Ralph did not look back. Step by step, she walked to the center of the hall, standing directly before Ragnar. She looked up at the green monster before her, who resembled a legendary Chaos god.
In her eyes, there was not a trace of fear—only a calm, glass-like stillness, as if she were facing a mere passerby rather than a ruthless demon.
Slowly, Ralph extended her right hand. Held in her palm was a black, palm-sized box. Its surface was carved with intricate, mysterious runes, making it look like an ordinary, albeit exquisite, urn. Yet, this box bore a name that struck terror into the hearts of all who knew it—the Psi-Annihilation Box.
This was one of the most potent weapons aboard the Black Ship under her command. Sealed within were the psychic essences left behind by several deceased psykers. Upon detonation, its power was comparable to a macro-cannon shell. Precisely because of its catastrophic yield, it was strictly regulated, to be used only in the absolute direst of emergencies. Moreover, the price of its activation was the user's life.
The energy within the Psi-Annihilation Box was volatile in the extreme. It required a powerful Untouchable—utilizing their innate psychic void properties—to suppress its charge. Once the user perished and the suppression vanished, the massive reserves of psychic energy sealed inside would instantly detonate, utterly consuming everything in the vicinity.
Ralph gently stroked the surface of the Psi-Annihilation Box. Her movements were tender and devout, as if handling a priceless treasure. She was prepared. She would use her life to bring this conflict to an end, buying Dominic's survival with her own sacrifice and securing a victory for humanity.
"Huh? You're still kickin', woman?" Ragnar frowned, looking at Ralph with growing impatience. In his eyes, she was a spent force, utterly incapable of threatening him. His only desire now was to quickly slaughter Dominic and return to save his beloved Anna.
"If you're in such a hurry to die, I'll oblige ya!" Ragnar grunted. He scooped up two fist-sized chunks of stone from the ground and hurled them violently at the two Sisters of Silence carrying Dominic. He would put an end to those two shrimp first, then deal with this stubborn woman at his leisure.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The two stones streaked like cannonballs, shrieking through the air toward the two Sisters. Their velocity was staggering; the Sisters had no time to react.
SPLAT! SPLAT!
With two dull thuds, the stones struck their heads. Their skulls ruptured instantly like ripe melons, splattering red and white matter across the floor. They collapsed without even having a chance to scream. Deprived of their support, Dominic crashed heavily to the ground.
Ralph watched the scene, her eyes remaining entirely vacant of emotion. Though her heart had sunk to the absolute depths, she knew time was gone. She had to trigger the Psi-Annihilation Box immediately. Otherwise, all these sacrifices would be in vain.
Having dealt with the two Sisters, Ragnar redirected his gaze to Ralph. He strode toward her step by step, a sadistic grin splitting his face.
"Now, it's your turn, woman. I'm gonna make your death real ugly."
Ralph did not speak. She merely watched in silence as Ragnar closed the distance. Her finger rested lightly on the trigger of the Psi-Annihilation Box. The moment she died, it would all be over.
Ragnar stood before Ralph. He raised his fist high.
"Farewell, woman."
With crushing momentum, his fist hurtled down toward her head.
Ralph did not flinch. She stood perfectly still, watching the fist grow larger. Her expression remained entirely blank, save for a fleeting, nearly imperceptible glint of regret deep within her eyes. Her sole regret was that Dominic had not been carried out of the blast radius. He would likely... perish here alongside her.
I am sorry, Lord Dominic. I could not get you away safely. But I have done my utmost.
BANG!!!
With a sickening roar, Ragnar's fist slammed directly into Ralph. Under the colossal impact, her entire upper body erupted instantly into a crimson mist, leaving not a shred of flesh intact. Only her lower half remained standing, a solitary, gruesome pillar.
With Ralph's death, her psychic containment over the Psi-Annihilation Box dissolved. The small black box tumbled to the floor.
A split second later—
HUMMMMM!!!
An indescribable, horrific torrent of energy erupted from the vessel. It was as though a swollen dam had suddenly been stripped of all its gates; the massive, long-repressed psychic charge that had been primed for so long collapsed and unleashed itself in a single, cataclysmic instant.
The entire hall was instantly swallowed by a blinding white light. A colossal psychic shockwave rolled outward like a tsunami in all directions. The polished marble floor was ripped up and ground to dust; the thick alloy walls buckled and warped like wet paper. Every corpse, weapon, and piece of wreckage in the hall was thoroughly disintegrated under the pure psychic onslaught.
