Lucius followed Akurduana onto the bridge.
Even before stepping out of the elevator, he peered towards the command throne.
He immediately spotted the black-armored, golden-winged giant at the tactical table before the throne.
Lucius gazed at the majestic form, like a marble statue, and suddenly understood why Akurduana had been holed up in his quarters for so long.
He was flawless, in every aspect.
Lucius felt the Primarch's deep gaze upon him. Those obsidian-like eyes, like two sharp blades, pierced through his armor, striking directly at his soul.
His thoughts stalled. He stood frozen in the elevator.
The moment Nareth saw the figure behind Akurduana, he recognized him as Lucius, the future Chosen of Slaanesh.
He had neat white hair, a proudly arched nose, and captivating violet eyes.
His handsome features rivaled those of Hathor Maat and Ramsey among the Astartes.
Recalling that Akurduana thought highly of Lucius and had taught this "promising" young man for a considerable time, Nareth was not surprised he had brought a soldier to the bridge. He withdrew his gaze and continued listening to the briefing.
Gren Vosotho, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines 1st Chapter, reviewed the information on his data slate and spoke.
"Lord Nareth, preparations are complete. Our forces have been deployed according to plan."
Vosotho glanced at Diana. While formulating the plan, he had keenly felt that Shadows of Order's efficiency was no less than the Ultramarines.
As he pondered, Luther, who was leading the operational planning, spoke.
"The Squats' formidable fortress ships will serve as the spearhead, thrusting towards the war-moon."
"The pilots of the Ultramarines and Emperor's Children will shoot down the xenos' drone swarms."
"Finally, you will lead us in a direct assault on the war-moon."
Akurduana, who had walked to the tactical table, and Lucius, standing behind him, both had their eyes light up.
Balsar Kurthuri scrutinized Luther, wondering what he had received from the Primarch that, five days ago, he had suddenly gained an Astartes physique.
This was not something Apothecaries could achieve.
Nareth nodded with satisfaction. "Execute the operational plan."
Within a second, the sector commanders received their orders. They dispatched more communication ships than usual to ensure commands were transmitted.
Through the viewport, Nareth watched the bloody battle unfolding in the void.
Without deploying a Ramillies-class starfort, the Squats' fortress ships, thicker and more heavily armored than Imperial or Rangdan vessels, were the ideal weapon against the war-moon.
The fortress ships advanced like leviathans through the sea of stars. Drone swarms surged around them like plankton.
Their numbers were so vast that they even obscured the starlight.
Within the leviathans, the Votann sang loudly, exultantly praising the names of their ancestors.
The Ironkyn worked in an orderly fashion, mechanical arms moving in a dance.
Ranks of shells, like a flood, swept towards the drone swarms.
Dazzling light flashed repeatedly. Drone after drone was torn apart.
The Squats' guns thundered in unison, their torrent of fire capable of shredding an entire main fleet.
But the Rangdan drone swarms seemed endless. Over a dozen drones breached the silent morass of firepower and slammed into the armor.
Their suicide impacts left scars on the thick armor.
More and more drones broke through the fierce fire net, continuously crashing into the leviathans.
The leviathans, wrapped in layer upon layer, slowed their advance.
Rangdan ships, bristling with spikes and flails, swam in like bloodthirsty sharks. Shadow-strike beams rained down like lightning, leaving ominous black marks on the armor.
Seeing the fortress ships hindered, Nareth shifted his gaze back to the hololithic tactical table.
He saw blue and purple runes streak across the green pathways, leaving trails behind.
Vosotho stood before a cogitator, his hands flying across the keys. He distributed data packets of enemy ship readings, identified by the Shadow of Royalty, to the fleets of the Ultramarines and Emperor's Children
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a viewscreen light up. Blue runes leaped, followed by purple.
Vosotho saw the feedback white runes light up. He thought with feeling.
'Shadows of Order identified the xenos' forged readings so quickly.'
As Vosotho pondered, Luther's voice sounded.
"It's time. Launch the air squadrons."
Vosotho checked the tactical display. His gene-father's teachings flashed through his mind.
"Once the execution phase or primary objective is initiated, you must use every means to complete it: rapidly commit overwhelming force."
Primary objective initiated.
As the order was transmitted, Cutlass interceptors and Lightning fighters surged from the flight decks.
In the blue flight formation, the heavier Lightning fighters made up over half. In the purple formation, the opposite was true. Flocks of steel birds swept past the leviathans.
