The Imperial Coalition's iron hooves were unstoppable, relentlessly uprooting the Dark Eldar's peripheral outpost worlds one by one.
The Cabals on these planets were already disunited, mutually suspicious, and even hostile to each other, so in the face of the Imperium's absolute power and coordinated operations, they were like a pile of loose sand, utterly unable to organize effective, large-scale resistance.
Often, when one location was attacked, neighboring Cabals would choose to watch indifferently or even gloat, ultimately being defeated one by one by the Imperial Coalition and reduced to dust and ruins in the star sea.
The Coalition's vanguard was now infinitely close to Commorragh, the ultimate source of all pain and pleasure, hidden deep within the complex Webway!
However, to enter Commorragh, a stable and sufficiently large Webway entrance had to be found.
This crucial task was assigned to the White Scars, known for their speed and reconnaissance capabilities.
Chapter Master Calgar personally led his most elite Storm Seers and Brotherhood of the Falcon, traversing newly captured airspace and planetary surfaces like a true gale, tracking any possible psychic fluctuations and spatial anomalies.
Their movements were swift and secretive, often disappearing without a trace before the Dark Eldar even noticed them.
Finally, on a remote planet named Shadow of Agony, the White Scars found their target.
The planet's surface was covered in twisted, living-like black crystal forests, and its spatial structure was extremely unstable, with several massive, continuously rotating Webway entrances emitting a ghostly purple glow, embedded in the earth like scars on the world.
This was undoubtedly an extremely important Webway transit hub for the Dark Eldar!
Upon receiving the news, Chapter Master Calgar on the Macragge's Honour did not hesitate, and utter devastation immediately descended upon Shadow of Agony!
Unlike previous outposts, Shadow of Agony, as a gateway world, possessed unprecedented defensive power!
Not only was there a sizable defensive fleet in orbit, but the planet's surface was also covered with dense, twisted anti-aircraft towers and energy shield generators, with countless Dark Eldar pirates and Cabal warriors standing ready, and even several massive Wraithlords could be vaguely seen lurking in the black crystal forests.
Orbital combat erupted once again!
The Iron Hands and Blood Ravens fleets, despite continuous operations, maintained their efficient killing rhythm, but the engagement with the enemy's defensive fleet and orbital platforms was exceptionally fierce.
After suffering the loss of several frigates damaged and one Strike Cruiser heavily damaged, they painstakingly regained air superiority.
As soon as air superiority was established, ground attacks immediately began!
The first to rain down upon the ground were still the Krieg Death Korps' troop transports!
They charged fearlessly towards their designated landing zones, facing the furiously rising anti-aircraft fire from the ground.
The losses were extremely heavy, with troop transports constantly turning into fireballs in the sky.
As soon as the doors of the successfully landed troop transports opened, countless silent gray figures poured out, immediately engaging in brutal close-quarters combat with the Dark Eldar guarding the landing zones!
The Dark Eldar had deployed heavy forces here!
Weapons such as Splinter Rifles, Blaster Rifles, and Dark Lances formed a dense network of firepower.
Krieg soldiers fell in droves, their sacrifices incredibly tragic.
An entire Krieg regiment that landed first was almost completely wiped out within a single hour!
The subsequent Cadian Regiment also suffered heavy casualties, and Colonel Steiner himself was wounded in the fierce battle, but he continued to command, using the Cadians' resilience and vengeful fury to painstakingly hold a crucial landing zone.
While saddened by the sacrifice of the mortal soldiers, it only strengthened the Astartes' resolve to kill!
Drop Pods once again slammed into the ground like meteors of vengeance!
Ultramarines, Salamanders, Nova Marines, Space Wolves... the Emperor's Angels of Death descended upon the most intense areas of battle!
The roar of Bolters instantly drowned out the hiss of laser guns!
The Astartes, operating in squads, stood like unyielding reefs, resisting the Dark Eldar's frantic counterattacks and gradually pushing forward!
Following closely behind were the ultimate embodiments of war—the God-Machines!
The arrival of four Warlord-class Titans and an entire Baron-class Knight household seemed to change the gravity of the battlefield!
Each step of the Titans' colossal feet caused the ground to shake!
The roar of the Volcano Cannons easily tore apart the most fortified Dark Eldar strongholds in the distance!
The Knights, like loyal guardians, encircled the Titans, using their autocannons and melta weapons to clear out any light targets attempting to approach.
The Nova Chapter warriors faithfully carried out their mission, closely guarding the Titans and Knights, tearing any Dark Eldar assault squads that tried to approach, or even just peeked out from the shadows, into shreds with Bolters and Chainswords!
They fulfilled their promise to their Chapter with their lives, ensuring that these siege hammers could continue their destructive roar.
However, the Dark Eldar's resistance was far from over.
In a black crystal canyon near an important Webway entrance, the Coalition's advance encountered unprecedented obstruction.
Several ghostly figures moved across the battlefield at speeds imperceptible to human eyes!
They wore brightly colored, theatrical yet bizarrely ornate armor, and their faces were covered with exquisite, fixed-expression masks, some smiling, some crying.
Their movements were like a dance, yet contained deadly killing intent!
The Kiss and Harlequin's Blade in their hands were like the tongues of venomous snakes; each flash inevitably brought down an Imperial warrior—whether Cadian soldier or Astartes—clutching a gushing wound, and some even seemed to have their souls ripped out, freezing instantly in place!
Harlequins! Messengers of the Laughing God Cegorach, and also the most deadly warriors!
Their combat power was extremely strong, and their coordination was seamless; often, Imperial warriors were gravely wounded or killed before they could even react!
Many warriors were severely injured by their bizarre dance moves and weapons upon first encounter, and could only be desperately dragged back by their comrades for emergency treatment by medics like Saul.
The Coalition's offensive was actually brought to a halt by this suddenly appearing Harlequin squad!
"Damn it! What the hell is that?!" Dorian smashed a charging Dark Eldar warrior away with his Thunder Hammer, and seeing the situation, his fury instantly ignited, "Playing tricks! Watch me smash you all into pancakes!"
He roared, and in his Terminator armor, charged towards a Harlequin who was currently engaging several Salamanders warriors!
His Thunder Hammer descended with immense force!
But the Harlequin, with an almost impossible, boneless-like backbend, lightly evaded the fatal blow, and the Kiss in her hand darted towards Dorian's neck joint like a viper!
Dorian blocked with his Storm Shield, parrying the attack, but another Harlequin's Blade silently slashed towards his knee joint!
These Harlequins' attacks were cunning and vicious, specifically targeting weak points in armor!
On the other side, Gorden immediately commanded the Second Squad members: "Gaius, suppress her from range! Lex, lay down covering fire in her possible movement areas! Luna, analyze her movement patterns! The rest of you, follow me and engage her! Do not fight alone!"
Second Squad immediately followed orders, jointly engaging another Harlequin.
But even with superior numbers, they found it extremely difficult.
The Harlequin's movement trajectory was impossible to predict, and her attacks were fluid and deadly like a dance; often, all their attacks missed, while the opponent's counterattacks nearly succeeded.
Just as the Coalition's offensive was stalled and casualties were steadily increasing—
Whoosh—Boom!
A Drop Pod, painted in Ultramarines colors, tore through the sky with abnormal precision and speed, like a hammer of divine judgment, landing squarely in the midst of the Harlequins who were wildly "dancing"!
The immense impact force cracked the very ground!
The hatch instantly burst open!
Five tall figures, gleaming with cold silver-gray light and exuding suffocating psychic energy, stepped out of the hatch like judges from mythology, with heavy strides!
Grey Knights! The Emperor's sharpest sword against Chaos and Xenos! Finally descended upon the battlefield!
Captain Keirano, at the forefront, scanned the battlefield with his visor, instantly locking onto the Harlequins whose movements had momentarily frozen.
Beneath the Harlequins' fixed-expression masks, a hint of solemnity and apprehension seemed to show.
They knew well the terror of these silver-armored giants—they were natural predators, existing solely to purge "anomalies" like them!
With almost no hesitation, the remaining Harlequins immediately changed their target, turning their deadly dance and blades towards the newly arrived Grey Knights!
They sought to eliminate these psychic masters before they could fully unleash their power!
However, the Grey Knights' response was terrifyingly calm.
"Guard formation!" Captain Keirano commanded.
Gabriel Storm and Uriel Ventris immediately stepped forward, one dual-wielding Daemonhammers, the other wreathed in purifying silver flames, like two insurmountable guardian deities, firmly protecting Captain Keirano, Ezekiel Watch, and Raphael Whisper!
The Harlequins' swift, ghostly attacks struck their armor and psychic shields, sparking and rippling with psychic energy, but could not break through!
And Captain Keirano, Ezekiel Watch, and Raphael Whisper, protected in the center, simultaneously raised their hands and began chanting obscure and difficult-to-understand psychic incantations in an ancient and solemn tone!
The three's psychic energy connected in some profound way, resonating as a single entity!
An unimaginable, vast psychic power, capable of making even Warp daemons tremble, began to gather in their hands!
The energy was pure and terrifying, filled with absolute counter-power against all "anomalies" and "deceptions"!
