The heavy Terminator armor enveloped Declan Catonia, and a surging sense of power, like fine wine, washed over his already not-so-adept brain. The Captain's warnings? They had long been squeezed into some forgotten corner by the clanking of metal and the weighty feel of the heavy Bolter. Now, he had only one thought: to test the might of this new gear, especially by finding a worthy opponent to "spar" with. And at present, the best targets were naturally those silver-grey, seemingly durable Grey Knights.
He first ruled out Captain Angerthas—that Terminator Captain had too strong a presence, and seemed to have a good relationship with the Chapter Master. While Dorian was reckless, he wasn't completely without sense. Hoss? That big guy didn't look easy to mess with, and the scene of him dueling the Executioner was still fresh in his mind. Kazatoki? Forget it, he was a ranged fire-support specialist; fighting him would be boring.
So, the best remaining choice was naturally the Grey Knight who had once beaten him black and blue—Kaldor!
That Kaldor! Not only had he beaten him black and blue before, but he even dared to use that crappy gun on Luna! He wouldn't be a true man if he didn't get revenge! Now that he had this Terminator armor and the big gun (referring to the heavy Bolter), he'd make sure Kaldor knew what he was up against!
He even felt the heavy Bolter wasn't "exciting" enough, so he shamelessly borrowed a Thunder Hammer with a blue energy field wrapped around its head from some 2nd Company squad he had a decent relationship with. This, combined with the Terminator armor, was the true "tough guy" setup!
Clutching the heavy Thunder Hammer, Dorian clanked and clattered as he searched the relatively safe area behind the city wall. Soon, his "revenge radar" locked onto its target.
Near a makeshift medical station, formed by several damaged wall sections, he saw the figure that made his teeth itch with hatred—the Grey Knight Kaldor.
However, the scene before him was somewhat different from what he had expected.
Kaldor was not standing cold and upright as usual, but was lying on a crude metal stretcher. His magnificent silver-grey armor, from the chest to the abdomen, was completely shattered and torn, revealing severely damaged intricate structures inside and... shocking wounds!
Even after initial treatment, with a large amount of hemostatic gel and regenerative medicine applied, the wound was still continuously seeping blood. Kaldor's faceplate had been removed, revealing a pale, scarred face from blood loss and pain. He was gasping for air, each breath seeming incredibly difficult, his brows tightly furrowed.
A Chaplain Brotherhood Apothecary was nervously performing further debridement and stabilization, his forehead covered in sweat. Clearly, Kaldor was severely injured, possibly even life-threatening.
Captain Moreno and Valerius stood guard nearby. Captain Moreno remained as silent as ice, but his rotating optical sensors never left Kaldor. Valerius, on the other hand, gripped his daemon-smiting hammer, vigilantly scanning the surroundings. When he saw Dorian, clad in Terminator armor, wielding a Thunder Hammer, and striding aggressively towards them, the cold helmet immediately turned towards him, and an invisible psychic pressure instantly enveloped him!
Normally, Dorian might have thought twice. But now, his confidence was soaring, and with the Terminator armor protecting him, he directly ignored the oppressive feeling. He clanked and clattered to a spot not far from them, planting his Thunder Hammer on the ground with a dull thud.
"Hey! Grey Knight!" Dorian bellowed gruffly, pointing his hammer head at Kaldor on the stretcher, "Playing dead there? Weren't you pretty tough when you beat me up before? Get up! Let's go a few more rounds! Let me show you what my grandpa's new gear can do!"
His voice was loud, drawing surprised glances from some resting soldiers and logistics personnel nearby.
Valerius instantly became enraged, stepping forward, his daemon-smiting hammer beginning to flash with dangerous psychic energy, as if he was about to smash this clueless blue fatty into a meat pie the next moment! A cold killing intent, like a physical entity, stabbed at Dorian!
Dorian showed no weakness either, activating the Thunder Hammer's energy field, blue arcs crackling, and the Terminator armor's servo systems emitting a low hum, preparing for battle.
Just at this tense moment—
"Valerius." Captain Moreno's cold voice rang out. He raised a hand, stopping the about-to-erupt Valerius. His optical sensors moved from Kaldor to Dorian. There was no anger in his gaze, only an extreme, almost disdainful coldness, as if looking at an ignorant ant, and... a hint of imperceptible weariness?
He slowly shook his head.
Valerius seemed extremely unwilling, but he was absolutely obedient to his Captain's orders. He finally forced down his rage, retracting his war hammer, but the cold killing intent remained locked on Dorian.
Captain Moreno didn't even say a word to Dorian, merely returning his gaze to the severely wounded Kaldor, as if Dorian's provocation wasn't worth any of his energy.
Dorian was a bit bewildered by the other party's complete disregard and Valerius' suppressed anger, and at the same time, felt his pride wounded. He stewed for a while, then continued to shout, "Hmph! What? Scared? I knew all you Grey Knights were softies! You bully people relying on a bit of psychic power, but you chicken out when you meet a real tough opponent! Bah!"
He cursed a few more times, seeing that the other party still didn't react, simply treating him as air. He felt like he was punching cotton, finding it very uninteresting. Coupled with the looks of people around him as if he were an idiot, he could only sheepishly put away his Thunder Hammer, clanking and clattering as he turned and left, muttering things like "boring" and "softies."
But deep within his walnut-sized brain, a very faint, untimely doubt still emerged: That Kaldor guy... he looked really badly hurt... What on earth could wound a Grey Knight like that? Bugs? It didn't seem like there were any bugs that powerful...
He shook his head, casting aside this trivial doubt, and continued to revel in the excitement of his new equipment and the "victory" of "scaring away" the Grey Knights.
The news of Dorian provoking the Grey Knights quickly reached Sergeant Golden's ears.
At the time, Gorden was counting remaining ammunition with Cliff. When a 2nd Company soldier reported the incident, stifling a laugh, he felt a rush of blood to his head, his vision went black, and he almost fainted!
That muscle-brained idiot! The first thing he does after putting on Terminator armor is to court death! And to provoke those god-like Grey Knights! And in front of their severely wounded teammate! He hadn't listened to a single word the Captain said!
Gorden immediately dropped his work, his face ashen, and found Dorian, who was currently in front of several newly replenished recruits, spouting saliva as he boasted about "how he used his kingly aura to scare away two Grey Knights."
