Datch, wielding his golden hammer, turned the shattered Mechanicus cohorts into efficient killing machines.
The Kastelan robots' twin phosphor blasters unleashed searing beams, engulfing Psykers, Nightmares, and other Drukhari in white-hot fire.
The xenos' bodies ignited, becoming human-shaped torches.
The battlefield was filled with shrill screams and the stench of burning flesh.
The Skitarii Vanguard's rotary grenade guns roared, unleashing a deadly storm of metal.
Mechanicus assassins silently took up high positions, using hyper-uranium arquebuses to snipe through vehicles and armor alike.
The newly repaired Mechanicus Knights became the main force, pouring fire on every enemy in sight.
The deafening explosions shook the Webway.
The Drukhari's repeated charges all ended in failure, leaving piles of corpses.
Realizing they could not win, the xenos of Commorragh shrieked with frustration and venom as they retreated.
When the last enemy blip vanished from the auspex,
the battlefield fell silent, leaving only the hum of machinery and the hiss of cooling energy weapons.
"Quick… bring the Omnissiah's messenger here!"
As soon as the battle ended, Raskian impatiently gave the order.
He wanted to thank the mysterious Astartes in person, and ask about the Omnissiah.
But the senior tech-priest dispatched soon returned, disappointed.
"General… the messenger ignored our invitation—he simply gave us a set of coordinates and left in a hurry."
Raskian checked the coordinates—they weren't far off.
"This must be the will of the Omnissiah. We must depart at once."
He ordered the repaired tractors brought over, mounted the platform,
and led the remaining Mechanicus forces toward the coordinates.
…
Once the Fabricator-General was safe, Datch didn't stay a second longer.
The bamboo copter started up, and he flew straight to the next mission site.
Commander Navradaran's Custodes squad was also in trouble, though their predicament was different from Raskian's.
The Drukhari used traps, illusions, teleport devices, and the very nature of the Webway to create a rough maze, trapping the Custodes.
These golden-armored warriors were simply too powerful.
Even the best Drukhari fighters were fragile before them.
The Kabal in charge of containing the Custodes had a simple plan:
Wear them down over time, then strike once they were exhausted.
The Webway was the Drukhari's domain—they had all the time in the world.
But Datch's interference disrupted everything.
At his command, the Changeling disguised itself as a Nightmare and infiltrated the Drukhari ranks, waiting to sabotage them.
When the kaleidoscopic illusions shattered like broken glass,
Navradaran and the Custodes' senses cleared, letting them spot the maze's flaws and smash their way out.
The subsequent battle was a one-sided massacre.
The freed Custodes unleashed their pent-up fury on the enemy.
They lacked the Drukhari's speed and agility, but possessed overwhelming strength.
Once the Custodes predicted an enemy's moves, death was inevitable.
A spear pierced a Psyker's flickering afterimage, pinning them to the wall.
A power fist smashed down, driving a Nightmare—armor and all—into the ground.
Datch had no chance to intervene, reduced to a mere bystander.
He had to admit, Old Emperor's "golden corn stalks" were impressively powerful.
The battlefield became a scene of carnage, broken bodies everywhere.
Golden figures silently moved among them, finishing off any survivors.
When the battle was over and the enemy either dead or fled,
Navradaran flicked alien blood from his spear and turned to thank the mysterious spectator.
If not for him, who knew how long they might have been trapped?
Just then, the sound of bolter and energy weapon crossfire echoed from another direction in the Webway.
Navradaran instinctively looked toward the source, trying to discern details.
When he looked back, the mysterious Astartes had already taken flight toward the sound.
"Follow him!"
Navradaran ordered without hesitation, leading his men in hot pursuit.
Datch noticed the pursuit, glanced at the ground, and whistled softly.
Old Emperor's golden boys, running on foot, actually kept pace with his current 80 km/h speed.
More impressively, their formation was neat and their breathing steady—far from their limits.
"Well, no wonder they're Old Emperor's favorites—ridiculously strong," Datch muttered, gaining a clearer appreciation for the Custodes.
At the source of the gunfire, the battle had reached its climax.
The remaining Scion Tempestus troopers, under the command of Captain Revos, made their last stand in the ruins of an Aeldari structure.
Hellguns fired bright laser beams in crisscrossing arcs, blocking enemy advances.
"Protect the Inquisitor!!" Revos' voice was hoarse but determined.
At the front, several Death Cult assassins engaged the Drukhari elite in lethal close combat.
Their killing skills were honed to perfection, matching even the Drukhari, who lived for pain and combat.
One female assassin, Niel Kazad, was particularly outstanding.
She moved like a ghost, already executing several Drukhari.
A Succubus targeted her. After several clashes, Kazad was clearly outmatched—her hand severed by the foe.
Just as she was about to be finished, Revos' expert shooting drove the Succubus back, letting Kazad escape.
Kazad injected a coagulant and retreated behind the Scion lines.
"Looks like you'll die with us," Revos quipped.
Kazad smiled, focusing intently on Revos. "Captain, there's something I want to say before we die."
"What is it?" Revos asked, reloading his hellgun.
"If we had a child, he'd definitely be strong," Kazad confessed.
Her words made the surviving Scions burst out laughing.
A veteran joked as he fired, "Didn't expect our old bachelor captain to catch a girl's eye!"
"Is that how assassins confess?"
"Not the right time, but I have to shout it—get together!"
Other Scions chimed in, bantering as if they were at a dinner party, not about to die.
"If we live, let's test your theory," Revos shrugged.
Kazad laughed too.
She knew that was impossible.
Everyone would die here.
But…
"For the Emperor!"
A bellow rang out, drawing both sides' attention.
An Astartes crashed into the midst of the Drukhari like a meteorite, scattering them.
His chainsword roared, unleashing a bloody storm.
…
Bonus chapter at 300 PS
Read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode