Guided by the "Seer" all the way, Nareth pinpointed Forge-Complex 250.
To ensure no accidents in his plan to "corrode" the Ashen Claws, he temporarily left behind his other two "corrosion" targets, Arkhas Fal and Balsar Kurthuri.
Overlooking the forge complex, the battle between the 19th Legion and the Rangdan xenos unfolded fully before him.
The Primarch's transhuman mind rapidly assessed the situation on both sides and analyzed the intelligence he needed.
The slain Cerabvores. The one with the damaged armor must be Nerat Kirine.
Nerat squinted, making every effort to eliminate the interference of the golden light to focus his vision.
He saw a figure in black armor, golden wings spread behind its back.
'A Primarch. Lord Nareth.'
Light gleamed in Nerat's eyes. He watched the Primarch fly towards the white xenos.
The bizarre, agonizing torment the xenos had inflicted on him seemed to have no effect on the Primarch. Lord Nareth's speed didn't slow in the slightest.
Nareth maintained the first level of the Thelema mindstate, resisting the neuro-toxin's invasion.
Alchemical materials couldn't be wasted. He donned the Banshee Mask opened his mouth wide, and unleashed a piercing shriek.
The Rangdan xenos clutched their heads with their claws, but couldn't stop the scream echoing in their minds. They writhed in agony.
Fluid, a mix of blood and foul pus, seeped from the Cerabvores's cranial depression. The red line running the length of its skull flickered.
The "Baron of Corruption" channeled psychic energy into his gauntlet and swung his arm down.
Before the gauntlet even touched the Cerabvores, a viscous, transparent liquid enveloped its white body.
In an instant, a massive amber-like prison formed, freezing the Cerabvores in place.
Nerat's eyes widened. He had seen Primarchs before, the 19th Legion had always been under Lord Horus's command, but he had never witnessed a Primarch's power on the battlefield firsthand.
As the Primarch preferred to present a glorious image, dedicated to diplomatic means of bringing lost worlds back to the Imperium. Force was his last resort, and even then, it was often they who carried it out.
He stared at the xenos' face, reading shock and panic in its inhuman features.
'Is the amber prison that binds the xenos psychic power?'
'That powerful xenos couldn't resist at all, as if frozen.'
As Nerat pondered, Nareth, who had bound the Cerabvores with his "Prison," flew back and landed before him.
"Nerat Kirine."
Nareth knew that while Arkhas Fal, as Legion Master of the current 19th Legion, preferred frontal assualt and close combat, the Legion had already developed a combat style similar to the future Raven Guard.
Nerat was prime example,. He favored hit-and-run tactics, already bearing the shadow of the future Raven Guard.
"Lord Nareth."
Nerat knelt on one knee, saluting with a fist to his chest according to the ancient etiquette of the Unification Wars era.
"The one you killed is a Cerabvores, one of the two major xenos races. They delight in consuming the brains of other species, are adept at using psychic powers, and can unleash neuro-toxins."
"To ambush and slay a Cerabvores is commendable."
Hearing the Primarch's recognition, Nerat felt his weary body surge with renewed strength.
He also joyfully confirmed that his target had been correct, it was indeed the xenos leader.
"Now, you will receive treatment and recover swiftly. I will need you in the coming battles."
The "Baron of Corruption" spoke to the future first Chapter Master of the Ashen Claws.
"It is my honor," Nerat said with excitement.
At the same moment the "Baron of Corruption" began "corroding" Nerat, the Tenth Chapter, under Chapter Master Falk's command, launched its attack on Forge-Temple Prime.
Ramsey led a team of Librarians, tasked with supporting the Tenth Chapter.
His entire suit of armor was custom-made by the Armor Master.
To maximize his beyonder abilities, Malevolus, when forging the armor, primarily used Squat weave-shield technology, combined with the chameleonic camo-cloak from the Yeld-pattern Dominum Armor.
Ramsey's armor was about one-fifth lighter than Mark II power armor. The weave-shields concealed him while compensating for the reduced defence capability. The auto-adjusting chameleonic camo-cloak enveloped his entire suit.
The "Mystery Pryer" watched as he weaved through the shadows of the Tenth Chapter's ranks, moving without a sound.
The Shadows of Order were accustomed to Librarians moving among them, but instinct made them seek out the "Shadow Ascetic's" figure.
The psychic intuition of the "Mystery Pryer," "Sleepless," and "Monster" allowed them to instinctively catch the black figure instantly.
The instincts and keen insight of the "Hunter" let them, after brief tracking, follow the "Shadow Ascetic's" traces and pinpoint his location.
The observation of the "Spectator" among the Chaplains would take much longer to find Ramsey.
The "Shadow Ascetic" used "shadow lurking" familiarizing himself with his abilities.
'Having fully mastered the power bestowed by My Lord, wearing Mark II power armor and "shadow lurking" makes no sound.'
'Or, after the Personal Growth Module fully adapts to me, that might also work.'
'Considering the Armor-Master just designed this for us based on Imperial power armor, its current performance is perfectly acceptable.'
As Ramsey pondered, he passed one Shadow of Order after another, nearing the front of the column.
He could see the Vostroya-pattern Rhino command vehicle at the very front.
He also saw, a kilometer ahead, the endless sea of enslaved humans.
At that moment, his internal comms activated.
With a thought, Falk's voice sounded on the command channel.
"Scan results show the Rangdan are still using their most familiar tactics. Their slave armies, driven by a few xenos, are attacking the Forge-Temple."
"They will launch their general assault after the Titans and Legio Cybernetica have been worn down sufficiently."
"We have two tasks: kill the Rangdan commanders and tear open the encirclement, prompting the Mechanicum to reopen the surrounding area's forges."
Falk clarified the combat mission for the Captains, Liutenants, Chaplains, Librarians, Techmarines, Apothecaries, and Court Brothers, then began assigning tasks.
"Ramsey, your Librarians will strike immediately. Weaken the xenos' slave armies as much as possible."
"Chaplains, fulfill your duties."
"..."
Ramsey switched vox-channels and spoke to the Librarians.
"Mind-Controllers, move out!"
Immediately, one hundred fifty psychically attuned warriors stepped forward briskly, moving among the armored vehicles.
They formed teams of ten, coalescing into a unified whole through a psychic link in an instant.
Then, they swung their blue Osiron mind staves in unison.
Through their warp vision, in the Warp Insight of the Shadows of Order, cerulean radiance envelops the area ahead.
Countless figures within the surging slave army abruptly halted.
Feedback runes flickered on divination devices, then were uploaded to the tactical network.
A large yellow area lit up on the tactical network of the Vostroya-pattern Rhino command vehicle. Falk waited for the data flood to subside, then checked the result: 50,924.
He tapped swiftly on his gauntlet, marking a zone 3.6 kilometers wide.
Gabriel-pattern Predators bypassed the marked zone, their twin-linked assault cannons roaring.
At the same moment the Tenth Chapter launched its attack, Ramsey walked straight ahead. He "heard" two colossal entities engaged in battle ahead.
The sounds reaching him were faint; he could only vaguely discern heavy footfalls and a continuous rumble of explosions.
The ground trembled, a sensation that immediately made Ramsey think of Titan combat.
Ramsey speculated, 'A Titan defending the Forge-Temple? What is it fighting against?'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu