Warhammer 40k: Melee Warriors

Wait a minute...

These soul bricks are damaged... so what other soul bricks are damaged?

Gu Jian was startled. He immediately took out the broken soul bricks from which the dead mechanical cultivators were born. Where did the souls of these mechanical cultivators go before the mechanical souls were born?

Could it really be a supply for the Void Dragons sealed beneath Mars? Although these Star Gods are the embodiment of the laws of physics, their greed for souls is in no way inferior to that of the evil gods of the Warp.

They drained the souls of the entire Deathbringer dynasty, which alleviated their insatiable hunger and allowed them to unleash even greater power.

Although the Star God will not starve to death, it will become weak due to excessive hunger. If part of the mechanical cultivator's soul flows into the Void Dragon's mouth due to mechanical modification, will the Star God one day regain the power to break free from the seal?

Komi was startled by his own conjecture. He tried to convince himself that it was just unfounded speculation, but he couldn't completely put his mind at ease. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Especially the appearance of the high-ranking members of the Mechanicus, it is really hard to see any human features. If you put the modified madmen of the Mechanicus and the necromancers of the Fearless Dynasty together, and asked someone who doesn't know Warhammer to comment, he would definitely say that the skeletal necromancers look more like human beings than the Mechanicus monks.

Perhaps the current style of the Cult of Mechanics is related to the Void Dragon sealed underground.

Forget it, what's the point of thinking about this? I've figured it out, I can't fight the Void Dragon anyway. If the sky is going to fall, let the Emperor hold it up. Anyway, the Void Dragon is on Mars, so he's practically a neighbor.

Koji shook his head. The distant future was not something he needed to worry about. The most important thing now was to take advantage of the bloodshed of Abaddon's twelfth Black Crusade to build up his own resources to face future storms.

Komi left the hall, letting the machine spirits act on their own. He now understood the nature of the machine spirits, but he hadn't yet decided how to use them.

He's been busy with another job these past few days.

Upon arriving at the cargo loading and unloading area on the lower deck of the ship, Komi saw a unit's spoils: a circular building made of black stone, which, along with the connected ground, had been cut off and transported to Komi with considerable effort.

Although it was very different from what he remembered, Komi could still tell from the demonic symbols carved on the black stone that this was the Black Stone Crown, which was still under research. Relying on the properties of the black stone, the Black Stone Crown could significantly enhance the power of Chaos Psionicists. Even cultists without psionic talent would see fanatical visions, while creating an environment that made it easier to summon demons into the real world.

Koji didn't know why he was able to see a prototype of the Black Stone Crown on Iron Star, since this thing was only included in the Black Legion's arsenal after the Gothic War.

He thought that the device might have appeared ahead of schedule because of the butterfly effect caused by his destruction of the Planet Killer. Abaddon needed a shrine that could spread corruption and fear to gain control of the world he had conquered more quickly. If the Planet Killer had not been destroyed, he would not have needed to do this at all. He could have simply turned the huge warship around to the edge of the star system and received a surrender request from the local government.

Stroking the outer shell of the Black Stone Demon Crown, Koken showed no fear of the chaotic energy contained within.

The Blackstone possesses two polarities, a secret to the current human empire, but not to him.

The Blackrock Crown can weaken the barrier between reality and the warp, and it can also strengthen the barrier's thickness.

In the face of a possible demonic offensive by Abaddon, mastering a technology related to Blackrock might be very useful.

Chapter 527: Imaran's Holy Army

The Black Stone is something that cannot be understood in the short term. Koken was able to figure out the teleportation principle of the Soul Path purely by standing on the shoulders of his predecessors, but knowing what to study is much better than not studying it at all.

The attack on the Iron Star continued. After breaking through several lines of defense, Komi's forces were finally stopped. The leader of the traitors was obviously frightened by the speed of the attack. He mobilized a large number of troops deployed on the outskirts of the hive city, sending his most elite troops to fight against Komi's soldiers.

Seeing the fierce resistance, Koji ordered his troops to cease their attack and rest on the spot, only occasionally sending out elite squads to drop a few beacons on the enemy positions to scare them with airstrikes.

A strong army is not easy to train, but it is easy to lose them all. Koji didn't want to waste too many soldiers' lives on cultists, and he felt extremely heartbroken even if the casualty ratio was 1:1000.

Komi's troops ceased their attack, and the enemy dared not withdraw their elite troops. The two armies thus faced off in the ruins of the industrial zone, in such a peaceful state that even the sound of gunfire was rarely heard.

This confrontation meant that the traitors' defenses on other fronts became weak, and Imaran's jihadist army and Anrald's mercenaries finally broke through the walls built from ore slag, allowing them to launch an attack deeper into the hive.

Colonel Gerald of the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment, part of the Imaran Jihad, observed the enemy's position in the distance through binoculars.

Barbed wire, trenches, and stakes bearing flags with human heads and skins formed the enemy's defenses. However, this was only the visible part. In the shadows, the enemy had laid many firing bunkers. During the previous attack, Colonel Gerald used two thousand lives to probe and discover twenty-seven firing points. After ordering the artillery to eliminate them one by one, the enemy quickly built even more.