A Harlequin, reacting a beat too slow, tried to force her way through Gabriel's defense to disrupt the casting; her figure had just appeared—
Captain Keirano, Ezekiel Watch, and Raphael Whisper, their hands joined, pointed sharply forward!
"Exorcise Evil!"
An invisible yet soul-shattering wave of pure silver-white psychic energy, like a supernova explosion, suddenly expanded outwards from the three of them!
The charging Harlequin didn't even have time to scream; her brightly colored body and bizarre mask instantly dissolved and vaporized, like snow in sunlight, turning into fundamental particles and completely disappearing!
Not a single trace was left behind!
This terrifying sight caused the other Harlequins' movements to momentarily freeze!
They tried to attack again, but Uriel and Gabriel held them back tightly! Gabriel Storm's twin hammers whirled like a tornado, forcing the Harlequins to keep their distance; Uriel Ventris' purifying silver flames made them wary of touching him.
Just then, Raphael Whisper's hollow voice rang out. He raised a hand and, facing the Dark Eldar Kabalite Warriors who were firing madly in the distance, gently clenched his fist—
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
A horrifying scene unfolded! Those Dark Eldar Warriors, regardless of their armor or location, suddenly exploded from within, as if bombs had been planted inside them, without any warning! Green blood splattered everywhere! In an instant, a large area's ranged firepower was completely cleared!
At the same time, Ezekiel Watch raised his other hand high, chanting sacred words of protection!
A soft yet resilient silver-white psychic glow cascaded down like a waterfall, instantly covering all Imperial units on the battlefield—whether Astartes, Knights, Titans, or the Cadian and Krieg soldiers fighting valiantly! A faint psychic shield appeared around their armor and uniforms. Although it couldn't completely block fatal attacks, it greatly enhanced their defense and seemed to effectively deflect and weaken the Dark Eldar's strange sorcerous attacks!
"For the Emperor!" The Imperial soldiers' morale instantly soared!
And in the sky, more drop pods and transport ships continued to fall like a meteor shower, bringing more Astartes and Krieg soldiers to join the battle!
On the ground, Titans and Knights provided devastating heavy firepower, while psychic masters like the Grey Knights specialized in countering strange and powerful enemies!
The fall of Shadow of Agony was now inevitable. The iron hooves of the Imperium were about to crush this gate to Commorragh! The last barrier to the Dark City was crumbling!
The remaining Harlequins, witnessing their companions instantly vaporized by the terrifying combined psychic power of the Grey Knights, did not retreat. Instead, an even more insane determination erupted from beneath their fixed-expression masks! They knew that if they did not stop these silver-armored purifiers now, once they fully unleashed their power, the entire battle would be irreversible!
One of the Harlequins, whose mask displayed an expression of extreme sorrow, flickered continuously like a ghost. She incredibly, and narrowly, broke through Gabriel Storm's furious hammer-shadow blockade! The Kiss and Harlequin's Caress in her hands struck out like venomous snakes, aiming directly for Captain Keirano's heart and neck, who was channeling immense psychic energy! This was a killing blow, condensing all her strength and speed!
However, just as her poisoned blade was about to touch Captain Keirano's silver-grey armor—
Bang!
A sudden, yet unusually muffled Bolter shot, rang out from a shadow in the far distance!
The Harlequin's movements froze abruptly, her forward momentum stopping dead. She looked down at her chest in disbelief. There, a bowl-sized hole had appeared, its edges smooth, as if a part of her had been instantly vaporized by some ultimate force, revealing shattered internal organs and a spine behind it! The powerful impact almost broke half her body!
It was the Raven Guard! Like the most patient hunters, they had always remained hidden in the darkest corners of the battlefield, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to key targets!
The Harlequin's eyes instantly dimmed, and her colorful body softly collapsed, her blades clattering to the ground.
This sudden assassination caused the other Harlequins' movements to falter ever so slightly again.
And in this brief delay, the combined psychic ritual of Captain Keirano, Ezekiel Watch, and Raphael Whisper completed its final channeling!
They began to chant, yet no sound was uttered, but an even larger, purer, and omnipresent psychic wave, like mercury flowing across the ground, rapidly and silently spread outwards from the three of them like a shockwave!
This silver-white psychic glow seemed to possess its own consciousness, precisely bypassing all Imperial soldiers—whether Astartes, Knights, Titans, or the mortal troops. As the psychic energy swept over their bodies, the psychic shield applied by Ezekiel became even more solid, even causing the wounds of some lightly injured soldiers to begin slowly healing!
However, for the xenos on the battlefield, this psychic energy was an absolute storm of destruction!
Those ordinary Dark Eldar Pirates and Kabalite Warriors, as long as they were even slightly touched by this silver-white psychic glow, even if just by its edge, would immediately let out an incomparably shrill scream, their entire bodies rapidly dissolving and vaporizing as if thrown into strong acid, leaving not even a speck of residue! Swaths of Dark Eldar were erased as if by an invisible cloth, instantly clearing large areas!
Only the strongest Harlequins, relying on their powerful psychic resistance and bizarre dance steps, could barely endure amidst this silver radiance. The space around them subtly warped, and their colorful armor shimmered with resisting psychic energy, like butterflies struggling in a storm, but their movements visibly became slower and more difficult, as if bearing immense pressure!
"Purify!" Uriel Ventris roared, seizing the opportunity. The purifying silver flames on his body suddenly surged, transforming into a long whip of fire, fiercely lashing out at a Harlequin whose movements were distorted!
The Harlequin tried to dodge but was restrained by the invisible psychic pressure, making her half a beat too slow! The silver flames instantly engulfed her! She let out an inhuman shriek, struggling and twisting madly in the flames, finally turning into a small pile of ashes shimmering with embers!
The successive losses and the Grey Knights' unparalleled purifying psychic power finally made these messengers of the Laughing God realize that this endeavor was futile. The remaining Harlequins no longer hesitated, immediately employing their most bizarre movements, attempting to escape the battlefield and disappear into the intricate black crystal forest.
But the Imperial hunt was not over.
Bang! Bang!
Two more muffled sniper shots rang out from afar!
A Harlequin, fully focused on retreating, her figure blurred like faint smoke, had her head explode like a ripe watermelon! Her headless body ran a few steps forward due to inertia before collapsing to the ground.
Another Harlequin reacted extremely quickly, making a right-angle turn that defied the laws of physics the instant the shot rang out. The hot Bolter round almost grazed her mask! But before she could celebrate, the missed Bolter round struck a huge black crystal behind her, exploding violently!
Boom!
The shockwave of the explosion and the shattered crystal fragments slammed into her back, blasting her forward, causing her to fall heavily to the ground, her psychic glow instantly dimming, clearly having sustained serious injuries.
She struggled to get up, but heard the increasingly close, heavy footsteps around her, like an earthquake!
She looked up in terror, only to see an enormous, heavily armored metal foot, descending like a mountain from the sky!
Splish—
After a sickening thud of flesh and bone being completely crushed, the Warlord-class Titan "Starfall" continued its heavy advance without pause. Beneath its foot, only an unrecognizable puddle remained, a mixture of colorful fabric and the Harlequin's body.
The other Harlequins took advantage of this brief chaos, completely merging into the labyrinth of shadows and crystals, disappearing without a trace.
With the greatest obstacle cleared, the Imperial Coalition's offensive surged forward again like a breached flood!
Their target: the several constantly rotating, massive Webway Gates!
Captain Oliver Thompson of the Nova Marines and Captain Cassius of the Ultramarines First Company personally led the charge, commanding the most elite warriors, like two blue daggers, directly into the heart of the canyon where the Webway Gates were located!
Here, a large number of elite Dark Eldar Kabalite Warriors and the last few Harlequins were still putting up a desperate resistance! The battle instantly escalated into a fierce close-quarters combat! Bolters and Splinter Rifles exchanged fire, Chainswords and Witchblades clashed! Every swing of Captain Cassius' Power Sword inevitably took down a powerful enemy, while Captain Oliver Thompson used his precise Plasma Pistol to constantly pick off enemies attempting to cast sorcery.
Just as the elites of both sides were fiercely engaged in this narrow area, locked in a difficult struggle, no one noticed that silent grey figures, at some unknown point, had utilized the chaos of the battlefield and the complex terrain of the black crystal forest to ghost-like bypass the Kabalite Warriors' seemingly solid defenses, appearing silently on their flank and rear!
They were soldiers of the Krieg Death Korps! Their Lasguns seemed to be out of ammunition, or perhaps they deemed them unsuitable for such close-quarters melee. Instead, they tightly gripped their cold-gleaming—entrenching tools!
These Krieg soldiers were expressionless, their eyes hollow and resolute behind their gas masks. Like emotionless machines, they silently and swiftly pounced on the Dark Eldar Warriors who had their backs turned to them!
There were no shouts, no warnings, only the sound of the wind as entrenching tools swung, and the sickening scraping and shattering sounds of shovel blades striking Eldar armor!
A Dark Eldar Warrior had just parried a Nova Marine's Power Sword and before he could react, the back of his head was violently struck by a heavy entrenching tool! Even with helmet protection, the immense impact instantly shattered his cervical spine!