"...And then I just stood there with my hammer! Those two Grey Knight cowards didn't dare to utter a sound! Especially that Valerius, he looked fierce, but when I glared at him, he couldn't even lift his hammer! Hahahaha!" Dorian thumped his chest plate, boasting wildly, while the recruits, half-believing, half-doubting, had faces full of awe, or rather, the eagerness of watching a spectacle.
"Dec! Lan! Clan!" Gorden's roar, like a clap of thunder, erupted behind Dorian, filled with unprecedented fury.
Dorian jumped, turning to see Gorden's face, as black as the bottom of a pot. His heart immediately sank, realizing things might not be good.
"Ser... Sergeant..."
"Shut up!" Gorden didn't give him a chance to finish, pointing at his nose, and in front of all the new recruits, unleashed a torrent of angry scolding, "You brainless idiot! Moron! Brute! Do you think the Captain's words are just farts?! You think you're invincible just because you're wearing this tin can?! You dare to provoke the Grey Knights?! And when their teammate is severely wounded?! Do you have any idea you almost got all of us killed?! If it really came to blows, could you beat Moreno or Valerius?! Do you think your Terminator armor can withstand a few slashes from a psychic weapon?!"
Gorden was trembling with rage: "I'm telling you, Dorian! This is the first time, and the last time! If you ever dare to wear this armor and cause trouble again, especially if you provoke the Grey Knights again! You won't have to wait for the Captain to act! I'll personally pull you out of that tin can! And stuff you into the engine nozzle of a Thunderhawk Gunship! Let you taste what it's like to be burned to ashes! Do you understand?!"
Gorden's furious roar made the surrounding recruits shrink their necks, not daring to breathe. They had never seen their usually mild-mannered and calm Sergeant get so angry.
Dorian was also stunned by the scolding. Looking at the enraged Gorden, his simple mind finally realized that he might have truly caused trouble. He shrank his neck and mumbled softly, "...Un... understood... Sergeant..."
"Louder! Haven't you eaten?!"
"Understood! Sergeant!" Dorian quickly stood at attention and shouted.
"Get back and check your gear! You are not to leave your combat position without my orders!" Gorden roared, his anger not yet subsided.
Dorian, as if granted a great pardon, quickly clanked and clattered away, even forgetting to return the borrowed Thunder Hammer.
Sergeant Golden watched Dorian's clumsy retreating back, rubbing his throbbing temples, feeling utterly exhausted. Dealing with such a reckless brute was more stressful than facing a swarm of Tyranids.
Meanwhile, as Gaius helped move ammunition crates, he overheard a few soldiers from the 2nd Company whispering nearby. Their expressions were grim, tinged with a hint of lingering fear.
"...Did you hear? What happened with the Grey Knights earlier..."
"Yeah, that Grey Knight was severely injured, almost..."
"What did it? His wound... doesn't look like something a normal bug could cause..."
"Shh... keep your voice down... I heard the brothers who were providing cover nearby say it was some kind of... particularly unusual Broodlord..."
"A Broodlord? Weren't the Broodlords taken out by the Grey Knights?"
"Not that kind! They say this one... wasn't as big, but incredibly fast! Its psychic power was ridiculously strong! And... extremely cunning! It somehow managed to evade everyone's senses, suddenly burrowed out from underground on the side, and a psychic blast directly pierced the Grey Knight's armor... then it immediately burrowed back down and fled! The Grey Knight Captain reacted incredibly fast, but still couldn't stop it..."
"My God... there's a bug like that? How... how do you fight that?"
A super Broodlord? Retreating after severely injuring a Grey Knight? Gaius' heart sank instantly. He immediately understood the source of Kaldor's terrifying injuries and why Captain Moreno had reacted that way earlier—they had encountered an unprecedented, extremely dangerous, and cunning new type of enemy! And that idiot Dorian was still provoking them at a time like this...
An ominous premonition, like a cold venomous snake, quietly coiled around Gaius' heart. The Tyranids' evolution speed and tactical changes seemed to far exceed their estimates. The upcoming battles would likely be even more difficult and... bizarre. The super Broodlord that had severely injured the Grey Knight and then mysteriously disappeared was like an assassin in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow again at any moment.
The news of Dorian, clad in Terminator armor, provoking the severely wounded Grey Knight, spread like wildfire among the exhausted but still sensitive defenders. Naturally, it also reached the ears of 7th Company Captain Cassius.
When his adjutant cautiously reported the news to Cassius, who was in urgent discussion with Chaplain Brotherhood Commander, Captain Angerthas, about the next defensive plan, the veins on the forehead of the Captain, known for his calm composure, instantly bulged. His fingers, gripping the data-slate, turned white from the force, and a faint metallic creaking could even be heard.
He felt a surge of pure fury rush to his head, his blood pressure soaring, and for a moment, he even saw stars. If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, those around him would surely have seen his ashen face and eyes that seemed to spit fire.
That useless idiot! Brute! Moron! Cassius cursed Dorian countless times in his mind. How long had he had that Terminator armor? Not even an hour! And he'd already caused such a huge problem! Provoking a severely wounded Grey Knight? And in front of Moreno?! He could barely imagine Moreno's feelings at the time and the potentially dire consequences!
If not for the looming enemy, if not for the strained defenses everywhere, Cassius would have immediately rushed over and fulfilled his promise—to personally twist Dorian's head off that precious Terminator armor!
But he couldn't. He was a Captain; he had to consider the bigger picture. Right now, the Tyranid offensive was temporarily halted but fraught with peril, the mystery of Kaldor's severe injury still needed to be solved, the defenses needed to be reorganized, morale needed to be stabilized... countless more important matters weighed on his shoulders.
He forcibly suppressed his almost explosive rage, squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth, his voice so cold that the adjutant beside him shivered: "...I understand. For now... I don't have time to deal with him. Tell Sergeant Golden to keep a close eye on that idiot! If he dares to cause trouble again, even if he just approaches within fifty meters of the Grey Knights, I authorize Gorden to use any necessary means, including but not limited to welding him to a wall with a Meltagun!"
"Yes... yes, Captain!" The adjutant quickly responded, cold sweat breaking out.
Cassius took a deep breath, trying to banish Dorian's infuriatingly idiotic face from his mind, and refocused on the strategic map and the grim situation before him. There were more critical problems to solve than that brute.