How did the enemy manage to do that? They didn't even have any engineering machinery, and unless everyone became a machine servant, it was impossible to repair the damaged defenses within twelve hours.

They must have used evil witchcraft to repair the defenses...

Colonel Gerald cursed the rebels' ruthlessness with some anger, and he still couldn't forget the scene he witnessed during his first attack on the enemy's position.

He brandished his officer's saber and a pistol, ordering the brave Mald men to charge across the cratered no-man's-land and, under artillery cover, into the enemy's first trench to fight.

As soon as he stepped on it, Colonel Gerald immediately realized something was wrong. The ground felt soft and springy, definitely not the muddy feel of a trench.

He looked down and gasped in shock. The enemy had built their positions not with wood, alloys, or quick-setting cement, but with living people!

In the instant he lowered his head, Colonel Gerald saw seven or eight pairs of eyes belonging to different people staring back at him. Their eyes were filled with intense hatred, like bloodthirsty monsters, which terrified Colonel Gerald so much that he could not move.

The first trench came alive, swallowing up any survivors who entered it. Enemy troops from the second trench also arrived to provide support, and then the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment's attack failed. Colonel Gerald fought desperately to retreat.

When faced with a trench made of flesh and blood, fire should be used to deal with it.

However, the Mard's Servants Regiment was not equipped with many promethium flamethrowers. Colonel Gerald had requested weapon support from his superiors, but received no response for a long time. In the end, he could only launch one attack after another against the enemy's position with the weapons he had. Each time they failed, their regiment left behind many corpses, which then became food for the rebels to feed the flesh and blood trenches.

A blinding flash of light struck the lens of the telescope, instantly blurring the view magnified in Colonel Gerald's eyes, making it appear as if it had been smeared with blood.

Colonel Gerald's eyes stung, and he realized he couldn't look any longer. The rebel command post deep within their lines was practically a large cult ritual site, occasionally unleashing a blasphemous light that interfered with their regiment's reconnaissance. At night, the chanting of nightmare poems kept their soldiers awake.

Colonel Gerald also tried to counter the rebels' psychological offensive, such as establishing a choir to chant the Emperor's words day and night, but with little effect...

With a sigh, Colonel Gerald put down the binoculars, letting them hang from his chest by the strap, and inquired about the regiment's situation that day.

“It’s bad, sir,” the adjutant replied gravely. “The mutations are increasing. There were 127 the day before yesterday, and 136 today. The numbers keep rising... The whole regiment is in a state of panic. The soldiers don’t know what to do to prevent the mutations from happening.”

"Your Majesty... are you dissatisfied with us Mald people?" Colonel Gerald was very saddened when he heard this and gave a salute to his chest. Then he asked about the situation at the next position.

To the side of the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment was the position of a unit of the Komi clan, whose designation was the Second Sub-Infantry Regiment. When other armies were unsure of their designation, they would call them the Savior Army. After all, only the Exterminator Army would openly call the Emperor their savior.

The Second Sub-Infantry Regiment, as its name suggests, was mainly composed of sub-humans. This fact greatly displeased the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment, who had just arrived in the area, because they all believed the words preached by the saint Imran.

Demi-humans are dangerous! They are potential traitors, servants of darkness! Their bodies are deformed, and their souls are corrupted as well. Anyone who comes into contact with them will be contaminated by their incurable stench and eventually become just as unclean! Demi-humans, like mutants, should not live, polluting our pure world with their breath and body odor.

This discrimination and hostility towards the demi-humans even led the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment to change the way they built their positions, as there was a two-kilometer-wide gap between their position and the Second Demi-Infantry Regiment's position.

There were no trenches, barbed wire, or landmines at this breach, so if the rebels wanted to attack it, the Mard Loyal Servant Corps had no means to stop them.

But now the discrimination and hostility towards demi-humans have subsided considerably, and Colonel Gerald even began to question the words of the saint Imran.

Firstly, because the combat performance of the demi-humans was truly astonishing, and no upright soldier could deny their achievements.

The rebels did not simply cower in their defensive lines and take hits; they would sometimes organize large-scale counterattacks. On several occasions, the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment's positions were almost lost, and they were only able to hold on thanks to the support from the Second Asian Infantry Regiment from the flank.

Chapter 528: The vast majority of betrayals... are forced into rebellion.

They didn't even call in an airstrike; they defeated the enemy solely through the soldiers' professionalism. Their bravery and professionalism left a deep impression on Colonel Gerald.

The second point... is quite subtle... that is, the increasingly serious distortion of the Mard's loyal servants has made the entire group uneasy.

When Colonel Gerald inquired about the situation next door, the adjutant replied, "They haven't sent anyone over to deliver those craft beers. Your insults towards them last time... seem to have had a good effect."

Colonel Gerald pursed his lips. Just two weeks ago, the colonel of the Second Sub-Infantry Regiment sent several squads of sub-human soldiers, saying that he had brought them a miraculous medicine that could cure the mutation.

Beast Brewing?

What the hell is this thing?

Colonel Gerald frowned as he looked at the blood-red liquid sealed in the bottles and asked a question, while the demi-human soldiers explained with friendly smiles.

