Alexander slowly opened his eyes on the bed.
As the outdoor noise flooded his ears, his drowsiness quickly dissipated in the morning light.
Joan's soft breathing also sounded beside him.
Since returning from the Bottom Nest, the little girl hadn't really woken up, not even eating.
Yet, there were no problems with her body; everything was healthy.
Alexander could only guess that the Emperor was up to something.
After glancing at Joan, Alexander yawned and got out of bed.
He peered through the small window on the door to look outside.
The already crowded Lower Nest was now even more so.
The evacuation of the Lower Nest population had recently begun, and many residents from other major districts were pouring into Alexander's district.
These residents gathered by the streets, building makeshift shanties with various materials and crowding inside.
Some enterprising residents even set up small stalls, starting small businesses.
Of course, since the governor had closed the channel for exchanging blood coins for bloodstones, people had reverted to bartering.
lho cigarettes had replaced blood coins as the new hard currency.
The sound of haggling echoed through the streets all night long.
If Alexander hadn't gained the ability to fall asleep quickly, his sleep quality at night would surely have been very poor.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded on Alexander's iron door.
Alexander got up and opened the door.
He saw only a gleaming silver armor shining in the hive city's light.
Battle Sister Adelaide stood outside Alexander's door, followed by two slightly younger Battle Sisters.
The Battle Sisters of the Order of the Sacred Rose were responsible for evacuating Ashford residents along with Ark Gang members.
Most of the people in the Lower Nest were devout Adeptus Ministorum followers, and the Battle Sisters found it easier to gain their trust compared to the Astra Militarum.
There were originally ten thousand Battle Sisters stationed on Lexio, and to assist Ashford with the evacuation, High Sister Magda specially allocated two thousand Battle Sisters.
Essentially, each major district in the Lower Nest had one or two Battle Sisters in charge, and their work was very demanding.
Alexander noticed the dark circles under Adelaide's eyes and also a small Sanguinius sticker on her gleaming power armor—the design on the sticker looked somewhat like a child's simple drawing, not sacred but cute.
"It—it was given to me by a child on the street just now," Adelaide said with a slight blush, noticing Alexander's gaze.
"I'm quite popular with children," Sanguinius also noticed the sticker.
"You look very tired," Alexander nodded slightly, "Sleep is very important."
"It's fine," Adelaide rubbed her eyes, "Much better than on Lexio."
"You don't know what kind of work we did on Lexio; we were assigned to indoctrinate the local populace to believe in the Emperor."
"But the local people have various superstitious beliefs. High Sister Magda hoped to evangelize in a more peaceful way, but sometimes extreme measures had to be used."
"Especially the cult that worships the Salt Goddess, we often clashed with them… and were often treated as butchers."
Sister Adelaide gave a bitter smile:
"Although it's a bit tiring here, at least the residents are devout Adeptus Ministorum followers, and they haven't spat at us."
Alexander nodded; he knew the situation on Lexio. High Sister Magda was considered a moderate, but the Battle Sisters' methods of evangelism inevitably led to deaths.
However, that so-called Salt Goddess cult wasn't anything good either; it had long been almost completely infiltrated by the GSC.
"Excuse me, Lord Alexander," Sister Adelaide rubbed her tired face, "I've been talking about things that wasted time—where is that girl?"
Adelaide's eyes held some curiosity.
Alexander told her a little about Joan's situation.
Adelaide remained somewhat incredulous after listening.
If such a miracle, the Emperor manifesting in a girl, were true, then this child could practically be revered as a living saint.
Alexander nodded gently, turned, picked up Joan from the bed, and walked back to the doorway.
"This child is entrusted to your protection," Alexander said, handing Joan to Sister Adelaide.
What Alexander had to do next made it impossible to bring along Joan, who remained in a constant state of sleep.
The best solution was to entrust her to the Battle Sisters for protection and escort her to a safe area.
"Whether this child is truly chosen by the Emperor or not, we will protect her well."
Adelaide said solemnly, as if to reassure Alexander.
"Please rest assured," Adelaide said.
Alexander paused for a moment: "No, I've actually always been quite at ease."
"After all, with this girl's current state… I think the Emperor most likely has other plans for her."
"Before those plans are fulfilled, the Emperor surely won't let her encounter danger."
Alexander casually spoke his thoughts aloud.
He and Sanguinius had previously speculated that Joan's current condition might be the Emperor's preparation for her to be useful elsewhere.
But Adelaide, listening to Alexander's words, couldn't help but widen her eyes, even showing some shame.
Even the two younger Sisters behind Adelaide showed shocked expressions.
"What devout faith… it fills me with shame."
