Seraphs of the Emperor’s Judgment

Chapter 140: The Apothecary's Fear

At the peak of the Chapter monastery, countless transport aircraft soared into the sky from the landing pads like crows leaving their nests.

Stormraven gunships and the Chapter's sole remaining Thunderhawks formed a joint formation, casting a jagged shadow beneath the deep blue night sky.

Among them were also Valkyrie transport aircraft belonging to the Chapter's Mortal Auxiliary. Originally, this type of equipment was not in the armory of the Astral Knights Chapter, but upon arriving at Nathan IV, due to the Planetary Governor's fanatical, almost blind support for the Chapter, it just so happened that there was a batch in the starport's transit warehouse.

Although in principle they belonged to the Imperial Navy of the Segmentum Tempestus, after a brief report was sent out, this batch of brand-new Valkyries was directly delivered into the armory of the Astral Knights.

While this would incite the wrath of the Navy, the Planetary Governor had a sufficient excuse.

The great Astral Knights were about to launch a crusade.

The twelve Valkyries on the landing pads had already departed, and the hangar instantly became empty.

Only seven days had passed since Lord Malakim left, yet the assembly of the Chapter's forces was nearing completion.

Those hovering far above the surface aircraft formations were the Chapter's fleet formation.

The Servitors on every warship had already fully prepared the Plasma Engines in order to propel the warships to the jump point.At this moment, every spaceship emitted an ebb and flow of humming sounds—even though the Astral Knights were only contributing two warships to the battle.

In the center of the staging area, uniformly aligned gunships were waiting to enter the cavernous hangar of a massive warship. This was the floating base of the Chapter—the Starfire.

Right now, it hovered motionless in the void, dominating this patch of starry sky like the alpha of a beast herd dominating its pack. Meanwhile, inside other docks at the starport, several smaller warships were being constructed around the clock.

Like other Space Marine warships, the Starfire was designed to do only one thing—unleash an overwhelming, terrifying wrath from high orbit onto those stubborn, unyielding worlds.

It had done this kind of work many times, and the Drop Pods and Torpedo launch arrays on the ship had already been scorched black from prolonged use.

From the high tower of the Chapter fortress, Soshyan witnessed the final preparations for this assembly nearing completion.

He could see the slender and elegant contrails left behind by the Thunderhawks as they broke through the atmosphere and flew toward the staging area in space. He could also see the transport aircraft carrying the Mortal Auxiliary swarming like a hive of bees toward their "nest" in the sky.

Around him, tactical displays showed the location of every force. All mobilizable forces, including the Battle Automata legion, were slowly entering the warship formation.

Before long, even he would board that flagship.

And these sole remaining forces of the Chapter were all gathered in one place, all pointing toward the same simple goal.

A familiar tremor awakened his genetically modified limbs.

The Chapter might urgently need growth and recuperation, but Soshyan had always firmly believed that strong warriors are tempered in the fires of war. No matter how high-intensity the training, it could never make up for a lack of actual combat experience.

Those recruits who walked out of the Obsidian Fortress hadn't seen blood in a long time, and this was not a good thing.

At this moment, the hot blood in all his limbs and bones was surging. He was ready.

They were Astartes, and they absolutely could not forget what they were best at.

The reason Soshyan participated in this campaign—aside from dispelling the doubts of the neighboring Chapter and gaining reliable allies—was also to give a reminder to all his warriors.

Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught a Rune continuously flashing at the door.

"Come in."

Soshyan said as he shifted his gaze away from the fleet.

When he turned around, he saw Bariel striding into the room, the Apothecary's eyes flashing with anger.

"Why?"

He questioned directly. Faced with this almost rude behavior, Soshyan merely spread his hands.

"What is..."

"Tell me exactly why."

Soshyan sighed and used a finger to push the door shut.

"You know what we are doing. All of this needs to be kept secret. You are also one of The Undying."

Bariel, however, shook his head.

"And then send the Chapter to the battlefield without an Apothecary? Is that really more important to you?"

"Only you can perform those surgeries. I cannot hand over the Recruits undergoing modification to Ford's care."

"But you allowed him to participate in the surgical process."

"Because his skills can increase the survival rate of the Recruits. You must know that even though we are currently only at the third stage, the mortality rate has already exceeded 30%. We cannot afford such massive losses."

A trace of guilt flashed across Bariel's face.

"Then we can wait! Wait until we return from this campaign. I cannot miss the honor of participating in this operation! Nor can I give up caring for my Battle Brothers!"

Soshyan shook his head.

"Now is the moment that decides success or failure. Those children are the future hope of the Chapter, and I also need a sharp mind to ensure everything in the Monastery-Fortress runs normally. You do not need to go with us."

Bariel bellowed. Soshyan could sense the feeling of frustration continuously stacking up inside the Apothecary.

"Chapter Master, I beg you, please don't do this."

The Apothecary insisted, his Gauntlets clenching tighter and tighter.

Soshyan's eyebrows raised slightly. In his memory, Bariel had always been obedient and gentle; he had never disobeyed an order.

"Apothecary, you are threatening me."

He said in a deep voice, his words carrying a hint of a furious tone.

Bariel remained rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on Soshyan in a dead stare.

Ultimately, he lowered his eyelids with extreme reluctance.

"I watched them die struggling on the operating table with my own eyes."

The Apothecary murmured the truth.

"Those children... My skills are far from enough to get them through the crisis. I even feel like I'm murdering them with my own hands... I'm afraid they will keep dying, and I'm becoming increasingly irritable."

After understanding all this, Soshyan scrutinized Bariel carefully.

He understood this Apothecary very well. He was a warrior of the purest nature, a courageous and good-hearted man.

But he still needed to understand that in this cruel galaxy, any sacrifice was acceptable—Soshyan had already realized this point.

"No, Brother."

Soshyan rested his hand on his shoulder.

"There is no one more suited for this role than you. The fact that you feel disturbed by the deaths of the Candidates is enough to prove everything, but these are costs we must pay."

Subsequently, he recounted his experiences in Cetis.

"...Therefore, necessary evils and necessary goods are all a part of our journey. You need to face them calmly, not run away."

After listening to Soshyan's story, Bariel's expression shifted from frustration to determination.

As the frustration inside the Apothecary subsided, Soshyan also relaxed.

"We must keep watch over the future, because we shoulder the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the Chapter, and even the Legion."

Soshyan lowered his head and whispered:

"I can only trust you."

Bariel looked back into Soshyan's eyes. He accepted this arrangement.

"I understand."