The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Chapter 3459: An Indistinguishable Poison

Qingzhao had previously mentioned that she wanted some live Genestealers, preferably high-ranking individuals, as research material to develop drugs against the Genestealer virus.

"Almost forgot."

Stepping back, Soshian took out the Tesseract Labyrinth.

In the next second, the Patriarch vanished in a flash of green light, leaving only bloodstains on the ground to prove it had ever existed.

A few minutes later, Soshian reappeared inside the Gellan star system.

"What is it?"

Three seconds after being summoned, Qingzhao's projection appeared before Soshian. This was the first time she had seen Soshian in his crimson armor, and she immediately offered her assessment.

"Your fashion sense is terrible. The one I designed for you—"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Let's talk business now."

Soshian produced the Tesseract Labyrinth, and upon releasing it, the Patriarch dropped out with a thud, emitting a painful groan.

"This is a Patriarch, alive."

"Excellent."

Accompanied by a humming sound, dozens of flying servitors arrived at the control tower. They extended restraining devices, clamping onto the dying Patriarch, hoisted it up, and quickly departed.

"Also, these. Inspect them immediately to see if there are any problems."

Looking at the ten gene-seed containers, Qingzhao nodded.

"Give me a few minutes."

About six minutes later, Qingzhao reached a conclusion. The worst-case scenario had indeed occurred.

"...They have all been invaded by a virus capable of disrupting and modifying the host's original genetic sequence. Although the gene-glands of Space Marines possess a strong resistance to genetic modification by the virus, they cannot eradicate it completely. Once implanted, the residual virus will cause infection. Furthermore, its concealment is very strong. I used seven hundred and ninety-three reagents and still couldn't detect it. Only by resorting to destructive measures did I discover these viruses. All ten gene-seeds are now ruined." (The official lore gives the Sons of Sotha a huge advantage: their gene-virus has maximum concealment, undetectable by either technical or psychic means.)

When Qingzhao delivered this report, Soshian immediately thought of the Genestealer Magus. Sotha must have one. It had researched a virus to contaminate gene-seeds and had corrupted serfs of the chapter carry it into the chapter's gene-seed vault.

"Understood. Then focus your research on the Genestealers and the viruses they carry. This may be the second greatest threat facing humanity, second only to the Warp."

"I'll do my best."

With that, Soshian disappeared into the rift.

Returning to the Pharos mountain tomb, Soshian's mood was heavy. He had randomly selected the gene-seeds, and the fact that all ten were infected meant the entire gene-seed vault was compromised. In other words, even if he saved the current Emperor's Scythes, it would be futile. This chapter could be considered expunged.

The only difference was whether they would die ignominiously or gloriously, but judging by the situation, the former was more likely.

The Emperor's Scythes were indeed pitiable and lamentable. Now, no means could help them. Qingzhao admitted that she couldn't eliminate the gene-virus parasitizing the human body without destroying the host, and Soshian was helpless as well. However, he didn't want his hands stained with the blood of the Emperor's Scythes and could only leave it to them. What he had done would at least allow them to resist longer. The outcome was no longer important.

Therefore, he shifted his focus to his true objective.

"Citizens! Evacuate immediately! Solanta Defense Force soldiers! Assist the citizens in relocating to safe areas! We must unite as one to defend against the enemy!"

Second Captain Agistasta of the Emperor's Scythes activated his helmet's vox-grille, raising his ancient power scythe. Captains of the Emperor's Scythes commonly wielded this weapon as a symbol.

Around the Captain, the company banner fluttered—a black Courser named Konarapos galloping across a mosaic pattern, overlaid with the golden scythe emblem of the Second Company.

Surrounding the banner were nearly a hundred warriors, most of whom were veterans of countless campaigns. As Solanta descended into the horror of xenos slaughter, Agistasta decisively took on the task of eliminating the enemy and rescuing the citizens—although the revelation of the Genestealers cast a shadow over everything, the vast majority of Emperor's Scythes captains believed that only a minority were infected. After all, they had always protected their homeworld, and the citizens here had always supported and embraced them. How could they be so easily swayed by xenos?

Only the paranoid Eighth Captain, the chapter's executioner Vorsok, harbored deep suspicion and distrust of the Sothans, but he was not a Son of Sotha after all, and Agistasta had never thought much of him. He was only fit to be an executioner.

They were currently located in Solanta's central district, with the Solanta Senate behind them.

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Directly in front of the Senate was the massive Glory Square, with a statue erected for the Emperor in the center, the Solanta Cathedral to the right, and the Solanta Administrative Office to the left. Soldiers of the Solanta Defense Force in uniform had already established temporary defenses and positions in the square, even deploying artillery and a few tanks. Many citizens were streaming in from all directions, dragging their families along. Each of them was terrified, even desperate.

However, after the appearance of the Emperor's Scythes, they found their backbone.

Boom—

With a thunderous roar, a massive Thunderhawk roared overhead, unleashing a volley of fire into the district. Agistasta saw the impact area, very close by.

"Captain, enemies approaching rapidly from three o'clock!"

"Roger."

Agistasta immediately pointed his scythe towards the main road leading to the square from the three o'clock direction. From his position, he could see a large number of vehicles piled up in the center of the road, as well as civilians constantly running towards the square from the sidewalks on both sides. In the buildings on either side of the road, he could also see firing points established by regulars and militia, firing continuously towards the end of the road. Las-fire crisscrossed densely, interspersed with the whistling trails of rockets and bolters, corresponding to the continuous explosions on the main road and the vehicles being blasted into the air.