Chapter 175: Preparations for War – Target: Sector Capital

The throne room was littered with the severed limbs of the ratman royal guard.

The remaining high-ranking ratmen, cowed by the Thunder Guard's overwhelming presence, dared not step forward to protect their king.

The more cunning among them seized the opportunity to flee.

The Imperial strike had come so swiftly that no message could be sent to warn the rest of the ratman army outside the command center.

Even if a warning were sent, the army wouldn't have returned in time.

This was the hallmark of Imperial strategy: destroy the enemy's anti-air defenses, then deploy elite forces to decapitate their command structure.

The Thunder Guard had encircled the throne and were closing in.

As the Savior's most powerful warriors, this mission was no challenge for them.

Kael remained cautious. The Savior had emphasized the seriousness of this ratman incursion and demanded their utmost effort.

Thus, the Thunder Guard had prepared meticulously, deploying in full force for the mission.

To conserve their strength, they had avoided earlier engagements, ensuring they were in peak condition for the decisive strike.

But now, facing the ratmen mutants directly, a question lingered in every Thunder Guard's mind:

"Is this it?"

The ratmen seemed far weaker than anticipated.

Even without strategy, the Thunder Guard felt confident they could cut through the army from one end to the other.

As for the Rat King, escape was impossible.

Despite the ease of the task, they maintained their discipline, gradually tightening the encirclement.

Kael activated the disintegration field on his chainsword, his expression solemn as he approached the throne.

This was the supposed terrifying enemy that had concerned the Savior.

Meanwhile, Bigfoot Rat sat frozen, trembling as the dark golden giants closed in.

Despair and exhaustion consumed its heart.

Why are humans so terrifying?

Regret filled the Rat King's mind. Had it known the humans were this formidable, it would never have listened to its advisors and declared war.

Unfortunately, those same sycophantic advisors had already scattered like cowards.

Accepting its fate, Bigfoot Rat resolved to face the end with dignity. It had lived an extraordinary life and had no desire to flee anymore.

Summoning its courage, the Rat King stepped down from the throne.

The black eyeballs covering its body snapped open, and its muscles swelled grotesquely. Transforming into a towering three-meter rat behemoth, it roared:

"Bigfoot Rat will never surrender!"

With a defiant scream, it lunged at the Thunder Guard.

Royal District – Ministry of War

Eden was busy coordinating preparations for total war.

If necessary, he was prepared to personally lead the charge.

The first wave of reinforcements had already reached the Underhive.

Millions of armored militia and nearly ten million Storm Legion troops were gathering, scheduled to arrive by nightfall.

Heavy vehicles and advanced weaponry accompanied them.

After all, this was the Great Horned Rat—a Chaos deity of the Warp. Extreme caution was necessary.

Time was of the essence; the rat tide could not be allowed to spread.

As Eden finalized the deployment orders, he received a report from Kael.

The message stated that the ratman leader had been slain, the rat tide was collapsing, and the threat had been neutralized.

Attached was detailed intelligence about the ratmen, including the Rat King's origins.

According to the report, the Rat King, named "Bigfoot Rat," was a Chaos-borne creation from the laboratory of the traitorous Hoffman family during the Reconquest Wars.

Reading the report, Eden couldn't help but mutter:

"Bigfoot Rat? Seriously? Bigfoot Rat…"

It was an embarrassing mix-up. In Low Gothic, the words for "foot" and "horn" sounded similar, leading to the confusion.

Admittedly, Eden had been anxious upon hearing the name "Great Horned Rat," which prompted his massive mobilization to contain the threat.

Now, realizing it was an overreaction, he sighed in relief.

Just as he was contemplating how to wind down the operation, an officer from the Ministry of War approached with an update: the main army was ready to deploy at a moment's notice.

Eden felt a pang of awkwardness.

The battle was already over, and the army hadn't even left yet.

"Lord Savior?"

The officer looked puzzled at Eden's silence.

After a brief hesitation, Eden decided to proceed with the deployment.

They had come this far—it was an opportunity to thoroughly cleanse the Underhive.

The massive force descended into the Underhive in waves, tasked with a full-scale purge.

Their objectives included eliminating the remaining ratmen, exterminating mutant tribes, and rooting out any hidden Chaos monstrosities.

Under Eden's command, Urth embarked on a sweeping campaign to purify the Underhive.

The operation extended across the main hive and its three sub-hives, ridding them of all threats.

Although the effort was immense, it eradicated potential dangers to the planet's future.

When the main forces withdrew, they brought back vast amounts of salvageable resources and reclaimed populations, providing a significant boost to Urth's recovery.

Meanwhile, millions of automated cleaning drones remained behind to continue purifying the Underhive's environment.

Eden was pleased with the results. The drones were remarkably efficient and self-sustaining.

According to the plan, only a small portion of the Underhive would remain—a walled-off area about the size of a small city.

This zone would be heavily monitored and repurposed as a training ground for the Loyalist Academy and military recruits.

It would also serve as a site for practical exercises and experiments related to bioengineering.

Two Years Later

Spire Residence – Governor's Office

Eden reviewed documents related to the Underhive's status.

The Ministry of Interior had submitted a proposal to relocate ten million people into the cleaned sections of the Underhive.

With gradual environmental improvements, parts of the Underhive had become habitable.

The plan was to establish settlements, stabilize the region, and prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for Chaos again.

Satisfied with the progress, Eden turned his attention to off-world colonization reports.

The colonization fleet had reached the planet Kanda, establishing a small mining city.

The venture was progressing smoothly.

The planet lacked any signs of human civilization or Chaos corruption, housing only dangerous wildlife that, intriguingly, was both edible and delicious.

The Ministry of Agriculture requested personnel to study and domesticate these creatures.

Eden approved the request, feeling optimistic.

With the Underhive secured and a steady supply of resources, he could focus on more ambitious plans.

Issuing a war decree, Eden declared Urth in full mobilization for a grand campaign.

In eight years, the target was the sector capital—Matira.

Once Matira was seized and faith spread throughout the sector, Eden would harness the power of belief to pull the Blackstone Gate from the Warp.

This would grant Urth the means to transcend the Empire's shadow.

As the decree went out, all institutions and military forces on Urth began rigorous preparations.

Failure to meet their objectives before the campaign began would result in severe penalties.

Sector Capital – Matira

Within the governor's palace, Halys, the corpulent ruler of Matira and self-proclaimed Emperor Marius IX, slumped in his mechanical throne like a mountain of flesh.

The court officials stood silently, too afraid to even breathe.

The corpse of an unfortunate subordinate on the jeweled floor served as a grim warning.

The cause of Halys' fury lay in a report.

Three years ago (M42.014), a Matira tax fleet had been annihilated in the Urth system.

Seething with rage, Halys bellowed:

"Damn traitors! They will face annihilation!"

(End of Chapter)

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