Praetorian Guard

Amid the roaring flames, the giant mutant staggered out with a howl.

It wasn't dead yet!

The atmosphere at the scene instantly froze.

Fortunately, it was already at the end of its strength. After only a few steps, it crashed to the ground and died for good.

Only then did Rhea and Kais let out a breath, slumping against the fortifications.

Artillery fire still echoed throughout the entire Pipeline District. It seemed the other companies were still fighting.

Just as Ari was preparing to have the company rest and reorganize, fate seemed unwilling to favor them. Heavy footsteps sounded once more from the transport pipeline ahead of their position.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The entire transport pipeline shook. This mutant was even more terrifying than the last!

"A bigger one's coming!" Kais swallowed.

Ari forced himself upright and looked toward the opening.

A massive body emerged from the darkness. It stood roughly four meters tall, muscles writhing and contracting all over its body as it radiated savage strength.

It stood there silently, its enormous bloodshot eye fixed upon them.

It craved violence and flesh!

The soldiers could feel the emotions of the giant mutant before them, and despair seized them.

They could no longer mount any effective resistance.

Yet Ari still forced himself to stand, raising his pistol with his only remaining arm. "Form up!"

"This is suicide!"

Kais stepped beside Ari, furious. "We can't deal with this monster at all!"

"Yes, we're committing suicide!" Ari grinned. "But we can't let this damned monster charge into the residential district, can we?"

The soldiers dragged their wounded bodies together once more, preparing to face their final fate.

Just as they were ready to die valiantly, a small Assault Gunship arrived and hovered above the giant mutant.

A golden lion, the emblem of Grant House, was emblazoned upon the Assault Gunship. Aid from the Palatine District had arrived!

Carter, captain of the Praetorian Guard, led two Praetorians as they leaped from the cabin and slammed into the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

The Praetorian Guard had now been completely reequipped. They wore magnificent, heavy white mixed Plasteel power armor and carried oversized Bolters.

Standing over two meters tall on average, they looked like younger versions of Adeptus Astartes.

Ron had dug those weapons and armor out of the Church's treasury, greatly enhancing the Praetorian Guard's strength.

Of course, they were still far from true Adeptus Astartes.

But against ordinary monsters, they were more than sufficient.

Like the big brute before them.

Provoked, the giant mutant's muscles suddenly contracted as it charged Carter and the others.

Carter and the Praetorians made no unnecessary movements. They simply advanced with steady steps.

They raised their Bolters and pulled the triggers, punching one bloody hole after another through the enemy's massive body.

Once it entered melee range, they lowered their guns, raised their oversized Chainswords, and continued forward!

The giant mutant rushed up before the Praetorians, swinging down its fist with all its momentum.

It wanted to crush these hateful insects flat!

CLANG!

Carter raised an arm and blocked the blow. The tremendous impact traveled through his feet, cracking the ground beneath him.

It was unimaginable that he had actually blocked the monster's attack!

ROAR!!!

The giant mutant raised its hand and smashed down again, trying to crush the insect before it, who was only half its height.

But it was still useless. It roared in fury.

The next second, a rapidly spinning Chainsword plunged into its abdomen, bringing searing pain.

Before it could even howl, however, its legs went numb.

The Chainswords swung by the other two Praetorians had nearly severed its thighs!

The giant mutant collapsed before Carter with a thud.

It propped itself up and raised its head, seeing only Carter's cold face and hearing the dreadful sound of a Chainsword entering its brain.

Carter's Chainsword cut vertically into the giant mutant's skull, nearly splitting its head in half.

The giant mutant fell, motionless and silent.

Carter and the others withdrew their Chainswords, raised their Bolters, and emptied their magazines into the corpse until it was nothing but mangled flesh.

Carter ended the battle by tossing out an incendiary grenade.

They turned and headed back toward the cabin, leaving behind only a heap of burning rotten meat.

Not a single sound had been uttered throughout the entire fight.

That was the Praetorian Guard: cold and efficient.

The Praetorian Guard numbered over a hundred. They were the Palatine District's strongest armed force and the foundation of Ron's rule.

Carter gave Rhea a slight nod before entering the cabin with the Praetorians. The Assault Gunship immediately took off and flew toward another position.

They had received orders to eliminate every large monster.

More than a dozen large mutants had suddenly appeared in this mutant tide, causing devastating casualties among the Defense Force.

Upon receiving the calls for help, the Governor had immediately dispatched the Praetorian Guard to reinforce the Pipeline Defense Zone.

The Praetorian Guard was the Governor's final line of defense and could not be deployed lightly.

For the Governor's safety, they had to resolve the problem quickly and return to the Palatine District.

Watching the Assault Gunship fly away, Ari and the others finally relaxed.

Even the Governor had sent out the Praetorian Guard. There was no enemy they could not handle now.

"Those guys are really strong!"

Ari stared at the pile of burning mutant flesh and could not help sighing.

Kais curled his lip. "They all underwent body-modification procedures with extremely high mortality rates. How can ordinary people like us compare to them?"

"Do you think I have a chance? Maybe the Governor could modify me too."

"That's the Palatine District's highest secret. If you don't want to die, ask fewer questions. I heard even the previous Governor was killed by an Inquisitor over this."

Kais walked over to inspect the mutant remains, seeming to have discovered something.

"How do you know everything, kid?" Ari crouched down beside him.

"Because I use my brain, unlike you, you reckless beast!"

"Hah, you're right. I don't like using my brain."

"Something's wrong." Kais picked several mechanical components out of the mutant remains. "I have reason to believe this thing was artificially created."

"Artificially created... Who made it? Those Homan House bastards? Warband scum? Don't tell me it was those Heretics in the Lower Hive? There has to be some huge conspiracy behind this!"

Ari scratched the back of his head and thought seriously. His brain felt itchy, as though something was about to grow out of it.

"We're just grunts. Why worry about that? Report it and let the big shots in the Palatine District worry about it."

"Why didn't you say that earlier? You made me waste my brainpower!"

The artillery fire in the Pipeline Defense Zone gradually died down. With the Praetorian Guard's support, the Defense Force completely dealt with this mutant tide.

The war was over, and the Logistics Department's convoys arrived at the positions one after another.

Logistics Personnel in black armor quickly climbed down from the vehicles and began their work.

But the Logistics Personnel ignored the wounded soldiers' groans, even watching them die before their eyes.

The Logistics Department had come to the battlefield to collect the mutants' flesh and the soldiers' flesh. All of it was a valuable source of protein.

As for whether the soldiers lived or died, that was none of their concern.

Dead men could simply be replaced. There were plenty of people trying to join the Defense Force.

For a bite to eat, those people were willing to give everything.

Ari led his men through the positions, searching for surviving soldiers and giving them simple bandages.

Without medical supplies, this was already the limit of what he could do.

Suddenly, he saw Logistics Department personnel dragging away an injured, unconscious soldier and tossing him onto a corpse transport truck.

"Damn it, what are you doing?!"