Another Warrior tried to turn but was simultaneously hacked at the joints and neck by three or four entrenching tools from different angles, instantly dismembered!
The Krieg soldiers silently wielded their most "reliable" melee weapons, performing a brutal and bizarre "gravedigging" dance in the most unpretentious yet highly efficient manner! Their entry instantly broke the stalemate, throwing the Dark Eldar's rear lines into disarray!
With the fierce assault of the Astartes elites from the front, and the silent yet deadly backstab of the Krieg Death Korps from the rear, the stubbornly resisting Dark Eldar defense line finally completely collapsed!
The Webway Gates were exposed to the vanguard of the Imperial Coalition!
The war on the planet Shadow of Agony gradually subsided, and the Imperial Coalition, through iron and blood and sacrifice, finally completely cleared all resistance in this gateway world. The several huge, continuously rotating Webway entrances, like the mouths of conquered beasts, stood silently amidst the smoke-filled ruins, awaiting the conquerors' entry.
The remaining Harlequins had already used their familiarity with the Webway to escape into it, disappearing without a trace. The Coalition did not pursue rashly, but instead began a brief but necessary battlefield regrouping.
The warriors needed to resupply ammunition, treat wounds, and maintain equipment, preparing for the even more brutal and unknown battle for Commorragh that lay ahead. The White Scars warriors, having completed their reconnaissance mission, put away their mounts and picked up their Bolters and Chainswords, integrating into the main assault force. Their speed and assault capabilities would play an important role in the upcoming urban warfare.
In the 7th Company's rest area on the Macragge's Honour, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed. The team members had removed their armor and were performing basic maintenance and rest. Dorian, while wiping his beloved Thunder Hammer, boasted about his glorious feat of almost smashing that "flashy dancing sprout" flat with one swing (automatically ignoring the details of the opponent easily dodging and counterattacking). Lex was silently checking the ammunition belt of his Heavy Bolter, while Cliff and Gaius quietly discussed tactical analysis for Webway combat. Medic Sore was inventorying his medical supplies.
In the corner, a slightly peculiar scene attracted everyone's attention.
Lina was holding a disassembled Bolter pistol, seriously demonstrating to Eiras, her small face full of solemnity: "Look, this part needs to be cleaned of carbon buildup with this small brush first, and then you can oil it, otherwise it will affect the firing..."
Eiras had changed into a fitted, clean gray tech-adept uniform, no longer the baggy, worn-out work clothes. Her slender body was held ramrod straight, her green eyes wide open, diligently watching Lina's every movement and listening with utmost seriousness. From time to time, she cautiously reached out a finger to touch the cold metal parts, then quickly withdrew it, as if afraid of damaging something. For her, a servant from the lowest level of Commorragh who had only ever touched the simplest tools, these complex and precise Astartes weapons were both daunting and full of novelty.
Luna sat quietly on a nearby toolbox, the light from her bionic eye flickering slightly, seemingly recording the scene, or perhaps just in standby. Her presence made both Lina and Eiras feel at ease.
"Hey, little Lina, starting to take on apprentices?" Dorian's loud voice broke the tranquility.
Lina looked up, smiling a little shyly: "Adult Luna said Eiras is nimble-fingered, and told her to try helping with weapon maintenance..."
Eiras, startled, immediately lowered her head, not daring to look at Dorian, and mumbled softly: "I... I'm learning... I'll try my best... terrifying... oh no... Adult Dorian..."
Dorian snorted, but said nothing more to scare her, only muttering, "Just don't lose my hammer," and went back to wiping his weapon. After this period, especially seeing that Eiras was indeed as timid as a mouse and worked diligently, Dorian's attitude towards her had softened slightly—limited to not actively scaring her.
Just then, Sergeant Golden walked in from the passageway, followed by another figure.
It was an Astartes, but his power armor was not the blue of the Ultramarines, but a solemn, spotless white. On his shoulder pads were distinct red crosses and the Imperial Aquila—this was an Apothecary. His power backpack had auxiliary mechanical arms on both sides for precise operations, which were now quietly folded. Most striking was his helmet, where an additional auxiliary bionic eye, glowing with a faint blue light, was installed over the left eye, making him look even more professional and... meticulous.
"Brothers, gather up." Gorden's voice drew everyone's attention.
The team members immediately put down what they were doing and stood at attention, looking at Gorden and the white-armored Apothecary behind him.
Gorden turned sideways and introduced: "This is Brother Xylas, from the Chapter's Apothecary Brotherhood. Given that we are about to delve deep into Commorragh, and the battle is expected to be exceptionally brutal, some brothers may... be severely wounded or even make the ultimate sacrifice. Brother Xylas will temporarily join our Second Squad and operate with us. His mission is to provide emergency battlefield medical support, and... if necessary, to ensure that the gene-seed of fallen brothers can be safely recovered."
The recovery of gene-seed is a matter of paramount importance for an Astartes Chapter, even more crucial than the outcome of a battle. Every Apothecary is one of the Chapter's most valuable assets.
Apothecary Xylas stepped forward, his voice emanating from his helmet, calm, clear, and with the unique composure of a medical professional: "It is an honor to fight alongside the Second Squad, Sergeant Golden, brothers. I will do my best to fulfill my duties, safeguard your lives, and ensure the Emperor's blessings are passed on."
His auxiliary bionic eye scanned each member of the squad, seemingly rapidly recording and analyzing their physiological states.
"Welcome, Brother Xylas." Gorden responded on behalf of the squad, "Your addition is our honor." The other team members also nodded in greeting. Having a professional Apothecary accompany them undoubtedly greatly increased their chances of survival on the brutal battlefield.
Just then, the highest priority announcement sounded through the battleship's internal broadcast system, and Chapter Master Calgar's steady and powerful voice echoed into every corner:
"All Coalition units, attention! Final orders issued! In three standard Imperial hours, the main force of the Coalition will formally pass through the Webway entrance and advance into Commorragh! Except for the Ultramarines 4th and 5th Companies and a portion of the Krieg Death Korps remaining on 'Shadow of Agony' to ensure the security of the Webway entrance and the smooth flow of supply lines, all other combat units are to enter the Webway!"
"Our Ultramarines Chapter, First Company, 2nd Company, Third Company, and 7th Company, will serve as the vanguard for the entire army, being the first to enter the Webway and face Commorragh's potential first wave of counterattack! Glory and duty are one! For Macragge! For the Emperor!"
The order was clear and resolute! The rest area was instantly filled with a tension and excitement that heralded a major battle.
"First wave?!" Dorian rubbed his hands excitedly, "Haha! Good! Let those sprouts taste the power of my Thunder Hammer!"
"It's finally coming..." Gaius took a deep breath, gripping his "Hawkeye" sniper rifle.
Gorden looked at Apothecary Xylas: "Brother Xylas, three hours, is that enough time for you to prepare?"
"It is sufficient, Sergeant. My equipment is always on standby." Xylas replied calmly.
Three hours of preparation time passed in a flash.
Aside from the Ultramarines 4th and 5th Companies and a portion of the Krieg Death Korps, who were ordered to remain and began constructing defensive fortifications on the surface of 'Shadow of Agony,' all Coalition ships had completed their assembly in orbit. The vast fleet overshadowed the starry sky, the engine lights like countless cold stars.
Near the Webway entrance, five silver-gray figures—a Grey Knights squad—hovered in the void. They surrounded the largest Webway entrance, forming a five-pointed star formation. Powerful and pure psychic energy surged from within them, like five silver pillars of light, pouring into the rotating, violet Webway entrance!
The entrance's originally relatively "stable" size began to violently fluctuate and expand under the Grey Knights' almost miraculous psychic manipulation! The energy at the edges became more turbulent, but the interior seemed to be forcibly widened and stabilized! In just a few minutes, the diameter of the entrance was magnified several times, enough to allow Imperial cruisers and even larger ships to pass through safely!
"Channel stabilized. Time limit fifteen minutes." Captain Keirano's cold voice echoed through the command channels of all ships.
"All units! According to the predetermined sequence! Full speed ahead!" Chapter Master Calgar's order immediately rang out.
The Coalition fleet, already prepared, immediately started their engines, like a bursting flood, majestically sailing towards the forcibly opened, colossal gateway to the dark city!
Leading the charge were the Ultramarines First Company's flagship and the 2nd, Third, and 7th Companies' strike cruisers, followed closely by the ships of the Space Wolves, White Scars, Iron Hands, and other Chapters. Behind them was a convoy of transport ships carrying mortal soldiers and heavy equipment, with the transport ships of the God-Machines protected in a relatively rear position. The ships of the Blood Ravens Chapter and Raven Guard drifted like ghosts on both sides of the fleet, responsible for vigilance.
The Macragge's Honour, as the overall command flagship, along with several Imperial Navy warships tasked with protecting it, remained in orbit above 'Shadow of Agony.' Chapter Master Calgar needed to command from the center, overseeing the entire operation, and could not personally lead the vanguard into danger.
