The upper levels of the spiral staircase were already soaked in smoke and blood.
The elevated terrain should be a natural defensive advantage, and heavy firepower poured down the steps and slopes, capable of wiping out charging enemies in droves.
However, when the opponent is a demon from the Warp, this advantage is largely negated.
The front-line Flesh Hound completely ignored the "laser flashlights" being used by the soldiers.
Even with its abdominal cavity ripped open and its intestines dragging behind it, it can still run wildly driven by its bloodlust.
If even one enemy breaks through the gap in the barrage and charges into the infantry formation, it will be a bloody massacre.
The dagger-like fangs easily pierced the neck armor of mass-produced armor, and scalding blood splattered along the canines. The screams often stopped abruptly after only half a sound.
The swarm of Rot Fly hovered in mid-air, buzzing and circling despite the suppression of the Psychic Power barrier, each dive kicking up a cloud of poisonous mist.
The plague bishops responsible for maintaining the Shadow in the Warp had bulging veins on their foreheads, and purple blood trickled down their lips.
The corrosive power of the Nurgle was seeping into the cracks in the barrier, and with every second that it lasted, the consumption of Psychic Power was increasing.
Even more troublesome are Slaanesh's Hellions.
These alluring demons, whose upper bodies are hermaphroditic and whose lower bodies are bestial, never take the front steps.
They darted swiftly along the uneven rock face, like streaks of pinkish-purple ghosts.
Taking advantage of the gaps when the Flesh Hound drew fire from the front, they could always infiltrate the flanks and rear of the position from the most unexpected angles.
As the poisoned blade slits across the throat, the victim can even smell a sweet, cloying aroma before collapsing in a state of hallucination and extreme "enjoyment."
"The gap on the left flank! Fill it!"
A company Vanguard roared and swung his Chainsword, cleaving Flesh Hound that lunged at him in two at the shoulder, the splattered blood covering his mask.
There were already at least ten soldiers' corpses lying at his feet, all of them ambushed by the Slaaneshi Daemon, their deaths gruesome.
The defensive line was like a dam repeatedly battered by the tide; every demonic charge managed to tear a gap in it.
The soldiers retreated step by step, stepping over the corpses of their comrades. Their gun barrels were burning hot from firing, and they went through magazine after magazine, but the demons below seemed endless.
The Warp Rift continue to churn, with new demons constantly making their way into reality.
Lynn stood on the highest command platform, his gaze fixed on the tactical terminal, his expression calm and unreadable.
He knew, of course, that Luna wouldn't just give up so easily.
From the moment he cleared the second underground level and established the outer perimeter of the barrier, he didn't expect to be able to take down Luna directly with just the vanguard.
For two hours, his orders to mobilize troops never stopped, and the Vanguard's heavy troops were continuously gathering here along the underground passage.
"Sir, the First Heavy Armored Battalion has arrived at the second-floor connection point, but the passage is narrow and passage is obstructed."
The armored unit commander's low growl came through the communicator, with the background sounds of engine roars and the screeching of metal scraping together.
"Explode." Lynn said succinctly.
"I need heavy equipment on the position within three minutes."
"Yes, sir!"
Boom, boom, boom!!
A muffled explosion came from above the stairs, more deafening than the roar of a demon.
Dust kept falling from the dome of the entire three underground levels, and the rock wall at the junction of the second and third levels collapsed with a roar under the power of the high explosives.
The maze entrance, which was originally only wide enough for three people to walk side by side, was widened into a huge gap that was more than ten meters wide.
Before the gravel and dust had even settled, the sound of heavy metal tracks grinding over the rubble was already clearly audible.
Leading the charge was the Iron Guard heavy armed force from Midtown. These vehicles, developed by the craftsmen of Midtown, possessed formidable firepower.
The first Iron Dragon Flamethrower Armoured Vehicle roared onto the position.
Its entire body is covered with thick steel plates, and the double heavy flamethrower mounted on the front of the vehicle has its muzzle raised. As the driver presses the fire button, a tongue of Promethium several meters wide suddenly bursts out!
