The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Thump, thump, thump…

Shinji sprinted through the dim steel corridor, the sound of intense gunfire and clashing blades echoing in his ears. There was no room for useless chatter in a battle between Astartes. Before the enemy even opened fire, Shinji had ordered his entire squad to disperse; with the high ground occupied by the enemy, staying together would have made them sitting ducks.

Thump, thump.

His two hearts beat violently, bringing both the tension of battle and a deep, gnawing suspicion.

’Why go to such great lengths to ambush me? Why did the Chapter’s Librarians not detect a single thing?’

He couldn’t find an answer. When a lightning whip lashed out from the front, terminating his train of thought, he jumped sideways, pushing off the wall with incredible speed.

Thunderbolts streaked past him, disappearing into the dark passage. A power sword bloomed with an eerie blue glow as Shinji hung suspended in mid-air, bringing his blade down with a savage swing.

Zzzzt—

The blade stopped against a psychic shield. Shinji looked down at the Chaos Space Marine encased in dark blue power armor, feeling the psychic energy pushing him back. Suddenly, he abandoned his sword and reached for his waist, unleashing his full psychic potential.

A bolt pistol poked through a gap in the psychic shield, its muzzle spitting a long tongue of flame.

Rat-tat-tat-tat.

Sparks showered across the power armor. The Chaos Space Marine was forced backward, his armor marred by a dozen shallow craters. It clearly hadn’t penetrated the armor, but Shinji seized the opening, tearing through the psychic shield and thrusting his left-hand crozius forward.

Wooo.

The melee module deployed, a power blade snapping out from the base of the crozius to meet the bolt pistol the enemy had just drawn.

Rat-tat-tat.

Hot rounds grazed his helmet. The power blade, infused with psychic energy, plunged directly into the enemy’s chest. It wasn’t a fatal blow, and with the enemy’s gun muzzle now pressed

against his own forehead, Shinji released his grip on the crozius. The moment the enemy pulled the trigger, Shinji slid past, snatched up the power sword that had been knocked away earlier, and swung.

Swish—

A brilliant arc of light cut through the dark corridor. The blade entered the gap between the helmet and the neck, erupting out through the throat.

”Damn traitor.”

Shinji flicked his sword and tossed it aside, not even glancing at the corpse kneeling on the floor. This traitor’s psychic power was inferior to his own, his combat skills and equipment mediocre—he was only used to provide cover and interfere with Shinji’s psychic calculations.

Still, this was the typical style of the Black Legion traitors. Led by the Chaos Warmaster Abaddon, the Legion was infamous for using miscellaneous warbands as cannon fodder.

’Things are bad. Thankfully, I prepared a secondary plan based on the terrain.’

As he picked up the traitor’s psychic staff, Shinji checked the tactical map. Two friendly signals were already lost. Fortunately, this asteroid was a complex labyrinth; by breaking out separately, it would be difficult for the enemy to wipe them all out at once.

However, the enemies were also former ”Blades of the Emperor.” They quickly adjusted, scattering to pursue them as well.

”They must have calculated that we’d be trapped inside the asteroid, giving them plenty of time to hunt us down slowly. But how can they be certain the Chapter won’t send reinforcements?”

Shinji grew even more suspicious. As heavy footsteps approached, he looked up and saw several twisted monsters covered in maws and crab claws. His face darkened as he raised his sword.

Chaos Spawn.

.

.

.

Gunfire echoed throughout the asteroid—sometimes intense, sometimes silent. Occasionally, powerful shockwaves penetrated the rock as loyal Astartes chose to detonate ammunition depots to take the enemy down with them.

The sounds of battle grew sparser. The final shots returned to the great crater.

Hoo, hoo, hoo.

Shinji knelt on one knee, his power armor riddled with bullet holes and gashes. The great sword in his hand had lost its luster. His entire body looked as if it had been rolled through a sea of blood, coated in clinging gore.

Having fought as a guerrilla, he no longer knew how many enemies he had cut down. But even after executing double-digit traitors, the enemies remained endless.

’Isolated and without help. I’ve bought enough time, but reinforcements are still nowhere to be seen.’

He raised his head to look at the twenty-one traitors in black power armor before him. After a fierce battle, he had been cornered anyway. He decided to stop running; this massive void offered enough room for one final stand.

The Black Legion did not immediately focus their fire; they were both furious and solemn. This lapdog of the False Emperor was incredibly valiant, having slaughtered over a dozen miscellaneous warband members, several battle-brothers, and countless Chaos Spawn and mortal fodder. If they hadn’t prepared so thoroughly, they truly wouldn’t have been able to handle him.

”This is the end, lapdog of the False Emperor.”