This is a wine created by the saint Otto after receiving a revelation from the Savior. It is said to be the blood and tears shed by the Savior out of compassion for human suffering. Drinking this wine can not only strengthen the body and cure illnesses, but also drive away the evil voices of traitors.

Is it really that useful?

Colonel Gerald opened the bottle and took a sniff. The aroma of the liquor, even filtered through the mask, filled his nostrils, almost making him lower his guard against the demi-humans.

Then he suddenly came to his senses.

Damn alcohol? Alcohol has appeared in the army! This is against the rules and regulations. What is their regimental discipline commissar doing? Shouldn't he be shot?! These damned drunkards are even trying to sell alcohol to me!

After blinking a few times, Colonel Gerald screwed the bottle cap back on, then threw it into the box and began cursing at the demi-human soldiers.

"Damn it! I thought it was some medicine, but you brought some damn alcohol! Don't you know the military rule that drinking is prohibited during combat? If anyone dared to sell me alcohol in the Mard Loyal Servant Regiment, I would shoot him dead and report his disgraceful name to the neighborhood that conscripted him! Now get out of here before I draw my gun and shoot you alcoholic demi-humans!"

Colonel Gerald clearly remembered that he was sweating profusely as he cursed, venting all the frustration and anguish he had suffered during the attack on the enemy's position.

The smiles of the demi-human soldiers vanished. After exchanging glances, they took all the beast-brewed beer they had brought, complaining before leaving that their colonel had made a wrong decision.

We clearly don't even have enough for ourselves, yet we still have to provide support to our allies. Now look what's happened—we're being treated coldly and our support is completely ignored.

The more satisfying the curses were back then, the more Colonel Gerald regrets them now. Maybe this thing really can cure the increasingly rampant mutations in their regiment, just as the demi-human soldiers said?

Colonel Gerald took a deep breath, then ordered his adjutant to go for a walk with him and visit his soldiers.

Leaving the underground command post, Colonel Gerald entered the trench, which was filled with blood and mud. The dark red mud was quite sticky, and it took a lot of effort to pull himself out each time.

The soldiers found some iron plates to cover the bottom of the trench to create a better walking environment, but after only three days, these iron plates would be swallowed by the mud and disappear without a trace.

Colonel Gerald could hear sounds coming from the pits on the side of the trench, where exhausted soldiers were holding statues and praying to the Emperor.

They didn't pray to survive the fierce battle, but to remain pure and not wake up one morning with horns and tumors.

Why are the Mard's loyal followers so afraid of the aberration? We must ask the others who traverse the trenches.

Ding-ling-dang-lang.

Upon hearing the sound coming from afar, Colonel Gerald immediately prepared himself. He and his adjutant performed the Eagle Salute, kneeling down ahead of time regardless of how dirty the mud on the ground was.

"The Emperor is majestic; he will not tolerate the existence of cowards in his divine kingdom. The Emperor is sacred; he will not tolerate the blasphemous freaks roaming his divine kingdom. We, as the Emperor's most humble and loyal servants, are obliged to cleanse the kingdom before he discovers its weakness and impurity." The rhythmic chanting and wisps of incense smoke drifted over the trench as a group of purity examiners carrying a banner depicting the saint Imam crossed the moat.

Their ranks consisted of a high-ranking bishop, ascetics with the Emperor's words tattooed all over their bodies, a heavily armored crusader, and a battle nun who was extremely fanatical and regarded the words of Imran as truth.

Among them were some people who did not walk on the ground, but were impaled on a stake and left to be burned by flames.

The penitent servants carried these stakes of pyre, ensuring that all the soldiers could see these people being judged by fire. When the burning fragments fell on them, the servants did not react at all.

Colonel Gerald only raised his head and pulled his knees out of the mud after the column had passed.

“Tommy’s in there too…” Colonel Gerald murmured, looking at a person on a stake. It was the child of a distant relative who had been entrusted to his care.

He could no longer take care of Tommy because a growing lump had appeared under his armpit, seemingly evolving into a third hand. It was this very feature that led to his capture and execution by the purity censors.

How tragic... How am I supposed to explain the outcome of his child's death to my relative?

Colonel Gerald was troubled by this. The Mald people were not afraid of death because they knew that after they died, their souls would return to the throne and that brave souls would be appreciated by the emperor.

But to be executed for the crime of impurity...

This is certainly not a chance for the soul to return to the throne; it might even condemn the soul to an endless hell from which there is no escape...

That's beyond my control...

Colonel Gerald closed his eyes and continued walking forward, when he heard a commotion behind him.

“Holy Bishop, you must be mistaken. How could Kerry be an unclean sinner? He is the most devout person I know. Every morning he thanks the Emperor, before going to sleep he praises his name a hundred times, and every time he eats he thanks the Emperor for the food he has been given…”

An old soldier with a white beard knelt before the bishop, anxiously defending the young soldier whose neck had been caught.

The young soldier named Kerry was terrified by the clamp around his neck; its sharp points were piercing his uniform, causing blood to seep from his neck.

Kerry tremblingly made the Eagle Salute, but before he could even cross his hands, he was abruptly interrupted.