Exposure

Just as Erwin Shuster, leader of the Shattered Skull, planned to make a decision after scouting tomorrow, Death God had already silently revealed his sharp Scythe of Death beneath the cover of night. Those whose names were on the death list were still immersed in their own world of revelry.

In an abandoned mine one kilometer from the Shattered Skull camp.

"Boss, most of the Shattered Skull members are already inside. The problem is that the key passages are guarded by people carrying Laser Guns." Nekser spoke with great shame, because Shadow Kill's earlier intelligence work had failed to uncover this critical information.

This meant that if they launched a frontal assault, they would suffer enormous casualties. The entire team might even be wiped out here.

The gap between Laser Guns and cold weapons could not be bridged by numbers.

"Laser Guns? What perfect timing." Sandman did not blame him. After all, this was a team that had only recently wandered here, not a criminal gang that had lived in the area.

Even if the enemy had Laser Guns, they could not have many. Otherwise, they would have marched in openly to extort or invade the camp.

As for guarding the key passages? Shadow Kill had quite a few experts with bows and crossbows. That canceled out the Laser Guns' range advantage.

Inside the mine tunnels, visibility did not exceed a hundred meters. At that distance, the killing power of crossbows was more than sufficient.

That was the limitation of the human body. Even an Astartes without armor could not directly withstand a charged Laser Gun shot.

Though an unarmored Astartes could instantly kill a fully equipped Astra Militarum soldier, that was another matter entirely.

"We'll clear out the enemies on the perimeter first. Keep quiet. Bring me two bows," Sandman ordered.

A bow nearly two meters long, somewhat resembling a Scottish longbow, was handed to Sandman.

"Korax, give it a try. Be careful not to snap the bowstring by pulling too hard," Sandman reminded him.

Though Korax only came up to his waist now, a Primarch's strength was immense. Before their bodies fully grew to their peak, their strength constantly increased. The longbows used by miners could easily snap from excessive force.

Korax accepted the longbow, held it in his left hand, and gently drew the string with his right. After briefly getting used to the bow's pull, he easily drew it nearly to a full moon.

Then Korax took a feathered arrow from the quiver and shot it at a distant rock.

A dull thud rang out. Most of the thick arrow shaft had pierced through the stone, while the remaining half and its black feathers trembled outside.

Two more arrows followed in rapid succession, sinking into the rock. Korax then put away the longbow and signaled to Sandman that he had familiarized himself with the ancient weapon.

"In a moment, the squad led by Nekser and I will shoot the enemies on watch. Korax, you handle their hidden sentries," Sandman began laying out the battle plan.

"Boss, how about I handle the hidden sentries instead?" Nekser said hesitantly.

Korax's performance had been astonishing, but he had only just arrived at the camp. Tasks like dealing with hidden sentries were usually handled by highly experienced Shadow Kill members. Their numbers were uncertain, and their positions extremely concealed. The slightest oversight could leak information.

"Carry out my orders." Sandman did not explain. On the battlefield, his word had always been final.

"Yes..." Nekser could only obey Sandman's command, though he signaled to two Shadow Kill members with his eyes to spare some attention for the other areas and patch any omissions in time.

Five hundred meters from the Skull Breakers camp.

"Five enemies at the visible guard post."

"Two hidden sentries. One is in the rock pile on the left, the other is in the mine tunnel at the rear."

Just as the Shadow Kill member scouting ahead reported the number of visible guards, Korax also reported the number of hidden sentries and their concealed locations.

"Move. Leave no survivors!" After assigning targets, Sandman immediately drew his bow to a full moon and shot a feathered arrow straight through a criminal on guard.

Driven by immense kinetic force, the sharp arrowhead pierced directly through the man's skull. Faint yellowish-white matter could still be seen on the black arrowhead.

As Sandman's arrow pierced his target, he caught sight of two feathered arrows flying faster than his own toward the left side and rear of the campfire.

Two dull impacts of sharp objects entering flesh sounded out, meaning Korax had successfully dealt with the two hidden sentries as well.

"Dying by a Primarch's hand is your honor." Sandman did not even consider the possibility that the two hidden sentries might still be alive. The Raven King had acted—could two nameless lackeys possibly survive?

Who did they think they were?

"Boss, no communication device found." A Shadow Kill member responsible for searching the battlefield signaled with his hands.

"Next!" Sandman gave the order in sign language and led the team toward the next outpost.

The absence of a communication device at this post did not mean they lacked a unique means of contact. Even Shadow Kill had its own special communication methods.

Sandman did not believe enemies who had wandered here from the Land of Sin would lack something similar.

A swift battle was the best way to reduce variables.

Even a lion used its full strength to hunt a rabbit! That was Sandman's philosophy of war. Even with a Primarch, the pinnacle of galactic combat power, by his side, he remained the same.

Carelessness often meant death.

The group rushed forward in silence, making for the next guard post at full speed.

"Ten visible guards. There appears to be a communication device."

"Four hidden sentries, two in front and two in back. I can take care of them!" The intelligence on the second guard post was reported without a sound.

"Move!" Sandman made a throat-slitting gesture.

In an instant, more than a dozen feathered arrows and crossbow bolts whistled through the air, piercing the enemies standing guard.

"Go."

This time, Sandman directly abandoned the subsequent inspection. The result was already obvious: their operation would very likely turn into a frontal assault.

Black cloaks swept through the night toward the entrance of the Skull Breakers' lair.

"Prepare to move..." Sandman had not even finished his hand signal.

Suddenly...

Accompanied by several sharp whooshes, several flares glowing yellow-orange rose slowly into the sky with trailing flames, turning the surrounding hundred meters bright as day.

"Fire!" The instant the flares were launched, Sandman decisively drew his bow and fired...

In an instant, a dense rain of arrows blanketed the entrance to the Skull Breakers' camp.