Hours of bloody slaughter were enough to turn a Dark Eldar-style city into burning ruins. Streets once filled with morbid beauty and whispers of pain were now nothing but shattered walls, charred corpses, and congealed green blood. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, ozone, burnt flesh, and an indescribable, sickly sweet scent unique to Eldar blood, making one nauseous.
However, the destruction of this city was far from enough to quell the raging inferno of the Ultramarines' wrath ignited by the tragedy of Ultramar. The blood of the xenos only further stimulated their desire for slaughter.
On the bridge of the Macragge's Honour, Chapter Master Calgar expressionlessly overlooked the city below, which had been reduced to scorched earth. His gaze was cold, without the slightest waver.
"Order: First, Second, Third, Sixth, and 7th Companies, immediately reform and advance 300 kilometers northwest to the second target city—'Spire of Bitter Pain'! Mission unchanged: complete extermination, leave no survivors!"
The order, like an iron law, reached the ears of every Company Captain. There was no rest, no mercy, only continuous, relentless destruction.
Soon, the Angels of Death, still radiating intense killing intent, reassembled. Thunderhawk Gunships and ground assault vehicles roared, carrying these avatars of death like a blue steel torrent, rolling towards their next target!
The Dark Eldar in the city of "Spire of Bitter Pain" had apparently learned of the tragic fate of the neighboring city through some means. Panic spread like a plague through the city, but some more powerful Kabals seemed to be attempting to organize a final resistance.
When the Ultramarines' vanguard arrived at the city's outskirts, they encountered a hastily erected defensive line. A mixed force of Kabalite Warriors, slave warriors, and some twisted beasts, relying on temporary barricades and defensive fortifications, attempted to stem the tide of the blue torrent.
However, under the combined assault of five full Astartes Companies, this defensive line appeared laughable and fragile.
The First Company's Terminators advanced steadily like an unstoppable steel wall, their Assault Cannons and Storm Bolters weaving a deadly curtain of fire. The Second Company and Third Company warriors outflanked from both sides, using precise firepower to eliminate any firing points attempting to retaliate. The Sixth Company and 7th Company, as the main assault force, combined the roar of Chainswords and the thunder of Bolters into a single wave, crashing against the Dark Eldar lines like a raging tide.
The Dark Eldar's poisoned crystal weapons struggled to penetrate Power Armour, and their melee units were no match for the Astartes' strength and skill. The defensive line began to collapse almost on contact. The remaining Dark Eldar defenders, terrified, abandoned the outer fortifications and fled in disarray into the intricate streets and buildings of the city, attempting to use urban warfare to buy time, or perhaps...hoping for Webway rescue or some other miracle.
But they had miscalculated. In the Ultramarines' tactical lexicon, there was no room for giving the enemy a breather, let alone "fair" urban combat.
Just as the remnants of the Dark Eldar forces had retreated into the city, attempting to make a stand using familiar terrain—
The sky was once again illuminated by the fiery contrails of Imperial Drop Pods!
But this time, the Drop Pods did not land outside the city; instead, like precise surgical knives, they plunged directly into the city's heart! Their landing points were precisely the central plaza of "Spire of Bitter Pain" and several of the most important transportation hubs!
The doors exploded open! More blue giants descended like divine soldiers!
It was the warriors of the Eighth Company, and the companies of the two Ultramarines successor chapters, Nova, who had answered the call to assist in the battle!
The sudden appearance of these fresh forces completely shattered the Dark Eldar's illusions of urban warfare! They attacked outwards from the city's core, coordinating with the main forces pressing in from the outside, instantly tearing the Dark Eldar's defensive system to shreds!
A central collapse! The Dark Eldar were plunged into unprecedented chaos and despair! They were attacked from both front and rear, unable to cope!
And even greater despair followed closely behind.
The Warhound Titan squad, like moving mountains, again approached the city with earth-shattering steps. The Dark Eldar seemed to be pushed to a dead end and actually deployed their only remaining Eldar Titans, possibly hastily transferred from other strongholds, to attempt a final interception.
These Eldar Titans were elegant and deadly in design, their Pulse Lasers and Starcannons flashing with dangerous light. They moved nimbly through the ruins, attempting to use speed and agility to counter the Imperium's steel giants.
However, this was undoubtedly like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
The Warhound Titan did not even move its massive body. Its shoulder-mounted Turbo-Laser Destructor and Vulcan Mega-Bolter merely adjusted their angles slightly, locking onto those fast-moving "little ones."
Whoosh—boom!
A thick Turbo-Laser beam instantly vaporized the upper half of an Eldar Titan attempting to jump and dodge!
Boom boom boom boom boom!
The Vulcan Mega-Bolter, like a rain of death, covered the area where another Eldar Titan was located, blasting it and the surrounding buildings into fragments!
Absolute firepower overwhelming! The Eldar Titans were easily destroyed like toys in front of the Warhound Titan, unable to even get close.
At the same time, two exceptionally large Drop Pods crashed like meteors into the city center plaza. Their doors opened, revealing even more volatile and battle-hungry massive figures inside—those were two ancient Dreadnoughts belonging to Nova!
"For the Emperor! Purge the xenos!" The electronically synthesized war cry roared from their external speakers!
These two Dreadnoughts were clearly more temperamental than their predecessors on the Macragge's Honour. The moment they landed, without needing any commands, their shoulder-mounted twin-linked Assault Cannons and Heavy Flamers immediately began to unleash a furious barrage of fire!
The Assault Cannon's barrages shredded any Dark Eldar warriors attempting to approach into meat paste, while the sticky flames from the Flamers turned entire streets into burning hells, burning alive the xenos hiding in buildings! They marched with heavy steps, ignoring all obstacles, like two mobile volcanoes, crushing towards the most densely populated Dark Eldar areas!
The desperate Dark Eldar reacted in various ways: some hysterically launched suicidal charges, only to turn to ash in Bolter fire and flames; others tried to hide in basements or hidden corners, but were buried alive when the Dreadnoughts collapsed buildings, or were dragged out and executed by subsequent Astartes clean-up teams; some, perhaps completely broken, even threw down their weapons, knelt on the ground, raised their hands, and cried out something in Eldar, seemingly...surrendering?
However, their only response was the cold, merciless Bolter.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Precise single shots, or furious bursts. Regardless of gender, age, warrior or civilian, resistance or plea, as long as it was a non-human xeno, there was only one outcome—death.
The iron law of the Imperium was executed most thoroughly at this moment. Chapter Master Calgar's orders were carried out without compromise. For these Dark Eldar who brought endless suffering to humanity, there were no prisoners, no negotiations, no form of forgiveness. Only a complete and total annihilation, from body to culture, could appease the spirits of the dead on Ultramar and warn any xenos daring to covet human territory.
The slaughter continued across a wider urban area, with greater efficiency and a colder demeanor. Five main companies crushed inwards from the outside, two successor chapter companies and the Eighth Company swept outwards from the center, and Warhound Titans and Dreadnoughts provided devastating heavy fire support. This was a meticulously planned and efficiently executed extermination operation.
"Spire of Bitter Pain," this nest of Dark Eldar suffering, was being completely consumed and purified by blue fury and a torrent of steel at a visible rate. The Imperium's vengeance had only just begun.
Two days and two nights of relentless slaughter turned this planet, once dominated by the twisted aesthetics of the Dark Eldar, into scorched earth. Cities once filled with morbid luxury and screams of pain became smoking ruins, streets covered with shattered black crystals, twisted metal, and long-congealed green blood. The stench of death in the air was so thick it was almost palpable.
