In the Chaos Hive City, the "Giant Tower" stood tall.
Terrifying plasma torrents, like pillars of light, shot straight into the sky, and the Warp currents they emitted affected every corner of this blasphemous Hive City.
daemons and renegade warbands had long since set up defensive fortifications throughout the Hive City, layered and encircling, making their preparations quite thorough, just waiting for the "Bait" to take the hook.
When the next morning, a rare ray of sunlight pierced through the sky, which was constantly shrouded in murky clouds, and fell over this evil Hive City, the distant horizon was suddenly illuminated by streaks of blazing fire!
The next moment, a sound as melodious as an organ, mixed with the tearing "Yuan Ming" of the air, and streaks of blazing fire rose from the distant horizon!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!!
Beams of light, trailing exhaust flames, like an upstream torrent, vast and mighty, filled the entire sky.
Immediately after, the anti-air defense system outside this Chaos Hive City, an array of anti-aircraft guns, began its interception.
However, this strike was too dense and too sudden, so much so that the Chaos Hive City's anti-air firepower only managed to intercept a few, while more missiles, trailing destructive exhaust flames, rained down like a downpour amidst piercing shrieks!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
Terrifying fire, mixed with explosions, flames, and high temperatures, instantly ignited the Chaos Hive City!
Defensive fortifications, with no time to react, were utterly reduced to ruins under this dense artillery bombardment.
But what was even more bizarre was this.
These 'shells' seemed to have eyes, knowing in advance the locations of the defensive fortifications deployed by the Chaos legions throughout the Hive City, falling with pinpoint accuracy, and destroying one defensive line after another with overwhelming force!
"Damn it, how did they know the locations of our defensive fortifications?!" The world Eaters company, enraged by the bombardment, couldn't help but furiously question the Dark Tech-Priest.
"What in the world is going on?!"
However, before they could get an answer, that familiar, organ-like shriek came from above their heads again!
"Take cover! Disperse!"
The world Eaters Company Commander hastily shouted.
Rumble!!!
But his shouts were drowned out by the explosions.
Amidst the terrifying fire and explosions, he could only watch helplessly as his company was decimated at an astonishing rate by these "詭異" bombardments.
What in the world was going on?!
He didn't understand; the defensive fortifications deployed in the Chaos Hive City should have been impossible to discover, but how did these Dark Angels manage to carry out such precise target strikes from such a distance?
Boom!
A shell landed beside the Commander, and in his wide, horrified eyes, fire reflected, carrying the despair of his final moments, his mind still filled with profound questions—how did the Dark Angels do it?
The sudden first wave of strikes caught the Chaos legions off guard, resulting in heavy losses.
But these numbers, compared to the vast Chaos legions, were still a small portion; a considerable number of Chaos daemons and renegade warbands survived the Dark Angels' precise artillery strikes.
Daemon Prince Selagarim, currently stationed in the "Giant Tower," witnessed firsthand how the trap he had painstakingly prepared was almost completely destroyed in just a few minutes of pain, and immediately flew into a rage.
"What in the world is going on?! How did they know the deployment locations of our defensive fortifications and strongholds? Give me an answer!"
Beside him, the Dark Tech-Priest's electronically synthesized voice trembled.
"Great Daemon Prince, I… I don't know what's going on."
This was simply too bizarre!
It made no sense at all; let alone the physical universe, even their Chaos Warp wasn't this shameless, was it?
They hadn't even seen anyone yet, and they had already been bombed once!
"If you don't even know this, what good are you?!"
Selagarim's anger flared, and he turned and smashed the Priest's head with a punch, panting heavily in fury, a boiling killing intent in his eyes.
"Emrys—it must be him, it couldn't be anyone else!!!"
He couldn't think of any other reason why the Dark Angels could have become so powerful in just a few days, except for Emrys, this biggest 'variable'!
"Let us go and capture him!"
The Captain of the Fourteenth Company of the world Eaters roared furiously over the comms channel.
"We cannot just take a beating here; let us go out!"
"No!"
However, his request to sortie was directly rejected, and Selagarim stared ominously into the distance.
"Let them strike; the "Giant Tower" is protected by the Warp, and artillery fire cannot reach here. If they want to destroy this place, they will still have to charge in themselves!"
Go out?
Of course, they couldn't go out!
Selagarim sneered, thinking, they want to lure them out and then seize the opportunity to invade here, right?
He wouldn't fall for it!
"Emrys…" Selagarim's eyes were dark, and a hint of treachery appeared on his terrifying, ape-like, blood-red face.
"This time, I will never let you escape. Once you enter, you will never be able to leave!"
