The Grey Knights' actions had clearly enraged Horus.
He hacked apart the Astartes blocking his path and charged straight toward the Grey Knights.
The Adeptus Custodes standing in his way joined the battle.
They wielded their Sentinel Spears, launching attacks too fast for the Astartes to even see, and pinned Horus down in moments.
The Luna Wolves roared in fury, trying to aid their Gene-Father.
But the encircling ranks of Imperial troops left them helpless. Even those warriors lucky enough to break through were cut down by the Adeptus Custodes in the blink of an eye.
The Grey Knights launched psychic attacks as well, unleashing spells to support the Adeptus Custodes' assault while hurling all manner of sorcery at the enemy.
And then...
It did jack shit.
He discarded the Lightning Claw that the spells had warped into scrap, then seized a Sentinel Spear with lightning speed and drove it through its owner.
Three or four more spears thrust at Horus within nanoseconds, but he swiftly batted them aside.
He grabbed a Grey Knight charging toward him and hurled him like a bowling ball, carving a lane through flesh and blood.
Horus then quickly leaped back, putting some distance between them.
In that brief span of time, the ground had become littered with the bodies of Adeptus Custodes and Grey Knights.
The Sons of Sanguinius at the very front had suffered especially grievous casualties. Captain McDoss, who had led the charge, was still unconscious.
Horus seemed to hear something. He pressed his left hand to his communicator, then nodded.
He looked smugly at the assembled Imperial troops.
"Fools, I give you permission to leave."
"This isn't mercy. We have a more important enemy to deal with right now."
"If you don't want Terra to explode, get the hell out."
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