Draculas' ominous prophecy instantly became a brutal reality. Accompanied by hair-raising shrieks, the first wave of enemies wasn't pureblood Genestealers, but countless infected and mutated local residents and Planetary Defense Forces soldiers!
They surged out from the depths of the pipes, from countless side passages, like a burst sewer! Men, women, and children of all ages, still wearing tattered clothes or fragments of Planetary Defense Forces uniforms, but their forms were twisted—foreheads bulging, spines curved, hands mutated into sharp bone claws, eyes gleaming with inhuman, fanatical phosphorescence, and mouths emitting incomprehensible roars full of hunger and madness!
"For the Four-Armed Emperor!!!"
"Flesh! Genes!"
"Tear them apart!"
They howled, driven by twisted faith and instinct, fearlessly Pounce the four towering Astartes! Their numbers were so vast that they almost instantly filled the narrow pipe space!
"Open fire! Purify these fallen souls!" Gaius's voice was cold as iron, without a trace of hesitation. Sympathy was meaningless at this moment; these poor souls had long been devoured by xenos genes, becoming puppets and cannon fodder for the cult!
"For the Emperor! For Ultramar!" Dorian's roar was like thunder, overpowering the xenos' shrieks! His right arm's twin-linked Storm Bolter was the first to unleash a deafening roar! Bolter rounds, like a metal storm, rained down, instantly pulverizing dozens of mutated creatures charging at the front! Flesh, shattered bones, and torn clothing splattered like a downpour!
Almost at the same time, Gaius's "Eagle Eye" sniper rifle fired precise and deadly single shots, each Bolter round accurately blowing open a mutant's head or shattering its heart. Luna's Bolter pistol and the plasma gun on her servo-arm also opened fire simultaneously, hot plasma spheres and Bolter rounds weaving into a deadly net of fire, vaporizing or tearing apart swaths of mutants!
Draculas' performance was the coldest and most efficient. He didn't waste ammunition on these cannon fodder; the heavy flamer on his shoulder emitted a low roar, spraying a fan-shaped stream of white-hot fire! The terrifying high temperature instantly carbonized and incinerated large groups of mutants, along with the filth beneath their feet, into ash! He was like a ruthless purifier, clearing the passage with fire, creating space for the team.
The four's firepower was terrifying, forming a crossfire net that efficiently reaped lives like a meat grinder. The severed limbs, charred bodies, and mangled remains of the mutants quickly piled up, almost blocking parts of the passage.
However, the enemy's numbers seemed endless! They trampled over the corpses of their comrades, continuing to surge forward madly! Even more terrifyingly, under the cover of the mutant tide, the true hunters appeared!
Several faster, more lethal figures moved like phantoms through the piles of corpses and shadows! They possessed purer, more biomechanically perfect streamlined bodies, covered in chitinous carapaces, with one pair of their four arms mutated into huge bone blades glowing with a faint green light and possessing a weak disintegrating force field! Pureblood Genestealers!
Their speed was extremely fast, their movements silent, using the piled corpses and the complex environment of the pipes as cover, rapidly closing the distance!
"Watch out! Purebloods have appeared!" Gaius warned sharply, his sniper rifle quickly locking onto a pureblood Genestealer attempting to pounce from a side pipe, blowing a large hole in its chest with a single shot!
But more pureblood Genestealers joined the attack! Their objective was clear—those two giants in heavy armor!
Dorian roared, his Storm Bolter firing continuously, shredding approaching mutants. A pureblood Genestealer suddenly leaped from behind a pile of corpses, its bone blade, shimmering with a disintegrating force field, slashing directly at his face!
"Get out of here!" Dorian's massive Power Fist on his left hand swung out violently, carrying immense force! Boom! With a dull thud, the Genestealer was struck as if by a battering ram, its carapace shattered, its body twisting as it flew backward, slamming hard against the pipe wall, turning into a puddle of gore!
However, another pureblood Genestealer used its comrade's sacrifice to silently approach Draculas! Its bone blade, like a viper striking, thrust directly at the waist joint connection of Draculas' Indomitus-pattern Terminator Armor! That was a relatively weak spot!
Screech—!
A teeth-grinding sound rang out! The disintegrating force field furiously rubbed against ceramite and plasteel, emitting blinding sparks! Draculas reacted extremely quickly, twisting his body sharply, using his shoulder guard to deflect this insidious stab, but a deep, smoking scratch was still left on his waist armor!
"These bastards' claws can easily pierce power armor! Be careful!" Draculas' deep voice carried a hint of solemnity. His flamer sharply turned, engulfing the attacking Genestealer in flames, but it still let out a triumphant shriek before dying!
The pressure suddenly increased! The addition of pureblood Genestealers instantly changed the tide of battle. Their bone blades, with their built-in disintegrating force fields, posed a real threat to Terminator Armor, and they were extremely cunning, working in perfect coordination, specifically attacking joints and blind spots!
"Fight and retreat! Move towards the entrance!" Gaius ordered decisively. Continuing to stay put and wear down against endless enemies and deadly pureblood Genestealers was a dead end!
"Luna! Contact the Cleansing Blade! We need support!" Gaius shouted, while accurately taking potshots at a pureblood attempting to pounce from an overhead pipe.
Luna immediately reported quickly via the squad's encrypted channel: "Cleansing Blade! This is First Squad! We've been ambushed by a large number of Genestealers and mutants! Coordinates confirmed as a trap! The Planetary Governor has betrayed us! Repeat, the Planetary Governor has betrayed us! We are surrounded by a large number of pureblood Genestealers and require urgent support!"
Lieutenant Golden's anxious but self-composed voice immediately came from the other end of the channel: "Received! Hold on! First Squad! I'm assembling Sixth and Squad Sevens! Break out towards the entrance immediately! We will air-drop to rendezvous with you as fast as possible! Repeat, break out towards the entrance!"
"Understood!" Luna responded curtly, then fully committed to the battle. The plasma gun on her servo-arm fired continuously, vaporizing one enemy after another that charged forward.
The team began to move backward with difficulty. Dorian and Draculas were at the very front, like two mobile steel fortresses, furiously clearing enemies ahead with their Storm Bolters, flamers, and Power Fists, absorbing attacks from all directions with their heavy armor. Gaius and Luna were responsible for clearing enemies attempting to flank and encircle from the sides and rear, especially those deadly pureblood Genestealers.
