It wasn't just Satellite 1, where Liu Peiqiang was located.
At this very moment, the main force of the Tyranid Hive Fleet had completely approached Vegast.
Countless Tyranid were air-dropped onto the surface of the three armed satellites, engaging in a bloody battle with the Alliance Soldiers stationed there.
Inside the flagship, Dugall was observing the battlefield situation through the real-time star map.
The good news at the moment was that the Norn Emissary had not initially anticipated such a large number of Alliance forces, so the ground Tyranid dispatched during the initial assault had been almost completely annihilated.
Even the massive Tyranid biological Titans, the Bug Saint Titan, had been destroyed by the Universal Union's Titan Mech forces, with more than a dozen lost.
It could be said that the Universal Union had dealt a heavy blow to this Hive Fleet.
However, the bad news was that the Hive Fleet was still continuously air-dropping more troops onto the surface of the armed satellites.
The Hive Fleet, which had just roamed from the Storm Starfield, having devoured the biomass of countless worlds along the way, was capable of enduring the immense losses suffered so far.
This war had devolved into the meat grinder battle the Universal Union least wanted to see.
"We need a surprise attack to break the current stalemate," a military officer suggested.
Dugall pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"Have all armed satellites begin adjusting their Planetary Engine nozzles, aiming them at the Hive Ship, and await the overload ignition command."
The Universal Union had modified the Planetary Engine with its own technology, making its propulsion more powerful and its destructive force greater.
In other words, Dugall intended to use the Planetary Engine as a weapon to directly destroy the main force of the Tyranid Hive Fleet that blotted out the sky.
Especially the Hive Ship, which was protected at the very center.
If he could successfully decapitate the Norn Emissary, the Hive Fleet would immediately collapse.
Even if this plan failed, it could still heavily damage a large number of Tyranid biological ships, giving the Universal Union fleet an advantage.
"Yes!"
The command began to be relayed down the ranks, quickly reaching the three armed satellites.
Under the coordination of three 550W units, a total of fifteen Planetary Engines on the three satellites roared as they adjusted their nozzles, aiming at the densest part of the Hive Fleet in the sky.
At the center of that area was the Hive Ship where the Norn Emissary was located.
"Fleet volley!"
Dozens of Alliance warships began to roar, and a large number of shells struck the Hive Fleet.
Dugall planned to first attract the attention of some Tyranid biological ships, causing them to break away from the main force, thereby weakening the protection around the Hive Ship.
This tactic indeed worked.
Perhaps the Norn Emissary hadn't noticed the Planetary Engines on the ground.
Or perhaps she believed that the Planetary Engines were not weapons and could not attack her.
Many Tyranid biological ships swarmed towards the Universal Union fleet, intending to tear the latter to shreds.
"Fleet, retreat."
Dugall ordered in a deep voice.
The number of Tyranid biological ships currently attracted was not enough, and the Hive Ship was still under layers of protection.
The Universal Union fleet began to feign a panicked retreat, abandoning their original lines and falling back towards Vegast further behind.
This action attracted a large number of biological ships in pursuit.
Clearly, the Norn Emissary intended to press her advantage.
"Fire the Planetary Engines!"
"Boom! Roar!"
Dull sounds emanated from the Planetary Engines on the three satellites, shaking the entire ground.
Trillions of parts inside each Planetary Engine began to tremble, and the engine's operating power was adjusted to its maximum limit in a short period, until it overloaded.
The dozens of kilometers in diameter nozzles had begun to emit dazzling red light, and the specially made high-temperature resistant alloy showed signs of melting.
The five Planetary Engines on each satellite first converged at one point, forming a more powerful jet beam, which then shot straight towards the Hive Fleet in space.
tyranids biological ships had undergone special evolution.
Their thick chitinous armor and hide covering their surface could effectively resist all types of weapon attacks.
Whether it was physical attacks from solid projectiles or energy attacks from laser cannons, they would be greatly weakened.
