Aether Fleet. Unknown Sector.
After several years of navigation, the massive fleet finally transitioned out of FTL travel.
The Aether Fleet had come here to rendezvous with Hive Fleet Kronos. These splinter fleets, separated from the main Hive, possessed a high degree of independence and acted on their own instincts. Even Yuno wasn't entirely sure why they had appeared here. In a sense, the movement of these fleets was a manifestation of "fate."
"Where are we?"
"Unclear. And there is another remnant Hive Fleet here."
"Is it Kronos?"
"No, it isn't."
Yuno tracked the lingering traces of the Hive Mind network left by this remnant fleet and reached a conclusion. "These should be remnants of Hive Fleet Kraken. But why have they traveled this far? Furthermore, the Doom of Malan'tai has long been dead, and their connection to the Hive Mind has been severed for many years. Now, even I cannot control them."
Yuki, however, didn't find it to be a problem. "In that case, let's just go over and consume them."
"That would be the standard procedure. However, they seem to be fighting someone."
"?"
Tyranids.
Ever since Dante supported Armageddon and fought those monsters, his concerns regarding their threat had only intensified. Marneus Calgar's great victory against the Tyranids within the Five Hundred Worlds had also provided the Imperium with invaluable experience.
If one had to categorize the threat level of xenos, Dante might rank the Tyranids at the very top. He was even willing to unite with one dangerous enemy to combat another.
"Chapter Master."
"Mephiston, have you discovered how those enemies managed to stop time?"
Mephiston, the Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels and the only one to have conquered the Black Rage, replied, "Technology, Chapter Master. The Necrons cannot use psychic powers. The unexpected phenomena they create are manifestations of pure technology."
Dante had never heard of anything so absurd. Controlling time through mere technology? He had personally witnessed time and space being sliced and reorganized, and destroyed Necron warriors teleporting away only to reappear on the battlefield moments later. All of that was just technology?
Dante truly could not imagine it.
"They are ancient, perhaps older than the God-Emperor. But for some reason, they have also weakened."
"They understand the danger of the Tyranids, or they wouldn't have chosen to cease fire with us and—I am loath to use the word, but the fact remains—ally with us."
This alliance involved no written contracts or meetings between leaders. It was a genuine unspoken understanding, one that made Dante feel physically ill just thinking about it.
"Resist the Tyranids. The Imperial citizens of the Gehenna Hive still need our protection."
Szarekh, the Silent King.
He was merely passing through and wanted to find a place to display his majesty. However, the human named Dante and the warriors he led had surprised him.
Relying on mere flesh and blood and technology so primitive it was laughable to the Silent King, Dante had managed to hold his own against the Szarekhan Legions for weeks through brilliant tactical maneuvers. No, if Dante were given more troops, Szarekh suspected his current force might not even be able to eliminate them entirely.
And now, a Tyranid fleet of unknown origin had entered the orbit of planet Gehenna, which irritated Szarekh. He recalled the Great Devourer he had witnessed many years ago. He was not a man capable of feeling fear. Possessing the strongest and most sophisticated body among the Necrons, he could simulate any emotion.
Yet, even so, as the Silent King who had led the Necrons through the War in Heaven, how could he still feel fear? After fear came a sense of excitement. If he could gather the Necrons once more and destroy this monster, it would be another great honor to his name.
Thus, he had returned—to rectify his mistakes, save his race, and eliminate a new enemy. However, the Tyranids seemed different from what he had imagined.
"My Lord, what concerns you?"
Orikan the Diviner, the Chronomancer and the individual most familiar with time among the Necrons, was currently serving in Szarekh's court.
Hapshantra the Radiant spoke up to answer on behalf of his master. "Orikan, the Silent King is reflecting. Not long ago, the Starr Dynasty was attacked. A humanoid Tyranid provoked the great Silent King."
"Provoked?"
"You need not know the specifics. Simply understand that the great Silent King is contemplating how to eliminate those irritating enemies for us."
Orikan did not press further. The Silent King did not like to speak—this was a fact known to all Necrons.
"In any case, My Lord, please do not trouble yourself. These ugly creatures are merely opportunistic scavengers. They could never defeat us."
The Hive Fleet entered the orbit of Gehenna.
This was not the Aether Fleet, but the small splinter fleet that had lost contact with the Hive Mind. Out of caution, Yuki and Yuno did not rush to merge with this fleet. Yuki deployed numerous scouting units to remain hidden around the planet.
The planet appeared to be an Imperial world, but if he entered prematurely, the enemy might not be human. After all, anything could be found inside an Imperial Hive city.
"It's the Blood Angels."
The remnant fleet was already engaging the enemy on the surface of Gehenna. Among the vast numbers of Mortal Auxiliaries, Yuki noticed several familiar armor liveries.
"The Sanguinary Guard too?"
Yuki was amazed. If the Sanguinary Guard were here, it meant Dante was also present. Why is Dante at this unremarkable Hive world? Yuki was genuinely puzzled.
Yuno, however, noticed some even stranger traces. "Look."
Yuki looked in the direction Yuno pointed. On the screen, strange green lights were flickering.
"This—"
There were many races in the Warhammer world that used green as a primary color, but only one could emit such a distinct green glow.
"Necrons? That's not right. Why do I keep running into Necrons?"
"Who knows?"
Several hours later, footage of the battle against the Necrons was transmitted back. Seeing the color scheme of those Necron warriors, Yuki felt a headache coming on.
"Isn't that the color scheme of the Szarekhan Dynasty? Damn it, don't tell me the Silent King is here too?"
"The Silent King again. I should be glad Szarekh isn't female, otherwise, you'd probably try to romance it in some galgame."
Yuki thought seriously for a moment. "Necrons... thinking about it, they are actually quite a good match—I hate these robots the most."
Hearing this, Yuno immediately regained her smile. "Heehee, I think so too."