Every step was incredibly difficult. The enemy's numbers were too great, and the pureblood Genestealers' attacks were becoming increasingly deadly. Dorian's Terminator Armor was already covered in deep claw marks and scorch marks from disintegrating force fields, and his Power Fist was stained with viscous green and red blood. Draculas' white helmet was also splattered with foul blood, and the flamer's fuel indicator light had begun to flash red.
Suddenly, two pureblood Genestealers, with incredible coordination, simultaneously pounced from both left and right sides on Luna, who was taking potshots with her plasma gun! Their speed was lightning fast!
"Luna! Watch out for your left!" Gaius exclaimed, turning his gun, but he was already a beat too late!
Draculas spun around sharply, his Bolter pistol shattering one, but the other's bone blade had already swung out! Its target was Luna's precise servo-arm, which was reloading the plasma gun!
Luna tried to dodge, but her speed was far from enough!
Rip—!!!
A heart-wrenching sound of tearing metal rang out! The bone blade, shimmering with a faint green light, cut through Luna's servo-arm as easily as a hot knife through butter! Precise mechanical structures, cables, and energy conduits were instantly severed, sparks flying everywhere!
"Ugh!" Luna let out a painful groan, not from physical pain, but from the sudden loss of vital equipment and the immense impact! She stumbled, almost falling.
The pureblood Genestealer let out a sharp shriek, seemingly triumphant at its success, and swung its bone blade again, aiming to completely tear apart the unbalanced Luna!
"Bastard!" Dorian's eyes were bloodshot, abandoning the enemy in front of him, his massive Power Fist swung with terrifying kinetic energy, slamming into the Genestealer! Boom! It was directly smashed into a bloody pulp embedded in the pipe wall!
"Luna!" Gaius quickly approached, supporting her, his Bolter firing continuously, forcing back several mutants that surged forward to take advantage.
"I'm fine!" Luna gritted her teeth, steadied herself, and glanced at the remains of her servo-arm, still sparking at the break, a flicker of regret in her eyes, but immediately replaced by calmness. She quickly drew her Bolter pistol with her other hand and continued firing, "Left arm servo-arm incapacitated! Does not affect movement and basic combat!"
But everyone knew that without a servo-arm, Luna's firepower and technical support capabilities were severely reduced, and the squad's overall combat effectiveness was seriously affected.
"Retreat! Speed up!" Draculas' voice was like cold steel. His flamer discharged its last burst of flame, temporarily clearing a small area ahead, but the flamer's fuel indicator light had already begun to flash red.
Ammunition was depleting, equipment was damaged, yet the enemy's assault showed no signs of lessening. Endless mutants and elusive pureblood Genestealers, like maggots clinging to bone, relentlessly entangled them. The path to the entrance now seemed incredibly long and desperate.
The snapping of Luna's servo-arm was like a signal, causing the Genestealers, who had been attacking frantically, to instantly focus more of their malice on her. In the simple logic of these xenos, an injured individual, one who had lost part of their threat, was the highest priority target to eliminate!
Several pureblood Genestealers ghosted past the steel defense line formed by Dorian and Draculas. Their compound eyes locked onto the noticeably slower Luna, gleaming with cold hunting light. Bone blades sliced through the air, carrying the faint hum of a disintegrating field, attacking her from various tricky angles!
"Protect Luna!" Gaius roared, his "Hawkeye" sniper rifle barely having time for precise aiming. He could only unleash a barrage of Bolter fire in rapid-fire mode, trying to stop these deadly hunters. Bolter rounds shattered the carapaces of the two most aggressive purebloods, sending them flying backward, but even more threats approached!
Dorian had just smashed a mutant in front of him into a bloody pulp with his Power Fist. Hearing Gaius's shout, he sharply turned his head, just in time to see a pureblood Genestealer drop silently like a gecko from the top of a pipe, its bone blade aimed directly at Luna's unprotected neck!
"Damn it!" Dorian cursed, but his right arm's twin-linked storm Bolter gave an empty click, indicating it was out of ammunition! "Gaius! Magazine!"
Gaius didn't hesitate. He instantly pulled a full magazine from his waist pouch and, without looking, accurately tossed it to Draculas! At the same time, he pounced towards Luna's direction like a leopard, his Bolter pistol firing continuously!
Draculas snatched the magazine out of the air, catching it steadily. With a swiftness unbefitting his massive frame, he reloaded Dorian's weapon. Dorian's storm Bolter roared again, blasting the ambushing pureblood and the pipe wall above it, sending debris flying!
However, in this flash of lightning, another extremely cunning pureblood Genestealer exploited the less than half-second lull in firepower created by its dying companion, suddenly darting out from behind a pile of mutant corpses! Its target was not Luna's vitals, but her already damaged power pack, which supplied energy to her Power Armor!
The bone blade, glowing with an eerie green light and imbued with a deadly disintegrating field, slashed down fiercely!
Luna, relying on a Tech-Sergeant's keen perception of machinery, sensed the danger at the last moment and desperately lunged forward, trying to dodge!
Screech—!!!
A piercing tearing sound rang out again! Although she avoided a direct hit to the core, the sharp bone blade still carved several extremely deep, long gashes into the power pack! Precise energy conduits were severed, internal components burst with dazzling electrical sparks, and coolant sprayed out like blood!
Luna grunted, collapsing heavily to the ground. She immediately felt the Power Armor's operation become abnormally heavy and intermittent. On her helmet display, energy readings plummeted like a cliff, and red warning indicators flashed wildly! The servo-motors at her joints groaned under the strain, and every attempt to move became incredibly difficult and exhausting!
"Power pack severely damaged! Output power dropping sharply! I... I can't sustain full armor function!" Luna's voice trembled slightly from the impact and urgency. Without power assistance, this hundreds of kilograms of Power Armor would transform from protection into a heavy coffin!
"Luna!" Gaius's eyes were bloodshot. His Bolter precisely detonated the head of the pureblood Genestealer that caused the damage, sending green viscous fluid splattering everywhere. He and Draculas quickly closed in, one on each side, like furious guardians, instantly clearing a small area around Luna of enemies with Bolter fire, flames, and Power Fists!
Draculas's white helmet swept over Luna's still smoking and spewing power pack, calmly assessing: "Irreparable. Must retreat immediately."
"Go!" Gaius growled, without a moment's hesitation. He and Draculas simultaneously reached out, each supporting one side of the almost immobile Luna, dragging her as they continued to retreat!