Apart from a few warriors from the 7th Company and Eighth Company who were ordered to remain on the ground, meticulously sweeping the ruins like a comb to search for any stragglers who might be hiding, most of the Ultramarines companies involved in the operation had already returned to the Macragge's Honour aboard transport ships for rest.
The ship's hangars and corridors were once again filled with the weary but satisfied blue giants, who silently wiped their weapons, maintained their armor, and prepared for the next cleansing operation.
Second Squad was also left behind, tasked with clearing specific areas of the "Spire of Bitter Pain" city.
Luna and Lina, however, returned to the mothership with the main force, as the ground clearing work was too dangerous and cruel for a Tech-Sergeant and children.
The squad members moved among the broken walls and rubble, the footsteps of their power armor echoing through the silent ruins, sounding exceptionally clear.
Their sensors scanned every possible hiding place—basements, collapsed tunnels, the half-destroyed mezzanines of tall buildings.
From time to time, Dark Eldar civilians hiding were pulled out of their hiding places.
These aliens' faces were filled with extreme fear and despair; they cried out, pleaded in their beautiful but incomprehensible Eldar language, and huddled together.
However, their only response was the cold gaze of the Ultramarines, and… an unhesitating burst of Bolter fire.
Bang! Bang!
The gunshots briefly echoed in the ruins, then quickly returned to silence.
Green blood splattered on the charred walls, adding another eerie color to this place of destruction.
There was no interrogation, no hesitation.
The iron law of the Imperium was being executed without compromise.
In front of a relatively intact building with ornate black metal doors, Dorian's massive Terminator body stopped.
His sensors detected faint life signals behind the door, and quite a few of them.
"Hey! There are rats in here!" Dorian mumbled, raising his mechanical arm and brutally smashing open the lock with his Thunder Hammer, then kicking open the heavy metal door!
Behind the door was a space similar to an underground shelter.
In the dim light, over twenty Dark Eldar civilians huddled together in terror, and upon seeing the blue steel giant at the entrance, they immediately let out even more shrill screams and cries.
"Get out! Xenos!" Dorian's voice boomed through his external speaker, echoing like thunder in the confined space.
The Dark Eldar trembled with fear, but no one dared to move.
Lex impatiently stepped forward, aiming his Heavy Bolter into the room: "Last chance! Come out! Or we'll blast you and this rat hole to rubble together!"
The threat of death finally overcame their fear.
These Dark Eldar civilians began to cry, supporting each other, and slowly emerged from the shelter into the open ruins outside.
They kept their heads down, not daring to look at the blue giants, awaiting their already predetermined fate.
Lex snorted coldly and raised his Heavy Bolter, preparing for the final cleansing.
Just then, an unexpected change occurred!
Among the crowd, a very young-looking Dark Eldar girl suddenly raised her head!
Her face was also full of fear, but even more so, a distorted anger born of being pushed to the brink!
She actually looked directly at Sergeant Golden and, with a strange accent but remarkably clear gothic, began to shriek accusations:
"You butchers! Executioners! Cold-blooded monsters!"
Everyone was stunned, including the members of Second Squad.
They hadn't expected a Dark Eldar, especially a civilian, to speak the human language?
Sergeant Golden raised his hand, signaling Lex to wait, his gaze from beneath his faceplate showing a hint of surprise and scrutiny as he stared at the girl: "Oh? Xenos can speak human tongue too?"
His response seemed to further enrage the girl; she seemed to have thrown caution to the wind, crying out with all her might:
"Why?! Why are you doing this to us?! What have we done wrong?! You came down without reason, destroyed our cities, slaughtered our people! You spare neither children nor the elderly! Does destroying a race make you so happy?! Do you have nothing but slaughter and hatred?! What's the difference between you and those Chaos Daemons?!"
Although her gothic was fluent, her vocabulary and grammar seemed somewhat ancient and formal, as if learned from old records or captives.
But this did not diminish the despair, anger, and… a hint of naive questioning contained in her words.
The scene was silent, save for the girl's excited gasps and the low sobs of the other Dark Eldar.
Upon hearing this, Dorian immediately flew into a rage!
He stomped forward with a clanking sound, his huge mechanical hand grabbing the girl by her collar, lifting her effortlessly off the ground like a small chicken!
"Bullshit! How dare you say such things?!" Dorian's roar made the girl's ears ring, and she stared in terror at the huge, cold metal faceplate before her.
"Without reason? Huh?!" Dorian roared at her, "You damned, shadow-dwelling scum! Playing your schemes! Drawing Tyranids to plague our homeworld! How many people died on Ultramar?! How many worlds were devoured?! Do you even know?!"
He shook the girl in his hand forcefully, continuing to bellow: "Torture! Enslavement! Treating other intelligent beings as toys and food! These are your good deeds! And now you're playing innocent with me?! Bah! I'm telling you! This is retribution! The Emperor's retribution! We're going to your next planet immediately, and slaughter the xenos there just the same!"
Although Dorian was straightforward, the atrocities of the Dark Eldar were no longer a secret within the Chapter.
His roar, though crude, directly and simply exposed the seemingly "innocent" questioning of the other party.
The girl's face turned pale from Dorian's shouting, her lips trembling, seemingly wanting to retort, but in the face of Dorian's pure, undisguised fury and killing intent, any words seemed pale and powerless.
And just as Dorian was roaring, holding the girl, Gorden gave a look to Gaius and Cliff.
The two immediately understood, raised their Bolters, and coldly ordered the huddled, trembling Dark Eldar civilians: "Step back! All of you, gather in that corner by the wall!"
The civilians were already terrified, and like docile sheep, they were herded back to a relatively intact wall nearby, huddling together, their eyes filled with desperate fear.
Lex's Heavy Bolter was raised again, its muzzle pointed at the huddled group of xenos.
His face was expressionless, only the coldness of executing orders.
"No… don't…" The girl, held by Dorian, seemed to realize what was about to happen and let out a faint plea.
But her voice was completely drowned out by the deep, furious roar of the Heavy Bolter!
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!!!
A storm of deadly metal instantly engulfed the huddled Dark Eldar civilians!
Green blood, shattered limbs, and internal organs splattered outwards like an explosion, painting the entire wall with a terrifying color!
The cries and pleas ceased abruptly!
In just a few seconds, all that remained was an unrecognizable, steaming mixture of blood and flesh.
The girl stared blankly at the scene, her eyes wide, her pupils constricted by extreme fear and shock, as if she had gone numb, even forgetting to struggle.
Dorian threw her to the ground like a rag doll.
She collapsed into the blood and minced meat, her body trembling violently, beginning to retch, but nothing came out.
Sergeant Golden walked up to her, looking down at her, his voice cold: "You speak gothic, which makes you somewhat useful.
I'll spare your life for now.
Take her away."
Immediately, two squad members stepped forward and roughly pulled up the girl, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
She no longer cried or accused, but simply stared blankly at the spot where her compatriots had once stood, as if her soul had been ripped away.
The clearing work continued.
Among the ruins, the Imperium's iron law was still being mercilessly enforced.
The occasional sound of a Bolter fired, playing the final, cold requiem for the destruction of this planet.
And this Dark Eldar girl who could speak gothic became an unexpected yet insignificant captive in this extermination operation.
Her fate remained unknown.
--------
The fires of revenge did not die down with a planet turning to scorched earth; instead, they burned even brighter.
