Chapter 452

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Protagonist:

Lin En

Lena

The first thing that met Lin En's eyes was a world completely twisted and distorted.

A massive Purple Warp Domain, like a hideous giant eye, hung across the sky of Middle City.

Its influence had already covered nearly one-third of Middle City's urban area.

The laws of reality within the domain had been corrupted and warped by the power of Chaos.

On the outer walls of the originally gray-black industrial district factories, disgusting tumors and constantly writhing blood vessels had grown.

Floating in the sky were Tzeentch Demons, everywhere, spreading whispers that bewitched the mind.

Thousand Sons warriors clad in Blue Power Armor walked the twisted streets, their helmets carved with the strange runes of the Lord of Change, their Force Swords flashing with cold psychic light.

Behind them followed countless Chaos Cultists and mutant monsters, roaring as they charged the Imperial defenders' lines.

The battle was exceptionally fierce.

Over thirty percent of Middle City's urban area had already completely fallen, the defenders forced to retreat to the second defensive line, barely holding on by relying on the thick walls of the industrial district.

But strangely, the Chaos Army, holding absolute advantage, did not press their attack, but instead all stopped their advance.

They neither rushed toward the Upper City Core District nor spread toward the Lower City Slums, but instead entrenched themselves firmly within the occupied zone.

Thousand Sons sorcerers waved their staves, setting up psychic arrays at key nodes in the streets.

The cultists relied on heavy factory machinery, using thick alloy steel plates and engineering machinery to build temporary defensive fortifications.

There were even groups of mutant creatures digging trenches and laying traps at the edges of the street districts.

They were deliberately sealing off the borders.

All main streets, alleys, and underground pipes leading into the interior of the occupied zone were blocked tightly by ruins and believers.

The defenders' reconnaissance drones and Servo Skulls, once they approached the edge of the domain, would be shot down by sudden attacks.

Now no one could see what was being brewed in the Core Area of the Warp Domain, only seeing Chaos troops constantly surging out from the depths to reinforce the forward defensive positions.

"They're building fortifications?" Lin En's pupils contracted slightly, a chill surging up from his heart.

This was too abnormal.

Chaos troops were known for being unpredictable and launching mad assaults, especially the believers of Khorne.

They would never, like now, honestly squat in the occupied zone building bunkers and digging trenches.

This was not the posture an invader should have, but rather like... like they were preparing for long-term garrison, to resist an impending large-scale attack.

Resist whom? The Tithe Fleet? The Vanguard Army?

Or, was he hiding the Bug Swarm on the two Dead Worlds?

Once this thought emerged, it spread wildly in his heart like weeds.

Lin En only felt a chill run down his back, cold sweat instantly soaking his back clothes.

The Bug Swarms on Dead World-A and Dead World-B were his deepest hidden trump card.

Billions of Bug Swarm troops were stationed on two unvisited dead planets, able to reach Brevis at any time through Hive Fleet gravity jumps.

He thought he had done this flawlessly, not even his confidants Gus and Butcher knew the details, with Lena controlling everything alone throughout.

But what if the people of Tzeentch had already spied on it?

The Thousand Sons Legion, Tzeentch's chosen, were best at probing the flow of fate, catching clues from countless timelines.

They might not see specific coordinates, nor hear specific dialogue.

But they could perceive from the tide of fate the breath of a terrifying predator lurking in the dark, capable of devouring the entire star system.

Their choice to descend upon Middle City was by no means a random decision.

Middle City was the area where Brevis's industry was most concentrated, possessing the richest strategic resources, the most complete industrial facilities, and countless mechanical equipment and weapons ammunition.

As long as they occupied here, they, needing no provisions, could quickly rely on the complex terrain and solid buildings of the Nest Capital to build impregnable outposts.

They had never thought from the beginning to take all of Brevis in one breath.

Their goal was to first occupy this "treasure land of feng shui" of Middle City, gain a foothold, and wait for the Bug Swarm to descend.