But carrying a heavily armored warrior who was almost incapacitated, their speed instantly slowed to a crawl! And the endless tide of Genestealers around them showed no sign of weakening! More pureblood Genestealers, like sharks smelling blood, swarmed out of the dark side passages, hissing and pouncing on them!
Every step backward became incredibly difficult and bloody. Dorian held the front, swinging his Power Fist like a madman, each strike shaking the ground and pulverizing any enemy daring to approach. The roar of his twin-linked storm Bolter almost never ceased, and hot casings rained down like bullets! Draculas, meanwhile, supported Luna with one arm while using his flamer for intermittent, sweeping bursts of fire, forcing back large groups of enemies, but his fuel was also running low.
However, the enemy numbers were simply too great! Their movement speed was too slow! At this rate, they would never make it to the extraction point!
Luna, supported by the two, watched her comrades fall into a desperate situation because of her. She saw Dorian's scarred back, still fighting to the death, and Gaius and Draculas, whose movements were restricted and who faced constant danger due to carrying her... A sense of grim determination rose within her.
She suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed on Gaius and Draculas through her blood-splattered visor. Her voice was weak from lack of power, yet exceptionally clear and firm: "Leave me! You two go! I'll stay behind to cover your retreat! My Bolter can still fire! I can buy you time!"
"Shut up!" Gaius roared without looking back, his Bolter blasting the head of a mutant trying to pounce. "Ultramarines never abandon a brother!"
"This isn't abandoning!" Luna retorted anxiously, her voice catching with a sob. "This is the optimal choice! Without power, I'm doomed to not evacuate! But you can! Not everyone can die here! For the mission! For the Chapter!"
"A Tech-Sergeant is far more important than a brute who only knows how to swing a hammer!" Just then, Dorian, who was at the very front, suddenly let out a deafening roar that drowned out all the gunfire and hissing! He slammed his hammer, clearing a swathe of enemies in front of him, and seized the chance to glance back at them, his gaze incredibly complex, filled with undeniable resolve!
"Gaius! Draculas! Take her and go!" Dorian's voice was like thunder, filled with finality. "That's an order! Sergeant!"
Having said that, without waiting for anyone to respond, Dorian's massive body, clad in Saturnine Terminator, suddenly leaned back, like an insurmountable steel barrier, firmly blocking a relatively narrow section of pipe mouth they had just passed through! He had completely put himself in a desperate situation, using his body to separate the pursuers from his comrades!
"Dorian! No!" Gaius and Luna cried out simultaneously!
"Go!!!" Dorian's roar almost collapsed the pipe. His left Power Fist slammed hard against the pipe wall, causing a small collapse that further blocked the passage, and his right twin-linked storm Bolter once again spewed its final, most blazing storm of death into the surging tide of Genestealers!
"For the Emperor!!!"
His battle cry, louder and more ferocious than even a Greater Daemon of Khorne, was like a physical shockwave, even temporarily overpowering the hissing of countless Genestealers! The fearlessness, rage, and deepest protective instincts for his comrades contained within that roar shook everyone's souls!
Gaius's eyes instantly reddened, his teeth grinding. He knew Dorian was right; this was the only way for three of them to survive... But! How could he... "Go!" Draculas's cold voice rang in his ear, carrying undeniable power. This Deathwatch veteran knew better than anyone when cruel choices had to be made. He held Luna even more firmly, practically dragging her as he retreated rapidly!
Gaius took one last look at Dorian's back, like a god of war single-handedly holding back an endless tide, etching that image deep into his mind. He sharply turned, his Bolter clearing several mutants attempting to flank them, and hoarsely roared: "Go!"
The three of them, carrying endless grief and rage, rushed back the way they came at top speed!
Behind them, Dorian's furious battle cry, the hysterical roar of the storm Bolter, the dull thud of the Power Fist crushing bones and carapaces, and the frenzied hissing of the Genestealers, blended into an incredibly tragic and heroic symphony of death, echoing wildly through the dark pipes!
The sound was like a maggot in their bones, clinging to them, every second feeling like it was tearing at their hearts.
They didn't know how long Dorian could hold out, perhaps only a few minutes, or even less... But they knew that every second was bought for them by their brother's life and blood!
They had to live! They had to bring back the news of the betrayal! They had to... make those xenos and traitors pay the price!
Cold fire burned in Gaius's eyes, Luna bit her teeth tightly, not letting tears blur her vision, and beneath Draculas's white helmet, his gaze was sharp as a knife, as if he had already begun calculating his plans for revenge.
The path of escape was still fraught with thorns, but their will, hardened by their comrade's sacrifice, became even more resolute.
Declan Catonia, a name that might never be recorded in the tactical annals of the Ultramarines, at this moment, in this dirty, dark Hive City drainage pipe filled with alien shrieks, transformed into an insurmountable steel bulwark, a furious deity burning his last life for the Emperor and the Primarch!
His massive Saturnine Terminator body was wedged tightly in the narrow pipe opening, like a giant guarding the entrance to the underworld in myths. The roar of the twin-linked Bolter on his right arm never ceased, its scorching tongues of fire furiously licking the darkness, tearing and blasting apart the surging waves of Genestealers.
Bolter rounds were like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, each roar reaping dozens of twisted lives! The severed limbs and fragmented flesh of mutants and the shattered carapaces of pureblood Genestealers piled up like a rainstorm before him, almost blocking the passage, only to be pushed aside by the subsequent endless, frantic assault.
This insane rate of fire had long exceeded the theoretical ammunition capacity limit of a Storm Bolter! By all accounts, the ammunition he carried should have already been depleted! But the booming of the Bolter continued unabated, the barrel glowing a horrifying red from overheating, and even the entire gun body vibrated violently, as if it would disintegrate the next second, yet it stubbornly roared on!
Perhaps, as the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus often chanted—at this moment, the 'Machine Spirit' of this weapon, having drunk deep of alien blood, was in a state of extreme 'joy' and 'fury'! It responded to its user's pure, ultimate anger and will to protect, transcending the limits of physical laws, continuously pouring destruction upon the enemies of the Emperor!
Now, no one had time to investigate the principles behind this; they only needed to know that the roaring muzzle was their only guarantee of survival!
Dorian's battle cry even drowned out the ear-piercing shrieks of countless Genestealers! It was not a cry of fear, but a furious declaration filled with endless rage, unyielding will, and absolute confidence in his own power!
"Come on! You disgusting bugs! No matter how many come, I'll kill them all!"