The Ultramarines' next target was another star system occupied by the Dark Eldar.
However, with the previous lesson learned, these cunning Xenos would never again sit idly by.
They would surely fortify their defenses, and might even set traps.
A simple frontal assault might incur unnecessary costs.
Inside the Macragge's Honour's tactical meeting room, Chapter Master Calgar and the Captains of each company, along with holographic representations of allied forces, were discussing countermeasures.
"The Dark Eldar must have already learned of the Spire of Bitter Pain's fate," Captain Cassius of the 7th Company said in a deep voice.
"A frontal assault would likely encounter fierce resistance and booby traps.
We need to change our strategy, maximize our advantages, and reduce casualties among ground forces."
"Agreed," a holographic representative from the Blood Ravens Chapter nodded.
"I suggest first using overwhelming fleet power to destroy their orbital defenses and main ground fortifications, weakening their ability to resist, before deploying ground forces for cleanup."
"Haha! If you ask me, just let the Wolf Cubs board them directly! Tear their rotten ships apart from the inside!" a rough voice boomed.
It was the representative of the Space Wolves, a Wolf Lord with a thick beard and scars on his face.
"Then you can go down and clean up the mess!"
Chapter Master Calgar pondered for a moment, synthesizing the various opinions, and made his decision: "Order: The fleet will prioritize achieving absolute air superiority and conduct orbital bombardment, focusing on destroying enemy ground defense nodes and suspected command centers.
The Blood Ravens Chapter will be responsible for fleet support and intelligence analysis.
Space Wolves, you are authorized to conduct boarding actions, paralyzing enemy ships as much as possible.
After the bombardment ends, all Chapters will jointly conduct ground-clearing operations.
We will achieve the most thorough destruction at the lowest possible cost."
With the plan set, the Imperium's war machine once again operated with high efficiency.
In the outer orbit of the target planet, battle had already erupted.
Several Dark Eldar warships, with their bizarre, black blade-like designs, attempted to intercept the Imperial fleet.
They were fast, their firepower insidious, constantly firing dark matter energy beams and dense barrages of venom crystal cannons.
The Blood Ravens Chapter's strike cruiser "Arcane Knowledge" and other Imperial Navy vessels calmly met the challenge, their macro-cannons and lance batteries weaving a dense web of fire, maneuvering against the Dark Eldar warships.
Meanwhile, the Space Wolves' fleet displayed their utterly different, wild style!
Their longships, like bloodthirsty beasts, charged directly at the nearest Dark Eldar warships!
They even rammed the enemy ships fiercely with their prows at close range!
Even more astonishingly, when the ships approached a certain distance, the Space Wolves' Thunderhawk Gunships and assault pods launched directly, not for landing, but like flying torpedoes, slamming violently into the Dark Eldar warships' weak armor points or engine nozzles!
The hatches exploded open upon impact!
Countless Space Wolves warriors, clad in grey wolf pelts and letting out earth-shattering wolf howls, wielding chainaxes and Thunder Hammers, surged into the Dark Eldar warships' interiors like a raging pack of wolves!
"For Russ! For the Allfather!"
Wolf howls and war cries echoed through the Xenos' ship corridors!
The Space Wolves gave the Dark Eldar no chance for ranged combat, directly pouncing into the bloodiest, most brutal close-quarters battle!
Chainaxes tore through the Eldar's exquisite armor, Thunder Hammers smashed twisted control panels, and Bolters at close range blew enemies to pieces!
The interior of the Dark Eldar warship instantly became a slaughterhouse of flying flesh and blood!
These Xenos, accustomed to distant torment and treacherous ambushes, had never witnessed such a mad, direct boarding action!
Their lines were in chaos!
When the Macragge's Honour and the Ultramarines fleet it led arrived at the battlefield, the orbital situation was largely clear.
The Dark Eldar fleet, under the precise strikes of the Blood Ravens and the frenzied boarding actions of the Space Wolves, suffered heavy losses, with the few remaining ships fleeing in disarray.
The Imperial Navy firmly controlled air superiority.
Chapter Master Calgar stood on the bridge, coldly gazing down at the planet below, which still shimmered with an eerie light.
He did not hesitate in the slightest.
"All strike cruisers, heed my command.
Target: All large defensive facilities, energy nodes, suspected command centers, and large population centers on the planet's surface.
Indiscriminate orbital bombardment commencing.
Duration: Until targets are completely destroyed."
With the order given, the Imperial fleet's cannons once again roared with destruction!
This time, it was no longer targeting a single city, but a global, systematic annihilation!
Macro-cannon shells rained down like meteorites, each capable of blasting out massive craters, sending meticulously arranged defensive fortifications along with their defenders to oblivion!
Lance beams, like the long whips of gods, lashed out at huge Eldar structures and energy cores, triggering a series of violent explosions!
The entire planet's surface seemed to be enveloped by a continuous, global thunderstorm!
Explosion after explosion erupted, and thick smoke blotted out the sky!
The Dark Eldar's defensive system, which they had cultivated for untold years, was easily torn apart, melted, and evaporated like paper toys before the Imperium's absolute firepower!
The bombardment lasted for an entire standard day.
When the shelling finally ceased, the planet's surface was already unrecognizable.
What might have once been forests, mountains, and rivers were now covered by thick dust and ruins, leaving only countless massive craters and still-burning debris.
Immediately after, true death descended.
Countless drop pods and assault pods, like a torrential downpour, launched from the Imperial ships, trailing Hot plumes of fire, streaking towards the ravaged surface!
The blue of the Ultramarines, the crimson and gold of the Blood Ravens Chapter, the deep blue and white of the Nova Chapter, and the grey and yellow of the Space Wolves… a colorful torrent representing the Imperium's wrath and destruction, slammed violently into the scorched earth!
Despite the devastating orbital bombardment, the remaining Dark Eldar forces, relying on some deep underground bunkers and complex ruinous terrain, launched a desperate and tenacious resistance.
The hiss of venom crystal weapons and the eerie glow of dark lances occasionally shot out from the ruins.
"For the Wolf King! For Fenris!" the Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves let out a wild war cry.
He wasn't even wearing a helmet, revealing a face full of war paint and scars, wielding a massive frost axe, personally leading his pack in a charge!
A Dreadnought belonging to the Space Wolves, adorned with wolf skulls and fur, followed closely behind, its twin-linked assault cannon roaring madly, clearing a path for the Wolf Lord!
The Dark Eldar warriors discovered with horror that they not only had to face the incredibly wild and powerful close-combat slashes of the Space Wolves, but also had to constantly guard against the precise and deadly Bolter fire from the Ultramarines, Blood Ravens, and Nova Chapter coming from other directions!
The Imperial warriors cooperated seamlessly, combining ranged and close combat, like an efficient killing machine, steadily compressing the Xenos' living space.
The defensive line was quickly breached, and the slaughter resumed.
Between the ruins, the roar of Bolters, the growl of chainswords, the howls of wolves, and the screams of the Dark Eldar intertwined.
However, just as the ground-clearing operation was in full swing, the Blood Ravens Chapter's intelligence department intercepted and deciphered an urgent communication.
"Chapter Master Calgar, urgent intelligence," the Blood Ravens' representative reported.
"Abnormal energy concentrations and aircraft takeoff/landing signals detected in sector seven of the city's northwest quadrant.
Analysis suggests the Dark Eldar are organizing their last forces in this area, attempting to use a hidden Webway entrance or spacecraft to evacuate important personnel and supplies."