Meanwhile, with the Dark Angels.
In the Command Center, the various Warband Commanders gathered, their gazes fixed on one person, Emrys.
Golden light surged in his pupils, and as his fingertips landed on various positions on the holographic map before him, coordinates for artillery strikes were precisely issued from his mouth and transmitted via encrypted communication channels to the legions.
Although this seemed quite 'magical.'
To order artillery strikes without prior reconnaissance or detailed intelligence was truly astonishing.
However, none of the experienced Warband Commanders present, including the grandmaster, raised any questions.
Simply because they had long witnessed the power of Emrys' psychic abilities.
"So, this is another way to fight…"
The Commander of the Vengeance Blade Warband looked at Emrys with great surprise, his eyes full of envy.
Before meeting Emrys, he had never known that war could be fought this way. To 'foresee' the enemy's position in advance and then call for precise artillery strikes, completely without the need for reconnaissance, was far easier than their usual charges into battle!
He just didn't know what the Chaos legions were thinking; they were probably completely bewildered, right?
Their own defensive fortifications, important strongholds, and fortresses had all been hit by precise artillery strikes, without understanding the reason. The enemy was simply as absurd as if they were using a transparent cheat!
Under Emrys' orderly command, the artillery bombardment precisely eliminated most of the defensive fortifications, strongholds, and fortresses that the Chaos legions had deployed in the Hive City, clearing most of the obstacles for the subsequent 'boarding operations.'
However, facing such a seemingly good situation, the grandmaster's expression was grave.
"They didn't fall for it; they are still holding out inside."
"I already expected that; Chaos isn't that foolish."
Emrys' expression was calm, seemingly not surprised at all, and he said indifferently.
"Fortunately, these waves of strikes have already cleared some obstacles for us. Next—we can go and meet this 'Daemon Prince Selagarim.'"
Ultimately, they would have to face this 'daemon Prince'.
Chaos' meaning was clear: even if you blew up the entire hive, they wouldn't take a single step out. At worst, they would fight a street battle here!
What?
You want to level the streets too?
Regardless of whether it could be done, even if Emrys spared no expense and bombed relentlessly, this hive city, manipulated by the evil forces of Chaos, could not be completely wiped out. Moreover, the light from that 'Giant Tower' was growing stronger, which was almost equivalent to Chaos sending a warning to the Dark Angels and to Emrys!
If you don't come in, it will turn Draconys into a second 'Curse Mark'!
Destroy the 'Giant Tower' from a long distance?
That was even more impossible. Emrys had already tried several times. Whenever artillery fire was about to land on the 'Giant Tower', it would be distorted by Warp energy and sucked into a spatial rift.
Unless, by the most direct method, one entered within the 'Giant Tower's' defenses and then overloaded it to blow it up, there was no other way.
This is why, in the Warhammer Universe, both Chaos and the Imperium are often keen on 'boarding actions'. With the 'void shield' as a cheat, both sides can only choose close-quarters combat.
"It's our turn to enter."
Emrys slowly exhaled, golden light surging in the depths of his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "After I leave, command will be handed over to the 'Supreme grandmaster'."
"I'll go with you too."
Azrael immediately stepped forward.
"No!" Emrys shook his head, rejecting his suggestion.
"You are the Supreme grandmaster, with rich battlefield experience. You must stay here to be responsible for subsequent support and the command of the entire battle. I am not good at commanding large-scale operations, and besides, Chaos' target is me.
There's no point in you coming along."
With that, without giving Azrael a chance to speak, Emrys patted his shoulder and strode out of the command room.
An entire company of Terminators, including Chaplains, Tech-Marines, and three Dreadnoughts, a full assault company, had been waiting on the open ground for a long time.
"Move out!"
At Emrys' command, a mysterious forest enveloped everyone, and then, under the complex gazes of Azrael, Ezekiel, and others,
They vanished from their original position.
After the fierce artillery bombardment, the Chaos hive city was in disarray, and this was the best time!
The Dark Angels appeared out of nowhere!
However, when the Dark Angels saw the surrounding architectural wreckage, the rage already burning in their hearts was rekindled, almost incinerating their reason!
They saw—Caliban!
The architectural style here, including every inch of its aesthetic, was filled with the appearance of their former home, Caliban!
Caliban had long since perished.
Yet, Chaos had captured its 'remains', allowing it to be reborn in this current—blasphemous form!
No Dark Angel, no son of Lion bearing the name of the 'Unforgiven', could accept the existence of 'Draconys'.
It was like a huge blemish, a bloody scar, constantly reminding them: this was the First Legion Dark Angels' indelible shame!
