"And one more thing, Sir," Pyro continued, watching the battlefield gradually being swallowed by the green toxic fog.
"If the intelligence you received before arriving suggested that the Tyranid swarm loves to use Zerg rush tactics, then that information is now outdated.
"The Tyranids no longer use those low-tier units on a large scale. At least, I've rarely seen large swaths of Hormagaunts and Termagants during my time on the front line.
The only time they appear is to test who on our position is the commanding officer.
Then, in formal engagement, they'll start with a round of artillery to try their luck, followed by directly dispatching elite units to perform decapitation strikes against our commander."
Reinhard instantly grasped the logic. "So, that's why four Warrior bugs suddenly assaulted us. Their sole purpose was to ensure your death. And the role of that Executioner was to tie up the other Helldiver, creating an opportunity for your decapitation?"
"Exactly," Pyro nodded. "That's also why we haven't heard a melta explosion yet. That Executioner is tough-skinned and thick-shelled; if they were too cautious, rushing up to self-detonate wouldn't cause much trouble.
My buddies are still looking for the perfect chance to blow it sky-high."
"Then, if you were to survive the assault of those four Warrior bugs, what would happen next?"
Although logic told Reinhard that no unmodified mortal could possibly survive the coordinated attack of four Tyranid Warriors alone, he couldn't help but ask the question.
To his surprise, Pyro pondered for a moment and actually provided a definite answer. "In that case, next up would be a Lictor."
Before the words had faded, a sudden, hissing sound of corrosive gas eating flesh came abruptly from the flank!
Pyro didn't even look, immediately drawing the auto-pistol from his waist and firing frantically in that direction.
Reinhard's reaction was nearly instantaneous with his, his bolter turning to unleash devastating fire into the same area.
As expected, the combined firepower hit its target! A blurry shadow materialized in the toxic fog, and Reinhard's bolter shells exploded into sprays of blood upon it, causing obvious damage.
However, the solid rounds from Pyro's auto-pistol merely bounced uselessly off the creature's tough carapace, emitting a 'clinking-clanking' sound.
The Lictor let out a shriek and instantly leaped backward with astonishing speed, vanishing into the toxic fog once again. Both men immediately lost sight of their target.
Pyro sighed, looking at the auto-pistol with the empty magazine, and said with obvious disdain, "This thing is just a damn squirt gun."
After speaking, he tossed the gun aside and turned to Reinhard.
"You owe me a lasgun, sir. Mine was a Deathlight, a rare pattern forged by the Sollex Sect of the Mechanicus.
If it had hit that Lictor just now, the high-energy blast could have at least torn a hole in that guy."
Reinhard was utterly baffled as to why Pyro had the leisure to discuss such a trivial topic while facing the deadly threat of a top-tier assassin like the Lictor.
He stated deeply, "I swear on my honor, I will replace your lasgun with an identical one after this fight."
Pyro immediately beamed. "Great! It's a deal!"
Before the smile faded, the deadly threat returned!
The Lictor struck again from the toxic fog, but this time, its target was Reinhard! Clearly, the cunning creature understood that if it didn't eliminate the Space Marine first, its decapitation mission would certainly fail.
The Lictor swung its rending claws with speeds too fast for the eye to track. Reinhard violently twisted his body, barely avoiding the fatal strike. Failing to connect, the Lictor immediately tried to retreat, melting back into the environment.
But Pyro seized the opportunity! He roared as he charged forward, putting all his strength into the tactical knife in his hand, and savagely stabbed the Lictor's side abdomen!
The knife struck true, but a mortal's strength was ultimately limited.
Against the Lictor's bio-alloy-like carapace, the tactical knife only managed to embed its tip. The Lictor swung back with its enormous rending claw, effortlessly tearing through the carapace armor on Pyro's chest, cutting deep into his chest cavity.
Reinhard seized the split-second opportunity! He instantly lunged forward, his combat knife precisely stabbing into the Lictor's neck joint.
At the same time, his other hand pressed the bolter firmly against the Lictor's chest cavity and squeezed the trigger!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!—"
All remaining bolt shells in the magazine were emptied in just one and a half seconds. The close-range explosions reduced the Lictor's sturdy chest cavity to a mess of shredded flesh.
The deadly hunter used its last strength to swing a rending claw at Reinhard's head. Reinhard blocked with his right forearm while simultaneously kicking out, sending the Lictor's corpse flying to smash heavily into the mud some distance away.
His right forearm also bore several horrific, deep-to-the-bone injuries, with the ceramite plates completely torn apart.
At that very moment, a muffled explosion sounded in the distance. The Executioner staggered out of the toxic fog, half its body scorched black and one leg blown off.
Clearly, the other Helldiver hadn't managed to find the best chance for a full self-detonation, only critically wounding it.
Looking at the Executioner, which was staring at him with malice and poised to strike, Reinhard tossed the bolter from his left hand aside, retrieved the knife from his now-useless right arm, and slightly lowered his stance, adopting a posture ready for an immediate charge.
The battle was about to erupt.
Just then, a bolter shell whistled from the rear, accurately striking the stationary Executioner's head. The enormous bio-weapon wobbled, and its vast body slowly toppled forward, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Another Space Marine emerged from the toxic fog behind them.
Clad in Power Armour distinct from that of the Scythes of the Emperor, the Space Marine waved a hand, and the Helldiver soldiers following him immediately spread out, beginning reconnaissance in various directions.
He walked up to Reinhard and performed the Astartes salute—fist-to-chest.
"Valker Virilesse, Aurora Chapter. Command sent me immediately when they learned this sector was under Tyranid bombardment. You are not alone in this fight, Brother."
Reinhard, holding the knife with his still-functional left hand, returned the salute, but he did not speak. He simply lowered his head in silence, looking at Pyro, who lay fallen at his feet.
No miracle had occurred. With his chest completely ripped open by the Lictor's rending claw, he was undeniably dead.
The reinforcing Astartes misunderstood Reinhard's silence. He clapped Reinhard's shoulder plate. "Do not worry, Brother. The Helldiver will quickly cycle a new squad under your command. Their troop replenishment is rapid."
Reinhard shook his head. "I cannot replace his lasgun with an identical one now."
"A pity..."
_____________
Pyro: Noooooooooooooo