Adelaide seemed to have misunderstood something and quickly lowered her head, performing an aquila salute devoutly:
"You are right, we only need to be loyal, and the Emperor will watch over His people."
"…" Alexander really wanted to say that he didn't mean that.
But facing the respectful gazes of Adelaide and the two young Sisters, he was momentarily speechless.
After Sister Adelaide cradled Joan, she nodded respectfully to Alexander and then left in a hurry.
Her responsibilities were still very demanding; the entire district was becoming increasingly crowded with many incoming residents.
Adelaide had to protect this important district, ensuring that no chaotic cultists or GSC infiltrated it to create disorder.
Alexander walked out of the house he had lived in for a long time; he probably wouldn't return here again.
War was about to begin, and some old things would inevitably change.
Although that blue-haired bird residing in the Empyrean was annoying, its path of change did have its merits.
Alexander walked through the crowded throngs, noticing that various paper cutouts, statues, and decorations symbolizing Sanguinius hung on the surrounding shanties.
Could it be that because the Tyranid were about to arrive, the residents of Ashford were beginning to seek inner peace from Sanguinius?
Alexander thought with a slight Confuse.
"You…" Sanguinius couldn't help but shake its head at Alexander.
Alexander blinked in confusion; was this guy a bit brighter than usual today?
As Alexander was pondering, a pleading voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Sir, for Sanguinius' sake, come for a reading," a hoarse and not-so-pleasant child's voice spoke.
Alexander lowered his head, only then realizing he had stopped in front of a stall.
On the stall lay a deck of crude paper cards, and a thin girl, about Joan's age and not particularly pretty, sat behind it.
Her face showed fatigue and hunger.
It was the emperor tarot.
Recently, many stalls on the street offered emperor tarot readings.
After all, with disaster approaching, people always hoped to find some revelation.
Alexander had also had a few readings when he had nothing else to do.
Most emperor tarot fortune-tellers would just randomly draw a few cards and then babble on.
To truly use the emperor tarot was a skill in itself.
Sanguinius in his peripheral vision and Joan were accurate because both possessed considerable psychic powers.
But looking at the hopeful eyes of the child behind the stall, Alexander couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, then looked at the child.
"Come on, let me see if you're any different from those street charlatans."
Alexander squatted down, looking at the thin girl in front of him.
He slipped an lho cigarette into the girl's hand.
The girl's eyes were full of gratitude, and then she began to shuffle the cards awkwardly.
Clearly, this child had only just started this line of work.
Alexander drew a card from the crudely folded deck.
The card depicted a planet, like a shattered egg, covered in cracks, with huge fragments drifting in the void of space—the fifty-second card, the Shattered World.
It foretold large-scale conflict and the death of a world.
Alexander's eye twitched slightly, and he drew the next card from the deck.
That card depicted a vast grassland, with a rider on a snow-white steed, an eagle perched on the rider's arm—the fifth card, the Prairie Rider.
It foretold impending danger or salvation, depending on the previous card.
The meaning of the two cards together was… a danger capable of destroying a planet was about to arrive.
Alexander looked at the little girl with some surprise.
You can actually tell fortunes!
"Why are it these two cards again…" The little girl mumbled sadly, "I'm sorry, sir, I don't know what's wrong…"
"Whenever I'm at my stall, the cards I draw are always these two… I'll refund your money…"
"This little girl has a slight psychic talent," Sanguinius said.
Faint psychic talent?
Alexander suddenly understood.
Many psykers only had slight psychic talent; they often just had better luck and were more skilled at divination, possibly never realizing they were psykers their entire lives.
This little one really had something, but it seemed precisely because of this, her business wasn't good.
If the same cards were drawn every time, who would want to come to her for a reading?
Alexander thought for a moment, then pulled out a few more cigarettes from his pocket and put them into the little girl's hand.
"You're more capable than those fraudulent street fortune-tellers, but unfortunately, not many people recognize it."
Before the little girl could react from her surprise, Alexander got up and left.
When Alexander arrived at Reyna's office in the Ark Gang stronghold,
Reyna was buried in various messy documents, handling affairs.
Many Ark Gang members, Astra Militarum officers, and Battle Sisters were gathered around her.
Now, both the Astra Militarum and the Battle Sisters needed the Ark Gang's cooperation, so her work naturally became busy.
A Dying-worshippers assassin in a grey leather outfit silently emerged from the shadows.
"Chosen One, do you need me to tell Ms. Reyna you're here?"
Alexander waved his hand: "It's fine if I wait for her for a bit, it's not urgent."
The grey-leather-clad Dying-worshippers assassin nodded respectfully, then nodded to Dixus, who was hidden in the shadows beside Alexander, before disappearing back into the darkness.
