The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Bolters roared within the compartments, and bright sparks blossomed along the steel corridors. Astartes clad in the same red power armor, wielding the same weapons, and even belonging to the same companies were firing upon one another.

In-fighting is a staple of the 41st Millennium. Countless Chapters have been brought to the brink of extinction due to internal strife; sometimes, after the smoke clears and the casualties are counted, it is discovered that both sides were, in fact, loyal.

Fortunately, Gabriel Angelos was meticulous. Before launching the strike, he had disseminated information through various channels. While the Chapter Master declared Shinji and his followers traitors, Shinji’s group claimed the Chapter Master had been corrupted by Chaos. This left the majority of the Blood Ravens at a loss, unable to discern which side held the truth.

The battle had erupted too suddenly for either side to produce evidence. Most of those aboard the Omnis Arcanum were neophytes or wounded veterans sent back from the front lines; without the organization of their direct commanders, few dared to deliver a killing blow.

”9 o’clock, one squad!”

”Agut, stay behind! Suppressive fire to block them. Explain via the vox, but don’t try to convince them—just sow confusion!”

”Understood!”

The fully armed squad sprinted down the corridor, expertly performing leapfrog maneuvers. As the Omnis Arcanum was the Chapter’s fortress-monastery ship, getting lost was impossible. The main force headed straight for the bridge. Whenever they encountered brothers blocking their path, one would remain behind to ”explain.”

They explained with bolters, supplemented by verbal persuasion.

Astartes are not easily swayed by words, but they are still men, and they can hesitate—especially when the explanation provided by Shinji’s group was so terrifying. They claimed a direct mandate from the Emperor to eliminate the wicked and escort the Champion, Cyrenius, to Holy Terra.

It was preposterous, yet if it were true, and they obstructed a direct command from the Master of Mankind, would they not face His wrath when their souls returned to the Golden Throne? That was a fate ten thousand times more terrifying than death in battle.

The plan was proceeding smoothly.

Shinji narrowed his eyes, listening to the sounds of firefights echoing from various sectors. Raising the Emperor’s banner left them no path of retreat. Such a claim would disturb any Astartes, but if it were a lie, one would still face a dead end even after purging Chaos.

’But I am the truth.’

Because of this, he never wavered. No matter how perilous the plan, he stood firm, for the Emperor’s gaze represented everything. It wasn’t arrogance; it was simply that an Astartes could not possibly doubt the Emperor’s might. Forget a Chapter Master—even if Khorne himself appeared, Shinji would charge in a life-or-death struggle.

”What is the status of the bridge?”

”Kyras is there, accompanied by sixty traitors. That should be the entirety of the force he currently controls.”

A flicker of sorrow passed through Shinji’s eyes. These battle-brothers had been corrupted by Kyras. Clearly, more traitors had been stationed at the front, but this move was too sudden for them to be recalled.

”He’s waiting for us.”

”Yes. The betrayers are more panicked than we are because the vast majority of the Blood Ravens are loyal. We cannot delay.”

Angelos, having clearly dealt with similar situations, accelerated his pace. ”He has the resolve to kill us outright. Even if he fails, he can use his authority as Chapter Master to forcibly order the other Astartes to open fire.”

Hesitation has its limits. When a group of Astartes sees their Chapter Master being besieged, they won’t have time to figure out who is loyal.

”Exactly what I wanted!”

Shinji suddenly accelerated, turning his body to slam into a side wall. With a resounding CRASH, the steel was torn asunder. From his high vantage point, he looked down upon the massive bridge. He saw Kyras looking up, and dozens of Blood Ravens surrounding him.

Their gazes met. Without a word of dialogue, a plasma pistol erupted in a dazzling flash.

”Go!”

BOOM!!!

Energy detonated, sending fragments of instruments flying everywhere, followed immediately by the dense chatter of gunfire. They were all Astartes, forged by the same training. Muzzle flashes flickered, and bolts filled the bridge like a torrential rain, kicking up clouds of black smoke.

”Suppressive fire! Follow me! Focus all attacks on Kyras—force him to use the power of Chaos!”

Shinji discarded his plasma pistol and charged with his Power Sword. He knew that as soon as the shooting started, all Astartes on the ship would converge here. At that point, cowed by the Chapter Master’s authority, they would be forced to fire.

”Shield!”

Aranthas raised a heavy storm shield, blocking the path in front of Shinji. Countless sparks erupted from the shield’s surface, and his legs sank into the steel floor. Meanwhile, another Astartes raised a plasma pistol and fired a shot forward.

Boom!

Another violent explosion. The shockwave sent the clustered Astartes reeling, forcing them to scatter. Then, the ”tin cans” wielding power swords pierced through the dust.

Sparks flew from his armor, but Shinji swung his greatsword in a frenzy, decapitating a traitor. As he looked up, five chainswords descended toward him from all sides.

