The operational plan was swiftly finalized and disseminated to all participating units via the encrypted datalink. The Imperial front lines began a brief but efficient tactical adjustment, shifting from a stable defensive posture to a highly aggressive assault configuration.
On the Iron Hounds' side, all Titan units that could be extricated from the current melee broke contact with the Ork swarms and advanced with unprecedented offensive momentum. They no longer sought wide fire coverage; instead, they concentrated their destructive energy precisely along the axis of the pre-designated assault path.
The three Titans moved like three white-hot forge hammers, slamming into and piercing through the boundless green tide with unstoppable force. Their continuous, heavy bombardment carved a temporary, scorched corridor through the dense Ork formations, a path littered with twisted metal and xenos remains.
Simultaneously, the Knight suits of the House Guard rapidly shifted formation, their high mobility allowing them to shield the flanks of the advancing Titans. These smaller, more agile war machines utilized their superior melee capabilities and secondary weapons to precisely clear any Ork raiding parties or light vehicles attempting to harass or slow the Titans' progress. Like loyal hounds driving away scavengers, they ensured the security of the primary spearhead's flanks.
This sudden, focused, and violent offensive successfully drew the vast majority of the Ork army's attention—especially that of the newly emerged Gargant. Its simple combat logic immediately identified the advancing Iron Hounds Titans as the primary threat.
Its massive cannon barrels swiveled, pouring fierce shells and rocket volleys, accompanied by deafening roars, toward the three steel giants daring to challenge it head-on. It sought to halt this lethal torrent of steel through sheer weight of fire.
"Now! EVA squad, move in!" Osiris's command rang clearly through the encrypted channel.
The three prepared EVA Titans instantly surged their power core outputs to tactical mobility levels. They did not choose to follow directly behind the heavy spearhead formed by the Iron Hounds; instead, leveraging mobility far beyond that of conventional war machines, they skimmed along the edges of the burning corridor like three colored meteors flying close to the brink of death.
"Red One, lead the way. Clear any hard obstacles and stray resistance on the path!"
"Roger that!" Asuka's response was crisp.
The crimson giant took the lead. Every swing of its massive power claws dismantled Ork trucks or makeshift armor into a cloud of debris. Its shoulder-mounted weapon platforms and precision Volcano Cannon shots acted like a scalpel, vaporizing any greenskin groups attempting to establish fire points along with their fortifications.
"Violet Two, maintain the center. Protect Blue Three and provide area defense!"
"Ye—Yes!" Shinji took a deep breath, maneuvering the violet giant close behind the red silhouette. He no longer used the A.T. Field solely to block frontal attacks; instead, he shaped it into a translucent, shifting barrier that moved with the unit. Like a mobile fortress, he deflected and bounced away the dense ballistic fire, shrapnel, and even howling Orks attempting suicide attacks from the sides of the corridor.
At the same time, a nearly invisible, faintly rippling pale blue light—the Void Shields standard on Titans—flickered on the units' surfaces. Combined with the A.T. Field, this created a double layer of protection, ensuring that any stray attack lucky enough to penetrate the field was ruthlessly absorbed or dissipated by the second shield.
"Blue Three, handle rear watch and suppress high-threat targets at range!"
Rei Ayanami's Blue Unit-03 held steady at the rear of the formation. She maneuvered the unit with calm precision, her shoulder and arm energy platforms rotating and locking with fluid grace. The ice-blue high-energy particle beams no longer sought flashy displays of power but focused on extreme efficiency and accuracy, moving like the cold fingers of an invisible reaper.
Every flicker of the beam resulted in a distant Ork rocket-launcher being detonated or a heavy weapon team charred in a brilliant energy overload, effectively neutralizing threats from the flanks and rear high ground.
The three giants of different colors formed a lethal triangular arrow, hurtling through the depths of the Ork lines along the corridor maintained by fire and flame. Their speed far surpassed any traditional Imperial war machine. Often, before the simple brains of Ork commanders could even register the squad's existence or organize an interception, the three lethal colors had already torn through their hastily constructed defenses.
The Orks along the way did not fail to try and stop them. They leaped from wreckage and craters, firing crude weapons and attempting to ram with roaring vehicles. Some fanatical individuals even lunged directly at the units with explosives.
However, in the face of the EVAs' absolute strength, staggering speed, and nearly impregnable double-layered protection, all resistance appeared futile and fragile. Where the crimson lightning passed, only shattered green corpses and burning metal remained. The violet bulwark stood indestructible, coldly barring all attacks. The blue light swept silently over the battlefield, precisely reaping every potential threat.
The fifteen kilometers deep into enemy lines might have been a short sprint for the EVAs under normal conditions, but here, every step was taken on the edge of death. The Ork horde fully realized the lethal intent of this elite squad and began mobilizing troops recklessly.
Ork units engaged with the Iron Hounds' main force were forcibly pulled away, and rear reserves were committed. They swarmed from all directions like an enraged hive, attempting to use absolute numbers and frenzied assaults to drown and break this poisoned thorn driven deep into their body.
"Massive Ork armored concentration ahead!" Asuka reported.
"Ork artillery battery establishing on the left high ground!"
"Fast-moving units attempting to flank from the rear!"
In the comms channel, the reports of the three pilots and Osiris's instructions overlapped in a tense but orderly rhythm.
"Red One, do not get bogged down; force a breakthrough through the armor cluster! Blue Three, prioritize destroying the artillery battery! Violet Two, hold the formation and prevent the rear envelopment!"
The battle reached a fever pitch. Asuka's Red Unit-01 acted like a knife, physically smashing through the makeshift Ork armored line, her power claws tearing trucks and tracked vehicles to pieces. Rei's Blue Unit-03 used a precise volley to turn the newly erected Ork cannons and their crews into fireballs.
Shinji's Violet Unit-02 spun around with the A.T. Field fully deployed, blocking the Ork buggies and warbikers trying to swarm from behind. The collision between the field and the crude metal emitted an ear-piercing screech.
Working in coordination, they carved a path of blood through the green ocean. Finally, the massive complex—originally a decommissioned Planetary Defense Force heavy bunker, now modified with Ork-style additions and crude fortifications—appeared in their sensor views. The "WAAAGH!" energy fluctuations radiating from it were at their peak, nearly condensing into physical matter.
"The target is right ahead!" Osiris's voice carried finality. "Prepare for the assault!"