The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Under the absolute authority and violent suppression, the previously riotous crowd transformed into the most docile flock of sheep at an incredible speed. Even with the fierce battle between the Space Marines and the Tyranid creatures emerging from underground raging nearby, the crowd showed no further signs of wavering. It could be said that even if they were asked to walk into a fiery pit, they would not cause any disturbance. Only the thousands of corpses that had been dragged out and the bloodstains on the ground proved what had just happened. The only discordant note was the helpless cries of the children who had lost their parents, but these sounds quickly disappeared—priests and nuns in white robes with gentle faces appeared, gathering all the children who had lost or could not find their parents, prioritizing them for transport ships. Those who were injured or sick also received preferential treatment, being allowed to board the ships early or even being carried on stretchers by servitors.

At the same time, they began distributing water and food to the crowd, as well as small amounts of sweets. Although the food was only rough chunks of dry bread and the sweets were just one or two cheap candies, it was enough to soothe the anxious hearts.

This is why the Adeptus Ministorum differs from most factions in the Imperium. Having been rooted in the Imperial populace for a long time, they understand when to use violence, when to use leniency, and the degree of difference between the two.

The refugees were settled, but Baruch faced trouble.

"Damn it, how can these things have such defense..."

Watching the melta beam burn only a shallow mark on the carapace covered in yellow scars, Baruch cursed inwardly, then quickly dodged. A torrent of sulfurous fire swept through his position, engulfing several members of the Faith Ward in the process. Their flak armor and coats were instantly ignited, turning into piles of burning ash on the ground in four seconds.

Four Pyroclasts stood tall above the surging swarm, like four giant banners. They surrounded the massive sinkhole, like pythons guarding their territory. Countless smaller Tyranid creatures, such as Hormagaunts and Termagants, poured out from within. The Faith Ward's armored vehicles and tanks fired continuously, hoping to reduce their numbers, but the enemy continued to multiply.

The key was that these four Pyroclasts were different from those seen before. They were significantly larger, their claws were shorter, but their carapaces were much thicker, and they were surrounded by a strong sulfurous stench. Not only could they unleash electric shocks, but they could also spew scorching sulfuric acid fire. Several Leman Russ tanks had already become smoldering wrecks. Crucially, their enhanced, vulcanized chitin carapaces had suddenly become extremely heat-resistant. Melta weapons, which had always been effective, had little impact on them, and plasma weapons could not penetrate the armor on their torsos and heads—these special Pyroclasts were quickly recorded by the Adeptus Mechanicus and named 'Fire Pythons'.

Suddenly, the four Pyroclasts stretched out, their nearly ten-meter-long bodies thrashing as they swept through the Faith Ward and militia surrounding them, smashing into the crowd, overturning tanks, and moving in different directions, making it impossible for everyone to decide which one to focus on. They could only fire at them individually, but the Pyroclasts were large and extremely fast, tearing the entire formation to pieces in just a few seconds. Crucially, two of them charged towards the transport ships after disrupting the situation.

"No! These Tyranids are feinting! Jacob! Come with me to stop them!"

Baruch transformed the Broken Star into a polearm and mounted his rarely used motorcycle, speeding off like a knight on horseback, approaching one of the targets at high speed. He thrust the Broken Star, in its spear form, forcefully into a gap in the target's carapace.

The moment the plasma blade accurately pierced the target's body, Baruch activated burst mode. At the same time, the Pyroclast, in pain, swung its tail, sending Baruch's motorcycle flying. However, he gripped the Broken Star tightly, found a foothold on the enemy's back, and continued to thrust the weapon deeper. Two seconds later, powerful plasma energy erupted from the Broken Star's blade, almost equivalent to a heavy plasma anti-tank mine.

With a bang, blue-white energy burst forth within the wailing Pyroclast. The enormous impact threw Baruch hundreds of meters, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

Just as he was trying to break free from the sensory chaos, he felt a powerful force and a foul stench rushing towards him.

The Pyroclast had not died from the attack, only losing a small portion of its body. Beneath the torn-open carapace were charred soft tissues and ruptured organs, but this was not enough to kill it. Instead, it completely ignited its ferocity, and it pounced on Baruch with vengeful fury.

Baruch immediately rolled to dodge. The huge claws, carrying a fierce wind, slammed heavily into the ground, one after another. In the chaos, Baruch dodged while fumbling for the hand cannon on his hip.

As he grabbed the melta pistol and raised it, a strong electric current suddenly erupted.

"Ah!"

Screaming, Baruch felt his whole body paralyzed, his armor crackling. So he instinctively used Grey Matter again.

The electric current subsided. The Pyroclast seemed to sense something and lunged, intending to crush its target.

Baruch raised his hands, desperately holding up the roaring Pyroclast's head. The immense force caused his arm armor to groan and crack, but even so, the force of several tons could not advance it any further. The Pyroclast roared furiously, then opened its mouth, its throat glowing and emitting a pungent sulfurous stench.

"Damn it!"

Baruch struggled to push the creature's head away, but he struggled to generate power while lying down.

"Captain!"

With an angry roar, a figure leaped from a passing Javelin attack speeder. With a forceful motion of both arms, the figure plunged a buzzing power sword into the Pyroclast's unprotected nape, then used the force of the descent to slash downward.

With a wail, the Pyroclast raised its head, and scorching liquid sulfur gushed from the wound, burning flesh. Baruch seized the opportunity to stand up, grabbed the Broken Star that had fallen to the ground, and then leaped high, thrusting it forward with force, piercing the Pyroclast's chest. He then kicked off the creature's body at great speed, pulling out the weapon, bringing with it a foul-smelling pus. The Javelin attack speeder also fired all the missiles from its Whirlwind missile launcher, detonating them on the Pyroclast and igniting a storm of flames.

But even with such fatal injuries, the Pyroclast was still struggling. It wildly wrapped itself around the fallen Baruch, until a terrifying explosion erupted on the right side of its body. The vast plasma energy instantly annihilated half of its body. This incredibly tenacious beast finally fell.

Baruch turned around and saw the towering figure standing on the ground—the Deathdeal Heavy Battle Automata, bearing the mark of the forge world of Uran Thul, slowly lowered its shoulder-mounted Inferno plasma cannon, which was still smoking.

The bombardment from the other two Deathdealers also destroyed another Pyroclast that was still trying to attack the transport ships while being harassed by the attack speeders.

As for the other two Pyroclasts wreaking havoc among the Faith Ward, they were being besieged by a large number of Castellan and Castellax Battle Automata. The Adeptus Mechanicus's heavy battle servitors were also bombarding these large targets with fierce firepower.

With the Adeptus Mechanicus's strong support, the Tyranid surprise attack was ultimately broken, and the excavated cave was destroyed.

Half an hour later, the first transport ship, filled with refugees, slowly lifted off with the rumbling of its anti-gravity engines and headed towards the polluted atmosphere under the escort of fighters.