But these defenses were completely ineffective against the terrifying beams of the Planetary Engines.
Everything in their path—
Whether it was meteorites, hundreds of meters long Tyranid Harridan, or kilometers long Tyranid capital ships—
Everything was instantly annihilated in a flash, leaving not the slightest trace.
"Buzz—"
The Planetary Engines continued to roar, maintaining their output.
Three satellites, three beams of light.
From different directions, they simultaneously struck the Hive Ship at the very center of the Hive Fleet.
The Norn Emissary, enthroned at the very center, let out an invisible psychic shriek.
She conveyed her will with terrifying speed.
Countless Tyranid biological ships immediately changed direction, rushing towards the beams of light unleashed by the Planetary Engines like moths to a flame.
Flesh was burning, annihilating.
The Planetary Engines roared and thundered.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on this scene.
But then, the terrifying shriek of a Tyranid Hive Tyrant suddenly came, as the Norn Emissary had ordered through the Synapse Network to destroy the Planetary Engines at all costs.
The Tyranid Hive Tyrant drew its sharp, gigantic bone blades, personally taking to the field, leading the Tyranid creatures in a final, desperate charge.
"Activate the Anti-matter Bombs!"
The Universal Union had long since transformed each satellite into a formidable fortress.
And a large number of Anti-matter Bombs had been laid on the surface as a final trump card.
This was precisely to deal with the current situation.
"Boom!"
Mushroom clouds continuously rose from the surface.
The explosion's fire engulfed all charging Tyranid creatures, and the powerful shockwaves pulverized everything in the vicinity.
Even the formidable Tyranid Hive Tyrant could only let out an unwilling roar before being swallowed by the explosion.
The Planetary Engine's overloaded jet continued for a full ten minutes, only stopping completely when the nozzles melted from the high temperature.
On the ground, all Alliance Soldiers looked up at the sky.
The Tyranid Hive Fleet that had originally blotted out the sky had been largely swept away.
All small Tyranid biological ships had been annihilated by suicidal interception.
Many of the larger, more cumbersome capital ships, however, had survived.
"Observe the Hive Ship for signs of life."
Dugall immediately ordered.
The images captured by the observer were instantly magnified and projected before Dugall.
He saw that the numerous Tyranid Harridan that had originally surrounded the Hive Ship had all disappeared.
And the kilometers-long Hive Ship itself had suffered heavy damage.
More than half of its hull had been annihilated by the Planetary Engine beam from the nearest Satellite 1.
Dugall slightly stood up, staring intently at the Tyranid fleet floating in the void, temporarily without any movement.
If the Norn Emissary were eliminated, this Tyranid Hive Fleet would immediately collapse, and this sudden war would naturally end.
"Level 12 Psionic fluctuation detected! All personnel prepare for impact!"
The Universal Union personnel responsible for monitoring the instrument readings suddenly shouted, their expressions changing drastically.
At the same time, this information was immediately transmitted to other Alliance warships and the Universal Union ground forces.
Such a powerful Psionic fluctuation could only mean one thing!
That was, the Norn Emissary was dead!
The violent Psionic energy instantly radiated outwards from the core of the damaged Hive Ship.
Wherever it passed, all Tyranid biological ships fell into a state of losing unified command.
They quickly began to kill and devour each other, like truly mindless beasts.
On the ground, the Tyranid creatures that had miraculously survived the Anti-matter Bomb also lost their unified command, fell into chaos, and scattered in all directions.
Seeing this, Dugall immediately gave the order.
"All fleets begin pursuit! Not a single Tyranid biological ship must be allowed to escape!"
The death of the Norn Emissary did not mean the end.
New Norn Emissarys would soon be bred within the remaining tyranids biological ships.
If the newly born Norn Emissarys were allowed to escape, the tyranids would quickly understand the Universal Union's tactics and weaponry information, and then rapidly evolve targeted troop types, strategies, and tactics.
