Chapter 208: Open the Can!

A scorching defensive laser pierced the violet void shield and surged toward the heart of the battlefield.

The body of the Swarmlord let out a wail, and the colossal beast collapsed beneath the Angel Bastion's most massive defensive weapon.

This defensive laser stemmed from technology of ten thousand years past, an ancient weapon personally commissioned and designed by a Primarch during the Great Crusade; it is said another Primarch, whose name has been forgotten, also aided the Great Angels.

These ancient lasers required long periods to accumulate power for a single shot, yet each discharge could bring down a Tyranid Titan or a Tyranid bio-ship in orbit.

The swarm grew even more enraged, roaring as they charged toward the Angel Bastion protected by the violet void shield.

Countless attacks rippled across the void shield, shimmering like daylight stars.

The defenders within the Angel Bastion returned fire with Icarus lasers, autocannons, and heavy bolters.

The cracking of chitinous carapaces and the wails of dying xenos intertwined, forming a symphony of death.

The corrosive ichor within their bodies splashed onto the desert, rising into pale bubbles before either sinking into the sands or being swallowed by the scattered, thirsty waters nearby.

The Blood Angels warriors were unleashing firepower from the ramparts; fully ten thousand Astartes guarded the hall of the Great Angels of old.

Only a tiny fraction of the swarm penetrated the barrage, most of them being the hardened-shelled Executioners.

They withstood the relentless firepower poured forth by the Blood Angels and the mortals, charging forward to the battle line.

Dante stood firm within the line; his jump pack propelled him upward, burning promethium to generate vector thrust, sending him plummeting from the sky toward an Executioner charging before the void shield.

The ancient meltagun in his hand roared, instantly tearing through the chitinous carapace of an Executioner.

The power axe in his other hand cleaved in an instant into the carapace of another Executioner attempting to pounce on him.

The Blood Guard followed closely behind; the power swords, power axes, and meltaguns in their hands roared as they, alongside Dante, swept away the Tyranid beasts attempting to breach the void shield.

Blood-soaked, angry roars erupted as Captain Fennel led the Crimson Angels out of the line; the quenching of their blood thirst granted them immense power, especially those who had consumed the blood of Sanguinius, fighting like wild beasts.

Fennel had voluntarily taken on the most dangerous battle on Baal Prime, just as the Blood Knights had voluntarily gone to the most dangerous Baal Prime.

Yet Fennel never expected that Dante would fight side by side with him.

Fennel's power sword tore through a Genestealer attempting to pounce on him; he led the Crimson Angels to cooperate with Dante, the Blood Guard, and the rampart's fire net, swiftly clearing the xenos before the void shield.

Dante gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment, then ignited his jump pack and leaped back onto the ramparts.

Blood Thralls quickly stepped forward to replenish the fuel consumed in his jump pack.

The gravity of Baal Prime is extremely strong, and the jump pack fuel is consumed very rapidly.

Just then,

A scorching laser shot toward the sky, and then burning Tyranid bio-ships, like meteors, tore through the sky of Baal and plummeted into the desert.

The mortals and Astartes within the Angel Bastion almost simultaneously let out a war cry filled with excitement.

This had happened many times before; whenever a bio-Titan or bio-ship fell, the defenders within the walls would erupt in an exhilarating cheer.

The number of colossal beasts on the battlefield gradually decreased, and the swarm changed tactics once more.

The Hive Mind's adaptability to the battlefield far exceeds that of humanity; in previous engagements, the swarm had already attempted several tactics.

Dante must keep pace with the Hive Mind's rhythm and quickly adjust suitable tactics to counter it.

This left Dante feeling exhausted; perhaps only a Gene-Primarch could bear such a responsibility. Dante could not help but think of Zhou Yun and Mortarion underground.

However, Dante knew he could not place all hope on this; he must hold fast to the void shield.

The key to everything is the void shield; as long as the void shield exists, the swarm will grow duller and duller, shatter bit by bit, and ultimately be defeated by hunger.

The void shield must be held fast; the longer the void shield stands, the greater their chances of victory.

"Ah!!!!" A wail rang out beside Dante.

Dante saw Kobro suddenly collapse to the ground, clutching his head and letting out a wail.

This Blood Priest, possessing immense psychic and prophetic abilities, seemed struck by a tremendous shock; his entire body trembled.

Dante slowly turned his head; he felt his mind was unclear, his attention scattered, and even felt his soul had forgotten how to breathe. A powerful sensation of suffocation pressed upon his lungs, and the dizziness of oxygen deprivation struck his brain.

It was not just him; nearly all the Blood Angels standing on the ramparts let out wails.

"What new Tyranid evil is this?!" Captain Fennel asked, almost wailing.

"No!" Kobro trembled his arm and roared in a low voice: "This is not Tyranid!"

"This is something more evil. It has come. It is the Old Night! The Old Night has returned."

The mortals fell into convulsions; the Space Marines endured pain unlike any before; the psykers wailed and roared, and even the void shield swayed inexplicably.

Dante staggered, leaning against the rampart; he almost felt the entire world rising and falling, matter no longer solid, reality no longer trustworthy.

His soul felt sick deep within; Dante trembled as he raised his head.

