[In the fifth month, the Cathedral of the Emperor's Ascension, located in the southern hemisphere of Terra, is nominally a church building, but it is more like a huge building complex comparable to the size of a city.]
[In the past, this place was used to accommodate believers who came to Holy Terra for pilgrimage, but now it has become the final place where the cultists intend to put up a last-ditch resistance.]
[Countless defensive weapons and equipment as well as heavy vehicles were piled up at the entrance of the church and even on important traffic arteries.]
[At the outermost edge of the entire huge building complex, on the battlefield ground covered with countless craters and burn marks, armored ground forces from the Imperial Guard were slowly surrounding the entire cathedral.]
[Having just gone through many tough battles such as the Battle of Cadia, and having not yet received reinforcements, the number of Astartes transferred out from the Phalanx was only less than 80. The Imperial Fists' Third Company was once again divided into several combat teams and distributed throughout the encirclement.]
[Once the final siege begins, they will become the sharp knives that break through the church's defenses and open up a path for the subsequent Imperial Guards or armored forces to attack.]
[However, while countless mortal warriors and the combined forces of the Imperial Fists and the Custodians were still in the preparation stage.]
[Boom boom boom——]
[Accompanied by huge beams of light that suddenly fell from the sky, the orbital bombardment from the Imperial Navy launched a terrifying coverage attack in advance! ]
[Then, as countless buildings in the entire cathedral city continued to collapse and be destroyed.]
[In the azure sky that was almost bright, drop pods carrying veterans of the Minotaur Astartes were rushing towards the ground with heavy flames! ]
[More troop transports and countless Thunderhawk transport planes carrying the Astra Militarum also appeared in dense traces from the outskirts of the Allied Forces' battlefield! ]
[At this moment, inside the temporary command post of the coalition forces located outside the battlefield. ]
[According to common sense, they should be filled with anger and surprise, but their expressions were unchanged. Captain Galadon, who seemed to have known about this for a long time, subconsciously exchanged a glance with the commander of the Imperial Guards, Trajan, and then the two of them moved their eyes away from each other without leaving a trace.]
[Soon after, the orbital bombardment from the sky and the massacre of the Minotaurs came to an end.]
[The countless mortal soldiers of the Imperial Guard and ordinary Astartes outside the ruins of the church were full of doubts and confusion.]
[Along with the rapid spread of invisible electromagnetic waves, mysterious broadcast signals that could connect to the entire Holy Terra public channel suddenly appeared clearly on every human screen or radio device, and they were almost exactly the same as Guilliman's Unyielding Ceremony that had just been held not long ago.]
[At this moment, everyone on Terra subconsciously looked towards the screen that could receive the image.]
[And inside the central dome of the shattered Ascension Cathedral, the rebellious high lords who once or now control the entire Terra power hierarchy, with their heads held high, reveal some old and some strong figures.]
[These people are Hamo Talion, the former Minister of the Interior, Avilisa Drachma, the Marshal of the Ministry of Justice, Phadix, the Grand Master of the Assassin Court, and Bardo Sleister, the deposed former Pope of the State Church.]
[Behind the four rebel high lords, you, a tall and strong man, stood there in silence wearing Terminator armor, and in one of your ceramic steel hands you were casually playing with the pale head of the cult leader, the Lord of Dreams.]
["Children of the Emperor, the age of rebellion is over!"]
[At this moment, the former Minister of the Interior, Hamo, who was in the lead, slowly stepped forward.]
[He announced to the entire Terra through the public channel broadcasting equipment in an excited tone.]
["The cultists that ravaged Holy Terra have been destroyed! As the Emperor willed! As the Codex demands!"]
["This is the Empire. This must be the Empire. This will always be the Empire!"]
[However, just as the other party was about to continue his speech, his emotions were gradually brewing. ]
[Your deep voice suddenly overwhelmed the voice of the rebellious high lord. ]
["Hehe, then will this human empire be the empire of you high lords? Or the empire of the emperor?"]
[At this moment, you who are playing with the pale head suddenly drive the Terminator power armor and step forward. ]
[You look down at the former Minister of the Interior, who is a little shocked by your sudden voice.]
