Chapter 21 - Catonia

The border star systems of Ultramar had already transformed into a bloody crucible.

The clash between the Imperium and the Tyranids, two archenemies, had entered its most brutal phase from the very beginning.

In the outer asteroid belt of the Salamas system, a relatively small Imperial fleet—primarily composed of several Blood Ravens Chapter strike cruisers and some older local navy vessels—encountered a vanguard tendril of the massive Tyranid fleet.

The Blood Ravens Chapter, known for its thirst for knowledge and relics, as well as its powerful psychic traditions, now displayed astonishing resilience and combat prowess.

Their vessels skillfully weaved through the biological ships, which vastly outnumbered them, unleashing destructive beams from their macro-cannon arrays and lance batteries, pulverizing every Devourer, Gargoyle, and larger cruiser-class biological vessel that attempted to approach.

The Blood Ravens' Librarians stood on the bridges or in dedicated psychic amplifiers, channeling powerful psychic lightning storms to tear open the hulls of biological ships or disrupt their internal neural nodes.

Meanwhile, the battle-brothers, aboard Thunderhawk Gunships, bravely boarded the biological ships attempting to reach the planet, engaging in bloody boarding actions within the twisted, writhing flesh corridors against endless Genestealers, Rippers, and Termagants.

In the void, explosions continuously flared, scattering bio-acid and metallic debris.

The Blood Ravens warriors fought to the death, knowing they were buying precious time for the defenses of the worlds behind them.

Every destroyed Tyranid vessel, every eliminated Tyranid creature, could add a measure of stability to the ground defenses.

But the swarm's numbers were simply too vast.

They came like an endless tide, wave after wave, fearless in the face of death.

The Blood Ravens' ships were continuously damaged, and one strike cruiser, after being swarmed by several cruiser-class biological vessels, suffered an engine overload and exploded, becoming a massive fireball in the void.

"For the Emperor!" the Blood Ravens Chapter commander roared over the comms, rallying his subordinates, "Hold the line! Do not let these xenos desecrate the worlds of the Imperium!"

Their sacrifice was not in vain.

They successfully pinned this Tyranid vanguard in the outer Salamas system, delaying its advance towards the planet and securing a crucial window for defenses in other areas.

...

Meanwhile, the Macragge's Honour received the latest intelligence from multiple sources.

"Chapter Master! The Space Wolves Chapter reports: Great Company Leader Bjorn Oldo's 'Crescent Howl' Ravager force has passed through the Mandeville Point and is expected to arrive at the designated rendezvous in the Prestian system in two days at the earliest!"

"Good news!" Chapter Master Calgar's taut face showed a hint of relief.

The ferocious assault power of the Space Wolves was precisely what was needed to counter the Tyranid horde.

"Regarding the successor chapters, a company from the Chaplain Brotherhood has arrived in the Catonia system and is assisting the Planetary Defense Forces in reinforcing the defenses of the main Hive City, Steadfast City.

Nova's fleet is also en route."

On the star map, points of light representing Imperial forces were converging with difficulty but determination towards several key border systems, attempting to establish a fragile defensive line against the crimson tide of the Devourer.

Calgar's gaze finally settled on the Catonia system.

It was a vital industrial world, capable of manufacturing heavy equipment, and absolutely could not be lost easily.

"Orders!" he stated gravely, "7th Company, 2nd Company, immediately assemble! Destination: Catonia system's main planet, Steadfast City! Mission: Assist the Chaplain Brotherhood and the local Planetary Defense Forces in establishing ground defenses to repel any Tyranids attempting to land!"

"Yes, Chapter Master!" 7th Company Captain Cassius and 2nd Company Captain immediately acknowledged the order.

"Captain Angerthas," Calgar looked at the Grey Knights Terminator beside him, "The ground battle on Catonia may require your strength."

"It is our duty," Angerthas replied in a low voice.

"Captain Moreno," Calgar's gaze shifted to the other side, his tone noticeably colder, "Your mission is to monitor abnormal psychic signals on the battlefield, especially Warp interference that may originate from the Tyranid Hive Mind.

You are not to act without my direct orders, nor are you to interfere with frontline command."

Captain Moreno responded coldly, "We know our duty."

Valerius and Kaldor, standing behind him, remained equally silent and cold.

Orders were swiftly issued.

The warriors of the 7th Company and 2nd Company immediately began their final preparations for boarding.

The hangar was a hive of activity, with the engines of Thunderhawk Gunships and Stormraven Gunships beginning to warm up.

Second Squad also received their orders.

Sergeant Gorden quickly assigned tasks: "Check your gear, assemble in Hangar 3 in ten minutes! Luna, you're responsible for checking the status of our squad's dedicated transport! Lina, stick close to Luna, carry the spare parts box!"

"Yes!" everyone responded.

Just then, Dorian somehow got wind of the details of the previous conflict, particularly the part where Kaldor had used a psychic suppression gun to incapacitate Luna.

The hot-headed brute instantly exploded!

He already disliked the Grey Knights (especially Moreno's squad), and now, with old and new grievances surging, he violently pushed aside the Tech-Priest who was checking the seams of his armor, charging towards the silent Grey Knight Kaldor, who was waiting nearby, like an enraged bull, roaring!

"You silver-skinned tin can bastard! You dared to lay a hand on Luna?! I'll tear you apart!" Dorian roared, not even bothering with a weapon, his massive, pot-sized fist, whistling through the air, slammed towards Kaldor's face!

This sudden turn of events caught everyone by surprise!

Kaldor evidently hadn't expected this reckless brute to directly attack a Grey Knight in broad daylight, but his reaction speed as a Grey Knight was incredibly fast!

Almost instinctively, he subtly shifted his body, easily dodging Dorian's enraged blow, and at the same time, pushed back with his hand, an invisible psychic force instantly surging forth!

Bang! Dorian felt as if he had been struck by a Thunderbeast, his massive body staggering backward uncontrollably for several steps, almost falling on his rear, his chest churning with a surge of blood!

"Damn it!" Dorian became even more furious, steadying himself to pounce again, completely forgetting his previous experience of being easily subdued and beaten black and blue by Kaldor.

"Dorian! Stop!" Sergeant Gorden sharply commanded.

Almost simultaneously, Gaius and Cliff rushed up, one from each side, holding back the enraged Dorian with all their might!

"Let go of me! I'm going to smash that silver-skinned bastard!" Dorian struggled, his immense strength making it difficult for both Gaius and Cliff.

"Calm down, Dorian!" Gaius growled in his ear, "Now is not the time for infighting! The swarm is coming soon!"

Cliff also calmly analyzed, "Impulsive actions will only give them an advantage, increase our risk of being targeted by Moreno's squad, and violate military discipline!"

On the other side, Kaldor merely watched the restrained Dorian coldly, his hand still resting on the hilt of his force sword, without any other expression.

Captain Moreno and Valerius also cast only a cold glance, as if watching a boring farce.

Captain Angerthas' low voice rang out: "Brother Kaldor, sheathe your weapon.

Declan Catonia, control your emotions.

With the great enemy before us, any internal conflict is unacceptable."

Hoss' massive body also shifted slightly, subtly placing himself between Dorian and Kaldor.

Dorian gasped for breath, his eyes red as he glared at Kaldor, but under the obstruction of Gorden, Gaius, and Cliff, and Captain Angerthas' warning, he finally managed to suppress his rage, spitting fiercely: "Damn it... just you wait..."

Kaldor, however, completely ignored his threat, as if nothing had happened.

All personnel had boarded the transports.

The massive Macragge's Honour did not move; it would remain here as the command center and strategic reserve.

And one after another, transports laden with blue-armored warriors, like a swarm of bees leaving their hive, detached from the mothership, ignited their engines, formed battle formations, and sped towards the Catonia system.

Inside one of the 7th Company's transports, the atmosphere was somewhat subdued.

The recent conflict had left everyone feeling a little troubled.

Lina was clearly frightened, her small face pale, sitting close to Luna, clutching her doll and statue, and whispered, "Lady Luna... will Sir Dorian be alright?"

Luna, without looking up, checked the route information on her data-slate: "Impulsive, foolish, undisciplined.

But his life is not in danger for now."

Her answer was as direct as ever.

Lina nodded, seemingly understanding yet not fully.

On the other side, Lex was quietly discussing something with Cliff, seemingly calculating the odds if Dorian actually fought against that Grey Knight Terminator named Hoss... Lex thought Dorian could last three seconds with brute force, while Cliff, after calculations, believed the probability was less than 0.5 percent.

A few hours later, Gaius leaned against the bulkhead, observing the scene.

A dozing Lina, Lex researching how to fight, a still-sulking Dorian, a calmly analyzing Cliff, a busy Luna, and a meditating Gorden and Thor... This was his squad, his brothers, his important companions.

Though constantly troublesome and diverse in personality, they were the ones he could trust his back to.

The continuous mental strain and the previous conflict brought on a wave of fatigue.

