Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 941 The Battle of Cardia (Part Two)
"I have always regretted missing the fierce war between the Empire and the Ghoul Orc Empire."

"At that time, Chagatai, Ruth, and I were tied up in the Webpath. Only Guilliman and Vulcan took on the pressure of fighting the orcs. Fortunately, Luther, you led the Legion to participate."

"After I returned to the Empire, I could only imagine and experience the critical situation at that time through various written records, pictures, videos and accounts from war survivors, in order to make up for my regrets."

"And the biggest regret, of course, is that I was not able to fight alongside my legion, my offspring, and you."

On the command platform of the New Caliban battle planet, Lion King Ryan, clad in dark gold power armor and exuding a chilling killing intent, was watching the constantly changing holographic projection before him, which flickered with countless points of light.

The larger points of light represent the human world surrounding the Eye of Fear, while the smaller points of light represent the Imperial Navy and some giant space fortresses.

An unimaginable amount of data was inputted into Ryan's mind, and the Primarch was even able to spare a portion of his consciousness to converse with Luther beside him.

Ryan seemed to need no thought at all; with just a casual glance, the optimal solution for those complex strategic layouts naturally formed in his mind.

A dozen or so veterans from the Dark Angels' Inner Ring were recording the Lion King's orders. Among them were also a few stonemen and mortal commanders.

They gained the Lion King's attention through their talents, and Ryan gave them the opportunity to showcase their abilities.

“You wouldn’t have said these things before, Ryan.”

"But I like you better now, because you've finally found the part you were missing."

Hearing Ryan's regret, Luther felt a surge of warmth in his heart and couldn't help but express his own thoughts.

"In the past, you were indeed an invincible battlefield commander, but you only had cold rationality and lacked insight into people's hearts. This made you only a general, but not a perfect commander."

"But Horus is better than you in this respect; his understanding of human nature is far superior to yours."

"A good commander needs to learn far more than just how to win wars; he also needs to master how to deal with others, understand human nature, and win people's hearts."

Ryan listened attentively, showing no dissatisfaction or disdain for Luther's seemingly lecturing remarks.

As Luther said, he has changed and improved a lot. Although his temper is still not much better, at least he can humbly remember and reflect on such helpful advice.

"Yes, I am learning, and fortunately I realized it not too late."

Ryan shifted his gaze from the holographic star map. Even with his naked eye, he could see the naval warships floating in the void, ready for war and standing ready for battle.

Some of them belong to the Imperial Navy, while others belong to various Astartes Legions, but at this moment, they all share a common identity: the human navy.

"The Emperor has handed over the reins of this war to me, while he and Losi have a more important task to do."

"And my mission is to lead the empire to victory in this war."

Ryan spoke slowly, feeling an immense weight in his heart as he faced the Emperor's unwavering trust. It was the weight of responsibility, the Emperor's absolute recognition of him.

“I am surrounded by Roger Dorn, Peturabo, and Ruth, these three Primarchs.”

"If we add to that the orders received from Guilliman, and the fact that Corax and Chagatai are on their way to the Eye of Terror, almost all the loyal Primarchs who can get there will join the battle."

As Luther listened to Ryan's list of dishes, he couldn't help but feel immense pressure.

“Even during the Siege of Terra, you never commanded such a large army,” Luther remarked.

"Yes, even the siege of Terra."

Ryan stroked the hilt of the Lion Sword, a weapon that had accompanied him through the Great Expedition and the Great Rebellion, a weapon he knew by heart.

He could feel the Lion Sword's soul trembling, roaring excitedly, yearning to drink the blood of humanity's enemies.

"Although our intelligence network has not been able to find out who the enemy commander is this time, the news that those warp demons are frantically gathering has still reached us."

“Luther, we are facing a lot of enemies this time. Even the reconnaissance ships that ventured deep into the Eye of Fear and risked their lives to transmit intelligence could only send back extremely vague data.”

Luther took the data panel handed to him by Lane, which contained some top-secret information: including images of Chaos Demons gathering captured by the reconnaissance ship, and even information obtained by certain intelligence agents who directly infiltrated the Dead World, a gathering place for Warp creatures, in order to obtain the most authentic and reliable data.

The Caliban Knight felt the data tablet in his hand, which seemed light as a feather, yet it bore the weight of countless heroic sacrifices and dedications, and faintly exuded an aura of bloodshed.

"Some things always need to be done by someone."

"Every improvement in our intelligence will increase our chances of winning the overall battle, and thousands of people will survive as a result."