He had just turned all the enemies pouring out of a side pipe on the left into paste with a precise burst of fire, when an even larger pipe on the right erupted, spewing out an even greater number of pureblood Genestealers! Their compound eyes gleamed with cold killing intent, and their four arms wielded deadly bone blades, surging forward like a tide!
"For the Emperor!!!" Dorian let out another earth-shshattering roar, and the Storm Bolter's fiery tongue instantly shifted, crashing into the ranks of the pureblood Genestealers like a metal storm! The first few in the front were instantly torn to shreds by the powerful Bolter rounds, green ichor and carapace fragments splattering everywhere! But they were too fast, too numerous!
Several purebloods used their fallen comrades' bodies as cover and lunged close! Bone blades, shimmering with a dissecting field, slashed fiercely at Dorian's Terminator Armor!
Screech, screech, screech!
Ear-splitting friction and sparks erupted! The heavy ceramite was gouged with deep marks, and one strike almost severed a hydraulic line in his leg!
"Get lost!" Dorian's massive Power Fist on his left hand swung out with immense force! Boom! With a muffled thud, the upper body of one pureblood Genestealer exploded directly! Another was stomped on by his gigantic metal foot, like a battering ram, and with a squelch, it became a blurry mess of flesh!
His roars, the ceaseless bellowing of the Storm Bolter, the thud of the Power Fist smashing hard objects, and the frantic shrieks of the Genestealers and the grating sound of bone blades hacking at his armor, all intertwined into a primal, brutal, and blood-pumping symphony of death!
However, two fists cannot defeat four hands, and a fierce tiger cannot withstand a pack of wolves! The number of Genestealers was simply too great! They were endless, fearless of death!
Finally, an exceptionally cunning and agile pureblood Genestealer, exploiting the gap when Dorian swung his fist in another direction, darted out low to the ground like a phantom! It did not attack Dorian's body, but aimed at his twin-linked Storm Bolter, which was still furiously roaring and glowing red from overheating!
The bone blade, shimmering with a ghostly green light, concentrated all its strength and speed, and with the chilling hum of a dissecting field, it fiercely struck the connection point between the Storm Bolter's body and its feeding mechanism!
Crack—!!!!
A heartbreaking sound of metal snapping rang out! The Storm Bolter, which had roared for an unknown duration and achieved astonishing results, was actually severed in two by this fatal blow! The front half of the barrel and part of the receiver clanged to the ground, while the remaining rear part emitted a final electrical spark and wisps of smoke, finally falling completely silent.
The roar of the weapon ceased abruptly.
The passage instantly fell into an eerie silence, leaving only the Genestealers' even more excited and frantic shrieks!
"Damn it! My gun!" Dorian looked at the broken weapon in his hand, letting out a roar of pain and anger! This beloved companion of his, which had just been in a state of 'Machine Spirit's great joy,' was destroyed just like that!
But the enemy would not give him time to mourn! More Genestealers seized this opportunity and lunged forward frantically!
"No gun, I'll still slaughter you all!" Dorian's ferocity was completely unleashed! He slammed the broken gun grip in his hand at a lunging pureblood, and then his left Power Fist once again erupted with terrifying power!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He no longer conserved his strength, no longer bothered with technique, just simply, brutally, and directly swung his indestructible Power Fist! With every swing, one or even multiple Genestealers were inevitably smashed into paste, or hammered away to crash against the wall and become a bloody mess! His strength was so terrifying, his movements so wild, that for a short time, he single-handedly, with the purest physical violence, once again halted the enemy's charge!
"Come on! You scum! Not even those Greater Daemons of Chaos, Ork Warbosses, Dark Eldar bastards, or even the damn Plague Marines could take me down! You worms hiding in the gutters think you can kill me?! Dream on!!!"
Dorian furiously punched while letting out deafening taunts and roars! He seemed tireless, impervious to pain, like a perpetual killing machine! The Genestealers' bone blades left more and more deep scratches on his heavy armor, the dissecting field scorching the ceramite, but he paid no heed!
He didn't even realize that his Terminator Armor's power system had completely shut down due to overload and multiple critical strikes! The two massive shoulder plates had been ravaged beyond recognition by the dissecting field, covered in cracks and melted traces! In his abdomen, a deep wound was continuously oozing blood, staining his azure armor! A joint in one leg was severely damaged, making his stance somewhat skewed... But he was still fighting! Purely relying on his gene-enhanced, superhumanly powerful physique, he forcibly drove this heavy, powerless Terminator Armor! Every swing of his Power Fist required immense physical exertion, but his will supported it all!
He could not fall!
He didn't know how long he had fought, nor if Gaius, Luna, and Draculas had safely evacuated. He only knew that every second he held on, every enemy he killed, gave his brothers a greater chance of survival! This belief, like the hottest furnace, burned in his chest, granting him strength beyond his limits!
"For the Emperor!!! For Lord Guilliman!!!" He let out another earth-shattering battle cry, the unwavering faith and fearless courage contained in his voice even forming an invisible shockwave that caused the most frenzied Genestealers to hesitate for a moment, as if awed by this pure force of will!
But the next moment, more pureblood Genestealers surged forward like a tide! They knew no fear, only the instinct to execute orders and devour!
The Power Fist swung again, smashing a pureblood into pieces! But another's bone blade took the opportunity to hack fiercely at his already injured leg!
Dorian stumbled, almost falling to his knees, but he stubbornly stood straight again with sheer brute force and willpower! The Power Fist struck back, smashing the attacker into the ground!
Blood continuously flowed from his wounds, his strength was rapidly depleting, and his vision began to blur from blood loss and exhaustion... But he still stood.
Like a giant from a mythical age, facing the malice of an entire world alone. Every breath he took was like a bellows, every heartbeat like a war drum, his shattered body and unyielding will together composing the most tragic and glorious legend of an Astartes warrior.
He would not fall. He would not be defeated by xenos. As long as he had an ounce of strength, as long as he could swing his fist, he would fight to the end.
Until the last moment of his life.
Dorian's vision had narrowed to the range of his swinging fist, to the constantly surging, twisted, shrieking alien faces. Pain had long been drowned out by boiling adrenaline and endless rage, and fatigue was forcibly dispelled by the iron will to 'not fall.' He was like a programmed war machine, his only goal to destroy all enemies before him.
Each time the Power Fist slammed down, it was accompanied by the muffled crunch of bones shattering and carapaces bursting open. Green and red viscous liquids splattered all over his armor, even smearing his helmet's visor, but he paid no attention, just mechanically, furiously repeating the actions of swinging and smashing.
