---3rd Person POV, Tower of the Cyclops, Sortiarius---
Pushing their way through a sea of disgruntled Rubric Marines, two Noise Marines barged into Magnus' private study requesting aid. Having co straight from the battlefield, they hoped to convince him to utilize his psychic powers to alert the others about what was coming. Frantically speaking over one another trying to get their explanation out, Magnus looked up from his book and commanded them to be silent.
"These interruptions are becoming more annoying every ti they happen. What errand has my brother Fulgrim sent you here for this ti?", Magnus groaned before noticing their severe armor damage and wounds. 'I know Slaanesh enjoys tornting her people, but their wounds have always healed back shortly afterward. Did sothing else happen?'
"Please forgive us, Lord Magnus. We are not here on a request from Lord Fulgrim, but for the entirety of our legion.", the first Noise Marine stated, motioning for his colleague to remain silent. "Your brother, Lord Zephrim, has returned leading legions of unknown daemons. They wield power unlike anything we have witnessed up to this point, and... and our legion is barely holding on. We were sent here to request your assistance alerting everyone else to the dangers heading this way."
Closing the book he had been reading, Magnus cast a scrying spell to get an idea of the current situation. As the image slowly cleared up, an icy chill ran down his spine as he found hundreds of Fulgrim's Noise Marines having their soul essence devoured. Taken aback by this horrific sight, he frantically began searching for Fulgrim to spirit him away. Finding his brother engaged in a duel with a twisted version of Zephrim, Fulgrim was covered in deep wounds and on the verge of losing the fight.
Attempting to cast a teleportation spell to evacuate Fulgrim from the battlefield, Magnus was dumbfounded when the spell refused to work. Casting it a second ti, with extra power this attempt, Zephrim whipped his head around and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Do not interfere with my retribution, boy!", Nesis roared before blasting Magnus with a devastating psychic attack. "Your ti will co soon enough."
Raising a barrier to protect himself, Magnus' tower violently exploded, sending its occupants in every direction. As the dust began to settle, the Rubric Marines began to frantically search for their Primarch. Finding the Noise Marines first, they were about to tear them apart when a pile of debris began to move. Climbing out of the rubble with a pained expression, Magnus ordered them to stop.
"Lord Magnus, are these two not the ones responsible for the destruction of the tower?", one of the Rubric Marines questioned.
"No, they are not responsible for this ss.", Magnus groaned, his head throbbing in pain from the backlash of withstanding the blow. "Cancel all the plans we had in the works and gather our forces here imdiately. Lord Slaanesh's territory has been most corrupted by my brother Zephrim and his countless legions of daemons. After Fulgrim and his n are defeated, they will most likely co for Lord Tzeentch and us next."
"Lord Magnus, please forgive my rudeness, but there was more my brother failed to tell you initially.", the second Noise Marine interjected. "Lord Zephrim possesses a relic that allowed him to absorb Nurgle's power after his passing. He distributed a fraction of that power amongst his marines to further strengthen them."
Staring at them in disbelief, Magnus struggled to understand how such a thing could be possible. He had researched that topic extensively, yet nothing he found could contain even the tiniest sliver of their power. If Zephrim had stumbled across sothing that could do it, that would make him and his legions even more of a threat to them.
'If that is the case, his forces likely grow stronger with every kill they make. Fighting him alone would be foolhardy; we need to make a stand as a united front.', Magnus thought, resolving himself to request aid from his other traitorous brothers. 'Hopefully I can convince them to put aside our differences and work together again in the defense of everything we have built.'
Casting a telepathy spell to reach his brothers, the only two who responded were Lorgar and Perturabo. Before he had a chance to explain to them what was happening, both n began shouting at him. Informing him hordes of unknown daemons had launched an assault on their territory, they were furious no one had bothered to respond to their call for aid.
"Send aid imdiately!", Lorgar demanded. "We have assisted you multiple tis over the years; now it is your turn to help us."
