Abyss Port was the transportation hub of the Coronid New Zone, bridging the Segmentum Obscurus and the Segmentum Ultima. Most of the major trade routes within the sector passed through it.
Orbital docks, like islands, revolved around the planet.
Countless berthing platforms, docks, gantries, floating workshops, and worker quarters were crammed with vessels.
Dozens of worlds in the eastern part of the sector desperately awaited the arrival of transports laden with Zavarich agricultural products.
The industrial products, equipment, parts, and so on, from Juya, which the previous sector lord had vigorously developed, had passed inspection but could not be investment the first phase of construction on Masila Pranni as planned.
The first wave of nobles to rise in the sector, from Manachean Commonwealth and merchants, had their lavishly decorated ships tightly bound by anchor lines.
The Ramillies-class starfort, the Grail Abyss, had begun its long journey of loyal guardianship twenty-five years prior.
All four quadrants of the Grail Abyss operated continuously at high capacity respond to wave after wave of attacks.
A Ramillies-class starfort could shatter a fleet in a short time. But facing skies filled with drones and the constant surge of Rangdan ships, it could barely fulfill its duty, preventing the xenos from causing substantial damage to Abyss Port.
The arrival of the fleets from the First, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Chapters within the system immediately changed the battle's dynamics.
At the moment Flamini prayed to the Black Emperor, three of the Seventh Chapter's four relic-class ships, along with the Eighth Chapter's Razor, had already launched their attack.
Light lances and bombardment cannons stabbed into the ships, bristling with spikes and flails.
Macro-cannon shells swept across like storms of flame. Blazing lances tore apart the xenos vessels.
As wave after wave of attacks pierced the xenos ships, a black prototype vessel emerged from the burning wreckage.
The obsidian-like ship rotated slowly, its core pulsing with an evil crimson light.
Compared to the surrounding ships, it was less than ten kilometers in diameter, yet it projected a sense of enormity that transcended physical laws.
The anomalous ship recognize runes immediately drew the attention of each Chapter's Simulus Chambers.
Recognizing its Gothic architecture, different from Imperial ships, yet distinct from the spiked exterior of Rangdan vessels, immediately alerted the Shadows of Orders.
They matched the rotating obsidian ship with the Slaugth vessels described in their gene-father's materials. Reports were instantly forwarded to each Chapter Master.
After the Slaugth ship revealed itself, the crimson light at its center grew increasingly bright.
As energy reading on the auspex of every Shadows of Order vessel climbed rapidly, the dazzling light swiftly surpassed the star's radiance.
Then, light like a stellar explosion engulfed the entire system.
The Simulus Chambers on every Shadows of Order ship were filled with red warning signals.
Thierry rose from his command throne. A series of piercing alarms sounded on his helmet's internal comm.
"Fortress-grade void shields overloaded!"
"Primary lance weapon arrays invalid!"
"Port macro-cannon battery B-16 malfunctioned!"
"..."
His Shipmaster, a "Student of Ratiocination," shouted a warning.
"Knight Lord, the xenos ships are charging!"
Thierry looked at the hololithic tactical table. He saw xenos ships, propelled by the expanding shockwave, bearing down on his vessel like small boats tossed by a storm.
"Restart void shields!"
"My Lord, I am trying, but it takes time!" the Shipmaster said hurriedly.
"I should warn you, the Rangdan ships are charging at full speed. They've never been this mad before."
"The energy shockwave has accelerated them. Impact is imminent..."
Before the Shipmaster could finish, the Razor shuddered violently.
Thierry activated the magnetic locks on his boots, steadying himself amidst the earthquake-like tremors.
As spikes scraped through the hull, a piercing screech of metal echoed through the bridge.
Xenos with needle-like feathers madly poured through the breach.
Thierry flicked his wrists. Two swords appeared in his hands.
In his right hand, he held a power sword forged by the Primarch Vulkan, blazing with dazzling blue light.
Thierry's left-hand weapon was a psychic sword forged for him by the master smiths of Kather.
After carrying it for over thirty years, Thierry had developed a faint psychic ability.
As he channeled psychic energy into it, the sword was wreathed in dazzling white light.
Thierry charged towards the xenos boarding his ship. The "Weapon Master's" speed left his Honor Guard far behind.
He felt his thoughts momentarily stall. His body hesitated.
Thierry's black eyes flickered. He saw a bridge officer fleeing in terror.
As he ran, he frantically pushed his rebreather mask into place.
The mask covered his face. He gasped for air, his chest heaving.
Suddenly, his running steps halted, as if bound by telekinesis.
He was immediately tackled by a xenos. Hundreds of needles pierced him in an instant.
Crimson-stained Thierry's vision. In an instant, he donned his War Mask.
The power of fury filled his body. He shot forward like lightning.
His mind remained steady. His eyes fixed on the Cerabvore, ignoring the other flailing xenos.
Dozens of needle-feathered xenos immediately noticed the charging black figure. They shrieked and dove at Thierry.
The "Weapon Master's" blades spun rapidly. A horizontal blue figure-eight formed in the air in an instant.
The figure-eight expanded rapidly. The shrieking disassembly field energy simultaneously sliced through the dozen xenos.
As their mangled limbs fell, the "Weapon Master" was already past them.
He weaved through hundreds of xenos, his twin swords flashing like a storm.
Slash, chop, sweep, thrust. The "Weapon Master" utilized the Ulvira sword style beyond its nature. In seconds, hundreds of xenos lay dead.
The red line running through the Cerabvore's skull pulsed with crimson light. It raised its bent arms. A bolt of green lightning crashed down from the air.
A chain of electricity crackled before the Honor Guard members, forcing them to halt.
They saw their Lord's eruption of speed surpass the psychic lightning.
The green lightning was left behind. In an instant, he was before the Cerabvore.
The Cerabvore swung its crystal greatsword at Thierry. The "Weapon Master" simultaneously raised both arms level.
His right arm swung. The power sword clashed with the crystal greatsword.
Amidst the piercing crackle and screech of energy collision, the Cerabvore was driven back by the much smaller "Weapon Master."
The "Weapon Master's" attacked nonstop. His left arm, held level, thrust forward.
The "Weapon Master's" killing stroke, pierced from the Cerabvore's abdomen up through its brain.
Slime splattered. The Cerabvore's body split and collapsed limply.
Having swiftly slain the Cerabvore, Thierry was about to charge another when the "Student of Ratiocination's" voice sounded on his helmet's internal comm.
"Knight Lord, the Slaugth ship has moved. It's racing towards us at high speed."
"Based on the Rangdan xenos' deviation from standard tactics, launching this devastating attack in a mutually destructive manner, the Techmarines of the Simulus Chambers and I have deduced they are following the Slaugth's orders, covering its escape."
Thierry didn't slow. He continued cutting down xenos with his twin swords.
"We cannot let the Slaugth ship escape. It hasn't unleashed another attack, likely due to enormous consumption of energy."
"This is our best chance to destroy it."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.