Deprived of his Bolter's ranged firepower, he was plunged into the most brutal close-quarters combat. Genestealers frantically swarmed him, tearing with their bone claws, gnawing with their teeth, attempting to overwhelm and dismember him with sheer numbers. But Dorian's Terminator body, immense even without power, and his bull-like strength, became an insurmountable chasm for them.
He violently swung his shoulder, slamming several mutated creatures clinging to his back against the pipe wall, turning them into a bloody pulp! His left Power Fist lashed out, sending three pureblood Genestealers charging from the front flying like bowling pins! Although his right arm had lost its weapon, the massive metal structure itself was a weapon, capable of knocking down approaching enemies with a single sweep!
But his injuries continued to worsen. The wound in his abdomen bled incessantly, causing a subtle, almost imperceptible sluggishness in his movements. Each time his damaged leg supported his body, it brought excruciating pain, making his stance increasingly wobbly. His Terminator Armor was already riddled with holes, especially the shoulder and chest plates, which were covered in deep scratches and charred pits burned by the decomposition field, as if it could shatter at any moment.
"For... the Emperor!" His battle cry was no longer as resonant as it had been, becoming hoarse and intermittent, yet still containing an undeniable resolve. Each shout seemed to squeeze the last bit of air from his lungs, burning the last flicker of life.
The Genestealers also seemed to realize the blue giant's tenacity and terror; a subtle change appeared in their attacks. The pureblood Genestealers no longer blindly charged head-on, but instead began to utilize speed and the environment more, harassing and ambushing, wearing down his stamina, and enlarging his wounds. In their cold compound eyes, a hint of instinctive fear for this unyielding will seemed to flash.
A pureblood silently dropped from a crack in the pipe above, its bone blade stabbing directly at the connection between Dorian's helmet and shoulder plate! Dorian sharply dodged, the bone blade scraping his helmet, sending a shower of sparks and leaving a deep scratch! He swung his Power Fist upwards in a backhand, but hit nothing; the pureblood, missing its attack, swiftly retreated into the darkness.
Another took the opportunity to slide along the ground, its bone blade savagely hacking at the back of his injured knee!
"Ugh!" Dorian finally let out a pained grunt, his knee buckling as he dropped to one knee! The immense weight slammed onto the metal floor with a heavy thud.
Instantly, more Genestealers, like hyenas smelling blood, frantically lunged at the kneeling giant!
"Get back!" Dorian roared like a cornered beast, his Power Fist wildly swinging left and right, smashing and sweeping away the attacking enemies! But his range of movement was restricted, and more blind spots appeared in his defense!
Several bone blades simultaneously hacked at his back, shoulder plate, and arm, emitting a grating cutting sound! Although they failed to immediately breach the final defense, the continuous impact and the erosion of the decomposition field were accelerating the collapse of his armor and his life!
His vision began to blur, and besides the Genestealers' shrieks and his own heartbeat, he seemed to hear nothing else. Breathing became as difficult as a bellows, each inhale tasting of blood foam.
He knew he was reaching his limit.
But just as his consciousness was on the verge of being swallowed by darkness, a scene appeared with unusual clarity in his mind—the retreating figures of Gaius, Luna, and that new, introverted white-helmeted guy, safely evacuating.
They... must have gotten far away by now, right?
I... didn't hold out for nothing... This simple thought, like the last bit of fuel, ignited the dying flame!
"Heh..." Beneath his visor, a grim but satisfied smile stretched across Dorian's blood- and sweat-streaked face.
He used his last ounce of strength to straighten his back, even though the movement caused the wound in his abdomen to burst open again, fresh blood gushing out! He raised his remaining left hand, gripping his Power Fist, and aimed it at the dense mass of enemies surging forward once more!
"For... the Ultramarines!!!"
He emptied his lungs, letting out his last, and most proud, battle cry!
The energy field on his Power Fist emitted a final flicker, then completely died out—even the Power Fist's energy was exhausted. But that didn't matter! Pure physical strength was still enough to pulverize flesh and blood!
He threw his last punch!
Boom!!!
This punch seemed to condense all his will, all his strength, all his fury and protection! The Genestealers in the fan-shaped area in front of him, both mutated and pureblood, were instantly shattered into a bloody mist and fragments as if struck by an invisible giant hammer!
The passage was cleared!
After delivering that punch, Dorian's massive body finally lost all support, slowly and irreversibly toppling backward like a collapsing mountain... Meanwhile, at the other end of the pipe system.
Gaius, Draculas, and the almost immobile Luna were sprinting with all their might towards the entrance they remembered. Draculas bore almost all of Luna's weight, yet his speed was still astonishing. Gaius was responsible for clearing the scattered stragglers that emerged from other side passages.
The intense sounds of battle that had lasted for an unknown duration behind them—the roar of Bolters, Dorian's battle cries, the thunder of Power Fists—suddenly all vanished.
The entire world seemed to fall into a deathly silence.
Only their three sets of running footsteps, their heavy breathing, and the occasional electrical sparks from Luna's damaged power pack remained.
This sudden silence was more suffocating and heartbreaking than any of the previous intense sounds.
All three of them paused simultaneously.
Gaius abruptly turned, looking into the deep, deadly silence, his eyes filled with incredible grief and bloodshot. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Luna closed her eyes, her face beneath her helmet already wet with tears. She bit her lip hard, not allowing herself to cry out.
Even the usually cold Draculas slightly lowered his white helmet, as if in silent mourning. He had experienced too many deaths, but each sacrifice of a comrade, especially such a heroic one, still stirred a ripple beneath his cold exterior.
"...Let's go." Finally, Draculas's hoarse voice broke the heartbreaking silence. He did not look back, only held Luna more firmly and continued forward, "We cannot let his sacrifice be in vain."
Gaius took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the endless grief in his heart, transforming it into cold fury and a resolve for vengeance. He took one last look at the darkness, as if to engrave this moment forever, then resolutely turned and continued onward.
Their speed increased, as if invisible flames were scorching their footsteps.
After an unknown period, a faint light finally appeared ahead! It was the natural light from the entrance!
At the same time, they also heard the sound of Bolter fire and familiar battle cries from the direction of the entrance—it was Lieutenant Golden's relief force! They had arrived and were clearing the Genestealers gathered at the entrance!
"Lieutenant! It's us!" Gaius shouted with all his might.