Chapter Master Calgar's gaze instantly sharpened: "Trying to run? Not that easy!
Order: 7th Company, proceed immediately to sector seven of the northwest quadrant!
Mission: Destroy all evacuation vehicles, annihilate all Xenos attempting to escape, and seal any potential Webway entrances!
Not a single one must be allowed to escape!"
The order was quickly relayed to the 7th Company, which was clearing remaining enemies in the central area of the battlefield.
"7th Company! Assemble! Target Northwest Sector Seven! Forced march!" Captain Cassius' voice rang out on the company channel.
Dorian, who had just smashed a Dark Eldar Pain Engine with his Thunder Hammer, immediately brightened upon hearing this: "Haha! Finally something interesting!
Brothers, follow me!"
Second Squad quickly assembled, following the main force of the company, like a blue tide of steel, rapidly advancing towards the area indicated by the intelligence.
Their goal was to cut off the Dark Eldar's last chance at survival, to execute this extermination operation thoroughly.
The hunt entered its final stage.
The 7th Company, like a blue steel tide, moved swiftly through the ravaged ruins.
Captain Cassius led the charge, the green blood on his power sword not yet dry.
The warriors following him were silent and efficient, their Bolters always ready to fire, vigilantly scanning every corner where enemies might be hidden.
Having endured the orbital bombardment, this area was eerily silent, with only the faint sounds of distant gunfire and explosions reminding them that the battle was still ongoing.
"Northwest Sector Seven was originally a large entertainment complex and its underground network," Cliff shared quickly over the squad channel as he ran, relaying the brief intelligence received before departure.
"The structure is complex, and there may be a large number of underground spaces and passages not completely destroyed by the bombardment, making it an ideal evacuation point."
"Who cares about the structure," Dorian rumbled as he ran, his Terminator armor crushing the rubble on the ground, "With one swing of my hammer, it'll all be ruins!" His mechanical arm swung his Thunder Hammer, eager for action.
"Stay vigilant," Gorden's voice came, "The Dark Eldar are at their wits' end and have likely deployed heavy forces and traps there.
Lex, focus on fire suppression points.
Gaius, Cliff, prioritize clearing potential snipers and heavy weapons."
"Understood," everyone responded.
The closer they got to the target area, the more sporadic but frantic the resistance became.
Some scattered Dark Eldar warriors and twisted servitors rushed out from the ruins, launching suicidal attacks, attempting to delay their advance.
But the 7th Company's assault was like an unyielding rock; these scattered resistances were easily crushed like waves, unable to slow the blue tide in the slightest.
Soon, a relatively intact, yet extremely twisted and grotesque, cluster of buildings appeared before them.
Even after the orbital bombardment, its main structure seemed robust; huge black crystal spires and metal arches, though scarred with cracks and charring, still stood tall.
This was the so-called "entertainment complex," one of the Dark Eldar's lairs for seeking sensory stimulation and inflicting pain.
Now, this area was filled with haste and chaos.
It was clearly visible that in a large plaza deep within the building complex, several sleek, black dagger-like small Eldar transport ships were attempting to take off and land!
Some Dark Eldar—many of them ornately dressed, seemingly of noble status—were frantically surging towards the ships, while a large number of Kabalite warriors and elite units formed a tight defensive line around them, desperately resisting Imperial forces attempting to attack from other directions.
"It seems the Blood Ravens' intelligence was correct! They're trying to run!" Captain Cassius snorted coldly.
"First and Second Squads assault the left flank!
Third and Fourth Squads the right flank!
Fifth Squad, follow me for a frontal assault down the middle!
Tear open their defenses, destroy all ships!"
With the order given, the 7th Company immediately plunged into the Dark Eldar's evacuation line like three sharp blades!
"For Ultramar!" A thunderous war cry erupted!
The battle instantly escalated into a furious melee!
The Dark Eldar, fighting for their last chance at survival, unleashed astonishing combat prowess!
Their venom crystal guns fired even denser barrages, dark lance weapons glowed with deadly light, and even some bizarre, twisted creations emanating psychic pain appeared.
"Lex! That turret on the left!" Gorden roared.
Lex's heavy Bolter immediately roared, turning a crystal cannon emitter mounted on a shattered archway, along with its operator, into fragments.
"Gaius! High ground! Three snipers!" Cliff reported simultaneously.
Gaius' "Eagle Eye" sniper rifle fired almost silently three times, and three Dark Eldar snipers on a half-collapsed spire in the distance fell.
Dorian, meanwhile, was like a human tank, completely ignoring the venom crystals clanging off his Terminator armor, swinging his Thunder Hammer directly into the densest concentration of enemies!
"Get out of my way!" He brought his hammer down, directly smashing a Mandrake that had just leaped out of an unstable Webway into a bloody pulp!
Then, with a backhand swing, he smashed two Kabalite warriors attempting to attack his joints with power blades, breaking them in half at the waist!
His bravery drew a lot of fire for the squad, but also successfully tore a gap in the defensive line.
"Follow Dorian! Widen the breach!" Captain Cassius commanded, his power sword precisely piercing the energy core of a Pain Engine.
The warriors of the 7th Company followed closely, driving into the Dark Eldar's defensive line like a wedge!
The explosions of close-range Bolter fire, the grinding sound of chainswords tearing through flesh, and the dying screams of the Dark Eldar merged into a cacophony!
Just as the 7th Company was fiercely attacking, the evacuation on the plaza became even more chaotic.
An Eldar transport ship, disregarding its unboarded comrades below, forcefully started its engines, attempting to ascend and escape!
"Trying to run?!" A plasma gunner in the squad immediately knelt, his shoulder-mounted plasma cannon beginning to charge, emitting a chilling hum!
However, before he could fire, a thick laser cannon beam from the flank struck first, precisely hitting the transport ship that had just lifted a few meters off the ground!
Boom!!
The transport ship's energy shield flickered once before instantly overloading and collapsing, its hull severed by the laser beam, exploding into a massive fireball in the air.
Burning debris and fragments rained down like a shower, striking the Dark Eldar crowd below, causing even greater panic and stampedes!
It was the Nova Chapter's forces!
They had also attacked the plaza from another direction!
The Imperial army's encirclement was forming!
"All units! Prioritize destroying evacuation vehicles!" Captain Cassius ordered again.
Instantly, all heavy weapons capable of targeting the plaza—plasma cannons, missile launchers, even the Dreadnought's twin-linked assault cannon—were aimed at the Eldar ships attempting to take off!
Explosions echoed one after another!
Ship after ship was either blown out of the sky before lifting off or exploded into burning scrap metal on the launchpad!
Desperate Dark Eldar nobles cried out, trying to find new ways to escape, only to find themselves surrounded by blue steel bulwarks and merciless cannon fire.
The defensive line completely collapsed.
The remaining Dark Eldar resistors were either annihilated or plunged into a desperate state of fighting individually.
The slaughter, on the evacuation plaza, resumed.
This time, the targets were mostly those high-ranking Dark Eldar who usually lived in luxury and reveled in tormenting others.
Now, they died helplessly under Bolter fire and chainswords, like lambs to the slaughter.
The Second Squad was clearing out the remaining enemies on the edge of the plaza. Dorian was using his Thunder Hammer to smash the last defiant Pain Engine.
