confusion, panic and pure chaos.

"We have to get out of here!" Blake shouted as the wall was starting to break.

The two, along with their squads of Raven guard rushed away from the crumbling wall, desperate to exfiltrate anywhere else.

Blake could see their squads desperately provide means of protection, even as the sting of betrayal was raw and painful, they rushed to the secondary point where their drop gear and means of exfiltration was at hand.

Yet Blake couldn't help but look upon the skies, to only see beams of fire descend upon their position.

"INCOMING ORBITAL STRIKE!"

Her squad and Son's used their combined chakra to erect a massive shelter of earth, as the beam collided upon their location, Blake screamed as her chakra was being pushed to it's limit, the beam forcing the group to bare the ungodly force of the attack as their raven guard kin looked on in panic.

"SOMEONE GET A TUNNEL RIGHT NOW! WE CAN'T STAY HERE!" Blake shouted as her aura shuddered as another strike pummeled their position.

A handful of shadow foxes rushed through hand signs as the ground was ripped open, massive chambers were hastily made as everyone was pushed into the impromptu shelter.

The last of the group managed to hold the shield just in time for the next barrage to decimate the landscape, yet Blake continued to order her squad to make more escape routes before this tunnel became their tomb.

The sounds of hurried steps and cracking earth echoed across the pitch black darkness.

-0-

Yang was angry.

Already she had seen hundreds of his comrades and friends die, massacred by those who were on their side. This would make her pretty crossed if not for the fact that her best friends and those she cared for were fighting for their lives in this mess.

Then their reinforcements decided to backstab them while they were trying to find help.

She watched as Blake's location was destroyed with orbital fire, the blaze a scene she was unable to forget as the blood and carnage wracked ruin upon their numbers. Shadow foxes were desperately using their chakra to shelter those under their care as chaos ensured, yet the enemy continued their advance and relentlessly emptied their weapons into the nearly helpless loyalist.

Yang screamed as her hair glowed a fierce red, her eyes turning to blood as she rushed into the line of traitors before her.

She was exemplifying the principal of cause and effect, as every blow placed onto her made her blows ever stronger, more and more she ripped apart traitors, even as bolter rounds impacted against her aura and further empowered her.

In her heart, she was in pain, as she watched one she cared for the most be massacred in such an ignoble death, yet even as the hatred and pain flooded her system, it was held back through sheer will and a cold, unflinching wrath.

She continued to rip and tear, making a pile of traitor bodies before her even as more came to replace them, she had lost count on how many she had layed low, yet it seems her efforts made her a priority threat if the extra numbers were anything to go by.

Yet as she had almost rushed into the thick of the enemy, death blazing in her eyes, the figure of her captain gave her pause.

Rock Lee was silent, his face was lowered as he stood before the enemy. Even as bolter rounds pummeled his armour he still did not raise his vision.

Instead, he merely uttered a simple phase, something out of place in a battlefield scenario.

"Give me the strength to protect, for hope is dying"

An audible voice echoed across his armour, the tone was simple and mono toned.

"Authorization phrase confirmed. Full Servo functionality restored"

"Gate of Opening, Open"

"Gate of Healing, Open"

"Gate of Life, Open"

These simple phrases set of a chain of events that made the traitors pause in concern, they watched as Lee became covered in an aura of blue as his skin turned red, his eyes no longer containing pupils, he took a deep breath as the servo's within his suit started to hiss and groan as Lee merely stretched his neck to each side, all the while the traitors resumed their attack.

The world shuddered as the very ground cracked apart, to the Enemy; Lee simply vanished from their transhuman sight.

That was when the first attack came.

Salamanders and shadow foxes, including Vulkan were visibly shaken as the traitors whom tried to destroy them vanished before their very eyes, to the loyalist it was though a force of Nature had struck the traitors where they stood, nothing but gore and blood to cover the landscape.

To Vulkan, he could barely keep his vision upon the young shinobi as he had watched Lee destroy them all.