Soon, they burst out of the desperate pipe exit, returning to the relatively open loading plaza. Lieutenant Golden, personally leading a squad of elite Ultramarines and the remaining personnel from the Second and Third Squads, was engaged in fierce combat with numerous Genestealers.
"Gaius! Luna! Draculas!" Lieutenant Golden saw them, and especially seeing Luna's terrible state and Dorian's absence, his heart sank, but he immediately directed covering fire for their evacuation, "Quick! Get on the Thunderhawk!"
Under the powerful covering fire of the relief force, the three of them finally safely boarded the waiting Thunderhawk Gunship.
The gunship quickly took off, leaving the battlefield below and the dark pipe that had swallowed a hero far behind.
Inside the cabin, medical servitors immediately began emergency treatment for Luna. Gaius leaned exhaustedly against the cabin wall, removing his helmet to reveal a face streaked with sweat and blood, etched with grief.
Draculas silently wiped his weapon, his white helmet gazing out the viewport at the receding Hive City; no one knew what he was thinking.
Lieutenant Golden walked over to Gaius, his voice heavy: "Dorian, he..."
"...He covered our retreat." Gaius's voice was terribly hoarse, every word seemingly squeezed from his throat, "He... fought to the very end."
Lieutenant Golden closed his eyes, slamming his fist hard against the nearby cabin wall, making a muffled sound. Endless grief and anger permeated the cabin.
But soon, Golden forcibly suppressed his emotions, opening his eyes, his gaze becoming sharp and cold: "The Planetary Governor betrayed us. This debt must be settled!"
The Thunderhawk Gunship sped towards the Cleansing Blade above the clouds, while deep within the polluted Hive City on the ground, inside a dark pipe, atop a small mountain of xenos corpses, a shattered but still combat-ready azure steel giant stood silently, like an eternal monument.
Declan Catonia, this reckless but loyal warrior, with his astonishing willpower, paved a path to survival for his comrades and earned himself an immortal legend.
----
On the bridge of the Cleansing Blade, the atmosphere was as heavy as ice.
Company Commander Hec Hansson's face was ashen as he listened to Lieutenant Golden's detailed report, especially concerning the Planetary Governor's betrayal, First Squad's fatal ambush, and... the initial news of Sergeant Declan Catonia's heroic death while covering their retreat.
"...That's the situation, Company Commander," Lieutenant Golden's voice was heavy and hoarse. "Vellan II is not just a breeding ground for Genestealers; it's a death world completely infiltrated and controlled by pureblood Genestealers! From the Planetary Governor to the lowest Planetary Defense Forces, and even most of the common populace, they have likely been infected or mind-controlled.
The distress signal we received was itself a lure, a poisoned bait to draw us into a trap!"
Company Commander Hec Hansson slammed his Power Fist onto the command console, the hard metal surface groaning under the impact.
"Traitors! Xenos!" he spat the words through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with cold fury.
He immediately opened a top-priority communication with the Macragge's Honour.
After a brief wait, Chapter Master Marius Calgar's holographic image appeared on the bridge, his face equally stern.
"Chapter Master," Hec Hansson reported without preamble, "The situation on Vellan II has been confirmed.
The Planetary Governor has betrayed us, and the entire planet has been completely infiltrated by Genestealers.
Our forces were ambushed, First Squad suffered heavy losses, and Brother Declan Catonia... fell in the line of duty while covering his comrades' retreat."
He spoke the last few words with difficulty.
The Chapter Master was silent for a moment, his holographic image like a volcano about to erupt.
Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and filled with an undeniable resolve: "The situation is clear.
A world completely controlled by Genestealers is beyond salvation and poses a massive threat.
I order: initiate maximum-level Exterminatus.
The Cleansing Blade will execute this immediately, ensuring all biomass and xenos contamination on the planet is thoroughly purged, leaving no trace that could be exploited by the Tyranid Hive Fleet."
"Understood! Mission will be accomplished!" Company Commander Hec Hansson replied heavily.
Exterminatus was the final, and most brutal, measure, but in the face of complete Genestealer infiltration, it was the only option.
After the communication ended, Company Commander Hec Hansson immediately ordered Lieutenant Golden: "Prepare cyclonic torpedo and virus bomb launch procedures immediately! Target, Vellan II!"
"Yes, sir!" Lieutenant Golden immediately turned to relay the order.
Just then, Company Commander Hec Hansson seemed to remember something and abruptly called out to Golden, who was about to leave: "Wait! Golden!"
Lieutenant Golden stopped.
Company Commander Hec Hansson's face was terrifyingly grim, but his eyes held an undeniable resolve: "Declan Catonia, that hothead... he can't just be left in that filthy place!
Immediately organize two of your most elite squads, lead them personally, and make a forced aerial drop in the fastest high-speed assault craft!
At all costs, find him! Bring him back! Dead or alive!
The heroic soul of an Astartes must return to the Chapter's Hall of Heroes! This is an order!"
Lieutenant Golden paused, then his eyes blazed with determination: "Yes, Company Commander! I will bring him back!"
Without hesitation, he immediately turned and rushed out of the bridge, beginning to gather his men.
Although he knew this mission was extremely dangerous, almost equivalent to re-entering a lion's den, no one would refuse to retrieve the remains of a hero!
Meanwhile, in the Cleansing Blade's medical bay and Tech-workshop.
Luna was undergoing emergency treatment from a Tech-Priest and medical servitors.
Her severely damaged Power Pack was carefully removed and replaced with a spare model.
The broken servo-arm interface was temporarily sealed, awaiting the installation of new mechanical arms.
Her face was pale, but her eyes were empty and filled with self-reproach, as she repeatedly replayed the last moments in the pipe.
"It's all my fault... If I hadn't lost mobility... Dorian, he..." she murmured softly, her hands tightly clenched.
Declan Catonia, that boisterous, reckless, impulsive giant, had saved her life countless times on the battlefield, shielding her from untold fatal attacks with his massive body.
And this time, she could only watch him stay behind to cover their retreat, while she fled in disarray...
Nearby, Gaius stood silently.
He had removed his armor and changed into civilian clothes, but the scent of battle and bloodstains seemed to linger on him.
His gaze was not on Luna, but directed towards the Ironclad Pattern Terminator armor standing silently in the corner of the workshop, covered in deep claw marks and scorched imprints.
That was Declan Catonia's armor.
That massive, majestic, yet scarred ultramarine armor still seemed to retain the furious aura of its owner.