Just then, Gorden noticed a hidden, downward passage entrance beneath an unassuming archway on the plaza's edge, half-collapsed by an explosion. Several Dark Eldar, dressed in robes similar to tech-priests rather than ordinary civilians or warriors, were frantically trying to activate some mechanism. A heavy black stone door was slowly descending, seemingly intending to seal the entrance.
"There! Don't let them seal the door!" Gorden immediately pointed.
Gaius reacted the fastest, his sniper rifle instantly aimed. With a "bang," he blew the head off a Dark Eldar tech-priest who was operating a control panel.
Lex's Heavy Bolter also swept across, riddling two other tech-priests with bullets.
Dorian roared, charging forward. Just before the stone door could fully close, he violently thrust his massive bionic arm into the gap!
"Get up, you bastard!" Dorian roared, the power core of his Terminator armor humming with overload. The heavy stone door was actually being lifted back up, inch by inch, by his sheer brute force!
"Saul! Cliff! Come with me! Everyone else, hold the entrance!" Gorden made a snap decision, leading the two men quickly through the gap Dorian was holding open.
Inside the passage was a downward, smooth metal-walled ramp, illuminated by flickering, eerie blue emergency lights. Sounds of panicked footsteps and Eldar screams echoed from within.
The three pursued swiftly, soon arriving at what resembled an underground hangar. Parked inside was a more compact, streamlined, and seemingly incredibly fast Eldar shuttle! A group of Dark Eldar—apparently technicians and their families—were frantically trying to board the ship!
"Stop them!" Gorden shouted.
Cliff's Bolter was the first to open fire, striking down two technicians who tried to grab weapons and resist. Saul, meanwhile, aimed his Plasma Pistol at the shuttle's engine!
Just as the plasma orb was about to fire, the shuttle's hatch slammed shut, and its engines shrieked. It was attempting a forced takeoff, seemingly disregarding its companions still outside!
"Not a chance!" Gorden's Power Sword slashed violently at the shuttle's landing gear!
Screech! The sound of an energy field tearing through metal rang out! One landing gear was severed, and the shuttle lurched violently!
At the same time, Saul's plasma orb struck another engine!
Boom! The engine exploded, fire and thick smoke instantly engulfing half the hangar! The shuttle lay crumpled and askew on the ground, completely wrecked. The pilot and passengers inside were likely beyond help.
Those Dark Eldar technicians and their families who hadn't managed to board the ship cried out in despair, collapsing to the ground.
Gorden watched them indifferently, raising his Bolt Pistol.
"Wait," Saul suddenly interjected. He pointed to some instruments and data-slates the Dark Eldar were carrying. "They might have some value. Especially these technicians."
Gorden frowned, looking at the terrified xenos, then at the equipment, pondering for a moment. Live captives, especially those who might possess technical knowledge, were sometimes more valuable than simple slaughter.
"...Tie them up and take them away. Confiscate the equipment as well," Gorden finally ordered.
When Gorden and his two companions emerged from the passage, escorting several captives and carrying some spoils, the battle in the plaza was largely over. The last transport vessel attempting to escape had also been reduced to a fireball by Nova's Dreadnought's firepower.
The entire evacuation point was utterly destroyed. The Dark Eldar's last hope of escape was mercilessly extinguished.
The 7th Company's warriors began to sweep the battlefield, checking bodies to ensure no stragglers remained, and planting explosives to completely demolish the underground structures of the area.
Captain Cassius looked at the chaotic plaza and the burning wreckage of the ships, a grim satisfaction showing beneath his faceplate. He connected to communications with orbit:
"Chapter Master, 7th Company reporting. Northwest Sector Seven evacuation point has been completely destroyed, all attempted escape vehicles have been annihilated. Mission accomplished."
On the bridge of the Macragge's Honour, Chapter Master Calgar received the report and nodded slightly.
"Well done, Captain Cassius. Continue the sweep and ensure nothing is overlooked. The Emperor's wrath requires a thorough burning to be appeased."
The fires of vengeance continued to spread across the planet until every last trace of the Dark Eldar was utterly erased from the Emperor's domain.
With the fall and purging of the last major evacuation point, large-scale resistance on the planet's surface largely came to an end. The Imperial banners—the Gorden Aquila—were planted on the highest points of the main ruins, proclaiming humanity's absolute sovereignty and conquest of the place. However, sporadic fighting and cleanup operations continued, as the surviving Dark Eldar, like rats in a gutter, hid in the deepest ruins and underground networks, engaging in desperate and futile evasion and occasional counterattacks.
In the relatively safe controlled areas, Astartes from different Chapters displayed vastly different post-war demeanors.
The Blood Ravens Chapter warriors were known for their "intense interest" in knowledge and relics (whether owned or not). They moved through the not-yet-fully-collapsed ruins—which might have been Dark Eldar libraries, laboratories, or treasuries—like the most meticulous archaeologists, yet with the efficiency of brigands. They carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) carried away anything that looked valuable: ancient scrolls emanating psychic fluctuations, Eldar technological artifacts of strange design, artworks inlaid with rare crystals… Some even saw a Blood Ravens warrior, while a Nova warrior was distracted, swiftly "appropriate" a master-crafted Bolter that the Nova warrior had set aside, its grip engraved with the Nova Chapter's emblem. The action was fluid and natural, as if it had always been his. The Nova warrior, turning back to find his weapon gone, cursed angrily but couldn't find the "culprit," and could only resign himself to bad luck.
In a relatively intact black palace courtyard, a group of Space Wolves warriors found another form of "entertainment" to pass the time during the cleanup. They had captured dozens of richly dressed Dark Eldar nobles who hadn't managed to escape—these xenos, who normally delighted in the suffering of others, now became the objects of amusement.
"Dance! Dance for me!" a red-bearded, gap-toothed Space Wolves veteran roared gruffly, pointing his Bolter at the trembling nobles while chugging some strangely flavored liquor, possibly found in a Dark Eldar cellar. "Dance with some spirit! Be as happy as you are when you torment others!"
Another younger Wolf Cub even pulled out a captured Eldar instrument that emitted eerie, shrill music, haphazardly strumming out discordant noise as accompaniment.
The Dark Eldar nobles were pale with fright. Under the threat of the Bolter, they were forced to humiliatingly and clumsily twist their bodies, performing their once elegant, now incredibly comical and pathetic dances. Tears mixed with dust and bloodstains slid down their faces; they had never suffered such humiliation.
"Hahaha! Yes! Just like that! Twist!" The Space Wolves erupted in crude laughter, as if watching a circus performance.
Occasionally, a noble would collapse due to extreme fear or humiliation, unable to continue dancing.
The response was usually a merciless bolt round.
Bang!
Green blood splattered on the luxurious robes of their companions, triggering a fresh wave of terrified screams and even more desperate, yet more vigorous, writhing.
The Space Wolves seemed to relish the feeling of crushing the xenos' dignity underfoot, a rugged and cruel brand of Fenrisian black humor.
In contrast to the Blood Ravens' "collecting addiction" and the Space Wolves' "mockery," the Ultramarines maintained the highest degree of vigilance and efficiency. Organized into companies or squads, they meticulously combed through every ruin, every tunnel entrance, every corner that might hide an enemy, like the most precise scanners.
For these xenos who had brought such profound disaster to Ultramar, the Ultramarines harbored not a shred of pity or mockery, only a cold will to purify that urgently needed to be thoroughly executed. Every burst of Bolter fire, every swing of a Power Sword, every execution of a hidden enemy dragged from the shadows, was a solace for their fallen comrades and an enactment of Imperial law.
