Chapter 1357: The Advance of Horus (2)

Deep in the Viridian Sector.

The Zerg's final line of defense spread out in space.

Countless bio-ships were densely packed in the star field, their chitinous carapaces gleaming with a sickly luster under the starlight.

Escort-class Zerg creatures darted around the Mother Ship, with Spore Cyst Launchers hanging from the Mother Ship's underbelly.

This was the nest point established by the Tyranid in the Bode Star System; the mirror rift was right here, and the Zerg army was pouring in through this very rift.

The Iron Warriors' fleet formed up on the front line.

Three hundred Capital Ships arranged themselves in three horizontal lines, all gun muzzles aimed at the swarm.

A Mars-class Battlecruiser sat in the center, its heavy armor gleaming coldly under the starry sky.

The Iron Warriors' ships had no ornate paint jobs, no complex decorations, only steel and artillery.

Pharox stood on the Bridge, staring at the Holographic Star Map.

The Zerg's bio-Mother Ships were packed so densely they almost filled the entire screen.

"All ships, prepare for a full volley of long-range Macro-cannons. Target: the central cluster of the swarm. Disrupt their formation and open a path for the subsequent assault."

Hundreds of Macro-cannons fired simultaneously, the Rune Bullets trailing high-heat wakes as they sped silently through the vacuum.

The first wave of shelling landed precisely in the densest area of the swarm, the bio-ships' chitinous carapaces exploding one after another before the heavy shells.

Zerg blood, carapace fragments, and visceral remains drifted through space.

But the swarm was too large, too numerous.

Destroyed bio-ships were pushed away by their peers from behind within minutes, and new Mother Ships filled the gaps.

Escort-class Zerg surged from all directions, using their flesh and blood to block the Human artillery fire.

Dunba stood on the Bridge of the *Loyal Soul*, reporting the situation to Horus.

"Father, after the Iron Warriors' first volley, the number of the swarm has not significantly decreased; their replacement speed is too fast."

Horus did not look away.

"Tell them, do not stop. The Iron Warriors' Macro-cannon firepower is the only means to suppress the swarm head-on; as long as the shelling does not stop, the swarm cannot advance at full speed."

Pharox's order was relayed throughout the Iron Warriors' fleet.

"Adjust trajectory, cover the swarm's left flank cluster. Target: areas dense with Escort-class Zerg."

The Iron Warriors' artillery fire shifted to the left flank.

A net of fire woven from Light Lances and Rune Bullets harvested lives within the swarm.

Escort-class Zerg shattered in swathes under the artillery fire, their corpses piling up in space.

But the swarm's counterattack was equally fierce; Bio-Plasma shot from the depths of the swarm, trailing green wakes, and struck several of the Iron Warriors' Frigates.

The Iron Warriors' artillery continued to bombard the front of the swarm, creating space for other legions to cut in.

The Luna Wolves' Destroyers struck out from behind the Iron Warriors' line.

They were fast, highly maneuverable, and equipped with a large number of Torpedoes.

Dunba relayed Horus's order over the Communication Device.

"All Luna Wolves assault units, full Torpedo volley. Target the rear thrusters of the Zerg bio-Mother Ships."

The Luna Wolves' Destroyer groups split into over a dozen squads, approaching the swarm from different angles.

Torpedo tubes opened, and hundreds of Torpedoes streaked across the starry sky, trailing blue wakes.

The Zerg's Escort-class creatures attempted to Intercept, but there were too many Torpedoes, and they were too fast.

Most Torpedoes exploded among the escort clusters, clearing the blocking Zerg, while a few Torpedoes passed through the escort defense line and hit the rear of the bio-Mother Ships with precision.

The light of explosions lit up one after another deep within the swarm.

The tails of the struck bio-Mother Ships burst open, Zerg blood and viscera gushing out as they careened crookedly into their companions nearby.

Chain explosions destroyed dozens of bio-Mother Ships within seconds.

The Luna Wolves' Destroyer groups wove through the swarm, using ship-mounted artillery to clear out Escort-class Zerg attempting to counterattack.

One Destroyer was struck in the bow by Zerg Bio-Plasma; the hull shattered, and the crew died instantly in the vacuum.

Another assault ship was surrounded by several Escort-class Zerg, whose tentacles tore the hull apart, triggering internal explosions.

Dunba's voice sounded again.

"Father, sixty percent of the Torpedo reserves have been consumed."

Horus said.

"Continue. Before the Torpedoes are exhausted, the swarm's defensive line must be torn open.