Vulkan knew that the captain was a remarkable individual, the fact that he was handicapped to such a degree was a chilling reminder of how monstrously powerful his student was.

Lee looked upon those of his company and of the Salamanders, his body covered with the blood of countless traitors as he pointed to the area he had just cleared.

"The way is open, we must hurry and evacuate!" Lee said, his tone calm despite the mess he had just made.

The salamanders took no more prompting as they retreated with all haste towards the now open pathway, even as the traitors tried to recoup from such a display of force.

Yet as they started to pick up momentum, the thundering footsteps of giants gave them pause for concern. Vulkan knew that sound, as a massive figure showed themselves from beyond the depression.

The Legio mortis had prepared their forces away from the battlefield, their battle plans coming to fruition as the warmaster had ordered.

The Titans had engaged their loyalist counterparts, the Breath of Thunder walked with confidence as it's still hot volcano cannon had just annihilated one of it's loyalist brethren, this being the Red Naga

It's attention was placed solely upon the Salamanders and Shadow foxes whom tried to attempt their escape. The precept merely giving a haunting laugh as it started the firing sequence for it's volcano cannon.

"Gravity Seals... release" was the words that Lee had uttered, as Vulkan was in more shock that lee was still handicapped.

The Breath of Thunder strode with confidence, it's volcano cannon almost ready to unleash death upon these loyalist as he watched their numbers try and fire upon it's hardened carapace.

"What ignorant fools" The precept said as he levelled his weapon.

Yet what he wasn't expecting was the sound of a sonic blast as a lone figure appeared before his vision, their armour denoting them as a Shadow fox.

"Konoha Gōriki Senpū"

The princept had but a moment before the very titan was rocked towards it's side, the backwards kick striking the main junction of the mighty war machine, adamantium that had been forged using ancient techniques and had withstood the might of even other titan weaponry collapsed upon itself, the force reaching an unimaginable magnitude as the entire titan collapsed by the cascading chain reaction, as it's upper torso crashed towards the ground into it's still standing legs.

A marvel and avatar of war had been struck down by a single elementian, an astartes who had no equal in the ways of pure physical prowess.

Lee winced as his foot was broken in multiple areas, fractures and broken bones littered his leg yet his release of the gates dulled the pain down significantly.

The Salamanders stared in awe, unbelieving what they had just witnessed. Lee landed before them as his facial expression was still calm.

"Lets go. We will only have this chance!" Lee bellowed.

"My sons! We go!" Vulkan said with finality as the legions made their daring escape.

Vulkan was now even more concerned at the potential strength of Elementians, if someone like Lee had such power, what does that imply to those whom were Stronger?

-0-

Horus could not believe his eyes.

What should have been a massacre by one of his titans and his forces was instead reversed upon him, with the legion in question finding an escape route in the ensuring chaos.

He had calculated the probability and potential of every element in this battle, having full confidence that even with their intervention, the shadow fox companies would die like the rest of their loyalist kin.

Now he was having second thoughts, as he was witnessing events and skills that he had no information about. Feats of strength and will that were beyond anything he had ever conceived nor hypothesized.

It left his mind with more questions, trying to make sense of the impossible.

"All units. Proceed with the second stage. Get a grasp of those forces who have broken through the initial containment and bring down those damn shadow foxes!"

Battlelines advanced upon the enemy. Their tactics becoming more aggressive by the second, entire anti tank hunter squadrons were being used as impromptu snipers against elementians, with some minor success. Artillery strikes and orbital barrages were being utilized in macro scale barrages to kill as many loyalist as possible. Infiltration elements launched brazen attacks to exposed elements within the loyalist forces.

And yet the shadow foxes continued to bring forth solutions to these problems.

