After confirming the zoanthrope's location, Marcus no longer hesitated, disappearing from his original spot after a few flashes. Marcus then bypassed the intense frontal battlefield, heading towards the dilapidated building where the zoanthrope was located via another small path.
Along the way, Marcus also conveniently dealt with some small groups of Tyranids, which helped alleviate the defensive pressure on the Imperial Guard on the bridge.
There were three reasons why Marcus risked facing the zoanthrope alone.
First, if the zoanthrope, this psychic artillery, wasn't dealt with quickly, the Imperial Guard on the bridge would eventually collapse. At that time, millions of Tyranids would flood into the current area, and Marcus would have to spend more time if he wanted to continue advancing.
Second, it was to see if he could meet Titus and his team. According to the original game's plot, Titus Squad would also encounter an zoanthrope. Although it wasn't certain if they would encounter the same zoanthrope, it would be ideal if he could directly rendezvous with Titus Squad here.
As for the third point, it was to obtain the zoanthrope's codex. The zoanthrope was a BOSS-level unit even stronger than an Exocrine; if he could kill it, the power of Marcus's Tyranid forces would be greatly enhanced. Even if he encountered the Thousand Sons faction later, he wouldn't fear their mind power attacks. What's more, even if he couldn't actually kill the zoanthrope, Marcus was confident he could retreat safely.
In short, this battle was worth a try.
After spending more than ten minutes, Marcus circled to the ground floor of the dilapidated building where the zoanthrope was located. Just as he had anticipated, at the bottom of the building, numerous Tyranid cannon fodder units were patrolling under the leadership of a group of Tyranid Warriors.
To save his weapon ammunition for when he faced the zoanthrope, Marcus summoned the lictor hiding in the shadows and the benomthrope from underground.
"Kill them all, leave no one alive."
As soon as the command was given, the lictor immediately vanished into the shadows, and the benomthrope re-submerged underground.
After a brief calm, the benomthrope, hidden underground, was the first to show its fangs. Beneath the feet of a Tyranid Warrior, the hard concrete floor trembled slightly before a huge pit suddenly appeared. The massive benomthrope then emerged from it, swiftly coiling around the Tyranid Warrior's body.
As the venomthrope's two massive sharp claws descended in a cross, the immobilized Tyranid Warrior's head was immediately severed. The Hormagaunt and Gun Worm surrounding it immediately fell into a state of chaos, but their command was instantly taken over by other Tyranid Warriors. The other Tyranid on the field surprisingly did not counterattack for a moment.
Why would another Tyranid creature attack the Tyranid forces? The Tyranid Warrior, possessing only brutal devouring instincts and limited intelligence, could not understand what was happening in the field for a short time. A Tyranid Warrior let out a long roar, attempting to establish contact with the venomthrope. However, the venomthrope, having successfully struck, ignored it and re-entered the underground tunnel.
Just as the Tyranid present finally realized that the venomthrope was not under the control of the Hive Mind, the lictor, hidden in the shadows, began its harvest. Leaping down from the ceiling, the lictor quietly landed in the center of several Tyranid Warriors. Its huge scythe-like claws slashed, and instantly, the heads of three Tyranid Warriors flew into the air.
Having struck successfully, the lictor quickly re-entered stealth mode, vanishing back into the surrounding architectural ruins. The Tyranid, without specialized units, were completely unable to stop the slaughter by the venomthrope and the lictor. Tyranid Warriors wielding ranged symbiotic weapons were the priority targets. Even when protected by dozens, even hundreds of Hormagaunt and Gun Worm, the ghost-like lictor could easily sever the Tyranid Warrior's heads.
As for those Tyranid Warriors wielding melee symbiotic weapons, without exception, they were either dragged into the dark, narrow underground by the venomthrope, or had their heads severed by the venomthrope suddenly emerging from the ground. Some Tyranid Warriors led their subordinate Hormagaunt and Gun Worm in an attempt to counterattack, but all were in vain; their attacks completely failed to hit the agile venomthrope and lictor.
Five minutes later, at the bottom of the building, the once ferocious Tyranid had disappeared, replaced by a ground covered in dismembered fragments. Stepping over the flowing Tyranid ichor on the ground, Marcus slowly approached.
Finding an elevator that was still operational, Marcus took the venomthrope and lictor with him and went inside. Just as the lictor and venomthrope were slaughtering the Tyranid, Marcus had already determined the zoanthrope's location through the Night Lords.
After inputting the designated floor, the elevator began to ascend slowly. Taking advantage of this time, Marcus began to devise his battle plan for later. Since he didn't have Titus, the fierce warrior, by his side this time, Marcus had to face a formidable opponent like the zoanthrope alone. A meticulous battle plan was essential.
Closing his eyes, Marcus felt the mark on his chest.
"Energy Feedback. Source: StarCraft Universe. Effect 1: Extracts energy from a single target and releases it in a violent form. The more energy extracted, the greater the damage dealt to the target. Cooldown: 1 minute. For Aiur!"
Energy Feedback. This skill was the confidence Marcus had to face the zoanthrope alone. Although Marcus had not used this skill since he drew it, he believed that a skill from a High Templar would definitely not be weak. Combined with the various Tyranid creatures in his codex, Marcus had great confidence in winning this battle.
A few minutes later, the elevator reached the forty-fourth floor of the dilapidated building. This was the floor where the zoanthrope was located. As soon as Marcus stepped out of the elevator, the lictor and venomthrope, who had been by his side, quickly rushed out. They then swiftly eliminated the few Tyranid in the corridor like a whirlwind.
With the lictor and venomthrope clearing the way, Marcus walked forward, unhurriedly organizing his equipment. After confirming the amount of weapons and ammunition he had, Marcus activated his mind power. He held a hellgun in his left hand and a chainsword in his right. Several alloy throwing knives floated around Marcus, among which the red ork choppa was particularly conspicuous. And behind Marcus, a plasma pistol and a meltagun also floated. This was Marcus's strongest single combat state at the moment.
With the help of mind power, he alone could become a weapons master, simultaneously firing multiple weapons.
Not only that, Marcus also opened the system panel...