Yuno was stuffed.
Of course, the Great Devourer itself was still being tormented by eternal hunger, but the physical vessel she currently occupied was full to the brim. Digesting the massive amount of organic matter she had temporarily ingested consumed the vast majority of her strength.
When Yuki looked at the massive cocoon-like structure, his feelings were incredibly complex. Sometimes, it was hard to believe that this girl was actually the Great Devourer.
"You guys won't just get wiped out by the Arbites, will you?"
Yuki remembered that the combat effectiveness of Genestealers in the Underhive was not something ordinary Imperial forces could easily match; even the Astartes could suffer losses at their hands.
"That is true. However, this is likely no small skirmish. We hope you will stay close to us. As for the Divine Empress, we cannot move her. For your safety, please leave this area temporarily."
Yuki hesitated. Yuno was clearly better at protecting him than these Genestealers, but what if the Arbites arrived before she finished her digestion?
He looked at the giant cocoon. Moreover, could he truly trust the Tyranids?
"We have a secret passage. You can follow it; it's safer. The Divine Empress will be able to find you later."
Never in his life did Yuki imagine that one day he would be operating alongside Genestealers. Even less did he expect that the Arbites' firepower would be far more ferocious than he had imagined!
He had to cover his ears with a sponge-like material; otherwise, the thunderous roar of tank cannons would have shattered his eardrums instantly. This wasn't a raid—it was war!
According to current intel, millions of Genestealers entrenched in the Underhive had been discovered. Consequently, the Arbites, the Skitarii, and parts of the Astra Militarum had intervened.
Yuki found the Genestealers organizing the retreat. Droplets of blood were already oozing from the purple skin of the latter.
"Lord Yuki, have you decided? Please hurry and follow us! Our scouts have already departed; they will infiltrate the safe zone!"
What else could he do? Yuki was just an ordinary human. His physical condition might be stronger than the average Underhive resident, but it was far inferior to augmented humans or the Astra Militarum. He hadn't awakened any "system" either; for now, fleeing was his only option.
Yuki followed the Genestealer infiltration team through a maze of pipes, twisting and turning until they reached a small iron door. A Purestrain Genestealer sliced through it with its razor-sharp claws and jumped down first.
Yuki followed. In the two days since his transmigration, he had been drifting like a rootless weed. Once he escaped this crisis, he would have to think about what to do next. But as an ordinary human—not a Space Marine—if he had to establish a goal in the Warhammer world, it would probably just be to stay alive.
The Genestealer hybrids were the key to expanding the cult's families. They were the studs and the breeding tools, possessing appearances similar to humans.
"My Lord, please stay in the middle of our formation."
Because of Yuno, these creatures treated Yuki with extreme respect, even bordering on fawning.
"My Lord, when will we be able to go to Paradise?"
"Don't ask such questions! The Divine Messenger and the Divine Empress are here to test us. If you pass the test, you will surely reach that place."
"The Divine Empress is so beautiful and perfect. The moment I saw her, my illnesses were cured."
Listening to their conversation made Yuki feel slightly suffocated. These were a people deceived by the Tyranids. Once the Hive Fleet arrived, these infected souls would merely be processed as biomass for the swarm.
If Yuno didn't love him, would his fate be the same?
Yuki forced himself to stop thinking about it. He responded with a smile to the expectations of the hybrids. The young hybrids were overjoyed, believing this was proof they would one day reach Paradise.
Led by a Purestrain who knew the route, the team entered an alleyway. Such alleys were common in the Underhive; once through, they would reach their new temporary stronghold.
At that moment, the heavy bolters opened fire.
Hidden fire-points spat tongues of flame at the team. Even a Purestrain Genestealer could not survive such concentrated fire. Bolt shells, as large as a man's forearm, would explode after shattering the Genestealers' bodies. Within seconds, a sea of fire swallowed severed limbs and chunks of flesh.
Surrounded by the others, Yuki was desperately protected by the Genestealers. The blast wave threw them through the air. Fortunately, Yuki survived, though he suffered a large gash on his arm. Seeing a drainage ditch nearby, he grabbed a hybrid next to him and lunged toward it.
They dove into the ditch, hiding as best they could while the roar of the machine guns lasted for a full ten minutes.
Yuki wanted to comfort the hybrid he had instinctively saved, but when he looked back, he realized it wasn't a hybrid at all—it was just a mangled arm.
The sight terrified him, and he threw the arm away. After a long time, the gunfire ceased, and heavy footsteps echoed; the Arbites were cleaning up the battlefield.
What the hell is going on?
Then, combat flared up again. Yuki heard the sound of squelching flesh.
"The monster isn't dead yet!"
"Open fire!"
"Grenade!"
Several more minutes passed before the sounds finally subsided.
Yuki poked his head out of the ditch, only to find himself face-to-face with an Arbites Enforcer conducting an inspection. This officer's fully enclosed helmet had been sliced open by a Purestrain, revealing half of a young face.
Having just survived a bitter struggle, the Enforcer was a step too slow. Yuki's fingers plunged into the gap in the helmet, accurately and viciously gouging the man's eye.
Amidst the screams, other companions were alerted. Yuki scrambled out of the ditch. He quickly assessed the gap in power—facing dozens of combat shotguns, he had absolutely no chance.
The last remaining mobile Purestrain gave up its chance to escape and lunged from its hiding spot, exposing itself to the Enforcers' fire to draw them away.
"Thanks!"
Yuki had no time for more words. He ran until his lungs felt like they were going to explode, sprinting like a madman through the iron slums.
He didn't know how long it had been, but Yuki finally stopped. It wasn't because he was safe, but because he could no longer move.
"Huff... huff..."
What was happening? Why had everything since his transmigration been so outside his expectations?
Damn it, doesn't this make me a heretic in the eyes of the Imperium of Man?
Yuno... right, what about Yuno?
He forced himself to calm down, and the searing pain in his arm finally made itself known. Shrapnel from the explosion had wounded him. If left untreated, the various bacteria of this world would kill him.
He forced his body forward. "Dammit, at least I'm out of the combat zone."
He soon noticed a building that stood apart from the rest. It was situated in a giant plaza, with no other structures for hundreds of meters around. People coming and going were solemn and grave; even the hunched figures in rags tried their best to stand tall here.
The building was decorated with stained glass. Figures in black and white robes held scriptures, practicing their sermons to passersby. This was the practice they had to perform before preaching to the Uphivers and higher-ranking officials.
Others were distributing alms and providing healing to the poor. There were also many Arbites soldiers here.
Yuki's heart hammered against his ribs. He knew exactly what this place was, and he understood that for him, this was both a massive trial and a golden opportunity.
An Ecclesiarchy Cathedral—a gathering place for religious fanatics.
Having lived in the twenty-first century, Yuki could not fully comprehend such an existence. But now, it was his only refuge.
The wound on his arm had already begun to turn black. As he approached, a Sister of Battle noticed him.
"By the Emperor... please, help me."