Alexander pulled a chair from his four-dimensional pocket and sat in the corridor outside Reyna's office.
He took this opportunity to see if there were any items he needed to exchange.
The rewards from his previous trip to the Lower Nest had all arrived, plus the extra money he extorted from governor Augustus Flax.
Alexander's current savings reached 9.5 million, just about 2 million short of being able to exchange for an anywhere door.
But the Truth and Falsehood Divination Machine had already confirmed Alexander's future ability to exchange for an anywhere door.
Theoretically, even if Alexander spent all this money, he would still gather enough in the end.
However,
Alexander's goal was no longer just to exchange for an anywhere door.
He also needed to go to Baal to resurrect Sanguinius, according to the Truth and Falsehood Divination Machine's judgment.
This would require another shockingly expensive item.
The price to rent that item once was enough to buy countless anywhere doors.
The good news was that Alexander already had an idea of how to gather this money.
He needed to ensure that the Imperium could resist the Tyranid to a certain extent.
The stronger the Imperium's resistance, the more powerful the units the Tyranid would deploy.
The greater Alexander's gains would be.
Of course, this was not the ultimate goal.
Alexander's ultimate goal was to force the Tyranid to hatch an Insect Saint to fight the Imperium.
This way, the third party hidden in the Netherworld Star System would have no choice but to reveal their trump card.
Alexander was eyeing that trump card in the third party's hands.
The more intense the war, the greater Alexander's gains.
To achieve this goal, Alexander had to use some items to gain the ability to move freely on the battlefield.
First, there was...
[Item Name: Take-copter]
[Origin: 22nd Century Earth — Future Department Store]
[Review: You still haven't bought it yet??]
[Production Date: 271.M3]
[Function: A small flying device composed of two blades and a hemispherical base, capable of continuous flight in the air at 80 kilometers per hour for more than eight hours. When in use, it can fly in any direction and motion according to the user's thoughts.]
[Value: 250,000]
One of the most famous items.
Alexander had not exchanged for it mainly because it was of limited use in the Lower Nest.
The Lower Nest had no sky, only chaotic and complex pipes and buildings overhead, leaving no room for free flight.
But in the upcoming war, Alexander would definitely retreat with the Astra Militarum to the Upper hive and even the Top hive.
At this time, the Take-copter would be very useful.
Especially when facing Tyranid aerial units.
Alexander pinched his chin and carefully considered his own issues.
Although the pale, grey death — which was the Emperor's blessing — had improved his reaction speed and physical strength,
He was still inferior in defense and speed to an Astartes who had undergone extensive modifications and wore power armor.
Facing those speed-renowned Tyranid units, or the tough-skinned, strong-attacking Tyranid Behemoth, would be somewhat troublesome.
Alexander needed to get some items to enhance his speed and defense.
He began searching through the Future Department Store.
[Item Name: Speed-up Clockwork]
[Origin: 22nd Century Earth — Future Department Store]
[Production Date: 261.M3]
[Function: A giant golden clockwork. After inserting it into the back and winding it up, it can accelerate any human action.]
[Value: 1,250,000]
An item with a price of 1.25 million.
The effect was simple and clear: just insert it into the back and wind it up completely, and it would accelerate one's actions.
This acceleration didn't improve Alexander's physical functions, but rather was more akin to speeding up Alexander's time, making all his actions extremely fast.
As for defense...
With the extreme speed brought by the Speed-up Clockwork, Alexander's need for normal defense also decreased somewhat.
Following his memories from his previous life, he searched for that item in the Future Department Store.
[Item Name: Rebounding Cloak]
[Origin: 22nd Century Earth — Future Department Store]
[Production Date: 251.M3]
[Function: A red cloak. As long as it is swung to face an attack, this cloth can deflect any form of attack, and in some cases, can even reflect the attack back.]
[Value: 2,000,000 / five uses]
An item that cost 2 million for only five uses.
Alexander's expression twitched slightly; this price was so expensive it made his liver ache.
But its effect was also worthy of the price.
Any form of attack, this red cloak could deflect or even reflect it.
Considering that he would very likely use this item in his subsequent actions, Alexander still gritted his teeth and exchanged for it, despite the heartache.
A scarlet cloak and a half-meter-long metal clockwork immediately appeared in Alexander's four-dimensional pocket.
After completing these tasks, Alexander looked up at Reyna's office.
Most of the people inside had already left, so he also got up and entered the office.
"Is there something?" Reyna said, continuing to handle affairs without looking up.
She didn't notice that it was Alexander who had entered.
Alexander noticed a stack of emperor tarot on Reyna's desk, with two cards drawn out.
The Broken Planet and the Plains Rider. It seemed she had also reached the same conclusion.