’Psychic Pulse.’

A powerful wave of psychic energy radiated outward, freezing the descending chainswords and the traitors holding them in mid-air. Before they could break free, a thunder hammer arrived.

THUD—

Like a billiard ball, Angelos swung his legendary hammer, clearing the traitors. A second psychic pulse erupted beneath his feet, launching him forward. He seemed to fly through the air, his heavy landing sending out a shockwave that caused the bolters aimed at him to miss. Shinji, the Champion, rushed past him with a two-handed grip on his sword, slaying several more.

”Assault! Widen the breach!”

At the command, dozens of Astartes followed, engaging the disorganized traitors. They guarded the flanks, creating a corridor for Shinji and Angelos to charge forward.

’A decapitation strike?’

Kyras watched the two men who had closed to within a hundred meters. The tactic was so familiar; the Blood Ravens loved these frantic assaults to cover their strongest warriors as they took the enemy’s head. A Captain of the Third Company and an Emperor’s Champion—this was a formidable lineup.

”You want to kill me quickly? In your dreams.”

He raised a hand and unleashed a powerful psychic blast. The unstoppable Angelos was suddenly frozen as if grasped by an invisible hand; his power armor began to warp. At that moment, a bright whip of lightning struck the space in front of him.

Whoosh—

The blood in Angelos’s veins flowed once more. He knew all too well how powerful the Chapter Master was; as the Chief Librarian, Kyras possessed unrivaled psychic might.

’Fortunately, we have one on our side too.’

In a mirror image, Shinji and Kyras raised their Librarian staves simultaneously. For a moment, it was as if a thousand silver serpents were dancing; a storm of psychic lightning covered the entire bridge. Large sections of steel were melted, and instruments turned into molten slag, yet the Astartes did not retreat.

Whether driven by infinite loyalty to the Emperor or frantic devotion to the Dark Gods, they let the lightning strike their ceramite and raised their bolters.

’Rapid fire mode.’

Dat-dat-dat-dat-dat...

Dozens of bolts were expended in mere seconds. They discarded their bolters and charged with chainswords. The same tactics, the same movements—Astartes of the same Chapter slaughtered one another. With the clanging of steel, the two sides collided in a chaotic heap.

”For the Emperor!”

”Kill them!”

It was the most brutal, direct, and primitive form of melee. Shinji cut down several men with his power sword, then raised his staff to exchange psychic blows with Kyras. Only one thought remained in his mind:

’Assault! Assault!’

He and Angelos moved in tandem, charging forward like madmen. Chainswords tore through power armor, and the hammer sent enemies flying. Shinji stepped onto the Third Captain’s back, leaping out to deliver a heavy cleave that split a traitor in two. He ducked instantly as a power axe whistled over his head.

Kyras finally joined the fray. He missed with his axe, dodged a hammer strike, and impaled an Astartes with his left power claw. He used the body like a shield to block an incoming power sword, then followed up with a shoulder bash that sent Angelos reeling.

A psychic shield caused the power sword aimed at Kyras’s neck to stop inches from his face.

”You are not yet worthy of making me use my ’gifts’!”

Shinji stared at the traitor inches away, his eyes burning. He smashed his Librarian staff against Kyras’s head and rolled away.

Whirr—

The power claw shredded his shoulder guard. Shinji’s blade swept toward the traitor’s shins, forcing him to jump. At that moment, a thunder hammer came spinning through the air.

THOOM!

Angelos’s full-strength strike caused even the Terminator armor to dent. Kyras’s feet skidded across the floor, grinding two-inch-deep furrows into the steel as his massive frame dodged nimbly left and right.

Swish, swish, swish...

The blade darted like a venomous snake. Kyras was forced back repeatedly. Just as he prepared to use his psychic powers, Shinji beat him to it.

’Psychic Shackle.’

Two equally massive energies canceled each other out. Shinji’s foot flicked up, catching the thunder hammer that had fallen to the floor. Behind him, Angelos—who had been launched into the air by a psychic pulse from Phalere—caught the flying hammer in mid-air.

”Get down!”

Shinji didn’t need to be told; he lowered his head as a gale-force wind swept over him.

THUD!!

The full-force blow slammed into Kyras’s left arm. Even the Terminator armor shattered on the spot. He was sent sliding several meters, half his body going numb.

’Damn it.’

Being besieged by these two top-tier Astartes was taxing. Before he could regain his footing, the Librarian staff flew toward his face like a javelin. He was forced to parry with his great axe, knocking the staff aside. But in that instant, the Champion charged.

Man and sword became one, like another flying javelin, carrying an unstoppable momentum. Even if he were impaled, he could still crush Shinji’s head with his power claw.

Absolute valor, absolute loyalty. This scene of a ”comet striking the moon” filled the Dark God he worshipped with delight. Faced with such an unparalleled warrior, there was only one response:

’Fight! Fight! Fight!’

