A hundred Headhunters raised their Bane Bolters in unison, and a dense barrage poured down like a storm.
Facing several times their own firepower, the Shadows of Order moved through the furnaces.
The nine Catachan-born "Hunters" were the first to retreat into the Steel Forest in the northern part of the Foundry.
As they ran, the "Hunters" rapidly swept their gazes across the surroundings, taking every factor into account:
Collapsed buildings, overturned furnaces—
They quickly scattered, dug into the ground with Catachan Fangs, then buried the modified Bouncing Betty Mines they carried in the soil.
They gently moved rubble and dirt to cover the mines.
Then, the "Hunters" marked red and green Runes in the squad's tactical channel.
The three "Provocateur" captains glanced over the Runes appearing on the tactical display. They quietly issued retreat orders over the squad channel, then took the initiative to activate their taunt ability.
"Alpha, you're jumping at shadows and hesitating at every turn."
"You're not Astartes, and you have no honor. You're nothing more than gutter rats with modified bodies, snakes and vermin hiding in the grass."
Rage blazed in the Headhunters' eyes as they all fired their Bane Bolters at the "Provocateurs."
The "Provocateurs" had already retreated between the furnaces, and the Headhunters immediately pursued them.
A Headhunter's combat boot stepped onto the ground, then suddenly sank into it as mud swallowed the sole.
Boom!
The Bouncing Betty Mine detonated. Explosive fragments surged upward, tearing apart the dark green Mark IV Maximus-pattern Power Armor from below.
The shockwave swept out, carrying charred chunks of flesh and fragments with it.
Boom!
A ruined furnace exploded, and burning fragments pelted the Headhunters like rain.
Bang! Bang! Bang—
Amid the dull impacts, the neat formation was thrown into disarray.
Four "Warriors" charged out first, their Catachan