"I have ordered that the names and information of all the mortal agents, Astartes, and even the stone and iron men who died while gathering intelligence be recorded."

"Heroes should be remembered. I can command my legions to always walk in the darkness and fight to the death as the Emperor's Scavengers."

"But I cannot ask these heroes who gave their lives for humanity to adhere to the creed of dark angels; that would be unfair to them."

"Although most of their remains could not be brought back, their souls returned to the God-Emperor's side through the human intranet and enjoyed eternal peace."

"The Empire will not forget them. After the war, monuments and memorials to their heroic deeds will be erected for posterity to remember and admire."

Their mourning for the victims lasted only a very short time; their time was precious and every second needed to be used effectively.

"According to intelligence, the demons that belong to the four Chaos Gods have all gathered together. There have been no conflicts or disputes among them, which is obviously related to the conspiracy of the evil gods behind the scenes."

“We have almost never dealt with this situation before: the demonic legions of four evil gods attacking a single target together. That would have devastating consequences.”

Ryan rubbed his power boots against the metal floor beneath his feet, feeling the sense of security and solidity that the new Caliban battle planet brought.

This celestial-level weapon of war is not unique on the battlefield of Cardia.

During the war among the ghoul stars, the white dwarf that destroyed the orc battle planet was also reassigned here, but due to its extreme danger, it was placed in a region of space far from the Cardia defense line.

In addition to the combat white dwarf, there are more than twenty more stable combat planets that also form the war sequence. They will be deployed to the battlefield when necessary to block the enemy's attack.

"Despite having these trump cards, I'm still not entirely confident that I can stop those warp demons."

Ryan sighed, a rare moment of vulnerability he showed in front of Luther.

"The enemy has an absolute advantage, and the environment of the Eye of Fear is more favorable to them. If we can take advantage of our mobility and carry out flexible flanking operations, I will have a better chance of success."

“But we cannot leave, for Kadia is right behind us.”

Luther tried to pat Ryan on the shoulder, but he was only tall enough to reach the lion's lower back.

"We must hold onto Cardia; it is the key to victory in this war."

"The war with the warp demons is just a facade. What truly determines victory or defeat is whether we can continue to strengthen the power of the rules of the real universe, overwhelm the warp storms created by the Chaos Gods, and ultimately shut down the Eye of Terror."

"Without Kadia's Blackstone Anti-Psionic Matrix, we have no chance at all."

Luther's words cleared up much of the confusion in Ryan's mind.

Yes, Cardia cannot be lost; it is the fulcrum of the entire strategy, a wedge driven into the warp storm of the real universe.

Once it is removed, all the previous efforts and all the advantages gained through sacrifice will be in vain.

“You’re right, Luther.” Ryan’s gaze refocused on the holographic star map.

"We cannot passively wait for them to converge into an unstoppable torrent; we must actively shape the battlefield, divide and weaken them, and exhaust their strength before they reach Cardia."

His fingers moved quickly across the star map, outlining virtual defensive lines and arrows.

“Look here, Luther. A warp storm is raging between the Eye of Terror and Kadia, and the areas where the storm is so intense that even warp demons cannot reach them. We must take advantage of this.”

“They will impact Cardia more easily and quickly from certain calmer areas, taking advantage of the flow of the Etheric Current.”

Ryan pointed to several shortcuts for the Chaos army to advance and marked each one with an X.

"We need to dispatch high-speed strike fleets, led by elite Astartes with extensive experience in fighting demons, forming battle groups."

"Their mission is not to hold their ground, but to use their mobility to constantly harass, cut off, and divide the vanguard of the warp demons, delay their regrouping speed, and eliminate as many isolated and weak demon hordes as possible."

Like wolves hunting, they constantly tear flesh from their prey, causing it to bleed and weaken.

"We absolutely cannot just passively defend; that would be a path to certain death."

Ryan spoke faster and faster, and his expression became increasingly clear.

His finger moved to several galaxies closer to Cardia, which formed a loose arc, like a crescent moon running through it.

"This will be the front line of the main battlefield. I plan to deploy the main force of the Dark Angel Legion in the center of this arc to directly confront the main demon legion from the core of the Eye of Fear."

Ryan's voice carried a resolute tone and an undeniable firmness.

He knew this would send his legion to a perilous place, a place that could be described as a dead end, and it was even possible that the First Legion would never recover, or even lose its lineage.

But as he said, some things have to be done by someone, so why not the Dark Angel?
They possess the most elite warriors, the most powerful equipment, the most unwavering will, and impeccable loyalty, making them the most suitable candidates.

