Bishop Karion's questions and rage were like a spark igniting a powder keg, instantly igniting the already tense standoff.
The distrust born from the Eldar warriors' despair, combined with the Astartes' inherent wariness of xenos and their cold, mission-first mentality, clashed fiercely in this confined space.
Gaius stomped forward, his Power Armor clanging heavily against the ground.
His head, encased in a 'pig-snout' helmet, lowered slightly, and his icy gaze, like two tangible daggers, pierced Bishop Karion through the eye-slits.
"Xenos," Gaius's voice boomed through the vox-caster, laced with undisguised killing intent and oppressive force, "mind your place.
The deal was proposed by you, and we accepted it.
But now, the authority to execute is in our hands."
He raised his hand, his Power Sword pointing at Bishop Karion, his tone chilling:
"I warn you one last time—put away your useless questions and incessant chatter!
If you dare to raise any further objections, interfere with our external communications, or attempt to sabotage the deal..."
His words shattered like ice:
"I don't mind... before the bugs rush in, making the first move and... cleaning out all you troublesome individuals!"
Before he finished speaking, Dorian, who had been barely restraining himself, abruptly raised the assault cannon at his waist.
The thick, death-reeking muzzle was practically pressed against Bishop Karion's helmet!
Though he said nothing, his posture made everything clear—should Gaius give the order, he would not hesitate to pull the trigger, blasting the chattering bean-sprout to smithereens!
Bishop Karion's body instantly stiffened.
Despite being a battle-hardened Striking Scorpion Bishop, one of the most powerful Eldar warriors, being directly targeted at such close range by a clearly equally battle-hardened Astartes elite, equipped with heavy weaponry, presented a very real threat of death.
He could feel the opponent's undisguised killing intent, which was no mere bluff.
More importantly, he glanced at the unconscious Kolesa, and then at the trembling children within the golden barrier.
Now, the only possible glimmer of hope indeed lay with these cold humans.
If a conflict erupted at this moment, regardless of the outcome, it would mean the complete shattering of his people's last hope.
A tremendous sense of humiliation gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake, but he gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the rage that was about to erupt.
He slowly, and with extreme difficulty, took half a step back, no longer meeting Gaius's gaze, nor making any sound.
This was a silent submission, a bitter pill he had to swallow for survival.
The other Eldar warriors, seeing their Bishop suppressed, could only grudgingly sheath their weapons, but the hostility and resentment in their eyes intensified.
The tense atmosphere was temporarily suppressed by an iron fist.
Just then, Kolesa, who had been unconscious, let out a faint groan.
Luna's emergency treatment seemed to have had some effect.
Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was initially blurry, and the first thing she saw was a tall, blue figure standing beside her, with several flexible mechanical arms extending from his Power Pack—it was Tech-Sergeant Luna.
"You… woke up?" Luna's calm voice sounded, devoid of discernible emotion.
Kolesa weakly blinked, struggling to sit up, and Luna's servo-arm gently helped her.
She looked around, seeing the two opposing sides, the terrified kin within the barrier, and Gaius, who was repeatedly attempting to communicate in the distance.
"What... is the situation..." Her voice was a mere whisper, full of exhaustion.
Gaius, hearing the movement, temporarily ceased his communication attempts and walked over.
He looked down at the now-sitting Kolesa, his tone still devoid of warmth: "It's good that you're awake.
I'm trying to establish contact with the warships in orbit; it's our only hope for evacuation.
But..."
He was about to say that communications were being jammed, and the situation was not optimistic—
Suddenly!
The entire underground space, no, the entire Sanctum, and even the whole land, violently shook!
"Rumble rumble rumble—!!!"
It was as if countless thunderbolts had exploded overhead at the same instant!
The sound did not come from the Tyranid Swarm crashing outside the door, but from a higher, more distant place, carrying an immense power capable of destroying everything!
The sturdy Wraithbone structure groaned under the strain, and dust and tiny gravel rained down from the dome!
"Ah—!" The children within the barrier screamed and cried out in terror at this sudden, heaven-shaking roar, and even the wounded warriors looked horrified.
"What's happening?!"
"Is it an earthquake?!"
The Eldar warriors panicked.
Gaius and Dorian, however, instantly tensed; they were all too familiar with this kind of commotion!
"It's orbital bombardment!" Gaius roared, immediately signaling Luna, "Protect key targets!"
Luna reacted extremely quickly, her servo-arms immediately extending to form a barrier, shielding the weakened Kolesa below to prevent injury from falling debris.
Dorian also swiftly raised his Storm Shield, blocking in front of Gaius and Luna.
The tremor lasted for nearly a minute, the dense explosions like a drumbeat of death, clearly transmitting through the thick rock layers and architectural structures, as if the entire planet was wailing in agony.
It was the macro-cannons and lances of the Ultramarines' strike cruisers conducting a carpet bombardment, mercilessly turning everything within five kilometers of the Sanctum—whether Eldar structures or the Tyranid Swarm—into scorched earth and slag!
The sound of artillery gradually ceased, its reverberations still trembling in the air.
Immediately after, a more dense but distinct roar, unlike the Tyranid's screeching, could faintly be heard from the surface—it was the shriek of drop pods breaking through the atmosphere, and the unique explosive crackle of heavy weapons firing!
"It's the 2nd Company and Third Company!" Gaius immediately identified, "They're establishing a defensive line!"
Not long after, a heavy, rhythmic thudding, unlike the Tyranid's crashing, accompanied by the roar of Bolters and assault cannons, resonated from the upper levels!
And the sound was rapidly approaching the lower level!
"It's our people!" Dorian excitedly growled.
Soon, the footsteps reached inside the Sanctum.
A steady, unfamiliar voice came through the vox-caster; though the signal had some interference, it was infinitely clearer than before!
Clearly, it was carrying a powerful signal booster!
"Sanx, this is First Company's 'Iron Will' Terminator Squad, we have reached the target Sanctum.
Report your position and status!"
Gaius immediately responded: "Iron Will, this is Sanx!
We are in the lowest level sanctuary of the Sanctum, coordinates sent.
Three members, all with minor injuries.
The target relic has been located, but the situation is complex and requires in-person explanation!
The status of the other two squads is unknown!"
"Received.
Vidis Squad has been contacted and is moving towards our position.
Anris Squad... no response yet." The Terminator Captain's voice carried a hint of gravity, but then became decisive, "We are clearing the passage, expected to reach your location in two minutes, maintain vigilance!"
The communication ended, and immediately more intense gunfire erupted from the upper level, especially the unique, continuous roar of twin-linked assault cannons, like tearing cloth, efficiently clearing any Tyranid units that dared to block their way.
Two minutes felt like an eternity.
When the sounds of battle outside the door gradually subsided, leaving only the heavy footsteps of Power Armor, Gaius looked at Bishop Karion, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Open the door."
Bishop Karion glanced at Kolesa, and seeing her nod slightly, reluctantly walked to the door and activated the opening runes.
"Whirr—"
The heavy door slowly slid open to both sides.
The scene outside the door came into view.
The passage was filled with the stench of gunpowder and Tyranid blood, and the ground was covered with the shattered remains of Tyranids.
And standing at the doorway, like nine iron mountains, were nine Indomitus-pattern Terminator warriors, clad in deep blue, radiating cold killing intent and supreme majesty!
Their massive bodies almost completely blocked the entrance, and their Storm Bolters and Power Fists still bore traces of battle.
The leading Terminator Squad Captain, whose helmet bore a unique captain's insignia, scanned the situation within the sanctuary, his gaze quickly sweeping over Gaius's three-man squad, the newly awakened Kolesa, and the wary and fearful Eldar, finally settling on Gaius.
"Sergeant Gaius," the Captain's voice, filtered through the Terminator armor, was even deeper and more oppressive, "where is the relic?
Time is short; we must retrieve it as quickly as possible!"
Gaius immediately stepped forward and succinctly reported that the relic was protected by an energy barrier, that Eldar children were inside the barrier, and the deal struck with Witch Kolesa to "assist in civilian evacuation in exchange for the relic."
The Terminator Captain's brow, hidden beneath his helmet, clearly furrowed.
This situation deviated from standard mission protocol.
He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, then directly connected to Captain Cassius on the orbital Pride of Ultramar via the squad's enhanced signal.
"Captain, this is Iron Will.
We have linked up with Sanx Squad.
Target relic confirmed, but the situation is complex..." He relayed Gaius's report, "It involves a deal with the Eldar, and a request for the evacuation of a large number of Eldar civilians.
