[In the ninth week, your fleet, a spear-tip of dark metal, swiftly arrived at Kakdomins.]
[Before the expeditionary fleet even approached, the defensive platforms in the planet's high orbit unleashed an incomparably fierce and terrifying barrage of firepower. The viewports lit up with proximity warnings and lances of energy, launching a tenacious attack on the entire fleet.]
[Laser arrays and plasma macrocannons from the battle barges and strike cruisers fired scorching beams in return. The deck shuddered beneath your feet as they rapidly melted the massive metal structures of the defensive platforms into slag.]
[Sword-class frigates also withstood the enemy's firepower, using agile maneuvers to weave through the incoming fire and advance rapidly, unleashing their own plasma beam arrays at closer range.]
[Amidst the rampant drifting of countless metal fragments and the shimmering, rippling of void shields, three strike cruisers pierced through the cold void. They rapidly approached Kakdomins' planetary orbit and launched an orbital bombardment.]
[The terrifying and merciless barrage almost completely scoured the planet's surface. From orbit, you could see continents light up with fire, destroying countless cities and surface buildings in silent, blossoming explosions.]
[Then, the three strike cruisers, having completed their orbital bombardment mission, moved away from the planet's orbit and gradually rendezvoused with the battle barges providing cover.]
[This was to prevent Cacodominus powerful psionic abilities from completely controlling the psykers inside the ships, which would cause even greater losses to the entire expeditionary fleet.]
[Simultaneously, Sword-class frigates rapidly entered the planet's orbit, their hangar doors sliding open, while Thunderhawk transports, loaded with heavy vehicles, continued to fly towards the planet's surface.]
[You stand inside the violently shaking, rattling drop pod, wearing the metal helmet encircled by a crown of thorns. The air is hot with the smell of ozone and recycled oxygen.]
[Ten Librarians, their blue armor a stark contrast to the black interior, grip bolt rifles and power scepters. They follow beside you, their own psychic hoods glowing faintly.]
[You grip the bolt rifle, fitted with a high-capacity drum magazine, with your thick arms bound by the cold, heavy links of pious chains.]
[With a deafening, bone-jarring thud and a flash of red light within the drop pod...]
[The dark metal bulkhead burst open instantly, letting in a torrent of icy wind and snow that billowed into the compartment.]
[You drove the 'Armor of Faith' and charged out first, your boots slamming into the frozen, scorched earth.]
[The Librarians also leaped out of the drop pod, fanning out behind you.]
[Through your helmet visor, you quickly saw Leman Russ tanks emerging from the rubble, their massive turrets already spinning, and Chimera troop carriers that had narrowly escaped the orbital bombardment.]
["Have our Land Raiders landed yet! Immediately unleash fire on the enemy! Buy time for the other combat brothers who haven't landed!" You pulled the trigger of your bolt rifle without hesitation, its roar deafening, shouting the order into the communication device.]
[The next moment, accompanied by the violent roar of their engines, Crusader-type Land Raiders surged out from behind you.]
[On each vehicle, the firing unit array of twelve Storm Bolters and the twin-barreled assault cannons on the roof instantly unleashed a deafening, hammering roar, forming a magnificent, overwhelming barrage of fire.]
[In the blink of an eye, dozens of Chimera troop carriers were completely obliterated by the terrifying firepower, torn apart into flaming wreckage.]
[Countless Astra Militarum agents who couldn't escape in time instantly became burning fireballs with shattered bodies.]
[Even the heavily armored Leman Russ tanks were suppressed by the continuous firepower, their hulls ringing under the impacts, forcing them to launch an attack prematurely.]
[With a burst of intense artillery fire, a Land Raider that couldn't dodge in time was blasted apart by a Leman Russ's armor-piercing rounds. The explosion was immense.]
[A small group of Astartes monks surrounding the Land Raider were violently thrown out by the impact of the vehicle explosion, and numerous limbs encased in power armor collided with your 'Armor of Faith' with dull, heavy thuds.]
["Has the heavy firepower squad landed yet? Take out those Leman Russ tanks immediately!" You casually slung your empty bolt rifle over your shoulder and issued the next order through the communication device, not missing a step.]
[At the same moment, the Librarians following behind you also joined the battle.]
[Strands of crackling psychic lightning leaped from their palms, striking the Leman Russ tanks, destroying the drivers and gunners inside with bursts of energy.]
[You quickly scanned the chaotic battlefield, your eyes searching for the towering pillar of golden light.]
[You found no trace of Cacodominus.]
[You raised the cross-shaped medium-sized Storm Shield, gripping the heavy 'Black Sword' tightly in your other hand.]
[Without hesitation, you charged towards the Leman Russ that was turning its turret in the distance.]
[You drove the 'Armor of Faith,' smashing through several Astra Militarum agents who intended to take you down with them.]