The Second Squad was tasked with clearing an area that had once been a large theater. The massive dome had half-collapsed, the ornate boxes were shattered, and the stage was covered in rubble and corpses.
"Search thoroughly beneath the audience seating and the backstage area," Gorden ordered. "There might be secret rooms or passages."
The squad members fanned out. Dorian directly smashed open a locked backstage iron door with his Thunder Hammer. Lex used his Heavy Bolter to fire warning shots into corners that might hide people. Gaius and Cliff, meanwhile, took high ground, meticulously scanning every corner of the audience seating with their sniper scopes.
Suddenly, Gaius' "beakie" helmet sensor picked up an extremely faint energy fluctuation coming from beneath the stage.
"Directly beneath the stage, there's an anomalous energy signature, very faint. It could be a hidden power core or... a shielding field," Gaius reported.
"Dorian, Lex, go check it out," Gorden indicated.
The two immediately walked towards the stage. Dorian roughly pulled back the thick, blood-stained carpet on the stage with his bionic arm, revealing the hard metal stage plates beneath. Lex tapped it with his gun stock, producing a dull thud.
"It's hollow underneath!" Lex concluded.
Without a word, Dorian swung his Thunder Hammer and smashed!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After several loud crashes, the metal stage plates were forcibly smashed open, revealing a large hole! A cold draft mixed with dust surged out from below, revealing a downward staircase illuminated by eerie blue lights.
"Passage found!"
The squad immediately gathered. Gorden was the first to look down, seeing the staircase leading to a hidden basement. Inside, some boxes and equipment seemed to be stacked, and several Dark Eldar in tech-priest robes were huddled in a corner, staring with terrified eyes at the blue giants appearing in the opening.
"Clear them out," Gorden ordered coldly.
Lex's Heavy Bolter immediately aimed into the shadows below.
Meanwhile, on the Macragge's Honour, the atmosphere was relatively calm, yet still overshadowed by war. The ship's interior was busy and orderly, with ground crew repairing vehicles, Tech-Marines maintaining weapons, and the medical deck treating the few severely wounded brought back.
Lina walked through the corridors with Luna Aisa; they had just returned some repair tools to the hangar. As they passed a corridor leading to the lower-level confinement area, Lina's gaze inadvertently caught a small observation window of a cell.
Inside the cell, a small, thin figure in tattered Eldar clothing was curled up on a bed in the corner, her shoulders trembling slightly. It was the young Dark Eldar girl captured on the previous planet, the one who spoke gothic.
She looked even more haggard and pale than before, her once lively eyes now hollow and vacant, filled with fear and despair. She seemed to sense the gaze from outside, slowly raising her head to look at the observation window. When she saw Lina, she recoiled sharply like a startled fawn, hugging her knees tightly and burying her face.
Lina's footsteps halted, a complex expression on her small face. She looked at the xenos girl inside, who was probably not much different in age from herself, and thought of how she had witnessed her people being slaughtered, her home destroyed, and now was confined in this cold cell, awaiting an unknown fate… A strange emotion spread in her heart. It wasn't just fear, but more like… sympathy?
"Luna Aisa…" Lina whispered, her voice hesitant. "She… she's so pitiful…"
Luna Aisa also stopped, her cold bionic eye sweeping over the trembling figure in the cell, then looking back at Lina. She was silent for a few seconds, then reached out and, uncharacteristically, very gently patted Lina's head.
"There are no truly innocent ones in war, Lina," Luna's voice remained flat, yet it seemed to have a hint of an imperceptible… warmth? "Especially for the Dark Eldar. Their very existence is built upon the suffering of other races."
She paused, looking at Lina's half-comprehending eyes, and added, "Her fate is not for us to decide. When the day of judgment comes, the Chapter Master and the Librarian will make a ruling according to Imperial law and her value."
Her "value" might be her knowledge of gothic, from which some information about Dark Eldar networks, strongholds, or other intelligence could be extracted. And once her value was exhausted, or if the Inquisitors deemed her unnecessary…
Luna didn't elaborate, but the unspoken meaning was clear enough. For this Dark Eldar girl, who might only be in her teens, there were only two paths: execution, or being sent to even darker, living-hell Imperial Inquisition dungeons or Adeptus Mechanicus laboratories, to become a research specimen or a bargaining chip.
Whichever it was, it was suffocatingly cruel.
Lina seemed to understand something, her small face slightly pale, and she lowered her head, no longer looking at the observation window.
"Let's go," Luna took Lina's small hand and led her away, turning towards the Second Squad's common room. "These are not questions you need to ponder. Your duty is to learn and assist."
Lina obediently followed, but the Dark Eldar girl's terrified, desperate eyes were deeply etched in her mind. In this cold and cruel universe, sympathy was a luxury, even a dangerous thing, especially sympathy for xenos. But for a kind-hearted child, understanding and accepting this would take a very, very long time.
The ship slowly adjusted its posture, preparing to set course for the next target. The crusade of vengeance continued, and the complex impacts and moral dilemmas brought by the war also lingered like ghosts in the hearts of every participant, regardless of their age or race.
The Imperium's wheel of vengeance relentlessly rolled forward. After thoroughly purging a Dark Eldar planet, the combined fleet did not pause to rest but instead immediately surged towards its next target. The blue of the Ultramarines, the dark red of the Blood Ravens, the deep blue and white of Nova, and the grey and yellow of the Space Wolves, these colors together wove a vast net of death, enveloping yet another planet corrupted by the Dark Eldar.
The same process unfolded again, but this time, the resistance encountered was noticeably fiercer and more organized. The Dark Eldar seemed to have learned lessons from the previous destruction, or perhaps, they realized this was a battle for survival, concerning the very existence of their race.
The Imperial fleet experienced a brief but more intense exchange of fire in outer orbit before finally, with an overwhelming advantage in numbers and firepower, they arduously seized air superiority. Orbital bombardment continued, but the Dark Eldar had evidently moved more forces and critical facilities deeper into more fortified underground areas, making the bombing's effect less significant than last time.
Immediately following, drop pods, like a meteor shower, descended upon the surface once more. However, what awaited the Imperial warriors was no longer hasty defenses and collapsing morale, but a more tenacious resistance organized around complex urban ruins and underground fortifications.
Street fighting, extremely brutal and cruel street fighting, erupted in multiple cities across the planet. The Dark Eldar utilized their familiarity with the terrain and their Deceit tactics to constantly launch ambushes and harassments. Splinter Rifles fired from unexpected corners, Mandrakes leaped from the shadows, and twisted Engines of Pain rampaged through narrow streets.
The Space Marines, in contrast, advanced steadily in squad formations, clearing the ruins inch by inch with Bolters, flame, and chainswords, every step accompanied by explosions and death.
The 7th Company and a Space Wolves Great Company were assigned a joint offensive mission—to capture a massive palace located in the city's core, exceptionally ornate, and even emitting an unsettling psychic fluctuation. Intelligence indicated it was likely the residence or command center of important Dark Eldar figures in the area.
On the outskirts of the palace, the Dark Eldar had deployed heavy forces. Kabalite Warriors, true elite Incubi, and even several twisted Engines of Pain, relying on the palace's sturdy outer walls and carefully arranged firing points, formed an extremely tough defensive line.
The 7th Company launched several charges, all repelled by dense barrages of splinter fire and the elusive blades of the Incubi, even suffering some casualties. Bolter rounds striking the palace's black walls, shimmering with psychic energy, had little effect.