The Universal Union warships, which had been in a defensive posture, immediately began to pursue and attack the Tyranid biological ships that were already killing each other.
The Hive Fleet, having lost the unified command of the Norn Emissary, was like a pile of loose sand, becoming vulnerable.
Soon, the vast majority of biological ships were completely destroyed by the Universal Union warships.
Only a very few biological ships escaped the first wave of pursuit by the Universal Union warships and were fleeing out of the star system.
But without the Narwhal Hive Ship, these biological ships, which did not possess superluminal travel capabilities, clearly had no chance of escaping.
"We won!"
In the outposts on the three satellites, everyone cheered.
This was both because the terrifying tyranids had been defeated and because they were relieved to have survived.
Although the battle time was extremely short, the Universal Union defenders also suffered considerable losses.
The Viking Fighter squadrons on various satellites suffered heavy losses in their dogfights with the Biovore and Gargoyles.
Originally serving as cannon fodder, the tens of millions of Tactical Robots, more than half of them were torn to shreds by the sharp fangs and claws of the Tyranid creatures.
Large numbers of bunkers were destroyed by the bombardment of Plasma cannon beasts or Spore Mines. Although the soldiers inside were wearing CMC armor, they still died from acidic toxins, leaving not even bone fragments.
Other armored units also suffered certain losses; only the giant Titan Mechs, relying on their full-body Plasma shields, did not sustain any damage.
If it weren't for the Planetary Engine successfully killing the Norn Emissary in one fell swoop, avoiding a prolonged war of attrition, the Universal Union's casualties would probably have been even greater.
"Count the losses and report all casualty lists."
"Yes!"
War cannot be without casualties. What the Universal Union can do is only to ensure that the fallen soldiers receive their due treatment.
A few hours later.
A post-war council was convened.
"The Hive Fleet that invaded Vegast has been completely defeated, and every escaping biological ship has been utterly annihilated."
Dugall reported.
"Excellent."
Marcus nodded with satisfaction.
But then, he said in a deep voice.
"Vegast has been exposed, and sooner or later, a new Hive Fleet will attack from the Storm Starfield. We need to thoroughly fortify Vegast."
Although they had gained an advantage in the local battlefield, the Universal Union's current situation was not optimistic.
They had to guard against the Orks Empire to the north and defend against the Tyranid Hive Fleet from the southeast.
Moreover, Marcus vaguely remembered that on the western edge of the Pacific Star Region, in the star sector where the Universal Union was located, there was also a Necron Tomb World.
"A large part of our victory this time is because the Tyranid did not understand the Universal Union.
They used the same invasion methods and tactics as they would for ordinary worlds of the Imperium of Man."
Marcus reminded.
"Although we annihilated all escaping Tyranid biological ships, preventing the immediate emergence of new Norn Emissarys.
But the Hive Mind has actually gained some intelligence on the Universal Union, especially about super weapons like the Planetary Engine. Next time, we won't be able to replicate this tactic."
Dugall nodded, indicating understanding.
"Do we need to restart the Primal Zerg Quarantine Zone?"
Alexia asked.
Now that this Hive Fleet had been defeated, the Primal Zerg would have more time to develop.
After a moment of thought, Marcus spoke.
"The Primal Zerg Quarantine Zone in the direction of the Storm Starfield will be paused; the others will continue to advance."
"Received."
The delaying tactics of the Primal Zerg Quarantine Zone would only send more biomass to the tyranids, which would be detrimental to the Universal Union.
"It's finally over. I didn't expect us to still be alive."
In the base on Satellite 1, Liu Peiqiang was discussing their survival with his comrades.
Soon, an Alliance officer found them.
And brought several special passes.
"In view of your excellent performance in this battle, the Universal Union has specially approved a one-week vacation for you.
You can choose to return to your own world or stay here."
Not only Liu Peiqiang and his group, but all UEG combat personnel who participated in the battle received this message.
