Chapter 93: The Final Opportunity Given to Saisake

After ending the communication, Ninglu issued orders to each Company Captain.

"Prepare for battle; our next target for conquest is the mountain world where the Ogryns are hiding."

After a moment of thought, he sent separate messages to Fourth Company Captain Adams and Seventh Company Captain Sanchez.

"Select your men to form my Honor Guard."

Both Company Captains realized that only their companies had received this honor, and they simultaneously had the same thought.

【As knights of the Black Royal Court, we are trusted by the Primarch more than members of other Legions, enjoying this honor alone.】

Above the orbit of the planet marked 33-5, the Void Hunter.

The Company Captains of the Eleventh Legion cast their gazes toward the silver-haired mortal standing beside the Command Throne; he was actually so close to the Gene-Father.

Just as they were speculating about the mortal's identity, the Primarch spoke.

"Let us hear the tactical briefing."

"I have not yet appointed an attendant; Sanchez, you arrived earliest and have already grasped the situation, so you shall do it."

"As you command, Father."

After becoming a "Hunter," the Seventh Company Captain painted seven red arrows on his right shoulder pad, with the central arrow piercing through the entire shoulder pad.

Three arrows were scattered on each side; the arrows closest to the center were three-quarters the length of the central arrow, and moving outward, they were one-half and one-quarter the length of the central arrow, respectively.

Sanchez picked up the Control Staff and waved it once.

Detailed holographic images flickered and appeared above the platform where the Command Throne was located, displaying the galaxy overview, orbital diagrams, and the positions and headings of each ship.

The Seventh Company Captain waved the Control Staff, pointing at the planet with the official designation 33-5, which had just been reported for registration with the Imperium's Departmento Munitorum, and magnified its holographic image.

"According to the results of the Auger Matrix scan, the diameter of this planet is 5104.02 kilometers; it is a world composed of mountains."

Sanchez flicked the Control Staff and pointed at a spot; this area was black and stood out conspicuously in the green holographic image.

"The area of this region accounts for about one-tenth of the entire planet's surface."

"It is worth noting that the signal in this area is abnormal, interfering with the Auger Matrix's scan."

Ninglu leaned back on the throne, his left hand tapping lightly on the back of the chair.

"Cause of the anomaly?"

"The Sage of the Adeptus Mechanicus has made a preliminary assessment that it is a magnetic field anomaly in this location."

Ninglu nodded slightly, signaling the Seventh Company Captain to continue.

The Control Staff tapped another spot, and he continued.

"The scan shows that this area has the strongest life signs and is the largest gathering place for Ogryns in the known region, marked as 33-5-001."

"..."

After listening to the tactical briefing, Ninglu took all the information into his mind and completed his tactical conception within seconds; he decided to give the First Captain one final chance for a test.

"Saisake, your company will follow me to attack 33-5-001."

The First Captain, naturally, struck his chest with his right hand amidst the envious gazes of the other Company Captains.

"Father, the First Company will become the sharp butcher's knife in your hand, giving..."

Ninglu interrupted Saisake, "Not a butcher's knife, but the Order Shadow."

The First Captain's mouth twitched imperceptibly, and he said nothing more.

Ninglu caught the resistance expressed in the emotions of Saisake, Third Company Captain Samir, and Eighth Company Captain Robin, and he said with a heavier tone.

"You are no longer Reapers; I want to see your transformation, to overcome your bloodlust."

"Do not let me down!"

Ninglu saw with satisfaction that Second Company Captain George was thoughtful and moved, but he also noticed that Saisake and the other two still showed no obvious change.

His black eyes flashed, and he thought silently in his heart.

【Let us see if their actions change; if not, once Howard, Bukayo, and Thierry finish their modifications, I will arrange them into the three companies respectively.

Then, combined with organizational structure reforms and other Vostonia-descended personnel, I will gradually influence and change the three companies.】

The Primarch then arranged the attack targets for each company one by one, leaving only the Seventh Company.

"Sanchez, your company's target is that anomalous region."

