Warhammer 40: My Fiancée Fulgrim.

Chapter 101 A Woman Named Aqua Duna Decides to Die (Part 1)
"But the Son of the Emperor and the Steel Hands combined unit will absolutely not allow such unauthorized modifications to occur."

Kasgar addressed the neatly lined-up Iron Hands in front of him with a serious expression.

Last time, the Iron Hands First Company, led by Kasgar, and the combined company of the Sons of the Emperor achieved excellent results.

Although they failed to defend the designated landing site, they were able to skillfully use guerrilla tactics to contain the enemy's main force when faced with unexpected Titan enemies.

Before Philus could reclaim the space elevator, they successfully controlled the enemy's advance and were even able to destroy one of them.

Even though the Titans of the Gadinar were very different from the Empire.

But no matter how different they are, it's still Titan.

Kasgar's ability to sever the enemy's shield generator and ultimately destroy it represents the pinnacle of individual Space Marine combat.

They also dispatched a motorized squad of the Emperor's Sons to disrupt the city and eventually reached an agreement with the High Lord on a peaceful occupation.

If it weren't for the Gadinars' feigned surrender, the whole process would have been perfect.

As a result, Casga, who received special praise, also gained more command authority over the troops in the mixed forces.

"Ugh!"

Upon hearing Casca's prohibition, a chorus of sighs and lamentations immediately arose from the group.

As members of the Iron Hand, they all aspire to align themselves with Primarch Philus.

However, he was assigned to the command of this emperor's son, and the commander so easily rejected the Primarch's favor!

Looking at the other Iron Hands, they all happily received brand-new, cool mechanical arms and other mechanical limbs equipped with a large number of weapons.

It's infuriating that their First Company is being restricted from making changes by this prince's commander!

Casca: "The First Company of the Steel Hands voluntarily gave up mechanization."

Is it voluntary?
Haha, that's very voluntary.

Thinking about drastically changing oneself all the time is really a bit alarming.

"Perhaps you will think my request is too much."

"But the question I'm asking you will never change—if mechanization is really that powerful, capable of enabling an ordinary Astartes to unleash combat power far exceeding that of ordinary people."

"Then why doesn't the Steel Hand Legion have a single Space Marine who can defeat Aqua Duna?"

Aqua's impressive record against Tektsu completely silenced all calls for modification.

As he spoke, Kaska glanced at Aqua, who was standing at the head of the Emperor's Sons Legion.

Let the prophecy come true.

I was already aware of this.

He recalled the conversation he had with them and Amar the day before.

Kasga sighed inwardly.

But now is not the time for lamenting the passing of spring and the coming of autumn.

He looked down at the many restless steel hands below and continued speaking.

"As far as I know, even though she hasn't undergone any modifications to her body, she doesn't have a single scar!"

"But what about in actual combat? Even the Dauntless, whose flesh and blood are almost entirely covered by steel, cannot defeat our powerful Company Commander Aqua!"

"and many more!"

Solomon Demeter, Aqua's adjutant from the Second Company of the Sons of the Emperor, raised his hand to ask a question.

"Commander, how do you know that Aqua-sensei has never had a single scar on her body?"

He discovered blind spots.

Major blind spot!

As soon as Solomon Demeter uttered those words, the entire training chamber was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Casgar: "."

your!

Don't ask this kind of question when I'm talking about serious topics!

"Ahem, of course that's what she said herself."

At that moment, he heard a collective chorus of disappointed boos from both legions.

That's not the point!

"In short, as human beings, we are born with enough potential in our bodies!"

"If we give up on being ourselves and place our hopes on external things like steel, expecting that steel can exert a power that we, as human beings, can never exert."

"Then we will be trapped in this cramped steel body forever, unable to move forward even one more step."

Casca said passionately.

But judging from the expressions of the Iron Hands below, it seems that not many of them are actually listening to what he's saying.

After all, few steely men could resist the temptation of mechanized modifications that could easily enhance their combat capabilities and believe in Casgar's empty platitudes.

