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Chapter 120 - 116, Space Devouring Shark: Axe in hand, follow me! Grab people, grab food, grab bombs! (f)

Week Three

[Because of your victory in the gladiatorial arena,]

[Ashen Claws delivered three thousand children as per the agreement between both sides.]

[These children will become the new blood of the Space Sharks, the future Astartes of the Flesh-Eaters.]

[You also learned from Captain Shavon that the fleet support in the deal was seemingly rejected by Chapter Master Nehart.]

[Shavon believes that the Ashen Claws have forgotten their original purpose.]

[However, Nehart believes that if the Imperium learns of the Ashen Claws' existence, they will cross the endless void to annihilate them.]

[As exiles, the Ashen Claws can no longer attain the honor and glory of fighting for the Imperium.]

["Padraic, remember this… Glory and honor breed arrogance and weakness. The Flesh-Eaters have no need for such things. We have only one goal—to eradicate the enemies of humanity." Shavon, his expression cold, fixed his pitch-black eyes on you as he spoke.]

[You nodded heavily and slowly donned your barely repaired wolf-shaped helmet.]

Week Four

[The White Maw, a Tyrant-class cruiser, emerged from the warp, returning to the Space Sharks' ever-growing void fleet.]

[Countless ancient supply ships, agri-ships, cargo ships, slaver vessels, and even the forge ship Adamant were encircled and protected by a fleet of relic-class warships.]

[A fleet of this scale and formation was a clear omen of an impending war of horror.]

[You sought out other Tech-Sergeants to complete the repairs on your Terminator armor.]

[You returned to the Kraken, the battle barge.]

[On your way to your private quarters, you passed countless solemn-faced mortal warriors and fully armed Astartes.]

[You hesitated for a moment, then turned toward the Crab Hall.]

[There, you obtained a large supply of fresh water and enough provisions to sustain a mortal for a long time.]

[Returning to your quarters,]

[You found Spongy attempting to learn power armor maintenance techniques.]

[You inquired about his progress.]

[Spongy had nothing useful to report.]

[You secured the young boy in your quarters.]

[You ordered him not to leave unless the food and water ran out.]

[Then, you headed for the training grounds. After gathering all members of your squad,]

[You led the fully armed team toward the bridge, nearly overflowing with ancient relics.]

[You passed through a blast door engraved with a shark emblem and entered the bridge.]

[At a glance, you spotted Captain Shavon, whom you had parted with not long ago, along with other company captains you had never met before.]

[Even the long-absent Librarian and his apprentice Ukari were present.]

[At this moment, everyone stood in complete silence on the dimly lit bridge deck, awaiting orders.]

[You removed your wolf-shaped helmet, tucking it under your arm.]

[You could feel the heavy atmosphere and the stench of war in the stagnant air.]

[Amidst a sea of alien bones and invaluable relics, the massive figure of Chapter Master Tyberus slowly rose from his throne, carved in the likeness of a great shark.]

[Wearing his metallic helmet, he announced an event that would shake the very core of the Space Sharks.]

[A Tyranid fleet was amassing in the void.]

[According to calculations, nearly five billion xenos were set to swarm the Reverence System—a shrine world rich in resources.]

[And based on the visions seen through the Librarian's psychic foresight, it was suspected that a xenos cult had infiltrated the upper echelons of the local Imperial Ecclesiarchy. It was they who had called forth the Kraken Hive Fleet from the depths of the void.]

[Chapter Master Tyberus would personally lead the battle.]

[The entire fleet, with the battle barge Kraken as its flagship, would fight to halt the Tyranid swarm and prevent its tendrils from breaching the Imperium's borders.]

[Your company, the Third, had only one mission:]

[To infiltrate the Reverence System, root out the xenos cult, and destroy the beacon attracting the Hive Fleet.]

[If you failed to eliminate the cult…]

[Or if the Tyranid swarm continued forward even after your success…]

[Every ship, every battle-brother, and every mortal servant in the Space Sharks fleet would be devoured by the Tyranids.]

[Your company would be the only possible survivors—the last inheritors of the Edict of Exile.]

[After listening to Chapter Master Tyberus' grave proclamation,]

[Captain Shavon, unable to suppress his emotions, suddenly dropped to one knee.]

[He pleaded for the honor of standing and dying alongside his brothers for the fleet and its home.]

[Tyberus did not speak.]

[The towering figure of the Chapter Master merely radiated an indescribable aura of terror.]

[Expressionless, Shavon struck his armored chest with his fist before reluctantly rising to his feet.]

[You felt an intense, burning gaze upon you.]

[Blinking your pitch-black eyes,]

[You locked your gaze onto the towering figure of Chapter Master Tyberus.]

[Slowly, you bared your snow-white, shark-like teeth in a grin.]

[Without hesitation, you raised your arm and performed the ancient salute of the Flesh-Eaters.]

[You shattered the silence of the bridge.]

["We come from the ocean of the void, where only darkness reigns… For the Imperium! For the Emperor! Space Sharks, to the death!" you roared, lifting your arm in a powerful salute.]

[Captain Shavon and the other company captains turned their gaze toward you.]

[Even the Librarian's apprentice, Ukari, widened his pitch-black eyes, staring at you in shock.]

[However, Chapter Master Tyberus did not rebuke your audacious outburst.]

[A faint smile crept onto the aged, pale face of Librarian Ti Kahurangi.]

[His deep, black eyes glimmered with psychic foresight.]

["The Emperor protects…" he murmured fleetingly.]

[Under the silent gazes of all present, you slowly lowered your arm.]

[You donned your wolf-shaped helmet once more, hiding your pale face beneath its metal visage.]

Week Five

[The White Maw, now detached from the fleet, broke free from the warp.]

[The cruiser entered the Reverence System, making a direct approach toward Reverence V.]

[Imperial Navy defense stations and passing cargo ships scattered like frightened fish, clearing the path for the unknown harbinger of doom.]

[You handed a relic-grade inferno pistol to a white-haired Tech-Sergeant, instructing him to mount it atop your Terminator armor.]

[The ancient Saturnine-pattern Terminator allowed its wearer to wield an additional weapon.]

[This was just one of the rare pieces of wargear you had extracted from Captain Shavon through sheer persistence and tactical maneuvering.]

[You strapped the few fragmentation grenades and three "relic-class" melta bombs onto your armor's belt.]

[Glancing at your reconnaissance squad,]

[You saw them inspecting an unprecedented stockpile of explosive rounds and freshly serrated chain axes.]

["Captain told me to say… just this once, don't make it a habit," the white-haired Tech-Sergeant smirked, blinking at you.]

["Next time? We'll see," you grinned, shark-like teeth gleaming.]

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