Next to the tarot cards, there was a small, folded paper Sanguinius.
Is it popular to hang Sanguinius-related items lately?
A hint of confusion flashed in Alexander's eyes.
"Alexander?" Reyna, seeing that the person wasn't speaking, looked up and found Alexander standing at her desk.
She put down the documents in her hand and stretched her limbs.
"Happy festival," Reyna said to Alexander.
"Festival?" Alexander was stunned.
"Hehehe." Sanguinius chuckled unhappily a few times.
Reyna looked at Alexander's expression, her eye twitching slightly: "It's Sanguinius Festival."
"You didn't forget today is Sanguinius Festival, did you?"
"Yes, you didn't forget today is Sanguinius Festival, did you?" Sanguinius said sarcastically.
Alexander's mouth twitched slightly.
He remembered now; today was Sanguinius' Ascension Day.
This was a festival established by the Imperium to commemorate and praise Sanguinius' sacrifice.
On this day, almost everyone would hang or carry simply made Sanguinius-like pendants.
It was basically one of the grandest festivals in the entire Imperium.
This treatment was not afforded to other Primarchs.
At least Alexander had never heard of festivals like Guilliman's Knife-Stab Day, Khan's No-Lost Day, or Lion World Sleep Day.
No wonder Sanguinius was so sarcastic.
He considered himself Sanguinius and Alexander his friend.
Alexander forgetting Sanguinius Festival was essentially forgetting a friend's birthday or, perhaps, death anniversary?
"Return, oh soul, return, oh soul, Sanguinius' soul, return!" Alexander's mouth moved slightly as he casually said.
Sanguinius seemed to be angered by him, his whole body began to tremble at a strange frequency.
"You blasphemous heretic," Reyna said, half-jokingly.
She had grown somewhat accustomed to Alexander's blasphemous words.
"You've seen the tactical arrangements I discussed with General Drost, right?" Alexander asked Reyna.
Rather than saying he discussed it with General Drost,
It was more like Alexander, based on his memories of the Netherworld Star System's war situation in his previous life and the guidance of Sanguinius, gave General Drost a rough plan.
General Drost then made some adjustments according to the specific situation of his Astra Militarum.
"I've seen it," Reyna said, her mouth moving slightly: "You said before that you weren't good at military matters, but isn't this very good?"
"However, putting a large number of unreleased prisoners from Ashford into ships and throwing them onto the death world Perdita... that's truly your style."
Alexander suggested to General Drost to throw all the prisoners from Ashford onto the uninhabited death world Perdita.
These prisoners would be rich biomass in the eyes of the Tyranid, likely attracting a portion of the Tyranid to Perdita.
This could alleviate pressure on other inhabited planets.
Of course, Alexander's true goal was to hope the Tyranid would provoke the true inhabitants of that planet.
Beneath Perdita, a Necron tomb world dynasty was hidden.
Alexander wanted them to help deal with the Tyranid.
"According to our plan, the Thirteenth District on the outskirts of the hive city will become the frontline, and then we will gradually retreat."
"Until we evacuate to the Upper hive and Lower Nest entrance of the Ninth District, and continue to hold there."
Alexander said to Reyna:
"That is to say, the Lower Nest can generally be abandoned. Our goal is to preserve our effective forces and hold out as long as possible against the Tyranid's offensive."
"I understand, all of this I—"
Reyna's words were halfway through when her voice suddenly stretched, like a broken string.
"Ah!!!!"
She suddenly convulsed, her eyes wide, as if she had seen something utterly terrifying, letting out a wail.
A deep, dark shadow was reflected in her pupils, the shadow constantly writhing and deforming, revealing an uncontrollable hunger.
"Reyna?!" Alexander's pupils suddenly contracted. Psykers are starting to have seizures?!
He saw Sanguinius at the corner of his eye also begin to dim, as if covered by a layer of pitch-black shadow.
His figure was disturbed, starting to become blurry and twitching.
"Shadow..." Sanguinius' voice was chaotic and unclear.
He seemed to be trying hard to pierce his will through that thick layer of shadow.
It only became slightly clearer a few seconds later.
"The Tyranid have arrived, the Warp Shadow has already enveloped Ashford."
In the 998th year of the 41st Millennium of mankind, on Sanguinius' Ascension Day,
In the last few days of this year, the Leviathan hive Fleet descended upon the Netherworld Star System.
In the Ninth District, in the church used as a command post by the Astra Militarum, Reyna, wrapped in a blanket and holding hot water, uttered a series of disordered sentences.
She trembled constantly like an electrocuted cat, her eyes filled with confusion and terror, as if her sanity had been shattered.
Warp Shadow.