Please advise."
The communication signal was still somewhat intermittent, but sufficient to convey the information.
Captain Cassius, far away in orbit, found the report thorny.
He could not unilaterally make such a significant decision involving a large-scale deal with xenos.
He immediately reported the situation to Chapter Master Marius Calgar.
On the bridge of the Macragge's Honour, Chapter Master Calgar listened to Cassius's report, falling into a brief contemplation.
His authoritative face was expressionless, his fingers gently tapping the armrest of his command throne.
A few minutes of silence, for those waiting in the lower sanctuary, felt like an eternity.
Finally, Chapter Master Calgar raised his head, a flash of resolve in his eyes.
He weighed the pros and cons: saving these Eldar civilians, while resource-intensive, might in the future allow for contact with other, relatively more moderate Eldar Craftworlds, and even the exchange of desperately needed human technology or intelligence.
And the recovery of the relic was equally crucial to the Imperium.
This was a deal... that could be made.
"Respond, Iron Will Squad," Calgar's voice came through the comms, carrying the Chapter Master's unique composure and authority, "Agree to the transaction. Mission priority change: while ensuring the recovery of the holy relic, assist the Eldar civilians in evacuating as much as possible. Be quick, the Tyranid Swarm's counterattack will come soon!"
He paused, then issued the final command:
"Order! The Ultramarines main fleet, full speed, divert to the Aisha's Tears star system orbit! Prepare to receive refugees."
The command was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, writing a very special page in the ten-thousand-year history of enmity between the Imperium and the Eldar.
Chapter Master Calgar's order, like the final gavel falling, set the tone for this uncertain transaction. After Gaius received the directive relayed by the Terminator Squad leader, his last trace of apprehension dissipated—now, they had a clear objective and authorization.
He held the still-weak Kolesa and walked to the energy barrier that emitted a warm golden light. The Eldar children and wounded soldiers inside the barrier, seeing Kolesa awaken, had hope rekindled in their eyes, but upon seeing the cold human Astartes holding her, they couldn't help but show fear and bewilderment.
"Wizard Kolesa," Gaius's voice, clear through his helmet, reached her ears, "You've heard. Our Chapter Master has agreed to the transaction. Ultramarines warriors and transport ships are about to land. We will provide protection, ensuring as many of your people as possible safely board our warships and evacuate this planet."
His tone was serious, carrying a final warning:
"But, remember our agreement, and remember my warning—if you dare to make any move that threatens us, betrays your promise, or if I realize you have even a hint of deception in this matter..."
Gaius lowered his head, his helmet's optical sensors almost touching Kolesa's pale cheek, the cold killing intent seemingly piercing her skin.
"...I will send you to meet your so-called... God of Pleasure and Pain, ahead of time!"
This blatant, sacrilegious threat made Kolesa's body tremble slightly. But she quickly calmed down, meeting Gaius's cold gaze, and replied weakly but firmly:
"Everything... will be as you wish, Astartes warrior. I guarantee it... in the name of Aisha's Tears's last ruling Wizard..."
Having received her renewed confirmation, Gaius no longer hesitated. He held Kolesa, letting her gently press her palm against the golden energy barrier. Kolesa closed her eyes, chanting a short Eldar incantation, and the lingering, faint psychic energy, like a key, flowed into the barrier.
The solid light, which had protected many lives, began to ripple like water, then rapidly thinned and became transparent, finally dissipating silently into the air like shattered foam. The holy relic still floated in mid-air, emitting light, but no longer forming a barrier.
Exposed, the Eldar within the barrier, after a brief silence, began to sob more clearly and stir uneasily.
At the same time, outside the sanctuary, there came a dense roar of engines, different from the Tyranid's screeching! It was the sound of Thunderhawk Gunships and large transport ships breaking through the atmosphere and landing on the temporary landing zone cleared by orbital bombardment!
"Let's go!" Gaius, holding Kolesa, ordered Dorian, Luna, and the Iron Will Terminator Squad. Bishop Karion and the remaining Eldar warriors immediately organized the children and wounded within the barrier, following behind them, and headed towards the upper level.
Passing through corridors filled with Tyranid remnants and battle scars, they returned to the main level of the sanctuary and exited the once-magnificent building, now reduced to ruins and a battlefield, through its damaged main gate.
The scene outside the sanctuary shocked even Gaius and his companions, who were accustomed to large battlefields.
The once beautiful Eldar city area had now become a scorched earth and lava pits, the cruel marks left by orbital bombardment. And upon these scorched lands, a blue tide of steel had now descended!
Dozens of Thunderhawk Gunships and larger transport ships, like gigantic steel birds, landed in the cleared spaces, the heat waves from their engines distorting the air. Large numbers of Ultramarines, clad in deep blue Power Armor, were rapidly constructing temporary defensive lines, the bursts of Bolter fire and the roar of heavy weapons incessant, clearly engaged in fierce combat with the attempting Tyranid counterattack.
Most striking were the figures standing beside a newly landed Thunderhawk Gunship.
The leader, clad in a full suit of master-crafted Power Armor, with ancient runes and victory insignia carved into the details of his armor, and the distinctive horizontal crest on his helmet, as well as the deep blue cape behind him symbolizing his status and honor, all proclaimed his exalted identity—Captain Cassius of the First Company.
Behind him, like two insurmountable peaks, stood two warriors clad in heavy Saturn-pattern Terminator Armor. And from the Thunderhawk Gunship, whose hatch had just opened, a squad of Ironclad Pattern Terminator warriors, like mobile fortresses, were stepping out with heavy, synchronized strides! Their arrival instantly elevated the defensive strength of this area to a new level.
In the sky, more Thunderhawk Gunships and transport ships, like migrating flocks of birds, continuously broke through the clouds, escorted by Stormraven Gunships, descending towards this area. The Ultramarines Chapter was executing this special rescue mission with astonishing efficiency and power.
Gaius, holding Kolesa, quickly walked to Captain Cassius and saluted solemnly: "Captain!"
Captain Cassius's gaze, hidden beneath his imposing helmet, swept over Gaius, then fell upon the weak, pale Eldar female in his arms, his tone carrying a hint of doubt and scrutiny: "Sergeant Karl, what are you doing, holding an Eldar?"
Gaius was slightly embarrassed, but he immediately composed himself and concisely reported the transaction with Kolesa, the holy relic barrier, and the Chapter Master's final order.
Captain Cassius listened quietly, his gaze returning to Kolesa, that look seemingly weighing a thousand pounds. He asked directly: "Wizard, approximately how many people here still need to be evacuated?"
Kolesa mustered her strength and replied weakly but clearly: "Within the sanctuary... and possibly survivors still hiding in other corners... about... eight thousand people..."
"Eight thousand people..." Captain Cassius repeated the number, then, without any hesitation, decisively ordered: "Tell your people to hurry, board our Thunderhawk Gunships and transport ships in an orderly fashion, and return to the orbital warships! We will be responsible for their placement. You must be quick! Our other companies' warriors are constructing defensive lines on the periphery, holding back the main Tyranid Swarm, but they cannot hold out for too long!"
His words were efficient and cold, devoid of extra sympathy, only absolute focus on mission execution.
Then, he stepped forward, his imposing helmet almost touching Kolesa's face, who was held by Gaius, and a cold voice came through the helmet, carrying an undeniable warning:
"I advise you, and your people, to... not play any tricks, pointy-eared xenos."
His gaze was like a physical presence, as if it would pierce Kolesa's soul.
"After all of your people have safely boarded our warships..."
He said, enunciating each word:
"I need you, personally, to hand over that holy relic to our Chapter Master!"
"Before that, you, and these core personnel around you," he glanced at Bishop Karion and the others, "will be 'protected' and guarded by us."
He deliberately emphasized "protected," its meaning self-evident.
"Sanx, Iron Will," Captain Cassius finally commanded, "Watch her closely. Ensure the 'transaction item' is safe."
"Yes, Captain!" Gaius and the Terminator captain responded in unison.
Just then, a commotion came from the flank defense line, as warriors from Vidis Squad and Anris Squad, supporting each other, finally broke through the Tyranid's interception and reached the rendezvous point! They were all wounded, their armor severely damaged, and Anris Squad Leader had even lost an arm, being supported by his squad members. The Chapter Apothecary, who had been on standby, immediately stepped forward to provide emergency treatment and stabilize their injuries.
Seeing that the core members of the other two squads had survived, despite heavy casualties, Gaius also breathed a sigh of relief.
