Chapter 1359: Arriving at the Source

Deep in the Viridian Sector, above the orbit of experimental planet X-7-009-3.

Horus's Luna Wolves and Pharox's Iron Warriors formed an impenetrable steel defensive line on the planet's periphery; the salvos of macro-cannons and torpedoes tore the bio-ships attempting to approach to pieces one by one, but the number of Zerg continued to increase.

Those bio-ships returning from all over the sector were pouring into the battlefield in an endless stream.

On the bridge of the flagship "Loyal Soul," the holographic projections of several legion representatives gathered together.

Horus stood in the center, and the holographic star map in front of him marked over forty red high-energy signal points on the surface of the experimental planet. Information about the arrival of the Ultramarines fleet as reinforcements flickered on the holographic screen.

Twenty-five companies of Ultramarines, followed closely by thirty Warhound-class Titans and one hundred and twenty Tailin Knight Mechs that had come from the Ash Star Alliance.

Horus's finger drew an arc across the star map.

"The Luna Wolves and Iron Warriors will remain in orbit. Our task is to intercept the Zerg bio-ships; we cannot let a single one approach this planet."

Pharox's voice came through the communication device, carrying the hard texture unique to the Iron Warriors.

"The Iron Warriors' artillery fire will not stop. If ammunition is replenished and we fire at full capacity, we can hold for three hours at most."

Horus nodded.

"Three hours is enough. The anchor points on the ground must be destroyed within three hours."

He turned to the other four.

"Sanguinius, Corax, Magnus, Octavius, the four of you take your teams down. The Blood Angels, Raven Guard, Thousand Sons, and Ultramarines, along with all Titans and Knights, are to be committed to ground combat."

Octavius's voice was steady.

"The Ultramarines are ready for a combat drop, with all twenty-five companies assigned to the landing sequence. Lord Horus, what is the target for this descent?"

Horus pointed to those markings on the star map.

"The Zerg have deployed at least forty stable anchor points on the planet's surface; they are the energy nodes maintaining the rift. They must all be destroyed. Orbital fire cannot be used for full-scale bombardment for fear of shattering the rift, so we must rely on ground troops to remove them one by one."

Magnus hovered in a corner of the holographic projection, red psionic light flickering faintly around him.

"The Thousand Sons can coordinate with the ground offensive, using psychic suppression on the Zerg communication nodes."

Sanguinius's wings unfolded slightly in the projection.

"The Blood Angels can serve as the vanguard. My warriors excel at melee combat; the more Zerg ground units there are, the better—I will kill as many as come."

Corax stood in the corner, his black eyes bottomless.

"The Raven Guard will be responsible for reconnaissance and decapitation strikes. Find the core of the anchor point and take it out."

Horus looked at the star map.

The density of Zerg defenses on the planet's surface was increasing rapidly.

Their reinforcements were not just in space; more and more Zerg units were emerging on the ground—Tyranid Warriors, Hive Tyrants, Brain Bugs, Lictors, and several massive Carnifexes were prowling around the anchor points.

"Prepare for a combat drop."

Horus's voice carried an unquestionable majesty.

"Magnus, advance with the main force; Titans and Knights provide cover at the front; Corax, infiltrate from the flanks; Sanguinius, clear the path ahead; Octavius's Ultramarines are responsible for both wings. Everyone, there is only one target: the anchor points."

The holographic projections nodded in unison.

The drop pods detached from the orbital ships, trailing long tails of fire as they shot into the atmosphere of the experimental planet.

The surface of the experimental planet was like a piece of rotting flesh.

Zerg biomass covered every inch of land; stepping on it was like stepping on slippery internal organs, viscous liquid oozed from the gaps, and the air was filled with a nauseating, sour stench.

The Tianqiong was stained an unnatural color by the purple light of the rift, and the light of the star was filtered by thick clouds of biomass, leaving only a dark red halo.

The first batch of drop pods landed, the hatches exploded, and the Blood Angels' Space Marines poured out of the positions.

They wore red power armor, their chainswords and bolters tearing through the swarms of Zerg rushing toward them.

Sanguinius's wings unfolded behind him as he flew in front of the nearest Hive Tyrant; the Tyrant Guard could not block his slashes at all.

The Hive Tyrant swung its bonesword toward his head.

Sanguinius sidestepped, his spear piercing the Tyrant's skull; the speed was so fast that the surrounding Zerg did not even have time to react.

"Blood Angels, advance toward twelve o'clock."

Sanguinius's voice echoed in the communication device.

"Ultramarines, cover the flanks. Thousand Sons, follow closely behind the main force."

The landing zone expanded rapidly within fifteen minutes.

Thirty Warhound-class Titans descended from the sky, the seventeen-meter-tall steel giants making the ground tremble with every step.

The Adeptus Mechanicus's instructions were transmitted rapidly through the data link.

"All Titans, advance forward. Charge the volcano cannons, target the heavy troop clusters around the Zerg anchor points. Knight House, maintain mobility on the flanks and coordinate with the Space Marines' ground offensive."

The Tailin Knight Mechs followed closely behind, the nine-meter-tall Knight Titans forming several assault phalanxes, their rapid-fire cannons and chainswords tearing through every Zerg vanguard in their path.

Magnus was the last to land.

The Thousand Sons' flagship landed directly behind the landing zone, and after the hatches opened, the Thousand Sons' psionics quickly established a psionic barrier around the perimeter.

Red psionic light converged into a visible pillar of light at the center of the landing zone.

Thirty minutes after landing, the Zerg's elite units began to appear on a large scale.

The Tyranid Warriors' boneswords shimmered with a bone-white luster under the dark red light; each one possessed extremely fierce frontline combat capabilities, and their antennae emitted intense psionic commands to the surroundings, organizing the charges of the Termagants and Hormagaunts to be as dense as a tide.

The Blood Angels' warriors were locked in a death struggle with them.

Every slash of the Tyranid Warriors' scything talons was accompanied by crushing force, but the Blood Angels avoided the frontal strikes, their chainswords hacking into the gaps in the carapace, spraying insect blood.

Hive Tyrants appeared on the left and right flanks.

The Hive Tyrants' four massive scything talons waved in the air, and the size of their boneswords was enough to cut Terminator Power Armor in two with a single blow.

The Ultramarines' assault squads fought back fiercely, yet they lost several Space Marines in succession.

The Tyrant Guard were their personal bodyguards, the massive humanoid carapace creatures using their giant claws and fangs to hold the front, using their flesh and blood to absorb long-range fire for the Hive Tyrants.

Lictors infiltrated from the flanks of the swarm.

They were almost completely invisible on the biomass-covered surface, with only the slight depressions in the ground as they moved revealing their tracks.

They approached the Ultramarines' command squad silently; a sergeant was ensnared from behind by a Lictor's strangling tentacles, and a Scything Talon pierced his chest simultaneously, before the other squad members could even react.

The Ultramarines began to pull in their flanks.