Warhammer 40: My Fiancée Fulgrim.

Chapter 208 The Final Battle, Istvan (Part 2)
"Who are you anyway?"

Abaddon's roar shook the heavens and the earth; the entire Soul of Vengeance seemed to tremble involuntarily at his furious roar.

"Ezekiel, don't you even recognize me?"

The humanoid phantom did indeed resemble Horus, the Primarch of the Sixteenth Legion, just as he had said.
"Don't try to fool me with your tricks!"

Abaddon, frustrated, wanted to punch the pathetic phantom until his powerful blow passed right through it, creating a sonic boom.

What kind of trick is this?

“No, Izcael,” the phantom of Nahorus continued, “you are refusing to accept the truth, refusing the future you have already seen.”

"If I continue to let Casca and his men carry out their plans, I will only face inevitable death."

Abaddon slowly lowered his fist, staring at the "Horus" that had appeared in front of him with suspicion and uncertainty, without saying a word.

"The subspace storms will not stop, and Philus's fleet is already approaching this star system."

“Philos has abandoned her mercy. The fully unleashed, mechanized Steel Hand fleet will destroy anything that stands in their way.”

As the phantom of Horus slowly raised its hand, the scenery surrounding Abaddon rapidly distorted.

"This is."

He witnessed endless orbital bombardments and artillery fire erupting on this already crumbling planet.

No living being can survive for even a second on this battlefield, as the unheard-of secret weapon of the steel hand pours down from the sky.

As the virus bomb corroded almost all life on the ground, the residue in the atmosphere was instantly ignited by the light spear, causing an explosion that shook the heavens.

Right there in the Choir City beneath their feet, Abaddon saw the adversary the survivors would face as they crawled out from the corroded battlements after all was annihilated—

In order to clear away the remaining debris on the surface, Philus led her fully mechanized army to continue the carpet bombing.

An irresistible, even more powerful and terrifying force than Horus shattered everything that dared to stand in her way.

Cold, rational, and powerful.

"You know the price of resisting Phyllis's army," Horus said sadly. "Even if your choice puts me in the slightest danger, you wouldn't agree, would you?"

"enough!"

Abaddon once again brushed aside the illusionary mist before him: "Is this your plan? To make our two legions fight each other, while your Iron Hand takes the opportunity to reap the benefits?"

To make a deal with Philus now, with the enemy army pressing in, is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin.

Abaddon wasn't that stupid.

Their only chance of survival now lies in relying on the combined forces of Shadowmoon Wolves and the Emperor's Son to fight against the overwhelming Phylos.

“But there is no irreconcilable conflict between Izekel, Phyllis, and me.”

"Now, let me reveal the truth that I have witnessed in the vast ocean."

"Damn wizard! Don't even think about trying to fool me with those despicable tricks again!"

Abaddon continues to deny it.

He saw everything the other party displayed—

If they can truly complete this glorious expedition and defeat the rebellious Phyllis before the warp storm dissipates...
The future envisioned by the Emperor has no place for Space Marines or Horus.

"Even if you manage to defeat Phyllis and return alive, do you really think I can escape the fate of the Thunder Warrior?"

Even if they win, even if the warp storm subsides as expected, what will be the outcome if they return to Holy Terra?
The Emperor is using the resources obtained through your deaths and sacrifices to complete his psychic ascension to godhood—even if it means silencing all psychic use under the Nicaea Prohibition, and even if it means turning against Magnus to protect his secrets.
The ruthless false emperor will destroy any obstacle that dares to resist and prevent him from ascending to godhood.

"You shouldn't trust what Casgar says."

The only way to stop the Emperor's madness is for them, Shadowmoon Wolves and Iron Hand, to join forces.

Together with other like-minded Astartes Legions, overthrow the false emperor and save the empire!
Gabriel Santo stared at the "mechanical creation" before him without uttering a word.

【Hello, Company Commander Santo, please give your instructions】

Not long ago, when the machine in front of him was still a fighting brother named Moen, he had witnessed how the other party smiled and promised him that he would never be transformed into a mechanical monster.

It should be so.

The Space Marines of the Steel Hand Legion are the product of the Emperor's great genetic engineering project. Every Astartes is a super soldier far beyond ordinary people, and they should not be like those weak Mechanicus sages who have transformed every part of their bodies into machines.

But the Primarch's orders are not to be questioned.

Since her last defeat against Fugrim, she believed that the main reason for this defeat was that her personal emotions were still preventing her from taking the most direct and rational course of action.