Under Captain Cassius's efficient command, the evacuation work quickly unfolded. Squads of Eldar civilians, especially the children, guided and protected by Ultramarines warriors with a sense of distance and vigilance, began to orderly board the massive transport ships and Thunderhawk Gunships. In the sky, aircraft shuttling between the ground and orbit were incessant, forming a corridor of life, with Stormraven Gunships, like loyal escorts, circling and protecting, tearing apart any Tyranid flying units attempting to approach.
Kolesa, held by Gaius, watched this scene unfold—watching her once elegant and proud people, now like frightened refugees, under the "protection" of their former enemies, boarding those cold steel constructs, fleeing this home that had nurtured them but was now about to destroy them; watching those blue giants construct defensive lines for them amidst the flames of war, resisting the endless Tyranid tide; watching the aircraft coming and going in the sky, representing the hope of survival... an indescribable, complex emotion, a mixture of immense sorrow, the pain of a fallen nation, and the irony of this salvation, like a broken dam, instantly overwhelmed the strength she had been forcing herself to maintain.
She could no longer hold back, burying her face in Gaius's cold, hard chest plate, her slender shoulders trembling violently, and suppressed, desperate sobs, no longer controllable, escaped. That cry was the wail of a dying civilization, the endless grief of a leader witnessing her homeland's destruction.
Captain Cassius heard the crying. His imposing head tilted slightly, his cold gaze falling on Kolesa's trembling back, carrying a hint of the Astartes' indifference, unable to comprehend xenos emotions, and he said lightly:
"Oh? Do Eldar women cry too? I thought you were more cold-blooded than a Tyranid Executioner."
His words offered no comfort, only an detached observation, as if commenting on a spectacle unrelated to him.
On the surface of Aisha's Tears, a desperate race against time rescue operation was underway, centered around the temple area that had been flattened by orbital bombardment.
On the periphery of the rescue zone, a death line constructed from steel and blood resisted the frenzied counterattacks of the Tyranid Swarm.
East flank, 2nd Company's defensive sector.
The terrain here was relatively open, originally the intersection of a square and gardens in an Eldar city, but now it had been reduced to a mixture of scorched earth and wreckage.
And upon this scorched earth, a small mountain of countless Tyranid corpses—shattered limbs of Hormagaunts, carapaces of Termagants, and mangled torsos of Warriors—stood prominently!
Viscous dark green and purple blood soaked the ground, emitting a nauseating stench.
The valiant Warriors of the 2nd Company stood upon this 'fortification' built of death, using their elevated position to unleash precise and efficient bursts of fire upon the tide-like swarms of Hormagaunts surging from afar.
The roar of Bolters echoed continuously, each shot accurately flipping a Hormagaunt's skull or tearing its body apart.
At the very top of this mountain of corpses, one figure was particularly conspicuous.
It was none other than the 2nd Company's Company Commander, Cato Sicarius.
He wore power armor of deep azure, his helmet—with its distinctive 'pig-snout' respirator grille, horizontal crest, and an added golden laurel—still gleamed amidst the smoke.
One foot rested on the shattered head of a massive Trygon, which had just been riddled by concentrated fire, while his other hand clutched a blue-and-gold banner—the 2nd Company's battle standard!
He forcefully plunged the flagpole downwards; the spike at the base of the pole easily pierced the Trygon's thick skull, firmly securing the 2nd Company's banner onto the giant creature's carcass!
The banner flapped in the wind, which was laden with smoke and the smell of blood, its emblem symbolizing the 2nd Company and the heraldry of Guilliman clearly visible.
Captain Sicarius, holding his ornately decorated and incredibly sharp Power Sword in one hand and a bolt pistol in the other, roared defiantly at the tide of bugs surging below the hill like a purple carpet.
His voice, amplified through his vox-caster, reverberated across the entire defensive line:
"Brothers of the 2nd Company! Look! These vile bugs, they are numerous, but they cannot drown our will! They cannot defile our honor!"
He gestured with his sword towards the boundless sea of bugs in the distance, his cloak billowing behind him, and the intricate fabric decorations and purity seals on his armor dancing in the wind.
"Beneath our feet are the corpses of our enemies! In our hands is the Emperor's wrath! In our hearts are the teachings of the Primarch!"
His voice suddenly rose, filled with undeniable resolve and power:
"2nd Company! In the name of our Lord, Primarch Roboute Guilliman! Hold this ground! For Ultramar! For the glory of the Ultramarines! Never retreat a single step!"
"For Lord Guilliman! For Ultramar!" the Warriors of the 2nd Company roared in unison from atop the hill, their Bolter fire becoming denser and more ferocious, forming an insurmountable storm of metal that firmly held the surging bug tide beneath the mountain of corpses!
West flank, Third Company's defensive sector.
The fighting style here was starkly different from the 2nd Company's static defense.
The terrain was more complex, littered with collapsed building debris and twisted metal.
The Warriors of the Third Company, especially a Terminator squad personally led by Company Commander Hec Hansson, were engaged in a highly mobile encirclement battle.
Their target was an exceptionally massive Warrior King, with a carapace as thick as a tank, wielding four pairs of huge bony scythe-like appendages.
This giant creature was not only terrifyingly strong but also possessed a degree of psychic resistance and tactical intelligence, commanding the surrounding Tyranid units in relentless attempts to breach the Third Company's line.
"Suppress the left flank! Flank right! Don't let it get a chance to unleash a psychic blast!" Company Commander Hansson's steady voice echoed on the comms channel.
He himself led from the front, swinging his Power Fist, each heavy blow denting and cracking the Warrior King's carapace, forcing it to retreat repeatedly.
His Terminators, like a pack of wolves working in perfect coordination, launched assaults from different directions.
The concentrated firepower of storm Bolters and assault cannons targeted the Warrior King's joints and sensory clusters, restricting its movement and perception; Power Fists and power claws sought opportunities to deliver heavy physical blows.
This was the ultimate display of strength, skill, and teamwork.
The Warriors of the Third Company, like precise killing machines under Company Commander Hansson's command, slowly drove this formidable giant creature into a corner, and finally, after a concentrated volley of fire and a precise Power Fist strike from Company Commander Hansson that shattered its skull, the Warrior King let out one last unwilling shriek, its massive body crashing to the ground.
In orbit, the Ultramarines fleet.
Within the massive hangars and landing bays of the Pride of Ultramar, the Indomitable, the Cleansing Blade, and other auxiliary vessels, a truly rare sight unfolded.
Thunderhawk Gunships and transport craft landed continuously, and as their ramps lowered, it wasn't blue-armored Astartes Monks who disembarked, but rather delicate-faced, pointy-eared Eldar children, their eyes filled with terror, bewilderment, and curiosity, along with a small number of Eldar adult civilians responsible for their care.
They wore torn or stained Eldar clothing, starkly out of place amidst the cold, hard, industrially aesthetic, and war-torn steel environment around them.
The children huddled together, their large eyes timidly surveying the massive, steel behemoth belonging to their 'enemies,' and gazing at the silent, metal-giant-like Ultramarines crew and logistics personnel who guided them.
Fear was the dominant emotion, yet the inherent curiosity of childhood also led them to cast inquisitive glances at this strange, unknown metallic world.
The ship's crew, strictly following orders, efficiently and silently carried out the reception and resettlement work, guiding them to temporarily designated, relatively isolated areas and providing basic food and water.
Despite strict discipline, many crew members' gazes towards these Eldar children inevitably carried a complex, ineffable quality—they were xenos, ancient enemies, yet now they stood as protected individuals aboard the Imperium's most proud warships.
Outside the temple, at the temporary landing zone.
Captain Cassius stood on a relatively high piece of wreckage, calmly observing the progress of the entire evacuation operation.
Beside him, Ironclad Pattern Terminator Warriors stood like the most loyal guardians, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
His gaze swept over the Striking Scorpionss, who, though all wounded and with damaged armor, were still diligently helping their younger kin board the Thunderhawk Gunships, finally settling on Bishop Karion, who was also coordinating his people, his face etched with sorrow.
Captain Cassius strode forward, and the two Saturnine Terminator Warriors behind him, like mobile fortresses, followed with heavy steps, an invisible sense of pressure accompanying them.
"You," Captain Cassius looked directly at Bishop Karion, his voice emanating from within his imposing helmet, "are the commander of these Eldar Warriors?"
Bishop Karion looked at this Ultramarines Captain, whose aura was far deeper and more powerful than Gaius's, and the two ancient-looking Terminators behind him.