Even though they knew that Casca wouldn't allow them to modify their bodies to a greater extent.
However, many people have already begun to plan how to "cleverly" lose their arms or legs on the battlefield in order to obtain a spot for mechanical modification.

Faced with quick ways to become stronger, not everyone can stay true to themselves.

The Legion's decline was happening far faster than Casca had imagined.

Although he knew that the original body would have a great impact on his legion of soldiers, he still felt somewhat heartbroken when he actually encountered this situation.

Further words are unnecessary; the final assault on the remaining stubborn fortresses of the Gadinar people is about to begin.

In this final battle, the Gadinars will unleash even more dark technologies they have never seen before.

The real battle has not yet officially begun.

"Prepare for landing; we are about to join the battle as the legion's vanguard."

"And in this battle, I must remind you all: the enemy's remaining resistance is likely to be stronger than you imagine."

"If we don't prepare in advance, we will face incalculable casualties."

"I hope you all understand this."

Casca spoke with a solemn expression.

Soldiers are gathering near the capital, Gardiner.

Facing the relentless barrage of artillery fire in front of this bombed city was a dark blue defensive barrier.

Even from the outskirts of the city where Casca is located, you can see the giant saucer-shaped tower in the city center that controls the shield generator.

It was far too large compared to any shield generator I had ever seen before.

According to intelligence obtained from previous negotiations, this massive psionic shield generator is the foundation of the Gardinar Empire.

Throughout their millennia-long history as a pocket empire, they have also faced invasions from other alien or human interstellar empires.

But thanks to this powerful shield system, they managed to hold out until the end and launch a counterattack.

Even now, it's the same.

Every moment, countless genetically modified psionic beings are inside the capital, and the fuel used to create a shield is thrown into it.

Such a massive investment granted it an unimaginable level of endurance. Overloading it with the warship's macro cannons, laser spears, and whirlwind torpedoes alone was insufficient.

This is also the reason why Phyllis ultimately chose to vote on the landing site after several days of orbital bombardment.

The battle began with a barrage of missiles.

Combined with the cannon fire from the giant warships in the sky, countless missiles swept across the shield from the Flame-Patterned Titan Legion of Fleet 413 and the Mortis Dreadnoughts from Iron Hand.

At the same time, the laser cannon beams from the Destroyer Predator tank, which were precisely controlled and coordinated by Philus, were also fired along with it.

The thunderous Medusa Cannon, the Earthshaking Heavy Cannon, and the Poison Blade Tank's Poison Blade Cannon—in short, an endless barrage far exceeding the most insane fantasies of the High Lord of Gadinar—in an instant began to suppress the Gadinar people's shields.

Even the Gadinar Shield, which possesses almost inexhaustible energy, saw its pale blue light dimming further under such terrifying firepower.

The opponent's psionic field shield is now only a matter of time in Philus's eyes.

That's right, that's exactly it.

The weak are left with only submission or death; mercy has no effect on them.

Only immense power is the most enduring truth in this world.

Looking at the dilapidated capital fortress of the Gadinar people, which seemed poised to crumble into ruins in the next second.

Phyllis couldn't help but "think" about it.

Even if excessive mechanical modification would cause her, or the entire legion, to lose a part of their humanity.

But from the moment she embarked on the Great Expedition, from the moment she fought against the other aliens, hadn't she already chosen to abandon a part of her humanity for the sake of victory?

What's the difference between now and then?

Stupid!
Suddenly, as if in a final, desperate attempt, the shield generator, which was about to dim, suddenly brightened up again.

The shield was not overloaded; instead, it became even stronger.

What's going on here?

The same doubts flooded the minds of the surface troops at this moment.

"Gardinar people!"

"Their surface forces are advancing towards us!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise over the communicator, and the armed forces hidden under the giant shields gradually came into view.

The final counterattack from Lord Gadinar has begun.

"All warriors of the Ultramarines, charge with me!"

Commander of Expeditionary Fleet 413, Ultramarines Chapter Leader Cicero, led his Ultramarines to the forefront.

The shame inflicted by the Ultramarines can only be washed away by the blood of their enemies.