In the temporary medical station, after emergency treatment by Chaplain Brotherhood Apothecaries and the special medical equipment carried by the Grey Knights themselves, Kaldor was finally out of life-threatening danger. However, the trauma to his abdomen was extremely severe, not only destroying the core structure of his power armor but also causing irreversible damage to his internal organs and nervous system. Although the Grey Knights' recovery ability far exceeded that of ordinary humans, he would definitely not be able to return to combat in the short term and even needed to be evacuated to more specialized medical facilities for in-depth treatment as soon as possible.
Captain Moreno and Valerius still stood by, the atmosphere heavy. Kaldor's injury not only meant the loss of an important combatant but also revealed a terrifying truth.
"This was not caused by a normal Tyranid unit," Captain Moreno's voice remained cold, but with a hint of barely perceptible gravity. "The energy residue in the wound... shows strong psychic tearing characteristics and extremely high penetrative power, definitely not caused by biological acid or physical claws. It's more like... being instantly pierced by highly concentrated psychic lightning or some unknown energy weapon."
Captain Angerthas' massive frame also stood by, stating in a deep voice: "Considering its appearance location, and the fact that the Broodlord was already being engaged by us at the time... it is likely that the swarm harbors a more dangerous, specialized individual skilled in psychic sniping or ambush. Its power... is sufficient to pose a fatal threat to Terminator-level protection."
This news cast a thick shadow over the hearts of all informed senior officers. An unknown Tyranid unit capable of severely injuring or even instantly killing a Grey Knight? Where was it? What form did it take? What were its abilities? When would the next attack come? And who would be the target?
This unknown, deadly threat was far more terrifying and anxiety-inducing than a frontal assault by a sea of Tyranids. They had to find this hidden killer as soon as possible, otherwise any senior commander or critical firing point could become the next target. To this end, they frantically analyzed the limited battlefield data, adjusted their defensive strategies, and attempted to lure out or guard against this formidable enemy.
On the other side, Sergeant Golden felt even greater pressure after receiving the Captain's clear authorization and wrath. He looked at Dorian, who was wearing Terminator armor and appeared somewhat dejected from being reprimanded, but clearly hadn't grasped the seriousness of the situation, and felt his temples throb.
He absolutely couldn't let him stay idle any longer! He had to find something for him to do, get him out of the way, far from the Grey Knights, far from command, the farther the better!
At this thought, Gorden immediately had an idea. He walked over to Dorian and Gaius, who was resting.
"Dorian, Gaius."
Both looked up at him.
"The outer perimeter of the defenses needs increased patrol, especially that abandoned industrial zone to the west. The Tyranids might use the complex terrain to infiltrate," Gorden ordered with a serious expression. "Dorian, with your Terminator armor, you're suited for leading the way and handling unexpected situations. Gaius, your perception abilities will be very helpful in detecting hidden enemies. The two of you will form a team and immediately proceed to the western sector for patrol and reconnaissance. Unless you find anything unusual, your patrol range must not exceed three kilometers, and you must report your status every half hour. Understood?"
This was clearly an arrangement to move Dorian away from the core area and prevent him from causing further trouble. The patrol mission was relatively peripheral, but it did carry risks, requiring Dorian's heavy firepower and Gaius' early warning capabilities.
As soon as Dorian heard there was a mission, and a patrol mission at that, which would allow him to show off the might of his new armor, he immediately perked up, his earlier gloom vanishing. He thumped his chest plate, making a clanging sound: "Understood! Sergeant! I'll make sure to dig out and smash all those hiding bugs!" He was eager to test the power of his Thunder Hammer.
Gaius, meanwhile, gave Gorden a thoughtful look, seemingly understanding the Sergeant's deeper intention. He nodded: "Understood, Sergeant. We will be careful."
"Good, depart immediately." Gorden waved his hand, watching Dorian clanking and enthusiastically follow Gaius towards the passage leading to the western exit, and felt a slight sense of relief.
He hoped this short patrol mission would keep that troublemaker in line, at least until the next wave of Tyranid attacks began. At that point, he could let him vent his excess energy on the Tyranids!
Gorden sighed helplessly and turned to attend to other, more important defensive matters. He only hoped that Dorian's Terminator, when facing a real enemy, would be as useful as he boasted, and not turn into an expensive living target.
The brief respite, like the false calm before a storm, was soon shattered by an even more violent surge. On the distant horizon, the swarm stirred once more, and this time, its scale and momentum far surpassed any previous assault!
The sky was again obscured by a dense blanket of flying units, and spore sacs rained down like deadly dandelions!
"All units, positions! The swarm is back!" The shrill alarm and the roaring of officers once again echoed across the city walls.
The second wave of attack entered a fever pitch from the very beginning! The endless Tyranids seemed infinite, trampling over the corpses of their comrades, like a green tsunami of death, furiously crashing against Steadfast City's already overstretched defenses.
And this time, the defenders had new pillars of support — three blue Terminator armors!
Declan Catonia, clad in that heavy armor, stood like a true god of war at the forefront of the defense line! Each swing of his Thunder Hammer brought deafening thunder and dazzling electric light, smashing Ripper, Termagants, and even Warrior Tyranids into charred pulp by the dozens! He didn't even need to aim; he just needed to smash furiously into the densest parts of the swarm! That explosive power and destructive area-of-effect attack greatly relieved the pressure on the surrounding defenders!
The warriors in the other two Terminator armors also displayed bravery, acting like mobile fortresses, clearing vast swathes of Tyranids with their Bolters and heavy flamethrowers, firmly entrenched on their respective defense lines, becoming a source of reassurance for the soldiers.
Dorian killed with relish, roaring repeatedly, his Thunder Hammer sweeping all before it. He even felt that, wearing this armor, he alone could defend this section of the wall! Captain Cassius's warnings and Sergeant Golden's anger had long been cast aside, leaving only the thrill of slaughter and infinite satisfaction with his new equipment.
However, good times were short-lived. Just as the defenders, relying on their tenacious will and the performance of the three Terminators, barely withstood the swarm's furious onslaught, a chilling, far more powerful psychic pressure, like a tangible entity, descended from afar on the battlefield!
Everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it — only to see, surrounded by countless Tyranids, two Hive Tyrants, clearly different in size but both emitting terrifying psychic fluctuations, slowly floating closer!
One of the Hive Tyrants was enormous, almost double the size of those previously eliminated by Moreno's squad! Its convoluted brain tissue writhed like a living thing, emitting a dark and profound psychic glow, and the psychic shield around it was so thick it distorted the surrounding space! The slightly smaller Hive Tyrant accompanying it, however, emitted even sharper, more aggressive psychic fluctuations!