Hearing of such good news, Liu Peiqiang and the others quickly accepted the passes.
And immediately said.
"We're going back! We're going back!"
Not a single person was willing to stay in this world for even a moment longer.
"In another 24 hours, after all losses and casualty lists on Satellite 1 have been tallied, you can go back." The officer nodded and then left; he had others to notify.
Time passed quickly.
Twenty-four hours later, Liu Peiqiang, having shed his gear, passed through a wormhole on Vegast and instantly arrived at Avarax.
As the core of the Universal Union, Avarax had completely transformed over the past five years.
Its prosperity far exceeded that of fringe Hive City worlds like Vegast; the three Hive Cities on Avarax had undergone large-scale modernization.
All biochemical monsters, Hive City gangs, and toxic pollution in the lower levels of the Hive City.
All were cleaned up.
The Universal Union rebuilt the entire Hive City from its foundations.
The complex, precarious buildings that had stacked up over long ages were all cleared away.
Replaced with more modern, sturdier, more durable, and comfortable skyscrapers.
A large number of public schools, medical stations, food distribution centers, and a series of other buildings that would be impossible to see in ninety-nine percent of the worlds of the Imperium of Man were commonplace on Avarax.
Avarax is home to many wormholes, connecting all the planets within the Universal Union's currently controlled star systems.
To prevent unforeseen circumstances, the Universal Union established all these wormholes in the wilderness, far from the Hive Cities.
They also built numerous defensive structures around these wormholes to prevent enemies from forcibly passing through them by special means.
As a final safeguard, an Anti-matter Bomb was installed beneath each wormhole.
Its power is sufficient to destroy everything within a radius of tens of kilometers.
Of course, lower and middle-level Alliance personnel, as well as Alliance members from various worlds, who travel between planets through these wormholes, are unaware of all this.
"Let's go, we'll head to the spaceport first."
After stepping out of the wormhole and completing a series of inspections,
Liu Peiqiang and his team immediately boarded a high-speed train, heading towards the spaceport.
"The changes here are truly immense."
Looking through the train window at the drastically altered environment outside, Liu Peiqiang couldn't help but exclaim.
Just a few months ago, this place was a barren plain.
Now, however, it is dotted with numerous factories and residential buildings.
Some residents who moved out of the Hive Cities live among them.
Liu Peiqiang and his team even saw many well-maintained and clearly carefully tended green plants.
Adding a lot of vitality to an environment that was once nothing but yellow sand.
"I wonder when our Earth will be able to restore such an environment."
Liu Peiqiang murmured to himself.
Another person shook his head.
"Who knows? We don't have the ability to change the environment on a large scale, but the Universal Union definitely does. It's just a matter of whether the higher-ups will let the Universal Union help. But I certainly don't want to live in an underground city forever."
The high-speed train continued its journey, and Liu Peiqiang and his team kept looking out the window at the scenery.
The residents of Avarax were not panicked by the war that broke out on Vegast; they continued to perform their duties, producing various supplies for the Universal Union.
These supplies would then be transported through wormholes and various cargo ships to other planets in need of support.
Without the exploitation of corrupt nobles, without the Empire's Tithes, and with the Universal Union's efficient coordination and the help of some technology,
the residents in this star system lived lives infinitely better than before.
"Next stop, Spaceport Station 1. Please disembark from the left side of the train and take your personal belongings with you."
After a period of travel, a slightly familiar voice sounded in the carriage.
Liu Peiqiang and his team stood up and exited the train.
More than a dozen large space elevators, modified with the Universal Union's more advanced technology, stood on the distant ground.
Each space elevator can transport a large number of personnel and supplies.
There are a total of five such spaceports on Avarax.
"Identity verification in progress. Identity confirmed: Wandering Earth World, Lieutenant Colonel Liu Peiqiang. Verification passed. Welcome aboard Space Elevator 4. We wish you a pleasant journey."
Liu Peiqiang and his group entered the space elevator.