Upon learning that Philus would launch a full-scale attack on the main planet of Gadinar, the chapter commander Cicero, who had recovered from his injuries, volunteered to serve as the vanguard of the ground forces.

He was about to engage in the first wave of firefight with the enemy who had once brought them shame.

And they will never lack teammates by their side.

The psionic troops from the Thousand Sons Legion, led by Amal, were shielding them from distant artillery fire with psionic shields.

"Sons of the Emperor, use motorcycle fire to flank and cover our friendly forces' advance!"

Meanwhile, a mixed force of Imperial Sons and Iron Hands, led by Kasgar, is also joining the Ultramarines in their assault on the enemy fortress city.

After the first wave of attacks failed to overload the large shield generators of the Gadinars, Philus immediately opted for a second strategy.

An elite squad stormed into the city and destroyed the enemy's large shield generator from within.

Complete the boarding maneuver.

But clearly, the Gadinars' most formidable surface combat force is no pushover either.

Leading the charge were a large number of suicide tanks and troop carriers carrying a large number of suicide soldiers.

These soldiers were similar to the Gadinar assassins that Casca had encountered on the ship, but compared to those high-end ones, these suicide infantrymen, who relied on sheer numbers, obviously couldn't stop the Ultramarines' advance much.

"Attention! A large number of Gadinar quadrupedal titans are ahead!"

Dozens of the same four-legged Titans that Casca had encountered before blocked their path.

It seems that the High Lord of Gadinar has used all his trump cards.

But things are different now: before, Kasgar and his men only numbered a few hundred, but now, a thousand Ultramarines are at the forefront, the various clans of the Iron Hand are guarding the center, and wizards from the Thousand Sons are there to provide support and shields.

Moreover, they are supported by a large amount of heavy firepower from the Iron Hand Legion. The strength of the two sides has undergone a dramatic change.

Originally, even dealing with three Titans was a bit of a struggle for Casgar.

But now they seem no different from cannon fodder: as soon as they rush forward, their shields quickly become overloaded and they fall down quickly.

They transformed into fallen steel ruins, slightly hindering the advance of the Ultramarines' vanguard army.

Of course, it can only provide a slight obstruction.

"Truly terrifying firepower coverage and legion coordination."

Casca was somewhat dumbfounded.

Even if their imperial legion only needed to harass from the sidelines, the Gadinar people's defenses would be reduced to ruins by endless artillery fire.

In wars of this scale, individual skill plays a relatively minor role.

The key is to see the firepower coverage generated by farming!

Casca was beginning to agree with Guilliman's theory.

If he can actually do that, instead of rushing in to fight one-on-one when it comes to actual combat.

Hmm. It seems like Casca did the same thing.

That's fine.

As one obstacle after another was broken through by the Ultramarines of the Vanguard, the core army of Lord Gadinar was finally exposed to Casgar and his men's view.

"My God, what is this thing?"

Dr. Zombie King's car?
Lord Gardinard rode in an extremely large, colossal walking tank.

This walking tank resembles a spider beetle and is supported by several giant mechanical legs;
It is equipped with a large number of massive particle cannons, which can penetrate any obstacle they encounter on the battlefield from extremely long distances.

Except for Philus's iron hands.

These cannons were even more powerful than the top-tier particle cannons used to assassinate Philus.

If it weren't for the fact that the senior's Iron Hand possessed superhuman strength, any other Primarch would have been severely injured, if not killed, by this attack.

And it wasn't just the giant tanks that the Lord of Gadinar rode in; they were also supported by a large number of infantry fighting tanks and predator tanks as they advanced.

Furthermore, a large number of bio-modified warriors clad in lightweight shell-like power armor, wielding massive shields, engaged in bloody hand-to-hand combat with the Ultramarines' vanguard.

After numerous hard-fought battles, even the battle leader Cicero sustained multiple injuries.

"Cicero, watch out!"

"Kasga shouted."

While splitting an oncoming infantry fighting tank in two, Cicero was completely unaware of the high-speed suicide Rhino armored vehicle charging from the side.

(End of this chapter)