The Company Champion remained unfazed by the provocation and once again advanced with his sword.
His attacks were swift and decisive, each strike carrying overwhelming force. The ripples from his blade shattered the surrounding rubble into dust.
Lucius, on the other hand, moved with astonishing agility, dodging and weaving. Occasionally, he lashed out with his whip, the sharp crack of the whip cutting through the air. The whip's blade occasionally entangled the Company Champion's sword or armor, attempting to disrupt his rhythm.
The two engaged in a fierce battle amidst the ruins, their sword and whip clashing, sending sparks flying. It was as if the entire battlefield was dominated by their duel.
Lucius indeed possessed unparalleled strength, but the Company Champion was no ordinary foe.
Although it had taken him over ten seconds to defeat a fallen Son of the Emperor earlier, that particular Son of the Emperor was a "veteran elite," which made the Company Champion's victory seem somewhat drawn-out and "difficult."
At this moment, the Company Champion forcefully broke free from the whip's entanglement and slammed his heavy shoulder guard into Lucius's chest.
The tremendous impact sent Lucius stumbling backward, and the Company Champion seized the opportunity to deliver a sweeping slash. His power sword cut through the air, leaving a dazzling arc of light.
Ssshh—!
Even though Lucius dodged swiftly, the blade still managed to slice through his chest armor, sending small metal fragments flying.
A black-red liquid seeped from the cracks, accompanied by a foul stench characteristic of the Warp.
"Oh? Not bad, kid."
Lucius glanced down at his damaged chest armor, but instead of showing pain or anger, he smirked, his tone carrying a hint of approval, as if this were some kind of game.
Moreover, his eyes gleamed with a strange excitement: "You're much more interesting than your brothers."
...
However, the Company Champion remained unmoved by Lucius's taunts and did not waste a single breath responding.
Instead, he channeled all his strength, unleashing terrifying speed and power as he charged at Lucius once more.
The Company Champion's sword strikes were fierce, as if he intended to crush Lucius on the spot.
Clang—! Clang—!
The continuous clash of their weapons produced deafening metallic screeches.
Lucius's evasions and counterattacks were as precise as a ghost's, and his whip danced through the air like a hungry serpent, striking at the Company Champion's vulnerabilities.
Yet, the Company Champion showed no fear. Every block and slash he executed was filled with unwavering focus, showcasing the unparalleled combat skills of an Astartes from the main universe.
The one-on-one duel once again reached a stalemate, but this deadlock greatly disrupted the rhythm of the fallen forces.
With Lucius tied down by the Company Champion, the fallen Sons of the Emperor lost their "steady output," and their battle lines began to loosen. Their fire support also became increasingly ineffective.
Meanwhile, the numerically superior human forces seized the opportunity to counterattack, advancing step by step and gradually eroding the fallen's defenses. The chaotic aura in the streets began to dim.
Rat-tat-tat—!
Suddenly, rapid gunfire erupted from the western alleyway. A squad of ODSTs (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) with deep purple shoulder armor charged into the battlefield with incredible speed.
Their Gauss rifles spat out precise and deadly "blue light" bursts.
Thud—! Thud—!
The heretics and Warp creatures at the rear of the Sons of the Emperor were instantly struck by the dense hail of Gauss spikes. They had no time to react.
The armor-piercing and penetrating power of the spikes tore through their bodies, sending blood mist into the air and scattering severed limbs everywhere.
Two heavy troopers accompanying the squad were particularly conspicuous. As soon as they emerged from the alley, they stabilized their stance, and the micro-missile launchers on their shoulder armor deployed.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Dozens of micro-missiles streaked through the air, trailing white plumes as they homed in on their targets, carving deadly arcs through the enemy lines.
Boom—! Boom—!
A series of violent explosions followed, with flames and smoke billowing into the air. The deafening blasts nearly drowned out all other sounds in the area.
The street was torn apart as if by an earthquake, with flames and shockwaves sweeping through, tossing smaller Chaos creatures into the air. Some were even reduced to fragments, dissipating into nothingness.
After the explosions, the once-familiar street was left in ruins, with craters and debris scattered everywhere. The smell of burning filled the air.