When the Tyranid descends, the Warp Shadow released by the Tyranid hive Mind envelops the entire star system, severing and interfering with the connection between the material world and the Warp.
At this time, daemons of the Warp find it extremely difficult to enter the material world, and similarly, the material world finds it very difficult to conduct Warp travel and psyker communication.
Furthermore, psyker are also generally affected.
Star Speakers hear the hungry roars of the Tyranid, and navigators see an endless dark shadow and go mad because of it.
Ordinary Psykers like Reyna, on the other hand, experience severe headaches, seizures, and uncontrollable screaming.
Alexander had warned Reyna in advance to be wary of the Warp Shadow.
But having been hit by it so abruptly, Reyna couldn't recover for a while.
Alexander could only pat Reyna's shoulder and said reassuringly, "Drink more boiled water."
With that, Alexander took out a kettle and poured Reyna another cup of boiled water.
Hot steam rose from the hot water in the cup.
"Ami Haginomanbo"
Reyna showed an expression more pained than crying, uttering incoherent and fragmented sounds.
The Warp Shadow had affected her brain, consciousness, and even her soul; her current thought and language abilities were fragmented and incomplete.
It would take some time for her to recover.
Alexander guessed that she might be expressing gratitude for his thoughtfulness.
"It's nothing, no need to thank me, we're all brothers," Alexander said, patting Reyna on the back.
Reyna's expression became even more contorted.
Alexander adjusted the blanket on her shoulders and then turned to walk towards General Drost.
General Drost was looking at a star map of the entire Netherworld Star System.
The outer ring of the Netherworld Star System was surrounded by two asteroid belts.
One layer was the Adamant Shield, composed of ice crystals.
The other layer was the Ringworld, composed of mineral-rich rocks.
Between the two asteroid belts was the position garrisoned by the Imperial Navy.
On the star map, several thick crimson arrows pointed towards the Netherworld Star System, indicating the advancing Leviathan hive Fleet.
"Have you contacted the Imperial Navy?" Alexander asked General Drost and Tech-Priest Shakolik.
"Not yet," General Drost said, frowning.
With the arrival of the Warp Shadow, even the machine spirit felt fear, and communications throughout the star system became even more difficult.
"We've made contact," Tech-Priest Shakolik suddenly interjected before General Drost could finish his sentence.
A crackling sound came from the communicator.
The blurred figure of Admiral Justus Van Avac appeared in the communicator.
He was a thin man, appearing sharp and shrewd.
"Drost, war is imminent, why do you keep disturbing me?"
"Your Excellency Justus," General Drost said, twisting his sole remaining purple eye, "my opinion remains the same as before."
"You should retreat into the Ringworld and join forces with my army to resist the Tyranid fleet."
"The Adamant Shield cannot withstand the Tyranid!"
Listening to General Drost, the Admiral in the communication showed a look of disdain.
"If that's the case, we in the Navy should be on the front lines against the enemy."
Justus Van Avac coughed twice and said:
"No matter what, the Tyranid will be at their weakest after passing through the Adamant Shield."
"We should strike while they have not yet recovered from the extreme cold."
"Drost, we in the Navy have no interest in sharing the glory of war with you."
With that, Justus Van Avac cut off the communication.
"He's finished," Alexander said, looking at the disconnected communication.
"..Bastard," General Drost cursed.
His gaze no longer rested on the Adamant Shield, but on the Ringworld behind it.
"My most skilled gunners and engineers are stationed here; I have transformed these asteroids into the most formidable fortresses and fiercest gun emplacements with macro cannons and lances."
"They are the best Cadians. Can they defeat the Tyranid hive Fleet?"
General Drost looked at Alexander.
Alexander silently shook his head.
Neither the Ringworld nor the Adamant Shield could withstand the full assault of the Leviathan hive Fleet.
Those living ships were more dangerous weapons than the Cadians' asteroid gun emplacements.
"..Then they will do their duty," General Drost said without changing his expression.
When the augur showed the Tyranid approaching the Adamant Shield, Admiral Justus Van Avac had just hung up his call with General Drost.
On the entire fluorescent screen of his flagship, countless light points converged, rapidly brightening and multiplying, and their scope expanded.
These light points quickly disintegrated into several streams, forming multiple small task forces, rapidly piercing towards the Netherworld Star System.
Justus Van Avac stared blankly at the scene on the fluorescent screen.
"What is the Tyranid doing?!"
According to previous predictions, the Tyranid bio-ships should have gathered into dense formations to enter the Netherworld Star System.
This was logical; bio-ships gathered together would more easily withstand the extreme cold of the Adamant Shield.
And the Imperial Navy fleets within the Netherworld Star System had also gathered into a large force to counter this.