It would be far better to bombard Furym's fleet directly and seize talented individuals like Kaska and Aqua than to try to persuade and win them over out of consideration for past relationships.

Phyllis recognized her mistake and resolved to correct it.

And as if to verify the correctness of her idea, after she officially decided to eliminate all emotional defects, countless plans and inspirations instantly exploded in her mind.

The puzzle that had once troubled her was instantly resolved at this moment, and the plan for mechanization came to her mind incessantly.

—The Iron Hand will become a legion that has truly entered a new era of evolution.

Most of the Legion warriors chose to comply with Philus's request.

Out of reverence for the Primarch's wisdom, and also out of disgust for his own flesh and blood.

Countless people, from Space Marine company commanders to ordinary auxiliary soldiers, have chosen to walk into the apothecary's modification operating table for mechanization.
It's not just a simple surgical procedure like replacing a mechanical prosthesis.

Instead, it replaces every part of its body, including its brain, with mechanical components called "Iron Hand Fearless," thereby erasing its own weak flesh and blood to ascend to a higher, stronger, and more perfect human form.

This has always been the pursuit of the Iron Hand.

Members of the Cult of Mechanics seemed to particularly appreciate Primarch Filus's transformation—this near-total mechanization meant that the Emperor's Space Marines also endorsed the Cult of Mechanics' theories, and the great faith in the God of Machines had taken another giant step toward a more magnificent spread.

But their joy quickly faded.

Phyllis's transformation was too fast, too thorough, and too radical. In her mind, even a part of human tissue was proof of weakness.

Only by completely transforming themselves, including their brains and minds, into steel can the true value of a Steel Hand Space Marine be revealed.

In other words, this is already an aversion to intelligence!

Even the most radical Mechanicus monks found this hard to accept.

However, the immense destructive power that Phyllis displayed in transforming individual Space Marines into complete war machines still suppressed all dissenting voices within the Legion.

In the face of absolute power, all reason and rules become weak.

Including his company commander, Gabriel Santo.

"Brother, I warned you, and you promised me."

"I won't let myself become a mechanical monster."

Santo said, but what he received in return was the eerie red light flashing from the other party's machinery.

[Warning! Company Commander Gabriel Santo, you are using insulting language to denigrate Lady Philus's design.]

[Checking the permissions of both parties. Issuing a formal warning.]

The cold, lifeless words made it impossible for him to imagine that this machine had once been his comrade-in-arms.

Although some "Iron Fearless" within the legion can retain some of their original personality while also mechanizing their brains, the number of such advanced modifications is limited.

Most of the Iron Hand warriors completely abandoned their own personalities in order to transform themselves.

For the great cause of the Primarch and the Emperor, choose to become a war machine that abandons all emotions and obeys the Primarch's commands with absolute obedience.

After the upgrade, weapon and ammunition loading efficiency is greatly increased, and combat morale is always at its highest level.

The Primarch's command reception process will be compressed to within nanoseconds. The probability of tactical execution being disrupted by emotions such as fear, anger, and hatred is reduced to zero.

[It is recommended that you undergo a modification surgery, join the mechanical army, abandon your weak flesh and blood, and discard your base emotions.]

The machine was still repeating that persuasive phrase.

Most of the Iron Hands underwent modification surgery.

Even within the various clans of the Steel Hand, an additional "arms race" has formed in order to compete for the Primarch's favor.

The only exception is their Avignon clan.

Even as the Primarch's personal guard, at Gabriel Santo's request, they underwent the least amount of mechanization within the entire clan.

But he still couldn't stop more and more of his fellow soldiers from becoming a war machine.

Gabriel Santo remained silent.

He had no idea how the Primarch managed to walk on flat ground even amidst the raging warp storms.

This was also beyond his consideration.
Since he insisted on refusing to be modified, the Primarch's meeting seemed to have completely abandoned him.

[As requested by Primarch Philus Marus, the Iron Hand Legion is about to dispatch an advance legion to the surface of Eastvan III.]

The sonic boom was still broadcasting the list of those to be dropped in the first wave, arranged by the Primarch.

Without exception, the first wave of landings consisted entirely of Space Marines who had not undergone sufficient mechanization modifications as the Primarch had wished.

Its purpose is self-evident.

Even though the planets they were to land on were inhabited by Shadowmoon Wolves and the Emperor's Son, with whom they had fought side by side.
Santo closed his eyes helplessly and slowly walked into the airdrop pod, which was almost never used and symbolized a one-way trip.

