The Chaos Raptors Grand Company, having charged deep into the rear, immediately found themselves in an awkward predicament. They suddenly realized that what they had envisioned as a 'decapitation strike' had, in fact, turned into a trap!
The experienced Raptors Grand Company instantly had a bad feeling.
They were surrounded!
And surrounding them were the 'Iron Men Legions', the Imperium's most reviled enemy, long vanished from history!
Why were they so sure they were 'Iron Men'?
It was actually very simple: few had ever seen true 'Iron Men', but these behemoths before them not only had mechanical bodies but also clearly possessed 'self-awareness'. If not 'Iron Men', what else could they be?
If you claimed they weren't Iron Men, do you think the Imperium's Inquisition would believe such nonsense?!
Berylius, the Company Commander of this Chaos Raptors Grand Company, had five hundred years of combat experience, having captured hundreds of worlds for Harken and Abaddon!
However, even such a seasoned Chaos Space Marine Company Commander now looked somewhat bewildered, staring at the mechanical behemoths surrounding him, and truly wanted to ask a question.
Who exactly are the heretics here?
If one were to truly compare who the Imperium hated more, Chaos or the Iron Men, Berylius felt that the Iron Men's ability to draw hatred might even be a tiny bit higher than theirs!
After all, if you really got down to it, Chaos had never actually beaten the Imperium to death, but the Iron Men rebellion was a real thing that almost led to the extinction of humanity!
In other words, Chaos was at most a tumor; you could drag it out for a while even if you were dying. But the Iron Men… that thing was at least an 'Ebola virus', with an extremely high fatality rate!
Just as both sides were locked in a strange stalemate, a Chaos Space Marine nervously swallowed, "Co-Company Commander… what should we do now? Should we continue the decapitation strike?"
Decapitation?
Decapitate my ass!
Berylius' brow twitched as his gaze fell on a Terminator not far away, which had just been cleaved in half by the largest 'Iron Man' with a single axe.
Terminators, also known as Tactical Dreadnought Armor.
They were designed from the outset for close-quarters combat and boarding actions. Space Marines wearing this power armor possessed unimaginable defensive capabilities and were equipped with different weapons depending on the combat scenario.
So, here's the problem.
The Terminator armor, with its strongest defenses, had been split in half by one axe. What did they have left to fight with?!
"Retreat!"
Berylius made a decisive judgment.
Space Marines were fierce, but not foolish. It was clear they had fallen into an enemy trap, surrounded by dozens of Iron Men. There was no need for a pointless sacrifice!
It wasn't that they couldn't win, but that there was no need to fight!
Since the decapitation plan had failed, they would retreat, gather stronger forces, and try again.
Noticing the Chaos Raptors' intention to retreat, Emrys' eyes gleamed with coldness, and he stepped out of his tent: "Devour them all; don't let a single one escape!"
He had gone to great lengths to lure out the Chaos forces, having the First Auxiliary Army feign defeat on the front lines, deliberately setting up this trap. How could he possibly let them escape?
It was important to remember that, although it was a feigned defeat, to make the enemy believe it, the First Auxiliary Army's marine division had sacrificed over ten thousand lives!
A merciful Commander cannot lead troops… this saying was truly apt!
To completely annihilate the Chaos Raptors Grand Company, these five hundred Space Marines, Emrys had sacrificed over ten thousand lives!
"Optimus Prime, Sentinel Prime!"
His cold and sinister gaze, like a sharp dagger, pierced into the Chaos Raptors Grand Company: "Listen to me well. I don't care what price you pay; destroy them all here. Don't let a single one escape!"
Since they had come, none of them would leave!
It was imperative to sever a hand of 'Haarken World-Eater Harken' here, which would greatly alleviate the predicament of Siluria!
At the same time, it would lay the groundwork for an even greater ambush!
Emrys' gaze seemed to transcend space, falling upon the Chaos Raptors' main camp hundreds of miles away, on the Chaos vanguard officer!
"Now, it's your turn to make a move!"
A hint of madness appeared on his face, and a reddish glint flickered in his pupils: "Don't disappoint me, Haarken World-Eater… Harken!"
"For the Emperor!!!"
Nightblade charged forward, leading the way, gripping a five-meter chainsword. The terrifying sound of its rapidly rotating teeth seemed to shred the air, and each step made the ground tremble!
Optimus Prime stepped out from the left flank, a thermal melt axe in his left hand and a plasma energy cannon in his right. His ten-meter height was already comparable to a Knight, yet his movements were even more agile.
To prepare for this war, Sentinel Prime had specifically manufactured many secondary Transformers to serve as 'cannon fodder'.
The Chaos Space Marines were immediately surrounded!
"They… they want to keep us all!" Berylius' face was grim. As an excellent Commander, how could he not see through the enemy's intentions: "What a huge appetite; aren't they afraid of breaking their teeth?"
They were not small fry, but the most powerful Space Marines. Even in the most desperate battlefields, they had always fought their way out!
If it came down to a bloodbath, with five hundred against twenty-seven, even against the Iron Men Legions, they were not without a chance of victory!
"Don't underestimate us… the vanguard of the black Legion!" Seeing their retreat cut off, Berylius became ruthless.
This was a bloodbath!
But they were the vanguard of the black Legion, the most elite warriors under the command of the ever-victorious Warmaster Abaddon. They never feared a bloodbath!
The Space Marines lived up to their elite name. Even when surrounded and deeply entrapped, after a brief few seconds of panic, they immediately regrouped!
Under Berylius' command, they quickly utilized the surrounding terrain and cover to begin a tenacious resistance!
Although the Transformers were massive, they were ultimately not true 'Knight Mechs'. They lacked deflective shields and formidable firepower, leading to a stalemate with the Chaos Raptors Grand Company in a short time!
True Knight Mechs, however, were equipped with devastating weapons such as multi-barreled meltaguns and power lances, tools capable of instantly destroying battle formations and defenses!
But the Transformers… due to too much lost technology, at most only had plasma cannons. Although their destructive power was strong, breaking through the Chaos Raptors' defensive line in a short time was impossible!
However, just then.
Emrys received an urgent report from the front lines!
It was bad news from Charles.
"Report! The left-flanked android Army has suffered heavy casualties, with only three battle groups remaining!"
"Report! The right-flanked Tyrant Legion, a total of fifty thousand test subjects, has been completely annihilated. The right flank… has been breached!"
Bad news, like snowflakes and raindrops, poured in. The initial situation… had finally, step by step, devolved into the worst possible outcome!
In fact, Emrys had somewhat anticipated this, as the enemies on both the left and right flanks were genestealers, the 'Pauper Prince' cult that had been entrenched on Vigilance for two hundred years!
Although those infected were mostly from the lower levels of the underhive, it was precisely because of this that their combat prowess was far beyond what could be compared to the 3K era!
There was also a more crucial point: on Vigilance, due to its proximity to the Great Rift, a huge number of psykers had awakened!
Among the lower-caste individuals infected with Terra's genes, the number of psykers was not small!
"Tell Charles, it's their turn."
Emrys let out a heavy sigh, his voice cold: "I don't want casualty figures, and I don't care what method he uses. Until they receive further orders, the First Auxiliary Army is not to retreat a single step. Even if they die… they must hold them back!"