Despite the humiliation and reluctance in his heart, he maintained basic courtesy, bowing slightly as he replied, "I am Karion, Striking Scorpion Bishop of the Aisha's Tears craftworld."
Captain Cassius nodded, skipping any superfluous pleasantries, and cut directly to a realistic and harsh question:
"Do your Eldar still have other craftworlds that can receive these survivors?"
He paused, his tone flat but carrying an undeniable practical consideration:
"The Ultramarines Chapter is not unable to provide temporary sanctuary, nor does it lack the resources to feed this population.
However, you must understand that your Eldar are regarded as xenos by the Imperium, and prolonged stay aboard the warships of an Imperial Astartes Chapter... there are no secrets under the sun."
His gaze was sharp, as if it could pierce Bishop Karion's innermost thoughts:
"The Imperial Inquisition will eventually get wind of this.
Your Eldar... should be familiar with the modus operandi of those fanatics and religious zealots."
His words carried undisguised disdain for the Inquisition, but also highlighted a cruel reality.
"Once they get involved, things will become very troublesome, and it won't benefit either you or us," Captain Cassius concluded.
"Therefore, contact your other craftworlds as soon as possible and have them take these people.
This is the most advantageous choice for both sides."
Bishop Karion was silent for a moment; he understood that what the other party said was true.
The Imperium of Man was not monolithic, and the Eldar had long experienced the madness and extremism of the Inquisition in their millennia of conflict.
He nodded heavily:
"I understand your meaning, Captain.
We will... try to contact other surviving craftworlds as soon as possible.
Thank you... for your Chapter's help at this time."
This thank you was extremely difficult to utter, but it came from the heart.
Regardless of the motives, the Ultramarines were indeed saving their last surviving kin.
On the other side, Dorian was still holding Kolesa, who was crying softly.
He had no comforting words; Astartes were not good at that.
He merely silently performed his duty as a 'guardian.'
Dorian, meanwhile, sidled up to Luna, fiddling with his Thunder Hammer, which had run out of energy from overuse, grumbling somewhat complainingly:
"Luna, can you Tech-Sergeants figure something out?
The battery on this thing is so unreliable! How many bugs did I smash before it died?
Next time, can we get a larger capacity one? Or just directly connect a cable from the power pack?"
Luna, busy monitoring Kolesa's vital signs and coordinating communications, heard Dorian's complaint.
Without looking up, her bionic eye flickered, and she replied in a calm, unruffled tone:
"Sergeant Dorian, the standard power cell of a Thunder Hammer is sufficient for regular use during a high-intensity campaign.
According to combat log analysis, your peak energy output over the past three hours exceeded the safety threshold by two hundred seventy percent, and you continuously used overload mode.
I suggest you optimize your combat rhythm, or... consider applying for the permanent power interface that comes with Terminator armor."
Dorian choked, muttering, "How could the Captain possibly approve that for me..." but still sullenly said no more.
The evacuation continued tensely.
Hope and apprehension, like light and shadow, intertwined above this burning xenos world.
In the deepest reaches of Slaanesh's Palace of Pleasure, the death-duel, beyond mortal comprehension, between the material and the Warp, had reached a fever pitch.
The clash of the shadow domain and blasphemous psychic energy rendered the spatial structure of this area extremely unstable, as if it could completely disintegrate at any moment.
Corvus Corax, the Raven Lord, facing Fulgrim, who was displaying the true power of a Daemon Primarch, knew that conventional attack methods would be insufficient to utterly destroy him.
In his pure black raven eyes, the last trace of 'Corvus''s rationality was completely burned away, replaced by the fully unleashed, raging power stemming from the deepest shadowy essence of the Warp!
"Urgh, ahhh—!!!"
A roar, unlike any human sound, like the collective shriek of a thousand crows, erupted from his sharp, beak-like maw! The pitch-black, night-like power armor he wore, crafted with exquisite skill, seemed to come alive; the countless raven feathers on its surface grew and extended wildly, their edges becoming razor-sharp, the lines of the armor becoming more grotesque and twisted, bone-like protrusions extending from its joints, its entire form transforming into something more inhuman, more terrifying! It was as if it were not armor, but a Warp entity with its own will, merged with the Raven Lord!
And his own transformation was even more astonishing! His already inhuman raven-face became even more grotesque, his bony beak sharper and more elongated, and cold soul-fire burned in his pure black eyes. Most chillingly, behind him, a pair of enormous raven wings, composed of pure shadow and dark energy, suddenly unfurled with a 'whoosh'! Their wingspan almost covered half the hall, each feather seemingly condensed from the darkest midnight, with an eerie glow along its edges that seemed to tear reality.
At this moment, Corax was no longer merely a Primarch or an Astartes Monk; he was more like a Raven God who had descended from the abyssal Warp, wielding shadow and death!
Fulgrim looked at the transformed Corax, and for the first time, a look of solemnity appeared on his beautiful yet depraved face. His massive serpentine tail twitched restlessly, his six arms gripping his daemon blades, ready for battle.
The battle erupted once more! This time, it was no longer a test of skill and strength, but a clash of essence and rules!
Corax's enormous shadow wings flapped violently, his entire form transforming into a black lightning bolt that the naked eye could not possibly track, instantly appearing beside Fulgrim, his Power Claws, imbued with all-annihilating shadow energy, tearing down fiercely!
Fulgrim parried with his blades, and the daemon blades collided with the shadow claws, erupting in a piercing shriek, as if space itself was being torn apart! The energy shockwave pulverized everything remaining in the vicinity!
Corax's attacks came like a storm, from every conceivable angle. At times, he solidified, clashing with absolute strength; at others, he transformed into pure shadow, immune to physical attacks, striking a fatal blow from an impossible angle. His massive raven wings were not only organs of flight but also terrifying weapons; each flap unleashed a destructive storm of shadows, cutting through Fulgrim's protective psychic energy and his body.
Under this furious assault, Fulgrim's flawless, violet body was torn, pierced, and even partially annihilated by shadow energy countless times! Enormous wounds gushed dark green daemon blood, large patches of scales peeled from his serpentine tail, and his arms were even torn off!
However, as a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh, Fulgrim's vitality and regenerative power reached an inconceivable level! Each time he suffered a severe injury, a rich, sickly sweet psychic energy of ecstasy surged through him, and those terrible wounds rapidly healed and regenerated at a visible rate! Severed arms regrew, shattered carapaces mended, as if he had never been injured! He was like an immortal monster, constantly restoring himself amidst the extreme pain and the twisted pleasure that followed!
"It's useless, little raven!" Fulgrim, after having half his body torn apart again, quickly regenerated, letting out a shriek mixed with pain and excitement, "In this eternal ecstasy, pain is rebirth! Destruction is creation! You cannot kill me!"
Corax's grotesque raven-face showed no emotion, only an increasingly cold killing intent. He let out another piercing raven's cry, his enormous shadow wings suddenly retracted, and his entire form instantly merged into the surrounding dense darkness, disappearing.
The next moment, countless raven cries echoed throughout the entire shadow domain! Thousands upon thousands of pitch-black ravens, formed from pure shadow energy, with eyes burning with soul-fire, appeared out of thin air like a swarm of locusts from hell, emitting mind-confusing noise, swarming towards Fulgrim!
These shadow ravens were not physical entities; they pierced through Fulgrim's protective psychic energy, directly assaulting his senses and soul, tearing at his consciousness with cold beaks and claws, and disrupting his judgment with endless screeching!
Fulgrim was annoyed by this sudden, omnipresent mental interference. He flailed his arms and serpentine tail, attempting to drive away these irritating ravens, but they were constructs of energy, and physical attacks had little effect. His attention was inevitably diverted by the massive flock of ravens.
Just as he revealed a momentary opening due to the ravens' interference—
Directly above Fulgrim, in the densest part of the darkness, which seemed to swallow even light, a condensed shadow, like a primeval beast that had been lurking for ages, suddenly plunged down!
That was not any previous form of Corax! It was an unimaginably huge, pitch-black raven! Its size even surpassed Fulgrim's massive serpentine body! Its eyes, burning with cold fury, were like two black suns, locked onto the Daemon Prince below! Its talons, formed of shadow and energy, shimmering with an annihilating aura, like the strongest shackles, gripped Fulgrim's scaly, thick serpentine body with unparalleled speed and strength!
"Hiss-ga—?!" Fulgrim only managed to let out a startled hiss before he felt an irresistible, terrifying force, as if the weight of the entire Warp was pressing down, suddenly lifting him from the floor of the opulent palace!
