Soon, terrifying roars echoed from all directions.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!" The Custodes' voice sounded like thunder, his power halberd already in hand. His golden armor glinted coldly in the dim light, and the other Custodes drew their weapons as well.
Sweeping his gaze around, he quickly locked onto several forming warp rifts, from which hordes of Chaos daemons began to emerge.
Without hesitation, Rhodes's gene-sons, the Space Marines, and the Custodes charged forward, engaging the Chaos in brutal combat.
The Captain of the 27th Ultramarines Company immediately ordered, "27th Company, form a defensive line! Protect the cargo—we cannot let Chaos succeed!"
His blue power armor was engraved with the honors of the Ultramarines, his power sword already activated, the blade flickering with blue energy.
"For the glory of Macragge, for Ultramar!" the Captain shouted, charging at the daemons ahead.
The surrounding Ultramarines readied their weapons—some with bolters, others with chainswords—forming a defensive formation.
The Chaos daemons surged forward like a tide, their forms twisted and horrifying—some with razor-sharp claws, others spewing corrosive acid.
The Space Marines quickly formed a tight defensive line. The roar of bolters thundered across the port, each round precisely striking its mark, tearing the leading daemons to shreds.
The roar of chainswords and the thunder of bolters reverberated through the port.
The Custodes, like golden lightning, charged into the midst of the daemons.
His power halberd swung like the wind, each strike slicing several daemons in half.
A few Custodes moved with such speed and precision, they seemed like perfect killing machines—each attack flawless, impenetrable.
The daemons' attacks could not breach his defense; instead, they fell under his counterattacks.
"This is a premeditated assault. They're after our cargo. These are only low-level daemons. Be careful, there might be Chaos Space Marines or something even more dangerous," a Custodes said after slaying a group of daemons.
"Heh heh, it's time—Chaos Champions, your turn!"
Suddenly, a Chaos warship appeared above Macragge's sky. Countless drop pods rained down, unleashing a mass of Chaos Space Marines.
As the Ultramarines and Custodes fought fiercely against the daemons, a squad of Chaos Space Marines led by a Tzeentch Sorcerer launched a flank assault.
Their power armor was covered in blasphemous Chaos runes, their weapons glowing with sinister light. However, these Chaos Marines, at about 2.4 meters tall, were still smaller than the new Primaris Supermarines.
The arrival of the Chaos Marines made the battle even more complex, their power far surpassing that of ordinary daemons.
"Careful! Chaos Space Marines incoming!" the 27th Company Captain shouted.
"Destroy these damned traitors! Glory to Macragge!" bellowed a Space Marine.
His power sword clashed with a Chaos Champion's power axe, sparks flying, their strength evenly matched in a fierce duel.
The Chaos Champion's strength could not be underestimated. Though still possessing the physique of an original Space Marine, he could contend with a Primaris-augmented warrior.
The rest of the Chaos Marines weren't so lucky—they were slaughtered by the superhuman defenders. The power gap was truly immense.
The Custodes quickly adjusted tactics, leading their brethren in a push toward the Chaos Marines. As the saying goes: "Catch the ringleader first." These Chaos Marines were clearly the assault's leaders.
So, the Custodes aimed to slay the Chaos Champions and Lords first.
His power halberd became like the scythe of Death—with each swing, he felled another Chaos Marine.
Yet, the Chaos Marines were numerous, quickly surrounding the Custodes.
But it was like sheep surrounding lions—the outcome was obvious.
"For the Emperor! For Ultramar!"
The Captain's voice echoed across the battlefield, inspiring every Ultramarine to annihilate the traitors.
These arrogant fools dared attack glorious Ultramar—they would pay in blood.
As more Chaos Marines arrived, the leading Custodes finally unleashed his full power, activating his Superbeast transformation and growing to gigantic size.
His body swelled, muscles hardening like steel, becoming a towering giant tens of meters tall.
His fists smashed into the enemy like meteors, each blow sending several Chaos Marines flying. Raising a massive foot, he stomped Marines into bloody pulp.
From his palm, he unleashed a massive golden beam, slicing several Chaos Marines in half. Each strike from the giant Custodes sent out massive energy waves, collapsing nearby buildings in the shockwaves.
The Chaos Marines simply disintegrated—neither Lords nor Champions could withstand even a single blow.
The Ultramarines and Rhodes's own security forces were greatly encouraged.
"A bunch of fools!" the giant Custodes snorted coldly.
Just as he was crushing the Chaos Marines, a deafening roar sounded from the sky.
A massive warp rift tore open above Macragge's port, with thick Chaos energy pouring down like a waterfall. A hulking figure slowly descended from the rift.
It was a Chosen of Chaos, matching the giant Custodes in size, clad in heavy, corrupted power armor covered in blasphemous runes and twisted spikes.
He wielded a massive war axe, its blade burning with green hellfire, as if it could rend anything asunder. His eyes were blood-red, filled with endless madness and destruction.
Everyone was stunned—this 50-meter tall, corrupted Space Marine had the power of gigantification. Why could the Chaos side do this?
"Roar! Lapdog of the False Emperor—your death is at hand!"
"At last, a worthy opponent," the giant Custodes said coldly, his voice booming across the battlefield.
His golden armor still shone with holy light, even in the presence of Chaos energy. His power halberd was at the ready.
He didn't know where this giant Chaos warrior came from, but it didn't matter. He'd just defeat him, drag him back to Terra, and interrogate him.
"I'll rip you to shreds, savor your blood, offer your skull to the Skull Throne, and your blood to the Blood God!" the Chaos Chosen bellowed, charging with his power axe.
This Chaos Chosen was not of Tzeentch, but a warrior of Khorne.
Their weapons clashed in the air, unleashing brilliant sparks and massive energy shockwaves.
Surrounding buildings collapsed; the ground split open with deep fissures. The Custodes quickly counterattacked, his power halberd stabbing like lightning at the Chaos Chosen's chest.
But the Chaos Chosen reacted just as quickly, parrying with his axe, then kicking the Custodes in the abdomen.
The Custodes staggered back, but quickly steadied himself, swinging his halberd at the Chosen's shoulder.
The Chaos Chosen's armor split, but he seemed unfazed, only attacking more fiercely.
His axe swung like the wind, each blow carrying destructive power. The Custodes relied on superb combat skill, each move precise and deadly.
A blood-red aura appeared around the Chaos Chosen—Khorne's favor. The Blood God's gaze was upon this battle—a worthy spectacle, a place of blood.
Their battle raged white-hot. The Custodes' halberd and the Chosen's axe clashed, sparks and energy ripples sweeping the battlefield.
Nearby Ultramarines and security forces dared not approach—even Primaris Marines were powerless before such gigantic foes.
The Custodes thrust at the Chosen's head, but the axe parried. The Chosen countered with a heavy punch, knocking the Custodes back several steps.
The Custodes quickly adjusted, swinging his golden halberd in a deadly arc at the Chosen's waist.
The Chosen barely dodged, but his armor took another deep gash.
He roared, swinging his axe at the Custodes' head. The Custodes blocked with his halberd, but the impact forced him to one knee.
So strong! Even with gigantification and gene-surgery, he could only fight to a draw.
The Custodes surged with strength, pushing aside the axe and delivering an uppercut to the Chosen's jaw.
The Chosen staggered but quickly recovered, countering with an axe blow to the Custodes' shoulder.
The Custodes' shoulder armor split, blood pouring from the wound, but he seemed not to feel pain—in fact, he fought even more ferociously.
Their battle grew ever more intense, the crash of power weapons and explosions of energy intertwining.
"You're Khârn!" the Custodes finally recognized his foe.
"Roar!"