A colossal structure, vast and alive-looking, erged from the Eye of Terror—and then, another similar construct followed, though it differed slightly in form.
The second massive construct had steel claws fused with flesh and blood, twisted and monstrous.
"Hiss~ That's one big guy…"
Eden frowned deeply as he stared at the titanic structures.
There was no doubt they were constructs of Chaos. Such massive war machines could inflict devastating damage on any fleet.
He imdiately ordered the fleet to remain concealed, avoiding any exposure.
If they were discovered before even entering the Eye of Terror, the fleet would suffer catastrophic losses, jeopardizing the entire raiding mission.
Once those two gigantic constructs erged, multiple Chaos fleets followed. Judging by the insignias on their hulls, they belonged to the Black Legion.
"So big bro Roboute's plan worked—Abaddon's going all-in."
Eden now understood—and felt relieved by his caution. As much as he joked, the Chaos Warmaster was no joke.
If he had rushed in with his fleet, only to run into those behemoths, disaster would have struck.
He had a hunch about what those massive constructs were.
Soon after, Webby transmitted data that confird his suspicions.
The entities that exceeded 100 kiloters in length were indeed the final masterpieces of the now-dead daemon demigod Vashtorr—the On Arks.
His beloved little Webby, now a Machine Goddess, had absorbed much of Vashtorr's essence and ascended to the status of a powerful minor deity—her strength was still rising rapidly.
In matters of technological mastery, she was already equal to Vashtorr's forr self. And in terms of communication networks and data analysis, her divine abilities were maxed out.
This was one of the primary reasons Eden's territory remained protected from Chaos infiltration.
Among the data Webby transmitted were remnants of Vashtorr's mories, shedding light on the origin of the On Arks.
Back then, Vashtorr the Arkifane had sought a mysterious relic to forge the Key, a mighty artifact that would unlock the legacy of the Old Ones.
To achieve this, he traded his forbidden technological knowledge and allied with the most powerful heretic among them—Abaddon the Despoiler.
Vashtorr didn't just offer knowledge—he dispatched his enslaved daemon legions to assist Abaddon.
Most importantly, they cooperated to construct nurous supermassive warships known as the On Arks.
Each On Ark, according to the data, originated as a space hulk—derelict starships drifting through the Warp, fused by chaotic forces into massive floating cathedrals of ruin.
These space hulks often warped over ti, birthing mutant flesh and chaotic ecosystems—turning them into miniature realms of madness.
Once such hulks slipped into realspace, they brought terror and curses, their interiors teeming with xenos nests, traitor armies, and indescribable Warp entities.
Eden rembered the space hulk well—it had been the very foundation of his rise to power.
And when he beca wealthy enough, he didn't waste it.
Instead, he hauled it back and dismantled it.
But cleansing a space hulk wasn't easy. He had even launched a small-scale military campaign to do so, deploying thousands of Astartes.
The rewards were enormous.
Aside from vast amounts of resources and materials, Eden had retrieved significant technological relics.
He'd also captured a crew of Chaos pirates now consigned to eternal labor in the Warp—salvaging ships and towing hulks—and one powerful red-haired psyker woman.
Karina, the red-haired psyker and forr Chaos pirate leader, had grown weary of Warp piracy and refused to return.
She hated the madness of the Warp and preferred the real world.
Falling into Eden's hands, she was quickly seduced by the comforts of material luxury. She refused to leave.
Longing for a life of leisure, dressed in beautiful gowns and sipping wine at banquets, she chose to stay at the Loyal Sons Academy, teaching psyker theory and occasionally participating in special ops missions.
She served the Savior in another way—also as his lover.
"Savior, those things are terrifying…"
The voluptuous redhead practically threw herself into Eden's arms, her generous curves bouncing energetically.
Karina looked completely helpless and pitiful—nothing like the powerful high-tier psyker she truly was.
In reality, her strength rivaled that of many chief Librarians in Astartes Chapters. After receiving a second divine blessing, she was even more stable and formidable.
"Miss Karina, I'm working. Please mind your behavior—especially your hands."
Eden calmly refused her 'services' and ordered her to stand aside.
Given that they were heading into the Eye of Terror, a realm soaked in Warp energy, bringing psykers was a tactical move.
Even if only used as human compasses, they'd prove useful.
Eden cast her a glance—this forr pirate had prowled the Warp and space hulks for years. She might just prove helpful in the operation ahead.
He even considered reactivating her pirate identity—perhaps assigning her a squad of mischievous daemons to reforge a stronger Chaos faction under his control.
This would help him rally those who had fallen to Chaos yet retained their self-awareness.
After all, that's exactly how Abaddon had built his Black Legion—by absorbing traitor Astartes who still maintained their free will.
Many of them were not slaves to the Ruinous Powers and would defect if poorly treated—sotis even returning to the Imperium.
They were the definition of disgruntled employees.
Abaddon's failure to deliver results with his Black Crusades, paired with poor benefits, had led to high attrition among his troops.
Eden even suspected the massive On Ark project had drained resources and worsened morale.