[Among the other three rebellious high lords, except for the Grand Master of the Assassin Court who remained calm, the other two looked at each other, and there was a hint of panic in their eyes. It was obvious that they had also discovered a huge loophole in the entire rebellion plan.]
[That is the Astartes, which they regard as one of their military strengths. What if they suddenly become disobedient? ]
["Don't be anxious. I want to invite you high lords and all the Terran people on the other end of the radio to watch a show... a bloody show of executing traitors that I like the most!"]
[You quickly raised one of your ceramic steel hands and firmly suppressed the former Minister of the Interior who wanted to turn around and run away.]
[And at the moment you finished speaking, four slender dark figures whose bodies were changing dramatically suddenly rushed forward from among the many mortals who were originally part of the High Lord's servant team!]
[And these slender figures with thick braids on their heads and black plastic combat suits on their bodies are the female assassins of the Temple of Callidus! ]
[In an instant, except for the former Minister of the Interior and the expressionless Grand Master of the Assassin Court who were firmly suppressed by you, the other two high lords were instantly killed by the four Callidus assassins! ]
["Tsk tsk, the first scene of the execution of the High Lord's traitor. Unfortunately, this is not the plot routine I designed for you. However, I can tell you that this is a small appetizer gift from Regent Guilliman to you."]
[At this moment, you lowered your metal helmet slightly. ]
[In a low and cold voice, he whispered slowly to the pale, trembling former Minister of the Interior.]
["Look, the main course I prepared for you is here!"]
[You slowly raised the ceramic palm that was playing with the pale head. In everyone's field of vision, one after another, the troop transport vehicles belonging to the Star Army entered the ruined church. However, after the heavy hatch was opened, it was not the mortal warriors who came to rescue, but men, women, old and young, wearing exquisite clothes and obviously of noble status.]
[At the same time, the Minotaur Primaris wearing power armor are constantly driving more nobles through the ruined church building and heading in front of you.]
["The thousands of people over there are all the relatives and family members of the Marshal of the Ministry of Justice. I even helped him find his illegitimate son who was hiding in the Terra Palace... Oh, those are the former Pope's male servants and close friends and relatives. His taste is a little bit heavy, but I still admire him for not having any family members."]
["Those are the family and friends of the Admiral… Eh? As a high lord with great power, you have fewer family members than I thought. Is the baby in the woman's arms the new bloodline of your family? I still want to congratulate you, but it's a pity for this child."]
[At this moment, your soft words echoed in the ears of the rebellious high lord like the whispers of a chaos demon, and his mental state also developed from fear and terror at the beginning to complete collapse.]
["Please… please, Lord Moloch, for the sake of me, the High Lord, who has taken care of your Minotaurs for so many years!" The other party begged you with trembling lips.]
["Tsk, since you cannot return to the throne, I can reveal a little secret to you before you die... I am not Moloch. To be precise, I just borrowed Moloch's body under the guidance of the Emperor."]
["And I happen to be a person who likes to root out the evil, so, we Astartes said we would kill your whole family, and we must kill your whole family!"]
[As soon as you finished speaking, you, wearing a metal helmet, threw away the pale head of the cult leader.]
[The next second, your two ceramic steel palms respectively grasped the thin neck of the leader of the rebellious high lords and the former Minister of the Interior, and then tore it up and down without hesitation! ]
[Accompanied by an extremely short and tragic scream, a mortal head with a part of the pale spine slowly appeared in the palm of your hand in front of countless Terran people who were excitedly watching through the screen! ]
[Holding the fresh head in your palm, you slightly turned the metal helmet, staring at the broadcasting equipment that was still running and said lightly. ]
["This is the final outcome of betraying the Emperor and the Empire of Man! Even the most powerful High Lords are no exception!"]
["Minotaur Chapter! Imperial Fists Chapter! Ten Thousand Guards and Sisters of Silence, listen to my orders! The subsequent reckoning and horrific punishment of the High Lords' traitors will officially begin from now on!"]
["By the watchful eye and blessing of the Holy Emperor, in the name of Regent Guilliman…"]
["Kill them all——"]
Thank you for your support!
Everyone, drink less alcohol tonight, eat more food, and celebrate the New Year happily!
(End of this chapter)