Chapter 673: Arrived Too Late

Just as Vulkan and the Salamanders Legion were tearing the frontal demon horde to pieces, a Cadian shock troop force pierced fiercely into the demons' chaotic formation from the flank!

"For Cadia! For the Emperor!"

"Cadia stands!"

Accompanied by distinct war cries and the deafening roar of engines, the Cadian shock troops finally caught up to the Salamanders Legion's pace, launching an attack on the already chaotic demon horde!

Leading the charge were several Leman Russ Tanks painted in the iconic Cadian khaki and olive green camouflage.

Their heavy tracks crushed the scorched earth, their main turrets rotated steadily while in motion, and their 120mm Battle Cannons pointed toward the panicked demon horde.

Near the Leman Russ Tanks were the more agile Chimera Armoured Transports, their roof-mounted Multi-laser turrets locking onto targets and firing wildly.

The troop compartments of the Chimera Armoured Vehicles opened rapidly, and Cadian soldiers wearing Cadian uniforms and Bulletproof Armor poured out like a bursting flood.

They dispersed quickly in squads, establishing fire points relying on the armored vehicle hulls and the terrain.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The 120mm Battle Cannons of the Leman Russ roared with a thunderous sound.

High-explosive Shells exploded among the dense groups of retreating demons, instantly tearing a dozen lesser demons into burning fragments, the shockwaves even sending more distant demons flying.

Armor-Piercing Shells accurately struck a massive Plague Troll, opening a hole through its rotting torso, and foul-smelling pus gushed out from the gap.

"Zzzzt—Vroom!!"

The Multi-laser turrets of the Chimeras sprayed dense Laser Beams, sweeping across the demons like scorching rain; the Laser Beams easily pierced the bodies of low-level demons, igniting and carbonizing them.

The Laser Guns in the hands of the Cadian soldiers fired continuously; although the power of a single shot was far inferior to the Bolters of the Space Marines, the terrifying quantity and precise volleys made up for everything.

The demons charging at the front were instantly riddled with holes and fell while emitting black smoke.

The Heavy Bolters on the Chimera Armoured Vehicles specifically targeted those thick-skinned demons, the shells easily tearing through the demons' muscles and bones.

"Hiss—Boom!"

A Cadian soldier held a Plasma Gun aimed at a massive Lava Troll; as the overcharged coils of the Plasma Gun emitted a unique sound, a blue Plasma sphere was fired.

After hitting the target, they exploded violently, vaporizing the lava demon or blowing it into unrecognizable charcoal, leaving behind patches of molten, glass-like craters.

The addition of the Cadian shock troops instantly shattered the demons' flank!

The demons, already in chaos due to the frontal crushing by the Salamanders, were now attacked from both front and rear, falling into complete panic and disorder.

"Flank! The Cadian brothers have arrived!"

A Salamanders Sergeant's voice rang out on the communication channel, his tone carrying a hint of approval.

As he spoke, he smashed a lesser demon attempting to ambush him into the ground with one punch.

"Trooper, well done."

Another Salamanders Space Marine holding a Chainsword commented briefly; he swung his sword to decapitate a Flayer demon, his gaze sweeping over the dense fire net on the flank.

The Cadian soldiers also saw Vulkan, who was invincible in the center of the battlefield.

When Vulkan's Warhammer once again smashed a demon commander—who was trying to rally the retreating troops—along with its axe into a puddle of meat, a thunderous cheer erupted from the Cadian soldiers: "Long live the Primarch!"

Vulkan's presence not only inspired the Salamanders but also greatly increased the courage of these Cadian soldiers, who firmly believed that victory would belong to the Human race!

Vulkan naturally noticed the movement on the flank as well.

His reddened gaze swept over the figures of the Cadians fighting bravely, and he nodded slightly.

He did not stop his pace, but his booming voice clearly reached the ears of every Cadian soldier.

"Cadian soldiers! Your loyalty and courage are worthy of the glory of victory! Continue to advance! Together with my sons, crush them!"