All members of the Second Squad, including the newly joined Apothecary Xylas, were now located in a landing pod aboard the 7th Company's strike cruiser, the "Spirit of Ultramar." Like all their brothers in the 7th Company, they were fully in position, ready to engage in combat at any moment. Thunderhawk Gunships and drop pods were on standby.
Through the observation window, Gaius could see the awe-inspiring sight outside—countless Imperial ships, like a migrating torrent of steel, resolutely sailing into the ominous, colossal Webway entrance, disappearing into that bizarre and kaleidoscopic Warp tunnel.
The ship's hull vibrated slightly, and the "Spirit of Ultramar" also began to accelerate, heading towards the increasingly close Webway entrance.
Inside the pod, pre-battle prayers, the final checks of weapons, and the low hum of power armor servo systems echoed.
Sergeant Golden scanned his team members one last time, his gaze firm: "Brothers, remember our duty, remember our glory. Whatever lies beyond the Webway, Second Squad, never retreat!"
"Never retreat!" The team members roared in unison, including the new Apothecary Xylas, whose white armor stood out prominently in the pod's lighting.
Dorian hoisted his Thunder Hammer, Lex checked the final loading of his Heavy Bolter, Gaius took a deep breath, holding his sniper rifle close, Cliff and Sore nodded silently, and Luna's bionic eye flickered with a ready-to-go light.
The bow of the "Spirit of Ultramar" slowly plunged into the swirling, violet light, instantly swallowed by endless streams of light and kaleidoscopic colors.
The Imperial Coalition, this sharp sword forged from countless anger and power, finally completely pierced into Commorragh—the Dark Eldar's lair, the eternal city of pain and pleasure! An unprecedented decapitation strike, conducted deep within enemy territory, officially raised its bloody curtain!
The Imperial Coalition's fleet, like a torrent of steel, poured into the Webway entrance that the Grey Knights had forcibly opened.
The scenery inside the Webway was bizarre and beyond human imagination.
It wasn't mere darkness or starlight, but a tunnel composed of countless twisted, flowing colored energy beams, with walls seemingly made of solidified darkness and shimmering, eerie runes, occasionally echoing with strange sounds like the screams of countless souls or maniacal laughter.
Ships traveling through it felt as if they were navigating the veins of a nightmare, unsettling to the mind.
Occasionally, they encountered some Dark Eldar fast attack craft or patrol squads attempting to intercept them, but in front of this massive Imperial fleet, they were like moths drawn to a flame, instantly torn to shreds by the escorting strike cruisers and high-speed fighters, without even having time to send out a distress signal.
After an unknown duration of navigation through the warped spacetime, the path ahead suddenly opened up!
The fleet finally burst out of the Webway, reaching its ultimate destination—Commorragh!
The sight before them, even for the battle-hardened and well-traveled Astartes, was awe-inspiring and even caused a physiological discomfort.
This was not a planet in the usual sense, but an unimaginably vast, seemingly boundless artificial space station, or more accurately, an eternal city of night built in the seam between the Warp and reality.
The sky (if it could be called a sky) was an eternal, oppressive dark purple, with no stars visible, only some gigantic, twisted, slowly writhing nebula-like structures that emitted an eerie glow.
Countless sharp, twisted black crystal spires, seemingly piercing the "sky" with painful groans, formed the main skeleton of the city.
These spires soared into the "clouds," their surfaces covered with shimmering neon-like psychic runes and blasphemous bas-reliefs.
Between the spires, slender yet exceptionally strong psychocrystal bridges and platforms connected, upon which various bizarre and utterly un-mechanically sound buildings were constructed.
Some resembled gigantic, blooming metal flowers with petal edges sharp as blades; others were like elongated, twisted, screaming faces; still others were entirely made of countless statues struggling in agony.
Many building surfaces were covered with smooth, black mirror-like materials, reflecting the kaleidoscopic scene below, yet distorted and warped like funhouse mirrors.
The air was filled with a sweet and decaying smell, mixed with ozone, blood, some strange spices, and... the pure scent of depravity.
In the distance, vague sounds of what seemed to be revelry, painful wails, and the deep roars of some massive creatures constantly echoed, all mixed together to form a maddening background noise.
Huge Dark Eldar raiders adorned with skulls and spikes darted between the spires like locusts.
On some platforms, Dark Eldar could be seen engaging in bloody and cruel "entertainment" activities, and in some places, evil sorcerous rituals were openly performed.
This was Commorragh, the Dark Eldar's lair, the source of all pain and depravity, a living, breathing city of sin!
However, in stark contrast to this suffocatingly powerful visual impact and defensive potential, the resistance encountered by the Imperial Coalition's vanguard was surprisingly... "weak."
The strike cruisers of the Ultramarines' First, 2nd, Third, and 7th Companies were the first to burst out of the Webway exit, immediately forming a defensive perimeter, their gun barrels vigilantly pointing in all directions.
The anticipated storm of attacks did not immediately materialize.
There was only scattered anti-aircraft fire from nearby spire platforms and suicidal attacks from small pirate ships, which were quickly eliminated by the First Company's precise bombardment and the White Scars' fast attack craft.
"What's going on?" Captain Cassius frowned on his flagship, "Where is their main force?"
Intelligence quickly converged.
It turned out that the major Kabals within Commorragh, upon learning of the approaching Imperial army, instead of uniting against the common enemy, immediately withdrew their forces, entrenched themselves in their territories, watched with cold indifference, and even gloated as the weaker Kabals near the Webway exit were destroyed by the Imperial fleet.
They hoped that the Imperial forces and these "competitors" would suffer heavy losses, allowing them to reap the benefits.
This extreme selfishness and infighting were now fully exposed!
"Stupid! Incorrigible!" Captain Cassius snorted coldly, but then ordered, "This is a rare opportunity! All units, deploy immediately according to the original plan! Consolidate the landing zone! Open up space for subsequent forces!"
"For Macragge!" a roar echoed through the comms channel.
The vanguard fleet quickly cleared the resistance around the Webway exit, firmly securing a relatively stable airspace.
Immediately following, a massive transport fleet carrying the Krieg Death Korps and the Cadian Regiment swarmed out!
They disregarded the sporadic firing below and dove towards the cleared, relatively flat giant platforms!
Hatch doors opened, and countless silent grey and khaki figures once again poured out like a tide!
They quickly fanned out in squad-level units, establishing defensive lines, and engaging in firefights with Dark Eldar defenders rushing out from nearby buildings and passages using lasguns and heavy weapons.
Fierce close-quarters combat instantly erupted on multiple platforms!
At the same time, the Imperial Coalition's strike cruisers in orbit began a furious orbital bombardment of critical defensive nodes, energy facilities, and towering spires that appeared to be important command centers deep within Commorragh!
Macro cannon shells rained down like meteors, shattering the exquisite psychocrystal structures; lances, like divine judgment, precisely pierced spire after spire, triggering chain reactions!
The entire Commorragh seemed to tremble under the bombardment!
Countless drop pods, like a scorching iron rain, followed the orbital bombardment barrage, slamming into the ground!
Ultramarines, Salamanders, Nova Marines, Nova Chapter... more Astartes had arrived!
Like a blue storm of death, they quickly reinforced and expanded the landing zone, launching a fierce assault towards their predetermined targets!
The fleets of the Space Wolves, Blood Ravens Chapter, and White Scars, like three sharp daggers, plunged directly into the deepest part of Commorragh—the tallest, most magnificent, and most grotesquely adorned cluster of spires, believed to be the location of Dark Eldar Archon Vect's palace!
Wolf howls, the screams of Thunderhawks, and the silent slaughter of the Blood Ravens began to unfold in that area!
And the most spectacular of all was the arrival of the God-Machines!
Specialized heavy transport ships carrying Titans and Knights slowly descended, releasing these colossal engines of war in relatively open areas.
The massive bodies of the Warlord Titans truly set foot on Commorragh's soil for the first time, their immense weight even causing the entire platform structure to groan under the strain!
Volcano cannons once again roared deafeningly, this time, their targets were Commorragh's most fortified defensive works and the most opulent spires, clearly inhabited by important figures!
Each bombardment seemed to pierce this city of sin through and through!
Castellan Knights, like loyal guardians, encircled the Titans, using their high-speed weapons to clear away the constantly assailing Dark Eldar aircraft and infantry, which were like gnats.
The warriors of the Nova Chapter faithfully carried out their duty, staunchly guarding the God-Machines, fending off any approaching enemies with Bolter fire and blood.
However, Commorragh was, after all, Archon Vect's lair, cultivated for countless years, and its foundation and resistance were by no means comparable to outer outposts.
As the Imperial Coalition advanced deeper, the resistance began to grow increasingly tenacious and bizarre.
The areas attacked by the Nova Marines and Iron Hands Chapter encountered unprecedented stubborn resistance.
They faced the core fortress of a large Kabal, which not only housed elite Dark Eldar warriors and a large number of war machines, but also cunning sorcerers and deadly traps hidden in the shadows.
The dense crossfire of Bolter and poison crystal guns, the hum of overloaded plasma weapons, and the explosive sounds of sorcerous energy were incessant.
The warriors of the Iron Hands steadily advanced with cold logic and powerful firepower, but every step forward came at a cost.
