bullyxtreme Chapter 223 Zu Long's Plan!
Chapter 223 Zu Long's Plan!
Saint Night Star, Crimson Fist Fortress Monastery.
Chapter Commander Pedro Canto sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor in a simple room lit only by a flickering oil lamp. His bronze power armor was neatly arranged in a corner, the crack in his breastplate, pierced by a Harken spear, particularly striking.
“We’ve lost too many brothers,” the Chapter Master murmured, his eyes closed. “If only I had seen through Harken’s scheme sooner…”
The holographic projection unfolded in the darkness, recreating every detail of the Battle of Holy Night Star:
- Northern defenses collapsed: due to underestimating the speed of Harken's newly acquired wings.
- Dreadnought Loss: Failure to identify the Chaos Titan's weakness in time.
- Civilian casualties: Flaws in the evacuation plan
Suddenly, the communicator emitted a piercing alarm. The holographic image switched to the real-time battle situation on the alert star:
- Northern Industrial Zone: Orc population surpasses one million
- Lower Nest City: Gene Stealers are Frequently Active
- Orbital defense: Harassed by an unidentified fleet
"The King of Macragge commands," the communications officer's voice came through, "that the Vigilant Star must not fall before the Chapter Master of Calgar arrives."
Pedro immediately convened a war council, and the holographic sand table was filled with the Crimson Fist's elite troops:
1. Main force:
- Directed personally by the warband commander
- Includes 300 Space Marines
- 6 Predator-class Titans
- Objective: Recapture the northern industrial zone
2. Task Force:
- Led by the Second Company Commander of Aksu
- Includes 100 Space Marines
- 12 Warhound-class Titans
- Objective: Eradicate the gene-stealers in the lower hive cities.
3. Reconnaissance Team:
- Commanded by Captain Russell
- Includes 50 Kashejin warriors
- Objective: To determine the origin of the unidentified fleet.
Pedro turned to Russell: "Your task is to uncover the truth, not to play the hero. If you find any trace of the Ancestral Dragon, report it immediately; do not act on your own."
“Understood, Commander.” Russell gave a standard military salute; his “Fire Kirin” and “Blood Drinker” were ready.
As everyone prepared to leave, Pedro suddenly spoke: "Remember, we are not going to our deaths, but to protect. Every warrior's life is precious; do not repeat the tragedy of Saint Night Star."
The holographic projection switched to the orbital map of the warning star, and Pedro's voice echoed in the conference room: "For the Emperor! For Dorne!"
…………
Vigilant Star orbit, the bridge of the "Shadow Hunter"
Russell stared at the tactical hologram, his fingers unconsciously tapping the butt of the "Fire Kirin" rifle. Fifty Kashejin warriors were on standby on the deck when Lieutenant Leos's data panel suddenly emitted a piercing alarm.
“Here they come again,” the technical lieutenant said, pulling up the orbital charts. “These ghosts have shown up again during the orc attack.”
In the holographic projection, three bizarrely shaped warships are attacking an Imperial defense platform. Their armor is covered in biomimetic patterns, while their cannons flash with Mechanicus runes.
"Look here!" Leos zoomed in on a particular image. "They're deliberately avoiding the areas where the gene-stealers are active!"
Russell narrowed his eyes: "Interesting... Arek, prepare the shuttle. Brutal, check your Storm Shield."
The stealth shuttle approached the enemy flagship silently. When the distance closed to a hundred meters, Russell suddenly felt the "Blood Drinker" vibrate—the bone coating was resonating with some kind of energy.
“By the Emperor…” Through the observation window, Russell saw an unbelievable scene: beneath the biomass armor on the ship’s surface, the outline of the Emperor’s emblem was faintly visible.
Using optical camouflage, the squad successfully boarded the enemy ship. The passageway was filled with the putrid stench characteristic of an insect hive, but the wall lighting was standard mechanical blue light.
“This place is like a Frankenstein’s monster,” Brutal muttered, “I don’t even know where to hit with my hammer.”
Suddenly, a patrol approached. Their armor was covered in insectoids, but the mechanical eyes of the Mechanicus priests were visible beneath their visors.
In the captain's cabin, Russell found the voyage log:
Log 1: "Project Huangquan No. 8 has been restarted, and this time we've found the balance..."
- **Log 2:** "The Armenians family provided crucial samples, at the cost of..."
