"You're not here to fight together, are you? You're here to challenge me, aren't you?"
"However, I'll give you this chance, and this time, as an exception, I won't charge you any Contribution Points."
"If you win, I'll even give you a sum of Contribution Points."
Titus looked at the Warmaster, discerning his little scheme.
But he didn't refuse. The other party's challenge reminded him of his years of service with the Ultramarines Battle Group—that was over a century ago.
Recalling that time, he also enjoyed challenging veterans to hone his skills.
The Warmaster grinned; this was exactly what he had in mind.
A moment later, a mission appeared in the Warmaster's mission log.
[Mission: Challenge (Accepted by specified God Chosen, Second Empire Warmaster)
Titus is about to perform a boarding action, and he has issued a challenge to you. If you can defeat him, you will receive a generous reward. Go find him to accept the mission now.
Reward: 50,000 Contribution Points, 400 Honor Points.
]
The Warmaster's eyes widened as he looked at Titus.
He hadn't expected the other party to directly issue a challenge mission to him.
Had their favorability reached maximum?
"Don't make that face. You'll only get the reward if you win against me."
Titus smiled and extended his fist.
The Warmaster paused for a moment, then also extended his fist to lightly touch his.
Subsequently, both men laughed together,
displaying the genuine camaraderie and understanding between men.
The Warmaster accepted the challenge mission.
To be honest, Titus's behavior didn't resemble that of an NPC formed by data algorithms at all; instead, he was like a living person.
He had his own joys, sorrows, and emotions.
Sometimes, the Warmaster even wondered how great it would be if the other party were truly a real person.
They would surely become very good brothers.
...
The gun platforms suspended in the void were already in a state of frenzy.
Furious artillery fire poured into the void like a violent storm.
Countless shells, missiles, energy lances, and laser pulses flashed as they surged towards the void.
The flames from the explosions illuminated the dark world.
The Imperial Glory advanced, enduring the insane barrage.
Surrounded by a violet void shield,
the enemy's artillery fire pounded the shield like rain, creating ripples.
It moved forward like a noble king, leading many warships.
Behind it were large battleships or battlecruisers equipped with Nova Cannon arrays.
They fired in unison, launching Nova Cannon shells with a diameter greater than fifty meters,
their length even more exaggerated than some small fighter jets.
These shells would be accelerated to light speed in an instant, each one powerful enough to easily tear through the shields of medium to small warships and utterly destroy them.
The Nova Cannon consists of an array of gravity accelerators that can accelerate shells to near light speed, turning them into relativistic projectiles.
The shells struck several gun platforms and void stations, completely shredding their shields and armor.
Subsequently, gravity weapons and runaway torpedoes struck the defensive line again, causing a chain of explosions.
"Concentrate fire on Sector Y-145, break through the enemy's shields."
Natsume Hikari calmly watched the battlefield projection.
Occasionally, the marked symbols of friendly warships would instantly disappear from the projection,
indicating that the warship had been destroyed by the enemy.
This meant that tens of thousands of Imperial loyalists would be thrown into the void or swallowed by the explosions as their warships detonated.
Among them, a small number would be rescued, but most would return to the Emperor's throne.
In such a war, sacrificed lives became a cold statistic.
War is a balance, with both sides constantly betting, and sacrifice is just one of the chips.
No one shirked their duty; the moment they boarded the ship, they were already prepared for sacrifice.
But sacrifice was not without value.
Each sacrificed warship brought the Imperial fleet closer to the enemy.
Relying on sacrifice and fierce firepower, the fleet tore open the enemy's void defense line and pried open their shields.
Next was a frantic aerial assault.
Countless Thunderhawks, Stormbirds, assault boats, attack craft, boarding torpedoes, and Raptors were released.
They carried their deadly cargo and landed on enemy fortresses and strongholds.
The galaxy had long forgotten how terrifying large-scale Astartes operations were.
And today, the traitors of Las Forge World would experience the despair and terror faced by humanity's enemies during the Great Crusade.
The Warmaster and Titus, aboard a Stormhawk, pierced through the void fortress's atmospheric field and shrieked as they flew into the landing pad.
A shield appeared around the Stormhawk, forming a dome that deflected all the firepower unleashed by the rebels.