The appearance of these two Hive Tyrants seemed to inject a potent stimulant into the entire swarm! The Tyranid assault instantly became more frenzied and more organized!
"High-ranking Hive Tyrants! And one… a psychic-specialized variant?!" Inside the command post, Captain Cassius exclaimed in shock, his face turning extremely grim.
Captain Moreno and Valerius were on high alert! They could clearly feel that the enormous Hive Tyrant contained psychic power far beyond the ordinary, and the smaller one beside it possessed extremely dangerous psychic attributes!
Without the slightest hesitation, the enormous Hive Tyrant's massive head glowed brightly, and a thick, incredibly condensed, almost tangible, dark green psychic beam, like a spear of death, instantly traversed hundreds of meters, shooting directly at Captain Moreno!
Captain Moreno dared not be negligent, roaring as the Avenger Power Glaive in his hand erupted with brilliant silver psychic light, instantly constructing a solid psychic shield in front of him!
Boom!!!
The psychic beam slammed violently into the silver shield, erupting with an earth-shattering roar and dazzling light! Captain Moreno was pushed back several meters by the immense impact, the ground beneath his feet cracking! He had blocked it, but the shield's light had noticeably dimmed!
And almost simultaneously, the slightly smaller Hive Tyrant let out a silent but sharp psychic shriek! An invisible psychic shockwave, specifically targeting the mental plane, spread out in a fan shape, heading straight for Moreno and Valerius!
Valerius hurriedly condensed a psychic defense, but his psychic manipulation was slightly delayed!
Captain Moreno had just withstood a heavy blow and didn't have time to fully defend against the second wave, only able to reluctantly divide his attention to block it!
"Ugh!" Captain Moreno grunted, his body shaking violently, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but he ultimately held on.
However, Valerius failed to fully block it! The sharp psychic impact, like countless needles, instantly pierced through his psychic defense, savagely plunging into his brain!
"Ugh—!" Valerius let out a low, painful shriek, the Demon-Shattering Hammer in his hand dropping. He fell backward as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer, blood seeping from his eyes, ears, and nostrils, collapsing heavily to the ground, his fate unknown!
In just one exchange! Two powerful Grey Knights, one severely wounded, one suppressed!
And the two Hive Tyrants continued to slowly approach! Their psychic pressure weighed like mountains on the heart of every defender!
With the appearance of these two powerful Hive Tyrants and the setback of the Grey Knights, the swarm's assault reached its frenzied peak! Five Executioners appeared at various points on the city wall, beginning to assault the already precarious wall! Countless Ripper and Snake Tyranids burrowed out from underground, climbing up from beneath the city wall!
The defense line was finally breached head-on!
Multiple sections of the city wall were overrun by Tyranids, screams, explosions, and the roar of weapons blending into a single cacophony! Human soldiers fell in droves!
"Orders! All remaining forces! Abandon the outer wall! Retreat into the Hive City for urban warfare! Resist layer by layer, relying on the city blocks!" Captain Cassius and the 2nd Company Captain issued the painful but incredibly rational orders almost simultaneously.
The retreat began! The Planetary Defense Forces soldiers were the first to withdraw; they had suffered the heaviest losses, and their morale was on the verge of collapse. Next were the 7th Company, the 2nd Company, and the Astartes of the Chaplain Brotherhood, who provided alternating cover, fighting as they retreated. The six Dreadnoughts, like mobile fortresses, guarded critical retreat routes, using their powerful firepower to buy time for the withdrawal; they would be the last units to evacuate.
The area where the Second Squad was located also fell into chaos and encirclement. They struggled to retreat, but a Tyrant Guard, suddenly bursting through a wall from the side, blocked their path!
This Tyrant Guard seemed even more berserk. It ignored the attacks of others, its massive, battering-ram-like tusks heading directly for Gaius, who was using his senses to provide warnings! Gaius had just warned of the Snake Tyranids underground and didn't have time to fully dodge!
The terrifying tusks were about to tear Gaius apart!
"Gaius! Watch out!" Dorian's roar sounded like thunder!
The blue Terminator charged like a maddened bull, slamming his heavy shoulder plate into the side of the Tyrant Guard, making it stumble, the fatal bite grazing Gaius's body!
"You guys, get back! I'll hold this big guy off!" Dorian roared, directly pouncing, using the strength of his Terminator armor to tightly embrace the Tyrant Guard, wrestling with it! The Thunder Hammer was difficult to use at such close range, so he simply punched the enemy's head!
"Dorian!" Sergeant Golden said anxiously.
"Go!" Dorian yelled without looking back, his Terminator armor screeching as the Tyrant Guard's sharp claws scraped against it.
Sergeant Golden gritted his teeth, knowing this was no time for hesitation: "Second Squad! Retreat! Quickly!"
The squad members retreated with tears in their eyes. Gaius took one last look back, seeing Dorian roaring, finally finding an opportunity, and swinging his Thunder Hammer, smashing it heavily onto the Tyrant Guard's skull!
Boom! Brains splattered! The massive body of the Tyrant Guard crashed to the ground!
However, before Dorian could catch his breath, a Genestealer, which had been lurking in the shadows, darted out like lightning, its sharp claws savagely raking at the observation slit of Dorian's Terminator helmet!
Dorian reacted incredibly fast, sharply turning his head, the claws scraping past his helmet, leaving deep marks. He countered with a punch, directly sending the Genestealer flying, crashing through a low wall!
"Ambushing me, huh!" Dorian cursed, then hurled his Thunder Hammer!
The spinning Thunder Hammer, carrying immense force, accurately struck the Genestealer, which had just scrambled out of the rubble, instantly smashing it into a puddle of flesh!
But just as he retrieved his Thunder Hammer, more Warrior Tyranids and Ripper already swarmed him like a tide! He wielded his Thunder Hammer, constantly smashing approaching enemies, but the swarm was endless, and his maneuvering space was continuously compressed…
The members of the Second Squad, who had retreated into the inner city passage, caught a glimpse of Dorian just before he was engulfed by the tide of bugs through the gap of the heavy blast door that was about to close… He was like a blue reef, standing firm amidst the green waves, his Thunder Hammer clearing a path with every swing, only for more bugs to immediately fill the void…
Everyone's eyes turned red, their gazes tearing with fury! But there was nothing they could do! The gate was slowly descending!