The Nova Marines, relying on the tactics and courage inherited from their Chapter, repeatedly charged, but were also repelled time and again by the enemy's heavy firepower.
The battle became a stalemate.
Just as the elites of both sides were fiercely engaged in a brutal struggle outside the fortress, no one noticed that the silent soldiers of the Krieg Death Korps, seemingly oblivious to death, once again demonstrated their chilling tactical infiltration capabilities.
Utilizing the sounds of explosions and the chaos of the battlefield, and exploiting the intricate, labyrinthine abandoned pipes and maintenance tunnels of Commorragh's lower levels, they miraculously bypassed the Kabal's strong frontal defenses once again, appearing silently behind the enemy's fortress—in the relatively weaker logistical areas and servant passages—like ghosts crawling out of hell!
No shouts, no warnings.
These Krieg soldiers once again raised their most "reliable" melee weapons—entrenching tools and bayonets—and launched a silent and deadly assault against the unsuspecting Dark Eldar logistical personnel, low-ranking servants, and even some resting rotation warriors!
Screams and alarms instantly erupted inside the fortress!
The chaos in the rear inevitably affected the Dark Eldar defenders fighting fiercely at the front.
Their command became somewhat muddled, and their firepower output experienced a brief hesitation and weakening.
Nova Marines Captain Oliver Thompson and Iron Hands Captain Arthur Morgue at the front line almost simultaneously noticed the abnormality in the enemy's defense line!
"Opportunity! For Macragge / For the Omnissiah! All units, charge!"
Without hesitation, they immediately ordered a full-scale assault!
The Astartes' Bolters spewed even hotter tongues of fire, and chainswords roared ferociously, like the final straw that broke the camel's back, slamming into the already wavering Dark Eldar defense line!
The Imperial iron heel was irresistibly trampling Commorragh's streets and spires, step by step approaching the tallest tower, symbolizing the Dark Eldar's supreme power!
Just as the Nova Marines and Iron Hands were gaining ground with the Krieg Death Korps' insidious infiltration, the Space Wolves, White Scars, and Blood Ravens Chapter, who were heading straight for Commorragh's core spires, found themselves embroiled in an unprecedented bitter struggle.
This area was the true heart of Commorragh, home to the most magnificent, twisted, and heavily defended spires. The palace of the Archon Vect was hidden among them. Here, although the various Kabals still harbored their own schemes, they knew that once the core was breached, all would lose their foothold. Therefore, they temporarily set aside some of their differences, gathered their most elite forces, and, in coordination with Vect's personal guard stationed there, jointly resisted the Imperial advance.
The Space Wolves' furious assault immediately hit a wall. Around their landing platform, countless well-equipped Kabal warriors instantly surged forth. These warriors were not scattered skirmishers, but highly trained elites working in perfect coordination. Blaster and Disintegrator Cannons formed a dense net of fire, pinning down the charging Wolf Lord.
Ragnar Blackmane roared, swinging his Thunder Hammer, smashing one enemy after another, but more enemies surged like a tide from all directions.
The White Scars' speed advantage also struggled to be fully utilized in such a narrow and complex spire environment. They attempted to use their mobility to penetrate and divide the enemy, but repeatedly ran into pre-set psychic traps and twisted energy fields, drastically slowing them down and instead trapping them within the Dark Eldar's bizarre weaponry. The Khan's Ravenwing Brotherhood continuously picked off important targets with precise shots, but the enemy numbers seemed endless.
The Blood Ravens Chapter's situation was equally difficult. They tried to use their knowledge of the Aeldari to find weaknesses in the defensive line but encountered their most troublesome opponents: a large number of fanatical warriors from the Wych Cults! These female warriors, who pursued extreme pain and slaughter, charged the Blood Ravens' lines like mad dancers, fearlessly launching suicidal attacks with their poisoned blades and barbed whips, greatly slowing the Blood Ravens' advance.
Even more frustrating was the appearance of numerous grotesque bio-weapons, twisted by the Haemonculi, on the battlefield! These monsters combined the terrifying features of multiple creatures; some were like giant multi-legged spiders, spewing strong acid; others resembled skinned piles of human muscle, possessing astonishing strength and no sense of pain; there were even some psychic constructs floating in the air, constantly emitting mental screams! These unnatural creations caused immense chaos and casualties for the allied forces.
And the most deadly threat came from the elusive Harlequins! Their numbers were even greater than during the "Shadow of Agony"! They no longer tried to directly confront the main army but roamed the edges of the battlefield like ghosts, specifically targeting allied commanders, heavy weapon specialists, and technical personnel. Each of their appearances meant the instant death of a critical individual. Although the Raven Guard's snipers tried their best to counter them, they still seemed somewhat passive compared to these envoys of the Laughing God.
The three most elite Chapters of the allied forces were stubbornly held back on the outskirts of the spire district, unable to advance! Every step forward came at a heavy price!
Just then, the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps echoed from afar! And the familiar roar of Bolters!
The main force of the Ultramarines had arrived!
After largely clearing the resistance in their assigned sector, Chapter Master Calgar immediately ordered the First Company, Second Company, Third Company, and 7th Company to rapidly reinforce the spire attack forces caught in the bitter fight!
The blue torrent, like a timely rain, crashed fiercely into the battlefield from the flank!
"For Macragge! For Guilliman!" Captain Cassius led the charge, his Power Sword carving a deadly arc, beheading a Wych who attempted to ambush Ragnar Blackmane!
"First Company! Shield wall advance! Open a path for our Space Wolves brothers!" Heraclius, the Company Champion, raised his Storm Shield, leading the First Company Terminators forward, providing solid cover for the stalled Space Wolves.
"Second Company, Third Company! Flank out! Clear those damned mutated monsters!" Captain Sicarius and the Third Company Captain roared, leading their warriors to sweep away the disgusting Haemonculi creations with concentrated fire.
"7th Company! Disperse and support! Focus on eliminating enemy long-range fire and sorcerers!" Captain Cassius' voice rang out on the channel, and Second Squad and other 7th Company warriors immediately broke formation, cutting into the battlefield's weak points with surgical precision.
The arrival of the Ultramarines instantly stabilized the wavering front line and began to gradually turn the tide! Their discipline, coordination, and powerful firepower perfectly countered the Dark Eldar's chaotic and bizarre tactics.
However, the Dark Eldar's trump cards seemed to be far from exhausted.
Just as the battle seemed to be tilting in favor of the allied forces, five exceptionally large, ornately decorated, and clearly modified Wraithknights slowly emerged from the shadows of the tallest spires. Dark metal plates were inlaid on their wraithbone bodies, twisted spikes extended from their joints, and their arms were equipped not with traditional Aeldari weapons, but with more monstrous, living-like tentacle cannons and huge Power Claws shimmering with disintegrator fields. They moved with an eerie and elegant gait, ignoring the fierce fighting around them, heading directly towards the center of the battlefield, towards the Warhound-class Titans standing like mountains!
Their objective was clear: to destroy these God-Machines that posed the greatest threat to the spires!
A series of deadly disintegrator cannon beams shot from the arm cannons of these modified Wraithknights, accurately hitting a Warhound-class Titan named "Emperor's Wrath"!
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!
The disintegrator energy beams struck the Titan's powerful void shield, erupting in blinding light and violent energy ripples! The void shield flickered violently but ultimately held firm against this volley!
Seeing that remote attacks were not quickly effective, the modified Wraithknights immediately changed tactics. They took huge strides, began to accelerate their charge, their bone blades and tentacle cannons poised, attempting to close in and physically destroy the Titans!
"Protect the God-Machines!" Captain Keirano of the Nova Chapter urgently roared, and the warriors frantically poured fire onto the Wraithknights, but their armor was exceptionally thick, and Bolter and plasma rounds had little effect!
However, these Wraithknights made a fatal mistake—they underestimated the number and firepower density of the Imperial Titans!
As they charged, two other Warhound-class Titans and all the surrounding Knight-class mechs simultaneously turned their muzzles!
"Target locked! Free fire!" The Titan commander's cold voice echoed through the comms channel.
The next second, a storm of destruction descended!
A dense barrage of Thunderhawk cannons, like a metallic storm, instantly enveloped the two modified Wraithknights charging at the front! Countless large-caliber shells tore through their ornate armor, severed their limbs, riddled them with holes, and sent them staggering to the ground!
Immediately following, the Volcano Cannons of the other two Warhound Titans roared again! Thick beams of energy, like the fingers of a god, accurately struck the other two Wraithknights! The energy, powerful enough to vaporize warship armor, instantly evaporated their main bodies, leaving only twisted, molten metal and wraithbone debris scattering everywhere!
The sole remaining modified Wraithknight seemed stunned by this terrifying scene of destruction, its movements hesitating for an instant.
It was this moment of hesitation that sealed its fate.
The Titan named "Emperor's Wrath," the very Titan that had just withstood the attack, its Volcano Cannon had already finished recharging!
Boom!!!
The last modified Wraithknight, along with a large area around it, was completely engulfed and annihilated by the furious energy of the Volcano Cannon!
