70: Chapter 70: The Past of Dante.

"Brothers, it's still pitch black as always."

"There's more plot to watch. I hope it won't disappoint me."

Dante sat in the main seat, looking down at the gathered Chapter Masters, his thoughts inevitably drifting back a millennium—to when he was still a child born into a poor worker's family on the planet Baal Secundus.

Dante's story began in the year 447 of the 41st Millennium. Dante grew up struggling in a harsh environment, and the planet's brutal conditions made him sickly from a young age. According to local records, he likely wouldn't live past 30.

"Supposed to die before 30, but actually lived for 1,500 years. Impressive."

"As expected of the Imperium."

However, amidst the hardships of life, his father, Areias, would always provide young Dante with warmth and love. Every night, his father would kiss his forehead and tell him: "I will always love you, my little one."

Life with his father became Dante's most precious memory and planted a small seed within his heart.

When news arrived that the Blood Angels Chapter was coming to recruit new initiates, 11-year-old Dante knew his parents would object due to his frail body.

Despite this, Dante left without saying goodbye one night, which became a permanent regret in his heart.

The road to the trials was extremely perilous: while crossing the desert, he encountered quicksand and lost his transport.

Just as he was on the verge of disaster, an avatar of Sanguinius appeared, guiding him to life-saving water.

Along the way, he met two friends—Florian and Daniel—and the three traveled together.

Unfortunately, Daniel lost his life after accidentally drinking the deadly "Thirst Water."

The survivors, Dante and Florian, used Daniel's belongings to assemble a glider and successfully flew across the "Angel's Leap" canyon, where the Archangel Sanguinius first spread His wings.

Despite being attacked by snow eagles along the way, they eventually arrived at the trial grounds.

"Alas, I intended to go with you, but you have taken the step before me."

"I strongly opposed the Master retiring from the literary world back then."

"Exactly, exactly. I opposed it too, but the Master was too intense about it, oh well."

In the compatibility test, Dante barely passed, and his other tests were relatively mediocre.

But surprisingly, this frail youth displayed astonishing resilience, always managing to reach the passing line in various tests.

Even more remarkable was his innate leadership ability; in team combat exercises, the squad he led achieved outstanding results.

During the Horus Trial, the High Chaplain ordered him to fight a duel to the death with Florian.

After subduing his close friend, Dante was shocked to discover that the other party genuinely intended to kill him.

Yet he still made a shocking decision: he put down his weapon, refused to trade his friend's life for glory, and declared: "If this is what an Angel is, then I would rather not be one."

And this choice perfectly validated the true purpose of the trial.

"Oh, a name I've never seen before: Horus. You've got a new storyline again."

"Can Brother Gao actually fill all the holes he's dug? Don't become 'The Hole-Filler Brother'."

After consuming the Blood, Dante entered a sarcophagus to undergo genetic modification.

Unlike the others, Dante, in a state between dreaming and waking, screamed in extreme agony about various figures and events from the history of the Blood Angels.

"The standard protagonist template is unusual."

"Is it time for another 'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; do not bully the young for being poor'?"

When everyone thought the youth was about to die suddenly or succumb to the Black Rage, he awoke calmly, his physical condition in good order.

At that time, everyone concluded that this young man possessed resilience and mental fortitude beyond that of an ordinary person.