The Trash Returned from Warhammer

The Astartes are eternally efficient; this encompasses their lifestyle, their way of war, and their patterns of thought. Consequently, they are never lost in hesitation. Faced with any situation, all tactics devolve into boarding actions, and all plans become decapitation strikes.

Angelos agreed on the spot and immediately began making arrangements. From his perspective, there were benefits to doing so, as he could not rule out the possibility that Shinji was colluding with the traitors to stage a performance of ”suffering to gain trust.” By narrowing the scope of those involved, even if Angelos himself were to act foolishly and fall for a trap, committing suicide to atone for his failure would be better than dragging the entire Chapter down with him.

But if Shinji had not been corrupted, then conspiring with Chaos to murder a Champion would be total betrayal. Furthermore, if Shinji wasn’t boasting... well, what was the penalty for murdering the Emperor’s Champion? One would likely need to be strapped to a Cyclone Torpedo and launched until they were blasted into powder.

Shinji walked through the ship with his chest out and head held high. He didn’t have the slightest bit of self-doubt or wavering, for what he spoke was the truth, and he knew what the traitors intended to do. Obstructing an Emperor’s Champion on his way to Holy Terra was a sin in itself. If one were truly a traitor, would they dare to look him in the eye with composure?

The Omnis Arcanum was Imperial territory, and the Emperor had cast his gaze upon him. Why should he fear?

What pride, what loyalty.

Whether they were mortal serfs or Astartes, those who saw Shinji pass whispered in admiration. Truthfully, most did not believe he had been corrupted by Chaos. This was a hundred-year veteran of ten thousand battles, a champion of extreme valor who had slain countless heretics. He even showed mercy to mortals, having protected evacuating Imperial citizens more than once. Had it not been for the Blood Ravens’ inability to enter dreams, everyone would have simply felt that Shinji was ”overly loyal,” mistaking the Emperor in his dreams for reality.

This investigation made no sense. Surely it wouldn’t be long before he was released and sent to the battlefield to continue offering his loyalty to the Emperor.

The hearts of the people were usable.

Shinji naturally saw these looks. Overall, the internal atmosphere of the Blood Ravens was relatively harmonious; they weren’t as deathly silent as some Chapters, nor were they overly hyperactive. In their daily lives, they engaged in recreational activities like cracking cipher locks, organizing backpacks, or identifying relics. Thus, the people around him were brothers who had entrusted their lives to each other on the battlefield, and friends who researched ”custodial services” together off the field. After he proposed meeting the Chapter Master to

prove his innocence, Kyras had no choice but to allow it. Except for the Emperor, the Chapter never belonged to any one individual.

Passing through long steel corridors and stepping past chambers filled with gear, he arrived before a massive door emblazoned with the emblem of the Blood Ravens. Shinji was not a criminal, so he was not escorted, nor did he wear restraints. He stood quietly at the door, anticipating the situation he was about to face.

The plan carried immense risk for him. If Kyras had truly fallen, and if a massive conspiracy was involved, the likelihood of a ”one-for-one” trade was high. While a fallen Chapter Master was rare, they weren’t particularly ”precious”—trading one for an Agent of the Emperor was far too lucrative a deal for Chaos.

It would all depend on Angelos and the others.

Trusting one’s battle-brothers was an Astartes instinct. He took a step forward, and the massive door slowly opened, revealing a vast room.

Significant holy relics were placed within stasis fields throughout the room—perhaps a dented helmet or a tattered company banner. At the far end sat a steel high-backed chair, and upon it sat a man in Terminator Power Armor, his bald head covered in scars. He had thick brows, large eyes, and a cold, stern face. Every scar told a story of loyalty. This was the Chapter Master of the Blood Ravens, Azariah Kyras—a warrior who shared a name with the Chapter’s Great Father.

Shinji walked in. At that moment, he suddenly recalled some anomalies: the Chapter Master seemed to have not appeared before his brothers for a long time, entrusting even vital matters like frontline command to the various Captains.

”Cyrenius, you have come.”

