Chapter 331: To Take Them or Not?

Honkai Dimension, Imperial Capital, Selene’s Grand Palace.

A gentle breeze stirred under the clear sky, where a few white clouds lazily drifted across the pristine blue expanse.

Within the palace city, the Imperial Guard Headquarters was bustling with activity. Servants and clerks hurried about without pause, while Astartes warriors in power armor of varying livery filled the area.

Located in the outer ring of the Grand Palace near the palace city, the Imperial Guard Headquarters belonged to the Outer Court.

After Selene established and organized the Astartes Legions, the name of the Imperial Guard Headquarters was never changed. It still functioned as the center of operations for the Imperial Guard and now also served as an administrative office for the Astartes Legions.

“In a single day, within a single palace, the climates differ across its regions.”

This ancient phrase perfectly described Selene’s Grand Palace. With its automated climate control system, the weather within the Imperial Guard Headquarters was a constant autumn. Fallen leaves lined the pathways, creating a palette of golden yellow and fiery red along the corridors.

Inside the palace, the layout of the halls was meticulously designed with an intricate hierarchy, down to the exact number of decorations allowed—any deviation was strictly forbidden.

Passing through the grand archway of the gardens, the interior glowed softly, with lights illuminating every corner and reflecting off the marble sculptures. The effect only enhanced the palace’s opulence and splendor.

Thump, thump, thump!

Rip!

Five jet-white metal pillars, like pincers, plunged deep into the fleshy body of a grotesque cylindrical entity. Though only slightly larger than an adult human skull, its internal volume defied the basic principles of physical space.

This was no singular entity—it was a chaotic amalgamation of twisted layers of flesh and other materials, stacked loosely in a structure shrouded in shadow.

Between its layers, grotesque, membranous growths jutted outward, hungrily extending into the void beyond, glimpsed only in faint outlines.

The blood-red and sickly green coatings held the layers together, barely masking the sheer horror concealed within.

Embryonic lifeforms, half-formed and scattered across its surface, seemed to beckon the ignorant to peel back the veil on its terrifying mystery.

Crunch, crunch!

…Actually, it was just a hamburger.

Biting into layers of bread and a perfectly seared patty, the rich juices burst forth, filling the mouth with savory delight. It was a feast for lovers of carbs and purines alike.

“Mmm… As expected, fresh meat from the Empire’s native danger beasts suits my taste best.”

A towering figure, far broader than the average Astartes warrior, savored the meal. With a rugged, short-cropped hairstyle and a stoic expression that softened only while eating, he radiated authority.

Clad in pitch-black, custom-crafted power armor adorned with silver and red accents, his imposing presence was marked by the white-and-red cape draped over his shoulders and the laurel-crowned “Ⅰ” emblem on his neck guard.

He was none other than Alex, Chapter Master of the 1st Legion, Dark Angels.

“Chapter Master, bringing your own food—is that really appropriate? Might it seem disrespectful to the Grand General and the other Chapter Masters?”

Behind him, Alex’s adjutant wore an expression of concern, his tone exasperated.

“Hah! It’s no big deal. I was just craving something. Besides, this little snack will be gone before I even enter—it won’t affect anything.”

“Chapter Master Alex, we’ve arrived. Please proceed,” said the leading attendant respectfully.

“Ah, thank you.”

Turning to his adjutant, Alex waved casually. “You and the Honor Guard should head to the palace dining hall. The chefs here are top-notch—it’s an opportunity not to be missed. I have important matters to discuss with the Grand General and the others.”

“Understood!” The adjutant nodded and led the Honor Guard away under the guidance of another attendant.

At that moment, an informal gathering was underway.

As Alex approached the central court, he polished off the remainder of his food in a few bites and asked, “Hmm, has the Grand General arrived? What about Chapter Master Leiva?”

“All the Chapter Masters of the Astartes Legions have arrived… Oh, wait, no. Chapter Master Sanguinius of the 9th Legion, Blood Angels, is notably absent.”

“Judging by the timing, Chapter Master Sanguinius likely won’t be attending this meeting. Lady Alyssa’s ’Sisters of Battle’ have already set out some time ago, joining the 9th Legion in a conquest campaign.”

The attendant stopped at the courtyard’s entrance and stood aside respectfully.

“What a shame… Discussions about budget allocations and military supplies—skipping them is a real loss.”

As Alex entered, he found his fellow Chapter Masters engaged in a lively, spirited ribbing session directed at a particularly fortunate individual.