Those same anti tank units were being outmanoeuvred by shadow fox personnel, some even being ambushed by units that appeared as though from nothing. Artillery strikes and orbital barrages were being deflected or absorbed by sealing or specialized jutsu units, their abilities even withstanding continuos barrages of ungodly strength. Alpha legion personnel that had attempted to infiltrate loyalist battlelines were being engaged in brutal shadow wars with specialised shadow fox personalities.

The battle was still within their control, yet the nuisance was proving itself an unknown that continued to grate the warmaster.

For every shadow fox his forces killed, they had payed with the blood of a hundred of his own numbers, at such a rate the crushing victory he had planned would instead be a a vicious one, something he could not afford to take if his plans were to advance.

It seems he would need to interfere personally, along with the strength of his brothers.

"Brothers. These damn foxes are proving to be costly, we must interfere and cut this resistance out. Drop into the battlefield and do what you all do best"

Forces of the world eaters and death guard reinforced the lines across the battlefield, the legio mortis brought it's full might towards the battlefield, destruction and carnage raining across the land as the blood flowed ever more vicious.

World eater berserkers rampaged across the battlefield, their blades finding purchase across multiple legions as the loyalist continued to hold out desperately, death guard personnel were firing toxic bioweapons into the loyalist lines, using every means to reap a massive tally.

Mortarion and Angron rampaged along with their sons, each reaping a bloody toll that included many legionaries, some had given the brothers resistance yet ultimately fell to the might of a primarch.

The battle was becoming desperate for the loyalist forces as they were being isolated and overwhelmed, yet they continued to fight and hold on for as long as possible, each kill of a traitor being an act of defiance, each second being a victory in their mind.

Fulgrim stood above the body of Ferrus, the gorgon was bloody and bruised as he suffered catastrophic injuries by his brother. Forgebreaker was within his grasp, it's edge blunted and bent as the blood of his brother dripped from it's surface.

Ferrus could barely see, his face was a mess of blood and flesh that reflected his body as a whole. Yet even with his body in such a critical damaged state, the hot Ire of his fury remained as blazing as ever, even as Fireblade continued to burn as a reflection.

"You should have joined us Ferrus. It would have been perfect. A grand liberation for all to see and experience" Fulgrim said, his breath ragged as he looked at his brother with pity.

"You... you do not get to speak of liberty... when you bring such wanton slaughter to your kin, you deserve NOTHING, you are worse than SCUM!"

Ferrus dredged up from his well of strength to try and deliver a vicious strike with fireblade, yet Fulgrim in but a flash drew his Laer blade, the cursed metal bit into the chest of the gorgon, as he cried out in agony as the wound festered with a sickening pulse of purple.

"Then if you cannot see reason. I will instead take that reason from your own head!"

Ferrus watched as Fulgrim brought his blade above him, agony had wracked his body even as his eyes watched the events in front of him in slow motion.

He watched as Fulgrims eyes widened, his stance hesitating for but a brief moment as he could see the look of shock and horror in his eyes.

Yet he had watched in slow motion, as his arms started to descend the blade down towards his neck, even as he closed in eyes in acceptance.

This is where he will die.

Yet the clash of steel was all he had heard.

Opening his eyes, Ferrus looked on in shock as the Laer blade was being held back, two distinct blades holding back it's monstrous force even as a scream echoed from the blade.

And standing before him, holding the strike that would have killed him, was Killer Bee, looking at Ferrus as his arms held the blades behind his back.

"Jaune! Get Ferrus out of here and RUN!" Bee bellowed as Jaune rushed towards the down primarch.

Ferrus was still in shock even as the form of Jaune Arc carried the wounded primarch, the young elementian looking at his captain as he held the daemonic blade back.

"What about you captain! I won't just leave you!"

Fulgrim tried to rush part the captain, yet Bee outpaced the primarch, even as he drew multiple blades out to stop the cursed blade from seeking Ferrus.

"This is my stop kid. My journey is at it's end. But it is not time for Ferrus to die"

"Captain... you can't beat him" Jaune said as others rushed towards the injured Ferrus, those of his Iron hands along with others from the sixth company

"It doesn't matter, so long at those who are important still live."