[The flashes of exploding grenades were completely blocked by the shimmer of the ancient Iron Halo, the shrapnel not even touching the outer shell of the power armor.]
[Meanwhile, drop pods continuously descended from outside the atmosphere, crashing heavily onto the scorched earth and snow-covered ground.]
[With the roar of hatches opening, numerous well-coordinated Crusader squads, armed with heavy weaponry, burst from the drop pods.]
[They had no time to rest, unleashing a relentless barrage of fire towards the enemy.]
[The sheer number of heretics and Leman Russ tanks began to dwindle, temporarily suppressing the immense threat from enemy fire. This gave more Astartes time to quickly assemble.]
[Nearly six hundred Black Templar Astartes raised their bolters in one hand, their other gripping powered weapons or roaring chainswords.]
["For the Emperor!"]
[They roared battle cries that echoed through the heavens, a single, unified voice of six hundred warriors, launching a relentless charge towards the heretics ahead.]
[This was the first time since the Horus Heresy that an Astartes mass charge had appeared on the Imperial battlefield.]
[You instinctively widened your eyes, the sight filling your visor.]
[You couldn't help but let out a blood-pumping battle roar, joining their cry.]
[You vigorously propelled the 'Armor of Faith' forward, becoming the tip of the spear.]
[You wielded the 'Black Sword,' swiftly darting past the side of a Leman Russ. The black blade, humming with power, easily tore through the thick plasteel tracks, completely paralyzing its mobility.]
[You casually pulled a blessed grenade blessed by a priest from your waist.]
[Your magnetic boots slammed into the muddy ground, instantly propelling you onto the tank's roof.]
[You swung the 'Black Sword' again, the black blade easily cleaving open the Leman Russ's heavy hatch in a shower of sparks.]
[Amidst the terrified screams of the crew inside, you tossed the blessed grenade, its catch pulled, inside.]
[You immediately jumped off the Leman Russ. A violent, muffled explosion erupted behind you, blowing the turret clean off the chassis.]
[Just then, beams of scorching lasers and plasma beams instantly focused on your power armor, but were completely blocked by the powerful protective capabilities of the Iron Halo, sizzling and dissipating against the invisible shield, causing you no harm.]
[You quickly shifted your gaze.]
[Through the visor of your metal helmet, you pierced through the swirling, cold snow on the battlefield and spotted the blurry figures of more mortal puppets surging forward.]
[You also saw Astartes monks wielding melee weapons, chanting prayers praising the Emperor, charging into the mortal attack without hesitation, unleashing a storm of blood and carnage.]
[You took a deep breath, the air cold in your lungs.]
[You raised your Storm Shield and 'Black Sword' and charged forward again.]
[You continued searching the chaotic battlefield for the golden pillar of light reaching to the heavens, fulfilling your duty as the Emperor's Champion.]
[However, the ever-increasing number of mortal puppets made your charge incredibly difficult, the sheer mass of bodies slowing your armored legs.]
[In an instant, Land Raiders sped past you, crashing into the carnage of mortal puppets and crushing them under their heavy treads.]
[Even so, the number of mortal puppets on the battlefield seemed endless, a tide of flesh that absorbed every blow.]
[You even had the strange illusion that you were facing the Tyranids.]
[As time slowly passed, the chaotic, snow-covered battlefield began to shimmer with brilliant psychic lightning and pyrokinetic flames.]
[That was the contribution of the Librarians scattered around the battlefield.]
[As the Thunderhawk transport planes swiftly landed, Chaplains chanting prayers led their servitors carrying ammunition out of the aircraft and joined the battle.]
[Invisible blessings descended upon the power armor of many Astartes monks, their faith tangible.]
[The psychic support of nearly a hundred Librarians and the blessings of faith from over fifty Chaplains seemed to greatly alleviate the pressure on the Astartes monks in direct combat.]
[At this moment, even facing the relentless tide of mortal puppets, the Black Templar's fighting brothers showed no sign of halting their advance.]
[Their devout faith in the Emperor made them unwilling to retreat even a single step.]
[Just then, deep within the blood and flesh of the mortal puppets, you, wielding your 'Black Sword' in unparalleled might, abruptly stopped in your tracks.]
[A strange sense of crisis, a cold prickle on your neck, suddenly enveloped your heart.]
[You casually used your cross-shaped storm shield to shatter the flesh and blood of several mortal puppets, your focus elsewhere.]
[Through the enhancement of your helmet visor, you continuously scanned the chaotic scene across the battlefield.]
[The next second, you suddenly saw, from the icy storm not far away, a series of blurry black shadows, each nine meters tall, their forms massive and mechanical, gradually approaching the flank of the battle.]
[You widened your eyes sharply.]
[You quickly unleashed a deafening roar into the communication device inside your helmet, a warning that cut through all other chatter.]
["Titans! Knight Titans are attacking!"]