Nareth issued the command: "Activate personal energy shields."
The Honour Guard members all raised their left hands, pressing the activation buttons on the generators at their waists.
The additional disc-shaped energy cells on their backs lit up. Invisible shields enveloped their bodies.
The personal energy shield was one of the most important results from Gabriel's team's research into Rangdan technology.
They replaced Randan psychic modules with energy cells, letting the shields operate without psy-craftsmanship.
Although the Shadow of Order version was weaker than Rangdan originals, the technology could be mass-produced, regular tech-artisans could manufacture them through standardized processes.
Personal energy shields hadn't yet been fully equipped across the entire Legion. Only about one-quarter of the members in each Chapter were equipped; all members of the Court.
The Honour Guard members, accompanying Nareth, were prioritized for equipment.
As they activated their personal energy shields, Hearthkyns raised their weapon, firing shimmering beams at the black-armored warriors.
The Shadows of Order raised their boltguns, engaging the Hearthkyns in a firefight. A hail of gunfire filled the space between them.
The weapons of both sides were manufactured based on similar STCs, though the ammunition types differed, but both could inflict lethal damage on the other.
The Hearthkyn discovered their fired beams stopped about a fist's distance from the black armor, then detonated.
The personal energy shields acted like invisible walls, blocking the blast, constantly shimmering.
The bolt rounds fired by the Shadows of Order slammed into the Hearthkyn's heavy armor.
The first volley of bolt rounds, with adamantine-hard tips, struck the heavy armor, causing the Hearthkynto stagger.
The Shadows of Order realized a single boltgun attack couldn't breach the heavy armor.
'The armor's defensive power is formidable.'
They aimed at the same spots hit by the first strikes, firing second and third volleys of bolt rounds.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The first Hearthkyn fell, his armor shredded by bolt rounds.
One after another, Hearthkyn's fell. Their armor was forged from tough alloy smelted from ores mined in the galactic core.
The Ironkin, encased in heavy mechanical armor, marched with heavy steps, swinging warhammers and mechanical claws to attack the Honour Guard.
A "Warrior" from the 8th Chapter channeled psychic energy into his blade, swinging it diagonally left to parry a mechanical claw.
After parrying, he swung his blade diagonally right to block an incoming warhammer.
The force of the blow made him step back involuntarily.
He was shocked by their strength.
He lunged. The blade tip slid along the Ironkin's steel carapace, piercing its brain housing.
The blade crackled within its brain. He kept the tip there for a moment until confirming the lights within went out, and the enemy died, then withdrew the blade.
A Hearthkyn emerged from beside the Ironkin, swinging a shimmering plasma axe at the "Warrior."
A Catachan-born "Hunter" fiercely slammed into the Hearthkyn.
During the body collision, the "Hunter" sensed formidable strength from the Hearthkyn's short, stout frame.
'These short folk are strong.'
Thinking quickly, he drove his Catachan Fang downward.
The Hearthkyn ducked, barely, but the curved fang slashed into his shoulder.
The Hearthkyn's grizzled hair rapidly turned sallow. His face turned ashen.
The venom of the Catachan viper spread through him in a heartbeat. In an instant, he dropped dead, slamming heavily onto the deck.
Nareth drew the Sword of Vaul, swinging the blad,e shimmering with blue-white light, charging into the Squat lines.
The energized blade spun rapidly. Hearthkyn heads shattered one after another; Ironkin armor fragmented.
Nareth led the charge forward. Squat attacks struck his repaired armor, only to be deflected by the Iron Kraken-scale plating.
He charged forward relentlessly. Nothing slowed him.
After charging through four decks, a red-faced, furious Hearthkyn with a beard reaching his chest, wearing layered armor, roared as he charged out.
The High Kâhl in Bastium armor thundered towards Nareth.
The magnetic coils of his hearthguard emitted hums, their glow shining on the deck.
The "Baron of Corruption" saw the enemy clad in heavy, ornate armor, he thought to himself.
'Squats forge heavy armor with extreme defensive strength, but that is also a weakness that can be exploited.'
The "Baron of Corruption" pressed his left arm down. Spiritual energy surged forth.
The High Kâhl felt gravity abruptly increase. His body felt as heavy as if filled with lead.
He inched forward at a snail's pace.
The Ironkin who had guarded the High Kâhl for half his life charged at Nareth, swinging massive hammers.
Nareth's eyes flickered with light and shadow. Telekinetic force surged forth, hurling the Ironkin away.
Their armored bodies slammed and scraped across the deck, sparks showering everywhere.
The "Baron of Corruption" raised his hand again. The High Kâhl suddenly felt the gravity applied to his body vanish. His body rapidly lightened, suddenly floating up.
The High Kâhl desperately tried to maintain his balance. As a veteran miner who had once mined precious ores in the void, he instectively leaned his shoulders forward, using his body's inertia to descend.
His body swayed in the air, as if drunk, lurching towards Nareth.
At just over ten meters away, Nareth suddenly punched.
Amidst the gust of wind, the "Baron of Corruption" utilized his ability "Force".
The High Kâhl was hurled away by the "Force," flying back several meters.
The "Baron of Corruption" slammed his left arm downward again, and the High Kâhl crashed into the deck like a meteor.
Dazed, he rose from the ground and continued charging at Nareth.
The "Baron of Corruption" applied "Force" to the heavy Bastium armor, increasing, decreasing, and changing the direction of the force, controlling the High Kâhl's body like a puppet, flinging him up, down, forward, back.
No matter how he tried, the High Kâhl couldn't reach the black-armored warrior.
He was being toyed with, his gray hair standing on end, his beard bristling in rage.
Veins bulged in his eyes from fury.
With a roar, he hurled his war axe at Nareth.
The "Baron of Corruption" smiled slightly. 'Throwing, huh? I'm quite good at that too.'
The axe's spinning trajectory became a rotating circle in his mind.
The "Baron of Corruption" sheathed the Sword of Vaul at his waist. He flicked the axe haft with his index finger, imbuing it with a "Force."
The axe instantly reversed direction and accelerated, right back toward the High Kâhl
The axe smashed into his armor, tearing through the overlapping plates.
The blade shredded his once-proud beard and split his chest open.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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