Once the Tyranid bio-ships passed through the Adamant Shield, before they could recover from the extreme cold, the Navy would concentrate all its firepower to quickly destroy them.
This should have been inevitable!
But now the situation had changed.
The Tyranid bio-ships had actually dispersed into small fleets.
Admiral Justus Van Avac became somewhat agitated for a moment; he couldn't help but recall Drost's warning.
"Damn it, it's just a rumor heard from some Lower Nest thug!"
Justus Van Avac stared intently at the light points on the screen.
The light points pierced into the Adamant Shield... their speed slowed!
Augurs observed that the moment the Leviathan hive Fleet entered the extremely cold asteroid belt, their speed began to decrease.
The extreme cold of the Adamant Shield was working! Tyranid bio-ships constantly succumbed to the abnormal cold, and one by one, light points stalled in the Adamant Shield.
What's this?
In the end, they were just a bunch of brainless beasts, despicable xenos,
Just like that Lower Nest thug mixed in with Drost, they simply didn't understand the subtleties of military tactics!
The Tyranid bio-fleet was still moving, but their speed had slowed to a crawl.
It was only a matter of time before these xenos were destroyed by the extreme cold.
"All fleets full speed ahead, disperse into small units to harvest the bio-ships passing through the Adamant Shield region!"
Justus Van Avac would not let any Tyranid pass through his defenses.
He would not share even an iota of glory with the Astra Militarum in the Ringworld behind him.
Through the wide-angle detectors, like a glass curtain wall, Justus Van Avac saw the Tyranid fleet amidst tens of thousands of sparkling stars and ice crystals.
They were bio-ships with thick chitinous carapaces and some reddish, wriggling flesh, looking like strange worms magnified to the size of starships.
Justus Van Avac sneered.
Because these Tyranid bio-ships were all encased in layers of thick ice crystals.
These ice crystals, illuminated by the crimson binary stars of the distant Netherworld Star System, glowed like blood-colored beads.
To Justus Van Avac, this was more like fruit waiting to be picked.
He gently raised his hand to give the order—
Shells, torpedoes, and lances poured out from the Imperial Navy fleet, igniting the dim stars.
Justus Van Avac savored this moment—
"Admiral?!"
Admiral Justus Van Avac's subordinates cried out in horror.
He himself stared wide-eyed, disbelievingly at the scene.
The Tyranid bio-ships were completely unharmed under the continuous bombardment of shells, torpedoes, and lances.
Justus Van Avac's body trembled slightly.
He noticed that the surface of the Tyranid bio-ships was secreting some kind of mucus, which froze into ice in the extreme cold, serving as armor for the Tyranid bio-ships.
The extreme cold in the Adamant Shield not only failed to slow down the Leviathan hive Fleet but actually strengthened their armor.
"All fleets—"
Before Justus Van Avac could give the order, the deep blue light emitted by the screen dyed his face blue.
The Tyranid fleet's bio-plasma fired in volleys, the emitted electric light expanding and turning into streaks of light on the Imperial Navy ships, intensely stimulating the eyes of Justus Van Avac and the naval soldiers.
Following that came condensed acid cannons, bio-torpedoes, and smaller Tyranid ships carrying predatory tentacles.
The dense attacks instantly engulfed the Imperial Navy fleet.
These Tyranid had suffered almost no damage within the Adamant Shield; their numbers now far exceeded the Imperial Navy's.
Justus Van Avac watched with a pale face as more and more light points devoured the Navy fleet.
He was so incompetent.
What should he do next? Retreat into the Ringworld?
But if so... with Tyranid bio-ships and Imperial Navy fleets mixed together, the Cadians in the Ringworld would be unable to open fire.
Justus Van Avac might survive, but the Tyranid hive Fleet would also surge into the Netherworld Star System unimpeded.
His face suddenly changed drastically, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "No, no matter how incompetent I am... I will never be a cowardly faint-heart."
"All fleets, fully engage the hive Fleet, consume as many of their ships as possible!"
Before long, brilliant bio-plasma enveloped Justus Van Avac.
"The Navy is silent," Tech-Priest Shakolik said.
General Drost stood beside Alexander, silently watching the Leviathan hive Fleet gradually surging into the interior of the Netherworld Star System on the screen before them.
They were already approaching the Ringworld.
General Drost's fingers trembled slightly; after taking a deep breath, he said in an extremely firm tone:
"Have the artillerymen in the Ringworld proceed as planned."
By the time General Drost attempted to connect with the Ringworld, the Tyranid hive Fleet had already completed its encirclement of the entire Imperial Navy.
They were tearing open the steel hulls of the fleet, devouring the biomass within.
That proud and incompetent Admiral had likely met his end in the maw of the Tyranid.