He browsed through the data, studying the construction process of the On Arks.
Abaddon's sorcerers and Warpsmiths, using Vashtorr's technology, would scour the Warp for suitable space hulks, then slowly drag them into realspace.
These enormous constructs were transported into the depths of the Eye of Terror, gathered around the Black Legion's stronghold.
There, legions of Dark chanicum mbers and Chaos Warpsmiths built ring after ring of chaotic forge platforms around the hulks, modifying them further.
Abaddon's Black Legion guarded these sites like hungry wolves.
During modifications, hulks mutated further, spawning new horrors.
So hulks were bigger than moons, filled with tunnels and labyrinths that bred entire civilizations of chaos-spawn.
These horrors had to be purged.
Each purge was a battle in itself.
Abaddon sent Chaos Champions to lead warbands into these twisted realms. If they failed to clear and claim their hulk, they were deed unworthy to command the Ark.
But not every purge succeeded.
Several Chaos Champions and their warbands were slaughtered in the haunted abyssal corridors, their Arks mutating beyond recovery.
In the end, Abaddon was forced to destroy several malford Arks in progress to prevent their corruption from spreading to others.
"Building these massive ships… no wonder the Black Legion's been strapped for resources lately…"
Eden sighed at the inefficiency.
Not only was the construction expensive, but the failure rate was high. They burned through materials, ammunition, and troops.
Even worse, according to Webby's records, Vashtorr was torn apart by the Emperor mid-project.
The entire On Ark enterprise likely ended as an unfinished ss.
Resources in the Eye of Terror were already scarce, and with most being poured into these dood projects, there wasn't much left to maintain the rest of the army.
That's why many Chaos warriors were now charging into battle half-naked, worse off than the Carcharodons on the Imperial side—completely reliant on mutations.
But no matter how strong those mutations were, they couldn't compare to the Savior's new power armor, special explosive rounds, and heavy weapons.
No wonder Black Legion troops were rebelling, ignoring orders, even deserting.
Eden frowned. He was more convinced than ever that forming his own Chaos faction was not only necessary, but feasible.
With the Warp Research Institute's continuous breakthroughs, he now understood much more about Chaos.
He had realized: the Ruinous Powers are not the Warp, nor are they the source of its energy.
They're rely entities that exploit it—dominant factions within the Immaterium.
From the perspective of realspace, they're just regional overlords—warlords with armies and territory in the Warp.
They call themselves gods, but even they can fall or perish.
The Warp and its energies are not theirs alone—anyone can harness it.
Even the Emperor himself had established the Cursed Legions.
In truth, Eden had already been doing this, nurturing a pack of sneaky daemons to expand within the Warp.
"Perhaps…it's ti to make a move on the Warp. At least, take the first step…"
The thought stirred within Eden.
"If they can invade us… why can't we invade back?"
The Warp had two sides—it wasn't inherently good or evil.
Humanity had to claim more dominion over it, to survive in the galaxy.
Otherwise, they'd always be on the defensive—and eventually be destroyed.
That was sothing he had always believed.
Given humanity's current technological constraints, entering the Warp—let alone developing within it—was nearly impossible.
That's why Eden began to think of a roundabout strategy: start by establishing a Chaos-aligned faction to claim territory, facilitating future research and gradual positive transformation of domains within the Warp.
And now, as a minor Warp deity, his own strength was considerable. It was ti to join the great ga of Warp dominion and slowly grow an army of his own.
The plan was dual-fronted—develop both in realspace and in the Warp.
Starting from the Eye of Terror, where realspace and the Warp intertwine, he could establish a foothold and gradually push deeper into the Immaterium.
As for what ca afterward—he'd figure that out later. After all, he still had the divine sun of the Emperor as his ultimate safeguard.
Besides, Webby's "Little Sun" had already absorbed a large amount of dark energy, nearing the critical threshold of transformation. It needed a purge.
If the Chaos Gods could bestow blessings upon their champions, then the Devourer, the Chaos Raider, could do the sa.
With his decision made, Eden looked toward Karina.
She was a pri candidate to lead the new Chaos faction.
At that mont, the red-haired psyker was lost in thought, propping her chin on one hand while admiring the tiny floral designs on her nails.
"Are you done with work? Co walk with in the garden. We haven't had a picnic in ages… or we could go visit the cathedral," she said.
Karina bead as she noticed the Savior's gaze. This flagship had so many fascinating places—even a mini comrcial sector.
There were still plenty of spots she hadn't explored.
"Sigh, she's hopeless…"
Eden sighed deeply and imdiately dismissed the idea of putting this forr Chaos pirate captain in charge of anything.
He promised to spend more ti with her after the raid was over—just to placate her—and then waved her off.
He turned his thoughts toward a new candidate. But none of the current prospects were suitable.
He certainly couldn't have one of his own Chapter Masters defect to Chaos with a full force in tow.
Otherwise, the holy sun's psychic blast might turn him into a spinning top.
In short, regular humans were off-limits.
Recruiting warriors who had already fallen to Chaos, and putting them to use for the Imperium and humanity—that could be justified.