At the same time, the pilot unleashed the furious rage accumulated by the machine spirit,
and dense bolter shells and beams filled the empty deck.
Hundreds of rebels were instantly killed, and several heavy multi-barreled artillery pieces near the landing pad were also rendered useless.
The sealed hatch opened, and the Warmaster, Titus, and other warriors leaped out, firing at the distant enemies.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boltguns roared, and fire splashed from the barrel's exhaust ports.
The projectiles struck the enemies, instantly pulverizing their bodies.
Raging killing intent enveloped all the warriors; their only desire now was to slaughter.
Many slaves and Adeptus Mechanicus overseers were on the landing pad, inspecting fighter jets and gunboats, refueling them, and replenishing their ammunition.
The Warmaster and Titus, along with the others, fired at them mercilessly.
Accompanied by the roar of bolters, shattered bodies and broken limbs flew everywhere.
The slaves screamed and scattered in terror.
The Adeptus Mechanicus overseers wielded whips and pistols, attempting to stop the slaves from fleeing.
+++Execute orders, no collapse or retreat allowed+++
+++Execute orders, no collapse or retreat allowed+++
An Adeptus Mechanicus overseer in a red robe repeated the mechanical words while swinging a whip, lashing the slaves.
He even shot and killed the fleeing slaves, forcing them to their deaths to deplete the ammunition of the Warmaster and the others.
"Die."
The Warmaster raised his boltgun, aimed it at the mechanical overseer's head, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The bolter shell hit the opponent's head and immediately exploded.
The shattered body fell to the ground, and broken cables sparked and crackled.
Skitariis armed with laser rifles jogged out of the corridor.
Their bodies were made of brass and gray metal.
Their eyes glowed with mechanical light.
+++Target confirmed, executing Purification protocol+++
A mechanical voice emanated from the loudspeaker of the leading Skitarii.
But the Warmaster, Titus, and the other warriors reacted faster than them.
By the time the Skitarii soldiers' computational logic was optimizing tactics and assigning tasks, they had already charged in front of them.
The armies of Las Forge World had undergone extensive modifications; even the limited organic matter was hermetically protected by layers of internal and external armor.
However, in close combat, these soldiers were still no match for the well-trained Astartes.
The Warmaster swung his sharp chainsword, and the opponent raised his laser rifle to resist.
The roaring chainsword whistled down, severing the laser rifle's barrel and tearing open the opponent's head.
A mixture of brains and fragments splattered onto the ground.
Titus and the Warmaster's slaughter speed was much faster than imagined.
Their chainswords seemed to be cutting meat, effortlessly slicing through metal limbs.
"Even with bones of steel, they are useless."
Celtic of the kill team spoke cheerfully.
"These are just soulless puppets, controlled by the mastermind behind them," Beren said.
"You talk too much," Titus replied over the comms. "Silence can effectively speed up the killing efficiency. Work harder, don't let the God Chosen surpass you."
"Boss, are you distrusting us?" Beren's tone was innocent. "God Chosen have strong learning abilities, but they can't compare to us at this stage."
"Arrogance is a prelude to defeat," Titus responded. "Focus on the slaughter, Beren."
"Alright," Beren replied.
Their group's killing speed was swift.
In just a few breaths,
the Skitarii squad that came to support them was completely wiped out.
After clearing the enemies on the landing pad,
they advanced to other areas, with their primary targets being the enemy's fire control platforms and launch arrays.
Other Astartes jump-boarding squads did the same.
They stormed into magnificent and complex steel fortresses and strongholds, engaging in bloody and brutal battles with the defenders.
Enemies swarmed out from every corner, intending to stop the Imperial army's advance,
but they were completely unable to do so.
The vast numbers of Astartes were like a spear of divine punishment,
simply and brutally piercing through all of the rebel's defenses.
....
With the explosion of the melta-bomb, the thick steel door was blasted into slag.
The Warmaster and Titus, among others, charged into a magnificent gun emplacement.
They rushed towards the slave laborers and Adeptus Mechanicus servants like gods of slaughter.
After firing a few shots with his boltgun, the Warmaster charged at the enemy with his greatsword.