The Imperium had lost all its naval power within the Netherworld Star System.
This was not a good start.
But General Drost and Alexander could only express their helplessness.
General Drost was theoretically the leader of all forces resisting the Tyranid in the Netherworld Star System,
and he was appointed by the High Lords themselves.
But the bad news was, some things in the Imperium were more effective than the High Lords' orders.
Around the 30th Millennium, just after the Horus Heresy ended,
a blue political genius dismantled the Imperial Auxiliary into the Imperial Navy and the Astra Militarum.
The Navy had almost no ground forces, and the Astra Militarum had almost no outer space forces.
This political genius believed this would help prevent rebellions.
Since then, the Imperium's mortal military forces had been cut into two, unable to command each other.
This was why General Drost could only watch the Navy make foolish mistakes.
As for why no one ever changed this problem,
it was simply because that blue political genius was the Thirteenth Primarch, Robert Guilliman, who used a roll of toilet paper to dismantle almost all loyal Legions.
It was no wonder that in both the 30th and 40th Millennia, a group of people suspected Guilliman of being a traitor.
Alexander couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
"When we were on Macragge, Leman Russ once told me, 'Guilliman looks like a traitor, maybe we should kill him.' "
Sanguinius at the corner of his eye spoke with a hint of resentment:
"Ever since I remembered the Second Empire, the codex astartes, and the division of the Imperial Auxiliary, I've regretted not listening to Leman Russ."
Just as Alexander and Sanguinius were condemning the Thirteenth Primarch,
General Drost successfully established contact with the defenders on the Ringworld.
"The Tyranid bio-fleet has crushed the Imperial Navy, the Cadian defenders stationed on the Ringworld reported to General Drost.
"We will proceed as planned."
General Drost nodded slightly, his voice low: "Cadia stands."
"Cadia stands!"
The defenders on the Ringworld gave General Drost an aquila salute:
"Defend Cadia for us, General."
With that, the communication was cut amidst the static.
Alexander watched this scene silently.
He knew what General Drost's plan was.
The Cadian people would hide among the hollows of the asteroids, allow the first wave of Tyranid to pass through, and then launch an attack on their middle section.
This way, they would temporarily cut off the Tyranid's reinforcements, and the pressure on the system's defenders would be reduced.
Undoubtedly, these Cadians stationed in the asteroid belt were doomed to die.
But they chose to follow orders.
Their deaths would buy more time for the defenders fighting on the surface of various planets within the Netherworld Star System.
Alexander took out the golden Speed-up Clockwork from his four-dimensional pocket.
"I'm going to the thirteenth district," he told General Drost.
Alexander was not good at strategic command.
The front lines, where large numbers of Tyranid were entrenched and could be sold for money, were where he needed to be.
General Drost nodded slightly: "May the Emperor protect you."
Alexander gave a slight nod, spun the Speed-up Clockwork behind him a few times, then started running.
He vanished from his spot, leaving only an afterimage.
A piercing scream echoed from the hazy yellow sky, deafening.
Immediately after, Hobien, a Lyttin Gunner perched atop a garbage mountain, listened to the sound.
His keen eyes then saw giant fireballs descending from the sky like meteors, crashing into the ground.
He knew those were Tyranid spore pods.
The interceptor fire network, composed of Icarus anti-aircraft guns and Hydra anti-aircraft tanks, did not fire on these spore pods.
This was because under the dense Tyranid offensive, the Cadian Shock Troopers' ammunition was stretched thin and could not be wasted on these spore pods.
Firepower had to be used to protect the Top hive's evacuation points and clear Tyranid flying units.
Hobien licked his dry lips, feeling a little nervous, and instinctively reached for his waist, wanting to taste what the General's treasured liquor was like—
But he found nothing. Hobien then remembered he had lost the flask he stole from General Drost.
He had lost it to that Ashfordian named Alexander.
"He's incredible, that man. Our Champion."
Hobien thought of the man's god-like marksmanship and couldn't help but praise him inwardly.
But soon, a beast-like roar interrupted his thoughts.
In the distance, where the drop pods had fallen, a wave was surging.
It was a flood of white, flesh-colored, and purple. Hobien's keen eyes quickly discerned that
it was a Tyranid swarm!
Termagaunts, Hormagaunts, and Rippers converged, surging towards Fardian city, as if to devour the entire hive city.
The Cadian Shock Troopers were currently stationed on the garbage mountain in the thirteenth district, closest to the hive city outskirts.
Just then, artillery fire erupted in Hobien's ears.
Groups of winged Tyranid emerged from the clouds, wielding living weapons aimed at the Cadian soldiers on the ground.
These were Tyranid Gargoyles, lower-tier Tyranid aerial units.
