Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde

As soon as the voice rang out, the surrounding Deathwatch Space Marines immediately became alert.

 They quickly grabbed their weapons and formed a circle, standing back-to-back while vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

"Psyker, what do you want? Where are you?" the Deathwatch lieutenant asked with a frown.

The helmets of the Deathwatch Space Marines flickered continuously, with the electronic systems of their power armor scanning the terrain, trying to determine which audacious psyker dared to speak directly to them.

["You have been chosen by the Emperor!"]

"Psyker, do not toy with the Emperor's Death Angels! What do you mean by that?"

What a powerful psyker! They had not even appeared in the area, yet they could communicate with them through psychic means.

"Come out! Damn psyker, how dare you defile—ugh!"

A Space Marine bearing the insignia of the Space Wolves on his shoulder was suddenly struck by a golden psychic force and sent flying.

However, he was merely knocked away. The Space Wolf Marine shook his head, got back up, bared his fangs, and scanned the surroundings with a fierce glare.

"Stay calm! Maintain formation, do not panic." The Deathwatch lieutenant immediately reassured his team.

The enemy's psychic power was immense—perhaps even at the level of a Librarian!

How could such a powerful psyker exist on this planet? Had they not been taxed and taken away?

Any psyker discovered on a planet would be subjected to the tithe and sent to the Black Ships for selection—those deemed worthy would serve the Imperium, while the unworthy would be sent to the Emperor's table.

"What do you mean by that? Who exactly are you? What is your purpose? Are you human or some damned xenos?" the Deathwatch lieutenant demanded.

They had no idea where the enemy was, and their scanners detected no lifeforms in the vicinity.

At that moment, a golden light suddenly illuminated the room, so bright that the Deathwatch Marines could not keep their eyes open. A vague, golden humanoid figure appeared before them.

"I am human, without a doubt."

A voice, warm like the sun, echoed.

"By the Emperor! You… you… this…!"

The Deathwatch lieutenant stammered, beginning to wonder if he had truly received a summons from the Emperor.

The other Deathwatch Marines were equally stunned. The golden light warmed their hearts, filling them with peace—it was like the brilliance of the sun shining upon them all.

Even though they had never seen it before, they were certain that this was the Emperor's radiance!

"Oh great Emperor! We never imagined—"

"Do not misunderstand. I am not the Emperor himself but an executor of His will. I am here to deliver the Emperor's orders." Rhodes spoke.

"Are you… a Living Saint?" the Deathwatch lieutenant asked.

Living Saints were indeed beings resurrected by the Emperor's divine power. Some Inquisitors within the Inquisition dismissed them, even considering them to be daemons of the Warp.

However, the majority of Imperial citizens and even Space Marines acknowledged them as the Emperor's messengers. The most famous Living Saint was the great Saint Celestine.

Rhodes' presence bore a strong resemblance to that of a Living Saint.

"You do not need to know my identity, nor are you qualified to. All you need to know is that I have come to save this planet." Rhodes declared.

"Mysterious Living Saint, what mission does the great Emperor entrust to His Death Angels?" The Deathwatch lieutenant took a deep breath and asked.

"The Emperor has given you a glorious yet arduous task. You must execute a dangerous boarding operation—enter the Tyranid Hive Ship and destroy it from within to save this planet." Rhodes announced.

"What?! A boarding operation—into a Hive Ship?"

*"Great Living Saint, that… that's impossible! Not because we lack courage, nor because we are afraid, but because we do not have the necessary spacecraft to even approach the Hive Ship.

Furthermore, we lack the proper weapons. You can see our current state, can't you?" the Deathwatch lieutenant explained.

During their previous battles against the Tyranids, their weapons and equipment had been nearly destroyed. They could not even ensure that each Marine had a bolter.

Most of them only had chainswords left. Had it not been for that silver giant, they would have been wiped out by the Tyranid swarms.

"I will provide you with a suitable boarding craft for the mission. The ship will also carry powerful new weapons, as well as a highly effective timed explosive. Simply place it inside the Hive Ship, and it will detonate, destroying it." Rhodes assured them.

"I need warriors like you—true, fearless warriors. Weapons? I have plenty, and they are far more powerful than what you're used to."

As for the boarding craft, five Pedan-class spacecraft, each 10 meters in diameter, would suffice.

They could easily fit all twenty-plus Deathwatch Marines inside, with room to spare—even if their numbers doubled.

"But the psychic energy inside a Tyranid Hive Ship is overwhelming! It will drive us insane or even take control of our minds!" one of the Deathwatch Marines warned.

"The Emperor's power will protect you. Trust in me. Trust in the Emperor!

Now, prepare for battle. I will dispatch the ship to you shortly." Rhodes stated.

"Understood! For the Emperor! Deathwatch will fulfill this mission!"

"Excellent. Any other concerns?" Rhodes asked.

"Forgive my impertinence, great Living Saint, but our Chaplain has suffered severe injuries. If he does not receive treatment soon, he will not survive."

The Deathwatch lieutenant pointed to the Chaplain lying beside him, blood still seeping from his chest wound.

"The Emperor has graced you with His favor. My ship will arrive soon, and it has medical facilities that can save your Chaplain."

With that, Rhodes severed the psychic link.

A star-faring civilization's vessel without medical facilities would be a disgrace. Even the smallest Pedan-class ship had a medical bay with a single med-pod, capable of automatically healing any wounded personnel who were still alive.

Meanwhile, Rhodes' Pedan mothership had a full medical center with over a hundred med-pods. Treating the Deathwatch Chaplain would be no problem whatsoever.