But turning loyal humans to Chaos? Unacceptable.
After thinking it over, Eden concluded: he'd have to do it himself.
He'd make a flashy clone, pretend it was his devout follower, and build around that persona.
Then he'd assign a crew of mischievous daemons as core mbers.
Once the core structure was in place, they could begin recruitnt starting from the Eye of Terror.
And Eden wasn't worried about finding recruits.
The Eye of Terror was a resource-starved warzone, ho to countless corrupted worlds and rival factions fighting over dominance.
Endless war for resources and territory had left the region in ruin.
Sotis, Chaos factions had to venture into the Imperium for plunder before returning to continue their infighting.
It was the perfect chaos—ideal for soone to swoop in and grow unnoticed.
With his logistical edge, Eden could offer better gear to Chaos warriors—and his blessings were generous.
He even had access to gene-seed.
No shortage of potential recruits.
After jotting down the necessary plans, Eden turned his attention back to the ongoing raid.
That operation was the foundation for building his Chaos faction.
Abaddon's forces had marched out to confront Roboute.
And now, it was ti to strip his house bare. Besides Blackstone tech, plenty of other resources could be salvaged.
Foundries, forge platforms, On Ark hulls, Chaos Warpsmiths, servitors—all of it.
It was practically a starter package.
Eden wondered if Abaddon would cry in a toilet sowhere.
Far ahead, the Eye of Terror churned. Under the lead of the On Arks, the Black Legion fleets poured out continuously—wave after wave—converging into formation.
Then they disappeared into the Warp, heading toward Imperial space.
Just then, Tarko entered.
He handed over the latest report. "Lord Regent has sent a ssage—he's crushed part of Abaddon's fleet and is pursuing the rest. He wants you to monitor the Eye of Terror."
"Tch~ Abaddon's having a rough ti. If I didn't know better, I'd think Tzeentch was ssing with him."
Eden read the report, half-gloating.
And it was only going to get worse for Abaddon.
"Once you've finished logging the Black Legion's deployed forces, attach this On Ark data and send it all to the Lord Regent."
He passed the info to Tarko.
Those ga-warships weren't easy to deal with. The Regent needed to be fully warned.
Still, Eden trusted Roboute could handle it.
Worst case, they could retreat temporarily to buy ti and reinforce.
The Webway was already moving fleets at rapid speed to the Dimd Zone.
By all asures, the Unyielding Crusade held the advantage.
A few days later, no trace of the Black Legion remained near the Eye of Terror.
But Eden still hadn't moved.
He had to wait until their fleets were far enough away—ideally, already engaged with the Regent—before it would be safe.
Besides—
His xeno allies had not yet arrived.
And the "loyal" plunderer alliance fleet was still being assembled.
To rush in now would be suicide.
Bzzzz~
While working in his miniature garden, Eden noticed a shadow falling across the area.
Looking up, he saw a staggering piece of technology.
A massive construct, nearly a thousand kiloters long—half the size of a small moon—floating in the void.
It was unmistakable—an Eldar Craftworld.
These interstellar city-ships were once trading vessels of the Eldar Empire—now they were their nomadic hos.
Each Craftworld contained a complete self-sustaining ecosystem—nature reserves, residential zones, agriculture, and energy production.
They also had formidable defenses and military units, from ground forces to starships.
The Craftworld had parked in a safe zone outside his fleet's range.
Though vast, these ships were not particularly fast or offensively powerful. They were sublight only—unable to enter Warp corridors.
If they had FTL and high attack capability, the Imperium and its allies would never have survived.
The Eldar wouldn't be in this sorry state either.
Many couldn't even maintain their own ancient tech. Whole sections of so Craftworlds had regressed into primitive tribalism.
Once elegant, the Eldar had beco savage, even more barbaric than so cultists.
A bitter irony.
Eden hoped humanity would never fall to that level—but they were close.
So Imperial cults already worshipped ancient human technology as relics on altars, rather than studying and using them.
The Eldar Craftworld hovered far from Eden's fleet—clearly wary.
With hundreds of warships gathered, they posed a real threat.
The Eldar still feared humans.
Eden understood. If he were an alien, he'd fear humanity too.
From their perspective, humans were the villains of the galaxy.
Under the Emperor's banner, mankind had once swept across the stars, exterminating half the xenos species in the galaxy. Even now, the Imperium still did the sa—charging at aliens with chainswords and bolters.
No rcy.
Anyone who showed it was branded a heretic—and purged as well.
They even manipulated Tyranids into attacking alien worlds—including their own.
How evil was that?
That was the underlying belief of many xeno races. Especially the weaker ones—they lived in constant fear that one day, humanity would co knocking.
So, it was wise to assu the worst.
Under such circumstances, earning the Eldar's trust would not be easy.
Still, Eden considered himself a friendly guy. Practically a beacon of interspecies friendship.
Before long, a psychic ssage arrived from a Farseer of the Usvai Eldar.
The seer extended an invitation: the Savior was welco to board the Craftworld to discuss an alliance…
(End of Chapter)
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