"Yes, our situation here is very dire. No matter how many of these bastards we kill, they keep coming. Several of my fortresses have already been overrun, and nearly a third of my manpower is dead.", Perturabo snapped.
Fearing this attack was more widespread than anyone realized, Magnus cast a scrying spell to check on their other three brothers. Finding Angron, Mortarion, and their legions fighting a massive horde together, he could not pinpoint Alpharius's whereabouts at all. Hoping his brother had not already perished in this surprise attack, Mangus relayed everything he knew to Lorgar and Perturabo.
"If what you are saying is correct, continuing to maintain control of our territory is an exercise in futility.", Perturabo remarked, rubbing his chin. "In that case, a strategic retreat to rally our combined forces elsewhere would be the best course of action. Are you able to help facilitate our retreat to your planet?"
"Assuming Zephrim doesn't interfere with my magic again, I should be able to. Give a mont; I will try opening a portal to you.", Magnus said, casting the spell again.
Successfully establishing a connection to his brother's location, Perturabo imdiately called for a retreat. Instructing his n to activate the automatic defense systems as they fell back, they needed to buy as much ti as possible for everyone to safely get through. Following Perturabo's lead, Lorgar began calling for a full retreat of all his n and resources.
---Terra---
Setting foot on Terran soil for the first ti in several millennia, a mix of emotions ca over the Alpha Legion and their twin Primarchs. Overjoyed to see the cradle of humanity slowly returning to its forr glory, all the sacrifices they had made up to this point felt worth it. Closing the passageway they had used to infiltrate this abandoned part of the palace, they took stock and began planning a route to their final destination. Checking on the stasis units containing Horus and Manus's bodies, Ogon turned to his brother and hesitantly asked why there weren't any guards in the vicinity.
"Our nephew has made great strides in fixing the Imperium's situation; so things have a lower priority than others.", Alpharius stated, looking at their father's ho through binoculars. "Victor has been working toward improving early warning systems for external threats and things pertaining to the daily lives of the people. To be blunt, he is doing everything our father tried and failed to accomplish twelve thousand years ago. You have seen for yourself how vastly different the nation's situation is compared to just a year ago."
"I am well aware of that; my point was this seems far too easy.", Ogon remarked. "With all the technology our nephew wields, I just expected a bit more resistance."
"To be fair, I am certain the Supre Commander would rather talk to you alive instead of corpses.", a feminine voice said in a smug tone. "We have you and your n surrounded; please do not make any sudden moves."
Turning their heads to where the voice ca from, a female figure appeared out of thin air with an antimatter rifle aid straight at them. Whistling a signal to her subordinates, thousands of lasers began pinpointing targets on every enemy unit present. Flooding the area with intense light, Automatons and Helldivers began moving in to reinforce the periter.
"Everyone, slowly put down your weapons. We didn't co here to fight; we are here to make ands and wipe the slate clean.", Alpharius commanded before looking at the woman. "Tell , how exactly did you pinpoint where we co out?"
"Satellite and spatial sensors, we knew you were coming the mont you opened that passageway.", Yoma answered, getting on the radio. "Apologies for interrupting your evening, Captain-General Valoris and Lord Valdor; we caught a group of infiltrators on the edge of the palace grounds. Alpharius, Ogon, and their entire legion have co seeking an audience with the Emperor and the other Primarchs."
"Let guess... They breached the periter via the abandoned Hive City at the edge of the palace grounds.", Valdor comnted.
"That is correct, sir.", Yoma affird.
Imdiately berating his successor for not maintaining a proper watch over the palace, he made it very clear Valoris needed to address the matter imdiately. Profusely apologizing to the first captain-general, Valoris assured him the matter would be dealt with. Asking Yoma to please escort the Alpha Legion and their Primarchs to the front gates, he would have the Emperor and loyalist Primarchs et them there. Acknowledging his request, Yoma motioned for the group to begin moving toward the main gate. Complying with her request, they began shuffling through the streets without a sound.
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