Log 3: "The Ancestral Dragon is not the enemy; he is helping us fight the real threat..."
Suddenly, the alarm sounded. The biomass wall of the captain's cabin suddenly cracked open, revealing a holographic projection—the long-lost Great Sage of the Yellow Springs VIII.
“Captain Russell,” the Great Sage’s voice crackled with mechanical noise, “you think you’re investigating the truth, but little do you know you’re part of the plan too…”
When the enemy ship initiated a subspace jump, the squad was nearly swept into the spatial rift. Upon returning to the Shadow Hunter, Russell discovered a strange pattern on the Blood Drinker's bone coating—the very mark of the Underworld VIII.
"What the hell is going on?" Arek ripped open his blood-stained scarf. "The Mechanicus is collaborating with the Hive?"
Leos's data panel suddenly went black, revealing a line of blood-red text: "The game has only just begun..."
“We need support; this is no longer a task we can accomplish!” Russell said in a deep voice.
"Then what should we do?" Political Commissar Arek asked.
"Go find the battle commander!"
At this point, they had no choice but to ask the battle group leader for help.
…………
Vigilant Star Nest City's Lower Level, S-99 Abyss Shaft
Russell glanced at the countdown on his tactical goggles: 23:59:47. The Second Company Commander of Aksu stood behind him with ten Crimson Fist Terminators, their power gauntlets gleaming dangerously.
“Listen, kid,” Aksu’s voice came through the communicator, “our target is the signal device, not Zu Long. Don’t be fooled by his tricks.”
Leos pulls up the holographic map:
1. Infiltration Route:
- Through abandoned sewage pipes
- Avoid major infection areas
- Estimated time: 4 hours
2. Target location:
- The signal transmission tower at the bottom of the nest city
- Location of Zulong's signal device
- Hive Beacon Core
3. Task Allocation:
Russell's team: Sabotage signaling device
Aksu Squad: Holding off the enemy
- Brutal: Responsible for "destroying the house"
The sewage pipes were teeming with dormant gene-stealers, their breathing rising and falling in the darkness. Brutal accidentally crushed a bug egg, splattering slime onto Arek's power armor.
"The Emperor's hemorrhoids!" the political commissar muttered under his breath. "Couldn't you be a little more careful?"
“My feet are bigger than your brain!” the brutal retort retorted.
Suddenly, all the gene stealers opened their eyes simultaneously. Russell immediately activated "Imperial Protection," and "Blood Drinker" drew a golden arc. Aksu's Terminator squad unleashed a killing storm, their power gauntlets blasting enemies into mincemeat.
[System Notification: 47 Gene Stealers defeated, Faith Power +47 (Current 1715/4000)]
When the team broke through to the core area, the sight before them was breathtaking—tens of thousands of hibernation pods held the civilians of the hive city, each life support tube connected to a giant signaling device in the center. A holographic image of the Ancestral Dragon appeared, its voice laced with mockery:
"Welcome to my palace, little knight. Destroy the signal device, and these ants will suffocate; leave it, and they will hatch into a new army in twenty-four hours."
Aksu's Terminator squad had already engaged in combat with Zulong's guards, but Russell stood hesitantly in front of the signal device.
"Move out!" the battle group leader's voice came through the communicator. "That's the order!"
Russell looked at the innocent civilians in the hibernation pods and suddenly noticed a detail—the mechanical codes on the life support tubes showed that these civilians had been transferred three months earlier.
"A hologram!" he shouted. "It's a scam!"
When Russell shattered the signal device with the "Fire Kirin," the holographic image of the Ancestral Dragon roared in fury: "You've ruined my five-hundred-year plan! But it doesn't matter, your body will become the new beacon!"
Aksu's Terminator squad immediately deployed for defense, but the Ancestral Dragon's illusions kept changing, attempting to confuse everyone. Russell activated his last bit of faith power, and the "Blood Drinker" and the "Fire Kirin" simultaneously erupted with dazzling light.
[System Notification: Faith Power +10 (Current 1725/4000)]
As the signal device turned to ashes in the holy flames, the entire nest began to collapse. Aksu's Terminator squad remained in the collapsing core area to cover Russell's retreat.
"Move quickly!" came the 2nd Company Commander's last communication. "Tell the battalion commander...we've completed our mission..."