The hum of the transport's engines was like a lullaby, and he closed his eyes, intending to rest for a while before reaching the battlefield.

In a hazy state, his consciousness seemed to sink into a chaotic shallows.

Suddenly, he seemed to hear a faint, metallic-scraping cry.

He struggled to "open" the eyes of his consciousness, and in a blur of light and shadow, he saw a... crow?

The raven was an eerie, deep blue, seemingly made of energy, with the edges of its feathers shimmering with faint, circuit board-like patterns.

It glided silently through the field of his consciousness, its red eyes seeming to glance at him for an extremely brief moment, filled with an indescribable… cunning and profound meaning.

Just as Gaius tried to get a closer look, the blue raven vanished like a phantom, as if it had never appeared.

Gaius jolted awake, finding himself still inside the transport's cabin, with his brothers around him maintaining their original states, seemingly unaware of any anomaly.

Was it a dream? Or…

He unconsciously touched his left arm, which could move freely but contained an unknown power, and his brows furrowed deeply. The shadow of the Lord of Change seemed to never truly leave, even at this critical moment of rushing to the battlefield against the xenos, it remained like a shadow.

The transport vibrated slightly, and the pilot's voice came through the internal comms: "Attention, everyone, we are about to enter the Catonia system's gravitational field. We will arrive at Steadfast City Spaceport in one hour. Please prepare for landing."

The atmosphere of war instantly dispelled all distracting thoughts. Gaius took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing the eerie blue raven illusion in his heart, and began to perform final checks on his weapons and equipment, just like his other brothers.

Catonia, awaiting them, would be an unprecedented bloodbath. And what future did the whispers and illusions hidden in the dark portend? No one knew. All they could do was fight, for survival, for the Imperium.

The transport fleet broke through the thin atmosphere above the main planet of Catonia, Steadfast City, and slowly landed inside the spaceport, which was fortified like an iron barrel. The hatch opened, and the Ultramarines of the 7th Company and 2nd Company stepped onto this land that was about to turn into scorched earth.

The air was thick with tension and anxiety. In the distance, towering Hive City spires pierced the sky, but the usually bustling and prosperous city was now unusually silent, with only the roar of troop movements and the metallic screech of anti-aircraft turrets rotating. The blue armor of the Chaplain Brotherhood (their blue was slightly different from the Ultramarines, with a hint of silver trim) and the khaki uniforms of the local Planetary Defense Forces formed the main defensive color scheme.

Without much pleasantry, the Ultramarines immediately plunged into the intense work of deploying their defensive lines. According to the pre-established plan, and after on-site reconnaissance and consultation with the Chaplain Brotherhood commander, two main defensive lines were finally determined:

The first line of defense was established in the relatively open industrial zone and the ruins of abandoned excavation sites on the outskirts of the Hive City. This terrain was relatively flat, suitable for large-scale Tyranid charges, and also conducive to the deployment of firepower. It was primarily garrisoned by the warriors of the 2nd Company and a large number of Planetary Defense Forces soldiers. Their mission was to use pre-set minefields, trenches, fire forts, and heavy weapon platforms to maximize the attrition of the Tyranid forces and slow their advance.

The second line of defense was built relying on the massive, sturdy city walls and dense urban blocks of the Hive City itself. This was the last bastion, defended by the 7th Company, the Astartes of the Chaplain Brotherhood, and the most elite units of the Planetary Defense Forces. Once the first line of defense was breached, this would become a meat-grinder of urban warfare.

The entire Steadfast City operated like a giant, frantic beehive. Engineering vehicles roared, constantly reinforcing fortifications; ammunition was transported to the front lines in crates; communication lines were repeatedly tested; multiple medical stations were established…

Second Squad was assigned to an important section of the city wall on the second line of defense. Sergeant Golden immediately directed his team members to familiarize themselves with the environment, check weapon reserves, and assign firing positions.

Amidst this busy scene, there were also some slightly "abrupt" yet crucial sights. The Grey Knights Terminator Kazatoki, his massive body like a moving silver fortress, chose a firing position behind a crenellation with an open field of view on the city wall. But the heavy plasma cannon in his hand and the medium assault cannon hanging at his waist, their magazines were extremely inconvenient and time-consuming to replace for his huge armored hands.

Thus, several specially assigned Planetary Defense Forces soldiers, nervously and with a touch of honor, were responsible for replacing his magazines. They needed to work together to lift the heavy plasma fuel cells and assault cannon drums, carefully connecting them to the ammunition feed port on Kazatoki's back according to the instructions of a nearby Tech-Priest. The Terminator, like a silent mountain, scanned the distant horizon with his electronic eyes, occasionally emitting a low hum to indicate the next operation. These mortal soldiers seemed particularly small beside him, yet they formed an indispensable part of this war machine.

Captain Angerthas and Hoss, meanwhile, patrolled between the defensive lines, their powerful psychic senses able to provide early warning of any special bio-units or psychic attacks that might appear. Moreno's squad, like ghosts, remained near the relatively rear command post, monitoring the psychic fluctuations of the entire battlefield; their presence made the surrounding Planetary Defense Forces soldiers feel an inexplicable ??, causing them to give a wide berth.

Time flew by in the tense preparations for war. News from other war zones came in intermittently: Nova's fleet was engaged in a fierce naval battle with the Tyranids in another system; the Space Wolves' raiders were still on their way, their wolf howls seemingly already faintly audible through the Warp; there were even rumors that the Lord Regent of the Imperium, Primarch Guilliman, was highly concerned about the situation in Ultramar, and might even take time out from his busy Terra affairs to inquire about it. This undoubtedly gave the warriors greater confidence and pressure.

Three days later, one afternoon, the sky was still clear, with only a few wisps of clouds.

Suddenly, it was as if night had fallen! A colossal, sky-obscuring shadow slowly enveloped the entire sky above Steadfast City from outer orbit! It was not a cloud, but an unimaginably vast biological entity—the Hive Ship! Its colossal, planet-sized body, riddled with bio-structural ravines and grotesque orifices, slowly adjusted its posture, casting a shadow that instantly turned day into dusk! A cold, hungry, suffocating psychic pressure descended like a tangible force!

"Enemy attack!!! Highest alert!! All units to positions!!" Piercing alarms and the roars of officers instantly echoed throughout the entire defense line!

The hearts of all the warriors tightened sharply, and adrenaline surged. They gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed on the sky, which looked as if the end of the world had arrived.

3:40 PM.

Without warning, the porous underside of the Hive Ship suddenly opened countless spore sacs! The next moment, a dense, rain-like torrent of mucus-coated organic spore pods, trailing long biological contrails, roared down from the sky! They slammed into the vast areas around the Hive City like meteors, especially in front of and behind the first line of defense!

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

A dense series of impacts sounded like a drum roll! The spore pods embedded deeply into the ground, and then their shells burst open! What surged out were countless Tyranid creatures, their eyes gleaming with hungry green light, roaring and shrieking! Rippers poured out like a tide, moving with astonishing speed; Termagants immediately sought cover and began spraying deadly bio-projectiles; larger, more ferocious Warrior Tyranids emitted ear-splitting screeches, directing the swarm!

Almost instantly upon landing, these cold killing machines formed a terrifying wave, launching a frenzied charge towards the first line of defense! They ignored the explosions of landmines, disregarded the panicked laser fire from the Planetary Defense Forces soldiers, surging forward relentlessly, paving the way with their bodies!

"Open fire! Free fire! For the Emperor!" The roar of the 2nd Company Captain came through the comms channel!

On the first line of defense, a deafening roar erupted instantly! Heavy Bolters, heavy laser cannons, autocannons, mortars… all firepower poured wildly onto the Tyranid swarm! Forming a deadly net of fire!

Countless Rippers and Termagants were torn to shreds in the first wave of fire, green blood and severed limbs splattering everywhere! But the Tyranids behind immediately charged over the bodies of their comrades, their speed undiminished! They were like a death wave that knew no fear, frantically crashing against the fragile human defenses!

The warriors of the 2nd Company calmly fired precise shots at elite units, such as Warrior Tyranids, that tried to break through the fire net. But their numbers were too few compared to the endless Tyranid tide! The Planetary Defense Forces' line began to waver and partially collapse under the frantic onslaught of the swarm!

"The first line of defense is under immense pressure! They need support!" Captain Cassius of the 7th Company clenched his fists in the command post of the second line of defense.

"Prepare the Dreadnoughts!" he ordered.

Soon, four Dreadnoughts, as massive as mobile shrines, emerged from behind the cover of the second line of defense with heavy, determined steps, heading towards the sally ports reserved in the city wall. Of these four Dreadnoughts, two belonged to the 7th Company, and the other two were specifically left for the 7th Company by the 2nd Company during deployment, considering the greater need for heavy fire support in urban combat environments!

These ancient war heroes, encased in thick armor, had either large assault cannons, heavy flamers, or missile launchers for hands. Their low, electronically synthesized war cries rang out through external loudspeakers:

"For the Emperor! For Ultramar!"