Just then, a silver figure, like a gust of wind, rushed into the closing gate! It was Captain Moreno! He carried a comatose Valerius, whose silver blood soaked his armor, on his shoulder! He had saved his teammate at the last moment, but Valerius' condition was clearly critical; having directly endured the psychic shriek of that specialized Synapse Creature, his soul might have been severely damaged!
Moreno's situation was also not optimistic; after bringing Valerius back, he too collapsed to the ground.
Boom!
The heavy blast door finally closed completely, isolating the frenzied swarm outside and Dorian, who was still fighting alone…
The passage was dead silent, with only the heavy breathing of the warriors and the groans of the wounded. An atmosphere of failure, sorrow, and despair permeated the air.
However, the battle was not over.
Suddenly, a shout of alarm came from the observation port above the city wall!
Captain Angerthas' massive Terminator body, along with Hoss and Kazatoki—three Grey Knights Terminators—had not retreated with the main force! They were like three silver mountains, moving against the retreating tide of people, re-ascending the outer city wall that was about to fall!
They confronted the two Synapse Creatures that were slowly approaching, emanating terrifying psychic fluctuations! And the countless Tyranid guards around them!
Captain Angerthas' Storm Halberd hummed, its blade flowing with silver psychic energy that was even more condensed and vast than Moreno's!
Hoss carried his massive Daemonhammer, like an enraged Titan.
Kazatoki's massive body once again shouldered his glowing Assault Cannon and the now reloaded Plasma Cannon, his bionic eye locking onto the target.
They intended to use the strength of three men to directly clash with those two terrifying Synapse Creatures, which were powerful enough to defeat Moreno's squad! To buy the retreating forces the last precious moments, and to… draw the strongest fire for Dorian, who might still be alive!
The Wrath of the Titans was about to descend!
The passage was dimly lit, filled with the scent of blood, gunpowder, and despair. The members of the Second Squad stared intently at the cold, massive metal door, as if they could pierce through it to see the blue figure outside, engulfed by the tide of bugs.
Gorden punched the nearby wall, making a dull thud, his teeth clenched. Lex's bionic arm creaked as he clenched his fist, angry flames flickering in his eyes. Gaius' face was pale, his left arm trembling slightly, not only from sensory overload but also from the pain of being unable to rescue his comrade. Saul silently gripped the medkit in his hand, though he knew it might be useless in such a situation. Luna's bionic eyes were dim, while Lina tightly hugged her rag doll, her small face covered in tears.
They had no mind to listen to the earth-shattering psychic clash outside the gate, nor did they have time to care how the three Grey Knights Terminators would turn the tide. Their hearts were all tied to their reckless, impulsive brother, who had resolutely stayed behind to cover their retreat.
"Dorian…" Gaius murmured, his voice hoarse.
"That idiot…" Lex growled, his tone complex, with both anger and an imperceptible worry.
"He won't die that easily…" Gorden forced himself to calm down, but his voice carried an imperceptible tremor, "He's Declan Catonia… tougher than stone…"
Even so, everyone knew how slim the hope of survival was in that situation.
Outside the gate, atop the city wall, silver and eerie green light violently collided like two comets!
The two Synapse Creatures also seemed to sense the immense threat posed by Angerthas and his two companions; their massive heads simultaneously glowed intensely, and psychic fluctuations even more terrifying than when they attacked Moreno converged! The next moment, two twisted, soul-shattering psychic shrieks merged into a visible, destructive torrent of eerie green energy, sweeping towards the three Terminators like a tsunami! Wherever it passed, even the air let out a painful shriek, and the shattered stones of the city wall were easily annihilated!
Facing this terrifying combined attack, capable of instantly destroying an entire Company of Astartes, Angerthas, Hoss, and Kazatoki showed no fear!
"For the Emperor!" Captain Angerthas' roar was like thunder!
The three moved in perfect unison! Angerthas slammed his Storm Halberd heavily onto the ground! Hoss' Daemonhammer and Kazatoki's still glowing Assault Cannon simultaneously struck the haft of the halberd in a cross pattern!
The moment the three powerful weapons collided—Buzz!!!
A torrent of silver psychic energy, far purer, vaster, and more condensed than what Captain Moreno had previously unleashed, surged forth from the center of the three, like a erupting volcano! This psychic energy was not a simple shield, but formed a dazzling silver wall of light, composed of countless holy runes and chains of order!
The Synapse Creatures' destructive eerie green psychic torrent slammed fiercely against the silver wall of light!
There was no explosion, no shockwave spreading! The eerie green psychic torrent seemed to hit a dam, being firmly held back by the solid silver wall of light, unable to advance an inch! The two psychic powers of diametrically opposite natures violently rubbed and annihilated each other, emitting a grating sizzling sound, and the blinding light made it impossible to open one's eyes!
The Synapse Creatures' shriek could not penetrate this pure psychic energy, which gathered the entire faith and power of the three Grey Knights Terminators!
"In the Emperor's name, PURGE!!!" The roars of the three Terminators drowned out the Synapse Creatures' shrieks, even all the clamor of the battlefield, clearly reaching everyone's ears!
Their figures appeared incredibly tall in the silver light, like gods descending!
However, the fierce battle below the city wall continued. The swarm, like a breached flood, poured into the Hive City through multiple breaches. New defensive lines were hastily established amidst the complex streets and buildings, and the struggle for every inch of land became exceptionally bloody.
The Company Captain of the 2nd Company and the Company Captain of the 7th Company desperately commanded the battle, trying to stabilize their positions.
But bad news soon arrived—a Dreadnought belonging to the 2nd Company, while covering the retreat and repelling the swarm, ran out of ammunition and was then surrounded by several Executioners and Tyrant Guard. Its massive body was eventually toppled, and under the tearing of the swarm, the ancient hero within let out one last defiant war cry before falling silent…
The remaining five Dreadnoughts were also heavily scarred, their armor shattered, weapons overheated or even damaged, and ammunition running low. They still fought tenaciously, but their steps were already faltering, and their firepower was greatly diminished. The loss of these war behemoths was a huge blow to the morale of the defenders.
The street fighting became extremely brutal. The Ultramarines, relying on buildings and barricades, engaged the invading Tyranids in house-to-house, street-by-street combat. The roar of Bolters echoed through the narrow streets, and the clash of Chainswords against bio-armor was incessant. Every alley, every building, could instantly become a death trap.
The Second Squad was also forced into the brutal street fighting. They occupied a strong fortification at a crossroads, desperately repelling the swarm surging from three directions.
