The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Upon arriving at their destination, Mara and the noblewomen began distributing extra food to the battle-weary soldiers, a reward for their valiant efforts. The wounded soldiers, upon catching the scent of the ladies' perfumes, seemed to perk up considerably.

After visiting three defensive positions, Mara dismissed the noblewomen, and under the protection of the Governor's guards, she ascended a section of the defensive wall.

There, she hoped to find the one she was worried about.

Mara instructed the guards to remain at the base of the steps. With gentle steps, she tried to minimize the sound of her heels as she climbed, careful not to disturb him.

He stood like a statue on the battered ramparts, his red Iron Fist clenched tightly, resting on a pile of smoking rubble. His armor was as scarred as a wall scribbled on by children, hardly a piece of it intact. His chiseled face bore the marks of countless battles, yet this did not make him seem violent or cruel, but rather imparted a unique sense of melancholy and depth.

His brow was furrowed, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, appearing so dim. The occasional movement of his throat seemed a physical manifestation of the anxiety and struggle within him. More importantly, she noticed the weariness and fatigue in his eyes.

She remembered him as he was then, so strikingly handsome, so eloquent. There was no man more perfect than he, none at all...

Not even the angels in paintings could match a fraction of his perfection.

She had once thought she had lost him forever, and she had truly despaired, spending days weeping alone in her bedroom. But her hero would not be so easily slain by xenos.

As long as he stood, Ryannor Secundus stood, the Ryannor system stood.

"Chapter Master Pedro."

The soft voice did not stir the giant statue. The Governor approached him cautiously.

"I heard you haven't rested in a long time. There shouldn't be any Orks for now. You could-"

"It's dangerous here."

The motionless giant suddenly uttered these words. Mara paused for a moment, then offered a warm smile.

"Where you are, I feel no danger."

Pedro Kantor turned his head slightly, glanced at her, and then said:

"Ryannor Secundus is dangerous."

He then raised his hand, pointing into the distance. There lay what was once Ryannor Secundus's spaceport, with its massive docking and transport facilities, the crucial link between the planet's surface and orbit. But it had quickly been seized by the Ork Warboss Urzgog and transformed into an outpost for the Ork invasion of Ryannor Secundus.

And soon, it would begin to nurture the power that could truly destroy the city.

"They're finished."

Mara looked in the direction he indicated, her expression gradually becoming serious. What Kantor pointed to was the bane of all Ryannorans. Even those who knew nothing of military matters could see the power of the grotesque, giant war machines built by the aliens.

They were so massive, so terrifying, that their barrel-shaped bodies hidden in the smoke could be seen from any high point in the city. Perhaps they wouldn't even need weapons; their sheer bulk could smash Ryannor Secundus's defensive walls.

Some, therefore, saw these giant machines as the doomsday clock of Ryannor, their completion marking the moment of Ryannor's destruction.

Mara walked to the wall, looking at the horrific things illuminated by spotlights. There were six of them, like evil gods hidden in a hazy mist, waiting for the moment to devour sacrifices.

"So soon..."

Kantor sighed softly, muttering:

"The ships at the spaceport are ready. Don't come out here for a while. If the enemy attacks... board a ship and leave. There are still some safe places in Ryannor, perhaps enough to hold out until Imperial reinforcements arrive."

Mara turned around as a gust of wind blew, scattering her hair and carrying away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Through her tear-filled eyes, she saw that the heroic spirit of her most admired hero had faded. His sculpted face was now filled with sorrow, as if he were a defeated man who had lost everything, both mentally and physically. She could feel his almost palpable grief, as if it were her own.

At that moment, she suddenly found courage, stepping forward and grasping his left hand with both of hers.

"Pedro, can I die by your side?"

Kantor did not respond, but his red Iron Fist clenched until it creaked, his tight lips and slightly trembling chin betraying the turmoil within him.

Finally, it all turned into a sigh.

"I am a failure. I destroyed the Chapter and doomed our homeworld. I have failed everyone's expectations. I am not worthy..."

"No! You are not!"

Mara was unusually agitated. She stepped forward, loudly refuting the angel's almost self-destructive words.

"You are the hero of all Ryannorans, the hero of the Imperium, and... my hero!"

She pressed her forehead against his arm, tears falling like broken pearls onto his blue, battle-scarred gauntlet.

"My guilt can only be redeemed by death."

"If this is the final answer the Emperor gives us, then I, Mara Caliaari, as Governor of Ryannor, will die here defending the city!"

"You still have a responsibility. You must lead the surviving people."

"You are more qualified than I am!"

"No more, Mara, there is no more..."

Just as the two were struggling with each other, a piercing alarm suddenly tore through the sky. Mara paused, releasing Kantor's hand, while Kantor stepped forward nervously, his eyes widening.

The massive gargants seemed to tremble, and the scaffolding and cranes surrounding them collapsed like toppled sand piles. At the same time, the ultra-high-powered searchlights on their heads lit up one by one.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAGHA!!!!

The sky-rending roar echoed from the gargants' giant loudspeakers, causing Mara's soul to tremble, for it signified one thing—

The destruction of Ryannor had arrived!

But things were not that simple. Kantor keenly observed that the Orks' ranged weapons had not opened fire, and many of their searchlights were shining into the sky, as if searching for something in the night-covered firmament.

"Chapter Master! Chapter Master!"

A Flesh Tearer Space Marine shouted as he rushed up from the other side of the steps, his face filled with ecstasy, gasping as he said:

"Reinforcements... reinforcements! Reinforcements have arrived! The communications station has contacted reinforcements!"

For a moment, Kantor almost broke into a smile, but he restrained himself and turned to look at Mara.

"Governor Mara, return to the Silver Tower immediately and order everyone who can bear arms to take up arms. We may have a tough battle ahead of us."

"Yes, yes! I'll go right away!"

Mara had barely nodded before Kantor had already sprinted away.