"Purge the xenos!"

Their addition was like a powerful shot in the arm for the tottering first line of defense! Their powerful firepower instantly cleared a large area of the Tyranid swarm!

However, everyone knew this was just the beginning. The Hive Ship in the sky continued to drop more spore pods…

The real test had only just begun. Cold slaughter and fervent courage collided violently on this planet named Catonia.

The collapse of the first line of defense was faster and more brutal than anyone had anticipated.

The Tyranids' charge was not a chaotic beastly assault, but a wave of death precisely controlled by the Hive Mind. They disregarded casualties, using the corpses of lower Ripper and Termagants to deplete human ammunition and morale, while higher-ranking Warrior Tyranids and more monstrous creatures hid within the swarm, searching for weak points in the defense, then striking like venomous snakes!

Although the Planetary Defense Forces soldiers were brave, their lasguns and crude fortifications seemed so powerless against the endless tide of Tyranids. Their lines were easily torn apart, and soldiers often only had time to let out a scream before being engulfed by the surging Ripper, instantly reduced to bones.

The warriors of the 2nd Company resisted desperately; their Bolter accurately targeted and killed Warrior Tyranids, and their chainswords hacked at any monster that dared to approach. But their numbers were too few! Scattered along the long defensive line, like a few reefs in a raging storm, they were quickly cut off and surrounded by the Tyranid swarm.

"Retreat! Retreat to the second line of defense! Provide covering fire!" The 2nd Company Captain's voice roared through the comms channel, filled with pain and unwillingness.

The remaining 2nd Company warriors and a small number of fortunate Planetary Defense Forces soldiers began to fight and retreat, relying on broken fortifications and the bodies of their comrades, slowly falling back towards the tall city walls of the Hive City. Every step was stained with blood, and with every step, someone fell, devoured by the frenzied swarm.

The swarm pursued relentlessly, even beginning to climb the mountain of their own dead, attempting to bypass the retreating human soldiers and rush directly towards the second line of defense!

Just then, four Dreadnoughts, like insurmountable steel bulwarks, unleashed a destructive storm of firepower from their assault cannons and heavy flamers, instantly vaporizing and igniting the leading edge of the Tyranid swarm! Missile launchers continuously fired high-explosive warheads, detonating in the depths of the swarm in bursts of bloody fireworks!

"For the Emperor! For our fallen brothers!" A Dreadnought belonging to the 2nd Company let out a muffled battle roar, its twin-linked assault cannons spinning and roaring at hundreds of rounds per second, pulverizing the approaching swarm into paste!

At the same time, atop the city walls of the second line of defense, Kazatoki's massive Terminator body stood unmoving like a fixed gun emplacement. His shoulder-mounted plasma cannon, after a brief charge, emitted an unsettling hum, then fired a dazzling blue beam of energy!

Boom!

The plasma beam, like a god's spear, instantly pierced through hundreds of meters, accurately striking a massive venomous Tyranid attempting to outflank the retreating forces! The monster didn't even have time to scream before being incinerated into dust by the extreme heat! The shockwave of the explosion even vaporized a large area of Ripper nearby!

The medium assault cannon at his waist also roared continuously, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, clearing out the scattered Tyranids attempting to approach the base of the city wall. Several soldiers nervously and efficiently replaced his empty drum magazines and plasma fuel cells, ensuring the silver god of death's firepower never ceased.

Under the powerful covering fire of the Dreadnoughts and Kazatoki, the remaining 2nd Company and Planetary Defense Forces soldiers finally managed to retreat into the cover of the second line of defense. The heavy blast doors slowly descended behind them, temporarily isolating the surging swarm. But everyone's face carried the horror of surviving a disaster and the grief of losing comrades. The first line of defense had been declared lost in a short time.

However, the crisis was far from over. The Tyranid Hive Ship in the sky continued to drop spore pods! New swarms rained down, quickly replenishing losses and beginning to reorganize their assault! Their target was the towering Hive City walls!

All firing points on the city wall opened fire, attempting to eliminate as many Tyranids as possible before the swarm could form a significant force. Bolter, laser, and autocannon barrages fell like deadly rain; the base of the wall quickly accumulated thick piles of Tyranid corpses, but more Tyranids climbed madly over the mountain of dead!

"Prioritize clearing those spore pods! Shoot them down!" Sergeant Gorden shouted over the comms channel. The members of the Second Squad, using the battlements for cover, accurately targeted the spore pods about to land, detonating them prematurely to reduce the number of Tyranids reaching the ground.

But there were simply too many spore pods!

Just then, a huge roar and an angry bellow suddenly erupted from the battlefield below the city wall!

Hoss' figure, like a mobile fortress, was seen locked in fierce combat with a massive monster that had just broken through the firing net and climbed the mountain of corpses!

It was an Executioner! One of the Tyranids' most deadly siege units! It was enormous, comparable to a Dreadnought, with sharp bone scythes for limbs, possessing the ability to camouflage and launch stealth attacks! It had approached silently at some unknown point, then suddenly erupted, a deadly slash almost severing the arm of a Dreadnought that was spewing flames!

Hoss roared and met it! The massive Demonrender Hammer in his hand slammed down on the Executioner with immense force! The Executioner agilely leaped away, and a deep crater was left where it had been! It let out a piercing shriek, its scythe-like forelimbs slashing like lightning towards Hoss' neck!

Clang!

Sparks flew! Hoss absorbed the blow with his heavy shoulder plate, leaving a deep scratch on his Terminator armor! He seized the opportunity to swing his warhammer, striking again! The Executioner, relying on its uncanny speed and agility, dodged again, while the bone spur at the tip of its tail stabbed like a scorpion towards Hoss' observation slit!

Two behemoths engaged in an earth-shattering duel beneath the city wall! Hammer winds howled, scythes flashed, and every collision shook the ground! Hoss' strength was unparalleled, but the Executioner's speed and deadly skill made it difficult for him to finish it quickly. The surrounding swarm attempted to take advantage and gang up on Hoss, but they were firmly held back by the firepower of other Ultramarines and the Chaplain Brotherhood.

Captain Angerthas did not join the mêlée below; he stood like a steadfast pillar at the command node in the middle of the city wall. His deep voice, through the comms channel, calmly allocated forces, directed firepower to key areas, and his powerful psychic senses scanned the battlefield like radar, preemptively warning of any potential special threats or psychic attacks.

"Left third section, Tyranid density increasing, needs more firepower!"

"Watch the sky! Spore pod impact points are shifting to the east!"

"Hoss! Three Warrior Tyranids on the right flank are attempting to outflank you!"

His command was efficient and precise, greatly alleviating the pressure on the frontline commanders.

However, just as the defenders on the city wall were fully engaged with the frontal and aerial threats, a more eerie and unsettling oppressive feeling quietly spread from the side and rear of the battlefield.

Several bloated creatures, resembling giant brains floating in mid-air, surrounded by a retinue of elite Tyranid guards, were drifting towards the city wall at a speed inconsistent with their size!

They were Neurothrope! And there were several of them! Their massive, convoluted, and ganglion-ridden heads emitted powerful psychic fluctuations, surrounded by a psychic shield that distorted light and was capable of deflecting Bolter rounds! Their faceless countenances seemed to hold nothing but pure, cold malice and a desire for destruction!

"High-value psychic targets detected! Neurothrope cluster! Bearing T-3!" Captain Angerthas immediately warned.

The Bolter and lasers on the city wall immediately turned to fire at the Neurothrope! However, both Bolter rounds and laser beams were easily deflected, refracted, or even absorbed by the distorted psychic shield when they approached a certain range around them! They could not cause effective damage at all!

And the Neurothrope began to gather powerful psychic energy! Their enormous heads emitted an eerie glow, and destructive psychic lightning began to converge and leap between them, targeting the firing points and densely populated areas on the city wall! If they succeeded in releasing it, it would undoubtedly cause catastrophic consequences!

"We must stop them!" Captain Cassius roared, "All heavy firepower concentrate fire! Disrupt them!"

But the effect was minimal. The strength of the psychic shield far exceeded imagination.

Just then, three silver-grey figures, radiating cold psychic fluctuations, appeared like ghosts on that section of the city wall, directly blocking the Neurothrope cluster from the wall.

It was Captain Moreno, Valerius, and Kaldor!

They had finally made their move!

Captain Moreno's Nemesis Force Halberd hummed, its blade flowing with pure silver psychic flame. Valerius gripped his Demonrender Hammer, and Kaldor's psychic sword also glowed with a cold light.

"Foul xenos creations… daring to desecrate sacred human territory…" Captain Moreno's cold voice seemed to freeze the air, "In the name of the Emperor and the Grey Knights Chapter… purify them!"

The three simultaneously unleashed powerful psychic energy; silver light, like three sharp swords, pierced through the mental oppression brought by the Neurothrope! Their psychic attributes were completely different from the Neurothrope's chaotic psychic energy, filled with order, coldness, and a pure will for destruction, precisely the bane of these psychic xenos!

