Word Bearer

Gao Yi once again took the captain's seat.

"Raise the Void Shields to maximum power! Provide cover for the assault team!"

This time, the Tyrant sailed at the forefront of the formation, its reinforced armor plates capable of withstanding more attacks, while the Golden Ram followed closely behind to draw away excess firepower.

As the warships once again approached Agathos's orbit, the ground-based defensive batteries detected their signals immediately.

Plasma and laser cannons began recharging.

The moment the Tyrant entered orbit, the ground fire opened up simultaneously.

In an instant, Lances slammed into the Tyrant's Void Shields, followed by several Plasma blasts.

The Void Shields shattered, forcing the Tyrant to rely on its side Adamantium armor to endure. One side's Adamantium plates melted instantly. The Golden Ram also took two Plasma hits, and just as its Void Shields overloaded, the warship closed to sufficient range.

"Now! Harlan!"

As the Golden Ram's bay doors opened in orbit, all thirty Banshee Fighters activated their stealth systems and plunged into the atmosphere.

Seizing the gap in the ground batteries' recharge cycle, both Cruisers maxed out their engine output and swiftly departed orbit.

Their mission was done—now it was up to the Banshees.

"Everyone! The Banshees' power only allows two hours of stealth combat. We have no chance to return to the fleet. After completing your objectives, rendezvous at the Hive City's Throne District to support the captain's soldiers!"

"Understood!"

As the Banshee Fighters breached the atmosphere, Harlan in the cockpit felt the violent shuddering. After all, the Banshee was an atmospheric combat vehicle; lingering in orbit for even a short time was its limit. Harlan nervously monitored every piece of data from the craft.

He was still unfamiliar with this fighter and feared it might break apart in the atmosphere.

But fortunately, nothing went wrong. All thirty Banshees successfully entered Agathos's atmosphere.

"By the Golden Throne, we'll meet in the Throne District!"

Then the thirty Banshees paired off into teams and headed for their designated targets.

Harlan and his squad's mission wasn't to destroy the massive ground defense cannons—it was to eliminate the various anti-air emplacements scattered across the junctions of the Mid and Upper Hives, clearing a safe landing route for Gao Yi's follow-up landing forces.

The closer the Banshee got to the Hive City, the more tense Harlan became. The Banshee could turn invisible, but he had no idea if they'd be detected.

Yet when the target battery entered his Banshee's firing range with no reaction, Harlan knew they were in the clear.

A distant explosion rang out—Harlan knew his teammate had started.

He aimed at the battery before him. Several Plasteel explosive rounds fired from the nose, precisely hitting the ammunition feed and triggering a chain detonation, destroying it. Without pausing, he moved to the next target.

Harlan's attack seemed to set off a chain reaction—explosions echoed across every part of the Hive City.

"What happened?! Who destroyed the batteries?!"

The Blasphemous Priest in charge of these guns stared in disbelief at the Augur Array and Thinker before him.

Even with the Augur Array cranked to maximum power, no hostile signals appeared. From the gunners operating the batteries, he learned what had transpired.

Unknown fire seemed to come from the void itself, appearing without warning and obliterating the targets.

The Blasphemous Priest knew full well this couldn't be fire from the void—the only possibility was that whoever destroyed the batteries possessed a stealth method he didn't know about.

But even knowing the Banshees could turn invisible, what could he do? He had no countermeasures, forced to watch helplessly as his crucial means of obstructing the orbital fleet was dismantled.

It felt exactly like knowing the enemy had dropped stealth units while you had no detection—watching helplessly as they slaughtered your workers.

The news of the batteries' destruction reached Valentin's ears immediately.

"What?! Impossible! The Dynasty doesn't have this capability! Unless... unless this expedition uncovered some lost technology. No more waiting! Launch a full assault! Get our people mixed in with those Upper Hive scum! I don't believe he'd be willing to destroy the entire Hive City!

Order the army to attack now! Have the Dark Priests deploy all those modified creatures and their Daemon Engines! And begin the sacrifice ritual immediately!"

Valentin knew he couldn't wait any longer. If these batteries were destroyed, the Dynasty fleet in orbit could support the loyalists without restraint. He had to consider the worst-case scenario—whether Gao Yi, this newly appointed Rogue Trader, might fly into a rage and indiscriminately bombard the Hive City from orbit, regardless of losses.

Though he thought it unlikely—after all, the entire Hive City had been under construction since the Dynasty's founding, and its destruction would set the Dynasty back centuries—he couldn't take the gamble.

He hurried to the secret sacrificial site.

The entire chamber reeked—the stench of fear-induced incontinence and vomit was enough to drive a sane man mad.

Valentin ignored the smell, gazing fanatically at the scene.

A dozen Chaos Psionics lurked in every corner of the secret room, psychic energy surging through them.

They chanted prayers to the Dark Gods.

As the sound swelled to fill the entire sacrificial space.

The ritual circles painted in blood began to flicker.

"All things end. Dawn approaches. This rotten Dynasty will be rebuilt in my hands, and then I will sacrifice this world to the Empyrean!"

Valentin spread his arms, watching the ritual with fervor.

As the Chaos Psionics unleashed their powers, all the humans in the cages wailed in agony.

Their life force and souls were being stripped away. As these souls were devoured by the Warp, a Warp portal abruptly materialized in the hall.

Staring at the gate, Valentin's face filled with longing. In his eyes, beyond that door lay the world of truth.

Ten towering figures strode slowly and heavily out of the portal.

Their blood-red Power Armour marked their identity—the Astartes emerging from the Warp were none other than the accursed traitors.

The dark crimson paint on their armour, the horn-like growths sprouting from their helms like demonic appendages, and the prayers to the Dark Gods etched across every plate—their shoulder guards and waist were plastered with "parchments" made of human skin. These unmistakable signs revealed who they were.

Word Bearers. A full squad of ten traitor Astartes stepped through the portal.

Among this ten-man combat squad, three stood out as particularly grotesque. Their flesh had begun to warp severely from demonic possession, and the claw-like weapons of bone and sinew on their arms had even burst through their Power Armour.

They were the Enchanted Warriors among the Word Bearers.

They approached Valentin, who was kneeling on the ground.

Valentin lifted his head in fervent excitement, gazing at the twisted bodies of these Word Bearers.

"The dawn has come~"

"Because of your prayers, we have arrived in this world. We will reveal to you the path from darkness to the primordial truth—it has already opened its gates to those who seek to cast off lies and servitude. Valentin, you are a follower of the Dark Gods. Now, we will help you slay the servants of the False Emperor. When you lead us to the vault of the Mongert Dynasty, you will also gain the chance to enter the Empyrean, where everything you desire awaits."