The Emperor’s Angel of Death

However, not all Tyranid creatures were so reckless. A group of summoned Tyranid aerial creatures swooped down from high altitude, opening their mouths and extending the sprayers within, spewing large amounts of potent acid onto the sea of flames. This unique acid easily extinguished the fire, clearing several paths for the Tyranid swarm.

But just as they escaped the fire line, they were greeted by shells falling in graceful arcs, fired by the mortar squads from the stronghold. Following their pre-set firing parameters, they began rapid firing, launching a series of airburst grenades designed to target Tyranid creatures above the enemy.

These shells detonated approximately five meters above the enemy, scattering a cloud of micro-munitions before exploding a second time, employing a kill pattern similar to airburst rockets.

Instantly, dust billowed from the ground, and the staccato of explosions blended with the sound of shrapnel and dismembered limbs. For Hormagaunts, Termagants, or Ripper Swarms, the killing power of these mortar shells was lethal. Even Warriors would suffer heavy damage under concentrated fire. Only Carnifexes, being full-fledged assault creatures, could withstand the small-caliber artillery.

However, Solzhenitsyn had personally inspected the corpses of every Tyranid creature he had encountered and thoroughly understood their physiology. Carnifexes were indeed covered with heavy, plate-like chitinous armor, but this armor did not encase their entire body. Because these creatures moved by crawling on the ground, their abdomens could not be armored to maintain flexibility. Furthermore, their abdomens contained sacs for incubating smaller Tyranid creatures, making them particularly vulnerable. The armor was primarily concentrated on the head, back, legs, and parts of the sides.

Thus, when the first Carnifex appeared before the defenders, before it could even roar, its massive body exploded from the middle, bisecting the creature like a ship struck in the waist by a torpedo.

Mines were the best weapon against these creatures, as their defensive structure was very similar to a tank, but even more comprehensive. The front and back were hard, the tail difficult to attack, but they also had a vulnerable 'underbelly,' much like tanks, whose crews feared anti-tank mines above all else.

Therefore, outside the stronghold, the defenders had deployed a large number of heavy melta mines specifically designed to deal with large creatures, their power sufficient to destroy them with a single blast and immune to triggering by smaller creatures.

Carnifexes also had a characteristic feature: to enhance frontal defense, their sensory organs were minimized. Their eyesight was poor, and their hearing and other senses, including detection organs, were very weak. Without careful observation, one might not even see eyes on their heads, which were almost entirely covered by chitinous armor, making them unable to detect buried mines.

Within minutes, all eight Carnifexes had become massive biological ruins in the minefield, pus and organs flowing everywhere.

The Lamenters had previously ambushed Carnifexes with underground explosives with great success, and Solzhenitsyn had essentially replicated their success.

But even so, it could not stop the Tyranid advance. Countless Hormagaunts and Termagants crossed the sea of fire and the rain of iron, stepping over the corpses of their brethren, continuing to surge towards the stronghold, while behind them, Warriors wielding bio-weaponry kept their venomous gaze locked on the mountain fortress.

Boom, boom, boom—

Where there were anti-tank mines, there were naturally anti-personnel mines. The leading Tyranid swarms were quickly blown to pieces, like waves crashing against hard reefs.

But their greatest weapon was their fearlessness of death.

"Aim and fire."

Hayes spoke as he continuously fired at the incoming swarm, his lasgun vibrating in his hands as high-energy beams pierced the xenos skulls, charring the chitin as they passed through and exited the other side.

During the battle, he also paid attention to the positions of others in the company, using the micro-tactical display on his helmet to check the efficiency of their current firing patterns, and constantly identifying their shortcomings.

On both sides of the position, machine gun nests sprayed azure bullets at the distant enemy, the struck xenos contracting before exploding.

At the same time, the roar of autocannons was also very rhythmic. Their primary targets were the Warriors, and under the powerful direct fire, the towering Tyranid Warriors had to stagger and fall, their bodies riddled with holes and steaming.

Outpost Seven stood tall above the raging alien ocean, like a small mountain forged from metal and hard stone. The hemispherical turrets of the defensive towers rotated and rolled constantly, pouring shells and flames onto the front lines.

Interspersed among them were flashes of plasma and the parabolic arcs of mortar shells. The soldiers hardly needed to aim; they could simply close their eyes and shoot forward. This was less a battle and more a form of labor.

"The enemy's speed is slowing. It seems they will soon abandon this assault."

Bakhram constantly monitored the "flow rate" of the Tyranid swarm through reconnaissance servitors. He noticed that the number of Tyranids in the rear was decreasing, which meant they would complete a successful defense.

"The Chapter Master is right. The Tyranids are not truly mindless beasts. After a meaningless investment, they will choose to retreat temporarily and adjust their tactics."

The powerful firepower slowed the frenzied chitinous tide. Presumably, their offensive would soon subside, and the creatures on the front lines would be exhausted.

Bakhram did not focus all his attention on the front. He also constantly watched the flanks of the stronghold, namely the cliffs. Solzhenitsyn had emphasized to all company commanders that the Tyranids' evolutionary speed could be calculated in seconds, so there was no such thing as a path they "couldn't take."

Sure enough, just as the front was in full swing, the Tyranids sent out raiders.

They were a group of giant, snake-like Tyranid creatures. Their upper bodies resembled Tyranid Warriors, with huge scythe claws and rending claws similar to those of Genestealers. Their lower bodies were serpentine, but covered with numerous barbs. They clung to the nearly vertical cliffs, silently sliding towards the stronghold above. If no one noticed, they might be able to bypass the defenses and flood into the stronghold, causing great destruction.

Below them, there seemed to be an even larger shadow approaching. Relying on the thermal infrared imager of the detection skull, it could be seen that it was also a serpentine, giant Tyranid creature.

"Tyranid units detected, confirmed as Viperids, and large creatures suspected to be Trygons. The Tyranid swarm may evolve more creatures capable of directly climbing the mountains in the future. Please pay more attention, command."

While sending the report to the Snow Palace command, Bakhram issued new orders.

"First and Second Lanner-pattern motorpool dispatched, Storm Talon task force is responsible for attacking those large creatures, and all air defense units are always vigilant in the sky to prevent Tyranid aerial creatures from interfering."