The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Across the battlefield spanning thousands of kilometers, light blazed, lightning flashed, and as the Red Corsairs fleet gradually advanced, the engagement curve shifted. The initial head-on clash transformed into a situation where the Red Corsairs were gradually engulfing the Imperial formation, resembling a 'V' and 'M' shape. Azrael immediately ordered the abandonment of the attack on the Savage Crucible, redirecting their assault towards the trailing Red Corsair vessels.

Meanwhile, the Savage Crucible ceased focusing on the Imperial fleet. With less than 250 kilometers separating it from the Doom Moon, it launched a multitude of landing pods and assault boats.

As the Imperial counterattack commenced, a Red Corsair 'Despoiler' class battleship was the first to suffer. As its void shields weakened under sustained fire, a powerful blast from the 'Indomitable Truth's' main cannon tore one of its primary turret clean off its deck. The ensuing explosion ignited the ammunition stores below, some rounds of which were about to be loaded into the guns.

The massive explosion instantly killed everyone in the gunnery and work chambers, with flames reaching the height of the bridge.

Worse was yet to come. Due to slow damage control response and a temporary power outage caused by a torpedo strike, the fire raged out of control. By the time the ship's systems reacted, sealing off major compartments and venting the atmosphere, a red inferno had already engulfed the forward section of the hull. This was followed by a catastrophic detonation of the forward ammunition stores, and then a more violent explosion in the midships magazine. The entire warship broke in half, instantly killing over four hundred Chaos Space Marines on board.

The Red Corsairs' warship began to pay the price for their poor state of readiness.

The sinking of a capital ship in the blink of an eye dealt a heavy blow to the Red Corsairs' morale. However, the Savage Crucible remained, its powerful firepower still proving difficult for most Imperial warships to withstand. The 'Indomitable Truth's' void shields were also significantly weakened by its continuous barrage, after which the clustered Red Corsair fleet launched their signature offensive.

Massive boarding actions!

With the aid of numerous fighters and daemon engines, Red Corsair boarding parties surged towards the Imperial capital ships in boarding torpedoes and assault boats, particularly targeting the 'Indomitable Truth'.

However, Imperial fighters relentlessly pursued these boarding parties. Many boarding torpedoes were torn apart by the fighters' crossfire, or detonated by flickering missiles.

Many figures clad in red armor were ejected into space, becoming a stark highlight in this brutal battlefield.

All boarding attempts against the 'Indomitable Truth' failed. Not a single one managed to penetrate its void shields and reach the hull, but others were successful.

"The Calibanite Chapte's 'Avatar of Punishment' has been boarded! Enemy force estimated at two tactical squads. The company stationed on the ship is engaging the invaders!"

"The 'Dark Voyage' has been boarded! Enemy force estimated at one tactical squad. The Unforgiven are eliminating them!"

"The 'Heretical Scourge' has been boarded! Enemy force estimated at one company, plus a Terminator squad! Requesting assistance!"

Azrael and the command staff on the bridge of the 'Indomitable Truth' continued to monitor the progress of the battle, while also constantly managing the warship's fire distribution and shield energy allocation. Although their fleet had retreated in response to the Chaos forces' initial assault, it was merely to regroup and reform their lines.

"The situation on the 'Heretical Scourge' is critical. Where is Sammael?"

"Grand Master, Master Sammael has already teleported over."

Ravenwing Grand Master Sammael, accompanied by a group of black-armored warriors and a squad of Deathwing Terminators from the Star Phantoms, strode through the wide corridors. It was rare for Sammael to travel to battle on foot, but given the nature of counter-boarding operations, it was not surprising.

Along the sides of the corridor, chapter serfs of the Calibanite Chapter struggled to make way for the massive warriors. Many of them were wounded, some lying on stretchers, others missing arms or half their faces, but no one groaned or wailed, only the occasional heavy breathing could be heard.

As Sammael passed through two blast doors, the sounds of intense gunfire could be heard at the end of the corridor. Walking through the blown-open doorway, he saw a Calibanite warrior lying on the ground, his armor shattered, helmet in pieces, and an apothecary kneeling beside him, recovering gene-seed.

Sammael said nothing, but drew his Raven Sword, the hum of the power weapon slicing through the air as it activated.

In the hall, the Third Company of the Calibanite Chapter was fighting the enemy, with chapter serfs selflessly providing cover for their masters, explosions continuously erupting on the barricades, throwing their fragile bodies into the air, and the ground already stained with blood.

At the other end of the hall were screaming heretics in crimson armor, interspersed with towering Chaos Terminators.

"For the Lion! For the Imperium!"

The Ravenwing company charged in, unleashing a storm of bolter fire on the enemy lines, accompanied by flashes of plasma. Simultaneously, the Star Phantoms Terminators, led by Veteran Terminator Malak, advanced steadily, each carrying a back-mounted cyclone missile launcher. As they locked onto the enemy lines, missiles roared forth.

In an instant, the Red Corsairs' lines were engulfed in a sea of fire. Sammael led the charge, swinging the Raven Sword.

A Chaos Space Marine whose armor was ablaze didn't even have time to turn around before his head was cleaved off. A second, just about to raise his chainsword, had his weapon-wielding arm spinning through the air.

Librarian Harahhel followed closely behind the Ravenwing Grand Master, wielding a gleaming power axe, psychic flames burning along its edges, churning the air with each swing, while also manipulating flames to engulf the Chaos Terminators.

The Calibanite warriors also charged forward, ending the lives of traitors with chainswords and bolters, while the Star Phantoms Terminators, armed with power hammers and power claws, engaged the enemy Terminators in melee.

One after another fell, bodies piling up. Soon, the invading Red Corsairs were completely annihilated, but Sammael had no time to rest. He didn't even have time to pause and check for friendly casualties, as other battlefields needed him.

In this operation, the Dark Angels successor chapters had fewer troops than their opponents, but through the Unforgiven's command structure, they could mobilize forces and support each other as one, a capability the Red Corsairs lacked, as they could only fight independently as warbands.

As the space battle raged, the landing forces deployed by the Red Corsairs onto the Doom Moon broke through the weak ground defenses and began their assault on the asteroid's internal, ant-nest-like complex of defensive networks.

For the 3.5 million mortal troops defending the area, the most brutal fighting was just beginning.