A massive explosion rocked the building once again, and gravel and glass shards rained down from above.
Half of a shattered SWAT officer's head rolled to Mr. Horatio's feet, and the ground where the explosion occurred was cratered, leaving only a pool of blood.
Many Adeptus Arbites SWAT officers in carapace armor were injured, but the Hellspawns' power armor protected these Naval elites from the blast wave.
"+Beware of suicide attackers; immediately assault the theater.+" Mr. Horatio issued the latest combat directive.
There was no time to mourn the dead; every second wasted could mean more bloodshed and death.
While the Adeptus Arbites SWAT officers were clearing up the mess, Mr. Horatio immediately began organizing the undamaged Hellspawns to forcefully assault the deeper theater.
The Hellspawns used tactical maneuvers for cover, aided by reconnaissance radar, and those Khorne cultists were often melted by Hellguns before they could even aim. The Hellspawns advanced rapidly, rushing into the theater with incredible efficiency.
They witnessed another bloody tragedy.
The butchered Naval Officer corpses were desecrated, the Colonel and his adjutant's heads were severed, and rusty crimson spear tips protruded from their open mouths, lined up in a row. The bodies were arranged into a repulsive Khorne symbol.
The slaughter continued. The luxurious theater seated tens of thousands of people, who screamed and fled. Even Khorne's minions could not kill so many people in a short time.
Their bodies were covered with blasphemous tattoos, their faces were ferocious, saliva dripped from their mouths, their eyes were wide with rage, and they harvested blood and lives from unarmed people with greed and arrogance.
"+Despicable fellows!+" Farida was enraged. She unleashed a hail of bullets at the enemies, her large gun continuously spitting fire, each bullet ending a thug's life.
"+All operational units immediately begin clearing areas according to the A/B/C/D/E zones I've designated.+"
Several fire-extinguishing rounds were fired in, putting out the rampant flames. At Mr. Horatio's command, the Hellspawns immediately and skillfully split into several tactical teams, beginning a steady advance, eliminating rioters, and rescuing civilians.
The Valkyrie airborne assault team also blew open the roof, and four rappelling ropes were thrown down. The Hellspawns descended like angels into the blood-soaked theater, stopping the crimson slaughter.
Bang! A small explosion sounded, but gunfire was exchanged throughout the theater, and no one paid attention to such a minor disturbance.
Suddenly, Mr. Horatio's helmet marked a high-priority rescue target for him.
He looked up at the second floor and saw the familiar young woman in a white dress.
'++High-priority rescue target: Thei Perlu++'
The young woman was retreating, holding a small pistol and firing continuously.
"+I'm going to rescue the high-priority target; others clear the threats.+"
Mr. Horatio immediately activated his pulley and ascended.
"+I'm going too!+" Farida followed closely behind.
Louise also wanted to go, but she was a soldier and had to complete the task Mr. Horatio had given her first, immediately organizing the Hellspawns to begin clearing the Khorne cultists in the venue.
"Cough!" The goat-headed man, whose right side was blown bloody by the explosion, grabbed Thei's slender, fair neck, intending to throw her from the viewing platform.
"I'll turn you, you stinky fellow, into a specimen, you freak." She gritted her teeth and struggled to pull the trigger again at the goat-headed man, the bullet blinding its eye.
"Ugh ah!" The young woman screamed.
Suddenly, a white blade flashed.
Yin Shuyao, holding a monomolecular bayonet, stabbed the goat-headed man's arm. She pressed her lips together and twisted the bayonet.
"Roar!" The goat-headed man let out a pained roar, forced to release his hand.
Just as it swung its lumberjack's axe at the two young women.
Whir—
The powerful Chainsword motor roared.
Pfft!
A crimson greatsword plunged into the back of the goat-headed man's head, exiting from its face, blood and brain matter gushing out.
As the greatsword tore through its entire head, the goat-headed man staggered and fell. The two young women saw the appearance of the newcomer.
Solid void-blue power armor. Although wearing a helmet concealed his identity, the stiff beret allowed them to recognize him.
"What a pity, a mutated specimen." Thei sighed softly with regret, then she resumed her sweet smile.