Fulgrim continued to clash blades with Bee, who's chakra blazed a fierce gold, his strength and speed matching the primarch even as he growled in frustration at being denied his kill. Bee ducked under a vicious overhead as he continued to parry and block the ever escalating blows of the primarch.

"My time has already come and gone Jaune. Yet this is not where our company will die, it will live on. It must live on"

The blades started to fade from sight as the speed continued to escalate, the angry screams of Fulgrim along with the vicious swings of his Laer blade continued to chip away at the blades in Bee's possession, yet even as the metal groaned and cracked, he continued to stand his ground against an impossible opponent.

A demi god against a mortal human, one whom wielded the power of gods and the other the strength to move men.

Their blades continued to clash across the field, yet even with such feats of swordsmanship being displayed, Bee was still able to speak during the fighting.

"You will have to lead them Jaune. From this point on, you are the captain now"

Jaune's eyes widened as those of the company whom were close had heard the last words of their captain, even as he continued to clash his blades with Fulgrim.

"Now Go... Run from this place. Run and don't look back!"

Jaune felt a pain in his heart at his captains words, yet he gave a solemn nod as he pushed his company and those of the Iron hands towards the enemy lines, a wounded primarch being carried by the survivors as Bee continued to hold Fulgrim back.

"You should have not done that Bee!" Fulgrim screamed as he tried to overwhelm Bee with his swordsmanship, yet the captain continued to show his skills by deflecting and blocking the blows.

His two swords shattered mid way through the clash yet in an unhuman speed he drew another two of his blades, even as Fulgrim continued to yell and scream in frustration.

"He was my KILL! MY KILL BEE!"

"He is your brother... he is family! Family doesn't try to KILL EACH OTHER!" Bee roared as the two continued their dance of death.

Jaune had reached into his armour, pulling a specialized tube with a fuse igniter, Applying chakra to the fuse and pointing the item towards the sky released a flare of a brilliant green and blue, the presence was able to be seen from all of the battlefield.

Suddenly the battlefield tempo started to change.

Where once chaos reined and decision were indecisive, now the loyalist forces had somehow regrouped and were following a plan that was not understood by the traitors.

Great chasms of earth were erected across the battlefield as the loyalist forces were being lead into these 'mazes' those of the Iron hands, Salamanders and Raven guard whom were being lead into these were confused at this tactic, while those within the shadow foxes knew exactly what the flare had meant.

After all, it was a plan devised by their primarch for such emergencies.

Massive amounts of displaced earth were made as chakra teams poured ungodly amounts of chakra into the ground, the formation leading to a massive mega structure underground. Their allies were coerced into these shelters as their shadow fox companions guided them through their labyrinthian designs.

Horus was able to see such a plan yet had no sure-fire way to counter said strategy, and yet it was working despite the scenario placed to the loyalist.

Meanwhile, Bee continued his clash of blades with Fulgrim, the deadly dance destroying six of his eight blades, he was now reduced to his last two blades, with the both of them being the two blades he had been given by the primarch's as a gift.

The purple blade, one he had named Masamune, echoed with a deadly grace as the metal proved to be supreme.

The silver blade, named Muramasa, stood strong even against the overwhelming force of Fulgrim's daemon blade.

Yet the strength in his body was still limited, something which still faced human limitations.

Fulgrim did not have such limits.

So the daemon blade had found purchase into the lower abdomen of Bee, the two warriors within touching distance.

Fulgrim looked on as he saw Bee continue to struggle against the daemon blade. Blood pooled from his mouth as he tried to pull the blade out from his body.

Fulgrim merely obliged him as the blade was pulled viciously, spilling more blood as Bee fell to his knee's.

"Why did you think you could win Bee? You face a being of perfection, one blessed to be perfect in every way. Why did you think you could match someone like me?!" Fulgrim said, his tone full of frustration yet also hurt.

