"Hahaha!"
The piercing laughter echoed through the streets. For some reason, the "fallen" Astartes showed no restraint in their disdain and arrogance.
"These mortals are truly amusing."
Faced with the fierce assault from the armed security team, the three "Sons of Humanity" showed no fear. Instead, they laughed even more heartily.
The hardlight beams, though accurately hitting their power armor, only left faint scorch marks on the surface, unable to penetrate their thick plating.
When the security team tried to aim for their heads, the fallen Astartes dodged with unbelievable speed.
Their movements were lightning-fast, not only more agile than ordinary Astartes but also giving the impression that their bodies had far surpassed the limits of Astartes. It was as if every muscle and bone had been thoroughly enhanced by the power of Chaos.
Amidst their unrestrained laughter, the "Son of Humanity" at the front, who wasn't wearing a helmet, slowly holstered his bolter.
His twisted, insane face was full of mockery and amusement.
Then, he drew a bizarrely shaped chainsword from his waist.
The weapon was covered in spikes and bloodstains, and its hilt was adorned with writhing tentacles, as if it weren't made of metal but some kind of malevolent creature.
"The struggles of mortals are futile. I'll show you what despair truly means."
He took heavy steps toward the main entrance of the Central Hospital, the magnetic boots clanking like a death knell.
"Stop him! Open fire!"
The security team shouted, trying to halt his advance, but all their efforts were like throwing mud into the sea.
The fallen "Son of Humanity" remained indifferent to the barrage of firepower. Even as he stepped into the hospital lobby, his laughter continued to echo in the air.
Then—
Vroom—Screech—Screech!!
The sound of the chainsword revving up suddenly rang out, accompanied by the horrifying noise of flesh being torn apart from inside the hospital.
"Ah—!"
The screams of the security team were heart-wrenching.
Chaotic combat had erupted inside the hospital, while the police officers on the street could only watch from afar, a deep sense of helplessness welling up in their hearts.
Just three fallen "Sons of Humanity" were enough to display overwhelming power on the battlefield, and the armed security team, which had been holding the line, now seemed fragile in comparison.
Those security personnel were ordinary humans without any physical enhancements.
Though their tactics and training were professional, they were utterly outmatched by the superhuman Astartes.
The weapons in their hands couldn't even leave serious marks on the thick power armor of the fallen Astartes. It was nothing more than futile "scratching."
If the armed security team was in such a dire situation, what chance did their small police force have?
As the sounds of battle from inside the hospital grew more intense, Duke quickly assessed the situation and issued a new order without hesitation:
"All units, abort the mission! Retreat to the south immediately! If you encounter any trapped civilians along the way, provide assistance!"
Duke's voice was calm and resolute, leaving no room for doubt.
As soon as he finished speaking, Duke broke away from the group and headed toward the Central Hospital alone.
His intentions were clear—
To let his subordinates continue their retreat and preserve their strength.
Duke knew full well that ordinary humans stood no chance against Astartes, and meaningless sacrifices would only be a desecration of their duty.
As for his choice, it wasn't out of recklessness or a desire for heroism, but out of responsibility and concern.
After all, his wife was still inside the hospital...
In that hellish place now consumed by blood and fire.
He gripped his hardlight rifle tightly, his eyes filled with determination, and quickened his pace as if he had already cast aside any concern for his own safety.
The police officers behind him silently watched Duke's retreating figure. Though they didn't speak, their complex emotions were evident.
Some clenched their fists, feeling the urge to follow their captain into danger.
However, reason and orders acted like invisible shackles, firmly restraining their fervor.
They could only suppress their frustration and anxiety, turning around to follow Duke's instructions and continue their retreat southward.
Just then, a squad dressed in turquoise combat uniforms suddenly emerged from the hospital's side entrance.
The squad moved as fast as the wind, their movements so fluid that they left only afterimages in Duke's eyes. He could barely make out their specific trajectories.
Bang bang bang—!
Moreover, while moving at high speed, the squad accurately locked onto their targets and pulled the triggers.
