The Emperor’s Angel of Death

The factory's gigantic machinery rumbled overhead, but inside the pitch-black drainage pipes, it was eerily silent. The dreadful stench from the sewers was enough to weaken ordinary people, making them retch until their stomachs felt tied in knots. Even a cocktail of insecticide, carrion, sewage, and the foul odors produced at the end of decomposition couldn't compare to the concentrated, nauseating reek.

Hayes was almost the last to jump down, nearly falling directly into the sewage. Even with someone helping him and wearing a gas mask, he almost emptied his stomach.

The entire assault team had already slid into the sewage's languid embrace, led by their company commander—or, as he should now be called, Battalion Commander Olanious.

This man walked ahead of them, carefully navigating the waist-deep sewage, each step making a squelching sound.

His plan had been successful. The entire regiment had crossed the bombing zone almost unhindered, then rapidly advanced through the deserted wasteland. The Red Pirates' garrison hadn't anticipated a "defensive" force suddenly attacking; they were still organizing attacks on the three now-empty high grounds.

Unfortunately, in the final step—seizing the armory—they encountered a bit of trouble.

They had initially estimated the factory to be of average size; after all, this wasn't a renowned industrial world, at most a "small workshop" (by Imperial standards). But when the reconnaissance unit sent back images, they were dumbfounded.

Although the armory wasn't large, the Red Pirates had heavily fortified it, deploying void shields, thick protective walls, and rows of turrets. The factory could also produce simple vehicles and soulless light tanks. A small garrison could easily hold off the Abubakari 310th Infantry Regiment, which was primarily composed of light infantry.

Arnie quickly convened his officers to discuss the situation. Everyone agreed that with their current firepower and manpower, it was impossible to take the small fortress. And if they were stalled before the fortified city, the enemy could send a few units to reinforce, leading to their complete annihilation.

But retreating at this point wasn't easy either. There was a high probability that the positions they were supposed to defend had already been lost, and turning back would mean running headfirst into the enemy.

At this critical moment, Olanious, the one who proposed the plan, stepped up.

Through rapid on-site reconnaissance, he discovered the factory fortress's weakness: the drainage system. Due to the factory's original design, the drainage pipes were relatively long and happened to pass through a hill, making them impossible to cover within the protection and surveillance range of the walls and sentries.

Of course, the Red Pirates were aware of this. Under normal circumstances, they would have chosen to close the main drainage pipe.

However, they were currently producing weapons and equipment urgently needed by the heretic garrison. Closing the drainage would mean halting production. Therefore, they could only make that decision when the enemy appeared, and fortunately, the Abubakari 310th Infantry Regiment had not yet been discovered.

Olanious's plan was to lead an assault team into the factory through the drainage pipes. The main drainage pipe would certainly connect to the production and energy areas, as they required a large amount of wastewater to be discharged promptly. They would carry thermic charges, rush in, and create havoc to attract the enemy's attention. Simultaneously, the main force outside would launch a full-scale attack, breaking through the enemy's defenses in one fell swoop.

It was a high-stakes gamble, as they knew nothing about the situation inside the factory, including its structure and terrain. But Olanious was willing to lead the assault personally. His only request was to bring along those he trusted—

His company.

Arnie didn't hesitate. Since they were already gambling, they might as well go all in. He approved the plan.

So, Hayes and the others, without knowing what was happening, had to put on sealed protective suits and gas masks and enter the drainage pipes filled with deadly toxins.

In addition to industrial wastewater, there was also a large amount of domestic sewage. Theoretically, no living creature could survive, but as they passed, some small, shelled creatures were disturbed and scurried around.

A total of sixty-two men cautiously waded through the drainage pipe, which was over five meters in diameter.

Hayes walked on the right side of the formation, following Hashet. He tried to shake off the remaining viscous filth on his hands, but it was useless.

"This is awful."

Hayes spat in disgust, took a deep breath, and focused his hearing forward.

During his years in the underhive, he had heard many horror stories about the massive drainage systems, from man-eating monsters with four arms lurking in the pipes to sewage worms that resembled sludge but had sharp teeth, and bloated toads that could swallow people whole.

This gave him a natural fear of those vast, dark tunnels, and he almost never went near them.

Now he had to go inside voluntarily.

Beyond the gently rippling sewage and the sound of dripping water, there was something else. Hayes thought he heard the foul-smelling air whispering to him. The sounds were vague, fleeting, but carried an aura of terror.

The youth subconsciously gripped his lasgun, his knuckles turning white from the force. For him, the gun's reliable shape and weight were both familiar and comforting.

He wasn't a violent person, but for some reason, he seemed to have developed a dependence on weapons. He found it difficult to fall asleep without a gun nearby.

The team encountered no unexpected events, and they walked for hundreds of meters. The sewage rippled ahead, and organic entities rooted in the tunnel roof emitted a faint glow, illuminating the water's surface.

Olanious moved forward, trying to catch any sounds—any irregular noises that might reveal their position or attract attention.

It seemed he knew what to expect in this kind of place.

After another hundred steps or so, the tunnel suddenly widened into a circular flood control chamber, where more than a dozen tunnels converged, but most were blocked by heavy iron grates.

In the near-absolute darkness, even superhuman vision could hardly see anything, and the sense of smell was overwhelmed by the sewer's stench.

"Everyone, be careful. Watch the glow sticks on your teammates. Don't fire unless necessary."

After whispering the instructions, the man jumped down from the two-meter-high outlet, falling to the ground.

The impact of the landing caused the accumulated liquid to splash everywhere, and a groan rose in volume. Then, the others followed suit.

Olanious activated his night vision goggles. He saw some rusted cages piled haphazardly in the center of the room, like some grotesque exhibition, and scattered bones.

Suddenly, a pale silhouette erupted from the knee-deep pool, and a massive humanoid creature unleashed a shower of foul-smelling droplets.

Olanious reacted with unimaginable speed, immediately pointing his pistol at the target. The muzzle flashed frantically, and the red beam shot out, finding its mark in the monster's chest—blasting it straight back into the sewage.