Bee gave a chuckle, even as blood spilt from his wound and mouth.

"I was never supposed to win" Bee said, coughing blood "Just enough to hold you back"

"Then die knowing you failed" Fulgrim said as he raised the Laer blade towards the captain.

-0-

"Bee"

Killer Bee sat within the confines of his mind, he looked up at the mighty figure of Gyuki, the ushi-oni looked on in sombre as he could sense the life force leaving from his partner.

"This wound is beyond my ability to heal Bee. It has a poison that is not of this reality"

Bee merely chuckled as he also realised his predicament.

"I know Gyuki. But there is still a way for us to buy the others time"

"You mean?"

"Yea partner."

"Your body will not handle the strain. This will kill you" Gyuki said, his tone saddened at what his jinchuriki was saying.

"I have lived a good life partner. Yet those whom I call family are still out there, dying from the ambitions of a traitor. If my life is what is takes to save them. I will gladly give it"

Gyuki gave a chuckle, realising that even when he was given a spot among the finest soldiers humanity had ever made, he still had a heart of gold.

"Very well Bee. I will respect your request. But I will indeed miss you partner"

"I'll miss you too partner. Take care of the company when your gone. They are my family"

-0-

The world trembled.

The center of the Urgall depression shuddered as a colossal figure appeared, it's height towered even the colossal war machines of the legio titanica. It's form was unlike anything the traitors had seen, resembling an old folk lore from Terra's ancient past.

Fulgrim was blasted from the release of the beast, his form flying across the battlefield, yet even in such a scenario he was able to gracefully recover. He looked up in silent awe, his eyes widened to the colossal figure standing before him.

"So this is what you held back Bee... To think your strength could be given by such a creature...magnificent"

Horus had dismissed the tales of the tailed beast, believing them to only be exaggeration given by the locals of elementia. Each story and tale making him question and critique the supposed strength of these forces of nature.

In this, he had made a serious error.

"What is that?"

Chakra flowed across Gyuki's surface in a cascading display, the aura visible to the naked eye for miles due to the sheer concentration. Those within the shadow foxes could feel the colossal energies of the beast while those unable to were in the dark on what was truly unleashed.

It drew it's limb across the land, into the heart of a traitor strong point, as nothing survived it's strike, everything from reinforced bunkers to deep trench lines was destroyed with the blow, the lives of hundreds of astartes killed by one simple action.

Horus could not take any chances.

"All units. TAKE THAT BEAST DOWN!"

The Dies Irae, an infamous figure within the legion mortis readied it's armaments to fire upon the beast, the volleys of it's hellstorm cannon and plasma annihilator unleashed untold devastation upon the area near the beast, while supporting elements from it's upper torso rained barrages of hellfire upon it's enemy.

The battlefield was filled with the dust and debris from the explosive power of it's weapons, even as the barrels ran hot from the sudden colossal discharge of it's power.

Princept Turnet gave a brief chuckle at the mighty display of his war machine, the battlefield was utterly devastated from such a colossal display that his sensors were impeded by the dust and debris.

"Too easy. Did the warmaster think that a target such as that would be a challenge?"

Yet when the dust settled, Turnet looked on in absolute horror at what he was seeing.

Where there should have been nothing, the beast was merely looking at the colossal figure, the shell of chakra overflowing from it's body as it turned itself to face the titan.

It's mouth started to open, as the world shuddered and buckled, particles of black and white energy started to pool upon the beast's mouth. As the sight of a massive ball of pitch black started to form around it's muzzle, the area around the anomaly started to collapse in on itself as even the very ground could not hold the godly forces being held.

Turnet ordered the tech priest and personnel aboard to pour all power they had remaining to the massive void shields within the titan, as the field itself crackled and groaned at the influx of power.