The colossal shadow raven, clutching the struggling Fulgrim, pulled him sharply upwards, then crashed headlong into the boundary of the shadow domain—not a physical wall, but a limit of rules!
"Buzz—!"
Like a drop of water merging into the ocean, the colossal shadow raven, clutching Fulgrim, instantly vanished into the dense darkness, completely departing from the hall covered by the shadow domain!
Fulgrim felt as if he had been dragged into a boundless, bottomless ocean of darkness! All around him was absolute void and deathly silence, only an endless sense of falling enveloped him! His powerful psychic perception seemed to be stripped away here; he could only feel the raven's talons gripping him, like red-hot brands, digging firmly into his body, and the aura emanating from those talons, which seemed to tear apart soul and existence itself, filled him with a long-forgotten, primal fear!
In this absolute darkness and silence, he "fell" for an unknown duration, perhaps an instant, perhaps an eternity.
When the suffocating darkness receded like a tide, and the surroundings became clear again, Fulgrim and the colossal shadow raven had already returned to the core hall of the Palace of Ecstasy. The shadow domain had dissipated at some point, and the magnificent yet twisted scenery within the palace reappeared.
And Corax had also reverted to his Raven God form, clad in grotesque power armor with shadow wings on his back, standing silently in the center of the palace.
The difference was, in one of his hands, he held a massive, grotesque head, still bearing an expression of shock and pain—it was Fulgrim's head! Thick daemon blood still dripped from the severed neck.
And in his other hand, he clutched a Slaaneshi Daemonette who had heard the commotion and come to investigate. The daemonette's alluring face was filled with terror, and before she could utter a sound, Corax's power-armored fingers suddenly tightened—
"Splat!"
Like crushing a ripe fruit, the daemonette was instantly crushed into a blurry mass of flesh and broken bones, which he casually tossed to the ground.
Silence enveloped the area that had just witnessed an earth-shattering battle.
However, this silence did not last long.
The moment Fulgrim's head was severed and his body seemed to lose life and fall to the ground, another anomaly occurred!
The walls and dome of the Palace of Ecstasy, which writhed and shifted like a living organism, along with the decorative, tentacle-like living tissues, suddenly began to undergo violent changes and restructuring at an astonishing speed! Blasphemous psychic energy surged like boiling water, converging towards Fulgrim's headless body!
In the blink of an eye, a flash of light, and Fulgrim's massive body, covered in violet skin, with a huge serpentine tail and six arms, reappeared completely intact! The fire of desire in his eyes reignited, but mixed within it was a hint of incredulous horror, and... a brief return to clarity.
He looked at Corax, who held his former head, and on his handsome, now somewhat pale face, a trace of the artist who pursued perfection ten millennia ago briefly surfaced. He uttered the name he had long forgotten, in a tone mixed with complex emotions:
"Corvus... Corax..."
He lowered his gaze to his newly reformed body, then looked up at the magnificent yet evil palace, his voice tinged with bitterness and a certain twisted pride:
"It's useless... brother... I have long since... merged with this great palace, with the essence of ecstasy..."
His voice gradually returned to its languid and depraved tone, but its meaning was despairing:
"Here... I am immortal! What use is it... even if you... cut off a thousand of my heads... destroy my body a thousand times?"
He even flashed that seductive smile again, extending an arm towards Corax:
"Why not... abandon this pointless hatred and slaughter... and join me... in embracing this eternal... endless... ecstasy..."
Watching Fulgrim instantly revive before him, and listening to his blasphemous and despairing declaration, Corax's grotesque raven-face remained expressionless. He simply slowly raised the still-dripping head in his hand.
The next moment, furious black psychic flames, capable of incinerating all souls, erupted from within him! These flames instantly engulfed the head in his hand, burning it to scattered ashes amidst agonizing, silent screams!
At the same time, these dark psychic flames, like living things, coiled around Corax's entire body, making him appear like a god of vengeance from the shadow hell!
His pure black eyes, burning with fury, stared intently at the newly revived Fulgrim, who was still extending his invitation, and from his sharp, beak-like maw, he squeezed out a bone-chilling vow, filled with endless killing intent:
"Since... you can revive a thousand times..."
Black psychic flames billowed around him, like banners proclaiming death.
"Then I will... kill you a thousand times!"
"Until... this damned palace... and your filthy essence... are utterly... annihilated together!"
The undying hunt entered an even more brutal, more desperate cycle.
The evacuation proceeded in an orderly fashion under the efficient and ruthless command of the Ultramarines.
Thunderhawk Gunships and transport vessels, laden with Aeldari survivors, continuously ascended from the scorched surface, breaking through the war-reddened clouds, and heading towards the safety of the warships in orbit.
Stormraven Gunships, like loyal falcons, circled the transport formations, clearing any approaching threats with a dense network of firepower.
However, the cold, collective intelligence of the Tyranids, the hive mind, clearly did not sit idly by and watch its prey slip away.
Initially deterred and cleared by orbital bombardment and the Ultramarines' tenacious defensive line, a larger, more organized counterattack now began.
The sky was no longer a relatively safe domain.
Swathes of Gargoyles, blotting out the sun like clouds of death, changed their previous strategy of engaging Aeldari fighters and began to launch suicidal charges at the ascending and descending Thunderhawks and transport vessels, without fear of death!
They struck the aircraft's armor and engines with sharp claws and bone spurs, attempting to tear them from the sky.
Simultaneously, massive, flying fortress-like Carnifexes also emerged from the clouds, their bellies spewing dense, highly corrosive acid barrages that covered the landing zones, posing a significant threat to both aircraft and ground personnel.
The pilots of the Stormraven Gunships displayed superb skill, engaging in a fierce battle with these aerial behemoths and the endless Gargoyles.
Energy weapons and bio-artillery intertwined in the air, with explosions and falling debris raining down like a storm.
Even more unsettling, on the distant horizon, the mountain-sized Tyranid Bio-Titan slowly adjusted its living tissue-composed bio-cannon, comparable to a city-destroying macro cannon, and aimed it at the sanctuary area!
Although still distant, and it would take time for the shells to land, the destructive threat hung over everyone's head like the sword of Damocles.
And the hive mind's true killing blow was far from over.
Its cold calculating ability quickly analyzed the battlefield situation.
While the circular defensive line established by the Ultramarines was strong, its fundamental purpose was to buy time and cover the evacuation of the sanctuary area.
What was truly important were the continuously ascending and descending aircraft transporting "something" to orbit, and their core landing zone—the damaged sanctuary.
Thus, under the silent command of the hive mind, a new batch of spore cysts, falling like meteors, eerily changed their trajectory in the air!
They no longer blindly smashed into the front of the defensive line, but instead arced dangerously, bypassing the iron strongholds built with the flesh and blood of the 2nd Company and Third Company, and plummeting towards the rear of the defensive line—that is, the core area around the sanctuary, defended by the First Company!
"Heads up! Spore cysts have changed direction!" the ground observer immediately issued a warning.
But no sooner had the warning been issued than a more lethal attack came from below!
"Rumble—!!!"
Outside the sanctuary, the ground of the First Company's defensive position suddenly shook violently, as if a land dragon had turned over!
Before the Warriors could react, several sections of the ground abruptly heaved upwards and cracked open!
"Puff! Puff! Puff!"
Accompanied by a grating digging sound and the splashing of dirt and rocks, several Trygons, massive as heavy tanks, burst forth from underground!
Their enormous bodies instantly shattered the hastily constructed fortifications, and the tunnels they dug opened like gates of death!
After completing their task of opening passages, these Trygons directly ignored the storm of Bolter fire and assault cannon fire unleashed by the surrounding Terminators, allowing their thick carapaces to be blasted into flying fragments, then plunged back underground and vanished!
But the passages they left behind became passages of death!
The next second, like a floodgate opening, countless Hormagaunts, Termagants, mixed with towering Warriors, surged madly from these newly opened underground passages like a purple tide!
They bypassed the outer defensive line, appearing in the inner circle of the core evacuation area, posing the most direct and deadly threat to the Aeldari civilians organizing their boarding and the First Company Warriors on guard!
"Enemy attack! Swarm!"
"Protect the evacuation point!"
"Damocles (Ironclad Pattern Terminator squad)! Zeumetis (Ironclad Pattern Terminator squad)! Hold them!"
The comms channel was instantly filled with urgent shouts and commands!