The ODST squad quickly expanded their tactical advantage. Their Gauss rifles continued to fire, precisely picking off heretics and Chaos creatures attempting to reorganize their defenses.
Meanwhile, the two heavy troopers, with the assistance of drones, reloaded their missile launchers, preparing for the next wave of bombardment to maintain their overwhelming firepower.
The ODSTs' sudden assault not only dealt a heavy blow to the Chaos forces but also cut off their rear routes, completely turning the tide of the battle. The scales of victory seemed to be tipping in favor of the human forces.
Morale soared as the Astartes and auxiliary forces of the human side seized the opportunity to launch an even fiercer counterattack.
They pressed forward, suppressing the enemy and gradually pushing the Sons of the Emperor and their "entourage" into the center of the battlefield. The shouts of the human forces now drowned out the roars and wails of the enemy.
With the addition of more veteran elites (Sangheili), auxiliary troops, Cyclops battle mechs, and heavy Tyrants, the Sons of the Emperor's battle lines began to show signs of irreversible collapse.
After all, the human forces had always held a significant numerical advantage.
However—
Screeeech—!
A piercing shriek suddenly rang out across the battlefield, sharp as a blade cutting through the soul. It caused everyone's eardrums to ache, as if the scales of victory had been forcibly tipped by this sudden sound.
At the edge of the battlefield, a figure that was both alluring and grotesque charged toward the ODST squad's position at an astonishing speed.
At first glance, it appeared to be a "woman," but upon closer inspection, its grotesque features and disproportionate limbs sent chills down one's spine.
Its face was hideous, as if it had been stitched together from the unnatural features of multiple creatures. Its aggressive eyes glowed with a crimson light, exuding a dangerous, soul-piercing aura.
?!
The ODSTs immediately went on high alert, swiftly turning their weapons toward the rapidly approaching figure.
Dozens of Gauss rifles locked onto the target, unleashing a torrent of blue spikes that surged toward the "woman" like a tidal wave of death.
Hum—! Hum—!
However, the expected penetration and tearing did not occur.
The spikes, known for their excellent armor-piercing capabilities, suddenly lost their effectiveness near the "woman," as if they had been blocked by an invisible psychic barrier.
The spikes struck the barrier, creating only faint ripples before falling harmlessly to the ground.
At the same time, the bizarre "woman" suddenly accelerated, her figure blurring like a shadow as she moved through the air.
She extended her arms...
Or rather, she extended the bone spikes and blades that resembled claws.
Thud—! Slash—!
In the blink of an eye, her arms moved like two intersecting bolts of lightning, effortlessly tearing through everything in their path.
Four ODSTs who had no time to react were instantly cut down, their bodies severed at the waist. Blood sprayed like fountains, staining the charred street as their heads rolled to the side at unnatural angles.
"Roar—!"
"Hahaha!!"
"Fools!!"
The heretics and Chaos creatures, witnessing this scene, suddenly regained their morale and began to roar with glee.
The appearance of this "woman"...
Or more accurately, this Slaaneshi Daemonette, acted like a potent stimulant, revitalizing the collapsing Chaos battle lines.
The heretics who had been cowering at the rear now charged forward without regard for their lives, accompanied by an even more ferocious assault from the Chaos creatures.
The battle, which had seemed on the verge of victory, was now plunged back into a brutal stalemate, with the scales tipping in favor of Chaos.
!!!
The sudden turn of events shifted the balance of the battle, throwing the ODSTs, who had been gaining the upper hand, into a frenzy of rage.
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Avenge our brothers!"
"Kill!!"
The ODSTs charged at the Daemonette with reckless abandon, heedless of their own safety.
Their roars echoed through the air, as if the entire street was about to be consumed by their fury.
Rat-tat-tat—! Boom—! Boom—!
Gunfire and explosions filled the street, with flames and smoke intertwining.
However, whether it was the rapid fire of Gauss rifles or the high-energy beams of hardlight weapons, all were deflected or neutralized upon hitting the psychic barrier, posing no threat to the Daemonette.
Moving at blinding speed, the Daemonette effortlessly dodged most of the bullets, its body shifting like a ghostly flash.
