Warhammer 40k: Melee Warriors

"Collect the remains of these fallen warriors. We cannot let their bodies lie in the alien warships. If they have relatives or descendants, treat them according to policy. If not, inscribe their names on a monument. Every loyalist who fought in the name of the Savior deserves the respect of the living. Their sins were forgiven by the Savior the moment they sacrificed themselves for loyalty." Looking at the sub-beastmen soldiers in the corner, their internal organs ripped out by shattered crystals, their deaths extremely gruesome, Koji was also filled with emotion.

Fettea immediately relayed Komi's words to Fesses, the busy butler on the bridge of the Punisher. The old butler did not disappoint Komi; he quickly compiled information on the personnel involved in this boarding action to prepare for the subsequent investigation.

"Lord Otto! We've captured a few alive!" The voice of Chief Warrior Gete came from afar. This warrior, who had a strong ability to adapt to complex environments, was controlling the H1 Redemption Combat Suit and rushing towards Komi.

His combat suit was covered in patches, his shield was tattered, and his Howler shotgun was glowing red-hot from prolonged firing, the barrel so hot it was distorting the air.

Komi became interested when the topic turned to live prisoners.

All he saw along the way were the shattered remains of Eldar, riddled with bullets from the Howler's shotgun. He could only barely collect some not-so-fresh blood and chunks of flesh, which saddened him for a while.

But Komi didn't want his men to hold back in battle just because he said, "I want to capture them alive." Although everyone who believed in the Savior would eventually die, Komi was still unwilling to waste his men's lives.

Komi's thinking was simple: if they were willing to fight to the death, then I couldn't let them down.

"Well done, Gett!" Komi tilted his head slightly, looking at the square-shaped window of Gett's combat suit. "Take me to see these aliens immediately. I want to bring them to trial for attacking the human transport ship. Letting them die under the Howler shotgun is too merciful."

“You’re absolutely right.” Gate agreed with Komi’s assessment. After all, he had already lost 120 warriors and 17 combat suits in the Eldar attack just now, and he was eager to avenge his men.

After turning several corners, Koji finally saw the Eldar pirates captured by Gete. They were only spared by luck; a few bullets had shattered their calves, not anything else.

These arrogant fellows, who called themselves the eldest sons of the ancient saints and members of the Glorious Clan, were now placed against the wall like sacks. The wounds on their legs were tightly bound with strong bandages by the medics, but Koji believed that the reason they were not bleeding profusely was still related to their tough bodies.

But what's so enviable about this body? Komi thought it was just so-so.

This body was created by the ancient saints during the War of Heaven, and it has remained unchanged to this day.

Perhaps the Eldar believed their bodies were perfect, while Koken believed that the human body, which evolved step by step, was far superior to the divine gift.

The ancient saints were great, but they could not be all-encompassing under the immense pressure of the war in Heaven.

Aren't the orcs, who have never set a stop and continue their eternal war, a perfect example?

A Spirit pirate saw Komi and could tell what the clothes Komi was wearing meant.

"Wandering merchants...think back to the past, we've done business with people like you before..."

"A deal is a deal, and a conflict is a conflict. One thing is one thing. If you're hoping to evoke any guilt in me with these words, you'd better save your energy." Komi leaned closer, but Fitia tried to stop him, worried that these aliens might be hiding something dangerous.

Koji gave Fitaia a look and then dismissed her.

He stood before these inescapable spirit race beings, considering whether their remaining bodies could be used to create a few new spirit bird divination devices, even if the machines were smaller.

While observing, Komi asked, "What part of the Eldar are you? You don't seem like those hedonistic Comoros, nor do you have the sullen temperament of the Ark Eldar. Are you the Wilderness Eldar?"

The Spirit Clan member glanced at Gu Jian, his eyes filled with undisguised surprise. He didn't believe that Gu Jian could clearly distinguish the factions within their clan, even though he was a wandering merchant.

"You...you're a judge, aren't you?"

Koji curled his lip and said with a touch of dark humor, "I'm often the one being targeted by the Inquisitors..." Then he said to Fetia, "Take these Eldar back to the Exterminator, and make sure they live."

"What do you want to do?! Gods above, you might as well just give us a quick death!"

"Stop talking about your gods." Komi rolled his eyes and complained, "Your gods have been eaten for who knows how many years. Even if they can hear your calls, it's in the form of some kind of subspace excrement."

