Time passed minute by minute. The Salamanders squad had already left the canyon.
But looking out, the plain outside the canyon was covered with purplish-black Creep. Their power-armored boots made squelching noises on the Creep. Occasionally, a patch of Creep would burst underfoot, oozing purple fluid.
The Swarm Overmind could observe the movements of this Salamanders squad through the Creep network.
They were very far from the Overmind, but caution couldn't be dropped.
†To be honest, the Salamanders Chapter is somewhat a counter to me. Their large-caliber flamers are nastier than Hellions, and bolters are probably comparable to Marauder grenades, penetrating both light and heavy armor.†
The Overmind was very self-aware.
This time, psychic power couldn't be used. What if it alerted the Emperor Himself, who might send the Legion of the Damned? Then the Overmind would really have to say GG.
†As a Cerebrate, Zasz should be able to handle it, right?†
Zasz could certainly handle it. Facing these unknown enemies, he was now ready to act.
"Begin."
A sky-blotting swarm of Scourge emerged from the clouds, even blocking the sunlight. Now the Zerg Swarm truly felt like a swarm.
The Scourge swarm had a clear target, heading straight for the Imperial warship in outer space. Passing through the atmosphere, the Scourge appeared in the view of the ship's crew.
"What is that?"
Crew members armed with standard-issue rifles could clearly see the black mass emerging from the planet outside the viewport. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't one object, but a cluster of countless black dots forming a dark, amorphous mass.
"Tyranids?!"
It was surprising—there was actually a crew member on this ship who knew about the Tyranids.
After all, most humans who encountered the Tyranids ended up dead. And the Imperium's backward information exchange system was clearly insufficient for the average citizen to be aware of the Tyranids' existence.
Captain Jack quickly received the report. Looking out the viewport, even this resolute Imperial officer couldn't help but feel a sliver of fear.
"Tyranids..."
The Tyranids, a species named after they devoured an Imperial human colony called 'Tyran' in the galactic frontier.
Captain Jack mistook the Zerg Swarm for the Tyranids.
But it's not his fault, because Tyranid bio-ships also often produce vast numbers of suicide units similar to Scourge as an attack method. Moreover, individual Zerg and Tyranid bio-forms share high similarities.
For example, a Hydralisk placed among the Tyranids would blend in seamlessly.
"Damn it! Are there Tyranids on this planet?! Those monsters that devour all life!"
"Captain, we have lost contact with the Astartes."
"We should have thought of this sooner! Notify all sections of the ship! Prepare for battle! Activate the Void Shields! Not a single bug gets aboard!!!"
Even the lowest-level Tyranid Termagant could cause dozens of civilian casualties. Similarly, if Zerglings managed to board the ship, it would be a massacre for the crew.
The Void Shields activated. Imperial ships are generally equipped with these powerful protective shields.
Under Zasz's command, a single Scourge charged at the Void Shield first. BOOM—a dazzling plasma explosion erupted outside the Void Shield, covering an area over thirty meters in diameter.
If that had been a Thunderhawk gunship, it would likely be gone.
†Wow, the power of these Scourge suddenly makes me feel confident again!†
With this kind of power, even a Chapter Master would probably end up in the ICU from a direct hit.
Or simply be vaporized.
†Maybe we should just steamroll everything with Zerglings and Scourge from now on!†
Just kidding. Although Scourge are powerful, they aren't the mainstay air force.
Before Captain Jack could even give an order, the ship's Machine Spirit automatically activated the point-defense turrets, firing salvos into the Scourge swarm. A single volley could destroy over a dozen Scourge.
These Scourge are too unstable and can be easily detonated by enemy fire.
Zasz no longer hesitated.
"Bring conquest for the Supreme Overmind!"
The battle officially commenced at this moment. Scourge began crashing into the Imperial ship one after another. Although each Scourge was intercepted and detonated by the Void Shield before reaching the hull, Zasz had anticipated this.
Such shields have their own output limits. The simultaneous attack of the Scourge swarm was precisely to push the shield generators to that limit.
Whether it's energy depletion or shield overload, once the ship loses its shields, it becomes a sitting duck.
"Fire! Fire!"
Faced with such a ferocious Scourge assault, Captain Jack frowned.
"What's the status of the Void Shield generators?"
"They can still hold, but the output per second is exceeding the upper limit. We may not be able to sustain this for long."
"Using such suicidal attacks... I didn't expect that!"
Captain Jack slammed his fist on the command console. He had witnessed the horror of the Tyranids before, but back then he was just a soldier on the battlefield. Now, facing the 'Tyranids' alone, the destructive power they displayed far exceeded his imagination.
Zasz also hadn't expected the Imperial ship's defenses to be this strong.
"It seems the number of Scourge required will increase significantly."
"Cerebrate Zasz. Research. Yielded results. Uploading to Hive."
Abathur's voice echoed in the Cerebrate's mind. A new Zerg strain was uploaded to the Cerebrate's consciousness.
The Swarm Overmind also saw the new unit.
It recognized this Zerg unit.
[Name: Devourer.]
[Body Length: 30-40 meters]
[Role: Flying anti-air unit]
[Armament: Corrosive Acid Spores]
[Description: Designed as a massive creature to counter large enemy warships, the Devourer was used to seize air and space superiority. It evolved directly from the Mutalisk, retaining the Mutalisk's wasp-like appearance. However, the Devourer is far larger and is entirely designed for high-intensity anti-air missions.
The amorphous, corrosive acid spores it fires can splash onto multiple aerial units. The spores can grow on the target, breaking down the target's shell at a molecular level, eating through heavy steel. Furthermore, the spores can also slow enemy ships and reveal cloaked units.]
†Holy crap, Abathur can actually utilize Ork genes?†
Although it was only genes related to spores, it was enough. The genetic locks on Ork DNA were no joke.
"I have transferred the first batch of improved Devourers to you, Cerebrate Zasz."
"Good, Evolution Master. I will make good use of these units."
The Cerebrate took control. The Devourers were heavy flying units. Currently, there were only four, but these four would suffice.
The Scourge were still bombing the ship's Void Shield. It wouldn't be depleted anytime soon. Meanwhile, the Devourers had arrived in the ship's vicinity. Under the cover of the Scourge, the Devourers opened the fissures in their tails, spewing large masses of corrosive spores that landed on the Void Shield.
These corrosive spores attached to the Void Shield, multiplying and corroding it simultaneously.
The Void Shield generators were struggling to hold on.