Loyalty itself is the best reward, and the Dark Angel gladly accepts his fate.

As Luther listened to Ryan's plan, his heart clenched with anxiety. He could imagine the terrible consequences, but he still acquiesced to Ryan's idea. Even if they were to die, they would die gloriously in battle.

Every dark angel will become currency, used to redeem the continuation of humanity and a bright future.

"We must act like the strongest dam, withstanding the fierce onslaught of the most warp demon torrents. The Caliban battle planet will serve as a mobile fortress, providing planetary-level fire support and area suppression."

The lion paused, then pointed to the two wings of the arc.

"I intend to entrust the left wing to the Steel Hand. Their unique live metal cell modification has given them greater vitality and destructive power, making them suitable for building steel defenses in complex environments and using dense and precise long-range firepower to strangle any enemy that tries to outflank them."

“Loshi gave them a completely new path, leading them away from the path of flesh and blood and mechanical ascension. Now it’s time to test their results.”

“If Felus were here, he would definitely agree with me, and he might even compete with me for the front-line position.”

His iron fist never flinched, never showed weakness; he would only crush the enemy's advance with an attack far more powerful than the enemy's.

Ryan thought of his brother, who was as strong and unyielding as steel. At this moment, he should be leading the Cursed Legion, wreaking havoc in the divine realms of various evil gods in order to restrain and disperse the power of the gods.

Although they were on different battlefields, they shared the same goal: to fight for the great cause of humanity and the emperor.

"I'll entrust the right flank to the Space Wolves. Ruth and his pack excel at brutal close-quarters combat and rapid assaults; they will be the punches that deliver the counterattack."

When the demons' offensive falters in the center and on the left flank, the wolves will tear their lines apart from the sides, disrupting their plans. The Fenris's ferocity and their natural resistance to psychic energy are a sharp weapon against chaos.

Ryan immediately dispatched the three full legions currently gathered in Kadia.

In his eyes, even a massive unit like the Astartes Legion was not a pawn that could not be lost.

He would spare no expense to achieve victory, even if it meant wreaking havoc on his troops.

"As for the second line of defense, I will entrust it to those combat white dwarfs and combat planets. They will operate independently to avoid collateral damage."

Ryan's finger crossed the second line of defense and finally landed on the planet Cardia and the fortified worlds surrounding it.

"This last line of defense will be jointly commanded by Dorn and Peturabo."

No one knows better than them how to build an impenetrable defense. The combination of Imperial Fist and Iron Warriors will turn Kadia into a crushing furnace that devours demons.

Any fish that manages to slip through the first two lines of defense will be utterly crushed here.

Luther listened intently to Ryan's plan, his mind racing as he assessed every detail.

This plan was grand and meticulous, making the most of the characteristics and advantages of each legion to form a tiered defense and mutual support.

But he also saw the risks involved.

“Ryan, your deployment means we’ve dispersed our forces, especially by placing the First Legion in the most dangerous position.”

If the demons' onslaught far exceeds expectations, or if they concentrate their forces on a single point, any layer of our defenses could be breached instantly.

“The risks certainly exist,” Ryan did not deny, “but to pile all our forces on Kadia would be suicidal. That would allow the demons to gather their forces without any hindrance and then crash in like a tsunami, releasing all the impact onto Kadia.”

"We disperse in order to kill them more effectively, stretch their offensive lines, force them to disperse their forces, and thus reduce the damage to Cadia."

"As for the First Legion..." He looked at Luther, his eyes gleaming with the pride unique to dark angels, bearing secrets and burdens.

“We were born to take on the most difficult tasks. If even we cannot stand in front of the demons, then the other lines of defense are doomed to fall.”

"This is both a responsibility and an honor."

Luther fell silent; he understood that this was the optimal solution, and the only way.

He then turned his attention to another crucial question: "We cannot close the Eye of Fear through war alone. We must acquire more Stargod fragments and build more Blackrock Anti-Psionic Matrix arrays. Have Guilliman and Tarasin responded yet?"

“Guilliman has used every resource at his disposal.” Ryan pulled up a summary of an encrypted communication from Terra.

"The Empire's forging world is producing Blackstone obelisks at full capacity and is transporting them to the front lines in a continuous stream through the Infinity Network."

"He was even considering excavating some of the tomb worlds of the still-sleeping Necromancer dynasty in space, since such a large amount of black stone almost only exists in the tombs of those metal skeletons, but this proposal was stopped by Macado."

"As for Tarasin..."