Their modular firearms spat out a barrage of bullets, unleashing a torrent of suppressive fire directly at the two "Sons of Humanity" outside the hospital's main entrance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions shook the surrounding air, and flames and thick smoke instantly engulfed the two fallen Astartes.
The shockwaves from the explosions sent rubble and metal fragments flying in all directions. Even Duke, from his position, felt the scorching heat wave.
He couldn't help but take a step back, raising his arm to shield himself from the flying dust and debris.
Without needing to see the squad members clearly, Duke knew they were part of the Central Hospital's Trauma Team, attempting to confront the fallen Astartes head-on.
"Hahahaha! This is fantastic!"
"There's no shortage of fun here!"
Before the smoke from the explosions had fully dissipated, the hearty laughter of the two fallen Astartes pierced through the haze, echoing across the battlefield.
Their laughter was filled with glee and provocation, sending chills down everyone's spines.
As the smoke gradually cleared, Duke finally got a clear view of the two fallen Astartes.
Their armor had sustained some cracks, indicating that the Trauma Team's assault had managed to inflict some damage.
But instead of angering them, these injuries seemed to excite and delight them even more.
Masochists??
A ridiculous thought flashed through Duke's mind, but before he could dwell on it, a sudden change occurred.
The two fallen Astartes suddenly began to move. Their speed was unimaginable, as if they had vanished from their spots in an instant.
!!!
The Trauma Team members instinctively heightened their vigilance, but they still underestimated their opponents' speed.
Though they were well aware that Astartes possessed combat capabilities far beyond those of humans, they hadn't expected these two fallen ones to move even faster than any opponent they had trained against...
Including the Sons of Humanity.
The Trauma Team was no ordinary group. They were elite soldiers who had undergone rigorous selection and modification, their physical abilities enhanced to the limit by Inquis serum, and each member had undergone varying degrees of "cyberization."
For example, Sandevistan was standard equipment for the Trauma Team.
In the blink of an eye, the two fallen Astartes closed in like phantoms, their chainswords swinging in arcs, leaving afterimages in their wake. The sharp, ear-piercing screech of the mechanical blades accompanied their assault as they charged straight into the Trauma Team's formation.
Screech—Screech—!!
The cruel chainswords cut into the junction of flesh and cybernetic limbs, producing horrifying sounds of flesh and metal being torn apart.
Two Trauma Team members, unable to dodge in time, were cleaved in half at the waist. Blood gushed out, staining the ground dark red.
In just a few breaths, the two fallen Astartes had ended the one-sided battle with overwhelming force.
From Duke's perspective, he couldn't even clearly see their movements. All he could make out were the afterimages of the chainswords slicing through the air and the Trauma Team members falling one after another.
By the time the battle ended, not a single member of the Trauma Team remained alive.
What was even more nauseating was that the two fallen Astartes didn't stop their slaughter. Instead, they began "harvesting trophies."
They brutally stripped the heads, spines, and even cybernetic parts from the fallen squad members, hanging them on chains around their waists.
These blood-soaked ornaments seemed to be their "achievements," making them appear even more savage and insane.
Duke's hands, gripping the Gauss rifle, trembled slightly. He had known that the Trauma Team would struggle against the fallen Astartes, but he never expected the entire squad to be wiped out so quickly and completely.
From the moment they charged out of the hospital to their total annihilation, the entire process took less than five seconds.
"..."
Duke stood silently, his heart a storm of shock and rage.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, even though his rational mind warned him not to approach those killing machines.
But he didn't retreat, nor could he retreat.
After all, his wife was still inside the hospital.
Even if he were to die, he wouldn't die in cowardice.
His eyes locked onto the nearest fallen Astartes, and he quickly aimed the barrel of his Gauss rifle at the target.
"Hey! You filthy bastards!"
Duke shouted angrily, his voice filled with fury and defiance. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger almost simultaneously with his shout.
Bang bang bang—!!!
Tracer rounds with blue tails of flame shot out from the barrel, cutting through the air with a trail of blue light.