Even space itself began to warp and collapse under the pressure of this terrifying energy, tearing open a minor psychic rift that hungrily devoured its surroundings. Such was the devastating power of the Psi-Annihilation Box—a force capable of striking terror into any entity. Even with defenses as monstrous as Ragnar's, taking a psychic detonation of this scale at point-blank range would leave him either dead or utterly broken.
Lying on the floor, Dominic stared in despair at the blinding sphere of white light. He could feel the world-ending energy racing toward him; the shadow of death enveloped his entire being. He closed his eyes.
Perhaps this was for the best. This way, he could join Ralph, Marc, and all his fallen soldiers to stand before the Emperor. He would no longer have to carry the crushing weight of survivor's guilt, scraping by in this world.
Just as the destructive energy of the Psi-Annihilation Box was about to consume Dominic, a black figure leaped gracefully from the shadows.
She possessed silky, silver hair and eyes as crimson as fresh blood. She wore a suit of form-fitting light armor that did not resemble human technology. Pinned to her chest, a golden rosette emblem flashed brilliantly under the glare of the white light.
This was an Inquisitor.
Reaching out, she grabbed Dominic by his collar. Then, she activated the thruster at her waist.
WHOOSH!
The two of them instantly blurred into a shadow, hurtling into the nearby bridge at breathtaking speed. Behind them, the horrific psychic explosion completely engulfed the grand hall. The colossal shockwave slammed the heavy alloy doors of the bridge shut.
BOOM!!!
A world-shaking boom echoed.
The entire Gemstone shuddered violently.
Dominic was thrown heavily onto the deck of the bridge. He snapped his head up, looking at the woman who had saved him, his eyes filled with fury and incomprehension.
"Let go of me! Who told you to save me?!" Dominic screamed at her, hysterically. "You have no right to decide the life or death of a general, Inquisitor!"
"I would rather die there with my soldiers than scrape by like a coward! You have shamed me! You have shamed the honor of House Ventris!"
He roared at Solene like a wounded beast. He hated her. He hated her for meddling, for forcing him to survive, forcing him to live on while carrying the crushing weight of everyone's sacrifice.
Solene stood there quietly, watching Dominic's maddened state. Her face was completely expressionless; her crimson eyes showed not a single ripple.
She had seen too many people like this—blinded by honor and pride, valuing personal life and death over the victory of an entire campaign.
Solene did not coddle him. She stepped forward.
SLAP!
A crisp, loud slap struck Dominic's face. The blow carried immense force, snapping Dominic's head to the side and drawing a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
The entire bridge instantly fell into a dead silence. Every surviving officer and crew member stared at the scene in utter shock. No one dared to speak; no one dared to breathe.
Dominic was stunned too. He looked at Solene in disbelief. In all his life, no one had ever dared to strike him, let alone slap him like this.
"If you want to die, you can do so at any time," Solene's voice was cold and calm, completely devoid of emotion.
"But are you going to throw away the victory of this entire battle just for your so-called aristocratic pride and honor?"
"What did those guards and Sisters sacrifice their lives for? Was it not so you could survive? So you could continue to command the fleet and lead them to win this war?"
"Do you think your death is honorable?"
"No! It is cowardice, an escape!"
"You are failing every soldier who died for you!"
"You are betraying the Emperor's trust in you!"
Solene's voice grew increasingly stern, each word like a blade piercing Dominic's heart.
"This battle is not just happening here."
"Outside the ship, the massive main fleet of the Greenskins is about to arrive at Karl II."
"If you die now, the entire human fleet will lose its backbone."
"At that point, not only will the Gemstone fall, but the entire Calixis sector could fall into the Greenskins' clutches. Billions of humans will be slaughtered."
"Who will bear the blame for this?!"
"Will it be you, Rear Admiral Dominic Ventris?!"
Solene's words were like a heavy sledgehammer slamming into Dominic's chaotic mind. Every word carried cold, hard truth, shattering the shell he had woven with pride.
Dominic sat dazed on the floor, the clear imprint of a hand still burning on his face. The stinging pain gradually cleared his muddled head.
He looked up, gazing out the viewport of the bridge. In the pitch-black void of space, countless points of light flickered. Those were the starships of the human fleet. They were still fighting, shedding blood to protect Karl II and the billions of humans on Brevis behind them.
