169: One Death

Battle!

This was supreme! Resolve and will! Faced with a future and reality that had decreed their abandonment—you had to stand forth! Use the Broken Sword in your hand to proclaim the awakening of Greenskin will!

And so the Warlord raised his sword!

The atmosphere howled. Assault ships like a meteor shower tore through the blood-red sky, savage fire dragons baring their fangs as they plunged toward the earth. It was like the Blood River flowing backward, thunder cracking amid dense clouds.

Its fleet had answered its summons! With unstoppable momentum!

Greenskin creations carved trails across the sky, their thrusters roaring despite violent tremors. Their muzzles spat Big Shootas—they themselves were Big Shootas!

—Too many. Too scattered.

The Null Field could barely cover them, but the C'tan's portion could not cover the entire sky.

This was clearly a deliberate countermeasure.

Had they underestimated him?

Red light flashed in Underking's eyes as he slowly raised one hand.

And issued his command.

In an instant, across the ground, every Imperium anti-air weapon apart from the artillery fire required at the front began to hum in unison. Turrets rotated. In bunkers long fallen and empty, targeting needles began to sway on their own. Underking's black eyes, blazing like fireworks, slowly lifted, lifted, and lifted again.

Within the positions, soldiers stared in shock. A rash warrior was about to force an emergency stop on the platforms, only for an accompanying Tech-Priest to knock him unconscious with a wrench. Trembling, the priest cried prayers to the instruments.

He raised his gaze toward that blood-red sky.

His hand came down sharply.

Coordinates confirmed. Fire!

The Orbital Laser Cannon hurled the first spear of light. The laser shot straight into the heavens, pierced their enemies, and burst into a dazzling firework at the horizon.

And behind that