Kyras raised his head, a strange ferocity in his brown eyes. ”You should have simply followed orders to atone for your sins. Why waste time?”

Psychic detection: no issues.

But that meant nothing; Kyras himself was an extremely powerful psyker.

Shinji remained silent for a moment before replying: ”I have no sin, so wherefore comes atonement? Besides, I fear I would never have had the chance to reach the Deathwatch.”

”What nonsense are you speaking?”

Kyras’s brows furrowed instantly, his fierce appearance enough to make a mortal lose bladder control. His eyes were filled with confusion.

How did he know?

Killing a Champion was difficult and could not be done silently. It was best to do it outside the Omnis Arcanum. With a great war approaching, who would care about an exile then? But since this man hadn’t left, Kyras would just have to wait a few more days.

”Are you doubting me?”

”Yes. I found the Kaurava campaign strange. Despite such heavy losses, you said nothing, and you were in no hurry to replenish our strength. Instead, you put me under investigation and isolation. Once that ended, you sent me on a suicide mission.”

Shinji did not beat around the bush; his voice grew louder as he pointed a finger:

”Furthermore, regarding proving my innocence—why was there no Chaplain present? What are you afraid of?”

His voice echoed in the room, but Kyras’s face remained expressionless. Having lived for centuries, how could he fall for such provocation?

”Baseless accusations. I shall record this as evidence of your attempt to subvert the order of the Chapter.”

”If I were without basis, would I have come to find you?”

Shinji pulled a data storage device from his robes, gripping it between his thick fingers. ”There are Black Legion traitors lying in ambush on the route. This is intercepted communication, and its point of origin is the Omnis Arcanum itself. Even if you are without fault, you are responsible for this oversight.”

He saw Kyras’s expression change dramatically, shifting toward suspicion and surprise as he clearly entered deep thought.

”Are you bluffing me?”

”Whether I am or not requires investigation. I demand a Chapter Council be convened. Notify all Captains and commence an internal audit. But before that...”

Shinji took a step forward and roared:

”Look me in the eye! Do you dare say you remain loyal to the Emperor?!”

Kyras’s expression froze. He obviously knew the storage device might be a bluff, but that roar carried immense deterrent power—because he, of all people, knew the truth.

The Great Blood God himself had issued the task: stop a certain plan of the False Emperor, the core of which was the Shinji standing before him. It would be best to pull him into the Blood God’s embrace; failing that, he was to be destroyed.

How could he dare look him in the eye? Perhaps it was guilt from deep within his soul, or perhaps a fear of being blasted into oblivion by a ”slap” from the Emperor.

”You are seeking death.”

Kyras stood up and gripped the Power Sword beside the steel chair. His eyes turned blood-red, filled with a ferocity and violence that made one shudder.

’Guessed right.’

Shinji took a step back. Indeed, someone who knew the truth could not possibly dare look him in the eye and shamelessly proclaim loyalty.

The good news: it was Khorne’s corruption. Such people always lacked patience. Had it been Tzeentch, he might have acted the part a while longer.

The bad news: traitors who worshipped Khorne possessed incredible combat prowess and would cut him into mincemeat with clinical efficiency.

Time seemed to freeze. He had no weapons and wore only a robe. Fortunately—

”You deserve ten thousand deaths, traitor!!”

The air distorted instantly. Invisible psychic energy slammed forward like a storm, even more powerful than before. Kyras was stunned but released his own psychic power in response.

BOOM!!

The two energies detonated in the center of the room. Every object was leveled; even the heavy doors warped and flew outward with a resounding crash.

’The blessing of the False Emperor?’

Kyras truly hadn’t expected this psychic power to surpass his own. He had intended to simply cleave the man apart and frame him for a crime afterward. Instead, this psychic force was beyond imagination, and the resulting shockwave shattered the doors, setting off the alarms across the entire Omnis Arcanum.

’Enemy attack! Enemy attack!’

Without warning, as the alarms blared, the Astartes immediately began donning their gear and rushing to their stations. Then, upon seeing the source of the intrusion, they all froze.

It was in the Chapter Master’s quarters?

”Damn him, he did it on purpose.”