"Damn it! These bean sprouts are cowering like turtles!" Dorian cursed, his Heavy Bolter's barrel glowing red hot, yet unable to blast open the sturdy main gate.
Captain Cassius frowned, observing the battle. A frontal assault would incur too many losses.
Just then, the rough and impatient voice of the Space Wolves Wolf Lord came from nearby: "What's with all the dilly-dallying! Ultramarines! Watch my wolf pups work their magic!"
The Wolf Lord, an exceptionally tall figure with a fiery red, bushy beard and no helmet, raised his Chainaxe and let out a thunderous wolf howl:
"For Russ! For the Allfather! Wolf pups! Leap over there! Tear them apart!"
"For the Wolf King!!!"
The Space Wolves warriors behind him responded with a wild roar, and then, the jump packs on their backpacks simultaneously activated, spewing scorching exhaust!
Dozens of grey figures, like soaring mad wolves, arced briefly through the air, ignoring the firepower below, and precisely smashed into the heart of the Dark Eldar defense line! They landed right in the densest concentrations of Incubi and Kabalite Warriors!
"Chop up these effeminate bastards!" As the Wolf Lord landed, his Chainaxe had already cleaved an Incubi, who was attempting to block with his blade, in two, man and weapon!
The sudden aerial assault by the Space Wolves instantly disrupted the Dark Eldar's tight formation! The roar of Chainaxes, the thunder of Thunder Hammers, and the wild battle cries of the wolves erupted within the xenos' lines!
The Dark Eldar evidently hadn't anticipated such a brutal and direct tactic, and their formation was thrown into disarray! Close-quarters combat was the Space Wolves' forte; their wild strength and reckless fighting style made even the Incubi, accustomed to elegant slaughter, hard-pressed to resist!
"Good opportunity!" Captain Cassius' eyes lit up. "7th Company! All units! Charge! For Ultramar!"
"For the Emperor! For Ultramar!"
The blue tide launched another assault! This time, the Dark Eldar defense line, deprived of its complete formation and ranged fire support, could no longer hold!
Captain Cassius led the charge, his Power Sword piercing through enemy after enemy like lightning. Dorian roared, crashing through enemy rabble like a tank, heading straight for the tightly sealed palace gate. Lex's Heavy Bolter screamed furiously, suppressing any enemies attempting to reorganize their fire. Gaius and Cliff's precise bursts continuously cleared threats from above.
The defense line quickly collapsed; the Dark Eldar guards were fragmented, surrounded, and annihilated.
Just as the battle was decided, an Incubi elite, seemingly a guard captain, clad in exceptionally exquisite black armor, wielding twin blades, and clearly superior in martial skill, let out a challenging shriek and pointed his blades directly at Cassius Champion, who was cutting down lesser foes!
Champion vs. Champion!
Cassius Champion snorted coldly, about to step forward, but then glanced at his Power Sword, which was already somewhat damaged.
"Dorian! Lend me your hammer!" he roared.
Dorian, who was enjoying smashing enemies, paused for a moment but still unhesitatingly threw his Thunder Hammer over: "Catch! Champion! Smash him flat!"
Cassius Champion caught the heavy Thunder Hammer, flexed his wrist, feeling the formidable power contained within, then strode towards the Incubi captain.
Without a word, the battle instantly erupted!
The Incubi captain's twin blades were as swift as ghosts, leaving trails of afterimages, focusing on vital points! Cassius Champion, meanwhile, swung the Thunder Hammer with immense force, each strike accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, forcing his opponent to block or dodge!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew continuously from clashing weapons! The Eldar captain tried to skirmish with speed and skill, but Cassius Champion's combat experience was extremely rich; he could always anticipate his movements, wielding the Thunder Hammer in an impenetrable defense!
After a dozen rounds, Cassius Champion feigned an opening, and the Incubi captain, as expected, fell for the trick, lunging with his twin blades! The Champion sharply sidestepped, narrowly dodging the blades, and at the same time, the Thunder Hammer swept up from below, smashing hard into the Incubi captain's side abdomen!
Crack! Even the Eldar's master-crafted armor could not withstand the destructive power of the Thunder Hammer! The armor instantly dented and shattered; the Incubi captain shrieked, spewing green blood, and stumbled backward.
But a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes; he actually endured the intense pain, sharply flicked his left hand, and a hidden, poisoned throwing knife shot out like a viper towards the Champion's face!
This sneak attack was extremely insidious and vicious!
However, the moment the knife left his hand!
Bang!
A crisp sniper shot rang out!
The throwing knife, still mid-air, was blasted apart by an incredibly precise Bolter round! Simultaneously, the remaining kinetic energy and explosive fragments of the Bolter round completely shattered the captain's left arm, which had thrown the knife, right at the shoulder!
It was Gaius! His "Eagle Eye" had been constantly monitoring the duel, delivering a fatal blow at the most crucial moment!
The Incubi captain let out an incomparably shrill scream, green blood gushing from his severed arm!
And this sudden turn of events made the other warriors react!
"Despicable xeno!" Lex roared, instantly swiveling his Heavy Bolter!
Several other Ultramarines also raised their Bolters simultaneously!
The next moment, a dense rain of Bolter rounds poured down on the incapacitated Incubi captain! He couldn't even sustain his screams for long before he was utterly torn to pieces in the explosions!
The Champion's duel ended with the xeno's cowardly sneak attack and the Imperium's absolute firepower overwhelming him.
"Thanks, kid." Cassius Champion tossed the Thunder Hammer back to Dorian and nodded to Gaius.
"Just doing my duty." Gaius responded calmly.
By this time, the guards outside the palace had been completely purged.
Dorian impatiently rushed to the ornate and sturdy main gate, roaring as he swung his Thunder Hammer!
"Open up for me!"
Boom!!!!
After a tremendous crash, a massive hole was forcibly smashed into the gate!
Everyone immediately rushed inside. The interior of the palace was extremely luxurious, yet it was permeated with a nauseating scent and psychic fluctuations. In the center of the hall stood a female Dark Eldar.
Her attire was exquisitely lavish, woven from some unknown black silk and shimmering gems, outlining graceful yet dangerous curves. Her beauty was breathtaking, yet it carried a hint of acrimony and cruelty. She looked at the Space Marines rushing in, without the slightest fear on her face, but rather filled with arrogance and disdain, speaking rapidly in gothic, her tone sharp and angry, seemingly reprimanding these "barbaric monkeys" for defiling her sanctuary.
"What's this stinky woman chirping about?" Dorian found her irritating.
The Space Wolves Wolf Lord also entered, frowning. He surveyed the female Dark Eldar, especially her magnificent attire and symbols, which were clearly different from ordinary nobles, and stroked his chin: "Tsk… Looks like a big fish. But she's so noisy."
He strode forward, and while the female Dark Eldar was still chattering, he unexpectedly raised his large hand, clad in a Power Claw—
Slap!
A loud slap!
The force was so great that it sent the female Dark Eldar spinning to the ground. A clear red claw mark instantly appeared on her fair face, and green blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
She seemed stunned, lying on the ground for a few seconds, then she raised her head, her eyes filled with unbelievable humiliation and even more frantic rage. She continued to curse in Eldar, her voice trembling with anger and pain.
"Damn it, still noisy!" Wolf Lord dug at his ears, his face full of impatience. "Wolf cubs! Search carefully for me! See if there are any other rats hiding! Don't leave a single one alive!"