No other reason: pure envy!

“Tsk… Robert, you’ve really been raking it in recently, tailing Her Majesty everywhere!”

“Requisitioning personnel from the Imperial Assassination Division, bringing in General Esdeath herself, and even having Her Majesty personally involved?”

“Robert, you sneaky bastard—we didn’t see this side of you before. Such skill in, uh, ’networking’… cough, such incredible luck.”

“And what’s this I hear? You’ve even named your world Ultramarine?”

“A capital world for your legion?”

“Did you even butter up… er, I mean, curry favor for this?”

As the sarcastic barbs flew, Robert, Chapter Master of the 13th Legion, Ultramarines, could only sigh internally.

Particularly grating was the voice of Aurelian, Chapter Master of the 17th Legion, Word Bearers, who threw in accusations of “sycophancy” like salt in a wound. Robert was torn between indignation and shame.

“Sycophancy? Me? Ridiculous! And you’re one to talk, Aurelian—hasn’t that always been your thing?!”

…On second thought, maybe he had. But so what? If he could, that was because he was capable and opportunistic. Those who couldn’t were simply lacking!

Of course, such inner thoughts could never surface. Maintaining a composed demeanor, Robert skillfully countered his peers’ jabs with impeccable grace and eloquent insults.

“Bah! Leman Russ, calling it ’tailing Her Majesty’? Preposterous! It’s called the honor of fighting alongside Her Majesty, a reward for the 13th Legion!”

“Luck? Favor? Dorn, get real—Her Majesty simply recognizes the value of the Ultramarines.”

“And you, Aurelian? That’s jealousy speaking. Who told you to dawdle with trivial nonsense? You’d lick boots if you had the chance!”

“Whoa… things are lively here.”

As Alex entered the central courtyard, he took in the scene. Centered around an artificial waterfall, a grass lawn exuded tranquility, while the distant rush of cascading water created a serene ambiance.

Near the edge of the lotus pond lay a spacious clearing with twenty tables arranged in orderly rows. A few sturdy cherry blossom trees adorned the area, their delicate pink flowers in full bloom.

As the wind swept through, the petals fell like snowflakes, painting a poetic and idyllic scene.

Truly, it was the perfect setting for expressing one’s innermost, heartfelt emotions.

It’s a pity, though. The scene seemed somewhat incongruous—seated behind the low tables were more than a dozen heavily armored giants whose presence was anything but poetic. Instead, the contrast resembled a juxtaposition of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Even without carrying weapons, the plain yet intricately crafted power armor they wore failed to mask the overwhelming, savage aura emanating from their forms.

“Yo, Alex. Take your seat; everyone’s here except Sanguinius.”

Seeing Alex, clad in black armor, arrive, Leman Russ, who was casually trimming his nails after removing his gauntlets, lazily called out.

“Lord Russ… you’re as relaxed as ever. What’s going on with Robert and the others? And where’s Lord Budo?”

“Relaxed? Hah… I got an earful from Her Majesty recently. Things won’t be as easy anymore. The new Strategic Support Corps position I was awarded will keep me plenty busy.”

“The latest batch of Knightmare Frames for mortal auxiliary units has already been sent to support Sanguinius. After this meeting, I’ll likely have to personally oversee some operations.”

“You’ve just returned from the front lines, so it’s no surprise you’re out of the loop. Besides, it’s not exactly something we’d broadcast far and wide.”

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Russ seemed to find a sense of schadenfreude in recounting the situation. His expression softened into a faint grin as he said, “Robert’s been busy, that’s for sure. The boy managed to land himself quite the treasure from Her Majesty.”

“With his legion’s size second only to the original three legions, at this rate, and with Her Majesty’s favor, it seems it’s only a matter of time before they surpass us. A truly fearsome junior, wouldn’t you say?”

Russ spoke with apparent admiration, though there was an undertone of astonishment.

“That doesn’t sound bad at all,” Alex said approvingly, nodding as his gaze settled on Robert, who was currently “engaged in verbal combat” with his peers.

“Hmm? Dragon meat?” Russ suddenly tilted his head and gestured toward Alex with a smirk.

“Ah, yes. A hamburger made from the front limb meat of a Class-1 Danger Beast Earth Dragon is truly a delicacy. How could I not indulge in it while back in the capital?”

Without shifting his gaze, Alex added abruptly, “Robert and Aurelian seem to get along well.”