The cabin was not occupied solely by them; there were also other UEG soldiers who participated in the Vegast campaign, as well as some local residents of Avarax.
Once everyone was seated and secured themselves,
the space elevator engine started, rapidly ascending.
Its speed was no less than that of a small spacecraft.
Soon, the space elevator broke through the atmosphere and reached the cold vacuum of space.
At the very top of the space elevator, its destination, was a massive space station.
Its scale was almost equivalent to a small city, and it was still undergoing continuous expansion.
Fixed defensive facilities were deployed throughout the space station.
And beside the space station, a large number of spacecraft were suspended.
These spacecraft were not warships; they were only used for general manned and transport missions.
Since creating a wormhole is very difficult and requires a lot of time,
The Universal Union did not deploy wormholes on every planet within the star system, but only on the core planets in each star system.
The movement of personnel within the star system still relies on spacecraft.
"Oh, we've only been away for a few months, and it's already expanded so much?"
Looking at the space station, which was two sizes larger than he remembered, Liu Peiqiang once again sighed with emotion.
"Let's go, we'll relax at the space station first. There's no rush to go back now."
Many people in the team suggested.
The space station not only serves as a transportation hub but also has a large number of recreational facilities inside.
Ordinary residents can even experience combat scenarios with enemies like Orks and tyranids through holographic simulations.
This can also be considered a unique training method.
The Universal Union is currently planning to promote it more widely.
The group stepped out of the space elevator and entered the space station, then dispersed to choose their preferred form of entertainment.
Liu Peiqiang, however, did not join his colleagues in recreation.
Instead, he chose to go to a rather special location within the space station—a small military academy exchange office.
This place is considered a branch of the Immortal Academy on Avarax.
Some Commanders who graduated from the Immortal Academy, after personally going to the front lines and accumulating a certain amount of combat experience,
would choose to retire to a secondary role, becoming teachers and instructors, going to various branch academies to train the next generation of soldiers and officers for the Universal Union.
The teaching quality of these branch academies is, of course, not comparable to the Immortal Academy, but their advantage lies in having almost no entry requirements.
Even civilians can receive some education in their spare time and gain some valuable combat experience.
In a Warhammer world where no one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first, this bit of combat experience might truly save a person's life at some point.
Even Liu Peiqiang, who had already experienced brutal battles with the tyranids, could learn many new things here.
Entering a classroom, Liu Peiqiang was surprised to find that most of his teammates who had previously separated were also inside, already attending class.
"Good heavens, you all were secretly competing with each other."
Liu Peiqiang rolled his eyes, then sat down.
After witnessing the ferocious tyranids, the UEG soldiers were all in a heavy mood.
Although logically speaking, this world and their own world are not adjacent, so there should be no tyranids.
But no matter what, the Universal Union had, after all, helped Earth escape the hydrogen flash crisis and saved billions of lives.
Learning more combat knowledge would benefit them personally and also benefit the Universal Union.
Moreover, they could bring this knowledge back to Earth and teach it to others.
Since the Universal Union did not stop them from entering such academies, it must have had this idea as well.
What drove them to spend their precious rest time specifically to study was a sense of belonging to the Universal Union and a sense of honor.
Liu Peiqiang and the others stayed on the space station for about half a day.
Most of that time was spent attending various tactical theory courses.
From how to maintain CMC-300 armor to the usage methods of various individual weapons.
And a brief introduction to some enemies the Universal Union currently faces, and might face in the future.
Like the Necron, T'au Empire, Aeldari, Space Dwarves, and so on—
the Universal Union, unlike the Imperium of Man, does not harbor such hatred for xenos races; as long as the other party is willing to join, the Universal Union naturally welcomes them.
This point is somewhat similar to the T'au Empire.
However, the T'au Empire believes in interventionism and will forcefully impose its own ideology and various systems on its subordinate alien allies.
The Universal Union, on the other hand, adopts a slightly more relaxed standard, only requiring that forces or civilizations joining the Universal Union achieve unity.