"Mr. Horatio! Seeing you, my heart is finally at ease." Thei stepped over the goat-headed man's corpse and excitedly rushed towards Mr. Horatio, throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's alright; leave the rest to me."
"It's you again!"
Farida saw this scene and instantly felt a blank in her mind. By the time she came to her senses, her lungs were about to burst: "Why are you always appearing where you shouldn't be!"
"Is this also my fault?" Thei put on a very hurt expression and hugged Mr. Horatio's waist even tighter.
Farida's face, hidden by her helmet, was contorted, but she dared not show any unseemly behavior in front of Mr. Horatio.
Mr. Horatio had no intention of interfering with their argument, his mind solely on eliminating the enemy. He had been shooting downwards since killing the mutant, working with Louise to eliminate the rioters rampaging through the panicked crowd.
He had no time to waste.
The stairs trembled, and red risk warning pop-ups appeared one after another.
Mr. Horatio turned sharply, and the young woman smoothly released him from her embrace.
"+Miss Hood, protect Miss Peru and Miss Yin+" Mr. Horatio ordered.
Farida was about to blurt out, 'Me protect her?', but her instinct as a former Citizen's Shield made her swallow the words.
"+Alright, be careful+" She braced her gun, aiming at the source of the risk.
Given the current situation, the safest place was where the two of them were currently staying.
As the footsteps grew closer, Mr. Horatio clearly saw the opponent's appearance—it was a crimson Khorne Minotaur.
It was nearly three meters tall, covered in blood, whether its own or its victims', and its chest and back were scarred with blasphemous black Khorne marks.
Its nostrils were like a steam engine, constantly spewing hot steam, and growing larger and larger.
He saw Mr. Horatio, and he saw the crimson Holy Blood Chainsword in his hand.
Mr. Horatio could feel surging battle intent and monstrous killing desire in its eyes. It wanted this sword as a trophy to prove itself to the Blood God.
The standoff between the two was very brief. The Minotaur wielded its two axes, roaring as it charged towards Mr. Horatio.
Bang! Bang!
But what it received were Farida's bullets.
Two bullets struck its chest, and boiling, inky black blood surged from the wound.
It continued to advance, like an attacking giant.
Whir!!!—
The Chainsword roared. The Spotless Angels Scourge was even more excited when facing Khorne cultists than when facing Plague Marines.
Mr. Horatio's iron hand trembled, shaking with the vibrations of the Chainsword.
Mr. Horatio did not know the sword's past, nor did he know if it had a dark history, but since it was a gift from the Blood Angels, then let it help him slay the Emperor's enemies!
[It's time.] Mr. Horatio said to the Holy Blood Chainsword.
'+Activate: Power Fist+'
He raised his hand, grabbed the Chainsword, and met the two heavy axes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amidst flashing blades and swords, sparks flew as metal clashed.
Mr. Horatio dodged and weaved, evading the twin axes while launching a fierce attack.
He always remembered Valina's teachings: balance offense and defense, and induce the opponent to attack him recklessly.
The three young women huddled behind a Roman column, watching the blood-pumping death match between the young man and the monster.
"Mr. Horatio is so amazing, so elegant and powerful." Thei whispered admiringly.
"Shut up! Don't make noise." Farida nervously bit her lower lip, praying that Mr. Horatio would win.
"I hope Mr. Horatio won't get hurt." Yin Shuyao clasped her hands together, praying to the God-Emperor.
Whir!!!!—
Mr. Horatio feinted, quickly retreated, dodged an axe to the side, and stepped forward with extreme speed, the Holy Blood Chainsword striking directly at the Minotaur's chest.
"Roar!!!!" The sharp teeth tore into flesh and blood, creating a wound that was both bloody and grotesque, like the scourging of a great angel on a fallen one.
The Minotaur tried to retaliate, but as it raised its hand, Mr. Horatio chopped off one of its arms.
Suddenly, the axe that was about to fall to the ground flew towards Mr. Horatio's head.
He parried in an emergency, but was still hit by the axe blade, retreating a few steps to create distance.