The Neurothrope also seemed to sense the immense threat; their psychic shrieks became even more piercing, the light of their shields around them intensified, and the converging psychic lightning redirected, violently blasting towards the three Grey Knights!

"For the Emperor!" Captain Moreno roared, thrusting his Nemesis Force Halberd forward; a silver psychic shockwave erupted from the halberd, directly colliding with the incoming psychic lightning!

Boom!

Two powerful psychic forces violently collided in the air, erupting in a deafening roar and blinding light! Psychic turbulence spread like a storm, even causing the nearby defenders on the city wall to feel a dizzying sensation!

Valerius and Kaldor also attacked simultaneously; their psychic weapons fiercely slashed at the Neurothrope's psychic shields, erupting in intense energy ripples! The shields fluctuated violently; although not immediately broken, they were clearly under immense pressure!

A peak showdown between the Imperium's most elite psychic warriors and the Tyranids' psychic nodes suddenly erupted on this blood-soaked battlefield!

Silver psychic energy and eerie green Tyranid psychic energy wildly collided and annihilated each other! Captain Moreno's squad of three stood like bedrock, firmly blocking the Neurothrope cluster's advance and their destructive psychic attacks!

The defenders on the city walls temporarily breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew that the Grey Knights holding back the most deadly threat did not mean the end of the battle. Below, an endless tide of Tyranids still furiously assaulted the city walls; in the sky, spore sacs continued to fall like rain; in the distance, Hoss' duel with the Executioner still raged on…

Catonia's battle for survival had entered its most brutal and intense phase! Every second, lives were extinguished, and every inch of land was stained with blood. And hope, like a flickering candle in the wind, wavered precariously.

Below the city walls, Hoss' duel with the Executioner had reached a fever pitch. Each clash between the two behemoths shook the ground, sending sparks and debris flying like miniature explosions. The Executioner was as swift as a ghost, its sharp bone scythes like the wind of death, constantly leaving deep gashes on Hoss' heavy Terminator armor, once even narrowly grazing his helmet's observation slit.

Hoss, on the other hand, was like an enraged mountain god; his attacks were powerful and heavy, each hammer blow carrying the force to shatter stars. Although the Executioner always managed to evade vital points with its Weird movements, the wind pressure generated by the swinging warhammer and the occasional glancing blow still caused its carapace to crack, sending green ichor splattering.

Unable to land a decisive blow, the Executioner seemed to lose patience. It let out a sharp shriek, feigning a strike at Hoss' leg with its right scythe, but the moment Hoss blocked, its body twisted at an incredible angle, and its left scythe shot out like a venomous snake, stabbing directly at the relatively weaker joint between Hoss' shoulder pauldron and breastplate!

This strike was fast, accurate, and vicious! It even carried a certain penetrating biological energy!

Screech!

A teeth-grinding sound of metal tearing erupted! The sharp tip of the Executioner's scythe had actually pierced through Hoss' shoulder armor! Though it didn't fully penetrate, it clearly caused an injury! Green bio-acid injected into the wound!

"Ugh!" Hoss let out a grunt mixed with pain and fury, his movements momentarily freezing.

A cruel glint of triumph flashed in the Executioner's eyes, as it prepared to seize the opportunity to widen the wound, pull out its scythe, and deliver a fatal blow!

However, it underestimated the Grey Knights Terminator's resilience and wrath!

In that instant of injury, Hoss' reaction was lightning-fast! Instead of retreating, he took a forceful step forward, using his pierced shoulder to firmly trap the Executioner's scythe! At the same time, his right hand, which had been poised and ready, gripping the Daemon-Slayer Hammer, swung upwards with the force of a thunderbolt!

This hammer blow contained all of Hoss' strength, fury, and the ferocity ignited by his injury! The psychic glow emanating from the hammerhead even became blinding!

The Executioner realized the fatal danger and tried to retreat, but its weapon was locked by Hoss' body! It could only watch in terror as the massive warhammer rapidly grew larger in front of its eyes!

Boom!!!

Like a watermelon smashed by a heavy hammer! The Executioner's relatively fragile head, along with half of its upper body, instantly exploded under Hoss' enraged strike! Green pulp, shattered carapace, and neural tissue sprayed backward like a downpour!

The headless, massive body twitched a few times before crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Hoss gasped for breath, yanked the broken scythe blade still embedded in his shoulder, and casually tossed it to the ground. A burning, excruciating pain emanated from the wound, but he merely let out a low growl, not even glancing at the dead Executioner, his gaze once again fixed on the surging tide of Tyranids around him. For a Grey Knight, as long as he could still move, the battle was far from over.

…

On the city walls, Kazatoki's massive body remained like an unyielding silver reef. His plasma cannon was recharged, and his optical sensors locked onto another Executioner in the distance attempting to quickly approach from the flank, using the swarm as cover.

That Executioner seemed to have learned from its companion's demise, moving even more stealthily, constantly using the terrain and the corpses of its kin to conceal its presence.

But Kazatoki's combat logic system had already calculated its trajectory. Just as the Executioner leaped out from behind a pile of corpses, pouncing towards the back of a Dreadnought that was firing!

Buzz—Boom!

A blinding blue plasma beam once again tore through the air, striking the Executioner's airborne body with pinpoint accuracy!

The extreme heat instantly vaporized it, leaving not even a trace of residue! Only the scent of ozone and char in the air testified to its former existence.

The soldiers reloading Kazatoki's ammunition let out a low cheer, their gazes filled with awe as they looked at the silver giant.

Meanwhile, on another section of the city wall, the psychic duel between the Grey Knights and the Broodlords had entered its most intense phase. Silver psychic energy of order clashed wildly with emerald bio-psychic energy, erupting in deafening roars and blinding flashes of light. The psychic storm even formed a small energy vortex, tearing apart ordinary Tyranids that came too close.

Captain Moreno's force halberd tore through large sections of psychic shields with every swing; Valerius' warhammer violently slammed, constantly interrupting the Broodlords' psychic focus; Kaldor's psychic sword, like a venomous snake, sought out weak points in the shields for piercing.

Although the Broodlord Cluster was powerful, it was gradually falling into a disadvantage against the three Grey Knights specifically trained to counter them. Their shield glows began to flicker erratically, and the psychic shrieks they emitted took on a painful quality. The scales of victory were slowly but steadily tipping towards the Grey Knights.

…

The members of the Second Squad, along with their Ultramarines and Chaplain Brotherhood comrades, held the line against the surging tide of Tyranids, relying on the city walls and the four Dreadnoughts, which stood like immovable anchors. The roar of Bolters, the growl of chainswords, and the hiss of lasguns blended into a cacophony.

"Left! Watch out for the left!" Gaius suddenly shouted, a sharp stinging sensation in his left arm, and a chilling feeling of being watched and targeted washed over him.

Almost simultaneously with his warning, a Ripper-Axe, several times larger than a normal Ripper and with forelimbs evolved into massive bone blades, suddenly burst from behind a pile of Tyranid corpses, pouncing with astonishing speed towards a Planetary Defense Forces soldier who was reloading!

The soldier had no time to react, seeing only a dark blur flash past, and the next second he was cut in half by the terrifying Ripper-Axe! Blood splattered everywhere!

"Damn it!" Dorian roared, not even waiting for Gorden's order, his massive body charging forward like a tank, his chainsword already roaring!

"Dorian! Come back!" Gorden cried urgently, but it was too late.

The Ripper-Axe, having just killed a soldier, immediately locked its bloodthirsty gaze on the charging Dorian, letting out a threatening hiss, and swung its massive bone blades to meet him!

Clang!

Chainsword and bone blade collided violently, sending sparks flying! Dorian's strength was clearly superior, forcing the Ripper-Axe back a step! But the Ripper-Axe was extremely agile, spinning with the momentum, and its other bone blade swept horizontally at Dorian's waist!

Dorian, with his extensive combat experience, did not retreat but advanced, ducking under the sweep, while simultaneously bringing his chainsword up with a powerful upward slash!

Screech!

A piercing cutting sound erupted! The chainsword's teeth savagely tore at the Ripper-Axe's relatively fragile lower abdominal carapace, sending green ichor and shattered internal organs gushing out!

The Ripper-Axe let out a painful shriek, its movements momentarily halting. Dorian seized the opportunity, roaring as he charged forward, slamming his shoulder pauldron into the Ripper-Axe's chest, knocking it off balance. At the same time, he raised his chainsword high and brought it down with all his might!

Crack!

The sword cleaved directly from the Ripper-Axe's head, almost splitting its massive body in two!

Dorian panted, standing before the still-twitching Tyranid corpse, his chainsword covered in green goo. He shook the filth from his blade and spat at the corpse: "Damn it! Pathetic!"

Although his victory appeared effortless, the terrifying close-quarters combat ability and precise killing techniques he displayed in that instant still left the surrounding Planetary Defense Forces soldiers wide-eyed.