“They’re more like bickering old friends. A fine example of brotherly camaraderie, isn’t it? Aurelian’s 17th Legion, the Word Bearers, might have the slowest conquest rate, but their results rival those of the Black Templars and Robert’s Ultramarines.”

Setting aside the nail clipper he’d been using to trim his claws, Russ offered a measured evaluation.

The 17th Legion’s conquest efficiency could only be described as glacial. Yet the worlds they claimed were consistently of the highest quality, making them stand alongside the 3rd Legion, the Black Templars, and the 13th Legion, the Ultramarines, as the gold standard.

Reflecting on this, Russ couldn’t help but mutter inwardly. I wasn’t that slow, was I? So why did Her Majesty thoroughly chew me out, while Aurelian gets off scot-free? Could it be… his flattery skills?

Due to Aurelian’s fanatical and almost pathological devotion to Selene, combined with his meticulous grooming of his troops, every Word Bearer Astartes was a highly skilled and zealous priest.

During their conquests, massive monuments and grand cathedrals dedicated to Selene were constructed on every world. All pre-existing faiths, icons, and even written texts were denounced as heretical and completely eradicated.

Under this oppressive regime, large swathes of the population were forcibly converted, and those who refused were met with oversized bullets or chainswords.

Faced with such coercion, while a few stubborn individuals held firm, most pragmatists quickly relented.

“Fine, fine. I’ll convert. It’s just faith, right? Why waste lives over this? Please, put down those terrifying weapons,” they said, shaking in their boots at the sight of the towering, armored preachers who could rip a man apart with their bare hands.

At that moment, as the banter grew more lively and the atmosphere relaxed, a sharp command cut through the joviality:

“SILENCE—!”

Instantly, the lively mood froze. The Astartes who had been teasing and arguing stiffened, turning toward the source of the voice with a mix of guilt and apprehension.

“L-Lord Budo…”

Emerging from the shadows with a stern expression, Budo strode forward and took his place at the head of the table.

“Enough of this rabble. You are all the leaders of great legions, not a bunch of fishmongers!”

“Your behavior is unbecoming! You’re like a—”

Mid-rebuke, Budo suddenly slapped his forehead.

“Ah, my mistake. This isn’t an official meeting—it’s just a private gathering. No need to be so serious. Apologies, force of habit.”

Noticing the suppressed smiles around him, Budo stopped his lecture and waved a hand, summoning holographic projections of space warships, humanoid machines, advanced power armor, and massive Titan mechs into the air above the table.

“Sanguinius cannot leave his campaign at this critical juncture, so we’ll proceed without him. This is the latest batch of equipment approved by Her Majesty, soon to be distributed to all legions. After this meeting, representatives from the Imperial Science Bureau will assist in upgrading your respective forge worlds.”

“First, we have the Voidcraft. The Conquered World—37’s Rogres-class modified space battleships, measuring 8 kilometers in length… the Kalion-class modified Voidcraft at 2.2 kilometers…”

“Knightmare Frames (tactical humanoid combat units). The baseline A-0 model features a head-mounted camera system for information collection, a high-mobility drive wheel system in the legs, and a deployable ’Flying Claw’ weapon.”

“These units are adaptable for various operators and scenarios, with both Astartes and mortal variants. The former stands around 11.5 meters tall, while the latter is approximately 4.5 meters.”

“Next, standardized power armor templates featuring energy wings, Float System for hovering flight, Energy Shields…”

Meanwhile, Schönbrunn Palace.

A gentle breeze rustled through the palace complex, flowing past ornate windows and through the intricately carved screens, stirring the banners and curtains within the chambers.

Within the grand palace, certain things remained constant—chiefly, the vigilant guards and patrols. Nowhere was this more evident than around Selene’s residence in Schönbrunn Palace, where golden-armored Imperial Guards and Sisters of Silence stood watch, creating a near-impenetrable barrier to the outside world.

Inside her private chambers, Selene reclined casually on a plush carpet, propping her chin on one hand as she gazed into the distance, her thoughts seemingly adrift.

“Hm, such a tough choice… Should I bring the 6th Legion Space Wolves, 8th Legion Night Lords, 11th Legion Dusk Specters, and 12th Legion World Eaters back with me?”

She furrowed her brow, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation.

“Taking those volatile guys along… it feels like inviting a bunch of filial sons to help demolish Earth.”

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