An Adeptus Mechanicus priest, leading well-equipped soldiers, came to reinforce, attempting to defend the gun emplacement.
Their courage in daring to resist the Emperor's Angels was commendable, but the outcome would not change.
Titus plunged among them, continuously cutting down several soldiers with his chainsword, and then cleaved off the priest's head with a single strike.
Other players and members of the kill squad shot down the remaining soldiers.
The entire gun platform became a slaughterhouse; enemies fell wailing, and those who survived fled.
"Disable the controller to prevent it from being reactivated."
At the Warmaster's command, several players shot at the control console, directly rendering it useless.
They also destroyed some important mechanical arms and damaged the ammunition feed chains, ensuring that the rebels could not use this gun emplacement in a short period.
Immediately after, they left and continued to advance.
As the Astartes forces raided,
the dense void bombardment gradually decreased, allowing the Imperial fleet to transport more troops to occupy important platforms and fortresses.
Transport ships landed on empty platforms, and fully armed Astra Militarum forces swarmed out.
They wore exoskeletons and carried Gauss Rifles or melta-launchers.
Drones hovered around them like swarms of bees, some of which were used as disposable units.
"This battle is too extravagant!"
After Pierce locked onto the enemy's twin-linked laser cannon position,
he ordered the drones to carry out a suicide attack.
A sharp whistling sound echoed,
as the drones carrying explosive charges rushed towards their target.
Boom!
Terrifying flames swept out, instantly engulfing everything.
"Awesome!"
Pierce shouted excitedly, looking at the blown-up enemy heavy fire position.
Harry, standing beside him, also showed excitement.
What kind of hard life did they live before?
Wearing carapace armor and carrying a laser gun, they had to fight desperately against those demons and monsters.
Now, they wore exoskeleton armor, carried Gauss Rifles, and had drone coordination.
Following those damned Imperial bureaucrats meant starving nine times a day.
Following the Saint meant eating nine times a day.
"Charge, charge!"
"Quickly, capture the key gun emplacements, for the Emperor, for the Saint!"
Someone shouted.
Well-equipped squads advanced along the aisle, sweeping away enemies along the way.
The rebels, having been ravaged by the Astartes assault forces, were unable to organize any decent counterattack.
Resisting soldiers were all killed.
The rest chose to surrender.
They were told to put their hands on their heads and squat against the wall.
After a check to confirm they posed no threat, they were taken over by the follow-up troops.
Soon, the space station and fortress were completely occupied by the follow-up Astra Militarum forces.
The Imperial Double-headed Eagle banner once again flew inside these magnificent void structures.
....
"Why isn't it our turn to fight yet?"
"How long will the void battle last? Oh my God!"
"I want to fight, I want to slaughter!"
Little Fatty, who was staying on the transport barge, looked at the chat messages in the player area's communication channel,
and the real-time rankings on the war leaderboard, feeling an itch in his heart.
"Why don't we also wear exoskeleton armor and join the battle!" Pigtail suggested.
Little Fatty was tempted.
It had to be said, this was a very appealing suggestion, but he still shook his head.
"Forget it, let's continue to hold out according to the Guide's orders. Anyway, we can still earn war points this way, just not as much as them."
There were over six thousand Astartes forces deployed in this expedition,
a scale that could be described as exaggerated.
Even if they wore exoskeleton armor and participated in the battle, they wouldn't earn many war points.
It was better to honestly wait for the ground battle to begin.
September Ninth nodded, "+1, I agree with the Warband Leader. We need to conserve our strength, as soon as the void battle ends, it's our main stage."
"You should know that this time we are fighting a Forge World, and there will be rebel Titan Legions and Knight Houses."
"These are all tough nuts to crack, and only we can do it."
"I hope the enemy can be stronger, otherwise, the MVP for this time is out of the question," Pigtail sighed.
"I suggest not thinking about MVP. Who knows what might happen later that suddenly reverses the ranking!"
September Ninth recalled the Battle of Syntilla.
When the Hunter Demon Battle Group became first, they almost vomited blood from anger.
That kind of thing was truly too frustrating.
Just thinking about it felt absurd.
....
The orbital defense line was torn open, and the Imperial fleet once again pushed forward, engaging in fierce combat with the enemy fleet.