The Ironclad Pattern Terminator Warriors responsible for the core area's defense reacted extremely swiftly; their massive, mobile fortress-like bodies immediately turned, their Storm Shields thudding heavily into the ground, forming a steel defensive line, as their storm Bolters and assault cannons spat destructive tongues of fire, attempting to firmly block the surging swarm near the tunnel entrances!
Captain Cassius witnessed all this, his heart sinking.
The hive mind's tactical shift exceeded his expectations.
He immediately issued orders to all units via comms:
"All units attention! The swarm has changed tactics, attempting to directly attack the core evacuation area! Accelerate evacuation speed! Repeat, accelerate speed!"
"Pride of Ultramar! Immediately deploy all First Company reserves! We need ground support! Now!"
Having given the orders, Captain Cassius knew that commands alone could not stop the swarm.
He abruptly drew the master-crafted Power Sword from his waist, its ethereal blue energy field instantly activating, emitting a pleasant yet dangerous hum.
At the same time, he raised the Bolter pistol in his other hand, his authoritative helmet turning towards the area where boarding was being organized, his gaze sweeping over Kolesa, whom Gaius held, his eyes behind the visors seemingly burning with tangible fury, his voice through the vox-caster like cracking ice:
"Xenos, watch your people, and mind yourself! If any of my Warriors... fall here protecting you..."
His words were like a final ultimatum:
"I will make you... and your pointy-eared kin... pay an unimaginable price!"
With that, he did not linger, leading the two Saturnine Terminators, and charged fearlessly into the maelstrom of death woven from swarm and steel.
Each swing of his Power Sword carried the unparalleled strength and skill of the First Company's Captain, severing the thick carapace and body of a Warrior; precise bursts from his Bolter pistol constantly eliminated elite units attempting to approach.
However, neither Captain Cassius, nor the Terminators battling the swarm, nor Gaius and others nervously watching the battle, had noticed a more concealed, more lethal threat that had already infiltrated.
In a shadow amidst the sanctuary's wreckage, a Lictor clung like a wraith behind twisted metal.
Its streamlined, dark carapace perfectly blended into the environment, and even its characteristic dangerous aura was masked by the intense battle and surging killing intent around it.
Its multiple compound eyes, like the most precise sensors, were locked onto the most valuable target on the battlefield—the Ultramarines commander, Captain Cassius, who was directing the fight and whose aura was the strongest.
It waited.
Like the most patient hunter, waiting for the perfect moment for a single, decisive strike that would cause maximum chaos.
Its pair of massive, glowing scythe-like forelimbs subtly adjusted their angle, calculating distance and wind speed, as deadly killing intent, like cold venom, quietly coalesced in the shadows.
Kolesa, held by Gaius, weakly witnessed the brutal scene before her.
She saw the blue giants fighting fiercely amidst the swarm, using their bodies to buy time for her kin to board; she saw Terminator Warriors constantly getting injured, even falling, under the swarm's assault; she saw Captain Cassius's threatening yet promise-keeping back.
A strong will surged within her—she wanted to do something, even if it was just to provide a thin psychic shield for the Warriors fighting in blood, to reduce some casualties.
She struggled, trying to raise her hand, to activate the already depleted energy within her.
However, extreme weakness and the after-effects of previously overdrawing her life force made even lifting a single finger incredibly difficult.
The runes she formed in her mind instantly disintegrated as the energy failed to sustain them.
She could only lean weakly against Gaius's cold breastplate, watching helplessly, her heart filled with powerlessness and guilt.
"I... can't do it..." she let out a barely audible, pained sigh.
The shadow of death had never been so close.
The ground was a surging tide of swarms, the sky was falling spores and flying beasts, in the distance, a Bio-Titan was poised to strike, and in the shadows, a deadly assassin lay in wait.
The evacuation had entered its most dangerous and brutal phase.
Every second, someone sacrificed; every moment, everything could be lost.
Captain Cassius's plea for reinforcements, like a giant stone cast into a calm lake, elicited a swift and powerful response from the Pride of Ultramar.
Within the warship's launch bay, the already waiting support forces immediately sprang into action.
Several drop pods, like scorching meteors, tore through the atmosphere, shrieking piercingly, and plummeted precisely towards the fiercely contested area outside the sanctuary!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The drop pods slammed into the midst of the swarm, their hatches suddenly opening with the hiss of hydraulic systems!
First to emerge were Sword Veterans of the First Company, clad in master-crafted Power Armor, wielding Storm Shields and Power Swords, and the more composed Custodian Warriors, specialized in specific tactics.
As soon as they appeared, they cut into the battle like the sharpest blades, quickly reinforcing the struggling Ironclad Pattern Terminators.
However, most striking were the three figures, like ancient war titans—
Two relatively standard-sized Redeemer Dreadnoughts, each armed with a flamestorm cannon and twin-linked heavy flamers, and one even larger, older, and suffocatingly heavily armored Contemptor Dreadnought, with a massive Power Fist on its left arm and an assault cannon on its right!
These three sleeping relics of war were now reawakened and cast into the mortal battlefield.
The heavy footsteps of the Dreadnoughts resonated like war drums, shaking the earth.
As soon as they appeared, they displayed destructive power!
The flamers of the "fist of macragge" and the "wrath of corax" roared simultaneously, spewing fiery dragons dozens of meters long!
Viscous, specialized incendiary agents coated the surging swarm, instantly turning them into running torches, and the pungent smell of char spread, effectively curbing the swarm's charge.
Meanwhile, the "shield of the emperor" acted like a true fortress; its assault cannon spun and fired at terrifying speed, a dense barrage of armor-piercing rounds like a storm of metal, instantly tearing apart approaching Warriors and larger units!
Its massive Power Fist, when occasionally swung, could smash a Warrior that had evaded the gunfire into a bloody pulp, armor and all!
The addition of the Dreadnoughts instantly reversed the disadvantage on the ground battlefield; their powerful suppressing fire and heavy armor injected a potent stimulant into the defensive line, and the pressure significantly reduced.
Captain Cassius had just cleaved a Warrior in half that was attempting a sneak attack when he saw the assault cannon of the shield of the emperor swivel slightly, seemingly locking onto a group of panicked Aeldari children boarding a shuttle nearby.
He immediately roared into the comms channel: "shield of the emperor! Watch your firing arc! Those long-ears are protected targets now! Repeat, the Aeldari are not the enemy! Don't point your guns at them!"
The pilot of the shield of the emperor—the sleeping veteran spirit—seemed to confirm the order via sensors, and the cannon immediately shifted, continuing to pour devastating firepower onto the distant swarm.
However, the crisis on the ground had just eased when a deadly threat from afar arrived!
Several massive, dark green acid cannon projectiles, emanating a strong corrosive stench, whistled in from the direction of the distant Bio-Titan like falling meteors, aiming directly at the core area of the sanctuary!
"Energy shields! Maximum power!" Captain Cassius barked the order.
Several Ironclad Pattern Terminators closest to him immediately responded, their shoulder-mounted energy shield generators operating at full power, emitting intense light.
Several energy shields instantly connected, forming a translucent barrier above the Captain and some Aeldari civilians!
"Splat—!!"
The acid cannon projectiles slammed violently into the energy shields, producing a teeth-grinding corrosive sound!
Dark green acid splattered, corroding deep craters in the surrounding ground, and thick smoke billowed out.
The energy shields flickered violently but ultimately withstood this wave of long-range attack.
Captain Cassius looked up, his gaze piercing through the smoke, fixed on the distant Bio-Titan, which was slowly adjusting its cannon and preparing for the next volley.
He also saw that the Third Company's defensive line was beginning to waver under the giant beast's approach.
He no longer hesitated and immediately connected to the highest priority communication with the bridge of the Pride of Ultramar, his voice filled with unquestionable resolve:
"Pride of Ultramar! This is Cassius! Immediately authorize the use of the Lance Array! Target, coordinates X681-Y7743, that largest bug! Blast it to smithereens for me! Immediately!"
Above the orbit, the massive and elongated Lance Array at the bow of the Pride of Ultramar began to adjust its angle, energy converging frantically at its tip, emitting a dazzling light like a star!
A few seconds later—
A colossal pillar of light, pure to the extreme and containing destructive energy, descended abruptly from the sky like a sword of divine retribution!
It traversed the vast distance with unparalleled precision, instantly striking the Bio-Titan that was flaunting its power!
There was no explosion, no fire.
Only ultimate purification and annihilation!