Commorragh's highly anticipated decisive weapons were easily destroyed like toys in the face of the Imperial Titans' absolute firepower!
Despite this, the resistance in the core spire district remained exceptionally stubborn, and every step the allied forces took was incredibly difficult. The Dark Eldar, relying on their terrain advantage and endless bizarre tactics, stubbornly held back the allied forces.
Just at this stalemate, a small, fast Imperial assault boat, at an almost insane speed, ignored all intercepting fire along the way, diving like a suicide into the most intense battlefield of the spire district!
The assault boat hadn't even fully settled when, dozens of meters above the ground, its hatch suddenly exploded open!
Five silver-gray figures, like meteors, descended from the sky, slamming heavily into the very center of the battlefield. The psychic shockwave generated upon landing even directly threw several surrounding Dark Eldar warriors away!
The Grey Knights! At the most critical moment, they finally arrived at the most crucial battlefield!
Captain Keirano's ocular implants scanned the chaotic and brutal battlefield, as if an endless stream of data flowed behind the rotating lenses.
"Where the Sacred Hammer falls, corruption is cleansed!"
The arrival of the Grey Knights was like dropping a piece of ice into a boiling oil pot, instantly changing the atmosphere of the battlefield. The pure psychic pressure, targeting all Warp anomalies and xenos corruption, caused the Dark Eldar, who relied on witchcraft and bizarre techniques, to feel an instinctive discomfort and fear.
Captain Keirano gave no superfluous commands; the five Grey Knights moved as one precise killing unit, acting instantly. Their objective was clear—prioritize eliminating the supernatural units and command nodes that posed the greatest threat to the allied forces.
Gabriel Storm and Uriel Ventris once again stood at the forefront like silver bulwarks. Every swing of Gabriel's dual-wielded Daemon-Hammer brought with it soul-tearing silver flames, smashing the charging Wyche Cult Berserkers, man and weapon alike, into twisted scrap metal. Uriel, meanwhile, transformed into a mobile purifying fire; wherever he went, the twisted biological weapons created by the Haemonculi shrieked as if meeting their bane, curling, charring, and finally turning to ash in the silver flames! They perfectly fulfilled their role as guardians.
And protected in the middle, Captain Keirano, Ezekiel Watch, and Raphael Whisper once again began their heart-pounding joint psychic ritual. But this time, their goal was not large-scale clearing, but precise targeted elimination!
Captain Keirano's gaze locked onto a Dark Eldar Archon who was on a distant high platform, waving a witch staff, constantly summoning void energy and twisted illusions to torment the allied warriors. He extended his finger, and a highly concentrated silver psychic spike gathered at its tip.
"In the Emperor's name, silence."
Whoosh!
A subtle yet incredibly dazzling silver light instantly crossed the battlefield. The Archon's shield was pierced like paper, and his head exploded like a watermelon. The headless corpse swayed, then toppled from the high platform.
At the same time, Ezekiel Watch's auxiliary bionic eye flashed rapidly as he processed the massive stream of battlefield information. He raised his hand, and an invisible, massive psychic wave, like a precision-guided missile, shot towards another location—there, a Harlequin was about to deliver a fatal final blow to a wounded White Scars Stormseer who had fallen to the ground.
That psychic wave was not a direct attack, but rather instantly created a twisted psychic barrier between the Harlequin and the Stormseer, refracting all light and perception! The Harlequins' deadly blades struck the barrier as if sinking into quicksand, their movements instantly distorted and slowed!
"Now!" Ezekiel's voice calmly rang out in the comms channel of nearby allied warriors.
The Stormseer, who had narrowly escaped death, and the surrounding White Scars warriors reacted immediately. Bolter rounds and Chainswords instantly overwhelmed the Harlequin, who had lost his speed advantage!
Raphael Whisper was even more uncanny. He did not attack any specific target, but rather acted like a psychic beacon, constantly emitting a very special psychic wave that was both soothing and resolute. This wave greatly alleviated the impact of the Dark Eldar's mental attacks and fear-inducing witchcraft on the allied soldiers, allowing the mortal soldiers and warriors with slightly weaker wills to fight more resolutely. At the same time, he also seemed to be constantly interfering with the psychic communications between enemy commanders, making their command increasingly chaotic and delayed.
The addition of the Grey Knights was like injecting a shot of adrenaline into the bogged-down allied forces, and even more, it was a poisoned blade plunged into the heart of the Dark Eldar! They precisely and efficiently cleared key threats, greatly alleviating the pressure on the front lines.
"Haha! Well done, Grey Knights!" Ragnar Blackmane smashed a Kabalite Warrior in front of him into a bloody pulp, then roared towards the Grey Knights, "Wolf Cubs! Don't let the Grey Knights steal all the glory! Charge with me!"
The morale of the encouraged allied forces surged! Their offensive once again became fierce!
The Ultramarines' blue line advanced steadily, the sound of Bolter volleys like a death drumbeat. The Space Wolves' furious assault regained its rhythm, and the roar of Chainaxes once again echoed across the battlefield. The White Scars' speed was once again unleashed, as they weaved and cut through the enemy lines like lightning. The Blood Ravens Chapter, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to accelerate their breakthroughs of enemy weak points and... "technical recovery" efforts.
However, Commorragh's defenses were not limited to this. Just as the allied forces were about to breach the first main defensive line and approach the bases of the tallest spires, new anomalies arose!
The ground suddenly vibrated violently! The wraithbone platform beneath everyone's feet groaned and cracked under the immense strain!
Rumble rumble!
Several huge, circular maw-like orifices, covered in slime and sharp teeth, suddenly burst forth from beneath the platform! These orifices belonged to some unimaginably vast bioconstructs, lurking in Commorragh's lower structures! They opened their enormous mouths, generating a powerful suction that instantly swallowed dozens of unsuspecting Krieg Death Korps soldiers and several Astartes who were too close! Even a Knight-Castellan, too close, was pulled off balance by the immense force, nearly dragged into the abyss!
Following this, from the shadows of the surrounding spires, even more grotesque enemies surged out. Some heavily armored Dark Eldar heavy infantry, moving slowly but possessing immense strength, wore armor like coffins. They carried huge weapons capable of firing corrosive energy blasts, advancing ponderously, each step shaking the ground.
There were also assassins, crawling low to the ground like shadows, their skin adapting to the environment like chameleons, specifically ambushing isolated soldiers.
The battle escalated again, entering an even more brutal and chaotic phase!
"Hold the line! Don't panic!" Captain Cassius' voice rang out in the comms channel, calmly giving orders, "First Company Terminators! Hold off those heavy infantry! Second and Third Companies! Lay down suppressing fire on those ground holes! Seventh Company and Space Wolves! Clear out those shadow assassins!"
The allied forces quickly adjusted their tactics, attempting to counter the new threats.
Amidst this chaos, Second Squad faced a severe test. They were covering the retreat of a damaged Predator tank when they were suddenly attacked simultaneously by a squad of elite Dark Eldar warriors and several Wychs!
"Contact on the left!" Gaius immediately issued a warning, his sniper rifle precisely blowing off the head of a warrior charging at the front.
"Take them down!" Sergeant Golden roared, his Bolter firing continuously.
Dorian roared as he pushed forward, his Storm Shield blocking a volley of poisoned crystal shards, and his Thunder Hammer sent a Wych flying. Lex's Heavy Bolter let out a muffled roar, suppressing the enemy's firepower.
But the enemy was numerous and exceptionally elite! A Wych bypassed Dorian's defense at a strange angle, her poisoned dagger stabbing directly at Luna, who was performing emergency repairs on the tank!
"Look out!" Cliff shouted, but it was too late to help!
Just at this critical moment—
A white figure flashed past like lightning!
It was Apothecary Sira! He had been on high alert. His power pack's auxiliary mechanical arm suddenly shot out, precisely grabbing the Wych's wrist, the immense strength almost crushing her wrist bones! At the same time, the bone saw in his other hand stabbed out with the precision and swiftness of a surgeon's scalpel, directly piercing the Wych's heart!
The poisoned dagger clattered to the ground. Sira calmly pulled out his bone saw, not even glancing at the fallen enemy, and immediately turned to Luna: "Continue repairs, I'll cover you." His voice remained steady, as if he had just completed a simple surgical procedure.
Luna's bionic eye flickered, and she nodded, continuing her work with increased speed.
With Sira's addition and precise medical support, Second Squad managed to withstand this assault. Collaborating with other arriving brother units, they eliminated this elite enemy force.
Similar brutal and drawn-out battles were unfolding across the battlefield. Every meter gained came at the cost of blood and lives.
However, the Imperium's resolve and strength ultimately proved superior. With the Grey Knights precisely eliminating high-end threats, the Astartes pushing forward tenaciously, the mortal regiments fighting with self-sacrificing bravery, and the destructive firepower support of the God-Machines, the allied forces finally gnawed through this toughest bone!
The first main spire district defense line was completely breached!
Countless Dark Eldar corpses littered the twisted platforms, and shattered weapons and the wreckage of war machines were everywhere. The allied banners were finally planted at the bases of those once-indomitable spires!