Sergeant Golden continuously issued commands, allocating firepower. Lex's Heavy Bolter became crucial for maintaining suppressive fire, but ammunition was consumed rapidly. Gaius endured his headache, trying to sense potential enemies lurking within surrounding buildings and underground. Saul not only had to fight but also had to constantly treat his teammates' new wounds. Luna and Lina hid behind cover in the rear; Lina trembled with fear, while Luna protected her and used her tool gun to shoot occasional Ripper that broke through the firing line.
Everyone fought desperately, but a heavy boulder weighed on everyone's heart.
Dorian's fate was unknown. The outer wall was lost, and street fighting was brutal. Dreadnoughts were falling one after another. The Grey Knights were outside, clashing with the terrifying Synapse Creatures, their victory uncertain. And the swarm, it seemed, would never be fully killed…
The light of hope, in this Hive City engulfed by the swarm, grew dimmer and dimmer, as if it could be extinguished at any moment. They could only fight until the last moment. For survival, for the Emperor, and for… their brother who might have already sacrificed himself.
-------
The street fighting inside the Hive City had entered its most brutal and desperate phase.
Every inch of ground was soaked in blood, and every street was piled high with corpses.
Though the Ultramarines and the Chaplain Brotherhood warriors were incredibly brave, their defenses were constantly being compressed, and casualties continued to mount under the endless tide of the Tyranid swarm.
The crossroads held by the Second Squad were also on the verge of collapse; Lex's Heavy Bolter finally ran out of ammunition, forcing him to draw his Chainsword for close combat.
Kaldor's senses were blurred from overexertion, and his left arm throbbed with unbearable pain.
Sergeant Golden's Power Sword was almost out of energy, and Sol's medical kit had long since been depleted.
A sense of despair, like a cold spiderweb, entangled everyone's hearts.
Just at this critical moment of life and death—
A roar of engines, different from Tyranid flying units and far more magnificent, pierced through the smoke and din above the Hive City like a sacred horn, coming from the distant upper atmosphere!
Immediately after, a thick, immensely powerful beam of light, containing destructive energy, descended like a divine judgment, precisely striking the colossal Hive Ship that overshadowed the outer orbit!
Boom!!!!!!!
Even through the distant atmosphere, the people on the ground could see the enormous fireball that erupted on the surface of the Hive Ship!
Countless fragments of biological tissue and burning debris scattered like meteors!
"Is that… an Imperial Navy Lance?!" an experienced Sergeant exclaimed!
As if in response to his cry, a sleek Strike Cruiser, painted in dark red and gold, with the Eye of Knowledge emblem embedded in its prow, burst into Catonia's orbital battlefield like a blade tearing through a sea of blood!
It was a Blood Ravens Chapter warship!
Its broadside macro-cannon arrays fired in unison, countless massive shells raining down on the Hive Ship and its escorting bio-vessels!
Laser turrets also spewed dense beams, sweeping away Tyranid flying units attempting to approach!
The Blood Ravens Chapter, having resolved the crisis in the Salamas system, rushed to support Catonia at the first opportunity!
The sudden orbital assault instantly disrupted the Tyranid's rhythm!
The Hive Ship was severely damaged and could no longer maintain a stable spore pod deployment!
In the sky, the terrifying, rain-like descent of spore pods abruptly ceased!
The Tyranid swarms on the ground instantly lost their most crucial source of troop replenishment!
This change was immediately noticed by the hard-fighting defenders on the ground!
"The spore pods have stopped! The spore pods have stopped!" The news spread like wildfire through the communication channels!
"The Emperor protects! Reinforcements! It's our reinforcements!"
"For the Emperor! For Ultramar! Counterattack! Drive these xeno scum out!"
The previously low morale instantly soared to its peak!
Though still fierce, the Tyranid swarm, deprived of further reinforcements, was no longer endless!
They had become enemies that could be annihilated!
The Ultramarines and the Chaplain Brotherhood warriors erupted with astonishing combat power!
Like men on stimulants, they roared as they charged out from behind cover, launching a counter-charge against the Tyranids that had invaded the city!
Bolters roared again, and Chainswords shrieked once more!
The front line was slowly, painstakingly pushed back!
Meanwhile, on the ruins of the outer wall, the decisive psychic duel had reached its most critical moment!
The silver psychic energy wall, jointly constructed by the three Grey Knights Terminators, still firmly resisted the psychic torrents of the two Broodlords.
However, prolonged confrontation exacted a heavy toll on both sides.
The eerie green psychic glow of the Broodlords began to flicker unsteadily, and the breathing beneath Angerthas and his two companions' armor grew heavier.
Captain Angerthas' rotating optic lenses were locked onto the largest Broodlord; he could sense that although its power was immense, a hint of impatience and… a weakness was beginning to show!
"Now! Kazatoki!" Captain Angerthas roared through the psychic link!
Kazatoki, who had been waiting for the opportune moment, moved his massive body abruptly!
He temporarily withdrew his power supporting the psychic energy wall, and his glowing, slightly cooled Assault Cannon once again let out a furious roar!
Bolter shells, like a storm of metal, accurately sprayed towards the slightly smaller Broodlord with a more piercing psychic signature!
That Broodlord was pouring all its energy into psychic output and had not expected its opponent to suddenly withdraw its defense and launch a physical attack!
Its psychic shield, no longer fully maintained and continuously drained by the silver psychic energy, finally let out a strained wail and developed a faint crack!
And that faint crack was enough for a marksman of Kazatoki's caliber!
Countless Bolter shells, like sharks smelling blood, furiously plunged through that crack!
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump!
Green ichor and shattered tissue splattered everywhere!
The smaller Broodlord couldn't even let out a scream before it was utterly riddled with holes in this sudden storm of metal!
Its head, which emitted sharp psychic energy, burst open like a rotten watermelon, and its massive body convulsed as it plummeted from the air, crashing into the swarm below, dead beyond dead!
The combined attack was broken!
The largest Broodlord suffered a massive psychic backlash, and the eerie green torrent it emitted instantly became chaotic and dim!
Captain Angerthas would not let this opportunity pass!
He roared, and the silver psychic energy on his Storm Power Halberd instantly surged, shining as brightly as a silver sun!
He thrust the halberd forward!
"In the Emperor's name! Yield! Xeno!"
A massive silver psychic energy, like a collapsing mountain and a raging tsunami, pressed down on the largest Broodlord!
