Blue flames spewed from Lucius's jump pack, and the heat blurred the air behind him.
Leading the Naxikai Detachment, he strode swiftly toward the outer refinery of Mundus Occulum.
Khaine's Castellax Robots were unsuited to rapidly changing circumstances. In response to the enemy's frequent attacks, Lucius had answered the Deputy Fabricator-General's request.
He had not ordered every Emperor's Children warrior of the 13th Company into battle. He always remembered the Black Emperor's decree and remained wary of Alpha attacks.
Solasen, deputy commander of the Naxikai Detachment, led thirty squads of warriors in guarding the Temple of Data.
Over the past six hours, Lucius had raced around the Foundry-city, repelling attack after attack upon Mundus Occulum. His blade had reaped twisted battle Servitors in swathes.
"My lord, the target is one kilometer away." Vespitian, Hawk King of the Raptor Cult, reported.
Every branch of the Emperor's Children had formed its own unique elite forces. The Wings of the Phoenician excelled at jump-pack assaults, and their foremost warrior was known as the Hawk King.
After leaving Isstvan, Vespitian, who admired Lucius's flawless swordsmanship, had chosen to join the Naxikai Detachment, loyal to Lucius alone.
Vespitian gripped a golden spear in both claws as wings of blue flame swept gracefully through the air.
Lucius was about to reply when a roar suddenly erupted.
A dense barrage shot skyward, heading straight for the Emperor's Children.
The output of Lucius's jump pack suddenly surged, and he shot upward amid a thunderous blast.
"Raptors, assault!"
"Understood!" Hawk King Vespitian replied, diving like a raptor.
Behind him, thirty of the Emperor's Children's finest jump-pack assault Warriors hunched low and followed, heads pointed down as they charged with a howl.
Precision bolts fired by Nemesis-pattern Bolters converged precisely upon thirty-one suits of purple-and-gold armor.
Facing the dense barrage,