Chapter 974: A Poor Wretch on the Verge of Collapse

Flagship "Firm Bastion", outer corridor of the Command Center.

Norn shook his head.

He could not retreat; he was the Legion Commander of the "Fist of the Firmament"!

If even he showed cowardice, then the entire fleet, the hope of the entire Sixth Star Sector, would be finished.

Norn growled lowly.

"Disgrace... must be washed away with blood! Order! All members of the 'Fist of the Firmament' First Honor Guard Company, rally to me immediately! Repeat, First Honor Guard Company, all personnel assemble! Clear all invading enemy Tactical Squads within the ship! Leave not one alive!"

Norn could no longer tolerate any crimson figures rampaging on his flagship.

After the order was issued, Norn reconnected to the battlefield network to understand the external war situation.

The boarding operations had failed almost completely; the "Guardian" forces participating in the boarding had suffered heavy losses, and contact had been lost within many ships.

And that crimson Capital Ship fleet was enduring the bombardment of peripheral firepower while continuously harvesting his fleet.

How could this be?

Meanwhile, lower hangar area of the "Firm Bastion".

A Thunderhawk Gunship with crimson and gold paint, avoiding anti-air cannon fire and launching interceptors, successfully landed in a relatively empty landing zone.

The hatch opened slowly.

Sanguinius stepped onto the deck of the Alien flagship.

His tall frame was encased in golden Power Armor, and his snow-white wings emitted a faint glow.

The Power Spear held in his hand flowed with destructive energy.

Behind Sanguinius followed an action team composed of twenty of the strongest Blood Angels.

There were still some sporadic Fengqi defenders and ground crew in the hangar, and they saw Sanguinius and the others who had suddenly appeared.

Some soldiers had just raised their weapons when they became incomplete corpses under the bolter fire of the action team.

Sanguinius's gaze swept across the hangar, and he spoke.

"Carlos, the energy signal of the Alien Commander is located in the upper Bridge area. We will head directly to the target. Clear all obstacles on the path, but there is no need to be drawn into a protracted battle."

"Understood, Father!"

Action Team Captain Carlos replied briefly.

There was no unnecessary mobilization, no impassioned war cry.

Sanguinius walked toward the passage leading to the upper Bridge.

The action team spread out in a combat formation, guarding the left and right.

The action team moved very quickly.

Any resistance encountered along the way disintegrated before the attacks of the Blood Angels action team and the power of Sanguinius.

Sanguinius rarely needed to take action himself.

Only when encountering targets that wasted a bit of time would he make a move.

Once, three "Guardians" charged side-by-side, Energy Swords held high.

Sanguinius merely waved his Power Spear casually, and a massive force sent those three "Guardians" flying backward, smashing them into the bulkhead, their Power Armor twisted and deformed.

Another time, a thick blast door fell.

Sanguinius did not stop his pace; he raised a hand and pressed it against the door.

The next moment, that alloy door began to rapidly turn into crimson liquid from the center point, dripping to the ground and revealing the terrified faces of the defenders behind it.

Sanguinius was like a walking natural disaster, an embodiment of rules.

The members of the action team followed closely behind, their hearts filled with reverence and fanaticism for their Primarch.

Fighting alongside Sanguinius was in itself a supreme honor and the practice of Faith.

"Firm Bastion" upper level, perimeter of the Command Center.

Norn had just rendezvoused with the First Honor Guard Company.

A full one hundred gray giants gathered in the spacious central hall.

With this force, Norn believed it was enough to purge the remaining invaders within the ship; perhaps he could even turn the tide of the battle?

This thought had just arisen when it was crushed by a sudden pressure.

A fear stemming from the instinct of life descended upon every "Guardian", Norn included.

Immediately after, the alloy gate at the end of the hall emitted a loud boom.

Scorching white light shone through the cracks in the door, and then, the entire gate burst inward and melted with a roar!

Amidst the swirling smoke and scorching heat waves, a figure slowly stepped in.

Golden Power Armor, snow-white wings, that Power Spear burning with power in his hand... and a perfect face.

Sanguinius!

Norn's soul told him the identity of the visitor at this moment.

This was the name the Blood Angels Sergeant had whispered before he died!

The source of the power of those crimson monsters!

Fear devoured Norn.

All his previous anger, unwillingness, and pride turned to dust before this existence.

Sanguinius's gaze fell upon Norn, who was heavily protected by the Honor Guard Company, and he spoke in a calm tone.

"Alien Commander. Your resistance ends here."

"Fire... fire! Everyone! Aim at him! Fire!"

Norn roared, his voice distorted by fear.

One hundred "Guardian" honor guards raised the weapons in their hands.

Open fire on that holy figure!

Sanguinius slightly raised his Power Spear, and a layer of soft energy field unfolded with him as the center.

The dense attacks struck that energy field, failing to stir even a ripple before being completely annihilated!

Sanguinius took a step, walking toward the direction of Norn. The strike team rushed out from both sides of Sanguinius, engaging in a melee with the honor guards attempting to intercept them.

The members of the strike team were already the top powerhouses among the Blood Angels; at this moment, under the radiance of the Primarch, they erupted with combat power far exceeding their usual levels.

"For the blood of Sanguinius!"

Sanguinius ignored the surrounding attacks and walked straight toward Norn.

Any "Guardian" that approached him would be sent flying by an invisible force while still several meters away from Sanguinius, or turned into dust by a casual wave of the Power Spear.

Norn watched his honor guards, so fragile before that existence.

Norn raised his Power Sword, mobilized his psychic power, and the blade erupted with dazzling light.

"For the Star Alliance!"

Norn let out a desperate roar and launched a charge toward Sanguinius!

This was his final dignity as a Legion Commander and as a "Guardian"!

Sanguinius looked at this Alien Commander charging toward him, his eyes calm.

The Power Sword that Norn swung down with all his might was gently pinched by two flawless fingers encased in Power Armor, just one foot away from the top of Sanguinius's head.

Time froze at this moment.

All of Norn's strength, all his psychic power, and all his rage vanished between those two fingers.

Norn looked up, meeting Sanguinius's pair of blue eyes.

In those eyes, Norn saw his own reflection.

A pathetic wretch on the verge of collapse.

Sanguinius's fingers applied a slight force.

Crack!

Norn's Power Sword, inlaid with an Energy Core and symbolizing the authority of the "Fist of the Firmament" Legion Commander, snapped in half!

The next moment, the Power Spear turned into a streak of light, gently tapping Norn on the chest.

Norn felt a surge of pure, destructive energy pour into his body, destroying his enhanced internal organs, bones, nerves... and even his soul.

At the final moment before his consciousness dissipated, only one thought remained in Norn's mind.

What... exactly... have we... provoked...

Sanguinius withdrew his Power Spear, not even glancing at the corpse slowly falling to the ground, his gaze sweeping across the hall where the battle had basically ended.

The strike team cleared out the last few resisting honor guards and awaited Sanguinius's orders.

"Target eliminated. Notify the fleet to prepare for a full-scale counterattack."

"Yes! Father!"