As the command took effect, the chaotic battlefield instantly fell silent.
For the first time, Phileas felt the power of this protocol.
Every Necron unit was frozen in place.
And for the first time, Iax discovered that streams of data had begun flowing through the living metal of the Necron bodies themselves.
This strange development rendered every command ineffective. Although the units' sensors still functioned normally, they could no longer execute any orders.
Nothing constructed from living metal responded to the control components the Men of Iron had implanted inside it anymore.
"Something's wrong with these ones."
Through the living metal itself, Phileas could sense the abnormalities within these Necron bodies.
Components whose design bore no resemblance to Necron technology had been embedded inside these units.
Phileas lifted one hand from the shaft of his scythe, then pointed at a nearby Necron Warrior whose Dynastic Crest had been erased.
The Necron immediately strode up to Phileas. The living metal forming its body churned continuously, squeezing mechanical components out of it.
All traces of energy flowing through the Necron Warrior immediately vanished, and green coolant leaked out. Yet even so, it continued moving.
The living metal itself was driving the body.
With a puzzled air, Phileas picked up the mechanical component the Necron Warrior had squeezed out of its metal body, then carefully raised it before his face.
The joints of his mechanical hand rotated, presenting the object to him from every angle.
The delicate, silver-white component was small, with high-energy plasma constantly flowing and circulating inside it. It looked exquisitely crafted.
Iax did not know how long this protocol would remain active, but it was clear that, at this rate, the Men of Iron would be exposed to the Necrons.
That was the last thing Iax wanted to see right