The cuckoo occupies the magpie's nest.

They wanted to use Brevis's Nest Capital fortifications to resist the Tyranid Bug Swarm he might summon.

"Good calculation." Lin En gritted his teeth, his voice carrying a trace of cold anger.

No wonder they weren't in a hurry to kill him, nor in a hurry to expand their battle results.

Trapping him was just to delay time, so he couldn't detect the true purpose immediately.

Once they turned Middle City completely into a wall of copper and iron, even if he threw caution to the wind and mobilized the Bug Swarm, he would have to pay an extremely heavy price to take it down.

By then he would lose big.

"I can't let them succeed." Lin En immediately made a decision.

"Lena, immediately convey my order through Isud."

"Speak."

"First, mobilize the main force of the Vanguard Army in Upper City, unite with the State Religion Combat Sisterhood, the private armies of the Loyalist Nobles, to form the North Route Allied Army, and launch a general attack from the Middle City Upper Entrance."

"Don't worry about my side; Saint Galus Castle underground is easy to defend and hard to attack, these Chaos Believers can't break in for a while."

"Their target isn't me either, no need to waste a large number of troops on me."

"Second, notify the grassroots garrison troops of the Vanguard Army in Lower City, unite all mobilizable lower-level armed forces."

"The Scavenger Alliance, gang mercenaries, and factory guards will form the South Route Allied Army and launch an attack from the Middle City Lower Entrance."

"Tell them: win this battle, and every participant receives one month's rations; the families of those who fall in battle will be provided for by the Governor's Mansion."

"Third, detach a squad of Pioneer Army elites to cooperate with the Combat Nun elite unit and form a rescue squad; they only need to pin down the enemy on the Outer Areas — no forced breakthrough."

"Preserve main force strength; prioritize destroying the Chaos outposts in the Middle City."

Lin En's orders were clear and decisive, without a shred of delay.

He knew very well that the most critical thing right now was not his own escape.

Rather, it was to shatter their Warp Domain and drive the Chaos Forces off Brevis before the Thousand Sons Legion could fully turn the Middle City into a fortress.

As for himself, the Saint Galus Castle underground passages were intricate and complex, and newly built defensive fortifications had been erected.

As long as he held a few key nodes, even twice as many Chaos Believers would not easily break in.

Staying a few more hours was completely within his tolerance.

"Received. The order has already been synchronized to Isud." Lena's voice sounded quickly.

"The Upper City troops have begun assembling, the Pastors are prepared, and the Nobles understand the risks of this Chaos Invasion — no one is shirking responsibility."

"The Lower City response is even more enthusiastic; facing a planetary survival crisis, they say they will fight voluntarily even without rations."

Lin En nodded; this was within his expectations.

Humans may be selfish creatures, but in the face of duty to home and country, they never stint on courage and unity — such fine virtues.

"One more thing." Lin En's tone grew heavy.

"Contact the Bug Swarm of Dead Silent World-A, and have Yaduoduo ready for combat; all combat units enter Level One alert."

"If the Imperial Army cannot hold, if the Thousand Sons Legion truly gains a foothold..." a trace of resolve flashed in his eyes.

"Even if it exposes the existence of the Bug Race and Green Skins, I will absolutely not let Brevis fall into Chaos hands."

This was his bottom line.

The Empire's Tithe can be negotiated, the Nobles' conflicts can be mediated, but Chaos cannot.

Once Chaos takes root on Brevis and the Warp Domain completely envelops this Planet, everything is over.

By then, forget development — even Biomass will be contaminated and become unusable to the Bug Swarm.

"Mm!" Lena's voice also turned serious.

"I've already sent word to the Dead World.

Yaduoduo, upon receiving Lin En's message, also said it can bring the Grots over at any time and launch a Da Waaagh against Chaos.

Lin En nodded, his gaze cast toward the battlefield below.