Then he pointed at the female Dark Eldar still cursing on the ground and said to Captain Cassius, "This woman looks like she's of no ordinary status; she might be able to spill some information. I'll leave her to you Ultramarines to handle; I'm not interested in interrogating women."
Captain Cassius nodded, "Thank you for the support, Wolf Lord. We will handle her appropriately."
Wolf Lord waved his hand and led his wolf cubs to "clean up" other parts of the palace. Soon, the roar of chainaxes and sporadic Bolter fire could be heard from inside.
The 7th Company Adjutant looked at the female Dark Eldar on the ground, who, despite her disheveled state, was still cursing incessantly, and ordered Sergeant Golden, "Second Squad, escort this prisoner back to the Macragge's Honour. Ensure she arrives alive; she may have high intelligence value."
"Yes!" Gorden acknowledged the order.
The members of Second Squad, escorting the struggling and cursing noble prisoner, boarded a Thunderhawk Gunship that had arrived to meet them.
The hatch closed, the engines started, and the Thunderhawk slowly rose into the air, flying towards the mothership in orbit.
Inside the cabin, although the female Dark Eldar was restrained, her mouth never stopped. She continuously cursed and scolded in Eldar, her voice sharp and piercing.
Dorian was agitated by the noise, his anger growing. "Damn it! So noisy! You stinking bitch! If you yell again, I'll rip out your tongue!"
But the female Dark Eldar seemed not to be afraid at all; instead, she cursed even more fiercely.
Dorian finally lost his temper, suddenly stood up, and his huge mechanical hand reached for the woman. "I'll let you curse!"
"Dorian! Stop!" Gorden quickly shouted.
Gaius also immediately stepped forward to block him. "Calm down! She's important!"
Thor and Cliff also quickly pulled Dorian's mechanical arm from both sides. It took the combined strength of four people to barely push the enraged strong man back into his seat.
"Damn it! That stinking bitch…" Dorian panted, his eyes glaring at the female Dark Eldar, who had finally quieted down a bit but was still looking at him with venomous eyes.
The Thunderhawk Gunship flew towards the Macragge's Honour in a silent and tense atmosphere. No one knew what this noble captive would bring to the Imperium, but her fate was already intertwined with the downfall of the Dark Eldar.
The Thunderhawk Gunship landed smoothly in the vast hangar of the Macragge's Honour. The hatch opened, and Second Squad escorted the female Dark Eldar, still struggling and shrieking curses in Eldar, out.
Her elaborate attire, her breathtaking yet venomous face, and her incessant, piercing xenos language immediately drew the attention of all ground crew and Tech-Priests in the hangar. Countless gazes focused on her, filled with curiosity, disgust, and a subtle, morbid interest in xenos creations.
Sergeant Golden dared not delay and immediately reported the situation to the Chapter Master via internal comms, requesting instructions.
Soon, the order came: escort the prisoner directly to the Bridge Command Center.
The group walked through the wide corridor, the female Dark Eldar's curses echoing between the metal walls, causing crew members they encountered along the way to stop and watch, whispering amongst themselves. Gaius felt a buzzing in his ears; the incessant, sharp voice made him feel a headache, and even his left arm felt a faint, uncomfortable throb. He could only try to block out the noise and focus on the escort mission.
Arriving at the Bridge Command Center, Chapter Master Marius Calgar was standing at the star chart table, listening to reports from various war zones. His majestic gaze swept over the escorted female Dark Eldar, and his brows furrowed slightly.
When the female Dark Eldar saw Calgar, she seemed to realize he was their leader, and her curses became even more high-pitched and sharp, the tone of insult even more obvious. Although no one understood her, that undisguised malice was enough to make any human feel angry.
Chapter Master Calgar listened to the noise for a few minutes with an expressionless face, then raised his hand, interrupting an officer who was trying to report.
"Is that her?" His voice was calm, yet carried an inherent pressure.
"Yes, Chapter Master." Gorden saluted and replied, "Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves believes her identity is special and she may have intelligence value."
"Hmm." Calgar's gaze fell on the woman again. The woman met his gaze without fear, still spewing venomous words from her mouth.
"Indeed… very noisy." Calgar commented lightly, with a hint of unnoticeable impatience in his tone. "I don't have time to deal with her now. Lock her up for now, under strict guard. Make sure she stays alive, but… you can make her mouth a little quieter, if possible."
"Yes, Chapter Master!" Gorden acknowledged the order.
After exiting the Command Center, Gorden breathed a sigh of relief; the handover was finally complete. Next was the matter of incarceration.
He glanced at Dorian next to him, who was still restless and boasting about his heroic deeds to every passing crew member, and immediately dismissed the idea of having him escort the prisoner. If that brute couldn't control himself and delivered a punch, the "live capture" the Chapter Master wanted would be gone.
"Gaius, Thor." Gorden called out their names. "You two are responsible for escorting her to the brig and confining her separately. Be very careful; I always feel this xenos woman is a bit sinister."
"Understood." Gaius and Thor responded.
Thor walked alongside Gaius, asking in a low voice, "Gaius, can you understand what she's been muttering? I always feel it's not good words."
Gaius shook his head, his brow slightly furrowed. "I don't understand at all. But… it feels full of the most malicious curses and insults. Her psychic fluctuations are also very abnormal; though faint, they are very uncomfortable." The inexplicable throbbing in his left arm seemed clearer, making him even more wary of this prisoner.
They escorted the incessantly noisy prisoner to the brig deep within the warship. The guards here were even more stringent, and the air was cold and oppressive.
Coincidentally, her cell was right next to the Dark Eldar girl who could speak gothic.
When the thick alloy door of the cell opened, the female Dark Eldar seemed to realize something, struggling even more fiercely, and her curses became even more shrill and desperate.
Gaius and Thor took some effort to push her into the cell and lock the door. Through the transparent observation window, she could still be seen lunging at the door, hitting the alloy glass hard, her mouth opening and closing, still cursing incessantly. Although most of the sound was muffled, the venom seemed to penetrate through.
"Finally a bit of peace…" Thor sighed in relief.
Just then, behind the observation window on the door of the adjacent cell, the Dark Eldar girl's face appeared. She looked at the new arrival next door, her elaborately dressed but frenzied kin, with a complex expression—a hint of sympathy, but more of fear and… a touch of inexplicable reverence?
Sergeant Golden also arrived. He saw the girl next door and his heart stirred. He walked to the girl's cell door, opened his communicator, and said in a calm tone, "You. You understand me. Tell me, what has that woman next door been saying?"
The girl suddenly looked up at Gorden, her large eyes filled with stubbornness and hatred. She kept her mouth tightly shut, saying nothing, and even deliberately turned her head away, refusing to look at Gorden.
Gorden frowned, intensifying his tone. "Tell us; it won't be bad for you. It might make your future situation a little better."
The girl remained silent, expressing her last resistance through her silence.
Gorden stared at her for a few seconds, knowing he wouldn't get anything out of her for now. He turned to Gaius and Thor and said, "Keep a close eye on them. Especially this new one; I always feel she's not simple. Report any abnormalities immediately."
"Yes, Sergeant."
After Gorden left, silence returned to the brig corridor, leaving only the faintly audible, continuous banging and cursing from the adjacent cell.
Gaius looked through the observation window at the noble and frantic woman in the cell, like a trapped beast, and then at the silent yet stubborn girl next door. His uneasy premonition grew stronger. These two Dark Eldar prisoners, especially the new one, would likely bring them unexpected trouble.