Just as the Steel Fist fleet launched its drop pods toward the ground, in near-Earth orbit, the Shadowmoon Wolf flagship unleashed its first salvo at its comrades-in-arms.

The light spears bombarded the void shield on the planet's surface, splashing up pale blue ripples.

"Abaddon!"

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Seeing the sudden, full-force bombardment from the sky, Togardon, one of the members of the Shadowmoon Wolf Four Kings Council, cursed into his earpiece.

The defection from the Vengeance Soul was beyond everyone's expectations.

Even some members of the Shadowmoon Wolves couldn't believe that their company commander, who had once led them to victory against countless hideous aliens, would turn his cannons against them.

【.】

Abaddon did not respond to Torgarden's roar—not even a word. Only the fighter squadrons bombing the Son of the Emperor flagship on the ground and in the sky spoke volumes about his treason.

The facts speak for themselves.

"damn it!"

Torgarden flipped over and charged onto the ground-to-air fortress turret, firing wildly at the densely packed fleet in the sky.

However, the results were mediocre.

As the Vengeful Spirit began its bombardment of the ground, countless fighter jets swarmed out from the Shadowmoon Wolves and Iron Hand fleets. The air forces of both sides engaged in a fierce battle—the sheer number of fighter jets, like a vast black cloud, was hurtling towards the Emperor's Son fleet.

The combined fleet of Shadowmoon Wolves and Iron Hands not only never weakened its surface firepower, but also launched a fierce offensive to encircle and annihilate the Imperial Pride in the void—although Iron Hands' individual combat strength was weak and not suitable for boarding, especially with Fugrim himself in command of the fleet.

However, their terrifying firepower, capable of rapidly overloading the Void Shield, made them completely disregard any other options.

"The Void Shield of the Void Fleet is under fire from the Steel Hand."

"She probably won't be able to hold on for much longer."

On the surface of Planet Istvan III, Casca, piloting a surface-to-air weapon, watched with a grave expression as the Sons of the Emperor's fleet was besieged in the sky.

When Abaddon chose to betray them and turn his spear against them, the chances of the Emperor's Son winning this battle were already slim.

There is no chance of winning.

With the next salvo from the Iron Hand fleet, the Void Shield, which was barely holding on in the sky, was on the verge of breaking.

Moreover, even more surface troops are heading straight for the heavily guarded Void Shield generator location after the Stormbird fighter formation completes its ground landing.

Under the firepower of the loyalists Shadowmoon Wolf and the Emperor's Prince, the mechanical bodies from the Steel Hand showed no fear whatsoever—even though their numbers would inevitably be overwhelmed by the loyalists' firepower in an instant, they did not hesitate in the slightest.

It's like a chess piece deliberately placed to draw their firepower.

The area where more fighter groups were forced to land and surrounded was the landing site where the first Steel Hand Space Marines' drop pods crashed!

—Philus wants to purge all the loyalists within the legion here!

"Send a communication request to the first group of Steel Hands to land!"

Casca called out into the communication device, "Hey, Gabriel Santo! Get back to me as soon as you get this!"

"What is it, Casgar?"

Amidst the deafening explosions, the faint, flickering reply in Casca's ear was unusually quiet.

"Mobilize your troops to prepare for a breakout. I'm sending another batch of troops to rescue you. Hold on."

"We will win."

Although the words of comfort sounded so weak, Casca still put them at the end.

"I'm sorry, brother, I might have to disappoint you."

Santo's reply before hanging up was filled with heavy sorrow.

He's had enough.

Let's just end it all here.

He looked around and saw that the mechanical warriors surrounding him no longer resisted.

Or rather, resistance has lost its meaning.

They were abandoned like trash by the Primarch and surrounded by countless former comrades-in-arms, now a force of mechanical iron men.

Under the combined bombardment of the Shadowmoon Wolf and the Steel Hand fleet, he had no choice but to die a swift death.

"Since this is Lady Phyllis's pronouncement of my fate, then so be it."

[Hospital target detected, elimination operation underway]

Watching the remaining loyalists of the Steel Hand descend from all directions, aiming at the center, as they raised their plasma cannons.
Santo closed his eyes resignedly.

boom!
A barrage of artillery fire rained down on them, unleashing the first volley.

Is this the feeling of death?
But it doesn't quite look like it.

He felt a force lifting him up. He was running, he was moving.

