The Salient Front, Ardenburg Fortress Cluster.
Less than two hours after the Battle of the Salient began, the overwhelming density of the Chaos Host on the battlefield instantly thinned out; these Daemons were forced to fight "modern warfare" against the Imperium.
If we look at the history of war, we would be surprised to find that with the advancement of eras and technology, the density of military formations has been gradually decreasing.
From ancient ten-thousand-man phalanxes, to line infantry, then to the tens of kilometers of trenches in World War I, the skirmish combat groups of World War II, and finally the small, squad-level positions of modern warfare.
Because as technology advances, the accuracy of firepower delivery also gradually increases. Overly dense combat formations would only result in friendly casualties.
The Khorne Daemon Host, the moment it emerged from the warp gate, immediately surged forward in an overwhelming tide, just as in the past, but was quickly singled out by Imperial artillery and terrifying air forces.
Efficient communication and precision guidance were more terrifying than the Imperium's ten-thousand-year-old saturation strikes, because every bolter round could guarantee the elimination of a large group of enemies.
This greatly frustrated the Khorne Daemons; they could only hide within the field fortifications built by Perturabo, quietly shout "Blood for the Blood God," then rush forward to capture a few isolated skirmish trenches, and then quietly hide again.
Because if they were to charge forward "swaggering" as before, the only response would be 155mm high-explosive shells falling on their heads. To offer blood for the Blood God, they first needed to be able to offer blood for the Blood God.
At this moment, several Imperial Fists Soldiers were loading 107mm rockets into launchers. These 107mm rocket launchers were small and light. Placed next to these big guys, they looked like pushing a small baby stroller.
On the other side, several more Imperial Fists Soldiers were even more outrageous; two Soldiers carried a 4-ton M777 howitzer and buried it in the newly constructed defensive fortifications.
Meanwhile, the Death Korps of Krieg, part of the Imperial Guard, had also taken up positions. The 123rd Armored Battalion of the Death Korps of Krieg would defend against the Chaos Host's main attack direction alongside the Imperial Fists.
As the battle entered a white-hot stage, the Imperial Army launched a highly tactical counterattack in the Ardenburg Fortress Cluster.
"Fire!" a tactical Sergeant of the Imperial Fists roared in a deep voice. Following his command, dozens of 107mm rocket launchers fired simultaneously, the rockets whistling through the air and densely striking the Chaos front line.
Huge explosions kicked up dust and blood mist, shattering the vanguard forces of the Death Guard and Iron Warriors.
After the rocket barrage, the deep roar of the M777 howitzers followed.
The artillery detachment of the 123rd Armored Battalion of the Death Korps of Krieg used Pzh2000 self-propelled howitzers to accurately lob high-explosive shells towards the warp gates behind the Chaos Host, precisely striking enemy reinforcement assembly points.
And in the front-line trenches, two Imperial Fists Soldiers, using their superhuman strength, were carrying a four-ton M777 howitzer, preparing to change artillery positions.
One of them, busy at work, quipped, "This thing is like a toy; I really don't understand how those mortals find it heavy."
The other grinned, "Less talk, after this wave, we have other objectives tonight."
The Imperial Army this time did not adopt a traditional large-scale frontal push, but rather used new tactics to disrupt the Chaos lines. Infantry and tanks coordinated closely, using small elite forces to infiltrate enemy positions, paralyzing the Chaos tactical Core with precise strikes. (The tactics currently used in Eastern Europe)
Death Korps of Krieg infantry, holding Laser Guns with bayonets, silently moved through the ruins, using cover to approach the Chaos front line.
They were fearless in the face of death, every step precise as if mechanical. The Commander in front gave orders through his headset: "Squads infiltrate, cut off enemy communication hubs."
Soon, several Krieg Soldiers stealthily approached a defensive fortification, which was a converted Cadia machine-gun bunker.
One of the Krieg Soldiers carried a huge anti-tank mine, with a grenade fuse inserted into it.
He stealthily crept to the side of the bunker, pulled the pin of the anti-tank mine in his hand, and with a direct "there you go," flung the anti-tank mine directly into the bunker.
Subsequently, a huge explosion directly sent the entire bunker flying into the sky, and the Krieg Soldier was also directly blown away by the residual blast, rolling several times on the ground.
At the same time, the Imperial tank forces launched a "hunting operation." The treads of several Puma armored vehicles rolled over the broken earth, and their mounted autocannons began to sweep wildly, their barrages tearing through the Chaos army's weak defenses. The tank crews shouted as they advanced:
"For the Emperor!"
Not far away, a squad of Imperial Fists Soldiers, led by a Sergeant, broke into the Chaos lines. They operated in small, dispersed groups, rapidly clearing enemy strongholds with heavy bolter rounds and Chainswords.