Golden-red flames cascaded down the steps and slope, crashing into the demon horde like a burning waterfall.
The Bloodletter and Plaguebearer that were charging upwards were instantly engulfed by the sea of fire. Their bright red leather armor and rotting flesh were charred and carbonized by the high temperature, emitting a sizzling sound.
The holy oil powder mixed in with Promethium gave the flames a faint golden glow, and when it landed on a demon, it became a bone-deep affliction, impossible to extinguish no matter how much the demons rolled and struggled.
Following closely behind were rows of shotgun emplacements.
The infantrymen quickly pushed the wheeled gun mounts into position, leveled the muzzles, and with a command from the commander, a barrage of bullets instantly covered the middle section of the steps.
Dense barrages of shells and shrapnel rained down, obliterating Blue Horror and tearing leaping Nurgling to shreds.
The second wave of demon infantry, preparing to expand their gains up the steps, crashed head-on into this barrage of steel bullets, instantly falling over and screaming as they tumbled down the slope.
The ground trembled.
Three Cold Front Super-heavy Tank slowly drove across the gap, their heavy tracks causing the ground to groan under their strain.
They were the most advanced products of the Midtown Arsenal, with a widened chassis and the main guns replaced by large-caliber siege cannons.
Originally designed for Hive City warfare, it is equally effective at clearing out demons.
"Target: Cluster below the rift; high-explosive incendiary bombs, fire salvo!"
Knock knock knock!
Three muffled thuds followed in quick succession as the shells, trailing flames, crashed into the area where the demons were most concentrated.
The explosion instantly engulfed most of the lower hall, and the shockwave sent the Khorne Cultist and Plague Toad flying everywhere.
The scorching flames spread along the ground, even distorting and deforming the energy leaking from the Warp Rift.
Some of the demons that peeked out were swept back into the sea of fire before they could even get a clear look at the world.
The demon horde, which had been pressing forward relentlessly, was unexpectedly pushed back by this heavy firepower.
The steps and ramps were covered with the charred remains of believers, and the stench of decay in the air was drowned out by the smell of gunpowder and flames.
The Vanguard soldiers watched as their steel behemoths appeared one by one.
A hint of joy finally appeared on his tense face, and he roared as he regained control of the battle lines.
Lynn stepped down from the command platform, his grey-blue military uniform flickering in the firelight.
He walked to the front line of the position, ignoring the flying rubble and stray bullets around him, his gaze sweeping over the blood-stained but still resolute faces.
"Soldiers!" His voice wasn't loud, but it reached every soldier's ears clearly through the global communication channel, drowning out the artillery fire and the demons' roars.
"Look at the land beneath your feet. This is the heart of Brevis, the home of hundreds of millions of people behind us."
"That damned Lord Regent has betrayed the Emperor and turned to Chaos. She has opened the Warp Gate, wanting to unleash demons to tear our people apart and corrupt our homeland."
But she was wrong.
Lynn raised his hand, pointing to the churning sea of fire and the remains of demons below, his words filled with unwavering resolve and glory:
" The Emperor's gaze has never left us."
"Holy flames can burn away plagues, explosive bombs can tear apart evil spirits; not a single inch of the land beneath our feet is fit for the scum of the Warp to run rampant!"
"Today, as we stand here, guarding these steps, we are guarding the lights of the Uptown, the smoke of the Midtown, and the millions of ordinary people in the Lower City who are still struggling to survive."
"Tell me, are you willing to let demons trample over your corpses and slaughter your unarmed brethren?!"
"No!!" A thunderous roar erupted instantly.
The soldiers pounded their breastplates, raised their rifles, and their eyes burned with a fanatical fighting spirit.
"For the Emperor!"
"For Brevis!"
The roars grew louder and louder, and the morale, which had been low due to casualties, was pushed to its peak at this moment.
Heavy firepower roared once more, with explosives, flames, and shells weaving together into a dense, raging storm that pinned the demon's charge down to the lower half of the stairs.