Before leaving the space station.
Liu Peiqiang and the others also enjoyed the Universal Union's unique 'soothing agent'.
This agent was formulated based on the Precursor Civilization's biotechnology and has a strong effect of calming emotions and relaxing the mind.
The downside is that after using it, one becomes slightly lethargic.
Similar to 'techpriest mode'.
The effect is the exact opposite of a combat stimulant.
Arriving at the space station port, boarding the spaceship, Liu Peiqiang and the others flew towards the world gate in the distance.
Then they passed straight through it.
After another period of flight, the spaceship slowly landed on a patch of lush green grass.
The initially somewhat lethargic and dazed group immediately jumped up, startled by the green before their eyes.
They then immediately rushed out of the spaceship and jumped onto the ground.
The long-lost fragrance of green grass filled their nostrils, enough to make one feel refreshed.
"How is this possible!"
Liu Peiqiang looked up and saw that the Earth's atmosphere, which had dissipated due to the propulsion of the Planetary Engines, had almost returned to its original state.
On the ground, there was lush green grass and bushes everywhere.
A little further away, various ancient towering trees grew.
If not for the Planetary Engines still spewing light on the distant horizon, Liu Peiqiang and the others might have thought they had not arrived on Earth.
Just as everyone was in awe, a huge, low roar came from behind them.
Along with it came the trembling of the earth.
The enormous Titan Beast, Behemoth, was slowly approaching from behind them.
Around Behemoth, countless plants once again sprouted new shoots and grew rapidly.
In an instant, a forest was created.
The sharp-eyed Liu Peiqiang noticed that more than a dozen vehicles with the UEG logo were following behind the giant beast.
So, the group immediately hailed one of the cars.
The UEG researchers in the car saw the Universal Union spaceship parked nearby and the surprised expressions on the faces of Liu Peiqiang and the others.
They asked, "Are you the group that went to reinforce the other world?"
"Yes, I am Lieutenant Colonel Liu Peiqiang."
"Get in first."
After confirming the identities of Liu Peiqiang and the others with an instrument, the researchers motioned for everyone to get in the car.
"What exactly is going on here? When we left a few months ago, wasn't Earth still covered in ice and snow?"
Liu Peiqiang asked impatiently.
The UEG researcher smiled, then briefly explained.
"It's all thanks to the Universal Union. They brought some environment-altering Titan Beasts from another world, as well as special plants capable of repairing Earth's atmosphere and releasing oxygen on a large scale."
"Alliance, Titan Beast—"
Liu Peiqiang looked at the giant beast at the front of the convoy, even larger than the tyranids Bio-Titans, and murmured.
"This Titan Beast is named 'Behemoth', and its ability is to catalyze plant growth."
"Has Earth's surface environment become suitable for human survival?"
Liu Peiqiang asked.
The researcher shook his head, replying with a hint of regret.
"Currently, only parts of the surface have recovered vitality; it is not yet enough for humans to return to the surface on a large scale."
"It's enough."
A glint flashed in Liu Peiqiang's eyes.
As long as Earth showed signs of recovering vitality, that was enough.
Over a long period of accumulation, humanity would eventually be able to return to the surface and resume their former lives.
Instead of being trapped in dark underground cities, barely surviving a thousand years of wandering.
"Are you going back to the underground city, or will you continue to follow us?"
The researcher looked at Liu Peiqiang and the others.
"You said you've been away for several months; you must have family and friends waiting for you. It's time to go back and reunite."
Everyone exchanged glances, then gave different answers.
Some chose to return to the underground city to reunite with their families, while others chose to follow the convoy and see the areas that had recovered vitality.
Liu Peiqiang belonged to the former.
The landing site of the spaceship they were on was not too far from the underground city where Liu Peiqiang lived.
The convoy split off a few vehicles, carrying Liu Peiqiang and the others who chose to return to the underground city, driving towards the nearest underground city.