Relying on their powerful firepower and the Astartes' jump-boarding tactics, the Imperial fleet advanced relentlessly, while the enemy fleet retreated steadily.
The Imperial Glory, as always, displayed its formidable advantage, wantonly slaughtering enemy ships.
At the same time, Urs Colin, who was commanding from the flagship, had bloodshot eyes and pupils filled with blood.
He watched the void with bulging eyes, feeling as if his heart was being cut by a knife, each cut dripping blood.
This was his fleet, and his greatest reliance.
During this period, he had swept through the loyalists who refused to submit to the Colin Family,
fought through the Imperial army in the Calixis Sector, and swept across the entire sector like a hurricane,
becoming a genius naval commander revered and feared by all, all thanks to this fleet.
Now, it was being brutally slaughtered by the enemy, facing the crisis of annihilation.
"I will kill them, kill them!" Urs roared furiously.
The nearby operators became nervous and uneasy under the commander's rage, not daring to breathe, fearing they would be used as a punching bag for his anger.
"We must withdraw." Elo, the representative of the Jagged Question Mark organization, looked at the situation on the void battlefield and realized that the tide had turned.
"No!" Urs shouted, "How can we just run away like cowards!"
"First, look at this," Elo showed him a recording from before a certain void fortress fell.
Batches of Astartes surged in, slaughtering the defending Skitarii and slave soldiers in a few breaths.
"The Emperor's Angels." Urs clenched his fists, his tone furious.
"They are not immortal. As long as we can win the void battle, what can an Astartes Warband do? They will still be burned to ashes by lance beams."
"The problem is the numbers. I estimate they have at least three thousand, which means three full-strength Astartes Warbands have joined this battle," Elo said.
Urs's eyes widened. "This is impossible. Three full-strength Warbands shouldn't appear in Calixis Sector."
"Such an impossible thing has indeed happened," Elo said.
"I don't know how that Emperor saint did it, but he mobilized three full Warbands."
"Las Forge World is doomed. Before a full collapse, retreat and preserve as much of our forces as possible."
"Damn it." Urs's face showed anger.
He turned his head to another spot.
Several sorcerers with the symbol of the Eight-Pointed Star of Chaos carved on their foreheads stood there.
"What about you? Any suggestions?"
Urs wanted to seek the help of the gods.
But the Chaos sorcerers shook their heads, indicating they were powerless.
Even with sacrifices, the angels of the gods would find it difficult to contend with the Imperial fleet in the void.
Realizing he truly couldn't reverse the situation, Urs could only accept his defeat.
"I will remember this blood debt. Colin Family, debts must be repaid."
"Now, send out the order to prepare for evacuation. Have all units get ready."
The news of the retreat quickly reached the ears of the Dark Adeptus Mechanicus—Galamond.
He expressed strong protest.
"They have three Astartes Warbands. We have no chance," Urs said.
"Evaluation equals excessive cowardice! You must hold your ground! The research is about to succeed!"
Galamond shouted in a mechanical voice.
"As long as the Paradox Engine is successfully activated, we will achieve sublimation and eternal life, completely breaking free from the Empire."
"We have no choice. If we stay, we're finished," Urs said. "Dismantle all components of the Paradox Engine. You can continue your research elsewhere."
Archmagos Galamond was furious. "I will never retreat! The Paradox Engine is the key for us to completely win the Calixis Sector, and it is also the key to sublimation."
"As long as we can hold out until the Paradox Engine is activated, we will win."
"How long will that take?" Urs inquired.
"Based on precise calculations, only half a month more is needed."
Urs almost laughed in anger when he heard Galamond's words.
Damn it!
Now, let alone half a month, if he could hold on for one more day, it would be a miracle, a blessing from his ancestors.
If they didn't withdraw from the void battlefield in time, this fleet was 100% doomed to be annihilated!
"It can't be done. We must retreat now, immediately," Urs reiterated.
Galamond refused him again.
"I will never leave. Knowledge transcends all. The Paradox Engine cannot be abandoned."
"I will gather all forces and hold out in the Rasti Hive on the ground. Based on the reserves of ammunition and energy, I have a 75.412% chance of holding it."