"Well done, Dorian! But don't act on your own!" Gorden's voice came through the comms, carrying both approval and a warning.

"Got it, Sergeant!" Dorian grumbled, retreating to the defensive line, but with a smug look on his face.

Gaius, however, did not relax. His left arm continued to send faint but clear stings and a sense of direction. "Underground! Something is digging! Watch your step!" he warned again.

Several Chaplain Brotherhood warriors immediately reacted, throwing several grenades in the direction Gaius indicated.

Boom! Boom!

After the explosions, several large craters were blown into the ground, and the severed limbs of several giant centipede-like Serpentworms and Lictors, attempting to ambush from underground, were blasted out!

Gaius' peculiar sensory ability played an unexpectedly crucial role in the chaotic battlefield, repeatedly providing early warnings of ambushes from the shadows and saving the lives of many comrades.

…

Below the city walls, Hoss, who had just dealt with the Executioner, hadn't even had a chance to treat the wound on his shoulder, which was still sizzling and corroding from bio-acid, when he was surrounded by a pack of roaring Warrior Tyranids.

These elite units, larger than common Tyranids and equipped with bio-weapons, attempted to overwhelm the injured giant with sheer numbers.

However, they had chosen the wrong target.

"Insects!" Hoss let out a guttural roar, not even bothering to use psychic powers, simply swinging his blood-soaked Daemon-Slayer Hammer!

Like a game of whack-a-mole! Every hammer blow inevitably smashed a Warrior Tyranid into a bloody pulp! Their bone swords merely left shallow white marks on Hoss' Terminator armor! Hoss was like a tiger in a flock of sheep, unstoppable, and in just over ten seconds, another pile of shattered Tyranid corpses lay around him!

But as he was clearing these lesser foes, a deeper, more dangerous vibration came from beneath his feet!

Suddenly, the ground in front of Hoss to his side exploded! A terrifying Mawloc, extremely massive, with a diameter almost equal to Hoss' height, burst from the earth! Its giant mouth, like an abyss, opened, filled with rings of rotating, razor-sharp teeth, and with an all-consuming ferocity, it lunged and bit at Hoss!

This sudden attack, aimed directly at Hoss, who had just endured a fierce battle and whose attention was distracted by the lesser foes!

Hoss was struck squarely by the Burrowing Serpent with a dull thud. He lost his footing, and his massive body toppled straight down, his great hammer nearly slipping from his grasp.

Then, the Burrowing Serpent's abyss-like maw, bringing with it a foul-smelling wind pressure and destructive power, fiercely lunged at Hoss, who was attempting to get up! If this bite had landed, even the Terminator armor would likely have struggled to fully withstand it!

In the nick of time!

"Fire! Aim for its belly!" a veteran of the Planetary Defense Forces roared, his voice hoarse! He and several other soldiers, who had been providing cover nearby and were almost knocked over by Hoss' fall, were pale with fright but did not retreat!

Their laser guns instinctively aimed at the Burrowing Serpent's relatively soft underbelly, which lacked thick, heavy carapace, and unleashed a barrage of intense fire!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! Bang!

The dense laser beams struck the Burrowing Serpent's fleshy underbelly. While unable to inflict fatal wounds, the sudden, sharp pain and disruption successfully caused a slight delay and deviation in the Burrowing Serpent's movements! Its deadly bite grazed Hoss' shoulder plate, only scraping off a large patch of silver coating and sparks!

These precious few tenths of a second were enough for a battle-hardened Grey Knights Terminator!

"Aaaah!!!" Hoss let out a deafening roar, not a cry of pain, but a battle cry of utter fury! Enraged by the sneak attack of this hideous xeno, his wrath erupted like a volcano!

He completely ignored the Burrowing Serpent, which was raising its body again, preparing to launch a second attack, and paid no mind to the still-stinging wound on his shoulder.

His massive body spun with an explosive speed unbefitting his size, and with the force of the rotation, the incredibly heavy Demon-Smasher Hammer was swung in a full arc, cutting a silver arc of death with a terrifying, air-rending whistle!

The Burrowing Serpent had just raised its upper body, preparing to unleash its fury on the puny humans who dared to harm it. Its simple nervous system hadn't even had time to process the next attack command—

Boom!!!!!!

It was like a ton of explosives detonating in an enclosed space!

Hoss' hammer, imbued with his rage, struck squarely and without flourish at the junction of the Burrowing Serpent's raised head and neck!

At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

The next moment, an indescribably horrific scene unfolded before everyone's eyes!

The Burrowing Serpent's incredibly hard head, capable of smashing through concrete bunkers, along with a portion of its upper body, exploded with a thunderous roar under the unparalleled destructive power of the Demon-Smasher Hammer, like a watermelon crushed by immense force!

It wasn't broken, it wasn't shattered, but utterly transformed into a splatter of blood, gore, and carapace fragments flying everywhere! Green, viscous blood poured down like a torrential rain, staining a large surrounding area with a sickening color! The headless, half-bodied colossal corpse twitched violently, crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, and then lay still.

The power of a single hammer blow, to this extent!

The Planetary Defense Forces soldiers who had fired in rescue were stunned, their mouths agape at this miraculous sight, even forgetting to continue firing at the scattered Tyranid.

Hoss slowly withdrew his warhammer, its head covered in viscous green blood and minced meat. He breathed heavily, white steam rising from the seams of his Terminator armor.

He looked down at the wide-eyed, terrified soldiers, and from beneath his heavy helmet, a very low, almost inaudible grunt seemed to escape, as if… an acknowledgment? Immediately, he turned his gaze back to the still-surging tide of Tyranid around them.

For those soldiers, this silent response was far more exhilarating than any thanks. They had actually received the tacit approval of such a powerful Grey Knight!

The battle on the city wall remained fierce. The psychic duel between the Grey Knights and the Broodlord finally reached its conclusion. Under Captain Moreno's precise and deadly psychic blast, the last Broodlord's psychic shield completely shattered, and it was then torn to shreds by Valerius' warhammer and Kaldor's force sword.

Deprived of the Broodlord's psychic support and command, a portion of the Tyranid assault clearly showed a momentary confusion and hesitation.

But the Hive Mind quickly adjusted, and more common Tyranid continued to charge forward relentlessly. The battle raged from day to dusk, and from dusk deep into the night.

Above and below the city wall, it had long since become a bloody slaughterhouse. Laser beams and explosions occasionally tore through the night sky, illuminating the mountains of stacked Tyranid and human soldier corpses below.

The air was thick and foul, a nauseating mix of gunpowder, blood, burnt carapace, and the stench of entrails.

The members of the Second Squad were long exhausted, their Bolter barrels glowing red hot, and the teeth of their chainswords severely worn from overuse.

Dorian had slain two more elite units attempting to climb the wall, but he also bore several deep claw marks. Gaius, relying on his psychic perception, gave multiple warnings, preventing the defense line from being infiltrated, but his face grew paler and paler, and the stinging in his left arm was constant, as if he had overused it.

Luna and Lina, meanwhile, moved through the rear of the defense line, urgently repairing malfunctioning weapons and equipment; Lina's small face was smudged with oil, but her eyes were exceptionally resolute.

Sergeant Gorden's voice was hoarse, yet he continued to direct and encourage his squad members. Lex's heavy Bolter had barely stopped firing; his mechanical prosthesis even hummed with overload from the continuous recoil.

Cliff calmly recorded the Tyranid's attack patterns and frequencies, attempting to find a rhythm. Medic Sore was even busier, not only treating his comrades' minor injuries but also ready at any moment to provide battlefield first aid.

The four Dreadnoughts, like tireless war monuments, stood steadfast on the front line, their weapons roaring relentlessly, the Tyranid corpses piled at their feet already above their knees. But their heavy armor was also covered in claw marks, acid corrosion, and impact dents from biological bone spikes.

Kazatoki still guarded behind his merlon, like a silver statue of the Grim Reaper. Empty shell casings and depleted plasma cells were piled like small mountains around him. The medium assault cannon, due to continuous high-speed firing, had its entire barrel and even parts of its body burned red hot, emitting scorching heat. It even required soldiers to take turns spraying it with coolant to maintain its operation. New drum magazines and power cells were continuously brought up, and those soldiers looked at this silent killing machine, their eyes filled with weary yet resolute awe.

The battle continued until the morning of the second day.

When the first faint rays of dawn struggled to penetrate the pervasive smoke and dust, falling upon the bloody city wall, people were horrified to discover that the distant tide of Tyranid seemed to… retreat?

No, not a complete retreat, but they stopped their desperate, insane charge. The remaining Tyranid, like a receding tide, slowly withdrew, leaving behind mountains of their fallen comrades, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The sky was finally clear of new spore sacs, and the colossal Hive Fleet mothership still hung in outer orbit, casting a suffocating shadow, but it had temporarily ceased its aerial drops.

The frantic assault, which had lasted a day and a night, had finally paused.