Ryan frowned almost imperceptibly; his relationship with Tarachin wasn't actually that close.

Tarachin's only human ally has always been Lothie, not anyone else, and Ryan doesn't want to get too involved with an alien leader; it's almost become his instinct.

"That old fox responded very positively, promising to do his best to coordinate more Star God fragments and Blackstone technology from the Nihilak dynasty's treasury."

"He also said that he would request the Silent King to send more reinforcements."

“But he is not Nissilak’s emperor after all, so we can’t rely on him completely. But even sending one more fragment of the Star God would be a huge help.”

Luther let out a long sigh, racking his brains to think of any other forces he could mobilize.

Before the counterattack from the warp arrived, he even expressed an unusually optimistic view in a conversation with Astram.

But it wasn't until he saw the "big surprise" prepared by Chaos that Luther realized how short-sighted and foolish he had been.

If the battlefield were in the real universe, the warp could not possibly unleash so many demons upon humanity; the cosmic veil would prevent their arrival.

But this is the Eye of Fear, and Kadia is at the edge of the Eye of Fear, which serves as the boundary between the real universe and this mixed land.

The four gods shamelessly took matters into their own hands, creating warp storms to maintain the Eye of Terror, and dispatching their demonic armies to attack Cardia.

If they weren't so unable to descend into the real universe in their true forms, humanity might be facing the four gods in their true forms.

"By the way, where is Vulcan? Where are he and his orc army? In a war of attrition of this scale, the orcs' near-infinite numbers and their reality-distorting WAAAGH force field are irreplaceable and powerful assets."

When Vulcan was mentioned, a complicated expression appeared on Ryan's face.

“Vulcan sent a message; he is dealing with something very important.”

Ryan carefully chose his words, trying his best to recreate the message Vulcan had conveyed to him.

"Gathering orcs from across the galaxy to the Eye of Terror would not have been difficult for him, and he has already done so."

"He dispatched his beast warlords ahead of time to the Eye of Fear battlefield, but those orcs only obeyed Vulcan, and I couldn't command them."

"What Vulcan himself is doing is trying to persuade the two orc gods, Gogo and Maogo, that these two orc gods can join the battle, which would be far more beneficial than any number of green-skinned orcs."

"Persuade the orc god?" Luther almost pronounced each word clearly.

To the old knight Caliban, Vulcan becoming the orc emperor was already an absurd thing, but compared to Vulcan persuading the orc god to join the war, it didn't seem too far off.

Now that the truth of the empire has been bankrupted, anyone of a certain status has come to know of the existence of God.

The most powerful evil gods are waging war against humanity, while the weaker races, such as the spirit gods, have a close relationship with humans.

On the contrary, the orc gods, despite being much stronger than the spirit gods, have always had a very limited presence, and almost no one knows their specific situation.

“That’s right.” Lane nodded. “I trust Vulcan; he’s one of the most reliable of my brothers. I believe he will bring us an immense surprise when he arrives in person, but until then…”

Ryan's voice became incredibly solemn as he looked at Luther, as if making a vow to himself:

"Before we obtain more Stargod fragments, build more Blackrock anti-psychic anchor points, and await Vulcan's arrival on the battlefield... we must rely on our existing strength, on the courage and sacrifice of every warrior, and hold this place firmly!"

"We will use our flesh and blood and steel to build the final high wall for mankind, and the Dark Angels will be the hardest stone on that wall."

Looking at Ryan's resolute profile, Luther seemed to see the young king who had emerged from the Caliban Forest hundreds of years ago.

But now, this jungle king of Caliban carries on his shoulders not just a planet, a galaxy, but the fate of an entire race.

“Then.” Luther took a deep breath, straightened his chest, as if casting aside all doubts and transforming back into the Caliban knight who assisted the lion.

"Let's begin, Ryan, for Caliban, for the Dark Angels, and even more so for... humanity."

Ryan reached out and patted Luther's shoulder hard.

"It's an honor to fight alongside you, Luther."

"Order all corps commanders to move into their positions according to the pre-arranged plan."

"Let those demons emerging from their eyes of fear witness just how awe-inspiring the power that humanity can unleash in its struggle for survival truly is!"

The lion's command transformed into invisible communication waves, reaching the vast fleet scattered around the Cardia system and ending up in the ears of the warriors through the command system.

The Imperium of Man, a mad war machine, under the command of the Lion and the Primarchs, unleashed all its deadly weapons, preparing to meet the terrifying onslaught from the Warp.

(End of this chapter)