I summoned the Fourth Scourge in Warhammer

Chapter 182 Whether an idea is bad or not depends on how it's used.

With the loss of suppressive close-in weapon system support, the pressure on the various defensive zones surrounding the fortress increased dramatically. Under the unified command of the Hive's will, the Terran Zerg quickly adjusted their tactics. They gathered a large number of heavily armored executioners, like living battering rams, and launched a concentrated and devastating breakthrough on the relatively weak eastern side.

Led by the Executioner, these "iron-headed" creatures, using their flesh and blood and bony ramming horns, combined with ranged attacks from other Zerg, breached the outer walls of the fortress, which were made of thick alloy. Accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of metal twisting and concrete cracking, a huge gap appeared.

Having finally pierced through this hard outer shell, the Tyranids on the ground surged forward like a tidal wave bursting its banks, roaring deafeningly. Simultaneously, the gargoyles hovering in the sky swooped down en masse, a few lucky ones managing to break through the still-firing barrage. The fallen warriors on the ground were forced to be wary of deadly attacks from the sky, and the battle quickly escalated into the most bloody and brutal melee combat phase.

Seeing that this fortress, which had cost so much resources and time to build, had its outer shell torn open by these aliens so quickly, Wick couldn't help but feel a chill.

But this situation seemed to have been anticipated by everyone else. They had never expected to create a so-called indestructible shell to completely keep Tyrion out. No one could do that, at least not this suicide squad here.

The island was expanded earlier precisely to provide sufficient combat depth.

Pingjie looked at the ever-expanding red area on the tactical projection and calmly ordered, "Release the poison gas!"

At a command, the pre-installed pipes and nozzles inside the fortress activated instantly. A massive cloud of dark green poisonous fog was rapidly released, expanding its coverage across the entire fortress area at a visible speed. Pingjie turned to Wick and kindly reminded him, "Taren, have your Guardians retreat to the enclosed space inside for now."

Wick shook his head and said in a deep voice, "No need. Since the Astronauts, who are mortals, have not retreated, the Guardians of the Faith, who have been mechanically modified, have even less reason to retreat."

But what happened next made Wick immediately understand why Pinjad would say that.

These toxic gases were clearly meticulously formulated. Wherever they passed, all organic matter and moisture that came into contact with them instantly ignited, producing even more of the same toxic gas and creating a terrifying chain reaction. Even sturdy metals, covered in these gases, quickly developed a protective passivation layer, only to have it corroded away in the next second. This cycle repeated itself endlessly, causing even thick alloy walls to become increasingly thin and fragile at an alarming rate.

No wonder they ordered their friars to retreat! Wick suddenly realized, but doubts quickly followed: "Those mortal soldiers... how could they withstand this poison gas?"

“They will perish together with the enemy in the poison gas,” Pingjie replied, stating a fact.

The effects of the poison gas were remarkable. Although the carapaces of the victims were rapidly destroyed in the toxic fog, and their exposed skin, respiratory tract, and eyes immediately suffered severe chemical burns, making it difficult for them to see and breathe, they successfully avoided systemic toxicity under the suppression of the potent agent injected into their bodies, and the degree of necrosis of their body tissues remained within an acceptable range.

The Tyranids, however, were completely unprepared. Their sensory organs were utterly destroyed the moment they came into contact with the poison gas, throwing their previously efficient and well-planned concentrated breakthrough into chaos. Some Bladebugs, Warrior Bugs, and Executioners lost their sense of direction and began charging in the wrong directions, even attacking friendly forces. Gargoyles that swooped down through the barrage of fire also lost their balance, screaming and tumbling through the air, unable to control their flight paths. In this situation, the blind and respiratoryly impaired daredevils immediately launched a massive counter-offensive. The entire area was a bloodbath of blades and claws. Although they couldn't push the horde back, they managed to stabilize the collapsing battle line through this brutal attack.

On the surface, this seems like something to celebrate, the battlefield descending into the bloody war of attrition that the Deathbringers excel at. But in reality, it's a pure trap. The Deathbringers can't stop the Tyranids from dragging back all the flesh and blood on the battlefield—whether their own or human—for recycling. Meanwhile, the Deathbringers' own deaths continue to generate new biomass for the enemy. Unless the Tyranids' biomass replenishment becomes negative, this battle can never be won.

Pingjie then issued a second order: "Put out the acid."

The prepared artillery units immediately carried out the order. Large quantities of transparent liquid were ejected, covering the entire combat zone like a torrential downpour. However, the effect was less than ideal: those who came into contact with this potent acid were almost instantly dissolved, leaving not even bones behind. The Tyranids, on the other hand, merely emitted puffs of white smoke from the acid rain, letting out painful roars, which only further fueled their ferocity.

The sudden reduction in our own combat personnel caused the newly stabilized front line to retreat further, and it was not until the subsequent wave of casualties arrived on the battlefield that the situation stabilized again.

"Ha!" Bonnie said bluntly, looking at the scene. "I told you, this is a terrible idea! Tyrannosaurus can spit acid from his mouth, how could they not have the corresponding resistance!"

Leonid immediately retorted, "But at least they can't recycle our soldiers' biomass!"

Pingjie raised his hand, interrupting the argument that was about to begin between the two: "This acid is indeed useful, but it seems that its main function is to dissolve biomass. We need to come up with a new way to use it, at least we can't just throw it directly at the front-line soldiers who are fighting the enemy anymore."

Just then, Wick, who had been observing silently, suddenly spoke up: "We don't need to use it to kill living enemies, but to clear the 'battlefield' behind the front lines."

This simple yet effective suggestion surprised everyone at first, but then their eyes lit up.

Wick continued, “Let the artillery bombard our positions that we just lost and are now littered with corpses. This will both completely dissolve the bodies, preventing the Tyranids from recovering them, and turn the land into an acid swamp, slowing down their follow-up advance.”

"Great idea!" JK immediately grabbed the communicator and issued new instructions.

Soon, artillery fire from the rear accurately crossed the front line and landed on the area between the first and second lines of defense, which had just been submerged by the insect swarm. Acrid white smoke billowed into the sky, and the remains of those who went to their deaths melted at a visible speed under the cover of strong acid, turning into a sizzling, unrecoverable pool of mud.

(End of this chapter)