Thrum—
Accompanied by a deep rumble, the sacred vehicles slowly drove forward with their weapon systems powered down, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present.
Their armor glead with a cold light beneath the sun, resembling mobile sanctuaries, solemn and majestic. The powerful engines let out a low growl, as if heralding a divine descent.
Up in the sky, the pre-cleared fighter jets roared past, their wings slicing through the firmant to scatter vibrant gold foil and petals. The golden fragnts sparkled in the sunlight while the petals danced in the wind, drifting down as lightly as angelic feathers.
The cheers of the populace reached a fever pitch at this spectacular sight. Their voices converged into a mighty torrent, shaking the entire ceremonial plaza.
At that sa mont, as the final passenger stepped off the ramp, the Stormbird gunship adjusted its parked angle with perfect timing. The massive tail wing slowly shifted away, unblocking the sunlight it had been hiding.
Golden rays, like the blessing of Sanguinius, poured over the earth, illuminating every inch of the plaza.
Under the thrilled gazes of the crowd, that brilliant golden light bypassed the parked vehicles and the honor guards of various Chapters, ultimately coming to rest squarely upon a formation clad in gold and crimson.
It was the most dazzling unit in the entire plaza: the Crimson Paladins, led by Karna in his own gold and crimson power armor.
Their armor shone resplendently in the sun, resembling blazing fire and flowing blood, both solemn and fiercely passionate.
"By Sanguinius!"
At this mont, the cheers of the citizens reached a completely new height.
Their voices thundered, shaking the heavens and the earth.
Even though they did not know the na of this formation, nor did they understand the ancient "Three Spheres" structure within the Blood Angels, much less the true weight of the honor borne upon that ornate armor, they still went utterly mad for them.
They only knew that they needed to cheer.
To cheer for this nobility and honor!
To cheer for the faith and power represented beneath that golden-crimson armor!
To cheer for the supre glory displayed by the progeny of Sanguinius!
Karna walked at the very front of the formation. His strides were steady and powerful, his golden-crimson armor flashing with blinding light with every movent. His face was freely exposed to the sun, projecting his approachability and youthful vigor to everyone present.
Behind him, the Crimson Paladins marched in neat ranks. Their steps were uniform, their armor magnificent, looking for all the world like an army stepping straight out of mythology.
The cheers of the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, drowning out the entire plaza. Their faces brimd with excitent and reverence, their eyes glinting with a fanatical light. In this mont, it was as if they beheld the avatar of Sanguinius himself, witnessing that legendary honor and might.
'As expected of the Ultramarines, they understood my hint. The sons of Guilliman never lose when it cos to showcasing themselves.'
Watching this highly impactful scene, Ledodes glanced at Dante beside him, who was similarly caught in a state of surprise, and could not help but praise them inwardly.
If he had brought his blockheaded comrades over for this, he feared they would never learn, even if he taught them hand-by-hand.
'The Black Templars sure know how to handle things.'
Romulus and his companions walked in unspoken agreent near the front of the procession. His pace was steady and unhurried, a trace of admiration in his gaze.
This was not his first ti marveling at the Black Templars' way of doing things.
The fact that the Black Templars were so well-received across the entire galaxy was clearly due to more reasons than just their combat prowess.
This visit was originally just an ordinary itinerary, but the mont the Black Templars' gunship deliberately adjusted its position before landing to yield to the sunlight, Romulus understood their intention.
They wanted the Ultramarines to make a high-profile display of themselves, searing their image deeply into the eyes of as many Imperial citizens as possible.
These "ancient" relics in their hands, along with these ancient mbers they possessed, were wealth beyond imagination for a Chapter.
It was only after Ledodes understood that the four transmigrators intended to establish an independent founding that he brought them to Baal to put on such a show.
Once they went to reinforce Ultramar later, counting the Black Templars, they would have the backing of three First Founding Chapters. By then, the pressure of establishing a new Chapter would be significantly reduced.
This gesture by the Black Templars was like a well-established junior in the new era pulling along their predecessors—who knew nothing of the present—to pay their respects to the local powers one by one, hoping to pave a smoother path for their elders in this day and age.
With emotional intelligence like this, just look—how could an ordinary Chapter ever hope to emulate it?
And we possess far more than just this.
Looking at Karna, who commanded the surrounding gazes as firmly as a radiant light, Romulus could not help but snicker.
The inherent vitality his companion brought, combined with the ability to absorb the Black Rage, functioned as a natural trump card against these Blood Angels. Furthermore, the transmigrators genuinely wished for these angels to fare better from the bottom of their hearts; there were absolutely no dark, ulterior motives for anyone to uncover.
Perfect!
The procession of Crimson Paladins arrived before Dante.
"Lord Dan—"
"Just call Dante!"
Dante hastily interrupted, disregarding whether it was impolite.
He could not shake the feeling that letting this noble angel call him "Lord" would be an even greater breach of etiquette.
"My na is Karna."
Karna chuckled and extended his hand, then spoke with the utmost respect.
"Greetings, Chapter Master Dante."
n like Dante, who stood a lonely vigil from one era to the next while still clinging fiercely to his principles and duties, would always earn the profound respect of the transmigrators.
"Greetings, Lord Karna."
Dante also reached out his hand. The mont he made contact with this noble angel, he felt that the Bloodthirst and Black Rage he had endured for so long had significantly dissipated.
Beneath his mask, his eyes blinked forcefully. Dante carefully studied the world before him, which seed to have changed its appearance, desperately wanting to confirm that everything he was sensing was not an illusion.
It was no illusion.
Sepatus stepped forward, the heavy clanking of his armor against the ground snapping Dante back from his imrsion in that newfound peace.
Karna carefully withdrew his hand, feeling that Romulus might have gone a bit too far.
Looking at Dante's posture, he was genuinely afraid the man would abdicate in front of everyone the very next second, forcibly installing him on Baal as the new Chapter Master.
"Sepatus, Cherubael Combat Group, First Captain of the Crimson Paladins."
Sepatus declared.
"You—"
Well-versed in the history of the Blood Angels, Dante naturally rembered this na. In the span of a heartbeat, he recalled the legacy that this very na carried.
During the Siege of Terra, he had defended the throneworld alongside Sanguinius. Ultimately, during the ambush at the Saturnine Gate, Sepatus had fought alongside Endryd Haar of the War Hounds and Garro of the Dusk Raiders against Abaddon, but tragically fell by the hand of the First Captain of the Sons of Horus.
With the Bloodthirst and Black Rage suppressed, his consciousness had cleared considerably.
"By the grace of a miracle's Divine Protection."
Thanks to the fact that The Emperor was still upon the Golden Throne at that ti, Sepatus and his comrades-in-arms were able to preserve their souls.
"On behalf of the thirteen Crimson Paladins, myself included, I sincerely hope we can return beneath the wings of the Blood Angels. We are prepared to undergo the Chapter's trials to prove our loyalty and identities."
"The Blood Angels welco the return of their ancient progeny, Elders!"
Dante saluted solemnly. Looking at these sacred ancients, he straightened his spine to its absolute limit, as if a pillar taller than the heavens had been erected beside him.
He then grasped Karna's hand again with both of his own, as fervent as a man who had finally found his core pillar of support.
"My Lord!"
He called out earnestly. His attitude left Karna feeling helpless, rendered Arthur speechless, made Rases snicker quietly, and caused Romulus's expression to drastically change.
"This is bad!"
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