The Broodlord tried to resist, but it was fighting a losing battle, wounded by the backlash, and its psychic energy was firmly suppressed by Angerthas' purer, more concentrated power of order, steadily retreating!
Its vast, mountain-like body was actually forced down from the air to the ground by Angerthas' psychic energy!
It crashed heavily onto the ruins covered with Tyranid corpses, kicking up a cloud of dust!
It struggled, letting out an unwilling psychic shriek, attempting to fly again, but Angerthas' Storm Halberd, like a divine anchor, firmly locked onto it, and the powerful psychic energy pressed it down, rendering it immobile!
And at that moment, Hoss, like an enraged Titan, had charged before it with earth-shattering strides!
The massive Demonbane Hammer, stained with the blood of countless Tyranids, was raised high by Hoss, the psychic glow contained within its head even surpassing Angerthas' Storm Halberd!
"Purge!!!"
Hoss let out a roar that echoed across the battlefield, and the giant hammer, with an aura of absolute destruction, smashed down from above onto the massive head of the Broodlord, which was suppressed by psychic energy and unable to move!
Boom!!!!!!!!!!
Like a balloon bursting under immense force!
The psychic shield and tough bio-armor, which could withstand heavy artillery bombardment, seemed so fragile and unbearable under Hoss' furious blow!
The Broodlord's massive head instantly shattered into pieces!
Countless brain tissues, ganglia, and green ichor sprayed out like an explosion!
The powerful psychic shockwave even pulverized the Tyranids within a hundred meters around it!
The high-ranking Broodlord, which had brought endless fear and pressure to the defenders, was thus utterly annihilated!
Silver Radiance Triumphs!
At the same time, the members of the Second Squad had no time to celebrate this glorious victory.
Taking advantage of the Tyranid swarm's brief confusion and the defenders' counterattack, they desperately broke through the defensive line and rushed frantically towards the area where Dorian had stayed behind and the gate had fallen!
"Dorian! Dorian! Answer me!" Sergeant Golden roared into the comms channel while slashing at sporadic Tyranids with his Power Sword.
No response.
Their hearts sank to rock bottom.
As they rushed through the ruins covered with Tyranid corpses to that area, the sight that greeted them nearly froze everyone's blood!
A large blue figure still stood stubbornly amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
It was Dorian! He was still alive!
But his condition was utterly dire!
One of his arms—along with that part of his Terminator armor—had been severed at the root, electrical sparks flickering at the wound, exposed conduits dangling, and blood constantly oozing out.
His Terminator armor was covered in deep claw marks, acid-corroded pits, and penetrating wounds from bio-spikes, with hardly a single intact spot.
Nevertheless, with his remaining arm, he still firmly gripped his somewhat deformed Thunder Hammer, mechanically, repeatedly swinging it, smashing any Tyranid that dared to approach!
At his feet, a thick layer of Tyranid corpses was piled up, including the remains of Lictors, Raveners, and Warrior Tyranids!
These corpses silently spoke of the horrific battle he had endured and his almost abnormal, tenacious vitality!
He was like an unyielding lighthouse, even when riddled with wounds, even when alone, still burning the last embers of his life, fulfilling his promise to "stay behind"!
"Dorian!" Kaldor was the first to rush to his side, shooting down a Ripper attempting to pounce from the side with his Bolter Pistol.
The others immediately surrounded him, forming a defensive circle, clearing away the sporadic Tyranids that still stubbornly surged forward.
Sergeant Golden rushed to Dorian's front and found that the big man's helmet visor was shattered, revealing a blood-stained, incredibly pale face with a grim smile.
"...Hey... Sergeant... you... came... too late..." Dorian's voice was extremely weak, intermittent, yet still carried his characteristic stubbornness, even at death's door, "...I... almost... killed... all these scum..."
"Shut up! You idiot!" Sergeant Golden cursed, but his voice was choked with emotion, and he quickly joined Sol in examining Dorian's injuries.
The injuries were extremely severe: excessive blood loss, ruptured internal organs, damaged nervous system… That he had held on until now was purely due to the Astartes' superhuman physique and an unyielding will.
"Quick! Get him back! Immediate rescue!" Sergeant Golden roared.
Lex stepped forward, carefully using his bionic arm to support Dorian's massive body, while Gaius and Gorden guarded him. Thor immediately began emergency hemostasis and treatment.
As they carried the severely wounded Dorian, struggling to retreat back into the Hive City, they looked up at the sky.
The Blood Ravens Chapter's Strike Cruiser was soaring in orbit, continuously unleashing firepower onto the heavily damaged, constantly exploding Hive Ship. More Imperial Navy ship lights were also jumping into the star system.
The deployment of spore pods had long ceased, and although the ground Swarm was still fighting, without command and support, they became chaotic and blind, retreating under the counterattack of the human army.
The scales of victory had finally completely tipped.
They… won.
They had paid a huge price in the brutal defense of Catonia, but they had held it.
Looking at the fire of the Imperial warships in the sky, and then at the dying Dorian beside him, who was still trying to smile, the members of Second Squad were filled with mixed emotions.
Hope always quietly sprouts in the deepest despair, and courage and sacrifice are the blood that nourishes its growth. Their battle was far from over, but at least they had won this campaign and saved their brother.
The roar of engines echoed from the sky, followed by a succession of Thunderhawks, transporting the remaining Ultramarines to the Ultramarines' warship in orbit.
The battered Steadfast City gradually shrunk behind them, replaced by the familiar and reassuring environment inside the Strike Cruiser, the *Adventurous Valor*. The steady hum of the warship's engines replaced the deafening explosions and roars of the battlefield, and the smell of disinfectant diluted the scent of blood and gunpowder. However, for the warriors who had just returned from hell, their taut nerves did not immediately relax.
Declan Catonia was immediately sent to the Intensive Care Unit on the medical deck. The ship's Chief Medic Moss and his medical team performed emergency surgery for over ten hours to barely stabilize his collapsing vital signs. His lost left arm could not regenerate, but the Tech-Priests fitted him with a temporary, yet equally powerful bionic arm, which suited his massive body and his severely damaged Terminator Armor quite well.
When Dorian slowly awoke from his deep coma and saw his bionic arm, gleaming with metallic coldness, he paused, then gave a weak but still somewhat smug smile: "Tsk… pretty cool…"
This time, surrounding his bed were no longer jeers or blame. The members of Second Squad, and even many brothers from 7th Company and 2nd Company who had heard of his rearguard actions, looked at him with genuine respect and gratitude.