A hoarse, low voice echoed. The Black Legion warriors parted, revealing an even more massive figure—or rather, a walking tank.

It wore Ironclad-pattern Terminator armor, its shoulder guards engraved with the ’Chain-Breaking Eagle Emblem.’ The power axe in its hand was wrapped in blood-stained bandages. Shinji’s gaze locked onto the ’Looted Fang’ hanging from the traitor’s waist.

A Chaos Champion. This was the enemy commander.

Leaning on his sword, even though only one battle-brother, Faler, remained at his side, Shinji straightened his back.

”It seems you have a great interest in me.”

It was obvious. Such a detailed plan had been enacted just to ensure he remained here, even if he didn’t know his own value. In terms of seniority, he was just a Company Champion; in terms of fame, the 3rd Company Captain Gabriel Angelos was far above him.

The newcomer didn’t answer, merely raising his left hand: ”I give you one chance to turn from darkness to light. Abandon the False Emperor, join the Black Legion, and you shall obtain survival and glory.”

The Black Legion focused heavily on recruiting loyalist Space Marines, which explained their massive numbers.

Shinji paused, nearly laughing. He replied coldly: ”Fall into Chaos and become a lapdog of the Evil Gods—what glory is there in that?”

”And what glory is there in remaining under the banner of the False Emperor?”

The Chaos Champion spread his hands, his tone taking on a hint of seduction: ”This is a classified Inquisition file. The Blood Ravens Chapter is already listed as potentially heretical. Is there really glory in serving such an Empire?”

’Trying to shake my resolve?’

Shinji didn’t refute it, because it was the truth. The Inquisition had long despised the Blood Ravens due to their dangerously high psychic saturation and their obsession with collecting holy relics. But how could he defect to Chaos out of fear of death? If his will were so fragile, he would have betrayed them long ago. Besides, he didn’t fear death—perhaps death would be the way he would wake from this long, bloody nightmare.

”I have read your file, Cyrenius the ’Merciful One.’ You are very kind to mortals. Does an Empire that treats mortals like livestock for cruel rule really align with your wishes?”

This time, Shinji raised an eyebrow.

’If the grand principles don’t work, go for the personal approach, eh?’

Furthermore, where did these people get his file? Was there a traitor within the Chapter?

’That’s it. My mission must have been leaked, which is why I was ambushed.’

Things began to make sense. But since the Chaos Champion had revealed this secret, he either had to surrender and be branded with the Mark of Chaos, or die here.

The void was silent. The twenty-plus Chaos Space Marines formed a circle, waiting for an answer—a choice between life and death.

”Cover me. Kill as many as we can. The time has come to pay our debt of loyalty to the Emperor.”

Faler, clutching his chainsword, froze for a moment, then sighed in relief and smiled. ”May our souls return to the Golden Throne.”

Shinji slowly raised his sword, giving his answer.

”I choose... to refuse.”

”Is that so.”

The Chaos Champion felt no regret. The Warmaster’s order was to bring this one back—alive if possible, dead if necessary.

”Then die.”

Rat-tat-tat-tat.

The raised bolters sprayed a torrential storm. Shinji picked up his Librarian crozius, unleashing his psychic shield to its full extent. Gritting his teeth, he held the volley of rounds suspended

in mid-air. Faler moved instantly, pulling out his plasma pistol and pulling the trigger toward the ceiling.

BOOM!

The dome exploded. Falling boulders obscured their vision. The gunfire stopped abruptly, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.

Drawing his chainsword, they charged in battle formation.

Shinji threw away his battered helmet, revealing a blood-stained face. His power sword and Librarian crozius bloomed with azure radiance as he charged forward alongside his brother.

”FOR THE EMPEROR!!”

His hearts beat powerfully, his legs kicking up a cloud of debris. He plunged into the dust, watching a chainsword swing down toward him. He whipped his crozius to the side.

’Psychic Lightning.’

A blinding flash passed in an instant, striking the black power armor and erupting into brilliant sparks. The target stiffened, forcing his finger onto the trigger.

Rat-tat-tat.

Shinji charged through the barrage, ignoring his chest plate, which was on the verge of being pierced. He slashed his power sword into the enemy’s forehead. The helmet buckled, the blade sinking into the chest cavity.

First.

Without a chance to pull his blade, he grabbed the corpse and turned. A chainsword pierced the dust, sparks erupting against his black ’shield,’ but a powerful wind struck from behind as well.

Shinji didn’t even look. With a clang, Faler’s chainsword met the attack. Shinji took the opportunity to step forward, an invisible mental blast expanding from his crozius. At the same time, he released his right hand and drew his bolt pistol.

Rat-tat.