Kyras’s eyes turned blood-red. A violent, bloodthirsty, and mad power surged from his heart. But at that moment—

Boom!

A plasma bolt detonated in front of Shinji. The shockwave threw him back, and he landed on one knee. When he looked up, he was surrounded by a sea of Astartes.

”That’s enough, Cyrenius.”

Another warrior in Terminator armor appeared: Apollo Diomedes, Captain of the First Company and Commander of the Honor Guard. Behind him were over a hundred elite veterans, and even Dreadnoughts. More Astartes converged from all sides, raising their bolters and aiming them at their own brothers.

The gunfire ceased instantly. Any warrior daring to continue the internal strife would be executed.

’Damn it! So close!’

Angelos slammed a fist into the ground. In that split second, he had smelled the scent of evil. He stared coldly at the First Captain. He knew his brother was loyal, but he was far too rigid and prone to blind obedience.

”Apollo, you are about to commit an unspeakable sin! You will never return to the Golden Throne!”

The First Captain froze. Such a curse was incredibly malicious—hundreds of times worse than a mortal cursing one’s entire family.

”It is you who have committed the sin,” Kyras panted, struggling to suppress the madness in his heart.

”Assassinating the Chapter Master and destroying the Chapter’s most precious assets... you must face judgment. Apollo, execute all the traitors!”

The twin-linked lascannons of a Dreadnought pointed toward them. Melta guns began to hum with energy. Apollo hesitated, yet he couldn’t convince himself. Angelos’s accusation lacked evidence, and all he saw was a wounded Chapter Master and a bridge in ruins.

”Let us take them into custody first. If they are guilty, I shall execute them myself. Disarm immediately, or be destroyed.”

The dozen or so remaining ”traitors” looked at one another, but not one dropped their weapon. They believed they were right and were prepared to fight for the Emperor until their gene-seed was extinguished.

The reality was so despairing that even Angelos didn’t know what to do. He felt a suffocating frustration boiling in his chest.

’Why won’t you believe us! Why must we die as traitors at the hands of our brothers!’

He felt as though he could see Kyras, hidden back within the crowd, sneering. Anger and resentment caused him to grip his thunder hammer as he prepared to stand.

”Then you just try it.”

Shinji twisted his sword and took a step toward the heavily guarded Kyras. Instantly, over a hundred bolters were aimed at him. His power armor was battered and scarred, and he could be blown to bits in a second, yet his back remained straight. His presence made it impossible for them to fire because the ”scent” on him was so familiar.

It was the scent of loyalty.

”Cyrenius, don’t force me. Surrender peacefully, and I will investigate the matter thoroughly.”

In that moment, Apollo felt that this man must be deluded; no traitor would dare walk into such firepower.

”Kill this traitor!” Kyras roared, feeling an inexplicable fear.

Whether it was the roar or the well-meaning advice, Shinji ignored it all. He simply gripped his power sword and walked forward slowly. Led by him, Angelos, Phalere, Aranthas, and the others followed. Every one of them was scarred and wounded, but every step was resolute.

They marched right under the gun barrels. The Astartes aiming at them looked at each other, appearing somewhat at a loss.

”Damn you! Follow orders! I am the Chapter Master!” Kyras knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He snatched a bolter from someone’s hands.

”Fire! He’s just a Champion! Whose orders do you follow?!”

He pulled the trigger. If even one person fired, it would trigger a cacophony of gunfire that would turn these defiant Astartes into meat. But he heard no shot. His expression turned to shock.

The bolter... had jammed??

”Follow my command! Destroy evil!”

Shinji’s pace quickened until he launched into a full charge. When a dozen men charge, the other Astartes can no longer wait.

”You forced my hand. First Company, prepare to—”

Apollo raised his hand, forced to give the order to fire. But his final words jammed in his throat, just like the bolter.

The reason was simple: as a psyker, he felt a terrifying energy erupting from Shinji. There was no Slaaneshi distortion, no Tzeentchian trickery, no Khorneate madness. This energy was warm, filled with a fatherly benevolence, causing his entire body to tremble.

In his eyes, the man charging toward them was no scarred traitor, but a golden sun.

’This... this... this is...’

The Blood Ravens, a Chapter with an unusual number of psykers, had already lowered their weapons, their bodies shaking. Even the Astartes without psychic potential found they could not look him in the eye, for the power sword in Shinji’s hand had become a golden Astronomican. To aim a gun at that was sacrilege; it was disloyalty.

Faced with such majesty, there was only one thing an Astartes could do.

Drop to one knee and cry out the Emperor’s name.

”Just a Champion? Wrong—”

Shinji looked at Kyras, whose face was twisted as he could no longer suppress the madness in his heart. Shinji raised the golden greatsword high.

”I am the Emperor’s Champion!!!”

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