The autocannons of over a thousand fighters spat dense barrages.
Flames flashed. The plankton entwined the leviathans thinned by one layer.
As if provoked, the plankton surged towards the birds.
The Lightning fighters abruptly accelerated, leaving the pursuing drones behind.
The Cutlass interceptors weaved left and right, dodging the swarming enemy craft.
A blue bird, amidst the red glow, alternately soared and dove.
With a red rune lighting up on the screen, a piercing alarm screamed in the helmet.
In a silent collision, the Cutlass interceptor spun rapidly, trailing fire.
Nareth watched the holographic display, observing the performance of the two Legions' pilots.
The Ultramarines' blue flight formation moved with machine-like precision.
Even with the different performances of Lightning fighters and Cutlass interceptors, and varying surrounding conditions, their gathering and dispersing remained like a single entity.
The Emperor's Children displayed superior individual skill. Even when surrounded by red, they often shed their pursuers with dazzling arcs.
Amidst sparks like phosphorescent fire, the fortress ships surged forward, cleaving through obstacles, crashing into the Rangdan vessels.
The Shipmaster, seated at her black-painted brass console, issued the order.
The output of the Shadow of Royalty's Judgement-class reactor suddenly increased. Following the space carved open by the fortress ships, it lanced straight towards the war-moon like a drawn sword.
"Prepare to board!"
At Nareth's command, Lucius excitedly gripped his sword hilt. He would actually be fighting alongside a Primarch.
'I have a chance to witness Lord Nareth's swordsmanship.'
Across the upper decks, squad after squad of black-armored warriors headed for the flight decks.
Unlike before, not only were the Honor Guards present, but also three thousand three hundred Dark Angels with winged sword emblems painted on their chests.
Drop pods rained down like a storm upon the war-moon. The moment Nareth set foot on the surface, he saw Lucius swiftly charging a xenos Overlord.
As he ran, he raised his bolt pistol and fired a burst at the airborne target, forcing it away from his chosen dueling spot.
The xenos' bat-like wings flapped loudly. In an instant, it spiraled up a hundred meters.
But every one of Lucius's shots struck true. Though he focused solely on honing his swordsmanship, his naturally accurate marksmanship annoyed other Emperor's Children.
Before he even swung his sword, the xenos Overlord's personal energy shield shattered with a crack, then was torn apart by another burst of bolts.
Lucius holstered his bolt pistol and charged the Overlord head-on, unleashing a storm of slashes and thrusts.
His sword switched effortlessly between one-handed and two-handed grips, sometimes swinging like a club one-handed, sometimes cleaving like a greatsword two-handed.
In the dazzling light, he savored every vibration and crack of the blade.
Amidst a series of dazzling cracks, Lucius achieved his first melee victory. He excitedly licked his lips and charged towards his next target.
Nareth strode forward, raising his power gauntlet. The twin-linked bolt gun and the plasma gun gifted by Perturabo roared in unison.
Dazzling beams leaped, tearing through the xenos Overlord's shield. The following bolts shredded it.
He didn't slow, his gaze sweeping over Akurduana.
The two blades, sheathed in silk on his legs, cleared their scabbards simultaneously.
Timur, with its gold-woven grip, had a slightly curved blade. Its pommel was shaped like a horse's head, adorned with a black horsehair plume.
Athena was longer, with a straight blade and a narrow crossguard. Abstract ancient Greek runes flickered on its thin blade.
Both sabers were forged by a master smith of ancient Terra through unique rituals and alchemical techniques.
Possessing one was the highest honor for a swordsman in the Legion. He possessed two, yet no one questioned his qualification.
Akurduana charged like lightning into the midst of four Overlords. His twin swords spun like a windmill.
The Overlords roared, swinging their blade-like limbs, attacking like eight swordsmen simultaneously.
Akurduana calmly stepped, dodged, parried, and attacked.
He had long specialized in moving between enemies. No one had ever managed to wound him.
His swords spun like a whirlwind, dazzling even Zahariel.
'He is stronger than the Legion's First Sword, Corswain.'
Zahariel assessed himself. Unless he activated "Fearsight," he could never move so swiftly.
Akurduana, like a dancer, played a series of attacks with his twin swords.
The Overlords' personal energy shields crackled. Not once did their attacks even graze his ornate armor.
Timur plunged straight into an Overlord's body. Then Athena.
Akurduana strode forward. Behind him, the four Overlords fell almost simultaneously.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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