Yet he, out of his own pride and honor, had wanted to abandon it all, using death to flee his responsibilities.
"Yes... the war isn't over yet..." Dominic muttered to himself. His voice was dry, carrying an indescribable ache, and the madness and fury in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a profound, inescapable sorrow and guilt.
He looked down at his empty left sleeve. Blood was still gushing from the wound. The agonizing pain was a constant reminder: Ralph was dead. Renyx was dead. Haisen was dead. And countless loyal soldiers had died in that hall just to protect him.
They had traded their lives for his chance to live, yet he had wanted to squander their sacrifice.
Dominic's shoulders trembled slightly. He covered his face with his right hand, hot tears slipping through his fingers. He was not crying for his severed arm, nor for his own plight. He was crying for the soldiers who had died for him, crying for his own foolishness and cowardice.
The bridge remained silent. All the officers and crew watched Dominic quietly. No one spoke or rushed him. They understood his pain and were waiting for him to stand back up, waiting for their general to lead them in battle once more.
Standing nearby, Solene's calm, crimson eyes finally flickered with a faint wave of emotion. She knew Dominic needed a little time to process and accept all of this.
But unfortunately, fate did not leave them much time.
BANG!!!
An ear-splitting gunshot suddenly shattered the silence of the bridge. A bullet whipped sharply through the air, firing from the ventilation ducts in the ceiling straight toward Dominic's head.
"Watch out!"
Solene's reaction speed was staggering. Almost the instant the gunshot echoed, her body moved instinctively. She grabbed Dominic by the collar and yanked him hard behind her.
SHH-ZT!
The bullet grazed Dominic's scalp and slammed into the deck behind him, showering sparks. Dominic was thrown heavily to the floor by the sheer momentum, his severed arm scraping against the cold metal deck.
"AAAGH!!!"
The intense pain made Dominic scream, cold sweat instantly soaking his back. But he gritted his teeth and remained conscious. At least he was alive.
"Enemy attack!!!"
"In the ceiling!!!"
The bridge instantly descended into chaos. The surviving guards immediately raised their bolters, aiming them at the ventilation ducts in the ceiling.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Several more gunshots echoed. Bullets rained down from the vents. This time, their targets were not just Dominic, but also the few surviving guards on the bridge.
PFT! PFT!
Two of the slower guards were struck in the chest, blood spraying out as they collapsed heavily to the deck, motionless. Fortunately, the other guards managed to find cover in time, preventing further casualties.
CLANG!
The vent grates were kicked open one by one, and dozens of figures dropped down from the ceiling like black bats.
They wore tight-fitting red combat fatigues, their faces smeared with dark camouflage greasepaint.
In their hands, they brandished customized slugga-rifles and heavy scrap choppas, moving with terrifying agility and speed.
The newcomers were indeed the surviving agents of the Blood Axe Clan who had previously assisted the Wrecking Ball squad in breaching the Mechanicus defensive line. After the line fell, they did not charge alongside the main assault force. Instead, they had remained hidden in the ventilation shafts and maintenance tunnels, waiting patiently like venomous serpents for the perfect opportunity.
Crucially, they could sense that their boss, Ragnar, was not yet dead. That familiar, violent presence—though extremely faint—still lingered.
Furthermore, they saw that the human forces on the bridge were almost entirely depleted. Dominic was severely wounded and had lost his ability to fight. Now was the absolute best time to eliminate the human commander and put an end to this war once and for all.
"Hahaha! Shrimps! Your time is up!" a Blood Axe Kommando Nob laughed triumphantly. "Victory belongs to us in the end! Kill them and chop off their heads!"
The Blood Axe Kommandos let out feverish roars. They lunged like hungry wolves toward the guards taking cover behind the command consoles. They were the finest assassins among the Ork clans, their combat techniques exceptionally cunning and cruel, aiming specifically for the enemy's vital points.
A few exhausted guards struggled to raise their bolters to retaliate, but their sluggish shots posed no threat to the agile Blood Axe Kommandos. Instead, the Kommandos easily flanked them, slitting their throats.
The officers on the bridge, despite having some combat experience, lacked proper weapons and armor. Carrying only sidearm pistols, they could not form an effective fighting force and could only huddle behind cover, barely holding on.
The Blood Axe Kommandos were certain that victory was finally theirs, confident grins spreading across their green faces.