Above and below the city wall, the survivors could barely believe it. After a brief silence, an overwhelming wave of extreme exhaustion and the hollow feeling of surviving a catastrophe washed over them. Many Planetary Defense Forces soldiers collapsed directly at their battle stations, and some even began to sob softly.

Soon, preliminary casualty reports were submitted.

The Ultramarines 7th Company and 2nd Company, thanks to their heavy armor, superior weaponry, and the superhuman physique and discipline of the Astartes, miraculously suffered no fatalities in the brutal defensive battle, with only a dozen or so wounded to varying degrees, but none had lost combat capability.

However, the Planetary Defense Forces suffered extremely heavy losses. The units involved in defending the first line and providing subsequent support had a casualty rate as high as thirty percent! Countless familiar faces had fallen forever beneath the city wall or at their respective battle stations. A somber and heavy atmosphere permeated among the mortal soldiers.

7th Company Captain Cassius and 2nd Company Captain Sicarius looked at the casualty report, their faces incredibly grim. They knew that this was only the first wave of attack. The Tyranid were merely adjusting their tactics, replenishing their forces, and the next assault would undoubtedly be even fiercer, even more deadly!

"Immediately rescue the wounded, reinforce the fortifications, resupply ammunition, and rotate for rest!" Captain Sicarius ordered hoarsely. "Engineering teams, find a way to clear the Tyranid corpses from below the city wall; we cannot let them pile too high, or they will be able to charge directly up next time!"

The orders were swiftly carried out. The exhausted warriors rallied their spirits and began to make use of this precious respite.

Kazatoki could finally stop firing temporarily. He slowly lowered the assault cannon, still smoking and red-hot, and his massive body emitted subtle sounds of metal fatigue. The soldiers immediately stepped forward, even more carefully replacing his last spare drum magazine and systematically cooling the scorching weapon.

On the other side, Hoss' massive figure also ascended the city wall.

The armor around the wound on his shoulder had been corroded beyond recognition by bio-acid, revealing damaged hydraulic pipes and muscle tissue within.

Medic Sore immediately rushed over with several Chaplain Brotherhood apothecaries and Tech-Sergeant.

"Brother Hoss, please bear with it, we need to treat your wound immediately to prevent further acid erosion and infection," Sore said calmly, maintaining his composure despite a slight nervousness in the presence of a Grey Knights Terminator.

The Tech-Sergeant took out specialized tools and began carefully disassembling the severely damaged shoulder plate on Hoss' shoulder.

The process was slow, requiring immense patience and precision to avoid secondary injury.

Hoss sat in silence like a small mountain, allowing them to work, only occasionally emitting a very low, muffled groan when a tool touched his wound, indicating he was not entirely without feeling.

After removing the damaged shoulder plate, the horrifying wound, corroded and burned, was exposed.

Sore and the apothecaries immediately began debridement, acid neutralization, injection of anti-infective drugs, and regeneration-promoting hormones.

For an Astartes, especially an elite like a Grey Knight, such injuries are not irreversible if treated promptly.

Lina watched from a distance, her small hand clutching Luna's sleeve tightly, her face filled with worry.

Luna, meanwhile, silently recorded the Tech-Sergeant' process of disassembling the armor, which was valuable learning material for her.

The brief respite was incredibly precious, yet incredibly short.

Everyone knew that the Tyranid corpses beneath their feet had not yet cooled, and the shadow in the distance still loomed; a more brutal battle would soon descend again.

They had to seize every minute and every second to recover their strength, prepare their weapons, and brace for the next bloody storm.

In the bloody dawn, the smell of gunpowder and death still hung heavy in the air.

Above and below the city walls, the survivors used this precious interlude to desperately catch their breath, treat the wounded, and reinforce their defenses.

Weariness swept over everyone like a tide, whether they were mortal soldiers or Astartes.

7th Company Captain Cassius, dragging his tired but still upright body, walked towards Captain Moreno and his two companions, who had just finished their battle with the Neurothropes and were now standing silently, recovering their psychic energy.

Their silver-grey armor was stained with green Tyranid blood and scorch marks from psychic clashes, but their cold aura remained undiminished.

"Captain Moreno," Cassius' voice was hoarse but solemn, "On behalf of the 7th Company, the 2nd Company, and all the defenders of Catonia, I thank you for your timely assistance.

Had you not intervened to repel and purify those Neurothropes, our defenses would likely have been torn apart by their psychic powers long ago."

Captain Moreno slowly turned, his rotating, cold ocular lenses fixed on Cassius, his voice still like ice: "This is our duty.

The psychic constructs of the Tyranid xenos, which desecrate the real universe, must be purified."

His tone betrayed no emotion, as if he were merely stating an unrelated fact.

After a pause, he added: "However, the cunning of the Hive Mind is beyond expectation.

The appearance of this Neurothrope cluster means the swarm has begun deploying higher-tier node organisms.

The next attack will undoubtedly be even more perilous.

Be vigilant for any abnormal psychic fluctuations."

"Understood.

We will enhance monitoring."

Cassius nodded; although the other party's attitude was cold, the advice provided was indeed crucial.

He glanced at Hoss, who was receiving treatment nearby, and Kazatoki, who was resting in silence, and his tone softened slightly: "Your warriors… what are your losses?

Do you need any assistance?"

"No need."

Captain Moreno stiffly refused, "The Grey Knights will handle it themselves.

Focus on your own defenses."

With that, he said no more, turning his gaze once again to the distant horizon still shrouded by the Tyranid swarm's shadow, clearly having no desire for further conversation.

Valerius and Kaldor stood silently behind him like two silver statues.

Seeing this, Cassius did not press the matter.

He knew this was the Grey Knights' way, and receiving their aid was already a rare fortune.

He performed an Aquila salute, then turned and left to continue inspecting the defenses.

On the other side, the legendary Captain of the 2nd Company, Captain Sicarius, was currently exercising his excellent leadership skills.

He moved among the exhausted and demoralized Planetary Defense Forces soldiers, his voice loud and filled with undeniable authority:

"Get up!

All of you, get up!

The bugs won't give you time to mourn!

Hold back your sorrow and anger!

Transform it into the power to destroy those xeno scumbags!"

He pulled up a young soldier who was slumped on the ground, staring blankly at a fallen comrade's body: "Pick up your Bolter!

Your brother died; do you want his death to be in vain?

Holding this place is the best tribute to him!"

He directed the Planetary Defense Forces soldiers who were still able to move: "You!

Take your people to the eastern breach and pile up the spare sandbags!

You few, go assist the Tech-Priest in repairing that auto-cannon corroded by acid!

Ammunition handlers!

Don't just stand there, immediately go to the armory for supplies; in ten minutes I want to see every firing point with ample ammunition!"

Under Sicarius' decisive, even somewhat rough, command, the Planetary Defense Forces, which had been permeated with pessimism, was forcibly rallied.

The soldiers might have resented his attitude, but his powerful presence and clear instructions, in the chaotic post-battle environment, instead provided a much-needed sense of order and direction.

The units began to operate again, and the work of repairing defenses and resupplying ammunition proceeded rapidly.

Captain Angerthas' massive Terminator body slowly moved, coming to Hoss, who was receiving treatment, and Kazatoki, who had just finished his barrage and was resting in silence.

"Brother Hoss.

How are your injuries?"

Angerthas' deep voice resonated, carrying a hint of imperceptible concern.

He watched Sore and the Tech-Sergeant treat the horrifying wound.

Hoss looked up, emitting a muffled hum: "Fine… minor injuries… acid neutralized…" To him, as long as he wasn't dead or missing limbs, it seemed to be considered "minor injuries."

Angerthas then looked at Kazatoki.

This ranged firepower specialist remained silent as a mountain, but his glowing assault cannon and the mountain of spent casings around him silently spoke of the intensity of his previous battle.

The Terminator armor's cooling system was operating at high speed, expelling a large amount of heat.

"Brother Kazatoki.

Energy reserves and weapon status?"

Angerthas asked.

Kazatoki's electronic eyes flickered a few times, emitting a brief binary coded message that was directly transmitted to Angerthas.

Angerthas was silent for a moment, seemingly deciphering the information, then said: "Energy weapon charging units consumed seventy percent, solid ammunition reserves critically low, main weapon barrel life approaching limit, requires replacement.

I understand.

You will be prioritized for resupply."

He looked around at the ravaged battlefield and the weary warriors, his deep voice resonating again, this time to all who could hear him: "We have successfully repelled the xenos' first assault.

However, this is only the beginning.

The Hive Mind will never give up easily.

Utilize this brief respite to recover, prepare, and consolidate."

His gaze swept over the Planetary Defense Forces soldiers who were moving bodies and reinforcing defenses, and he added: "The sacrifice and courage of the mortal soldiers are also worthy of respect.

They, like us, fight for the survival of humanity."

These words, coming from a Grey Knights Terminator Captain, carried significant weight.