Yet the ball of nothingness that the beast held had quadrupled in size, now encompassing the entire vision of the titan as Turnet unleashed another volley from his hellstorm cannon, trying to conserve as much power as he could.

Gyuki ignored the volleys of the weapon, where such a barrage would have felled even titans it did not make a dent in it's massive reserves. Vengeance and fury for it's partner would see it bring devastation upon the enemy.

The bijudama flew from it's mouth with the force of a miniature star, it's speed was unlike anything the traitors had ever seen.

Turnet had poured everything he had into Dies Irae's void shields, hoping that the ancient machine could weather the attack.

This was his final thoughts as the Imperator titan was reduced to ashes.

The titan and the traitor forces behind it had simply vanished, along with the landscape, the light produced blinded those traitors whom were too close to the attack as even those whom watched from a distance could feel the tremors of the world, the ground shaking itself apart and the land ripping under the force of the attack.

Horus had calculated for every possible scenario and plan the loyalist could have utilized.

Yet this was something beyond his calculations.

A part of the Urgall depression was gone, the natural crater had now be flattened on one side of the landscape, a ravine stretching for miles was carved out from the attack as all those traitors whom were in the firing arc had simply dissapeared.

The crack of orbital artillery rained upon the beast, at it gave a monstrous roar, as now the enemy had it's full attention upon the massive beast.

Lorgar had just been out of the blast of the beast, yet he could see that the attack had crippled the numbers of his legion. Already he had seen over half of his astartes had been caught by the blast as he gave a shout of anger and frustration upon seeing such a display of force.

Angron rushed upon one of the mighty tails of the beast, the butcher of the red sands leaped upon it's flesh, gorefather and gorechild upon his hands as he screamed in rage.

The tail subconsciously swung at the primarch, blasting him across the landscape to only be embedded in a mountain in the far distance.

All around, the traitors had diverted their attention towards the monster that had just appeared in the middle of their ranks, all manner of weaponry being utilized to fell the great beasts.

All the while, the loyalist forces was using the chaos as a means to escape.

Jaune pushed those survivors with him towards a safe extraction point. With the destruction of their transports the only safest way they could escape was to enact the plan given to them by their primarch.

He gathered the strongest earth jutsu users in his company and had them create a labyrinth system that expanded past the killing fields, even as he was co coordinating this, remnants of the traitor forces that were assisting the attack on the beast tried to destroy these loyalist forces.

"Get everyone into the tunnels! NOW!" Jaune bellowed as the forces employed hit and run manoeuvrers along with extracting all those who could.

Ferrus was being carried by his Morlocks, the terminators carrying their father to safety as Ferrus looked upon the form of Gyuki.

"No... Bee!" Ferrus had said as he looked upon the beast fighting tooth and nail against the enemy.

He started screaming as he was taken into the darkness, tears upon his eyes as he watched his brother be the rearguard for their escape, all the while Jaune rallied the rest to continue extracting.

In the distances he could see the other loyalist legions also extracting, the distraction given by Gyuki proving to be the decisive chance they needed to escape this massacre.

In the end, the great tailed beast Gyuki had reaped a mighty tally, but it was the death of Bee's body that ultimately ended his rampage across the enemy.

Yet the damage had already been done.

What should have been a decisive victory for the warmaster, was instead a bitter pill to swallow as his forces had suffered greatly.

He had made a tactical error, and now was paying the price.

-0-

Well hello there people.

Now we come to what I like to call, the spice moment.

I did say I had to give a scaling of escalation to show how strong elementians are. Well... how bout the force of a tailed beast?

In all fairness, this was what i had envisioned when making this battle. I knew that this one in particular was the tipping point of the heresy and lead to what we know as the darkest timeline.

Yet shinobi are bullshit strong when you understand their universe and context. And with a dash of 30k/40k I can saw that they indeed would be a player that most factions could not ignore.

I hope you all like this chapter, the last parts were flying onto the keyboard as my fingers were on FIRE.

Anyway, peace out