Although the Imperial tactics achieved initial success, the Chaos Host was by no means an easy foe. Mortarion's Death Guard began to release deadly plague clouds, forcing the infiltration units to retreat.
The air was filled with putrefaction and stench, Laser Guns and ammunition lost their effectiveness due to the plague, metal even began to corrode, and the light from the Laser Guns was refracted multiple times by the dense poisonous mist, losing its original power.
"They are trying to block our advance with corrupting power!"
The Krieg Commander calmly reported, then ordered the rear artillery to adjust ammunition types, and a large number of white phosphorus shells were fired directly by the artillery.
A "purifying rain of fire" fell, and the plague clouds and white phosphorus began to poison each other on the battlefield, immediately burning the Death Guard Space Marine with white phosphorus.
Perturabo's Iron Warriors, meanwhile, began to utilize their formidable mechanical and engineering capabilities to rapidly construct defensive fortifications on the frontal line, deploying a large number of automated turrets and Chaos spike barriers, attempting to slow the advance of the Black Templars on the flank and the Imperial Fists on the front.
And at the same time, Magnus's Thousand Sons unleashed psychic interference, hoping to throw the Imperial Army's communications into disarray, causing some tanks and infantry squads to lose contact. He indeed succeeded, and a small portion of the forces were nearly encircled and annihilated by the Chaos counterattack.
Rogal Dorn immediately adjusted tactics, relying on small-scale clustered firepower saturation and alternating cover to advance, thereby avoiding the direct impact of the Thousand Sons' psychic interference.
At the same time, Imperial Chaplains and field hospitals blessed and prayed for the affected Soldiers, quickly restoring morale.
And on the frontal line, Imperial Fists Soldiers chanted the names of the Emperor and the Primarchs, advancing under the fierce onslaught of the Iron Warriors' firepower.
Each of them was like a moving fortress, using Chainswords and bolters alternately, tearing open gaping wounds in the Chaos defenses.
The Imperial artillery continued to pour down fire, and the dense firepower finally crushed the Chaos lines. With the support of the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Fists and Krieg infantry completely breached the Chaos army's first line of defense.
However, just as the Chaos army's defenses collapsed, a deafening roar came from deep within the distant battlefield. Angron's figure reappeared in the center of the battlefield, his axe swinging like the wrath of Khorne,
The Daemon Primarch Angron charged forward through the Imperial hail of bullets as if entering an unmanned territory, a "brute force charge" directly overturning a tank, then he grabbed the tank's cannon barrel and, like throwing a shot put, hurled the tank in his hand at another tank.
Rogal Dorn saw Angron arrive on the battlefield. Having experienced the Siege of Terra, Dorn naturally knew how terrifying a being his Daemon Primarch brother was.
"If only Sanguinius were here..."
After whispering these words, Rogal Dorn clenched his fist, turned, and picked up a Chainsword named "Storm's Teeth" from the table. It was said to have been forged on Dorn's homeworld of Inwit before the Emperor's arrival.
Rogal Dorn and his Honor Guard walked out of the Command Center and immediately rushed towards Angron's direction. No matter what, he needed to stop Angron's advance here.
At this moment, on Rogal Dorn's way to Angron's front line, several battle lines immediately began to disintegrate due to the Primarchs personally entering the fray.
Mortarion and Magnus also began to exert their full power, personally leading their sons to break through the Imperial lines. Soon, the Imperial defenses in the salient began to loosen, and the front line was gradually receding.
The Imperium attempted to use elastic defense and firepower suppression to block the advance of the Daemon Primarchs, but the combat power of the Daemon Primarchs was too strong. Magnus's spells could even directly intercept some bolter rounds in mid-air, and Mortarion's poisonous gas turned the entire battlefield into a no-man's land.
Rogal Dorn once again felt the pressure, just like that one time, he alone bore the responsibility of defending the Sol System... Just then, the most unwelcome news came through Rogal Dorn's helmet communicator... "Lord! The Chaos Rebels's Iron Warriors have breached the frontal defenses, and their Daemon Primarch is rapidly rushing towards your position!"
...On the Blackstone Fortress,
Abaddon clapped his hands and laughed. Indeed, bringing these uncles along was simply a stroke of his astonishing wisdom. With these Primarchs exerting their power, even the strongest army would be crushed.
This was why ten thousand years ago, the Imperium's Great Crusade swept across the entire The Galaxy / Milky Way so smoothly.
Thinking of this, Abaddon couldn't help but want to spit.
"That foolish third uncle Fulgrim, if it weren't for him giving up so easily, the war on Cadia could be going even better now!"
Just then, the most unwelcome news came through Abaddon's communicator on the Blackstone Fortress:
"Warmaster! Several Space Marine Chapters' warships have launched drop pods towards Cadia!"
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