Urs's face was grim. "As you wish, Archmagos. Just don't regret it."
The communication ended.
Galamond quickly took action.
He ordered all military supplies and slaves, including the Holy Hao Forge Factory, to be evacuated to the ground.
He prepared to hold the Rasti Hive, where the Paradox Engine was stored.
However, Urs's fleet collapsed faster than calculated.
Soon after Galamond arrived on the ground, news came that the fleet had completely collapsed and was forced to withdraw from low orbit.
Many units couldn't be taken and were stranded on the surface or in space stations.
The Imperial fleet seized control of the entire Las star system's void.
The loyalist faction also took the opportunity to launch a counterattack.
The rebels were forced to contract their defenses, holding out in important factories and fortresses.
The only chance to turn the tide was Archmagos Galamond's Paradox Engine.
This technological artifact from a distant era became the rebels' only lifeline.
… … … … … …
The void battle was reaching its conclusion.
No ship dared to challenge the Imperial Glory anymore.
Its hunting record was too glorious, causing psychological trauma to the rebels.
When it appeared, rebel ships would instinctively withdraw.
Astartes units, acting as the spearhead, swiftly cleared every space station, void port, weapon platform, and fortress.
The remaining enemy ships retreated to the edge of the star system, like stray dogs.
Alex ordered the blockade of the three main planets of Las Forge World—Had, Hesh, and Hert.
At this moment, the loyalist faction on the surface sent a communication request to Alex.
"Allow access," Alex said.
The next second, the projection refreshed, revealing an Adeptus Mechanicus.
"I am Moriou the Sage, the head of the Oculum Forge Factory. I greet the Saint."
Moriou the Sage's tone was very humble.
There was none of the Adeptus Mechanicus's usual arrogance towards mortals.
"Moriou the Sage, thank you for your loyalty to the Emperor," Alex said calmly. "Now the enemy has lost the void defenses and retreated to the surface. Our army is about to launch an attack. Do you have any suggestions?"
Moriou the Sage said, "We will follow your guidance, Saint, but I suggest we first concentrate our forces to attack the Rasti Hive. Galamond, who has betrayed the glory of the omnissiah, is conducting his dark experiments there."
Alex nodded. "Then let it be so. In the Emperor's name, let all rebels be punished."
"Praise the omnissiah! We will fully support your attack and send out our Titan Legions and Knight Houses," Moriou the Sage said.
… … … …
The war horns blared across the sky.
The loyalist defenders were the first to sally forth.
The Titan formations of the Hunter Demon Battle Group, accompanied by numerous Skitariis, charged out.
Accompanying them were the Knight mechs of several great families.
They moved like stooping giants, taking heavy steps towards the Rasti Hive.
Dense artillery fire pounded their bodies, making their void shields tremble, but it couldn't stop their advance.
The Imperial forces in orbit also took the opportunity to send troops to the surface.
They coordinated with the loyalist faction on the surface to attack the Rasti Hive together.
To hold the Rasti Hive and buy himself time to activate the Paradox Engine,
Galamond had gathered most of his military might there.
This included the renegade Titans and Knight Houses of the Empire.
Thus, colossal war machines engaged in fierce, chaotic combat on the surface.
The entire land was engulfed in artillery fire, turning everything as far as the eye could see into scorched earth.
Seeing both sides locked in a stalemate, Alex chose to join the war to hasten the enemy's defeat.
He flapped his pure white wings, soaring in the sky.
Wherever he went, the loyalist armies below cheered.
"Accept the punishment of the God-Emperor!"
Alex dodged the artillery fire aimed at him, holding a power spear, and charged towards a Warhound-class Titan rampaging on the battlefield.
This scene attracted everyone's attention.
To challenge a Titan, a god of war, with a flesh-and-blood body was undoubtedly a crazy act.
Violent psychic power erupted instantly. The spear in Alex's hand glowed with a bright light, like a sun.
The spear pierced through the Warhound-class Titan, and surging lightning instantly incinerated the Titan's pilot.
When the light faded, the massive Warhound-class Titan knelt and fell to the ground, burning with raging flames.
Titus, who had just slain a mutated creature, widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.
"Tearing a Titan apart with bare hands???"