55: Chapter 55: The Battle of the Hades Galaxy Ends; Commander Dante's Choice.

As Eros exploded, the shockwave of destruction enveloped the entire star system of the Pluto Galaxy. The human forces began to evade according to pre-arranged plans, while their Necron allies used phase-shift teleportation technology to depart the battlefield directly.

Zarathusa The Ineffable and Anrakyr The Traveller returned to the catacombs of Perdita. Although the battle had destroyed the grand prism on Tartaros, the Necron Overlord still watched with satisfaction as the Leviathan Hive Fleet in the galaxy was swallowed like tiny specks of dust by the storm of destruction released by Eros.

After the explosion ended, Commander Dante began to tally the surviving forces. Only half of the Space Marines who had rushed to the Pluto Galaxy remained. The units responsible for guarding the refining platforms of the gas giant Eros suffered the heaviest casualties—being too close to the center of the explosion, many were engulfed by the aftershocks before they could evacuate.

The players on the naval fleet watched this scene, their hearts filled with immense shock.

"Wait, brothers, what happened?"

"It was just so sudden, I'm totally confused."

"I feel like something big has happened, but we're being kept in the dark."

At that moment, Commander Dante issued a retreat order to all surviving fleets. Just then, a legendary figure of the Legion who had appeared on Tartaros—Sanguinius—did not leave. He appeared on Dante's flagship, radiating light, and walked step by step toward Dante, who was also clad in golden armor.

Wherever Sanguinius went, the Blood Angels knelt on one knee in salute. Even as a Commander who had fought for 1,500 years, Dante stood frozen at the unusual sight before him. For the first time in a long while, Dante felt a sense of being at a loss; he couldn't help but wonder: was he here to condemn his failure on behalf of his Father of Genes?

Facing the slowly approaching Sanguinius, the Commander removed his mask and asked involuntarily, "Have I done enough? Can this save Baal?"

A silence fell over the scene. Then, this Sanguinius, who had saved the Chapter in every moment of peril throughout its history, spoke for the first time: "There is still hope."

...

At the end of 999.M41, following the conclusion of the Pluto Galaxy campaign, Commander Dante led the remaining forces back to Baal after detonating the gas giant. This act of Exterminatus had indeed eliminated a significant portion of the Leviathan Hive Fleet's effective strength.

But these loathsome xenos were not defeated; the the great devourer continued to advance, heading straight for Baal. To stop the Leviathan Hive Fleet, Commander Dante issued a cruel order: to carry out Exterminatus on every single Imperial world in the surrounding systems.

Just then, an explanation of Exterminatus appeared on the naval fleet's screens.

Exterminatus is a common method used by the Imperium against worlds that are of no value or where the cost of governance is too high. It takes many forms depending on the situation, but without exception, it results in a mass extinction of all life on the planet.

The players stared intently at the screen, as if trying to destroy it with their gaze alone.

"Those are worlds upon worlds... how can they just do that..."

Old Chen and Old Li had the most violent reactions, denouncing such behavior. However, different voices emerged from within the player base.

"Brothers, don't forget that in this world, death is the greatest mercy."

These words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, triggering an even greater argument.