Unlike Moreno, who was cold and aloof, Angerthas acknowledged the contributions of the mortal soldiers, which had a subtle yet positive effect on boosting the morale of the heavily depleted Planetary Defense Forces.

After speaking, Angerthas said no more, standing like a bedrock behind the defense line; his massive figure itself was a silent pillar of strength.

The brief respite flew by in nervous and busy activity.

The Tyranid corpses below the city walls were partially cleared, defenses were reinforced, ammunition was replenished, and the wounded were given initial care.

But everyone could feel that the suffocating oppressive atmosphere in the air had not dissipated.

On the distant horizon, the Tyranid swarm had not retreated; they surged like a black tide, seemingly preparing for the next, even more ferocious assault.

The Hive Ship in the sky, that colossal shadow, still enveloped everything, as if indifferently watching the tiny resistors below, waiting for the moment to utterly crush them.

Catonia's battle for survival had only just passed its first bloody night.

The brief respite did not last long. As the light of Catonia's star barely penetrated the thick dust and smoke, casting a pale glow on Steadfast City's scarred walls, the long-silent swarm in the distance once again stirred with a heart-pounding commotion.

However, this time, the swarm's attack method underwent a significant and deadly change.

What descended first was not a ground charge, but a more frantic rain of death from the sky!

Sky-darkening flying units—primarily swarms of Gargoyles and larger Devourers, like flying gunships—roared in from the direction of the hive ship, resembling a black storm! They let out ear-piercing shrieks, completely disregarding the hastily organized anti-air fire from the city walls, launching a desperate assault on the defenses in a purely suicidal manner!

"Anti-air! Full anti-air!" The officers' shouts were instantly drowned out by explosions and shrieks.

Laser anti-air arrays and auto-turrets spewed dense tongues of fire, constantly blowing up Gargoyles and Devourers in the air, turning them into burning debris that plummeted down. But there were too many of them! And they utterly disregarded casualties!

Some Gargoyles directly crashed into the firing ports of the strongpoints, using their bodies and acidic blood to obstruct firing; others swooped down, tearing at the soldiers on the city walls with their sharp claws and teeth; while the Devourers circled higher in the air, continuously spewing deadly bio-spore projectiles or delivering precise acidic breath!

The sky seemed to rain death, composed of flesh, acid, and explosions! The defenders on the city walls had to divert a large amount of energy to deal with the aerial threat, and their firepower was suppressed for a time.

Immediately following this, the terrifying spore pod drops began again! And they were even denser than last time! They slammed down like hail both in front of and behind the city walls! More Rippers, Termagants, and various specialized units poured out from them, instantly replenishing the losses of the ground swarm and once again launching a tidal wave of attacks against the city walls!

Between heaven and earth, it seemed to be filled with an endless swarm! The intensity of the offensive far surpassed the first wave!

The section of the city wall defended by Second Squad instantly bore immense pressure.

"Lina! Stay close to the wall! Don't look up!" Luna pulled the trembling Lina behind her, shielding her with her body from any falling acid or debris, while her electronic eyes rapidly scanned the sky. Her multi-tool gun occasionally lifted, firing a precise laser that blew up a Gargoyle attempting to dive down.

"Sergeant Golden! Three Devourers on the left! They're suppressing our heavy Bolter position!" Cliff's voice echoed through the comm channel as he fired bursts from his Bolter pistol at the Rippers climbing the city wall, quickly analyzing the battlefield situation.

"Lex! Knock them down for me!" Gorden immediately ordered, simultaneously firing his Bolter pistol repeatedly, smashing the heads of several Rippers that had just popped up from the merlons.

"Leave it to me!" Lex roared, his massive body shouldering a heavy Bolter. He didn't need a stand, aiming directly at the three Devourers on the left side of the sky, which were continuously spewing spore projectiles! The heavy Bolter let out a furious roar, and strings of massive projectiles whipped across the sky like a fiery whip!

One Devourer failed to dodge, its wings instantly riddled with holes. It wailed as it plummeted, crashing into the swarm below and exploding. The other two immediately scattered, but Lex's shots were incredibly cunning, anticipating their flight paths. The barrage tightly bit into one of them, ultimately blowing it up in mid-air too! Fragments and acid rained down.

But the last Devourer seemed enraged. It abruptly changed direction, its abdomen swelled, and a dense, foul-smelling stream of acidic breath shot towards Lex like a high-pressure water gun!

"Look out!" Gaius shouted, a strong sense of danger warning him in his left arm! Almost at the same time he cried out, he lunged at Lex, and the two of them tumbled to the ground in a heap!

Hiss—!

The green column of strong acid shot past where Lex had just been standing, corroding the city wall behind him, making it smoke and instantly melting a large pit! If it had been a direct hit, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

"Damn it!" Lex cursed, pushing Gaius away, and shouldering his Bolter again, "Thanks, kid!" He continued to unleash his fury at that Devourer.

Gaius scrambled up, gasping for breath, with no time to respond. His senses warned him again: "Right side! Spore pod landing! There's a big one inside!"

Sure enough, not far below the right side of the city wall, a huge spore pod crashed down, its outer shell shattering. An unusually large Tyrant Guard, with thick carapace and massive horns, emerged, letting out a deafening roar. It took heavy strides, like a living tank, and crashed directly into the base of the city wall!

"Can't let it hit the wall!" Gorden roared, "Concentrate fire!"

Second Squad's firepower immediately converged! Bolters struck its thick carapace, thudding loudly, but struggling to penetrate instantly! Its massive horn had already slammed hard into the city wall!

Boom! The entire section of the city wall seemed to shake!

"Dorian! Sore! With me! Stop it!" Gorden made a snap decision, drawing his Power Sword and leaping first from the merlon! He knew they had to kill it before it completely destroyed the wall's structure!

Dorian, who had long been impatient, roared and swung his Chainsword as he jumped down. Medic Sore also did not hesitate, following closely behind. His mission was not only to fight but also to ensure the safety of his teammates who jumped down.

The three landed on the mountain of alien corpses piled below the city wall, immediately falling under siege by the surrounding Rippers! But they had no time to spare for these minor Miscellaneous soldiers, their target was directly the Tyrant Guard!

"For Ultramar!" Gorden's Power Sword gleamed with a blue energy field, striking a deep scorch mark on the Tyrant Guard's flank carapace!

Dorian was even more berserk. He directly circled to the front, his Chainsword roaring as it met the massive horn that was charging again!

Clang!!!!!!

A piercing metallic screech rang out! Dorian, with sheer brute force, actually managed to brace against the Tyrant Guard's charge with his Chainsword! Although his massive body was pushed backward, his feet plowing two deep furrows in the alien corpses, he had indeed held it back!

"Stop this... you bastard!" Dorian's veins bulged on his forehead, his arm muscles flexed, and the servo systems of his power armor hummed with overload!

Sore, meanwhile, calmly moved to the side, aiming his Plasma Pistol at the wound Gorden had opened and firing repeatedly! Plasma spheres exploded, further widening the wound, and green blood gushed out!

The Tyrant Guard let out a pained roar, shaking its massive limbs, trying to swat away these annoying "bugs."

Above the city wall, Gaius, Lex, Cliff, and Luna provided full fire support for them, clearing the surrounding common alien swarms, preventing them from interfering with the duel below.

The battle was exceptionally fierce! Gorden's sword, Dorian's brute force, Sore's precise shooting—the three worked in perfect coordination, gradually weakening the behemoth. But the Tyrant Guard's vitality was extremely tenacious, and even severely wounded, it continued to attack wildly.

Just then, the sky darkened again! A spore pod was plummeting directly towards their position!

"Watch out above!" Gaius' anxious warning came through!

Gorden and Sore immediately rolled to the sides to dodge! But Dorian was grappling with the Tyrant Guard and couldn't disengage immediately!

The huge spore pod was about to cover him and the Tyrant Guard together!

At the critical moment!

A thick plasma beam and a dense barrage of bullets descended from the sky! Precisely hitting the falling spore pod!

Boom! The spore pod was prematurely detonated in mid-air! Mucus and unformed alien tissue splattered everywhere!

It was Kazatoki! He had been watching the entire battlefield, providing crucial long-range support at the critical moment!

Dorian seized the opportunity, roared, and used all his strength to push the Tyrant Guard's horn away slightly, then executed a clumsy roll, escaping the blast radius of the spore pod.

The Tyrant Guard lost its target, and just as it let out an angry roar, Gorden and Sore's attacks descended again! The Power Sword and Plasma Pistol concentrated on its relatively vulnerable neck joint!

Finally! With an unwilling wail, the massive monster crashed to the ground, twitched a few times, and then lay still.

The three had no time to catch their breath as the surrounding Rippers surged in again. They stood back-to-back, retreating with difficulty towards the city wall, while their teammates on the wall provided full fire support.

Eventually, after incurring a few more fresh wounds, the three were pulled back up by ropes lowered from the city wall, collapsing behind the merlons, gasping for air, covered in green and red blood.