Kyras swung his greatsword, clearing the dust, but there was no sign of Shinji. This was clearly a coordinated conspiracy, waiting for him to expose his disloyalty. But he wasn’t stupid either; he hadn’t revealed the power of Khorne. He turned his head to look at the First Captain, Apollo Diomedes, who had rushed to the scene.

”Cyrenius attempted to assassinate me! He has betrayed his brothers and his oaths!”

Apollo hesitated. As a rigid Astartes, he would reasonably doubt anyone and respected both discipline and the Chapter Master’s authority, but he was no fool.

”Cyrenius had no weapons or gear. How could he assassinate you?”

”He has received the ’blessings’ of false gods! His psychic power is immense! As a Blood Raven, you should know what that signifies!” Kyras roared, no longer interested in logic, and pointed a thick finger.

”I declare Cyrenius a traitor! Find him and his accomplices! Kill them on sight!”

.

..

.

”Kyras has been corrupted by Khorne and wanted to silence me.”

At the same time, Shinji had already returned to a certain chamber. Without a second’s delay, serfs began helping him don his Power Armor. Before him stood sixty or seventy Astartes. Among them were brothers like Aranthas and Phalere who had broken out of the Kaurava campaign with him, as well as confidants found by Angelos—though their numbers were few.

’Khorne’s corruption?’

The ”tin cans” looked at each other, both sorrowful and enraged. No one doubted Shinji’s words; who would be foolish enough to go empty-handed to assassinate a Chapter Master wearing Terminator armor?

”He exposed himself that easily?”

”When I act in the Emperor’s stead, no one can look me in the eye and swear loyalty.” Shinji tested his shoulder joints, his gaze cold.

”So evidence is secondary. He knew there wasn’t a shred of falsehood in my words. How could he dare face me!”

’Ah? It’s true?’

Kyras’s immediate resort to violence indirectly confirmed Shinji’s report. Phalere, who had returned with him, was already down on one knee. Including Angelos, the others looked at each other and likewise knelt.

Nothing could mobilize the morale of the Astartes like the Emperor’s Will. It was no exaggeration to say that if Shinji pointed his blade at the High Lords of Terra right now, these warriors would dare to gun them down with bolters. No need for refusal, no need for explanation; when the Astartes recognized him as the ”Emperor’s Champion,” they had surrendered everything to him.

”Time is short. We must deal with Kyras on the Omnis Arcanum before our blinded brothers attack.”

Shinji told everyone to rise and looked at Angelos, who immediately stepped forward.

”Kyras certainly isn’t the only one fallen. There are traitors around him; they are the true enemy. But the biggest trouble is the attitude of the other brothers. You know how difficult it is to persuade First Captain Apollo.”

Everyone nodded. The First Company was the biggest problem. They were all veterans, over a hundred strong, possessing a large number of Terminator suits. Their defensive line was impenetrable.

”Fortunately, those men are not enemies. Even if they follow orders, they won’t use lethal force. Orion, find a way to stall them.”

”Fine, but I can’t stall them for long.”

”Causing them to have doubts is enough. The First Company and most of the initiates are loyal. Their presence is also a deterrent to Kyras, making him afraid to use the powers of Chaos.”

Shinji took over the conversation, causing everyone’s eyes to light up. Right—once Kyras used Chaos power, he would be confessing his guilt, so he wouldn’t just transform into a powerful Daemon Prince.

”But the question is, how many followers does Kyras have? Can we eliminate him in a short time?” Angelos did not lower his guard. They didn’t have time for a slow investigation, and fighting without intelligence was a taboo for the Blood Ravens.

”It does not matter.”

Shinji took his Power Sword from the serf’s hands. With just one sentence, he swept away all doubts, leaving everyone with bloodshot eyes and heavy breathing.

”The Emperor is watching us. Under His gaze, all monsters and demons shall surely be turned to ash.”

Direct observation by the Emperor—what glory! What sanctity!

Clack-clack.

Bolters were chambered.

Chainswords roared.

Dozens of Astartes filed out, driven by a single will.

For the Emperor!

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