But everyone knew this was just the beginning. Taller, more magnificent spires, with inevitably more insane defenses, still lay ahead. Archon Vect's palace remained hidden behind the mists. Commorragh's deepest darkness had not yet been fully revealed.
The allied warriors had no time to celebrate; they immediately began to consolidate their positions, rescue the wounded, resupply ammunition, and prepare for an even fiercer assault on the next defensive line! The Imperium's beheading blade had already reached the deepest parts of the Sin City!
After the Imperial Coalition broke through the outer defenses of the Spire District, their vanguard pointed directly at the tallest, most magnificent, and most grotesquely decorated cluster of core spires.
Grand Lord Asdrubael Vect's palace was undoubtedly hidden within.
Without the slightest hesitation, after a brief regrouping, the strongest assault forces were concentrated and launched a fierce attack on a nearby, strategically crucial tall spire!
Ten Dreadnoughts, like moving steel sanctuaries, advanced with earth-shaking steps, leading the charge!
Seven of them belonged to the Ultramarines, covered in blue livery and adorned with the glorious markings of the millennia-old Chapter; one belonged to the Space Wolves, its fur and wolf fangs making it appear even wilder; the other two belonged to the Salamanders Chapter, older and more heavily armed 'Contemptor-class' Dreadnoughts, their heavy flamers already pre-heated and emitting a chilling roar.
These ancient war heroes, with their incredibly thick frontal armor, stubbornly withstood the dense hail of splinter rounds, disintegrator beams, and psychic energies fired from every window and firing slit of the tall spire!
The barrages struck their armor, sending countless sparks and energy ripples, but failed to halt their determined advance!
Their assault cannons, heavy flamers, and missile launchers continuously fired, blowing up the defensive fortifications and exposed firing points on the lower levels of the spire one by one!
Under the cover of the Dreadnoughts, these mobile fortresses, the Terminators of the Ultramarines First Company formed a solid line and steadily pushed forward.
Behind them were more Astartes warriors, continuously pouring fire into the spire with Bolters and plasma weapons.
Finally, the Dreadnoughts approached the tall spire's massive, ornate, yet blasphemously carved main gate!
"For our brothers who wait in the darkness!" an Ultramarines Dreadnought roared with a low electronic growl, raising its massive Power Fist!
"For Russ!" the Space Wolves Dreadnought's assault cannon spun wildly!
"In your names!" a Salamanders Dreadnought's flamers spewed out dragons of fire dozens of meters long!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The deafening explosions almost merged into one!
The tall spire's seemingly sturdy wraithbone gate was instantly shattered by such a furious concentrated bombardment, revealing the deep, ornate, yet deadly hall beyond!
"For the Emperor! Charge in!" Captain Cassius' roar echoed!
The Terminators, shields raised, charged in first!
They were followed by a tide of Astartes!
The interior space of the tall spire was far vaster than it appeared from the outside, as if utilizing spatial folding technology.
Inside the hall, not ordinary Dark Eldar warriors, but numerous twisted, grotesque, and foul-smelling Haemonculi creations were already waiting in ambush!
Multi-eyed hounds, tentacle-waving masses of flesh, floating spiked spheres... these nightmarish bioweapons shrieked shrilly, surging like a tide towards the charging Astartes!
The roar of Bolters, the snarl of chainswords, and the hum of power weapons instantly filled the entire hall!
The battle entered its most brutal, white-hot phase from the very beginning!
The Astartes, in squad formations, fought fiercely with these twisted monsters, every step forward proving incredibly difficult.
And just as the Astartes drew the vast majority of attention in the hall, those silent grey figures once again displayed their chilling tactics.
Countless Krieg Death Korps soldiers, at some unknown moment, appeared as if crawling out of the ground, emerging from various secondary entrances, ventilation shafts, and even exploded crevices of the tall spire!
They remained silent, their eyes hollow behind their gas masks, most of their lasguns discarded, replaced by bayonet-fixed lasguns or simply their most trusted entrenching tools!
They had no shouts, no hesitation, surging like an emotionless tide, wave after wave, towards the defenses composed of Dark Eldar Kabalite warriors and Wych Cultists, who were attempting to seal off the flank passages and inner rooms!
"For the Emperor! Advance!" The officer's cold voice rang out through the vox-caster; this was their only battle cry.
The Krieg soldiers ignored the incoming splinter rounds and swinging psychic blades; as a comrade fell in front, the one behind immediately stepped over the body, expressionless, and continued to advance!
They absorbed damage with their bodies, engaging in the most primitive and brutal close-quarters combat with bayonets and entrenching tools!
Their casualty rate was astonishingly fast, but their advance rate was equally terrifying!
Under this insane, no-holds-barred, no-casualty-count charge, the Dark Eldar's previously tight internal defenses began to waver!
These Dark Eldar, accustomed to elegant killing and toying with their prey, had never witnessed such a disregard for life, including their own!
Their lines began to crumble, and gaps appeared in their firepower.
Just as the Krieg Death Korps was about to pile up enough bodies to create a path into the depths of the tall spire, six colorful, ghostly figures joined the battlefield—Harlequins with weeping masks!
Their entry instantly turned the tide of the local battle!
Their blade dances were like storms of death, easily reaping the lives of the Krieg soldiers.
Often, soldiers hadn't even clearly seen their figures before their throats were slit or their hearts pierced.
A Harlequin elegantly spun, her Kiss cutting through the chest of a charging Krieg soldier as easily as a hot knife through butter.
The soldier's body stiffened, his movements halting.
However, just as the Harlequin prepared to withdraw her blade and turn to the next target, she failed to notice that the dying Krieg soldier, with his last ounce of strength, pulled the pin of a cluster grenade hanging at his waist!
The Harlequin sensed the danger and tried to retreat, but it was too late!
Boom!!!
The violent explosion instantly obliterated the Krieg soldier, and the Harlequin, who was in close proximity, was violently thrown back by the blast wave and shrapnel.
Her colorful armor was severely damaged, and her mask was half-shattered, revealing a pale face beneath, filled with shock and pain, clearly having sustained a serious injury.
Just in that moment of hesitation as she struggled on the ground—
Three or four nearby Krieg soldiers, like hyenas smelling blood, immediately pounced!
They didn't use their lasguns but instead raised their entrenching tools and bayonets high, savagely hacking down at the fallen Harlequin!
Splat! Splat!
The sharp blades of the entrenching tools cut into the Harlequin's shoulder and thigh, and a bayonet tried to pierce her neck!
However, a Harlequin is, after all, an emissary of the Laughing God.
Even heavily wounded, she still let out a pained shriek, twisting her body in an inhuman manner, managing to avoid vital points, while simultaneously slashing out with her Harlequin's Blade, instantly slitting the throats of two Krieg soldiers!
But her resistance ended there.
The entrenching tools of the other two Krieg soldiers were already descending again!
Just then, two other Harlequins appeared as if teleporting, and with a flash of blades, the heads of those two Krieg soldiers flew into the air.
Despite killing the enemies, the wounded Harlequin had already lost most of her combat effectiveness.
The Harlequins' offensive stalled.
And it was this brief delay that gave the Grey Knights time!
"Purge the xenos!" Captain Keirano's voice was like ice.
Five Grey Knights charged into this flank battlefield like a silver whirlwind!
Their target was directly the Harlequins!
Gabriel Storm and Uriel Ventris immediately engaged the other five uninjured Harlequins, while Captain Keirano mercilessly purified the heavily wounded Harlequin lying on the ground with a single sword stroke!
The intervention of the Grey Knights instantly drew all of the Harlequins' attention.
These silver-armored purifiers were their true natural enemies!
With the pressure eased, the remaining Krieg soldiers did not hesitate for a moment, not even sparing a glance at the Grey Knights fiercely battling the Harlequins, immediately re-forming skirmish lines, and silently, resolutely, continued their charge into the depths of the tall spire!
It was as if the brutal casualties just moments ago had never happened!
Their sacrifice was not in vain!
The wavering of the flank defenses created an excellent opportunity for the Astartes on the main attack vector!
"Wolf cubs! The opportunity is here! Jump over with me! Tear them apart!" Ragnar Blackmane saw the chaos among the flank enemies caused by the Krieg's desperate charge and the Grey Knights' intervention, and immediately seized the tactical opportunity!
Dozens of Space Wolves warriors, including Ragnar himself, simultaneously activated their jump packs!
Whoosh—!
Accompanied by the roar of their jump packs, these furry, berserker warriors descended like divine soldiers, soaring over the chaotic melee below, and accurately slammed into the crowds of Dark Eldar Kabalite warriors and Wyches attempting to reorganize their defenses!
"For Russ and the Allfather!"
The roar of chainaxes and the thunderous impact of Thunder Hammers instantly erupted in the enemy's core area!
The Space Wolves' boarding actions and close-quarters combat were unparalleled in the Imperium, instantly throwing the Dark Eldar's formation into disarray!
Almost simultaneously, from the windows and breaches of the distant tall spire, low and deadly sniper fire occasionally rang out!
It was the Raven Guard!
Their sniper rifles were like the grim reaper's roll call, precisely eliminating Dark Eldar elite units attempting to ambush from the shadows or trying to take potshots at the boarding Space Wolves.