Gaius could almost see Dorian wearing it, swinging his Power Fist, and letting out a sky-shattering battle cry.
His thoughts drifted back to long ago, when he was a recruit.
He and Dorian were almost simultaneously selected for the recruit training camp.
One calm and steady, the other reckless and impulsive, two individuals with diametrically opposite personalities, yet they unexpectedly became the best of friends and rivals.
They trained together, sweated together, were reprimanded together, passed through countless brutal trials together, and finally, together, proudly donned the ultramarine Power Armor, becoming members of the Ultramarines.
Decades passed, and they were assigned to the same company, the same squad, becoming each other's most reliable support.
Although Dorian always caused trouble, always needing Gaius and Luna to clean up his messes, on the battlefield, his bravery and fearlessness had countless times torn through enemy lines, saving the squad from peril.
Gaius couldn't imagine what First Squad would be like without Dorian.
That boisterous giant had become an indispensable part of his life and battles.
Losing him felt like losing an arm, leaving him with an empty feeling, filled with unspeakable grief and... anger.
He slowly walked to the Ironclad Pattern Terminator, reached out, and gently touched a very deep claw mark on the breastplate, one that had almost torn it apart.
That was the mark left when Dorian shielded him from a Chaos Champion's Power Claw during a battle against Chaos forces.
"Brother..." Gaius's voice was hoarse and low, filled with endless sorrow, "You will not have died in vain... I swear... those xenos, and that traitorous Governor... will pay the price!"
He closed his eyes, silently praying for Dorian, praying for his soul to return to the Emperor's realm, praying that he could continue to display his valor on those endless battlefields.
Just as sorrow and anger permeated the Cleansing Blade, two elite squads, personally led by Lieutenant Golden, were already rushing towards Vellan II, now deemed a death world, in assault craft modified with reinforced armor and speed, like arrows shot from a bow!
Their mission was extremely difficult: in the very short time before the Exterminatus was fully executed, they had to break through any potential anti-air defenses, find the location of Dorian's last stand, and retrieve his remains!
With superb piloting skills and powerful engine thrust, the assault craft narrowly evaded sporadic, disorganized laser fire from the ground, making another forced landing in the familiar loading bay, strewn with corpses and battle scars.
Lieutenant Golden led the charge, leaping out of the assault craft, his Bolter unhesitatingly tearing apart several wandering, mutated creatures.
"Quick! According to the last coordinates provided by Gaius! Deep within that main drainage pipe! Move fast! We don't have much time!" Golden commanded sharply, leading the warriors without hesitation back into the pipe entrance, which resembled a giant beast's throat!
The pipe was still filled with the strong smell of blood and decay, but compared to before, it seemed... much quieter.
Only a few scattered, seemingly leaderless mutants roamed, easily cleared by the warriors.
They advanced rapidly, following the traces left by First Squad's retreat and the signs of massive battle damage, quickly moving deeper.
The further they went, the more intense the signs of battle became.
The walls were covered with Bolter craters and scorch marks, and the ground was thick with the mangled remains of Genestealers and mutants, almost making it impossible to step!
Finally, they reached the narrowest section of the pipe.
The sight before them shocked, even suffocated, all the battle-hardened Astartes warriors!
A veritable mountain of xenos corpses, piled up, almost completely blocked the entire pipe!
Green blood and broken carapaces had almost dyed the ground and walls a single color!
And at the peak of that mountain of corpses... a severely damaged Saturn-pattern Terminator Armor still stood like an unyielding god of war!
It maintained a combat stance, its left Power Fist still clenched, as if ready to deliver the next blow.
The armor was covered with hundreds of deep claw marks and scorch marks from disintegration fields, especially on the shoulder plates and chest, which were almost completely shattered, revealing the equally scarred ceramite lining beneath, and half of the helmet's faceplate was broken.
It was Declan Catonia! He truly fought to the very last moment!
Lieutenant Golden suppressed the shock and grief in his heart and quickly rushed up the mountain of corpses.
"Dorian!" he called out his comrade's name—though he knew hope was slim.
However... just as he reached out to touch the cold, broken neck armor, those eyes, which seemed to be frozen in a final roar, moved ever so slightly...!
Immediately after, an extremely faint, almost inaudible groan, yet still carrying that familiar, boisterous aura, came from beneath the broken faceplate:
"...Go... Golden... Lieutenant? I... I'm not dead yet..."
Lieutenant Golden's hand froze in mid-air; he could barely believe his ears and eyes! Those bloodshot eyes, still burning with fury, that faint yet deeply familiar groan, full of complaint and stubbornness... Declan Catonia! This hothead! This bastard! He was still alive?!
On this mountain of alien corpses, which he had personally created, within this tattered, long-dead Saturn-pattern Terminator Armor, he had somehow endured fatal wounds and an encirclement that should have killed any Astartes ten times over, clinging to a sliver of life!
"Apothecary! Apothecary! Quick! Come here immediately!" Lieutenant Golden snapped back to reality, letting out a near-shattering roar, his voice filled with incredible ecstasy and urgency!
The accompanying Apothecary immediately rushed up the pile of corpses with his medical kit. He, too, was shocked by the scene, but his professional training made him act at once. He carefully examined Dorian's condition, his movements gentle yet swift.
"Life signs extremely weak! Multiple fatal wounds! Excessive blood loss! Severe nervous system damage! But... by the Emperor... he's alive!" The Apothecary's voice trembled slightly; it was a miracle! "He needs immediate stabilization and must be returned to the warship! He requires the most advanced medical bay!"
"Quick! Be careful! Get him out!" Lieutenant Golden immediately ordered, personally stepping forward to help. Over a dozen Astartes warriors carefully lifted Dorian's massive and heavy body, along with the tattered Saturn-pattern Terminator Armor that had almost become a part of him, slowly down from the top of the corpse pile. Each movement was extremely gentle, as if they feared breaking this miracle-creating body.
They swiftly carried Dorian onto the high-speed assault boat they had arrived in. The Thunderhawk Gunship's engines had never been shut off, and as soon as everyone was aboard, it ascended at maximum power, rocketing into the sky as if fleeing hell.
On the bridge of the Cleansing Blade, Company Commander Hec Hansson was staring intently at the timer and the planetary surface scan. Lieutenant Golden's team had been down for dangerously past the time threshold; if there was no news soon, he would have to... Just then, the sensor officer reported loudly: "Company Commander! Lieutenant Golden's Thunderhawk signal! Rapidly returning!"