"What? You...you...what are you...?"

The confused cry was spoken in the Eldar language, with intonations that sounded like singing.

Koken naturally couldn't understand the Elven language, but someone around him could speak a few words—that was Antoine. Although his pronunciation wasn't perfect, he could still manage simple communication.

Komi followed along and learned a little, but later gave up because the learning atmosphere was too strange. Antoine would always find a low table where he could only sit cross-legged, and during the teaching process, he would quietly put his arm around Komi's shoulder.

It felt like the interaction between tutors and students in old movies.

Koken knew a few of the Spirit Race's swear words, but he felt they were completely harmless when translated, so he didn't bother using them when facing the Spirit Race.

"Sir! The enemy is putting up a last stand on the bridge, and their firepower is heavy! We need reinforcements!"

Upon receiving the signal, Gate looked at Komi.

Komi turned around, waved his hand, and said, "Tell them that the agent of the Savior's will will arrive soon, and the struggles of those aliens will not save them."

Before he could finish speaking, a gasp came from behind him, followed by the buzzing sound of four chainsaws suddenly springing out from behind him.

Was there really a sneak attack?

Gu Jian was startled and immediately drew his sword, turning around to slash back.

What he saw was not a scene of a disabled Eldar fighting for survival, but an Eldar clown dressed in bizarre and colorful clothes with an exaggerated smile.

The clown charged at Komi, brandishing a dagger, and chuckled, "Evolution! Devolution! What's the difference? We are born one, become whole! And one day we will return from whole to one!"

Chapter 461: I've come to give you a heads-up

Eldar are a bunch of guys who would die if they didn't speak riddles, but if you're looking for a group of guys among them who can't even understand themselves, then you'd better look for these clowns in costumes that can dazzle people with their eyes.

The Clown Troupe is a group of guys who follow the oracle of the Spirit Race god, the God of Laughter, Sigaki.

They claim to be the last guardians of Eldar history, but Komi has many questions about this because their way of presenting Eldar history is not through detailed texts, but through operas filled with poetry recitations, stage performances, and various metaphors, making it quite difficult and obscure to understand.

This is exactly what the clown did when he suddenly tore off his disguise and appeared before Gu Jian. He danced and sang like an opera singer, turning the bloody battle into a somewhat comical farce.

These flashy clowns often possess extremely formidable strength; the elite among them can even hold their own against the royal guards of Terra's palace.

Although their behavior is difficult to understand, these flamboyant Eldar are open to seeking cooperation and will help any force that is determined to fight the threat of Chaos.

In contrast, the Eldar alliance in the Ark often seeks to use others as pawns to reduce their own casualties, remaining steadfast when allies are in trouble, but only seeking aid when attacked by the enemy.

The alliance of the Dark Eldar... Only the most foolish would ally with the Dark Eldar, those heartless beings who treat their own people as raw materials and would only send their allies to the flesh farms for processing during battle.

But don't get any fondness for the clown troupe because of this; they are just relatively anthropomorphic in their behavior and have buried their true purpose in the future, hundreds of years from now.

Kouken had no idea what purpose this clown was serving here. All he knew was that this damned Elven was tormenting his senses with his flamboyant clothes and melodious singing.

"Laughter! Laughter! Nothing in this world is perfect! Sorrow! Sorrow! Regression is also progress! All things prioritize survival, and all things begin with evolution. This process is full of suffering, but after enduring it, one will understand the value of adaptation. The Creator shaped all things; is I truly His firstborn son? How tragic and lamentable..."

Chirping and babbling... What kind of riddle is this? Is it for me or for these spirits?

Komi's eyes followed the rapidly flashing colors. The clown's holographic combat suit shattered his silhouette into blurry color fractals, like a psychedelic, false storm sweeping through the corridor.

Faced with this guy who couldn't be seen, Komi snatched the Roarer shotgun from the soldier next to him and prepared to fire.

Just as Komi pulled the trigger, the flowing colors abruptly stopped, and the clown's figure solidified from blurry. He turned to look at Komi, and the smile on his pale mask became much more vivid, as if mocking his actions.

boom!

The shot that confirmed the Joker's shape missed; the bullet grazed past the Joker's silhouette.

Koji's eyes widened as he wondered to himself why the clown had stopped moving.

A sudden whim without any reason?