The mentally staggered Chaos Space Marine couldn’t dodge. His knees buckled, and the rounds tore directly into his left leg, forcing him to his knees. When he looked up, he saw the corpse being tossed aside, and the blood-red Astartes lunged in.

Drop gun, draw sword, decapitate!

The movements were fluid. Before the two corpses hit the ground, Shinji had already leapt backward. The next moment, the spot where he had just been standing was blasted into a deep crater.

The dust could slightly hinder the enemy, but his unleashed psychic energy was like a wall-hack. He saw the savage power axe and the Chaos Champion, a head taller than him, lunging forward.

”Faler.”

Swish—

A bolt of psychic lightning, far weaker than his own, struck the Chaos Champion from the flank. The arc spread, causing the giant to stumble. By the time he looked up, the power sword was already before his eyes.

CLANG!!

The enemy broke free quickly. Axe met sword, showering sparks across the sky. The Champion ducked his head, letting the power blade on the Librarian crozius graze past his plume. Shinji used the crozius like a spear, thrusting repeatedly, but the enemy was no amateur and dodged every time.

Chaos Space Marines were never off-guard. In that brief moment, several bolter rounds slammed into Shinji’s back. He stumbled, but used the momentum to lunge closer, twisting his body to avoid a power fist, and swung his sword.

The Terminator armor was massive and sluggish, yet this Chaos Champion remained agile. It didn’t dodge, simply leaning with its left shoulder.

The shield generator deployed. The blade could not penetrate. The great axe swept upward, but Shinji acted like a madman, neither dodging nor avoiding, thrusting his ’spear’ into the enemy’s chest plate.

Clang—Swish—

The power blade only penetrated halfway, but the great axe failed to cut Shinji in two. The Chaos Champion looked back to see the enemy using the ’spear’ as a fulcrum, vaulting over his head like an acrobat.

Up and down, the bolter fire flashed brilliantly in his eyes.

’Good swordsmanship.’

Rat-tat-tat…

Shinji emptied a clip. Sparks crawled from the Champion’s head to his back, but the Terminator armor was too thick; it felt like nothing more than a tickle. He landed on the ground, and the psychic crystal at the end of his sword hilt erupted with dazzling light.

’Psychic power at maximum!’

The modified power sword was injected with psychic energy, bursting with pale arcs. Shinji kicked off the ground and lunged forward.

Pfft.

He felt the sensation of piercing flesh, but before he could follow through to cleave the enemy in two, a power hammer loomed large in his vision.

The area was filled with combat-hardened killing machines; no one would be caught napping.

THUMP!

The shockwave spread. Shinji flew back, his spine slamming into the wall, shaking loose a shower of stone. When he looked up again, he saw that the man wasn’t wearing Terminator armor, but the badges and decorations revealed his identity.

”A second Chaos Champion...”

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with frustration. He had modified this power sword himself; if he had been able to grab a force sword inscribed with amplification runes, he would have succeeded just now.

The Chaos Champion in Terminator armor pulled the great sword from his back, looking at him with murderous eyes. Having been forced to use half a squad just to besiege him—and nearly failing—was an insult.

But the second Chaos Champion raised a hand to stop him, saying coldly: ”Death or survival—choose one.”

’They have more interest in me than I imagined. They refuse to give up even now.’

Shinji, still capable of reason, thought for a moment and suddenly smiled in relief.

’Could it be anything less? I am not from this world. By all rights, my soul should have been claimed by the Four Dark Gods long ago. That they are targeting me now suggests something must have happened during the breakout.

What kind of omen could that be?’

He didn’t know, nor did he have the time to think about it. His entire body was shattered. Even the two hearts and three lungs of a superman couldn’t withstand massive blood loss. He looked at Faler, who was also covered in wounds.

The final moment had arrived.

The two nodded at each other. Shinji was more resolute; having been here for over a hundred years, he knew all too well how terrifying this world was. Death was only the beginning; there were ten thousand outcomes far worse than death.

”No! He’s going to self-destruct.”

The two Chaos Champions rushed forward simultaneously, seeing the faint light emerging from Shinji’s veins and the steel-firm look in his eyes as he stared at them.

Psychic runaway. Uncontrolled expansion. Detonating the soul core.

In an instant, Shinji felt himself soaring into the sky, his consciousness expanding infinitely.

He saw deep bloodshed, infinite pleasure, sickening decay, endless mysteries, and finally—

It was a golden, warm sun.

So holy, so warm—it felt like falling into a mother’s embrace. But in reality, the charging Chaos Champions halted in unison, looking at the Astartes who had stood up once more with infinite terror.

He radiated infinite power. The massive energy caused space itself to distort. As the halo expanded, a familiar feeling welled up from the depths of their souls.

’THE EMPEROR!!’