"...Damn... this is more intense than the gladiatorial arena..." Dorian muttered, panting.

The aerial swarm's offensive remained fierce, and the ground swarm was endless. Second Squad, like the other defenders, was embroiled in a grueling tug-of-war. Everyone's stamina was rapidly depleting, and ammunition was sharply decreasing.

Gaius' psychic abilities became intermittent due to continuous use, and he even began to experience severe headaches. Luna and Lina weaved through the hail of bullets, urgently repairing malfunctioning weapons. Lina's small face was pale with fear, but she bit her lip tightly, trying her best to complete every task Luna gave her.

The battle raged from dawn until noon, with no signs of the Swarm's assault weakening. The city walls were damaged in multiple places and, although temporarily reinforced, the situation remained critical. Casualties were constantly rising, both among the Planetary Defense Forces and the Astartes.

Second Squad and all the warriors defending Steadfast City were like lonely boats tossed in a storm, clinging to their unwavering will and faith in the Emperor, staunchly resisting wave after wave of seemingly endless, frenzied attacks.

Hope, like a flickering candle in the wind, was faint and fragile. But they had not given up.

As Catonia's star once again set in the west, painting the sky a desolate, bloody red, the frantic assault, which had lasted almost an entire day, finally began to recede.

The Swarm, like a receding tide, once again left behind an even thicker carpet of corpses across the landscape, slowly withdrawing. Ninety percent of the aerial units in the sky had also vanished, leaving only a few scattered Gargoyles circling and observing from a distance. The suffocating spore pod drops finally ceased.

A deathly silence fell over the city walls, broken only by the groans of the wounded, the sizzling of cooling weapons, and the heavy, exhausted breaths of the warriors. Everyone was at their limit; their power armor was covered in claw marks, acid corrosion, and dried bloodstains. The air was thick and suffocating, a mix of strong blood, gunpowder, and a burnt stench.

The members of Second Squad slumped behind the battlements, finding it difficult to even move a finger. Dorian leaned on his chainsword, which had countless nicks, panting heavily. Kal rubbed his hot, stinging left arm, his face pale. Lex's heavy Bolter's barrel was still scalding, even somewhat warped. Sergeant Golden checked his almost empty Bolter pistol magazine, his brow furrowed. Sore was injecting coagulant and antibiotics into a deep, bone-exposing claw wound on his own arm.

Luna was checking Lina for injuries; fortunately, the little girl only had some scrapes and was overly frightened, but nothing serious. Lina clung tightly to her, her small face smudged with oil and fatigue.

Just then, a familiar but somewhat struggling engine roar echoed in the sky. Several Thunderhawk Gunships, their hulls scarred and even spewing black smoke, like wounded giant birds returning to their nests, painstakingly passed through the still-thin Tyranid anti-air net and slowly landed on a temporary landing zone cleared within the Hive City.

Supplies! They finally arrived!

The gunship doors opened, revealing not only urgently needed Bolters, plasma fuel cells, and medical supplies, but also a dozen reinforcing Ultramarines recruits, and… three carefully secured, massive objects gleaming with cold metallic luster—Terminator armor!

These three sets of Terminator armor were clearly precious equipment urgently allocated by the Chapter to strengthen defensive positions at critical junctures and counter heavy Tyranid units.

Seeing those three sets of Terminator armor, symbols of strength and glory, the eyes of almost all the Astartes warriors lit up. Especially Dorian; his exhausted expression instantly vanished, and his eyes practically glowed blue!

He abruptly stood up, forgetting his fatigue, and like a bear catching the scent of prey, strode towards Captain Cassius of the 7th Company, who was distributing supplies.

"Captain! Captain!" Dorian's voice was even louder due to his excitement. "That Terminator armor! Give me a set! It'll be perfect! Look at my build! My strength! Wasn't I born for Terminator armor?"

Captain Cassius was giving instructions to the quartermaster and was startled by Dorian's loud voice. He turned his head irritably: "Dorian? What do you want now? Terminator armor is strategic equipment, to be allocated where it's most needed..."

Before he could finish, Dorian had already approached him, almost pressing his face against the Captain's faceplate, practically spitting saliva: "I am the one who needs it most, Captain! Look at that big one I took down today! If I'd had Terminator armor then, I would've smashed it into paste long ago! Why bother with all that effort? Give me a set, and I guarantee I can withstand the charge of ten of those big ones!"

Captain Cassius looked at Dorian's muscular physique, which was a full size larger than his own, recalled the undeniable merits he had earned that day, and felt a headache from his shameless, persistent badgering. Indeed, powerful heavy armor was needed on the front lines.

He rubbed his temples in resignation, finally sighing: "...Alright! Dorian, one set is yours! But!" His tone suddenly became stern. "I'm giving you this armor to better defend the line and eliminate large targets, not for you to go showing off with individual heroism! And absolutely do not use it to cause trouble for the Grey Knights! If I find you causing even bigger messes with the Terminator armor, or failing to perform your intended role..." Captain Cassius glared at him fiercely, "...I will personally twist your head out of that armor! Understood?!"

"Understood! Absolutely understood! Thank you, Captain! Just watch me!" Dorian's face lit up with joy upon hearing the Captain agree, automatically filtering out most of the subsequent warnings, leaving only excitement. He slapped his breastplate in assurance, then eagerly rushed towards the Terminator armor allocated to him.

With the assistance of tech-priests and serfs, Dorian laboriously and excitedly donned the incredibly heavy Terminator armor. As the last shoulder pad clicked into place, the systems connected, and the power core hummed to life, he felt as if he had transformed into an unstoppable god of war!

A surging sense of power! He flexed his thick arms and casually picked up a heavy Bolter rifle, a weapon usually requiring a mount or a Dreadnought to wield steadily due to its four rotating magazines and extremely high rate of fire. Yet, Dorian, wearing the Terminator armor, could lift it!

"Haha! Awesome!" Dorian roared with excitement, feeling the weight of the heavy weapon in his hands. He even felt that he could now challenge the big Grey Knight, Hoss, to an arm-wrestling match! Of course, this was just his inflated confidence.

Captain Cassius looked at Dorian, who was even more formidable and also more reckless in the Terminator armor, and secretly felt a bit uneasy. This guy was already trouble enough in regular power armor; now with this Terminator suit and heavy firepower, if his confidence became overly inflated and he actually went to provoke the Grey Knights... that would be a huge problem. He secretly decided that he must have someone keep a close eye on this fellow.

As supplies were distributed and the Tyranids temporarily ceased their attack, the defenders finally gained some precious time to rest. The Astartes prioritized equipment maintenance, ammunition replenishment, and simple rest. Heavy tasks such as clearing battlefield debris, moving the wounded and the bodies of the fallen, and further reinforcing fortifications were left to the logistics personnel and the remaining Planetary Defense Forces soldiers.

Dorian, clanking in his conspicuous Terminator armor, walked up to Lina, who was helping distribute energy bars, his massive body casting a huge shadow.

"Hey! Little Lina! Look! What do you think?" Dorian proudly patted his thick breastplate, producing a dull clanking sound. "From now on, you stick behind Lord Dorian! I guarantee no bug will harm a single hair on your head! That big one today (he started boasting again), if I hadn't reacted quickly and split it with one strike, the wall would have collapsed long ago! Now with this, I'm not afraid of ten more!"

Lina tilted her small head back, looking at Dorian, who resembled a metal giant. Her small mouth formed an O-shape, and her eyes sparkled with wonder and a hint of... fear? She timidly nodded.

Then, Dorian clanked over to Kal and Gorden, who were inspecting their weapons.

"Hey! Sergeant! Kal! Look! What do you think? Am I cool?" He clumsily spun around, showing off his new gear, the barrel of his heavy Bolter rifle almost sweeping an ammunition crate nearby. "From now on, leave the assault tasks to me! You guys just follow behind and pick up the scraps! Haha!"

Gorden looked at the triumphant Dorian and sighed helplessly: "Dorian, remember the Captain's words. Terminator armor is a responsibility, not a toy for showing off. You must be able to bear its weight."

Kal, however, smiled. He could feel that Dorian's life energy and threat level had indeed significantly increased after donning the Terminator armor, but at the same time, he also felt... that this guy's brain seemed even simpler? "It suits you well, Dorian. But be careful not to step on a landmine." He joked.

Dorian completely missed the meaning behind the words and laughed heartily: "Landmines? Hahaha, what kind of landmine can blow me up now?"

Watching Dorian, wearing his Terminator armor, joyfully and confidently showing off everywhere, as if he had forgotten the Captain's warnings and the brutal battle they had just endured, the members of Second Squad felt complex emotions. They were somewhat relieved to have a powerful new heavy firepower point, but also deeply worried about the potential "accidents" this firepower point might bring.

Beneath the brief calm, undercurrents stirred. And the distant shadow of the Swarm still loomed over everything. Dorian and his new armor were about to face their true test in the next round of bloody combat.