Chapter 162: Bukayo's Pre-Battle Deployment

While the Third Legion was en route to the Modian System, Bukayo Arshavin began to tame his Psy-cat.

He had just pulled the ginger-furred Psy-cat from its cage when he met its azure gaze.

The Psy-cat instantly unleashed the Mind-type "Fear," pulling Bukayo into the darkest, most terrifying Nightmare.

Bukayo felt the surroundings grow dim and gloomy; he walked through a bloody battlefield in a daze, clutching his Power Sword.

Sturdy corpses clad in black armor lay upon the ground, the number "XI" branded on their right knees, and a deep black crescent moon painted on their right shoulder pads.

The Dark Lord felt sorrow for the death of his battle-brothers, but his attention was immediately drawn to a towering, giant figure.

"Father!"

He let out a mournful cry as he watched the Gene-Father, the King of Vostonia, fall.

Bukayo's eyes were brimming with sorrow, "Is this my Nightmare? The thing I fear most!"

He held his sword in his left hand and struck his chest hard with his right fist, his voice resonant and powerful as he swore an oath.

"I will never allow this to happen!"

Bukayo's eyes flashed, and he broke free from the dream.

The "Nightmare" looked at the Psy-cat in his hand, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Now, let me see what your nightmare is."

As Bukayo spoke, he used "Forced Dream Induction" to drag the Psy-cat into a nightmare.

In a dim tunnel, foul-smelling sewage dripped onto it, drop by drop.

Behind it, the heavy, deliberate footsteps of the Order Shadow echoed, intentionally slowed and stomping on the ground; the Psy-cat panicked and bolted.

Yet, no matter how it ran, the heavy footsteps never vanished; its pointed ears twitched and spasmed from the constant stimulation.

The Psy-cat sped through several passages, and after sprinting for over a dozen kilometers, it was caught by the black-armored giant and lifted into the air.

The ginger cat-like creature twisted frantically in the palm of the "Nightmare," screaming in terror.

"You used 'Fear' on me once, and you want to try a second time?"

"When it comes to making people dream, I am far more skilled than you."

The Psy-cat did not understand the Vostonian language he spoke; it only tried in vain, again and again, to use "Fear" on the black-armored giant.

After a long while, it finally came to its senses and found itself in a lush forest.

The Psy-cat looked around in confusion, tilting its head to think for a moment.

A moment later, unable to figure out why the terrifying black-armored giant had disappeared, it gave up.

The Psy-cat did not trouble itself; although it could increase its master's speed of thought, it was not good at thinking itself.

It habitually resumed the elegant gait taught by its former master, strolling through the forest.

Just as the Psy-cat was enjoying the beautiful scenery, the calm forest suddenly changed.

A massive rhinoceros-like creature came charging with heavy strides, the ground trembling violently, and the trees blocking its path were shattered.

Humanoid creatures shaped like rats emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with a ghostly light as they rushed toward the Psy-cat.

A new nightmare had begun.

The "Nightmare" used one dream after another to make the Psy-cat feel fear, then offered it warmth.

On the eleventh standard day of the ship's voyage, Bukayo successfully tamed the Psy-cat and established a psychic link with it.

In the fourth week of the voyage, the fleet jumped out of the Warp and returned to the real world; Sanchez ordered the Sound Array Masters to broadcast on the communication channels.

Multiple languages were broadcast across all communication channels, announcing the rise of the Human Empire and demanding that the Modians lay down their weapons and surrender to the expeditionary fleet.

After being refused, the Third Legion annihilated the space defense forces of the Modian System within five stellar days with absolute naval superiority.

Even with the battle going smoothly, the commanders of the Third Legion sensed something different about the Modians; not a single warship surrendered or fled under unfavorable conditions.

After the space battle ended, a holographic projection in the Bridge's Strategy Room magnified Modian.

The light and darkness of Modian were clearly demarcated.

Samir, a First Captain of Terra-born descent, looked at the gradually magnified side of eternal night and sighed.

"It is hard to imagine that so many people are crowded into an area only one-tenth the size of Terra to survive."

"Another difference from places like Vostonia is that the Hive Cities of Modian are all pyramid-shaped."

Second Company Captain Mikhailovsky spoke up, his words drawing a nod of agreement from Third Company Captain Geleigori beside him.

Samir looked at the two Company Captains, his gaze sweeping past the two Psy-cats beside them, and a dimness could not help but flash in his eyes.

Only Bukayo, Mikhailovsky, and Geleigori in the Third Legion had obtained Psy-cats; the First Captain did not care much for psychic pets, as he cared more about the trust of the Gene-Father.

He was not a member of the Royal Court of the Dark Lord.

When the Legion was still the "Reapers," he, Saisake, and Robin were the only ones among the twelve Company Captains who were not, and they were also the only ones who did not become Chapter Masters.

Jealousy and loss gnawed at Samir; he clenched his fists, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

【This is my chance; I must prove to everyone that I am the one who should become Chapter Master, and I am the one who should receive the Father's attention.】

While Samir was deep in thought, the Dark Lord magnified the capital, Vanandra, and the pyramids in the four surrounding directions; the data Ninglu had written on the Data Slate appeared in his mind.

"Modian is resource-poor, and everything is controlled by the rulers known as the Four Emperors."

"The Four Emperors control and ration the planet's meager resources; to control Modian, we must deal with them."

"According to Father's wishes, Modian will become our Chapter's future recruitment world, so destruction is not our goal; efficiency and preserving this world as much as possible is our strategic objective."

As Bukayo spoke, he raised his left hand and tapped the pyramids in the four directions of the capital.

"Based on our strategic objectives and the situation on Modian, I have decided to lure the Four Emperors into the Wasteland between the capital and their own pyramids."

"The Second through Fifth Companies will attack these four pyramids respectively, and the Four Emperors will surely lead their teams to reinforce them."

"During the fierce battle, I and the First Company will board Drop Pods and land rapidly behind their forces, allowing us to avoid the urban warfare they excel at within the steel capital the Modians have built."

The Dark Lord explained his plan to the five Company Captains.

The Modians were the kings of urban warfare in the future Astra Militarum, especially skilled at fighting in environments such as warships, satellite space stations, and Hive City urban centers.

Ninglu naturally reminded Bukayo on the Data Slate that the Modian people have firm wills and are especially skilled at urban warfare.

Geleigori has always been cautious and meticulous; he keenly grasped the key point of the plan.

"If the Four Emperors do not lead their troops to support, then our plan will fail."

His good friend Mikhailovsky was full of confidence in Bukayo's plan, and he spoke up.

"Geleigori, the greedy Four Emperors will certainly fall for it."

"Think about it, if they lose their own pyramids, their strength will inevitably be greatly damaged, and the foundation of their rule will also be threatened."

"Even if they do not fall for it, after we capture the four pyramids, we will not be attacked from both front and rear when we attack the Modian capital."

Mikhailovsky's words won the approval of all the Commanders of the Third Legion.

Geleigori also approved of his friend's judgment; they had passed Bukayo's test together to become Warriors of the Wosituoniya Fourth Regiment, and had also undergone the Gaizao Shouhu together to become Astartes.

Geleigori knew that beneath Mikhailovsky's optimistic exterior lay a keen insight and ability for cold analysis that few people discovered.

"Since you have no questions, proceed with your preparations according to the plan."

As the Commanders left, Samir looked at the holographic image, silently searching for potential room for maneuver within Bukayo's plan.

(End of this chapter)