Santo felt the wind on his cheeks.

It was a long-lost sense of freshness, even right in the middle of a battlefield filled with the smoke of gunpowder.

Gabriel

He heard a deep, electronic voice, seemingly calling his name.

Santo opened his eyes again.

He witnessed something unimaginable.

It was a war machine that had been completely modified, but before the modification, its name was Moen.

He was Gabriel Santo's comrade-in-arms.

"Moen!!!"

But. How is this possible?

His brain is now completely dominated by commands; in other words, he is no different from a large-sized servant—or even less human!

How did he defy the Primarch's annihilation orders and rescue him from the battlefield?

Santo stared in disbelief at the broken steel structure and cables on the mechanical body—his back had been hit by several plasma cannon shots in order to rescue Santo—if it weren't for the modified steel body, he would never have been able to withstand the firepower and rescue Santo from the battlefield.

"Moen, how are you? Can you hear me?"

"Moen!"

As if it had exhausted its last bit of strength, the steel machine fell straight forward.

Santo struggled a few times to get off his back, looked around to make sure no other mechanical troops were targeting him, and then struggled to lift the other's body up.

"Moen."

[Battle]

The sound array was noisy and distorted, as if it were speaking to him like a dying person.

He seemed to see the souls of his former comrades-in-arms within this steel body.

Gabriel is alive and fighting.

The cold, mechanical hand slowly rose towards Santo's eyes, but just a few centimeters off the ground, it came to a complete stop, like his broken body.

what is this?
Santo could hardly believe what was happening before his eyes.

[The fugitive has been located and a cleanup process is underway.]

But Santo didn't have much time left for him to continue feeling sentimental.

The moment he paused, even more mechanical troops caught up with him from behind.

"Lie down!"

It was another familiar sound, and the instant the plasma cannon fired, a pale blue protective shield opened up in front of him.

He recognized the man who had protected him.

"Amal!"

"Go! Our mission shouldn't end here! We must continue fighting, Gabriel!!!"

Continue the fight
That's right, keep fighting!
Santo quietly laid down the motionless steel body, the confusion in his eyes vanishing completely at that moment.

"That's right, brother."

"I promise you, I will fight to the very last moment."

Perhaps everyone would assume that the guy who had his brain replaced after being mechanically modified died at that moment.

Only Gabriel Santo himself knew that his brother, Moen, had died today.

"Head towards Chorus City! That's where our remaining loyal surface forces are!"

Amal gathered his spiritual power, turned around and struck with lightning, paralyzing the nearest pursuer, before running wildly with Santo once again.

The mechanical legion behind them continued to press forward relentlessly.

Even before the main force of the Iron Hands had landed on the ground, these fully mechanized Space Marines alone were enough to scatter and flee their remaining loyal Iron Hands forces.

Every step they took forward, every volley they fired, seemed to be echoing the words that Phyllis insisted on.

[Frail and weak]

Yes, flesh and blood are fragile.
But now, that's not necessarily true!
Santo turned around and saw the mechanical army charging blindly forward.

They were stepping into a trench subtly marked as the son of the emperor, completely unaware of it.

It seemed that even Philus didn't spend much effort directing them in battle.

cannon fodder.

Santo couldn't help but think.

But even cannon fodder are not enemies they can easily defeat.

"Cover our troops' withdrawal!!"

"Sons of the Emperor, First Company, fire!"

At that very moment, Santo saw his comrades-in-arms who had come to greet him.

Julius Caesaron.

The emperor's son's company commander, a comrade-in-arms he knew well.

“Come quickly,” his smile remained firm, “we don’t have much time left.”

Kasoron gestured for his opponent to look at the Void Shield in the sky, which was about to overload.

"Quickly, after the Void Shield overloads, quickly hide in the nearby trench!"

"The enemy's virus bomb is about to strike!"

Just as the Void Shield was on the verge of overload, Kasgar's voice reached the ears of every loyalist fighter who was fighting on the surface.

Under Casgar's command, most of the surface warriors abandoned the ongoing surface-to-air counterattack and took refuge in the pre-laid trenches, bunkers, and underground defenses west of Chorus City, awaiting the first round of bombing.

With a muffled hum in the sky, the void shield that had been covering everyone's heads completely overloaded in the next moment.

Immediately afterwards, the formal orbital bombardment began.

The Life Eater, a deadly viral bomb, exploded on the surface of the planet Eastfan III.

(End of this chapter)