TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!,
===BREAK===
The crowd had clearly split into two sides. Uniformed officers stood on one side, unloading weapons from their vehicles and checking ammunition.
A series of police robots were activated—machines with simple autonomous cores that frequently assisted in law enforcement. Though the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team was small in number, they had access to substantial resources, and these robots helped compensate for their lack of personnel.
"Last time, we only encountered them in a Hollow…"
Nicole looked at the officers in their blue, white, and black uniforms, feeling a pang of unease. Despite the Cunning Hares having full legal business registration, most of their work skirted the law in pursuit of profit. Today, not only were they subcontracted by Public Security, they were about to enter a Hollow alongside these enforcers. It felt like a mouse negotiating business with a cat.
"Boss Nicole, don't worry," Billy said, flicking his white hair with flair. "Today we're a righteous force. With Public Security on our side, our cause is justifiable."
Nicole sighed, not wanting to argue with the robot, and turned to Ignis.
The giant was conversing with Cerakos, the two Space Marines discussing tactical details.
"I've studied the map you gave me," Cerakos nodded. "The four corners of the outer walls have towers, and the main building's roof might have heavy weapons. I'll have to take them out one by one."
During the lull while the Public Security prepared their assault, Lin Xia briefly woke. At the Salamander's request, she struggled to draw a map from memory.
The cursed school had two walls: an outer poured concrete wall, reportedly seven to eight meters high, with towers manned at the corners. Both Space Marines assumed these locations likely held the automated turrets purchased from Markus.
Though Markus claimed they were outdated, highly automated laser turrets were always a nuisance. And with six purchased this time, a direct assault through the fire network would be a headache.
Inside the outer wall was a four-meter-high barbed wire fence. Within it stood the six-story main building of the behavior correction school, each story nearly four meters tall. There were additional underground levels, but Lin Xia had never entered them—rumor among classmates said three or four layers below.
For the Space Marines, destroying the site wouldn't be hard, but safeguarding the children during combat complicated matters. With the Cunning Hares being so few, the officers' presence would help fill the gap.
"Don't worry. Gotthardt will come. By now, Belobog Heavy Industries should be en route. With his Leviathan Dreadnought providing fire support, those towers won't stand for a minute," Ignis said, handing Cerakos a flamethrower from his waist.
"Another toy for me?" the Son of Sanguinius asked, attaching it to his belt.
"Fully armed, cousin."
Ignis displayed his gear: a brand-new ether-alloy shield, thunder hammer, Khorne chainaxe, flamethrower, and explosives. If it weren't for the automated turret being too cumbersome, he might have equipped that too.
"Well-equipped and battle-ready, truly a rare warrior," Qingyi's voice rang out. Both Space Marines nodded respectfully.
"Shall we discuss tactics?"
"Mr. Ignis, Mr. Cerakos," the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team leader, Zhu Yuan, nodded in respect.
"I heard the enemies are dangerous. More dangerous than Razor?" Seth Lowell, trailing behind the two women, asked. The young officer was full of energy and courage. Ignis remembered him shielding Qingyi while taking machine gun fire.
"Far more," The Salamander said bluntly. "Their anesthetic trade is highly lucrative. In terms of equipment and numbers, they surpass Razor. Intelligence suggests they not only have automated turrets but heavy weapons—rockets and modified autonomous tactical mechs."
"More importantly, they have hostages. The captured children are leverage; we must end this before they're used against us."
Yes, purely eliminating enemies would be easy with two Space Marines and a Dreadnought. But the critical mission was rescuing the captives; defeating the enemies was secondary.
Ignis knew the agents of the Prince of Pleasure would not make it easy. If they revealed their target, it meant they were prepared. In some sense, they were walking into a trap.
"Our tech personnel will locate the power cables and cut electricity before the assault," Zhu Yuan said. "Then you strike."
"Honestly, I doubt that will help. Those automated turrets have backup power, and their personnel may have mutated. Your focus should be rescuing people—getting hostages out while we draw the enemy's attention is top priority," Ignis said, studying the officers. Though well-armed, facing Chaos cultists made their effectiveness uncertain.