"Your mission is to ascertain the situation and, if circumstances permit, proceed with conquest."

Ninglu decided to give the "Hunter" a chance to hunt.

The meeting ended, and each company immediately began pre-battle preparations.

Subsequently, each company boarded landing craft and headed to the surface.

The Honor Guard beside Ninglu consisted of twenty-seven Order Shadows from the Seventh Company and twenty Warriors from the Fourth Company.

There was also a mortal on the landing craft, Arsena Dunn.

Ninglu did not bring Malena; during this period of large-scale Legion modification, the "Physician" would be studying on the Milaojiapans, using her extraordinary abilities and Biochemical Psionic powers to timely save Candidates whose surgeries failed.

The landing craft landed on the surface, and Arsena, who followed Ninglu out of the deck, immediately felt the gravity pressing down on him.

His body trembled, and he almost knelt on the ground.

The silver-haired psyker raised his hand slightly, and telekinetic force tightly wrapped around his entire body, isolating the physical influence.

Ninglu felt that the gravity of this planet was higher than 33-4, but for a Primarch, it could not be said to have no effect, only that it was negligible.

The members of the Honor Guard beside him felt their steps become heavy, but it did not affect their ability to perform in combat.

Saisake saw the Honor Guard behind Ninglu and could not help but feel a trace of anger and loss in his heart.

【The warriors of the First Company are the most excellent; this time, I must prove myself to the Primarch.】

Saisake, who had been scolded earlier, did not provoke the Gene-Father; he said on the company channel.

"Brothers, today is the best opportunity for us to prove ourselves to the Gene-Father."

"For the King!"

Ninglu looked at the First Company Warriors before him and reminded them over the command channel.

"Control your desire to kill; you are not Reapers, you are Order Shadows!"

"Move out!"

The squad immediately set off toward the identified area, the largest settlement of the Ogryns, a mountain peak at an altitude of 5,400 meters.

On the mountain, Ogryns scattered throughout the gray forest carried large clubs fashioned from trees, taking long strides as they chased prey in the woods.

Suddenly, an Ogryn as tall as an Astartes saw the squad surging up from below the mountain and shouted loudly to his kin.

"Below..."

"Big..."

"Black..."

"Iron skin..."

The Ogryns carried their clubs and excitedly gathered around, looking at the squad below the mountain.

Another Ogryn, whose left hand was missing, asked blankly.

"Eat?"

Smart Head, the Ogryn with the largest head, touched the top of his head with his left hand; he saw a short creature and another giant without a helmet, and shouted affirmatively.

"They, can eat."

The Ogryns immediately let out excited howls, moved their bare feet, and charged down the mountain.

Saisake's ocular lens captured the Ogryns charging down from the mountain, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Charge!"

The First Captain, as always, launched the charge first, with his honor guard by his side.

The Astartes collided with the Ogryns, and Saisake's figure flashed, dodging a club that swung down.

He slammed into the Ogryn to his front-left at Rapid speed, causing the enemy to stagger while driving his Chainsword into the enemy's abdomen.

Ninglu noticed that the First Captain was thrusting and parrying through the crowd; he was like an efficient killing Machine, and every time he swung his Chainsword, an Ogryn fell.

【Although Saisake is addicted to slaughter, he still instinctively seizes the enemy's weaknesses.

He will not meet the Ogryns pouncing from above head-on to engage in a contest of brute force with them.

He will charge at the enemy from the side, striking at the enemy's weaknesses.】

High on the mountain, more and more Ogryns were attracted by the sounds of battle.

Although Ninglu was displeased that Saisake had not used a lure tactic to weaken the Ogryns by drawing them to flat ground, he was satisfied that the First Company Warriors had not lost control.

Just then, the Ogryn with the largest head revealed a ferocious grin on his face; he suddenly killed his way out from the side, and his club smashed heavily onto Saisake's body.

The First Captain was knocked sliding down several meters; he steadied his body, the suppressed killing intent in his black eyes erupted instantly, and he tilted his head back to let out an angry roar.

(End of this chapter)