Chapter 1395: Military Parade (1)

Yingzhou finished his speech, and the cheers in the plaza gradually subsided.

Luojia presided over the ceremony once more.

"The military parade, now begins!"

The melody of the military band shifted from solemn to impassioned.

On the thoroughfare of the Central Plaza, the first phalanx appeared in people's field of vision.

The Cadian Shock Troops.

Their steps were uniform and synchronized, each footfall landing on the beat of the drums, emitting a dull, thunderous sound.

The soldiers wore standard Cadian-style helmets, the lenses on their faceplates reflecting cold light under the sun.

They held their laser guns in their hands, muzzles pointed upward, stocks pressed against their shoulders, the angle of every single rifle identical.

The officer leading the formation held the military banner, the face of which depicted the Cadian Gate.

On the Viewing Platform, Morus of the Ash Star Alliance leaned slightly forward.

He had seen the Cadian Shock Troops before, at a garrison base on the border of the Ash Star Alliance.

Those soldiers usually wore training fatigues and looked no different from ordinary soldiers.

But at this moment, on the parade ground, the Cadians made him feel an invisible pressure.

"Their pace..."

Morus said in a low voice.

Weilakesi, standing beside him, chimed in.

"Perfectly consistent."

Lasu tapped his fingers lightly on his knees, attempting to keep up with the rhythm, but soon gave up.

"Too uniform. How many years of training does this require? Our own troops can't even march in step."

Zeke'er retorted stubbornly.

"What does that count for? Consistent pacing is useless on the battlefield. Does it make a soldier any stronger?"

But at this moment, no one responded to Zeke'er.

Following the Cadian Shock Troops was the Death Korps of Krieg.

Grey uniforms, grey helmets, grey respirator masks.

Their pace was heavier than the Cadians'; the entire phalanx made no sound other than the thunderous impact of military boots against the ground.

Their weapons were the Lucius Model 98 laser gun, with an entrenching tool hanging at their waists—the hallmark of the Kriegers.

Their very existence was a declaration.

Gaiwusi said in a low voice.

"Lord Tailesi, these people... they don't look like living men."

Tailesi looked at him.

"It seems their legion culture is one of atonement. Death is their only release."

Gaiwusi's throat moved.

"Atonement for what?"

Tailesi shook his head.

"I don't know, but their will to fight is beyond doubt. On Chengjia Star, the casualty rate of the Kriegers on the first line of defense exceeded eighty percent, yet their morale did not break, nor did they collapse."

Gaiwusi fell silent.

He stared at that grey phalanx, stared at those faces whose expressions were obscured beneath respirator masks.

What were they thinking? Fear? Pain? Despair? Or were they thinking of nothing at all?

Behind that phalanx were the Modian Iron Guard.

Their ornate uniforms and towering hat brims made them quite eye-catching.

The Modians were known for their strict discipline, and their army was built upon that very discipline.

The Vantria Noble Regiment.

They were among the best-equipped and most strictly trained units in the Astra Militarum.

Their pace carried an innate sense of pride and honor.

The Armageddon Steel Legion.

Grey-black uniforms, heavy armor, followed by a large number of armored units; they were adept at armored formation warfare.

The Tallarn Desert Raiders.

Sand-yellow uniforms, lightweight armor.

Adept at desert warfare and rapid raids.

One phalanx after another marched past the Viewing Platform.

Each phalanx brought different colors and a different temperament.

Zeke'er's complexion grew increasingly unsightly.

It was as if every soldier was saying: We are ready. To the battlefield, to kill Aliens. Anytime, anywhere.

After the Astra Militarum phalanxes had passed, a low roar came from the sky.

Hundreds of Thunderhawk Gunships flew in from the southeast, arranged in neat formations.

This caused the Alien representatives on the Viewing Platform to look up involuntarily.

When the formation flew over the Viewing Platform, they dropped to their lowest altitude. The roar of the Thunderhawk engines was deafening, and the teacups on the Viewing Platform trembled slightly.

Some of the representatives began to shake.

Lasu said in a low voice.

"Their air force... no, not an air force, they are airborne troops. These Thunderhawks can break through the atmosphere directly and deploy forces from orbit to the planet's surface."

Ayubu asked.

"Have you seen them before?"

Lasu said.

"In intelligence reports, but this is the first time seeing them with my own eyes."

Zeke'er did not look at the Thunderhawks.

He watched the civilians in the square; they were cheering, waving flags, and taking pictures of the sky.

Those steel machines flew over their heads, the engine roar deafening, yet they felt no fear, only pride.

After the Thunderhawk formation flew past, the melody of the military band changed again.

The melody was low and slow.

The first Space Marine phalanx appeared on the passage.

Deep blue Power Armor.

Ultramarines.

Their steps were heavy and uniform; every warrior was like a moving Fortress.

A Bolter hung at the waist, a Chainsword was sheathed on the back, and helmets obscured their faces.

No expressions could be seen, only the flickering light in their lenses.

Gaiwusi whispered.

"Lord Tailesi, are they... the Primarch's Space Marines?"

Tailesi nodded.

"Ultramarines. Guilliman's Legion. One of the most powerful Space Marine legions in the Bode Star System. They suffered heavy losses closing the rift. But at the third-anniversary celebration of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, they can still field a full-strength company to participate in the parade."

The second phalanx appeared immediately after.

Black Power Armor.

Raven Guard.

Their steps were not as heavy as the Ultramarines'.

But Corax's legion is known for reconnaissance and infiltration, yet they do not only fight in the shadows.

At this moment, under the sunlight, they were still deadly assassins.

The third phalanx.

Deep red Power Armor.

Their pace was faster than the Ultramarines', carrying an aggressive air.

Sanguinius's legion, known for melee combat.

The fourth, fifth, sixth... eighteen phalanxes walked past the Viewing Platform in turn.

Each phalanx represented a Primarch's Space Marine legion, each carrying a unique color and temperament.

White, green... every legion had its own heritage and history, but they gathered under the same banner.

The Alien representatives on the Viewing Platform were already speechless.

Their gazes moved from the first phalanx to the last; every phalanx made them feel an invisible pressure.

Full-strength companies, pulled from the battlefield, returned from the front lines of the Zerg invasion.

They still bore the marks of battle on them; there were bullet holes, claw marks, and bloodstains on their Power Armor.

Zeke'er clenched his fists and said in a voice too low to be heard.

"Our Luoke Empire's army... could also be like this, no worse than them."

Morus heard, but did not reply.

What was the point of saying this now? It was meaningless.

He only wanted to know, how many more such armies did the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance have?

These were only the ones here to participate in the parade.

How many were there of those stationed at the borders, those Space Marine companies mopping up remnants in the Canaan Sector, those executing a Task on the Emperor's chessboard?

It was simply unimaginable how that Emperor kept such a massive war machine running.