Company Commander Hec Hansson's heart tightened, and he immediately ordered: "Open communications!"
As soon as communications connected, Lieutenant Golden's urgent and excited voice came through: "Company Commander! We found him! Dorian is alive! Repeat! Brother Declan Catonia is alive! We are returning! We need emergency medical support!"
Still alive?!
This news hit like a bombshell, plunging the entire bridge into silence, followed by suppressed gasps and disbelieving whispers! How could he possibly be alive in that situation?!
Company Commander Hec Hansson was also stunned for a moment, then immense relief and joy welled up in his heart, but he immediately suppressed his emotions, his voice remaining steady: "Received! Medical deck is ready! Get him there immediately!"
He paused, his gaze once again falling upon the planet below, now marked as a dead world, his eyes becoming cold and resolute once more.
"All units, attention," his voice echoed through the ship's broadcast, imbued with the finality of judgment, "Lieutenant Golden's squad has returned. Execute Chapter Master's orders immediately: Initiate Exterminatus!"
"Cyclone torpedo launch sequence ready!"
"Virus bomb launch sequence ready!"
"Target locked: Vellan II!"
"Fire!"
At Company Commander Hec Hansson's cold command, several missiles, carrying ultimate destruction, trailed brilliant exhaust plumes, shooting towards the agricultural world below like the spears of a god.
The Thunderhawk Gunship returned to the Cleansing Blade's hangar, almost grazing the exhaust of the Exterminatus weapons. As soon as the hatch opened, the waiting medical team and Tech-Sergeants immediately swarmed in. They carefully transferred Dorian's broken body from the assault boat onto a hover medical stretcher, rushing him at top speed to the warship's most advanced medical deck.
Outside the operating room on the medical deck, the atmosphere was extremely tense. The best Apothecaries and Tech-Priests were working frantically inside to save him. Dorian's injuries were terrifying, and reports constantly emerging sent shivers down the spines of all who heard them.
...Multiple ruptured and displaced internal organs...
...Extensive comminuted fractures, especially in the thighs and ribs...
...Blood loss exceeding forty percent...
...Multiple nerve system ruptures...
...Strong alien toxin and disintegration field residue detected...
Any one of these injuries would have been fatal, yet Dorian had nearly all of them. His survival to this point was entirely due to the Astartes' superhuman physique and... that tenacious, almost stubborn, unyielding will to live!
What shocked even the Tech-Priests was that preliminary analysis of the almost-destroyed Saturn-pattern Terminator Armor revealed its power system had completely ceased functioning in the middle of the battle! This meant that Dorian, severely wounded, had fought for at least ten more minutes, almost purely relying on his own physical strength, carrying this multi-ton, unpowered, heavy armor. And he had still killed an astonishing number of Genestealers! This was the ultimate challenge and transcendence of human limits!
Luna had already tended to her own injuries. Ignoring others' pleas, she stubbornly stood guard outside the medical bay, motionless as a statue. The usual calm was gone from her face, replaced only by pale worry and deep self-reproach. She replayed countless times the image of Dorian pushing her away, facing the tide of enemies alone. If only she had been stronger then... If her servo-arm hadn't... Sergeant Karl and Draculas also stood nearby. Sergeant Karl's face was grim, his fists clenched, his gaze fixed on the closed door. Draculas remained silent, but his white helmet was slightly tilted towards the operating room, showing that he was not indifferent.
Time passed, minute by minute, each second feeling like a century.
Finally, the operating room's indicator light changed from red to green. The door slid open, and the lead Apothecary emerged, looking exhausted.
Everyone immediately gathered around him.
"How is he?" Sergeant Karl asked urgently, his voice hoarse.
The Apothecary let out a long sigh, a mix of disbelief and relief on his face: "A miracle... truly the Emperor's blessing... or rather, his own willpower is simply astonishing... All fatal injuries have been temporarily stabilized, and the alien toxins and energy corrosion have been neutralized. But he is still not out of danger and requires long-term regenerative immersion and organ cloning replacement surgery. Whether he can fully recover, or even wake up, depends on his will and... the Primarch's grace."
Hearing that Dorian had temporarily survived, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts remained heavy. The road to recovery would undoubtedly be long and arduous.
Luna's tensed body swayed slightly, almost collapsing. Sergeant Karl quickly steadied her.
"He will wake up," Sergeant Karl's voice was incredibly firm, as if stating a fact, "He is Declan Catonia; nothing can defeat him."
Just then, a Tech-Sergeant approached, holding a data-slate, his expression a bit strange: "Lieutenant Golden, Sergeant Karl, this is the last short, blurred audio and environmental data recovered from the internal recorder of Brother Dorian's Saturn-pattern Terminator Armor wreckage... you... might want to hear it."
Lieutenant Golden took the data-slate, and Sergeant Karl and Luna also leaned in. The Tech-Sergeant played the audio.
It was filled with the violent roar of Bolters, the shrieks of Genestealers, the grating scrape of bone blades on armor, and Dorian's heavy, bellows-like breathing and the occasional, indistinct battle cries.
...For... the Emperor!... For... Guilliman!... Damn bugs... Come on!...
The audio was intermittent, with various alarms and damage warnings piercing the background.
Suddenly, after a violent impact and a painful grunt, the audio became somewhat clearer, revealing only Dorian's extremely faint, broken, almost self-muttering whispers, accompanied by the increasingly slow and weak heart rate monitor sound:
...Ka... Gaius... Luna... are they... out?...
The sound stopped abruptly there, leaving only dead silence and the final, almost-stopped heartbeat.
After listening to the audio, everyone fell silent. Luna's tears silently fell again, but she bit her lip tightly. Sergeant Karl closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed his surging emotions.
Lieutenant Golden gripped the data-slate tightly and said in a deep voice: "He will get better. We must make him get better."
He looked towards the medical bay, as if making a vow.
And inside the medical bay, Dorian's scarred body, immersed in precious regenerative fluid, seemed to stir very faintly. On the instruments monitoring his vital signs, several previously weak indicators showed an extremely subtle but firm upturn.
It was as if his indomitable soul was already gathering strength for the next battle.
Outside the window, on the surface of Vellan II, virus bombs and Cyclone torpedoes were unleashing their destructive power, thoroughly purifying and annihilating all betrayal, corruption, and alien presence.
But on this warship, a miracle of life was defying death, stubbornly persisting.