Chapter 65 For the Four-Armed Emperor!

As both parties authenticated each other's codes, almost instantaneously, the anti-air firepower of the apex spire area locking onto them vanished into thin air.

"Their level of control over the apex spire is quite impressive."

Looking at the void shields outside the observation window that no longer rippled, the Black Templar Chaplain commented thus.

This was good news, proving that they would secure a relatively stable stronghold.

Once the ground-based anti-air array was captured, the fleet could leisurely bombard the surface.

"Indeed."

Aglaia replied, similarly surprised by the efficiency of the Imperial nobility.

While to a certain extent one could not deny the loyalty of the Imperial nobility, expecting them to execute any task properly amidst a Chaos invasion required a tremendous amount of courage.

The expressions of the Time-Travelers, however, grew increasingly solemn.

This indeed was not the level of control typical of Imperial nobility, but it was remarkably effortless for another race.

"Archmagos."

Romulus spoke up.

"Has the surface reconnaissance system been deployed?"

They were now urgently in need of eyes capable of observing clear images of the surface.

The industrial exhaust concentration on Pierde was extremely high. Except for the apex spire, which almost reached the dissipation layer, the remaining regions were shrouded in dense atmospheres, preventing remote optical systems from grasping the specific conditions on the surface.

"The readings for this planet are extremely chaotic; the signals still require calibration."

Cawl replied.

The surface of Pierde currently resembled towering, rolling mountain ranges. The states of the gaps between the mountains were relatively calm, but those peaks were saturated with Warp influences, making long-distance signal transmission highly problematic.

This was the first time he had encountered such a complex situation.

As the Stormbird formation rapidly headed towards the Mechanicus Sanctum, it ultimately descended, under Cawl's operation, into an area whose angle evaded the vast majority of direct ground artillery fire.

Romulus promptly activated the "Imperial Horizon."

Through the perspective of the daemons, the Mechanicus Sanctum was engulfed by a massive tide of shadows within a mere fraction of time.

"Maintain the void shield activation, switch auspex to bio-electric detection mode."

Romulus issued a warning.

The auspex, originally set to high Warp frequencies to watch out for Chaos, swiftly switched its reconnaissance mode, and the imagery subsequently flickered with a vast amount of red light.

Every single light spot represented a humanoid lifeform.

Everyone turned to look at Cawl.

Cawl pulled up the footage of the completely empty hall.

"There is no reason for any Forge Sanctum to treat a Dominus Magos in this manner."

Unless it had fallen.

"Be on guard!"

Romulus swiftly issued his orders.

"Establish defensive positions relying on the vehicles, remain vigilant against attacks from upper levels."

Sacred vehicles, which elicited looks of astonishment from various factions of the coalition, rolled out from the bellies of the Stormbirds, quickly forming a defensive perimeter around the transport aircraft alongside soldiers fully clad in Solar-pattern void armor.

Almost at the same moment, a sharp screech echoed from within the Mechanicus Sanctum.

In an instant, countless six-limbed creatures sprouting purple chitinous shells entered their field of vision.

Genestealers.

Bang!

A bolt shell flashed past, precisely shattering the skull of a xenomorph, subsequently sending severed limbs flying through the monster's ranks.

Following closely was a dense web of fire woven from pyre-blasters and lasers, pinning the xenomorphs that had yet to stick their heads out in the directions of various exits.

"Saturate with firepower, maintain distance, pay heed to communication channel orders at all times, and individual Astartes fire teams will prioritize heavy threats and elite entities."

Romulus commanded.

"Remember, leave no survivors, do not engage in close-quarters melee entanglements with multiple xenomorphs, and do not make any attempts to consume xenomorph neural cells for information gathering."

The originally eager Space Sharks and Black Templars came to a halt.

"Understood!"

The warriors, who had intended to charge into the enemy ranks to demonstrate their valor before their elder, obediently raised their heavy shields, forming the first layer of defense against the tidal wave of aliens.

Well, what choice did they have when faced with all these Terminator suits, power weapons, and pyre-blasters?

If you accept gifts from your elders, you have to obey them.

The dense fire network echoed through the top floor of the Mechanicus Sanctum.

Romulus meticulously directed every line of fire, striving to ensure that these munitions achieved optimal results upon discharge.

"Archmagos, we need to open up new fields of fire."

Noticing that the firepower was overly concentrated and wasteful, Romulus said.

"Please do as you wish; the sacred temple of the Omnissiah should not become a sanctuary for xenos."

Cawl replied: "I will direct the deployment away from the main architectural axis."

"Stormblade, fire at the designated coordinates."

Upon gaining the Archmagos's permission, the Stormblade within the perimeter fired directly into the interior of the sanctum following precise guidance.

The plasma blasters produced in Ryza spewed dense plasma, piercing through the layered walls of the sanctum, vaporizing the xenomorphs along the trajectory while exposing numerous lurking aliens to the field of view of lighter firepower.

Among them were not only nimble creatures swift as flying insects, but also a group of purple giants whose entire bodies were covered in bloated muscles.

Boom!

The Emperor's Bane immediately discharged its main gun, the shockwave overturning a vast expanse of xenomorphs attempting a charge. When the ringing in everyone's ears ceased, the crater blasted out by the shell had already transformed into a steaming swamp of flesh and blood.

Yet the xenos' charge did not pause for even a split second.

Before the soldiers could even cheer for the achievements of these sacred vehicles, more shadows trampled over the remains of their kin and charged toward the defense line.

Bang!

A Rending Claw flew through the air, and the Inquisition guard captain paid it no heed.

At his side, a fully equipped Cadian auxiliary soldier reached out and yanked him backward.

Screech—

Amidst a splatter of blood, the guard captain collapsed to the ground.

"What on earth are these things?"

Hastily activating his blood dialysis device to filter out the toxins, the guard captain rose unsteadily, noticing the breach in the void armor on his chest and the Rending Claw deeply embedded in the Baneblade's armor plating.

"Thank you, you saved my life."

He expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

The Cadian, however, silently pulled the trigger.

They had witnessed this creature aboard the strike cruiser.

Equally swift, equally terrifying.

Screech—

A laser beam dissolved into the cranium, destroying its physiological structure.

The fiery glow that ignited the air reflected nothing more than the fanatical gazes of these xenomorphs, projecting into the eyes behind the Cadian's ocular lenses.

Equally devoid of fear of death.

"Unity, inclusion, the nectar capable of nurturing every one of us, and the claws that enable us to defend ourselves in the eyes of heretics and xenos—all of these are bestowed upon us by the God-Emperor."

Inside the Administratum of the upper spire, a bald woman spoke in a loud voice.

"Praise be to you, God-Emperor!"

"May Your arms, capable of embracing the stars, grow ever more boundless."

"May Your vision of watching over humanity span across the galaxy."

"May Your subjects stand steadfastly by Your side when the great day of ascension arrives."

"Praise be to You!"

Everyone at work was infected by this sentiment, as if all fatigue had been dispelled at this very moment.

They extended their arms, revealing varying numbers of limbs, alongside skin that grew dark keratin and shimmered with a translucent purple glow.

Subsequently, the devout believers bowed in reverence.

"Oh, Four-Armed Emperor!"