Soon, the cars drove out of the lush green grass and forest, and the surrounding scenery returned to its frozen state.
Looking back, the area created by Behemoth was like an oasis of hope, standing proudly in the wind and snow.
The underground city where Liu Peiqiang lived was right beneath the nearest Planetary Engine.
The arrival of the convoy immediately attracted the attention of the guards on the Planetary Engine.
After strict machine scanning and manual inspection, the convoy slowly drove in.
Liu Peiqiang got out of the car, avoiding the giant trucks constantly moving large amounts of rocks as fuel for the Planetary Engine.
He walked towards the nearest underground elevator.
"It's been a few months; I wonder if my son misses me."
"According to our predictions, the environmental transformation of the Wandering Earth World will continue for another two to three years before it can recover to the extent that humans can return to the surface on a large scale."
"Accelerate the progress."
After listening to Alex's report, Marcus nodded and said.
"The environmental transformation of the Wandering Earth World can accumulate experience for us to do the same in other worlds in the future."
Although the system's mission objective only required restoring Earth's environment.
It was clear that the Universal Union would not leave such useful Titan Beasts unused.
Currently, the Universal Union still had a large number of lifeless planets within its controlled territory in the Warhammer World.
These planets were either frozen or scorching hot due to their unfavorable orbital positions.
Or their environments were harsh and unsuitable for human habitation.
The former could be solved by manufacturing Planetary Engines.
The latter could be solved by the Titan Beasts and Eva.
This way, the actual useful area controlled by the Universal Union would directly double.
That gray-armored figure came from the distant deep void, its maw wide open, jagged fangs devouring stars. Its eyes were inky black, like mirrors reflecting the void. Its pale form descended upon the servants of the Skull Takers, unleashing fury from the darkness. Its shape was elusive, like a giant shark lurking beneath black waters. Death for death, blood for blood, in the cold, dark void.
A giant, battered but still menacing battle barge—the the leviathan—was hidden behind a small moon.
It was using its onboard wide-area augur to scan a distant planet.
A planet currently being devoured by a Tyranid Hive Fleet.
In the formerly silent bridge hall, the Tech Sergeant's voice broke the silence.
"Biological signals confirmed. It's the Kronos Hive Fleet."
On a gray throne, a massive armored figure inquired in a deep voice.
"The Tyranid's devouring process?"
"It has entered the final stage, and based on observations, Kronos may not be the first Hive Fleet to arrive in this star system."
"Reason."
The Tech Sergeant brought up a series of reports, then stated his conjecture.
"We received the distress signal from this Hive City planet, named Nonimex, half a year ago.
And this fringe planet could not possibly have resisted a Tyranid Hive Fleet for so long; it should have been completely devoured by now.
This planet is a supply point Leviathan left for Kronos."
Even sitting on the throne, Tyberos's height far exceeded that of the guards surrounding him, radiating an unshakeable and awe-inspiring presence.
After hearing the Tech Sergeant's conjecture, Tyberos did not immediately respond, but fell into a brief silence.
A Squad Leader from the First Company, the Terminator Company, spoke up at this moment.
"Kronos only appears in areas contaminated by the Chaos Gods, and we haven't detected any related signs."
The Tech Sergeant couldn't answer that question either; his previous statements were merely personal conjectures based on the currently available information.
"My brother, remember, do not speak lightly of any words of the great enemy."
A similarly colossal giant, standing beside the Chapter Master, spoke.
He was the Chapter's Chief Librarian, Pale Nomad, T'Kahuulangi.
His power armor was covered in the special markings of the Exiled.
"According to ancient records, at the confluence of the Pacific Star Region and the Storm Starfield, there once lay a world called Silex.
Nearly a millennium ago, it was occupied by the followers of the Prince of Pleasure and became a completely fallen and corrupted planet."
A Daemon World.
Upon hearing the Chief Librarian's words, a ripple of emotion appeared beneath the faceplates of all the battle-brothers.