Several ODSTs, disregarding their own safety, charged at the Daemonette, firing their weapons while pulling the pins on metallic hydrogen grenades and hurling them toward the Daemonette and the heretics and Chaos creatures.
The deafening explosions shook the sky, with smoke and flames spreading everywhere. The shockwaves tore through the surrounding buildings and streets, leaving deep scars on the ground.
Yet, even such intense explosions could not completely stop the Daemonette.
Using the smoke as cover, it momentarily disappeared from the blast radius, then relied on its psychic barrier to absorb most of the shock.
Although the explosions destroyed many heretics and Chaos creatures, the Daemonette quickly recovered and launched another counterattack.
Moreover, the smoke, flames, and shockwaves from the explosions also obstructed the ODSTs' vision and disrupted their pulse scanners and motion detectors.
This gave the Daemonette an even better opportunity to "harvest" lives...
Its figure moved like a ghost, each swing of its arms claiming another ODST's life.
Slash—! Thud—!
In an instant, blood sprayed everywhere, and the ODST squad was nearly wiped out.
The alluring yet terrifying Daemonette, wielding its bone arms, unleashed a storm of blood and carnage on the battlefield.
In just a few seconds, the ODST squad, which had been able to mount an effective counterattack, was reduced to just three survivors desperately trying to fight on.
"Damn you! Die!!"
The ODST sergeant leading the squad, witnessing the deaths of his comrades, was filled with rage and despair.
In his fury, he made a final, desperate move.
The sergeant quickly pulled the pins on all his remaining grenades, activated their safeties, and manually overloaded the power cells in his combat gear.
At the same time, he pushed his body to its limits, charging at the Daemonette with incredible speed. The magnetic boots on his feet sparked as they scraped against the ruined ground.
His target was clear. Ignoring any Chaos creatures in his path, he focused solely on the grotesque figure ahead. He knew this was his only chance, his final mission.
Riiii—! Boom—!!!
As the sergeant closed in on his target, a massive explosion engulfed the entire street.
The blinding blue and white light illuminated the Chaos-tainted sky, accompanied by shockwaves and the violent impact of debris. The raging flames consumed everything, and the massive shockwave tore through nearby buildings, sending fragments raining down.
At the epicenter of the explosion, the Daemonette's psychic barrier was finally shattered. The previously impenetrable barrier fragmented into flickering shards before dissipating into the air.
The Daemonette was thrown back by the blast, its body visibly scorched. Its once-imposing presence faltered.
Even though this main street had been heavily corrupted by Chaos, blurring the line between the Warp and the material universe, the Daemonette's power here was still less than a tenth of what it could wield in the Warp.
The ODST squad's desperate counterattack had drained a significant amount of its psychic energy.
Thud! Thud!
Before the shockwaves from the explosion had fully subsided, a heavily armored Tyrant emerged from the ruins.
Its armor was covered in scorch marks and craters from battle, and it carried no weapons or ammunition, having expended all its firepower.
Yet, it charged forward at full speed, its footsteps like the notes of death as it closed in on the momentarily stunned Daemonette.
The Daemonette turned its head slightly, sensing the danger behind it, but it was too late.
The Tyrant's pilot, seizing this perfect opportunity, synchronized his will with the bio-weapon through a neural interface, driving the Tyrant with his own furious determination. The Tyrant twisted its torso and swung its massive arm, delivering a devastating punch.
Whoosh—!!!
With a deafening sonic boom, the Tyrant's steel fist struck the Daemonette's back with unstoppable force, aiming with deadly precision.
The air distorted from the speed of the punch, and a temporary vacuum formed in its wake.
Thud—! Crunch—!!!
The punch, carrying the force of hundreds of tons, shattered the Daemonette's spine.
The tremendous impact tore its body apart, scattering limbs and organs into the air. A crimson mist, like a bloody firework, enveloped the area.
The grotesque yet alluring figure was reduced to a bloody wreck.
"Nooo—!!"
The Daemonette's agonized wail echoed through the street, sharp as a blade cutting through the soul, causing the air to momentarily freeze.
This scream was not merely an expression of pain but the final cry of a daemonic entity being banished back to the Warp.
As its psychic energy completely dissipated in the material universe, its form disintegrated into fragments, vanishing into the air.
------------------
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