The recognition from the Primarch made this group of Cadian soldiers instantly boil with excitement; this was the recognition of a Primarch!

These Cadian soldiers roared, braving the sporadic counterattacks of the demons, and under the cover of the Chimera Armoured Vehicles, they formed a perfect pincer offensive with the Salamanders Legion, squeezing toward the remaining demons.

The Cadian soldiers followed behind the Chimera Armoured Vehicles, using the vehicles as mobile cover, and cleared out the demons with dense laser fire.

Cadian flamethrower troops stepped forward, using Promethium flames to incinerate the piles of demon remains.

The demons had nowhere to escape and could only put up a final, desperate struggle.

Their weak resistance appeared very ridiculous and futile.

The roar of the Chain Saw, the explosion of the Bolter, the screech of the laser, the roar of the tank, the wailing of the demons... various sounds mixed together; the battle was nearing its end.

Soon, the last group of demons putting up a desperate resistance was completely surrounded.

The Bolters of the Salamanders Space Marines, the lasers of the Cadian soldiers, and the main guns of the Leman Russ Tanks fired simultaneously!

The dense firepower instantly engulfed this last group of demons.

It was not until the demon remains on the battlefield were completely incinerated by the Cadian soldiers using flamethrowers that a sound of breaking through the air appeared in the sky.

"Whoosh—Boom!!"

The sharp sound of breaking through the air came from far to near, instantly tearing through the smoke and the scorched, foul-smelling air hanging over the battlefield!

Immediately after, five silver-white figures smashed fiercely onto the scorched earth where the slaughter had just ended!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Five Grey Knights wearing Holy Shield Pattern Power Armor walked out of the deep craters with their respective weapons, and Valantis's eyepiece scanned the entire battlefield.

The scorched, smoking earth, covered with craters and demon remains.

The thick smell of smoke and burning Promethium in the air, and... the faint, blasphemous aura that was rapidly dissipating after the demon remains had been thoroughly purified.

The brow under Valantis's helmet furrowed imperceptibly.

The scanning array built into his helmet operated at high speed, analyzing the residual energy signals on the battlefield, the depth of the craters, the distribution of corpses... all data was coldly displaying one fact.

An annihilation battle against demons had just ended, and it had ended in an absolute victory for the Humans.

They had arrived too late.

They had missed the entire battle.

The four Grey Knights behind Valantis also scanned the battlefield through their eyepieces; they exchanged a silent glance, and the Power Weapons in their hands lowered slightly.

The atmosphere of victory permeating the air formed a subtle contrast with the cold, ready-to-strike killing intent they carried, which had been prepared for purifying demons.

Valantis walked straight toward Vulkan in the center of the battlefield, the servo joints of his Holy Shield Pattern Power Armor emitting a low hum.

The surrounding Salamanders Space Marines noticed them. Some warriors cast curious or scrutinizing gazes, but most were calm.

Valantis stopped a few meters in front of Vulkan and looked up at him.

He clenched his right fist and struck it heavily against the left breastplate of his armor, which was covered in holy prayers, producing a clanging metallic sound; this was the highest respect for a Primarch.

"Lord Vulkan."

Valantis's voice came through the loudspeaker of his helmet.

"Grey Knight Purification Squad, Captain Valantis, reporting for support as ordered."

His cold lenses swept once more across the chaotic battlefield, now devoid of any trace of Demons, his tone carrying a hint of almost imperceptible... confirmation?

Or perhaps, a statement regarding his squad missing the battle?

"It seems... the first phase of purification has already been... efficiently completed by you and your sons."

Valantis paused, looked toward the area deep within the Demon territory where the darkness was deeper and the aura of profanity more intense, and added.

"We... seem to have arrived a bit late. Please provide instructions for the next step, my lord. The filth of the Demons has not yet been eradicated, and the source of the threat remains in the depths."

They had missed the beginning, but they would never miss the end.