Wherever the Lance passed, the Bio-Titan's mountainous body disintegrated and vaporized from within, like an ice cube thrown into a steel-making furnace!
Its sturdy bio-armor, twisted muscle tissue, and massive energy core were no match for the power of the Lance!
With just one volley, the Bio-Titan, which had exerted immense pressure on the defensive line, was silently severed at the waist, its massive body breaking into several sections and collapsing like toppled building blocks, ultimately turning into several large, still sizzling, charred remains on the ground!
The heaven-sent strike temporarily removed the greatest long-range threat.
On the ground battlefield, Dorian was clearing out the smaller Rippers attempting to approach the boarding area with his assault cannon while directing several combat servitors to prioritize carrying severely injured Anris squad members onto a newly landed transport shuttle.
Just as he was reloading his empty assault cannon, his almost beast-like intuition, honed by countless bloody battles, caught a faint, almost non-existent anomaly—a nearly transparent silhouette flashed past his eyes!
For a veteran who had fought the Tyranids for decades and climbed out of mountains of corpses, this familiar and deadly premonition could not be wrong!
Dorian's hairs almost stood on end.
He didn't have time to think and used all his strength to let out a deafening warning:
"There's a Lictor! Watch out! It's infiltrated!"
However, the cunning Lictor completely ignored him, the dangerous assault specialist, as its target.
Its compound eyes had already locked onto another extremely valuable target—Tech-Sergeant Luna, who was nervously operating a portable signal booster, attempting to establish a more stable connection with orbit!
Luna felt a sudden, icy killing intent, as if it could freeze her soul, Attack come from behind her!
She didn't even have time to turn around; purely by instinct, she lunged to the side!
"Crack! Hiss—!"
A harsh sound of tearing metal rang out!
Despite Luna's lightning-fast reaction, avoiding a vital spot, the Lictor's pair of massive scythe-like forelimbs still instantly severed the right side of her power pack, along with two multi-functional servo-arms, at the root, like a hot knife through butter!
Sparks, hydraulic fluid, and coolant violently spurted from the severed points!
Luna grunted, losing her balance and falling to the ground, but her combat training was exceptionally high; the moment she fell, she had already raised her Bolter and fired furiously in the direction she had sensed behind her without even looking!
"Bang bang bang!"
Bolter rounds blasted several craters in the ground, but after striking, the Lictor had already reactivated its mimetic ability, vanishing into thin air like a ghost, leaving no trace!
"Damn it!" Dorian, seeing Luna damaged, cursed and immediately abandoned reloading, grabbing his Thunder Hammer, his eyes bloodshot as he scanned around, trying to find the elusive assassin.
And this swarm's most deadly hunter clearly had a clear priority.
Its next target was none other than the weak Kolesa the Witch, held tightly in Gaius's arms!
After its simple brain processed the thought, it believed that killing her would cause greater chaos!
It appeared silently atop the debris of a collapsed Aeldari wraithbone structure, like a coiled viper, its compound eyes fixed on Gaius and Kolesa below.
The next second, it leaped down from the height!
Its speed was so great that it left only a blurred afterimage!
Its pair of glowing scythe-like forelimbs, like the scissors of death, stabbed precisely and viciously towards Kolesa in Gaius's arms!
As a top sniper, Gaius's dynamic vision and reaction speed far surpassed ordinary people.
The moment the Lictor appeared and leaped down, he had already sensed the danger!
He had no time for more complex movements; almost instinctively, he spun around, meeting the deadly attack with his back!
He had only one thought in his mind—Kolesa cannot die!
She was the key to the transaction, the hope for saving those children!
"Pfft! Pfft!"
Two muffled thuds of blades piercing flesh!
Gaius felt two searing pains tearing through his back!
The Lictor's sharp claws instantly pierced through his power armor near his shoulder blades, leaving two deep, bone-visible, hideous wounds on his back!
Blood instantly stained his blue armor!
The immense impact and sharp pain made Gaius's legs buckle.
He grunted and fell to one knee, but he still held Kolesa tightly, not letting go.
Kolesa was stunned by this sudden turn of events.
She watched Gaius suffer severe injuries to protect her, watched the warm blood continuously gush out, and an indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
She endured her extreme discomfort and weakness, struggling to raise her trembling hand and pressing it near Gaius's profusely bleeding wounds, desperately injecting her newly recovered, faint psychic energy into Gaius, attempting to stop the bleeding and alleviate his pain.
Gaius felt the sharp pain from his back and Kolesa's anxious and concerned gaze.
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but the intense pain and dizziness from blood loss surged like a tide.
His vision went black, and he could no longer support himself, his body slumping backward.
"Gaius!" Despite losing half of her power pack and servo-arms, Luna's movements became exceptionally difficult, her power armor feeling as heavy as a thousand tons, but she still forced herself to rush over, taking Kolesa from Gaius's hands and using her still-intact servo-arm to barely parry another sneak attack from the Lictor that followed closely!
"She absolutely cannot be harmed!" Luna had only one belief in her heart, otherwise, all the Ultramarines' efforts would be in vain!
The Lictor, failing to strike, vanished again into the chaotic battlefield, cloaked in stealth.
Dorian watched helplessly as Gaius fell severely wounded protecting the Aeldari woman, and saw Luna, heavily damaged but still holding her ground.
Rage had completely consumed his reason!
He let out a roar like a wounded beast, brandishing his Thunder Hammer, frantically searching for the damned assassin!
Finally, when the Lictor reappeared, targeting the Chapter Apothecary who was providing emergency treatment to Gaius, Dorian charged forward like a whirlwind!
"Your opponent is me! You damned abomination!"
Dorian roared, his Thunder Hammer slamming down on the Lictor with immense force!
However, the Lictor's strength far exceeded that of ordinary Tyranid units, and its agility was astonishing!
It sidestepped like a ghost, easily avoiding Dorian's powerful blow, and with a backhand swipe, left a deep scratch on Dorian's chest plate!
Dorian wildly swung his warhammer, but the Lictor always evaded by mere inches, its movements like a dance, full of deadly grace.
All of Dorian's attacks missed, and due to his excessive force, his openings grew larger and larger.
Finally, the Lictor seized a moment when Dorian was recovering from a strike, lunging forward like lightning, and a sharp claw, like a venomous sting, instantly pierced through Dorian's abdominal power armor!
"Ugh!" Dorian cried out in pain, but a flicker of madness and resolve flashed in his eyes!
He did not attempt to break free or defend himself; instead, he abandoned all defense, using his last strength to tightly grip the Lictor's forelimb that had pierced his abdomen!
At the same time, his left hand, holding the Thunder Hammer high, brought down all his strength and will onto the Lictor's carapaced head!
A blow for a blow! A life for a life!
The Lictor clearly hadn't expected Dorian to be so fearless in the face of death; it tried to pull its arm back but was held firmly by Dorian!
"Damn xeno... In the name of Lord Guilliman, I send you to your death!!!"
"Boom!!!"
The Thunder Hammer struck the Lictor's head squarely!
Raging electricity and terrifying kinetic energy instantly erupted!
The Lictor's hard head exploded like a watermelon struck by a heavy hammer!
Dark green blood and shattered tissue splattered all over Dorian!
The Lictor's body twitched violently a few times, then finally went limp.
Dorian released his grip, looked at the fallen assassin, then looked down at the horrifying, profusely bleeding wound in his abdomen.
He staggered a step, breathing heavily, and propped himself up with the Thunder Hammer.
The assassin was slain, but the cost was the severe wounding of two elite First Company Warriors.
Captain Cassius stood like a steadfast pillar in the heart of the raging battle. His precise commands and formidable personal combat prowess were crucial in holding the line. However, the Tyranid hive mind clearly viewed him as a thorn that must be removed.
Just as Captain Cassius parried a Warrior's bone blade with his Power Sword and blasted another Termagant's head with his bolt pistol, his battle-hardened, almost precognitive combat instincts detected a faint, almost imperceptible surge of killing intent from his rear flank!
It was a Lictor! Another stealthy assassin had locked onto him as its target!
This Lictor was even more cunning than the one that attacked Dorian. It chose a moment when Captain Cassius had just completed an attack, his old strength spent and new strength not yet generated, and suddenly pounced from the shadows of a dust cloud kicked up by an explosion! Its speed was so great that it left only a distorted air trail, its pair of deadly scythe-like forelimbs aiming directly for the connection point between the Captain's neck and his power pack!
An ordinary Warrior, or even some experienced Sergeants, would likely find it difficult to react to such a premeditated, fatal strike.