Although the Dark Angels were silent, their rage was already uncontrollable!
"At least a kilometer to the target—" Emrys had no time to concern himself with their feelings. He immediately looked up, only to see that the 'Giant Tower' was at least a kilometer in a straight line from their current position.
But considering the Warp's influence here, a 'kilometer' in physical definition would actually be much further.
"Indeed, Chaos wouldn't let us easily enter the 'Giant Tower's' range." Emrys had long anticipated this point and was not flustered. He calmly issued a series of commands.
"First Company, secure and defend the surroundings. Second and Third Companies, form a wedge formation and assault. Fourth Company, maintain constant contact with headquarters!"
"Enemies ahead!"
"It's the world Eaters."
Suddenly, the Terminator squad sent a warning.
"Heh, they found us so quickly?" Emrys sneered, looking up at the 'Giant Tower', as if a bloodthirsty, ferocious gaze met his across the distance.
In an instant.
The street they were on was completely surrounded by large numbers of renegade warbands and daemons!
This almost desperate scene, far from striking fear into the Dark Angels, instead ignited their fury!
The First Legion was born to be surrounded!
"For the Lion! For Caliban!"
The roars of hundreds of Dark Angels converged into a tangible wave of sound, instantly silencing the din of the battlefield.
The first clash erupted instantly!
Using the cover of collapsing ruins, the Dark Angels' Terminator company, acting as the frontline, skillfully formed up to face the Chaos enemies from all directions!
Boom boom boom—
The roar of bolters suddenly intensified.
Amidst the dispersing smoke, countless loyal bolter rounds, trailing crimson lines of fire and the Emperor's wrath, rained down like a sudden storm upon the demonic fortifications.
Emrys did not need specific combat command. Every Dark Angel here was a veteran of hundreds of years, and even in the face of enemies several times their number, they still achieved astonishing suppressive power!
"Advance! Advance! Advance!"
Inside the Contemptor Dreadnought, the hoarse voice of the veteran, who had fought for ten thousand years, echoed through the comms array, shaking the air like thunder!
Dreadnoughts were not just powerful in themselves!
Their presence was also a huge boost to their own morale. These veterans, who had once followed the Emperor and the Primarchs,
Having fought through countless bloody infernos, their massive forms moved like an unstoppable torrent.
Each heavy footfall made this land, which blasphemed Caliban and the Dark Angels, groan and tremble!
"I am, Dark Angel—Lauren Hali!"
Amidst a sound like a great bell, a pitch-black Contemptor Dreadnought was the first to break through the renegade warband's defensive line, launching a fierce, fearless charge against the Chaos fortifications and dense firepower!
A self-important Chaos Hellbrute roared and charged forward, attempting to stop the enraged 'Contemptor Dreadnought'.
However, Lauren Hali's seemingly cumbersome body erupted with astonishing speed, dodging the Chaos Hellbrute's terrifying shoulder cannon with an impossibly agile movement. The heat wave grazed the Dreadnought's armor, scorching a deep gully!
"Get out of the way, Chaos scum!!!"
As Lauren Hali dodged the fatal blow, his massive chainsword swung out with the momentum, its sharp blade carrying a wailing hurricane that directly severed the Chaos Hellbrute's head!
The thick cannon barrel was inserted into the Chaos Hellbrute's chest, and then a roaring torrent of heat directly pierced through its abdomen, also shattering the Chaos fortifications behind it with the blazing, scorching plasma!
The wail of chainswords converged into a single sound!
The overture of death, in a cruel and violent manner, shredded the Chaos enemies in the way!
The severed limbs of these blasphemers, twisted mechanical fragments, and shattered ceramite armor all attested to what fate awaited those who tried to stop an enraged Dreadnought!
The Terminator squad followed closely, clearing away anything that threatened the Dreadnought. Soon, the first line of Chaos fortifications,
Was smashed to pieces by the violent advance of the Dark Angels!
Tearing apart everything in their path. The severed limbs of blasphemers, fragments of twisted machinery, and shattered ceramite armor splattered everywhere along the Terminators' furious path of advance.
"I'm coming!"
Emrys' lips moved silently, informing the Sir of the tyrannical gaze on the 'Giant Tower', then he drew his thumb across his throat.
"Wash your neck and wait, I'm coming to cut you down right now!"
On the Giant Tower, Seragrim's laughter boomed like thunder.
"Come, Emrys—" He grinned ferociously, a tyrannical, bloody aura engulfing the entire room like a tsunami. Every muscle in his body seemed to tremble, to crave.
"I'm waiting for you right here!"