The sky was burning.

The endless downward spiral staircase was packed with Bloodletters; these servants of the Blood God roared as they charged toward Zhou Yun.

But Mortarion and Seth formed his guard.

Mortarion wielded a silver-steel long sword, from which fine blades of light constantly erupted, shredding any demon that drew near.

Seth roared as he wielded the chainsword named Bloodreaver in his hand, tearing the demons apart with brute force.

Zhou Yun also occasionally grabbed approaching demons, stuffing them into a four-dimensional pocket to sell directly.

This method could completely eradicate Warp entities, preventing them from resurrecting in the Warp; its effect was similar to Guilliman's Hua Hua Hua Di Huang's Sword.

Mortarion chanted a low incantation of some sort of sigil; this seemed to be some ritual or password. Whenever he passed through an archway, nearby photon candles would ignite with his voice, erupting with red flames that illuminated the gem-encrusted carvings on the walls.

These carvings tirelessly depicted the glorious deeds of Sanguinius.

If not for the lack of time now, Zhou Yun truly wanted to pry all the gems off them.

Seth's chainsword roared as it shattered a screaming Bloodletter; a carefully carved archway appeared before the group.

The archway was carved with a scene that would break the hearts of all Blood Angels: the Hua Hua Hua Di Huang's Hand created Sanguinius and the Sons of Horus, then killed Sanguinius.

Gabriel Seth could not help but let out a sigh.

Mortarion then chanted a riddle in a low voice; this archway slowly opened, and a rich, golden light flowed out from within.

The Bloodletters let out low wails, as if this golden light was driving them away.

Zhou Yun and the others quickly entered through the gate, stepping into Saint Geraint's tomb.

"My Lord," Gabriel Seth murmured involuntarily,

and the Flesh Tearers warriors following beside him seemed deeply shaken as well; some even knelt on one knee, unable to restrain themselves from whispering prayers.

There lay a heart of molten gold, shimmering with amber light that illuminated the entire marble-forged tomb chamber.

The Spear of Victory, once wielded by the Primarch, rested within the chamber, yet this relic, which in the outside world would have shaken the souls of every Blood Angel, drew not a single glance from those present.

They were all stunned by the magnificent sight before them; emotions of wonder, awe, and worship rippled through every heart, melting into the holy light before their eyes.

Three towering granites harvested from the three stars of Baal stood upon the high platform in the center of the tomb; between the three massive stones symbolizing the three stars of Baal extended a pair of colossal angelic wings forged from silver steel, brass, and orichalcum.

Every single feather was cast from a portion of a loyalist starship from the Great Crusade era.

Some came from the Blood Angels' own fleet, others from fleet commanders and generals who had once served under Saint Geraint's command, and still more from Guilliman, the Khan of Chogoris, Lion El'Jonson, and Roboute Guilliman—these Primarchs, along with the Adeptus Custodes, also contributed portions.

Inscribed upon these feathers were words of remembrance, honoring Saint Geraint's sacrifice.

Floating between the metallic wings were a pair of brass halos; within the halos were various mechanical structures, their outer shells polished and plated with a color resembling the sun of Baal.

A stasis field within the brass halos operated silently; suspended within the halo was a golden sarcophagus.

Though called a golden sarcophagus, its essence was actually a mass of liquid molten gold, maintained in a liquid state by the stasis field, its surface constantly surging and raising waves.

For the past ten thousand years, this golden coffin had never cooled, forever guarding the corpse within.

Guarding Saint Geraint, the Great Angel and Lord of Blood, Warmaster of the Ninth Legion, the Primarch among Primarchs.

The apex of the galaxy, the Imperium's answer, the noble Saint Geraint, the meatball punched by Horus.

Zhou Yun couldn't help but complain inwardly,

thinking that the reason the sarcophagus was shaped this way was because the state of Saint Geraint's corpse was too horrifying.

A mass of shattered bones and sodden rotting flesh; if a Blood Angel with an unsteady mind saw it, they would likely fall into the Thirst and the Black Rage on the spot.

"Mephiston, open the can—oh no, open the coffin!"

Mephiston's expression shifted slightly, strange; he did not understand why Zhou Yun was so obsessed with comparing his Gene-Father to a meatball or a can.

But Mephiston asked no more questions, instead rapidly chanting a spell—

"Wha——————" But before Mephiston could finish, he suddenly let out a low roar, terrifying blood vessels appearing across his entire face.

Not only Mephiston, but Seth and the others simultaneously let out a cry of agony filled with pain, as if their souls had been struck.

Zhou Yun was slightly stunned, suddenly noticing that the winged figure within the white light in the corner of his eye had become much clearer.

"My friend."

After leaving the Underworld Galaxy, Zhou Yun heard his voice clearly for the first time:

"Ten thousand years have passed; the shadows of the Old Night have caught up with humanity once more."

"The Great Rift has opened; one of my brothers is about to break through the barrier erected by another of my brothers—"

Almost the instant the winged figure in the white light finished speaking, a beast-like roar suddenly echoed through the entire tomb chamber.

Zhou Yun heard the screech of a saber cutting through the air and a roar filled with rage.

(End of this chapter)