But Captain Cassius was the Company Commander of the First Company, one of the Ultramarines Chapter's most elite Warriors!
He didn't even fully turn around; relying solely on his honed combat instincts, his head and upper body subtly twisted at an impossible angle. Simultaneously, the two Saturnine Terminators who had been guarding him reacted!
For these battle-hardened Terminator veterans, whose highest duty was to protect their Captain, any fast-moving, hostile object approaching the Captain was a threat that had to be eliminated immediately!
"Bang bang bang bang bang—!!"
Without even needing the Captain's order, the two Saturnine Terminators simultaneously aimed their assault cannons. The dense barrage of bullets, powerful enough to tear apart light vehicles, instantly covered the Lictor's pouncing trajectory like two metallic storms!
The Lictor hadn't even fully materialized. Its compound eyes had just reflected the image of the Captain's imposing helmet, and the next second, its boasted agile body, before this absolute density of firepower, was torn, pierced, and exploded into a sky full of dark green blood and chitinous fragments, like a doll thrown into a shredder!
Its so-called stealth and assassination seemed so ridiculous and vulnerable in the face of the true anvil of war and absolute firepower.
"Petty tricks." Captain Cassius didn't even spare a glance at the falling Tyranid remains. He merely snorted coldly and redirected his attention to the overall battle.
However, individual valor could not reverse the overall disadvantage. Although the arrival of the Dreadnought and support troops temporarily stabilized the situation, the Tyranids' numbers seemed endless. They relentlessly launched fierce assaults from ground tunnels and the air, disregarding casualties. The defensive lines of the 2nd Company and Third Company on the periphery were under immense pressure and had begun to gradually retreat, contracting inward.
The First Company's defensive line also had to contract, controlling an increasingly smaller area, concentrating their strength to protect the last few boarding points.
Captain Cassius's gaze swept across the battlefield, seeing that the Aeldari civilians, under the protection of the Ultramarines, had mostly boarded the transports, with only a few Warriors and core personnel remaining. He breathed a slight sigh of relief; the most crucial part was nearing completion.
He was about to order Gaius via the communicator to take Kolesa to the lower levels to retrieve the holy relic and complete the final step of the transaction, but when he turned to look at where Gaius and the others had been, his heart sank!
Gaius lay unconscious, two grotesque wounds on his back shockingly visible. After being urgently treated by two hastily arrived Apothecaries and combat servitors, he was now being carried towards a transport; Dorian had a penetrating wound in his abdomen. Though he was still struggling to stand, he had clearly lost most of his combat capability and was being supported by Luna; and Luna, having lost half of her power pack and two servo-arms, was also in extremely poor condition.
Sanx Squad had almost entirely lost their ability to act!
"Damn it!" Captain Cassius couldn't help but curse under his breath. Plans couldn't keep up with changes. Fortunately, his gaze shifted, and he saw Kolesa, weak but unharmed, tightly protected behind Luna. This critical "key" was still present.
He immediately changed his orders and connected to Lieutenant Golden's channel, who was commanding the support troops to stabilize the defensive line on the other side:
"Golden! Sanx Squad has suffered heavy casualties and cannot perform the mission! Take your men immediately and escort that Aeldari witch to the lower levels to retrieve the holy relic! Once you have it, do not linger, return immediately, and be ready for a full retreat at any moment!"
"Understood, Company Commander!" Lieutenant Golden did not hesitate and immediately accepted the order.
He quickly selected two veteran Guardsmen known for their composure and reliability. "You two, come with me!"
The three immediately disengaged from the combat formation and quickly moved to Luna and Kolesa's side.
"Luna, we'll take it from here," Golden said to the ailing Luna, gesturing to the two Guardsmen.
One Guardsman stepped forward and, with a standard tactical movement, carefully picked up the weak Kolesa, who could barely stand. The other Guardsman stood guard with his weapon.
Golden glanced at Kolesa, whose face was pale and whose eyes held complex emotions. He said nothing more, only giving a brief command: "Go! To the lower levels!"
The three, protecting Kolesa, immediately moved quickly towards the entrance of the sanctuary. They avoided the main combat areas, using ruins and debris for cover, and re-entered the interior of the magnificent but damaged building.
Following the previously cleared passages, they descended, encountering only sporadic, isolated Tyranid units along the way, which were quickly and silently dealt with by the two Guardsmen.
Soon, they once again reached the spacious area on the lowest level of the sanctuary. The holy relic, suspended in mid-air, still emitted a faint Golden glow, but the barrier beneath it had long been removed. The area, once filled with Aeldari children, was now empty, with only some scattered personal items and traces of battle remaining, appearing especially desolate and silent.
The Guardsman gently placed Kolesa on the ground directly beneath the holy relic.
As Kolesa's feet touched the ground, her body swayed violently for a few moments due to extreme weakness. Ultimately, she couldn't support herself, her legs gave way, and she knelt on the ground. She gasped for breath, fine cold sweat beading on her forehead, as if this simple action had drained all her strength.
Golden and the two Guardsmen stood guard with their weapons, not rushing her, but their eyes were fixed on her and the holy relic.
Kolesa knelt on the ground and, after a dozen seconds of recovery, managed to lift her head. Her unique, amethyst-like large eyes deeply gazed at the suspended, ancient artifact that held the life and death of her people and the hopes of humanity. A complex, ineffable emotion flashed in her eyes—relief, sorrow, and a resolute determination to fulfill her promise.
She slowly closed her eyes and clasped her hands over her chest, as if performing some ancient ritual. She began to softly chant obscure and ethereal Aeldari incantations. Her voice was faint, yet carried a strange rhythm, as if resonating with the surrounding space and the holy relic itself.
Golden and the Guardsmen felt the gentle yet powerful energy field, always present in the surrounding air and emanating from the holy relic, begin to change dramatically! The Golden light suddenly became incredibly dazzling, as if a miniature sun had ignited in this underground space, dyeing everything in pure gold!
However, this extreme brilliance lasted for less than two seconds before it was abruptly extinguished, as if by an invisible hand, instantly dimming and dying out! The entire underground space seemed to lose all light sources, plunging into a state of almost absolute darkness and silence, with only the hum of power armor and Kolesa's faint gasps audible.
Immediately after, they saw that the human holy relic, now devoid of light and ancient in its shield-like form, no longer floated. Instead, it slowly, as if held by an invisible hand, steadily flew to Kolesa, who was kneeling on the ground.
Kolesa reached out with trembling hands and, as if embracing a baby, carefully and tightly held the cold, metal shield-like object, now devoid of all energy fluctuations, to her chest.
After doing all this, she seemed to have been drained of her last ounce of strength, her body softly tipping forward. Fortunately, the vigilant Guardsman beside her caught her in time.
Leaning against the Guardsman's power armor, her face as pale as paper, she said to Golden in a faint, reedy voice:
"Without…the holy relic's power to sustain it…the core energy network…of this Aeldari city…has collapsed…"
She gasped, her eyes revealing a final trace of longing and despair for her home:
"The city…will soon…completely collapse…Tell your Warriors…to retreat as quickly as possible…Time…is running out…"
Golden's expression became solemn upon hearing this. He immediately gestured to the Guardsman, who once again picked up the frail Kolesa, still clutching the holy relic tightly.
"Let's go!" Golden did not hesitate and immediately led the team back the way they came.
While quickly ascending, Golden immediately reported to Captain Cassius via the communicator:
"Company Commander! Golden reporting! The holy relic has been successfully recovered! Repeat, the holy relic is in hand! But the Aeldari witch confirms that without the holy relic's energy support, the Aeldari city's structure is about to collapse! Recommend immediately notifying all units to prepare for a full retreat!"
Captain Cassius, on the other end of the communication, was invigorated by this news, but was immediately alerted by the intelligence that the city was about to collapse. He immediately responded:
"Received! Well done, Golden! Return to the evacuation point immediately! I will immediately notify the 2nd Company and Third Company to execute the retreat plan!"
Ending the communication, Golden subconsciously glanced at Kolesa, who was held in the Guardsman's arms, her eyes closed as if asleep. Her delicate, pointed ears and pale, exquisite facial contours, under the cold light of the power armor, made him feel, for a fleeting moment, that she bore an indescribable resemblance to Eilaas, who was always causing mischief on the battleship but whom one couldn't help but care for.
This thought was just a fleeting one and he quickly suppressed it. Now, the most important thing was to safely leave this doomed planet with the holy relic and this crucial Aeldari.