The rusted giant axe swung, and blood and flesh flew everywhere.
The priests did not take up arms to fight back, but their most powerful weapon, the light of faith, was as fragile as a piece of paper in the face of physical slaughter.
One priest after another fell into pools of blood, their golden light extinguished one by one with their masters' deaths.
The cabin was filled with the pungent smell of blood mixed with poison gas, and the pages of the holy book were scattered all over the floor, soaked with blood.
Dozens of pastors were quickly wiped out.
The moment the last priest fell, all the soldiers on the defensive line felt it.
The warm, reassuring power that had enveloped their hearts vanished.
The light of the Emperor's faith has been extinguished.
The next second, the terrifying Warp plague spread like a flood bursting its banks, instantly engulfing the entire defense line.
The Rust Plague, no longer restrained by the power of faith, began to frantically erode every mortal exposed to the air.
The soldiers first felt an itchy sensation on their skin, followed by an intense burning sensation. Yellowish-green rust spots spread visibly from their necks and the backs of their hands.
Someone started coughing violently, but what came out were bloody froths with a rusty taste.
Some people collapsed to the ground, their bodies convulsing, and it felt like worms were wriggling under their skin.
Morale collapsed instantly.
The defensive navy, which already lacked heavy firepower and vehicle support, became even more overwhelmed by the plague.
Soldiers in the front ranks fell in droves, and those in the back ranks began to retreat in panic, their formation falling into disarray.
Just then, the zombie army and plague vehicles surged forward. Less than four thousand zombies, trampling over the corpses of the dead, poured into the defensive line, overwhelming the soldiers who were still resisting.
But at this moment, the psychological impact of the zombie horde was far more intense than the physical attack.
The sound of Lasgun fire grew increasingly faint, mingling with screams and the howls of the zombies.
The first line of defense, the perfect defense meticulously prepared by Dominic and on which he placed high hopes, was thus breached head-on.
In the command center, Dominic received the battle report.
The communicator crackled with the intermittent roars of the frontline garrison officer, followed by a scream, and then a piercing static.
Dominic's face was so dark it was almost dripping with gloom.
The first line of defense was the one he was best prepared for, with the most concentrated forces and the most complete firepower.
He originally thought that even if he couldn't stop the Plague Marine, he could at least hold out for an hour, buying time for the rear to make preparations.
It was gone in less than half an hour.
Moreover, they were defeated head-on.
It wasn't infiltration or a sneak attack; the other side used the most brutal and direct method to forcefully breach his perfect defenses.
Worse still, the defenses will only become more and more fragile in the future.
The higher you go, the more complex the passageways become, the fewer troops you can deploy, and the sparser your firing positions.
Meanwhile, the enemy's plague army only grew larger with each battle; every fallen soldier turned into a zombie, and every corrupted vehicle became a new plague vehicle.
This is a snowball effect, and the snowball will only get bigger and faster as it rolls.
Conventional methods are no longer effective in stopping it.
Dominic closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He must be beheaded.
Only by killing those Plague Marine, especially the leader, the Chaos veteran.
Only by disrupting the command and spread of the plague can the Gemstone be saved.
Ordinary soldiers simply cannot kill enemies of Space Marine caliber, and even the Ventria elites can only barely hold them off.
He was the only one who went.
Dominic Ventria, a warrior trained by his family at great expense, is the captain of the Gemstone and a seasoned mortal warrior.
In addition, there was the Celestial Lion Guard Squad around him, whose soldiers were even more formidable than the elite troops of Ventria.
The Celestial Lions guards, clad in Terminator- style Power Armour, were all absolutely loyal to him and his family.
Only if he leads his personal guards into battle, along with Sisters of Silence, will they have any chance of stopping the enemy.
"General."
Karen's voice rang out from the side, tinged with suppressed anxiety.
He had followed Dominic for over a decade and immediately saw what the major general was up to.
The expression on Dominic's face, the look in his eyes.
Even without asking, you can tell it's an expression of someone determined to take matters into their own hands.
"You can't go." Karen's voice was tense.
"Have you forgotten about Ragnar's intrusion into the ship last time? He almost..."
He didn't finish speaking, but the image was clear enough.
Last time, that Orks warlord named Ragnar stormed the Gemstone, fought his way to the bridge, and almost took Dominic's life.
Karen still vividly remembers that perilous experience.
He assumed Dominic would, as always, firmly reject his advice.
This major general is a man of his word; once he's made up his mind, no one can dissuade him.
But this time, Dominic did not immediately refute.
He simply stood there, staring at the shrinking area under their control on the holographic projection, at the yellowish-green corroded zone that was spreading upwards, and remained silent for a long time.
After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a weariness and helplessness that Karen had never heard before.
I know what you're worried about.
Dominic's voice was soft, yet powerful.
" Karen, how many years have you been with me?"
"Thirteen years, General."
"Thirteen years," he sighed softly. "You should know what the Gemstone means to me."
Karen fell silent.
Of course he knew.
The Gemstone was no ordinary cruiser.
It was the flagship that the entire Dominic family had worked tirelessly for generations, cultivated countless relationships, and spent unimaginable resources to secure for Dominic.
This is the foundation his family gave him, the capital that allowed him to stand firm in the Imperial Navy, and the glory and proof of his status as the family heir.
The Casterlane Family isn't exactly a top-tier wealthy family, but the fact that they could provide a battleship for a young general as a foothold shows they've poured considerable resources into it.
Everyone was watching, watching to see if Dominic could steer this ship and make a name for his family in the stars, bringing the Ventria name to the forefront.
"If the Gemstone sinks here," Dominic's voice remained calm and firm.
"If it is tainted by Chaos, it can only be ordered to be burned by the Inquisition."
"All the hard work the family has put in over the years, all my efforts over the years, and the sacrifices of the brothers who have risked their lives with me—all of that has become a joke."
"My glory, my family's expectations, will all become fodder for other people's gossip."
"Look at that Casterlane brat, he can't even protect his own ship, and he's been corrupted by Chaos."
He turned his head to look at Karen, his eyes showing no impulsiveness, only a heavy resolve.
"I cannot stand by and watch it be defiled."
" The Gemstone is here, and I'm here."
Karen opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end she just sighed heavily.