Or... a revelation given by the God of Laughter, Sigucci?

Is this possible?

Why is that impossible?

The Laughing God is one of the few remaining gods of the Eldar. Not only did he escape when Slaanesh was born, but he also protected the Eldar souls in the Jester Troupe from being devoured by Slaanesh.

If it were just these achievements, Xiao Shen wouldn't be able to make Koji wary. In Koji's eyes, Xiao Shen's greatest asset is the Black Library, which he controls.

The Black Library may be an Ark world that exists only within the Webpath. It is a mysterious archive containing all the knowledge of the Eldar Empire, and even artifacts and ancient scrolls that have captivated Tzeentch.

For example, Hell Atlas... a powerful tool that can constantly update online information.

The Book of Nights... records the origins of the alliance between the Fearful Dead and the Star Gods.

The Book of Destiny...a book of prophecy with ever-changing contents.

The Stern Codex... It is said to contain the weaknesses and true name of Slaanesh, and that simply touching this book is enough to harm the twisted form of a demon.

In Komi's mind, something even more terrifying was an unverified rumor about the Black Library, which even seemed like a joke.

The Black Library might contain books belonging to Komi's world, books that examine major events from a godlike perspective, even detailing the characters' inner thoughts...

Koji felt a chill run down his spine. Knowing too much only made him more conflicted. Just then, Gete and Fetia seized the moment when the clown paused and aimed to fire.

The dazzling colors appeared once again, and everyone's shots missed their targets, even hitting friendly forces under the clown's deliberate guidance.

Koji gritted his teeth, thinking that the clown had just gotten lucky, and fired again.

The clown once again stopped moving just as he was about to pull the trigger, and with an exaggerated smile, he told Koji that his efforts were in vain.

The first time might have been luck, but the second time it was probably due to guidance from an expert.

Understanding this, Koji's gaze darkened. He slapped the Howler shotgun back into the arms of the soldier beside him, ordered everyone to cease fire, and then asked the clown in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, "What do you want to do?"

Although the question was directed at the clown, Komi felt that the one who would answer him would definitely be the Laughing God, west Lego, and that the clown was merely a messenger.

Seeing that Komi had temporarily abandoned his murderous intent, the clown chuckled and gave Komi a final bow.

He said, "Here's a friendly reminder: when you see old acquaintances, please suppress your hostility and consider the future."

"An acquaintance? What acquaintance?" Gu Jian asked again, frowning. The clown, however, was unwilling to answer him. He snapped his fingers and suddenly disappeared from Gu Jian's sight.

Based on the faint traces of lightning remaining in the air, Komi knew that the clown had used the subtle details of the net path to escape.

"Sage, what does that alien mean?" Fithia asked somewhat uneasily. She had heard a lot, but none of it shook her loyalty and love for Komi.

Komi's confusion and unease were no less than Fitia's. He said coldly, "It's just an alien trick. Proceed according to our previous plan. Send these wounded aliens to the prison to await their fate. You and I will go to support the soldiers in other places."

"Yes!"

Unfamiliar with the Eldar, the soldiers were not bothered by this minor incident. They acted efficiently and followed Koji to the bridge, where the resistance was fiercest.

The Eldar pirates' defenses weren't limited to just one line; before the large, milky-white gate leading to the bridge were Void Raiders and Eldar support turrets.

Chapter 462: I'm keeping your soul steady.

As Komi approached the assembly plaza in front of the gate, he could sense the souls of the fallen flowing into the hall. In a life-or-death struggle, the Eldar pirates used their most brutal weapons, each inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking soldiers, even under the cover of the H1 Atonement combat suits.

He heard a strange buzzing sound, much like the sound of someone shaking a thin aluminum plate.

Then a stream of light, like mist, shot out from the milky-white gate and crashed straight into the soldiers who were using the remnants of spirit bones and their fallen combat suits as cover.

There was no explosion, no screams.

The soldiers lay on the ground, their eyes vacant, as if their souls had been stolen by the misty fog.

As far as I know, only the Eldar's vortex weapon, the Soulbreaker, can have such an effect. Any living thing hit by this weapon will have its soul ripped from its body and sent to the hellish warp to suffer torment.

This weapon, which inflicts cruel fates on its victims, was contained by Komi, who could clearly hear new Soul Bricks being generated in the Pure White Hall.