Their cover was silent yet crucial.
Inside the tall spire, the Imperial Coalition was making a bloody advance inch by inch, purifying every room and every corridor with Bolters, fire, and steel.
Outside the towering spire, the battle raged on without pause. The warriors of the Nova Chapter continued to faithfully guard the Titans and Knights, ensuring with their loyalty and blood that these God-Machines could continuously unleash devastating firepower upon the stubbornly resisting Dark Eldar strongholds.
The soldiers of the Cadian Regiment, meanwhile, cooperated in clearing out the remaining enemies on the platform outside the spire, their battle cry still ringing loud: "Cadia Stands!"
Whether they encountered Dark Eldar warriors, servants, or civilians attempting to flee, they were met only with cold Bolter fire and laser blasts—the Emperor's mercy here was nothing but utter destruction.
The iron fist of the Imperium had, from all directions, gripped the core spire of Commorragh tightly, and was now relentlessly tightening its hold! Vect's lair was being pried open, step by step!
The Imperial Coalition's bloody battle inside the spire was fierce and continuous. Every ornate corridor, every room adorned with painful artworks, every spiraling ossified staircase became a battlefield fiercely contested by both sides.
The Dark Eldar, relying on their familiarity with the terrain and an endless stream of traps and stratagems, frantically impeded the Imperial Coalition's advance.
The Astartes, Krieg Death Korps, and the Cadian soldiers who followed behind, crushed the resistance step by step with their boundless courage, iron will, and absolute firepower, pressing upwards to the higher levels.
Finally, after paying a huge price, the Imperial Coalition broke through an exceptionally magnificent, constantly twisting and deforming gate made of some dark energy, and the view suddenly opened up!
They stormed into a hall of unimaginable size. This was the deepest part of Commorragh's dark heart—the Grand Archon Vect's main palace hall!
The sight here, even for the most battle-hardened warriors, caused a strong visual and mental Impact.
The hall's dome soared into "clouds," seemingly without end, adorned with dynamic murals depicting the suffering and destruction of countless worlds, the images writhing and wailing as if alive.
The walls were not solid, but composed of solidified darkness and shimmering energy streams resembling nerve bundles, with distorted faces constantly emerging and disappearing from within.
The floor was smooth as a mirror, yet reflected no human figures, only countless struggling, twisted shadows.
In the center of the hall was a massive, twisted throne-like platform made of obsidian and some unknown metal.
Around the platform, several huge, transparent containers filled with bubbling, dark green liquid were arrayed. Immersed within the containers were various grotesque, half-human, half-beast terrifying biological specimens, and even some seemingly living "collectibles" wearing Imperial or Xenos armor from different eras, their faces frozen in extreme agony.
The air was thick with the heavy scent of blood, the pungent smell of embalming fluid, and a cloying, nauseating psychic incense.
A low, eerie, abyss-like music echoed through the hall, stirring the darkest desires within the human heart.
And upon that twisted throne, a figure leaned languidly.
He wore exquisitely ornate black armor, inlaid with countless gems and rare metals, its lines elegant yet imbued with a sense of sinister power.
He wore no helmet, revealing a pale, handsome face with an expression of extreme coldness and cruelty, his black hair subtly swaying behind him as if alive.
In one hand, he idly twirled a goblet made from a skull, filled with dark red liquid.
The fingers of his other hand tapped unconsciously on the armrest of the throne, which was shockingly forged from countless twisted, agonized Eldar faces!
Asdrubael Vect, the eternal ruler of Commorragh, the Grand Archon of the Dark Eldar! He seemed utterly unconcerned by the large Imperial Coalition forces pouring into the hall, a mocking, playful smile, as if watching an interesting play, even gracing his lips.
"For Russ!"
"For the Emperor!"
"Purge the Xenos!"
The Imperial Coalition warriors snapped out of their initial shock, letting out furious battle cries, and charged towards the throne!
However, at this very moment, a large number of figures surged out from the shadows around the hall!
These were no ordinary Dark Eldar warriors. They wore uniform, deep black armor adorned with Vect's personal insignia, equipped with the finest weapons, moving with synchronized precision, silent and efficient.
They were Vect's personal guard—the "Shadow Blades," Commorragh's most elite assassins and warriors!
Also appearing were numerous high-ranking members of the Wych Cult, scantily clad, their bodies covered in black tattoos, their eyes fanatical, swarming around the throne like a hive guarding its queen.
Even several robed, obscurely powerful Haemonculus Masters stood a little further away, toying with bizarre surgical instruments.
These elites among elites instantly clashed with the Imperial Coalition vanguard that had rushed in!
The battle erupted instantly, fiercer and more brutal than any before! Vect's guard and the Wyches displayed combat skills and coordinated teamwork far superior to previous enemies; they moved like specters through the hall's complex environment, every attack aimed at vital points!
The Imperial Coalition's advance was immediately stalled, even forced back slightly, and casualties sharply increased!
"Hold! Form a defensive line!" Captain Cassius bellowed, and the First Company's Terminators once again pushed forward, their Storm Shields forming a wall.
"Wolf Cubs! Don't let these bastards scare you! Kill with me!" Ragnar Blackmane roared, but even the Space Wolves' ferocity struggled for a moment to break through the elite guards' defenses.
Just as the front line became a stalemate, with the most elite forces of both sides locked in a desperate struggle—
Five silver-grey figures, as if defying the laws of physics, swept directly over the most intense fighting, ignoring the Dark Eldar elites who tried to intercept them along the way, landing precisely and heavily, almost shimmering, directly in front of the twisted throne platform!
It was the Grey Knights! Captain Keirano, Gabriel Storm, Uriel Ventris, Ezekiel Watch, Raphael Whisper!
Their arrival seemed to carry an invisible field, instantly dispelling the uncomfortable psychic aura and eerie music around the throne. A cold, pure, psychic pressure, directed at all evil and Xenos, enveloped the entire platform as if it were a tangible force!
Vect, who had maintained his languid and mocking posture, finally stopped tapping his fingers on the armrest of the throne. He slowly raised his head, his deep, cold eyes, seemingly containing endless schemes and cruelty, for the first time truly looked at the five silver-armored giants before him with a hint of seriousness and… an indescribable disgust.
"Ah…" Vect spoke, his voice low and magnetic, yet with a serpentine hiss that cut through the din of battle, clearly reaching everyone's ears, "…the lapdogs of the Grey Knights Chapter. Truly… a nauseating scent. Like light always trying to invade shadows, unpleasant and… futile."
He gently swirled the skull goblet in his hand, as if savoring fine wine, or perhaps admiring the Grey Knights' ready stance.
"Asdrubael Vect," Captain Keirano's voice came through his helmet, cold and unwavering, like a final judgment, "Your sins are too numerous to count. Your existence is a blasphemy against the Emperor's sacred order. Today, by the will of the Emperor and the Regent, purification shall be executed."
"Purification?" Vect let out a contemptuous sneer, as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous, "By you five? And those… noisy monkeys outside? Do you think, by invading my court, you can threaten me?"
He slowly rose from the throne, and as he stood, the shadows of the entire hall seemed to writhe and converge upon him. A vast, dark, ancient, and terrifying psychic ripple began to emanate from his body, far more powerful and profound than any known Dark Eldar!
"I have ruled Commorragh for countless millennia, witnessed the rise and fall of countless empires, seen the birth and demise of gods," Vect's voice grew grand and oppressive, "I manipulate schemes in the palm of my hand, feeding on the suffering of all beings. Even your so-called 'God-Emperor,' in his glorious prime, could not truly shine his light into my domain."
He extended a finger, pointing at Captain Keirano: "You are merely another group of overconfident, pathetic fools attempting to challenge eternity."
Facing Vect's terrifying aura and verbal oppression, the five Grey Knights stood unmoving. Their faith was like the purest diamond, indestructible.
"Eternity, only the Emperor," Captain Keirano's response was simple and firm, "Your 'eternity' ends today."
"For the Emperor! Exterminate this fiend!" Gabriel Storm roared, and his dual-wielded Thunder Hammer erupted with dazzling silver lightning arcs!
"Purification!" Uriel Ventris' purifying silver flames shot skyward!
Ezekiel Watch and Raphael Whisper had already begun to silently chant, powerful psychic runes glowing beneath their feet, constructing potent defensive and amplification arrays.
The great battle was on the verge of erupting!
Vect looked at the five silver giants before him, radiating a pure psychic energy he utterly loathed. The languor and playfulness on his face finally vanished completely, replaced by an extreme coldness and murderous intent.
"Since you crave 'purification' so much…" Vect slowly raised his hand, and between his pale fingers, black energy lightning, seemingly capable of devouring all light, began to crackle, "…then I shall grant you… eternal silence!"
Between the Grand Archon of the Dark Eldar and the Emperor's most loyal purifiers, a climactic duel concerning the fate of Commorragh, and perhaps even affecting the balance of the galaxy, was about to erupt in this bloody and opulent hall! And all around, the brutal slaughter between the Imperial Coalition and Vect's most elite guard continued, forming the cruel backdrop to this supreme battle.