The rounds struck the fallen Astartes' chest and helmet, but the expected penetration effect didn't occur.
Clang—Clang—!
The bullets merely made metallic clinking sounds upon hitting the armor, leaving not even a scratch on the surface.
"Hahaha! The little toy finally moved! I was almost losing patience!"
The fallen Astartes let out a hoarse, low laugh, filled with a chilling sense of delight.
It had known about Duke's presence all along and had seen the police officers retreat. It simply hadn't considered Duke and his men worth its attention.
At that moment, the "Son of Humanity" slowly turned its helmet, the crimson glow from its visor locking onto Duke.
Then, it began to move, its steps slow but filled with oppressive force. Each step caused the ground to tremble slightly.
It showed no urgency, instead approaching Duke at a leisurely pace, like a predator toying with its prey.
When it got closer, it suddenly lifted its head, deliberately "sniffing the air."
Then, its laughter grew even more unrestrained, carrying an eerie sense of pleasure:
"Ah~! This is truly delicious. Fear, hesitation, worry, and even courage... Tsk tsk, what a rare delicacy. Hahaha!"
Its voice was low and hoarse, with a metallic echo that reverberated through the streets like the whispers of a demon. Every word stabbed into Duke's mind like a blade, attempting to break his will.
"..."
Duke's gaze remained fixed on the fallen Astartes slowly approaching him, his heart filled with indescribable emotions.
At that moment, he heard the sounds from inside the Central Hospital gradually quiet down. The sporadic gunfire and screams had also ceased.
Duke's heart sank. He realized that the "Son of Humanity" who had charged into the hospital earlier had almost completely slaughtered the armed security team.
Gritting his teeth, he forced down his fear and aimed his rifle once more at the approaching fallen Astartes, pulling the trigger again.
Bang bang bang—!
The tracer rounds cut through the air like a desperate cry, striking the enemy's armor repeatedly.
Even though it had no real effect, Duke refused to simply wait for death. Giving up resistance would be the most pointless humiliation.
"Traitor!!! Your opponent is me!!!"
However, a furious metallic roar suddenly came from the distance.
The roar was like thunder, shaking the entire block.
The fallen "Son of Humanity," or rather, the "Son of the Emperor," stopped its slow advance toward Duke upon hearing the roar.
"Oh?"
It let out a low grunt of curiosity, then turned around, lifting its helmet to lock its crimson visor onto the source of the sound.
A deep purple Thunderhawk gunship swooped low over the street, its front hatch opening as it hovered above the Central Hospital.
The source of the roar was a Company Champion clad in Titan VIII power armor, his helmet adorned with olive branches.
The Company Champion wielded a massive power sword glowing with azure light. Using the momentum from leaping out of the gunship, he transformed into a bolt of lightning streaking across the night sky, charging straight at the fallen Astartes approaching Duke.
"Hahaha! Perfect timing, brother!"
The fallen Astartes showed no fear. Instead, it laughed even more arrogantly.
It raised its chainsword, the massive blade exuding an aura of corruption and distortion. The spiral teeth of the blade spun chaotically as it met the Company Champion's fierce strike.
Clang————!!!
The moment the blades clashed, a deafening metallic screech reverberated through the street.
The azure arcs of electricity from the Company Champion's power sword rained down on the chainsword, sending dazzling sparks flying.
However, the grotesque chainsword in the fallen Astartes' hand managed to block the power sword's strike.
Still, the immense force from the Company Champion's blow was transmitted directly through the weapons to the fallen Astartes' body, instantly causing its feet to sink deep into the hard road. The ground cracked and shattered, forming a shallow crater half a meter deep.
The Company Champion didn't back down. His armor's servos worked at full capacity, keeping the blade of his power sword pressed firmly against the chainsword. The energy radiating from the clash distorted the surrounding air.
The two superhuman warriors remained locked in a stalemate for a moment before the Company Champion's low, furious voice emerged from his helmet:
"Traitor!!! Your end has come!!!"
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