The battle within the satellite appeared assured in Creed's eyes, requiring little further attention. However, the situation on the surface was far from optimistic.
Every Titan of the Omnissiah's Blade Legion had been modified, boasting combat prowess that far surpassed ordinary Titans. Even the Knight houses of Agripinaa's Forge World had accepted enhancements, enabling their knights to appear behind enemies in an instant to deliver fatal strikes. The advancement of the front line was dictated solely by the speed at which the Death's Head Legion Titans could retreat.
Victory should have come smoothly, but enemy sorcerers had torn open rifts on the battlefield, summoning legions of blood-red demons to join the fray. Although Omnissiah's Blade remained unthreatened, Titans and Knights alike relied on the support of conventional forces in their push forward. The sheer presence of these demons struck fear even into the stoutest hearts, with the faint-hearted among the soldiers abandoning their weapons and fleeing in terror.
Amidst this chaos, only the fervent soldiers of the Cult Mechanicus held their ground, their spirits enflamed by the binary hymns. Yet for other units, morale sagged in the face of such monstrous foes. Unable to withstand the onslaught of demons, Omnissiah's Blade's forces were compelled to slow or even halt their advance, tipping the scales of war once more in the enemy's favor.
"The Lord of Talon has been absent for nearly two hours now," Creed said, glancing at his lieutenant, Kael. "If he can spare himself, summon him to assist on the satellite." He paused, revising his command. "Relay this order: request the Battle Sisters to join the fight on the metal plains, and no matter what, hold the line."
"Yes, sir," Kael replied, departing to deliver the orders. The Sisters of Battle, locked in fierce struggle against the enemy in the weapons arrays, received the request. Immediately, they withdrew from the arrays and advanced to the metal plains. With undaunted courage, the sight of these valiant sisters alone restored the spirits of their allies.
Creed observed their arrival, only to see a golden light erupt from underground, piercing through an enemy Warhound Titan. The light soared and weaved through the sky, drawing ever closer to friendly forces. Adjusting his vision, Creed discerned that it was three winged women. They appeared as angels in the most literal sense, inspiring fervor among the troops, who hurled themselves at the demons with renewed zeal. Even the most demoralized forces reclaimed their positions, invigorated by the angels' presence.
Creed's confidence grew; with the line surely held, he released a long breath and sank back into his chair. He watched the battlefield unfold, realizing that these newfound advantages extended beyond the Titan Legion and the arrival of the angels.
Suddenly, a wave spread across Cadia, banishing the last remnants of the blue demons in an instant. The pulse extended to the celestial engines, grounding the angels who fell to earth, their golden glow dissipating. The blood-red demons writhed in agony, reduced to less than mere mortals, shrinking to the size of sinister children. The rifts across the star system closed, even quenching the light from the Eye of Terror, allowing Cadia's people to see a normal sky once more.
Something had spread from Cadia, reverberating throughout the star system, suppressing psychic powers with overwhelming force. It affected not only warp creatures and psykers but ordinary humans too, who felt an acute unease.
In his office, Creed tumbled from his chair, feeling as if an unseen force gripped his head and ignited his mind. Kael suffered similarly, as did the rest of the command center staff, their anguished cries echoing down the corridors.
With time, almost every combatant in the star system, regardless of allegiance, lost the will to fight, save for the Talon's Thirteenth Regiment and Yhorne's soulless forces. Fortunately, the oppressive energy soon ebbed, and the ordinary soldiers began to recover.
The air wavered in Creed's office, and Qin Mo, long missing, appeared before him.
"Feeling any better?" Qin Mo asked.
Creed struggled back to his seat, his face pale as he gasped for air. "What… what just happened?"
"It's a long story," Qin Mo said with a sigh. He had finally deciphered the secrets of the Blackstone Obelisk and managed to activate it. Its effects were formidable, reaching psykers, demons, and even ordinary humans across the star system. Qin Mo had to temper its power to prevent it from overwhelming mortal souls. But one thing was certain: with the Blackstone Obelisk now operational, victory was within reach.
"Cadia will truly stand forever," Qin Mo declared.
Though Creed's face remained stony, his trembling hand betrayed his relief. He clutched a cigar, yet dropped it before he could even bring it to his lips. Memories flooded back to his days as a White Shield, forced-marching fifteen kilometers with weighted packs. When the weights were finally lifted, he had trembled just as he did now, basking in the joy of victory, certain he had not let his Cadian brothers and sisters down.
"The enemy has begun retreating," Kael quietly announced.
...
Faced with overwhelming odds, the forces of Chaos commenced a full withdrawal. The Death's Head Titan Legion, realizing their escape was all but impossible, chose to stay behind, covering the retreat of their allies. As the army marked with blasphemous sigils retreated to the transport ships, the Titans of Death's Head strode forward, shielding them from the Omnissiah's Blade.
Their loyal Knights did not seek to flee either, piloting their war machines to the fore, intercepting the ion beams and missiles unleashed by the Glory of Agripinaa.
Within the satellite, Chaos Space Marines began teleporting away. Only the Oathbreakers Warband remained, choosing to wage a final, bloody stand. With Abaddon stabbed eighteen times and his fate unknown, Sorak smashed to pieces, and Typhus the sole surviving Chaos leader, they were nearing defeat.
The Deathbringers' Chapter Master Foros hardly needed to lift his weapon, as Typhus knelt before him, his head leaking an unholy mixture of bile and blood. When the Blackstone Obelisk had activated, Typhus and his Nurgle followers lost all strength. Their flesh bloated and festering, their bodies scraped raw as pus oozed from every lesion, leaving them as weak as children who could be slain by Cadian youth.
"Disgusting filth," Svin muttered, pressing his boot against Typhus's chest plate, causing more putrid ichor to spurt from the cracks.
"You can't kill me…" Typhus wheezed, green bile and writhing maggots spilling from his helmet. "The Plague Father will return me to life…"
"Fine. I'll just kill you again," Foros sneered, plunging his spear into Typhus's head.
Svin looked down, satisfied, and ordered the command staff back on Cadia. "Have the Talon's transport tech get us down to the surface. I want the iron fields stacked high with Chaos corpses."
Foros, preparing to join Svin in the pursuit of the retreating Chaos forces, received a transmission from Tessa aboard the flagship.
"Chapter Master," her melodic voice echoed, as composed as ever. "The Lord of Talon requests your presence on Cadia."
"I'll be there shortly," Foros replied, nodding.