Yes, he was reckless, impulsive, brainless, and always caused trouble. But at the most critical moment, when his comrades were in despair, this brute would always burst forth with the most dazzling light, stepping forward in the most direct and courageous way, taking the danger upon his own shoulders. This almost instinctive courage and spirit of sacrifice won the hearts of all who knew the truth.
"How do you feel, you idiot?" Sergeant Golden's voice held a trace of imperceptible relief. Seeing him wake up, a great weight was finally lifted from his heart.
"Still… not dead…" Dorian's voice was hoarse. He tried to move his bionic arm, causing a sharp pain at the interface, making him wince, "It's just… this new arm… isn't quite listening…"
"You'll have plenty of time to adapt once you're better," Lex said in a muffled voice, handing him a cup of nutrient solution.
Gaius, Cliff, Thor, Luna, and Lina were all gathered around, and although they said nothing, their concern was evident. Lina carefully placed the Dorian-mimicking doll on his bedside table.
Just then, the door to the ward slid open, and the figure of Captain Cassius of 7th Company appeared at the doorway. Everyone in the room immediately straightened up and saluted.
Captain Cassius walked to Dorian's bed, looked at his terrible condition and his brand new bionic arm, remained silent for a moment, then slowly began, "Declan Catonia."
"Captain…" Dorian struggled to sit up.
"Lie still," Cassius pressed him down, his tone unexpectedly calm, "Your previous recklessness and provocation nearly caused a grave mistake, which by law should be severely punished."
Dorian's face fell at these words.
"However," Cassius' tone shifted, "your heroic fighting in Catonia, especially your final act of covering your comrades' retreat, almost dying on the battlefield, proved your fearless loyalty and spirit of sacrifice to the Emperor, the Primarch, and your brothers. Your merits and demerits cancel each other out… no, your merits outweigh your demerits. The confrontation with the Grey Knights will be forgiven."
Dorian's eyes instantly lit up.
"Furthermore," Cassius solemnly announced, "in view of the great strength, tenacious will, and adaptability with Terminator Armor you demonstrated in battle, I, as the Captain of 7th Company, formally authorize: Declan Catonia, from this day forward, is permanently assigned and owns the Ultramarines standard Terminator Armor you have been using! I hope you will use this power and glory wisely, and not as capital for causing trouble!"
"Yes! Captain! I guarantee to complete the mission! I will absolutely not let you down!" Dorian was so excited he almost jumped out of bed, which tugged at his wounds, making him wince again, but the excitement on his face was impossible to hide.
"Get well soon," Cassius patted his good shoulder, a faint smile on his face, which then turned serious again, "However, rest time is limited. We only have one day for rest and emergency repairs."
His gaze swept over everyone in the ward: "The latest battle report indicates that the situation in the Prestian system is extremely critical. The Space Wolves' 'Crescent Howl' Ravager force, as well as our Chapter's 6th and 8th Companies, are fighting a bloody battle against the main Tyranid force there, under immense pressure. In one day, the *Adventurous Valor* will carry the remaining forces of 7th Company and 2nd Company, and immediately jump to Prestian for support!"
"The subsequent cleanup and defense of Catonia will be fully managed by the Chaplain Brotherhood."
The news came suddenly, yet it was also logical. The war was far from over; they were merely going from one hell to another, larger hell.
Leaving the medical bay, Gaius and Cliff, on their way to the armory, coincidentally encountered Captain Moreno emerging from another medical room.
The Grey Knight Captain, though injured, still held his back straight, but the cold sharpness seemed to have dissipated somewhat, replaced by a deep weariness and… a hint of barely concealed sadness. Inside the medical room behind him lay Valerius, still in a deep coma and critically ill, and Kaldor, who, though out of danger, had completely lost his combat capability and whose psychic abilities were almost dissipated. His squad had suffered heavy losses.
Moreno also saw Gaius and Cliff. His gaze lingered on Gaius for a moment, his cold optical sensors seeming to flicker slightly, but ultimately he said nothing, merely nodding slightly before silently brushing past them and heading to the Grey Knights' dedicated meditation chamber. That solitary and heavy back silently spoke of how even the most stoic warriors would grieve for the severe injuries of their comrades.
Gaius could feel the surging emotions hidden beneath Captain Moreno's cold exterior.
In the hangar and armory, a scene of bustling activity unfolded. Tech-Priests and servitors were working against the clock.
The primary maintenance targets were the three surviving Dreadnoughts. These war behemoths were severely damaged in the Catonia campaign; their armor needed patching, their weapon systems needed calibration or even replacement, and more importantly—replenishing the enormous amount of ammunition! A Dreadnought's twin-linked assault cannon could unleash hundreds of rounds per minute, making its ammunition consumption astronomical. The Tech-Priests directed transport servitors to load crate after crate of specialized ammunition into their massive magazines.
"Faster! Faster! Move even faster! We have no time!" The Chief Tech-Priest urged loudly.
Every second was precious.
In the Grey Knights' allocated quarters, Captain Angerthas' massive Terminator body stood silently outside a medical pod, looking through the observation window at Valerius, still in a deep coma, and in another chamber, Kaldor, who, though awake, had vacant eyes and almost dissipated psychic abilities.
Hoss and Kazatoki stood silently behind him.
Despite their differing philosophies, distinct styles of action, and even past conflicts, seeing the tragic fate of Moreno's squad, a complex emotion still surged within Angerthas. It was not merely sympathy, but a profound sense of sorrow and contemplation for the suffering of his own kind.
They were all Grey Knights, all the Emperor's Angels of Death, all tools existing to purge Chaos and xenos. Regardless of the method, they were ultimately destined for a tragic sacrifice. Was Moreno's stubbornness and aggression not a desperate struggle against his own fate?
"May the Emperor guide your souls…" Angerthas' deep voice echoed in the corridor, carrying a trace of an imperceptible sigh.
The one-day rest period passed in a flash. The *Adventurous Valor* had completed its necessary resupply and repairs, its engines were warming up, and navigators were calculating the jump parameters for the Prestian system.
The brief calm was about to end; a new, more brutal bloodbath awaited in the distance. The warriors seized the last moments to rest, pray, and prepare their equipment. Their wounds were not yet healed, but they had to embark on their journey once more.
For the Imperium, for humanity, for survival.