Bloody battles raged both inside and outside the Ork Junkyard City. Many Tyrant Slaughter Squads were discovered by the Greenskins, forcing them to abandon their infiltration missions and engage in premature conflict. However, a considerable number of Slaughter Squads successfully entered the city and began systematically destroying the anti-aircraft platforms deployed throughout.
This kind of street-to-street, meat-grinder battle was undeniably brutal. Only fearless and emotionless organic biological weapons could steadfastly carry out their missions under such dire circumstances. Under the continuous destruction wrought by the Tyrants, Pursuers, and numerous Hunters, nearly half of the anti-aircraft platforms in the Ork Junkyard City were completely obliterated. Even the Technician Boyz' almost magical repair speed couldn't keep pace with the Slaughter Squads' rate of destruction.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Coupled with the incessant bombardment from the Spore Extermination Unit in the distance and the overhead orbital ICA Warships, the Ork Junkyard City's anti-aircraft firepower was soon severely crippled.
"Begin retreat!"
Seeing that the objective had been achieved, Alexia immediately ordered the Spore Extermination Unit to pull back, moving out of the Anti-matter Bomb's blast radius. Fighting as they withdrew, the Spore Extermination Unit took some time to shake off the Greenskins' relentless pursuit, finally reaching a position roughly eighty kilometers from the Ork Junkyard City.
With the timing ripe, two Slaughter Squads that had successfully infiltrated the Ork Junkyard City and remained hidden for a period arrived at their pre-arranged locations and directly detonated the Anti-matter Bombs they carried. The annihilation of matter and anti-matter instantly generated unparalleled light and heat. Two massive fireballs rose on the left and right sides of the Ork Junkyard City, then slowly coalesced into a mushroom cloud that blotted out the sky. The majority of the originally vast Ork Junkyard City was instantly destroyed.
"Shockwave countdown! Prepare for impact!"
Along with the explosion, a powerful shockwave was generated, sweeping in all directions. The Spore Extermination Unit immediately braced for the impact. Simultaneously, the magnificent Purifier Colossus stepped to the very front of the formation, increasing its shield output power. Just as everything was ready, the shockwave, even after traversing eighty kilometers, violently slammed into the Spore Extermination Unit.
Countless yellow sand and debris, carried by the shockwave, struck the Purifier Colossus's shield at the forefront, causing faint ripples. Everyone gripped fixed objects nearby, then felt a powerful blast of wind hit them. It wasn't until more than ten minutes later that the shockwave finally swept past the Spore Extermination Unit's position. Fortunately, they had the Purifier Colossus at the very front; otherwise, even at such a distant range, some personnel would likely have been directly blown away, and even some armored units would not have been spared.
Due to the intense explosion generated by the Anti-matter Bomb, the Central Hive and the ships in orbit were unable to promptly observe the extent of the Ork Junkyard City's damage. Only the closer Spore Extermination Unit could complete the observation mission with special instruments.
"Both Anti-matter Bombs successfully detonated. Initial assessment of Ork Junkyard City damage: 56%."
The initial observation report was submitted layer by layer to Alexia, who was far away in the Central Hive.
"Order the Spore Extermination Unit to withdraw immediately, return to the Central Hive defense line at full speed, and prepare for rendezvous."
After scanning the report, Alexia immediately issued the order. At the same time, she contacted the ICA Warship in orbit, which was responsible for the subsequent deployment of the burrowing Anti-matter Bomb.
"Orc Junkyard City's anti-aircraft platforms are over ninety percent damaged. Orbital bombardment can commence."
"Received."
Soon, the ICA Warship in orbit began orbital bombardment once more. Among the sky-filling missiles and alloy rods were three conventional Anti-matter Bombs and one large-yield burrowing Anti-matter Bomb.
"Waaagh!!!"
In the Ork Junkyard City, the Greenskins who survived the earth-shattering explosion looked up at the death-representing meteors in the sky, only having time to let out roars and bellows. They were then once again submerged in the three massive fireballs that appeared in mid-air.
After five successive Anti-matter Bomb bombardments, each equivalent to forty million tons of TNT, even the Ork Junkyard City, enveloped by a Waaagh field, was almost completely destroyed. Large numbers of Greenskins and various war machines within it were utterly annihilated. If it were against a typical enemy, such a degree of destruction would be sufficient, perhaps even excessive.
But Greenskins have always been known for their tenacious vitality. Everyone knew that within the ruins of the Ork Junkyard City, there were definitely many Greenskins who had not completely died and were stubbornly recovering from their injuries. Not to mention the Ork spores that had already taken root in the soil and were beginning to grow vigorously.
Therefore, the ICA Warship had prepared a grand gift. A burrowing bomb loaded with a full ten kilograms of anti-matter was penetrating thick layers of earth, constantly drilling deeper into the ground. It only detonated with a roar upon reaching its pre-determined location. If converted to TNT equivalent, the power of this single Anti-matter Bomb was equivalent to the simultaneous explosion of four hundred and thirty million tons of TNT, far exceeding the standard Anti-matter Bombs used previously, truly a world-ending weapon.
This burrowing bomb directly annihilated a massive amount of surrounding rock and soil, forming a super-gigantic void directly beneath the Ork Junkyard City. Furthermore, the shockwave generated by its explosion continuously destroyed the geological structure. Finally, the entire Ork Junkyard City, already a ruin, directly collapsed inwards, with countless junkyard buildings stacking and compressing together, falling into the gigantic underground void. The surrounding massive layers of earth also began to collapse, eventually filling this super-giant pit.
"Consider it digging a grave for these Greenskins," Marcus said, looking out the porthole of the Stone Village, nodding with satisfaction. Even from orbit, the fleet of ships could observe this scene with their naked eyes.
"Plan successful! Ork Junkyard City 1 has completely disappeared, with no remnants!"
At this moment, both the fleet in orbit and the ground defenders erupted in thunderous cheers. Since the war began, this was the first time the Greenskins had suffered such a massive blow.
This was not merely the destruction of an Ork stronghold. The Ork Titan units that had been largely constructed, as well as the giant teleporters continuously transporting units to the ground, were also completely destroyed. The defensive pressure on the Central Hive suddenly decreased.
This meant that the time for a counterattack had arrived! The defenders on Avarax would no longer simply remain on the defensive line but would actively launch offensives. The initiative had completely changed hands.
"Maintain progress, continue to gradually destroy the remaining Ork Junkyard Cities on Avarax."