Hobien raised his modified laser sniper rifle, aiming at one of them—
A scorching laser shot out, and a Gargoyle fell, attracting the attention of the other Tyranid to Hobien atop the garbage mountain.
Then, the roar of artillery fire rang out.
The Icarus anti-aircraft guns and Hydra anti-aircraft tanks opened fire, intercepting the Tyranid aerial units attempting to descend from the sky.
Hobien lit an lho cigarette and put it in his mouth, sliding down the garbage mountain and immediately relocating.
By the time he climbed to the top of another garbage mountain, the Cadians, who had established a defensive line between the garbage mountains, had already clashed with the Tyranid.
Hobien was able to clearly see the forms of the Tyranid.
These creatures were about half a man's height, with long tails, bulbous heads, mouths full of sharp teeth, and hard carapaces covering their backs.
Some wielded living, writhing firearms, while others had scythe-like claws.
Those with guns were Termagaunts, those with blades were Hormagaunts; they were both lower-tier Tyranid units.
Hobien recalled the contents of the notebook.
They roared and shrieked, charging towards the Cadians.
Then, the pre-laid minefield activated, scorching flames bursting forth, forming a wall of fire and smoke.
Shredded flesh and carapace flew everywhere, and the first wave of Tyranid attempting to breach the defense was blown sky-high.
But there were simply too many of them, and more Tyranid surged towards the Cadian positions.
The minefield was already depleted.
The Cadian warriors pulled their triggers, lasers whizzing through the air. The heads of the Tyranid struck by the lasers burst open, dissolving into a thick pulp.
Smaller Tyranid, called Rippers, swarmed their own dead, devouring their flesh and blood.
According to the notebook, Hobien knew they were recycling biomass.
The Cadian warriors began to engage the vast, endless Tyranid swarm.
Hobien, however, seemed unhurried. He knew his mission was not to deal with these small fries.
As an excellent sniper, he had to deal with...
The Lyttin found his target amidst the sea of Tyranid.
It was a Tyranid unit nearly three meters tall, with four slender yet strong arms, standing bipedally in the Tyranid sea.
A Tyranid Warrior.
An important node creature, it was responsible for connecting the nearby lower-tier Tyranid to the hive mind.
Hobien's expression became slightly more serious.
Because that Tyranid Warrior was acting in a cluster.
Two Tyranid Warriors, one armed with a sharp bio-blade, the other with two bio-pistols,
were guarding an even larger, more robust Tyranid Warrior, which carried a massive, living bio-gun that required two hands to wield.
The bio-gun in the hand of that Tyranid Warrior suddenly writhed, and a scorching acidic projectile shot out from it, aimed at the Cadian Shock Troopers.
"Argh! Argh! Argh! Argh! Argh! Argh! Argh! Argh! Argh!"
A searing sound erupted, and several Cadian warriors, unable to dodge in time, were burned to bare bones.
A bead of sweat trickled down Hobien's forehead.
The three Tyranid Warriors stood surrounded by the Tyranid sea.
They were quite far from Hobien.
He would definitely be exposed after firing, so he had to be fast, accurate, and fire three shots consecutively, killing all three Tyranid Warriors at once. Only then could he sever a portion of the Tyranid's link to the hive mind.
Hobien pulled the trigger.
A scorching laser stream shot out in the blink of an eye.
However, the Tyranid Warrior holding the sharp, living greatblade suddenly twisted its body, swinging the crimson bio-blade in its hand.
Splat!
The greatblade burned a hole, but not a single Tyranid Warrior was harmed.
He messed up! Hobien felt as if struck by lightning.
However, what happened next was beyond Hobien's comprehension.
The three Tyranid Warriors suddenly exploded, scattering into chunks of rotten flesh.
It was as if they had suddenly been hit by a hundred-ton hammer, crushed by a heavy tank, or struck by a high-explosive shell.
With the death of the node creatures, the surrounding Tyranid immediately fell into chaos.
"Hobien." Communication crackled in Hobien's ear: "Did you do something? Is your sniper rifle that powerful?"
"No!" Hobien took a deep breath, staring intently at the spot where the Tyranid Warriors had just exploded.
His keen Lyttin eyes had only caught a glimpse of an afterimage.
But even just an afterimage was enough. Hobien saw that afterimage moving through the Tyranid.
Each time he flashed past, a group of Tyranid would explode as if hit by heavy artillery, completely annihilated.
Then, the figure would briefly stop, quickly kick away the surrounding Rippers, and stuff the corpses of the dead Tyranid into who knows where.
"It's the Champion!"
Hobien finally saw who it was.
Alexander! That Ashfordian with god-like marksmanship!
Hobien shrieked into the comms:
"The Champion is with us!!!"