Magnus needs space to deploy the psychic array; we must carve out a path for them!"

The swarm's retaliation came quickly.

Dozens of bio-Mother Ships turned simultaneously, aiming their belly-mounted Spore Cyst Launchers toward the Human fleet.

Spore Cysts were launched like a rainstorm, each one containing dozens of Zerg combat units—Termagants, Hormagaunts, and even a few Tyranid Warriors.

Once a Spore Cyst breached the fleet's anti-aircraft fire and collided with a ship's hull, the Zerg inside would break out and launch an attack inside the ship.

The Iron Warriors' ship-mounted Close-in Defense System opened fire.

Thousands of Rapid-fire Laser Cannons wove an impenetrable net of fire above the fleet.

Spore Cysts were blown apart in space, Zerg limbs and bodily fluids freezing into ice crystals in the void.

"All ships, Close-in Weapon System at full power!"

Pharox ordered over the Communication Device.

"Do not let any Spore Cysts get near the fleet."

The Luna Wolves' Destroyer groups also joined the Intercept.

They were more agile than the Capital Ships and could use ship-mounted laser cannons to precisely lock onto the rapidly approaching Spore Cysts.

Most Spore Cysts were destroyed in areas far from the fleet, but a few still slipped through.

An Iron Warriors Capital Ship was struck on its broadside by a Spore Cyst.

The chitinous shell burst open, and Termagants swarmed out of the Spore Cyst, drilling into the ship's interior along the damaged armor.

The Iron Warriors warriors on board reacted quickly, engaging in bloody close-quarters combat with the Zerg in the corridors and compartments.

Soon, the Zerg inside the ship were wiped out.

Pharox's face was ashen.

"Notify all ships to strengthen broadside anti-aircraft fire. Do not let any more spore creatures get close."

Corax's Raven Guard Destroyer squadron struck out from the flank of the Iron Warriors.

The Raven Guard ships were so black they were almost invisible, their movements stealthy against the backdrop of the starry sky.

Corax stared at the target marked on the Holographic Star Map: the massive Bio-ship in the center of the Zerg swarm.

That was the Zerg's temporary Command Node in this star sector; destroying it would paralyze the swarm's coordination and create a greater advantage for Magnus's Psychic Storm.

"Raven Guard, prepare for boarding."

Corax's voice was calm.

"Target: Zerg Central Command Bio-ship. All Destroyers, cut in at full speed and execute boarding. Do not linger once inside the mother ship; find its Neural Node and destroy it."

The Raven Guard Destroyer squadron lunged toward the Zerg swarm at extremely high speed.

The Iron Warriors' artillery fire paved the way in front of them, destroying the Zerg Frigates blocking the path.

Magnus's Psionic Lightning exploded behind the Zerg swarm, further disrupting the Zerg's defenses.

The Raven Guard Destroyer squadron successfully broke through the outer perimeter of the Zerg swarm and latched onto the carapace of the Central Command Bio-ship.

The hatches exploded, and Corax led the Raven Guard Space Marines in a boarding action into the interior of the Bio-ship.

The tunnel walls were composed of living tissue and were still slowly undulating.

Chainswords slashed through the visceral wall membranes blocking the way, and Bolters blasted a bloody path through the narrow corridors.

Corax walked at the very front of the squad.

Any Tyranid units that came to block them were killed.

Soon, they found the Neural Node of the Zerg Central Command Bio-ship—a massive, pulsating tumor connected to countless tentacles, the core of the entire swarm's temporary command system.

One of Corax's claws stabbed into the Neural Node.

Psionic Lightning surged into the interior of the node, and the tumor convulsed violently and burst.

The body of the Central Command Bio-ship began to lose control, the Zerg Frigates scurried about in confusion, and the flight trajectory of the Bio-ship became erratic.

"Retreat."

Corax gave the order.

"Target destroyed. All Destroyers, withdraw from the swarm; the Iron Warriors will provide us with cover."

The Raven Guard Destroyer squadron successfully withdrew within fifteen minutes and returned to their own lines.

The Iron Warriors' artillery fire blocked the Zerg's pursuit route.

Dunba reported to Horus.

"Father, Lord Corax has successfully destroyed the Zerg Central Command Bio-ship. The coordination of the Zerg fleet is declining, and their offensive has clearly slowed."

Horus nodded.

"Notify Sanguinius that the left flank can begin a feint. Have the Luna Wolves apply pressure on the right flank. Magnus's Thousand Sons Legion is to begin psionic charging."