Istvan III Campaign: Loyalty

On board the Pride of the Emperor, belonging to the Emperor's Children Legion.

"Taviz, do you know why the Primarch is reorganizing the formations? You're so smart, you must know, right?" Lucius, the captain of the Thirteenth Company, said with a grin, one hand on the other's shoulder.

"Heh heh, it's finally our turn to lead the charge this time. How about we have a competition to see who can get onto the enemy's city walls first?"

Sol Taviz, the captain of the Tenth Company, heard this question and felt a bad premonition. He smiled and patted Lucius.

"Heh heh, who's afraid of who!"

Then Taviz retreated behind the others.

He came to the rear of the formation, where a massive Dreadnought lay in the shadows.

Dreadnoughts were complex machines, requiring special materials and technology to build. Every Space Marine held them in awe, for each Dreadnought was a veteran of countless battles, a venerable elder.

Only after they had suffered unimaginable injuries, rendering them unable to fight as normal warriors.

They were then granted this honor—to continue serving the Emperor as immortal Dreadnoughts.

The "elder's" body was curled up inside the Dreadnought like a fetus, his nervous system directly connected to the machine's systems.

Through this metal body, or rather, coffin, the "elder" was reborn.

And here, piloting the Dreadnought, was the ancient sage Rila.

He had once fought alongside the Emperor, his armor etched with countless ancient and glorious battle honors. It could even be said that Rila's personal history was the history of the Third Legion.

"Respected elder, may I request to delay our deployment?" Taviz sought the sage's wisdom to quell his unease.

Taviz waited for a long time, and finally, Rila, whose physical body was only a remnant, awoke from the stasis field within the Dreadnought.

A synthesized, crackling voice emanated from the Dreadnought. "You may."

Taviz looked at him in disbelief. He had expected to have to explain a great deal, but he still voiced his doubts.

"The Primarch hasn't been acting right lately. It feels like he's become a different person."

"And this complete reorganization of formations, along with Eidolon, who always led the charge, not being present… I just feel something strange about this battle, so I request a delay in deployment."

Hearing Taviz's explanation, Rila became even more certain that his choice was correct.

"You did well! Our enemy is very cunning, and we must remain vigilant at all times."

"However, the Legion's orders cannot be disobeyed, so I will go first in your place."

Though the voice was cold and mechanical, Taviz felt immensely honored.

Screeeech~ Clang clang clang~

The heavy sound of twisting machinery echoed, and to the stunned gazes of everyone, the ancient sage Rila was the first to enter the drop pod.

Then, the other loyal warriors also boarded the drop pods, shouting in unison.

"Emperor's Children, Slay the Father's Foes!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh~

Countless drop pods flew out from the exits beneath the battleships, hurtling directly towards the rebel-held Choral City.

The same scene unfolded on the Vengeful Spirit, Conqueror, and Indomitable.

Their eyes revealed fanatical loyalty to the Imperium, believing they would once again bring glory to the Imperium!

Boom boom boom~

Accompanied by countless screams, the Imperium's drop pods landed on the ground.

Hiss~

The hatch slowly opened, and countless Astartes charged out, shouting, "For the Emperor!"

At the same time, they had only limited armed gunships and communication support.

Only the Death Guard units carried heavy armored vehicles such as the Brutal Blade super-heavy tank, Scorpion Whirlwind Missile Launcher, and Proteus Land Raider to land.

"Come play~ Come play~"

"Heh heh heh~ So comfortable, so comfortable~"

"Big guys, why don't you take off your clothes and have some fun with us?"

Countless strange creatures, corrupted by ■■■■, were indulging themselves in the streets. Their skin had become transparent, their internal organs and blood vessels clearly visible, as terrifying as if they had been flayed.

Their faces were distorted, their features misplaced, and their mouths were forever fixed in a lewd smile.

Their bodies were covered in various grotesque growths, tentacles, or thorny protrusions. These growths writhed like living things, emitting a nauseating stench.

Mutated reproductive organs stuck various creatures together. They moaned incessantly, tearing at everything around them. Sometimes, these protrusions could release alluring fragrances or emit shrill screams.