"Understood. Deal with immediate concerns first, and avoid reckless action," Qingyi quickly understood. Having faced Razor's lightly mutated Khorne cultists, she knew the limits of her combat robot body.
"Leave it to us!" Seth Lowell pounded his chest. "These criminals won't succeed. I'll give my all to rescue the children! New Eridu won't tolerate such evil!"
The young officer radiated righteousness. Ignis liked his spirit—hoping it wouldn't be worn down by bureaucracy.
"Wait… isn't that Razor's axe?" Zhu Yuan asked, eyeing the chainsaw-axe on Ignis' waist. "You said you were going to destroy it."
"Couldn't. I tried everything. But it's not the same type as the enemy this time—it's still useful," Ignis shook his head.
"So that thing called me in your room that day?" Cerakos asked, finally acknowledging it. "It's quiet today."
"What? It's alive?" Seth asked warily.
"Something like that," Ignis nodded. "If you feel unprovoked rage or uncontrollable bloodlust, be careful. Tell me in time—I might be able to save you. But if someone tries to take this weapon, I'll assume they're controlled by it. Then I'd have no choice but to kill them."
Seth stepped back, wary of the crimson weapon adorned with brass and skulls.
At that moment, the whirring of helicopter rotors approached. Everyone looked up as a Belobog Heavy Industries heavy transport helicopter arrived. Suspended beneath, a Leviathan Dreadnought waved its right mechanical arm at Ignis.
The Salamander noticed the Dreadnought's right arm had swapped the original siege claw for a siege drill made of three rotating bits—capable of drilling through the strongest fortifications.
Hovering above the group, the helicopter cut the cables, and the bipedal mech landed steadily.
"Seems we're a bit late. Public Security's flight route requests weren't processed fast enough," the old veteran said, opening the cockpit hatch and waving to Zhu Yuan.
"This falls under the administrative section; they can't extend their reach," Qingyi scanned the area. "Everyone's here. Let's move."
"I like your straightforward style," Gotthardt laughed heartily, treating the upcoming battle casually. "Let's go."
The five-meter-tall Dreadnought closed its chest hatch and stepped over the crowd.
Seth felt awe as the massive war machine passed overhead. Though he had seen it once and heard stories from the old veteran inside, witnessing it descend and stride past him was staggering.
As a rookie officer, he felt New Eridu's depths were still largely unknown. Could Public Security handle this? Seth's confidence wavered as the Leviathan entered the Hollow.
In truth, Ignis himself was uncertain. While Khorne demons weren't particularly cunning, their combat ability was formidable. Unlike other Chaos gods' followers—specialists in trickery, melee, or resilience—agents of the Prince of Pleasure were versatile, making their tactics unpredictable.
They could drag you into unknown territory, using years of chaotic experience to defeat you.
Ignis raised his shield, nodded to the Cunning Hares, and followed.
This was the nature of battle: no matter how perfect the plan, half would fail once it started. The rest depended on improvisation and courage.
The officers, though limited in gear and tactics, had bravery and honor. Ignis trusted these mortals sworn to maintain New Eridu's order to carry out their duties.
After all, the most difficult part of the mission fell to the three Space Marines.
"I can feel your anger," whispered Khorne's demon in his mind. "Long-suppressed rage."
"I'm glad you came with me. Chaos is our enemy; we can work together," Ignis muttered.
"Sever their heads, tear their bodies apart, let their blood bathe me."
"The Blood God cares not where the blood comes from, only that it flows."
"The Blood God cares not whose skulls, only that they exist."
"Slaughter, destroy, annihilate! Rend the vile clowns, feed their corpses to my fangs."
"I can't wait to crush them, drink their blood, and hear their pitiful souls scream."
The demon in the weapon shivered with excitement—confined for so long, starved of blood, skulls, and fury.
"Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!"
It shouted in Ignis' consciousness, ecstatic and wild.
The only response was Ignis' cold, firm: Shut the fuck up.
Undeterred, it rejoiced. Beneath the Son of Vulkan's calm exterior, molten rage surged like a river of lava.
No one could fool the Blood God's agent, who sensed every hidden emotion.
It waited—until anger consumed reason—then it would strike. In the Blood God's name, it would never stop seeking war and slaughter; the world was far too boring, sapping even its power.
===BREAK===
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