I summoned the Fourth Scourge in Warhammer

Chapter 144 Radicalization of Combat
The planet slowly shrank in the field of vision, eventually becoming an inconspicuous, dull pearl on a black velvet backdrop.

Along its former orbit, a vast and majestic fleet tore through the veil of reality and sailed into the frigid sea of ​​stars. A dozen or so steel behemoths of space, each one powerful enough to be revered as a god by an uncivilized world.

At the heart of the fleet were several transport and supply ships that resembled moving mountains. Their hulls were covered with cargo ports and crane arms, and although lightly armed, their massive interiors carried all the elements needed to wage a ground war—tens of thousands of soldiers, hundreds of armored vehicles, and a massive amount of supplies to keep everything running smoothly.

Protecting these "fat men" were the backbone of the Imperial Navy—three Luna-class cruisers. They possessed classic, asteroid-crushing armored bows, and their long hulls were flanked by densely packed macrogun emplacements and arrays of light lances, forming the absolute mainstay of the fleet's long-range firepower. Around them, several Sword-class and Firestorm-class corvettes patrolled like keen hunting dogs, guarding the flanks of the main fleet.

Among this conventional fleet, two distinctly different warships stood out.

One is a Space Marine combat barge, designed more as an armed fortress capable of interstellar travel than a ship.

It abandoned the long-range firepower of the Imperial Navy's conventional warships, instead focusing its maximum mass on armor, engines, and terrifying broadside firepower. Countless turrets, missile silos, and landing craft covered its surface, proclaiming its sole mission—to penetrate enemy lines, deliver the angel of death, and, at the closest possible distance, blast the enemy into cosmic dust with the most intense firepower.

In fact, there were political reasons behind the design of the Space Marines' battle barges, which put them at a severe disadvantage in long-range firepower, but everyone wisely kept quiet about it.

The other, slightly smaller strike cruiser was more agile, serving as a perfect complement to the combat barge, a surgical scalpel capable of carrying out rapid raids and precision strikes.

At this moment, a bizarre and surreal scene unfolded on the bridge where the deceased were located.

In stark contrast to the solemn and silent scene of the fleet sailing outside the window, the bridge was bustling like a marketplace. The spacious bridge, which could easily accommodate hundreds of crew members, was now packed with nearly five hundred players. They were all the lucky ones who had successfully secured the "best viewing seats."

As for why there were only 500 people, there are two reasons. First, the space on the bridge is ultimately limited, and it is impossible for everyone to squeeze in. Second, and more importantly, to clearly observe the grand war taking place in the vast universe, the naked eye alone is absolutely insufficient; a special "ticket" is required.

In order to extend their vision across vast distances and accurately capture every detail of the future battlefield, players have used all sorts of ingenious methods.

One player's right eye was replaced by a sophisticated mechanical eye that constantly buzzed and flashed blue light; another had a fist-sized silver sphere floating in front of him, projecting a holographic image that displayed the fleet formation in real time after multispectral analysis; still others went even further, pulling out a portable observation base station with several robotic arms deployed and firmly fixed to the ground, its massive telescope lens pointing directly out the window. Various unidentifiable helmets, goggles, and data terminals flashing different colors of light were scattered everywhere.

If someone who didn't know better came in and saw this scene, they would probably think that some high-ranking members of the Mechanical Engineering Cult in the world of casting were holding a technical exchange conference here.

This is precisely why many Mechanic players choose to stay in Pedigree. As the largest gathering place for players, Pedigree is filled with all sorts of bizarre items obtained from the lottery system.

For example, a "nuclear-powered toaster" might be just a useless joke to the average player, but it's a completely different story for mechanical enthusiasts. They might even say they're there specifically for something similar.

Right now, this is only on the bridge. Since there's glass for direct observation, players are primarily using purely technological means of observation. In other areas of the ship, many players are directly employing magical methods, creating a chaotic and unpredictable scene.

The Imperial fleet's operational plan was imbued from the outset with a desperate, radical, and fanatical resolve. They did not opt ​​for conventional navigation, a slow method that could take months or even years to reach the target area, a method long abandoned by their commanders. Instead, they chose a short-range warp jump—like a poisoned dagger, aimed directly at the heart of the Tau Empire's territory.

The lead Luna-class cruiser was the first to plunge into the rift churning with chaotic energy. Its massive hull seemed to stretch and twist the moment it entered before vanishing. Immediately afterward, battle barges, strike cruisers, frigates… one after another, these steel behemoths plunged headlong into the raging ocean.

When the supply ship was also swallowed by that force, the players on the bridge felt as if everything before them turned into flowing light and shadow and piercing screams. The Geller Field hummed steadily, isolating the warp's corruption and madness from the outside, but this brief journey still felt like a walk on the edge of hell. The warp process seemed to last only a moment, yet it also felt like an eternity.

As the laws of physics once again take over, blinding starlight streams through the armored glass of the bridge. The fleet has arrived in a completely new star system, surrounded by unfamiliar nebulae and constellations.

Almost the instant they leaped out of subspace, a piercing alarm blared throughout the entire bridge.

"Unidentified signal detected! Seven in number! Identification in progress..."

On the tactical projection, seven red dots representing unknown ships clearly appeared. Their shapes were slender and smooth, quite different from the rugged, gothic design of the Imperial warships, exuding a simple yet efficient technological aesthetic.

Without a doubt, this was a Tau Empire fleet that happened to be patrolling this area. They were like a flock of sheep leisurely strolling in front of their own house, who had stumbled upon a hungry tiger that had just been released from its cage.

"All fleet, level one combat readiness! Target: enemy fleet! For the Emperor!"

Eager to achieve military merit, the Imperial fleet commander didn't even bother with any tactical maneuvers; his orders were simple and direct. The roar of the engines suddenly intensified, and the massive Imperial warship group adjusted its course without hesitation, like a group of bloodthirsty sharks, lunging towards the seven small points of light.

On the bridge, the players' enthusiasm was instantly ignited.

"They're here! The fighting has begun!"

"Look at the Titans' reaction! They're stunned!"

As the players witnessed, the small fleet of the Tau Empire was clearly in disarray. Their formation faltered briefly, and several warships even made pointless evasive maneuvers. Clearly, the Imperial fleet's method of directly tearing through space and appearing out of thin air was completely beyond their comprehension. This near-magical teleportation technique had no corresponding explanation in their scientific system, built upon rigorous physics and reason.

However, this chaos lasted only a moment.

The Tau Empire's fleet commander quickly recovered from his shock and accepted this surreal reality. Clear instructions were relayed through the communication chain, and the chaotic fleet swiftly stabilized, began to regroup, and pointed its sleek bows at the oncoming Imperial fleet.

For this Tau commander, this situation was unexpected, but upon careful consideration, it seemed logical.

How could a vast interstellar empire capable of ruling millions, or even tens of millions, of planets in the Milky Way not have a matching mode of transportation capable of rapid troop deployment? To imagine the other side as a primitive civilization that can only conduct conventional navigation is itself a form of arrogance and ignorance.

Now, reality has given them a resounding slap in the face. And what it has to do is command its fleet in this starry sky, in the name of "the highest good," to deliver a crushing blow to these barbaric humans.

(End of this chapter)