Their limbs became unnaturally long, twisted and agile like a spider's legs, or they could become incredibly thick, covered in heavy scales or chitin. They also grew various strange wings, tails, or fin-like structures.

All sorts of distorted illusions and shadows were visible everywhere, moving like living things.

Seeing this scene, the Imperial warriors roared.

"Exterminate the heretics! Charge!"

The battle erupted in an instant.

The corrupted monsters let out shrill screams and lunged at the Astartes. They attacked all approaching creatures with Chaos-infused fury, some wielding sharp blades, others unleashing distorted psychic waves, attempting to tear through the Astartes' defenses.

"Mmm~ comfortable~ comfortable~"

"Give me another shot! Give me another shot!"

However, the Astartes' power armour could withstand the vast majority of attacks, while their bolters whispered like the Grim Reaper, each bullet piercing enemy flesh.

Bang bang bang~

At the same time, their chainswords and power fists were already thirsty for blood. Each swing tore enemies apart, constantly grinding bone fragments on the chainswords.

Countless foul liquids splattered on them, yet they charged towards the monsters without regard.

A corrupted psyker suddenly appeared before an Astartes, his eyes becoming two massive vortexes, attempting to devour the Astartes' mind.

Yet, the Astartes showed no fear. He swung his chainsword, directly severing the psyker's head and hanging it from his waist, roaring continuously.

And in the center of the battlefield, the Dreadnoughts were like masters of this region.

Their Terminator Power Armour gleamed with a cold blue light in the afterglow of the sunset. They wielded massive Thunder Hammers and bolters, each step crushing enemy corpses, sailing fearlessly as if navigating an endless ocean.

Their Thunder Hammers carved silver lightning bolts through the air, each swing accompanied by a deafening roar, shattering enemy armour and flesh alike.

Their every charge was like a mountain torrent, scattering enemies in disarray; their every swing was like the might of thunder, smashing enemies to pieces.

Blood mist filled the air, corpses piled up like mountains, and the Dreadnoughts left trails of crimson in their wake.

Just as they achieved a phased victory.

The scene shifted to the Vengeful Spirit.

"Begin deploying the Virus Bomb."

Horus personally issued the order, his expression as calm as if he were doing the simplest of tasks.

Following the command, Tavez, stationed on the strike cruiser Andronius, was the first to notice his cannons being loaded with dangerous Virus Bombs and received the order for indiscriminate attack.

At this moment, Tavez, the captain of the Tenth Company of the Emperor's Children Legion, finally understood.

"They intend to kill the Imperium's warriors. The Warmaster and the Primarchs have betrayed us!"

Tavez stared at the order with immense fury, his eye sockets cracking, blood constantly seeping out and dyeing his eyes red.

"Why! Why! Why did they betray us!"

Tavez tore apart the device bearing the order, his body trembling as he gritted his teeth and said, "No! I must deliver this message to them!"

With that, he piloted a Thunderhawk, flying down from the warship along with countless Virus Missiles.

"I must be fast! I must be faster!"

And also on the Conqueror.

Angron lay sprawled lazily, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

"Primarch, how long are you going to lie there like this!"

"Get up and fight! The ground is full of enemies, how can you still be lying here!"

Kharn roared in anger, unable to believe that the man immersed in pleasure before him was their Primarch.

The Primarch had led them into slaughter, yet he himself had left it.

"Once the Virus Bombs are dropped, it'll be over naturally. What's there to fight about~" Angron savored the rising climax in his mind, only wanting to be immersed in it at this moment.

"Fine, fine, fine! If you won't go, we will! You are an incompetent coward!"

Kharn trembled with rage, utterly disappointed. He felt that the current Angron was unworthy of being the leader of the World Eaters.

He angrily smashed into the wall, punching a large hole through it, then turned and left.

Meanwhile, Leman Russ, hiding on the dark side of the planet, began to quietly deploy anti-toxin devices and slowly entered the planet.

"Damn it! That damned Horus has failed Father's expectations!"

"Contact the Ultramarines, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels Legions immediately. Return to capture Horus at once, and send a dispatch to Terra!"

"Yes!"

However, the Warp near Istvaan III was already being disturbed by an inexplicable storm, and it was unknown how long it would take for their message to reach its destination.