"So, Kronos is accumulating strength here to attack that planet."
The Tech Sergeant understood.
With this, all the clues connected.
In the galaxy, the Void Fathers and the Imperium's enemies are always attacking and harming each other.
It is precisely because of this that the Imperium of Man has been able to continue to this day.
If it were a typical Imperial force, especially some quick-witted Inquisitors,
They would likely let this Kronos Hive Fleet devour everything on the Hive City planet.
Allowing it to attack the Daemon World would alleviate the pressure the Imperium would face.
Doing so would both preserve the Imperium's valuable combat strength and simultaneously strike at two enemies of humanity.
At this very moment, some people in the hall harbored such thoughts.
But no one chose to speak up and propose it.
Because their Chapter Master, Tyberos, who held supreme authority and could make the final decision, had not yet spoken.
Tyberos, clad in heavily modified and battle-scarred Terminator armor, rose and left the throne.
A chain adorned with various xenos skulls rattled with Tyberos's heavy footsteps.
The empty eye sockets of the skulls reflected only a dead silence.
Tyberos held many titles.
Lord of Shadows, Crimson Path, Honored Void Harvester, Master of the Space Sharks—
And now, this giant shark activated the massive arm gauntlets he wore, Hunger and Slaughter.
Blue arcs of energy began to wreathe the power claws, signifying only one thing.
The Death God of the Outer Dark was about to begin his hunt.
All the Space Sharks in the hall silently raised their power axes, which were already stained dark red with the blood of humanity's enemies.
Death for death, blood for blood.
The deaths of all humans on the Hive City planet would be paid for with the foul pus and blood of this Kronos Hive Fleet.
Under the command of Chapter Master Tyberos, the battle barge plunged with almost insane speed into the Tyranid Hive Fleet, which was stationed in orbit around the planet, absorbing biomass.
Although the the leviathan was slightly smaller than a typical battle barge, its void shields and armor thickness were no less than the latter.
Its void shield's defensive performance even slightly exceeded that of a standard Imperial battleship.
It was precisely because of this that the the leviathan could withstand the fierce assault of numerous bio-ships, like a true giant shark, opening its maw and beginning to tear at the flesh and blood of the Kronos Hive Fleet.
And the teeth that did the tearing were the deadly crew within the battle barge.
The the leviathan did not have Thunderhawk hangars; instead, it had an entire massive teleportation system array.
This was an ancient creation the Space Sharks had excavated from ruins in the Outer Dark.
If it operated normally, it could precisely deploy several companies' worth of troops to a target location simultaneously.
Coupled with numerous boarding torpedoes, the the leviathan was born for close-quarters combat.
Almost instantly, all the Space Sharks were deployed onto the nearest gigantic bio-ships.
Their target was the Norn Emissary leading this Hive Fleet.
Chapter Master Tyberos led the charge, personally bringing a large number of Terminator veterans to board the largest bio-mothership.
Hunger and Slaughter swung continuously, and Tyberos's massive figure became a bloody whirlwind, crushing everything in his path.
Hormagaunts and Gun Worms, cannon fodder units, could not impede Tyberos in the slightest, only turning into bloody mist.
Even melee Tyranid Warriors, clad in thick carapaces and wielding bone blades, would be torn to shreds in an instant.
Typical Fleshborer Beetles and venomous bone spines, striking Tyberos's Terminator armor, could only leave insignificant, tiny battle scars.
Only the ranged attacks of neurothropes and Ion Cannon Beasts could make Tyberos briefly dodge.
Counter-intuitively, despite wearing what should have been cumbersome Terminator armor, Tyberos could still perform incredibly agile evasive maneuvers.
Whether it was the neurothrope's psychic bombardment, the suicidal impact of Spore Mines, or the blasts from bio-ion cannons,
They could only graze him.
Like a wandering giant shark, Tyberos and his guards were slaughtering everything in a bloody rampage.