"Fight them to the end!" a surviving guard roared. He raised his power axe, hacking at a charging Kommando.
CLANG!
The Blood Axe Kommando easily blocked the strike with his power blade. He then kicked the guard hard in the stomach, sending him stumbling back. Before the guard could steady himself, another Kommando flanked him, plunging a sharp power blade deep into his back.
The guard groaned and collapsed, his blood staining the floor beneath him.
Seeing the Blood Axe Kommandos about to reach Dominic, Solene moved.
She threw Dominic over her shoulder. Although Dominic was tall and heavily built, he was not too heavy for Inquisitor Solene, who possessed genetic enhancements and specialized gear.
"Hold on tight," Solene said, her voice remaining calm.
She kicked off the ground and leaped backward, evading several Kommando shots.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bullets struck where she had been standing, kicking up metal fragments. Solene moved rapidly across the bridge with Dominic. She had been undercover aboard the Gemstone for a long time. During this period, she had mapped out every corner of Dominic's frequent areas of activity, including every corridor, piece of cover, and blind spot on the bridge.
Using consoles and pillars for cover, she evaded the Kommandos' sniper fire. Meanwhile, a strange-looking energy pistol had somehow appeared in her hand. The pistol did not look like technology of the Imperium of Man; its frame was a peculiar green, carved with complex patterns.
PEW! PEW! PEW!
Solene fired backward as she ran. The green energy bolts struck the Kommandos with deadly precision.
"AAAGH!"
One Blood Axe Kommando was struck in the shoulder. His shoulder was instantly dissolved into a massive hole by the alien energy, spraying green blood. He shrieked and collapsed to the floor, convulsing.
"Miserable shrimp!" the Kommando Nob cursed in rage. He hadn't expected this suddenly appearing silver-haired woman to be so troublesome. "Everyone target her! Kill her!"
All the Kommandos turned their weapons on Solene. A hail of bullets blanketed her like a net.
But Solene was too fast. She darted through the gunfire like a nimble lioness. The bullets always missed by a hair. In contrast, every shot of hers claimed another Kommando's life. Within just two minutes, seven or eight Kommandos lay dead beneath her gunfire.
Dominic, slung over Solene's shoulder, watched everything unfold. He could feel the tension in her muscles with every leap and hear her steady, powerful breathing.
This Inquisitor, a complete stranger, could easily have escaped on her own. She didn't have to care about his survival, yet she chose to stay. She risked her life to rescue him and was still fighting dozens of brutal Blood Axe Kommandos to keep him safe.
A warm current slowly flowed through Dominic's heart. Yes, even a stranger—an Inquisitor—had not abandoned him and was still fighting for this war. What right did he have to wallow in self-pity? What right did he have to betray the soldiers who died for him, or the fleet waiting for his command?
Dominic's gaze gradually grew firm. His remaining right hand clenched into a tight fist.
"Inquisitor Solene, put me down," Dominic's voice, though still weak, was full of strength. "I can still fight."
Solene glanced back at him. A trace of silent approval flashed in her crimson eyes, but she did not set him down.
"Your wounds are too severe," Solene said flatly as she dodged another burst of fire. "Right now, all you need to do is stay alive. Leave the rest to me."
Her tone brooked no argument, but Dominic could hear a touch of warmth beneath her icy voice.
Solene carried Dominic to a corner of the bridge where a heavy blast door stood. She kicked it open, hurried inside with him, and slammed it shut behind them.
Bullets clattered against the blast door, echoing with dull thuds, but the door stood firm. They were temporarily safe.
Solene leaned against the wall, catching her breath. The high-intensity combat had drained her stamina as well.
Dominic slipped down from her shoulder and leaned against the wall. He looked at Solene and said earnestly, "Thank you, Inquisitor Solene."
"Don't thank me." Solene wiped a trace of blood from her cheek. During her evasive maneuvers, a stray metal fragment had grazed her lip. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for the Imperium, and for the soldiers still out there fighting."
She paused, then added, "Besides, I'm not fighting alone."
"Huh?" Dominic looked at her in confusion, not understanding what she meant.
Solene did not explain. She simply looked toward the blast door, a complex swirl of emotions flashing in her crimson eyes: hatred, helplessness, and... a touch of anticipation.
She hadn't given up, not just out of duty, but because she could already sense Raynor's presence.
He was close, very close...