The Emperor’s Angel of Death

#2265 - Eternity's Gate

Amidst the sound of bugles, Rozim strained to see into the distance, where a massive land leviathan was slowly approaching. Its overall design resembled a miniature warship, with the front shaped like a ship's bow, embedded with a huge golden eagle head. The side decks were carved like cathedral stained-glass windows, and the ship's spine featured a spacious platform. At the rear was a prominent shrine, housing a golden statue of the Emperor.

The Battle Sisters of the Order of the Ebon Chalice, led by Viletz, stood firm before the shrine, hands clasped in prayer, singing hymns.

A giant clad in ornate golden ceremonial armor stood on the foredeck, wearing a laurel wreath and a heavy crimson cloak. One hand rested on the pommel of his sword, while the other wielded a golden scepter shaped like a fasces, waving it repeatedly at the cheering crowds. The pict-casters on the airships magnified and projected his smiling expression.

It was none other than the star of this victory parade, Chapter Master Sorshyan Aleksey of the Astral Knights. His armor was his original silver-grey ceremonial armor, completely gold-plated by Terra's finest artisans working day and night for several days. The Aquila on his chest and the iron halo behind his head were transformed into a burning sun. The left shoulder pad bore an eagle, the right a lion, and the knee joints were carved into solemn human faces. Symbols of lightning and swords were etched onto the arm and leg armor, while ribbons and scripture scrolls adorned his chest and shoulder pads.

Standing beside Sorshyan were three individuals: one holding the Chapter banner, one holding the battle banner bestowed by the High Lords, and the last holding the traditional dragon banner used during the triumphal returns of the old Imperial armies.

They were Robin, Amnak, and Bakhram respectively.

"That gold plating is really something, hmm, extremely pleasing to the eye."

Isvin watched the dazzling golden giant on the land leviathan, clicking his tongue in admiration. Dogo, standing beside him, curled his lip.

"It's just a big golden oaf, I think he's pretty much the same as a greenskin..."

"Ah! That's—"

Suddenly, Rozim exclaimed, startling Sissina.

"What's wrong with you!"

"Look closely at the people next to the Chapter Master."

Sissina immediately turned the camera to the sides and zoomed in. Soon, she noticed that nearly a hundred warriors were walking alongside the massive land leviathan. They carried neither weapons nor banners. These warriors, bearing the markings of the 9th Company (actually the 11th), each held a tattered and defiled war banner, depicting wicked symbols. At the top of each banner was impaled a crimson helmet, most bearing signs of mutation or desecration, leaving no doubt as to the identities of their former owners.

"They've even brought the banners of the Red Corsairs warband."

The way these nearly hundred warriors held the banners was peculiar. The traitor banners and helmets were held upside down. As this unique formation, accompanied by Sorshyan on the land leviathan, gradually entered the main viewing area, the sounds became complex, a mixture of shouts, screams, and fanaticism.

This unique ritual ignited unparalleled enthusiasm among the residents of Terra, with waves of praise and prayer rising higher and higher.

At the same time, led by three Stormbirds, nine Thunderhawks and nine Stormraven gunships flew overhead in uniform formation at a steady speed. The engine exhaust blew the scattered flower petals in all directions, and each aircraft carried a huge banner of the Astral Knights Chapter below.

After the land leviathan passed, the roar of engines followed. Three immaculately polished Baneblades maintained a steady pace behind the leviathan, their tank commanders standing in the open hatches of their turrets, giving the Aquila salute with both hands.

Following the three super-heavy tanks were six Predator tanks, and then nine Land Raiders.

As the procession moved forward, Hero's Way, stretching for ten kilometers, was almost completely covered in flower petals.

Passing through several massive archways, Sorshyan saw a large and orderly fortress on one side of the avenue – the Fortress Dorn.

This was a building constructed during the Great Heresy. It was said that Dorn commanded the defense of Terra from this very fortress when the siege first began. Now, two colossal statues flanked the fortress, one of Dorn himself, holding a long sword, and the other of a warrior in Imperial Fists armor. When the sunlight shone on the statues, they seemed to be gazing down at the passing procession.

The procession continued, the crowd's cheers reaching the sky. Soon, they reached the latter half of Hero's Way, where the viewing crowds thinned out considerably, as the buildings here were also very sparse. In a sense, this several-hundred-meter stretch was surrounded by ruins, with only a single stone pillar, a thousand meters high and over a hundred meters in diameter, standing alone amidst the desolate remains.

This was one of the Imperial Fists' sacred sites, the Bone Pillar.

This solitary stone pillar was once part of the Imperial Fists' monastery-fortress and recruitment chapel on Terra, but it was completely destroyed during the Horus Heresy. After the war, apart from a symbolic cleanup, no changes were made to the ruins. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the pillar was filled with hand and finger bones. It was said that the Bone Pillar was once covered in bolter shell impacts, and after the war, Dorn filled those holes with the hand bones of Imperial Fists warriors who had fallen in the Siege of Terra.

Today, the Bone Pillar, on one hand, has become a Chapter relic due to its honor, and on the other hand, it continues the function of the original recruitment chapel, accepting new recruits from Terra, including Lysander, who joined the Imperial Fists from here. (Lysander is a Terran).

As they passed the Bone Pillar, all the Space Marines turned their heads in unison, paying their respects, including Sorshyan.

After passing the Bone Pillar, the cheers of the crowd rose again. However, this was already the most prosperous rich district of the City of Beneficence, and many spectators were not only on the surrounding buildings but also in suspended sightseeing airships.

The resplendent castle-style structures stretched out, and the Terran Imperial Palace on the Himalayan peak was clearly visible. In the morning sunlight, it seemed like an exquisite painting slowly unfurling on a scroll, its eternal lights almost eclipsing the stars themselves.

Not long after passing the Bone Pillar, the procession arrived near a pillar of honor. This nearly two-thousand-meter-high pillar stood on a tower-shaped base that was also several hundred meters high. The pillar was inlaid with the remains of warriors who had fallen in the Siege of Terra, some even still wearing the armor they wore in life.

The memorial pillar was also engraved with huge golden letters, forming a sentence – Heroes of Humanity, Forever Immortalized.

It was said that these words were written by a loyal Primarch of Terra after the war, but opinions differed on who it was. Most believed it was Guilliman, while others thought it was Dorn or Lion El'Jonson. However, the Salamanders had their own version. According to ancient archival documents, they were certain that the words were written by the Great Father Vulkan after the war, with a heavy heart.

After passing this place, there were almost no buildings left. The surroundings were very empty, and even the original surface could be seen. A high wall locked the entire city behind, as if civilization ended here.

All cheers and noises disappeared here as well.

The sudden emptiness of the surrounding scenery surprised many warriors, but Sorshyan already knew what was happening. Last night, during his studies of religion and Terran history with Viletz, he learned the reason from him – ancient laws prohibited spire cities and residential towers from directly facing the high walls of the Imperial Palace, and no non-defensive buildings were allowed within the fifty-kilometer firing range outside the palace walls.

Approximately two hours after departing from the spaceport, the procession finally arrived at the ultimate destination of this victory parade, and the true main gate of the Imperial Palace, the Eternity Gate!

"This is the Eternity Gate."

As all sound faded away, Sorshyan stared wide-eyed ahead.

He couldn't even estimate how enormous the folding gate was. It might even be large enough for an Emperor-class Titan to pass through, easily inspiring intense curiosity, and making one wonder, what lies behind such a 'gate'?

What kind of secrets are worth guarding with such a colossal door?