Chapter 20: 20 - Final Defense
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"Let's do it, and bestow the father's blessings upon these ordinary people who have been deceived by the corpse king," Gurlo declared, striding forward as the other plague fighters made way for their lord.
The armor of the plague warriors oozed with a foul-smelling liquid, stretched tightly over their bloated bodies. A layer of green flies clung to their armor, emitting a sickening stench and a miserable green mist that seeped from within.
"Let us bring the gift of our loving father to these fools," Gurlo's deputy added, his voice raspy and decayed, yet still able to speak.
He followed closely behind Gurlo, wielding a flesh-and-blood power hammer, while the distillation equipment and experimental plague grenades on his body clattered with every step.
Gurlo's deputy, a plague alchemist, was notorious for concocting deadly plagues using various germs and viruses. His creations had the potential to devastate entire imperial worlds, spreading suffering across galaxies. Far more terrifying than ordinary plague warriors, the plague alchemists poisoned every imperial world they touched, often conducting sacrificial rituals to turn them into gardens of Nurgle.
"Praise the Father."
"Gift, bring them a gift."
"Father's love."
"Destroy the corpse emperor."
The other plague warriors echoed these chants, brandishing rusty bolters, sword hammers, and plague guns with corroded nozzles. Following Gurlo's lead, they prepared to launch their final assault.
At the front, Gurlo lifted his massive plague axe and let out a hoarse, bone-chilling battle cry. "We are the sons of Mortarion! We are the embodiment of plague and death!"
The plague fighters roared in unison. Artillery fire thundered through the battlefield as the demonic engines and traitor-controlled cannons bombarded the fortress once again.
Plague-infested shells crashed against the fortress's flickering shield, bursting into malicious flames. Dense toxic clouds spread from the explosions but were held back by the failing shield.
The fort's shield generator was on the brink of collapse, and a few more barrages would render the fortress defenseless—an easy target for the enemy.
"Release the father's gift," Gurlo commanded.
From the distance, hordes of plague-ridden walking corpses were driven forward.
Once ordinary citizens and planetary defenders, they had now been reduced to puppets of Nurgle. Clad in remnants of their former uniforms, they staggered forward with lifeless eyes, their faces cracked open, dripping green mucus.
The air filled with the putrid stench of decaying flesh and writhing tentacles, accompanied by the eerie moans of the undead.
Acting as expendable cannon fodder, the plague corpses were herded toward the fortress, moving mindlessly under the command of the plague warriors.
Tens of thousands of undead trudged through the ruins, heading toward the imperial fire defense line.
The Plague Warriors marched behind them, driving the mindless horde forward like shepherds leading a flock.
Meanwhile, demonic plague engines and blasters continued their relentless bombardment, pushing the fortress's void shield to its limits—flickering and faltering under the relentless assault.
As the enemy neared the optimal attack range, the imperial defenders unleashed their firepower. Heavy laser cannons and artillery thundered, mowing down rows of plague-ridden mutants.
Explosions ripped through the undead ranks, sending rotting flesh flying in all directions.
Flamethrowers spewed streams of fire, reducing plague flies to ashes before they could reach the defenses.
Laser beams shot from bunkers, sizzling through the plague walkers and leaving charred corpses in their wake.
The defenders shouted the Emperor's slogans, trying to repel the enemy while conserving ammunition.
However, the plague warriors retaliated with precision. Their bolt guns targeted key defensive units and strongholds, systematically dismantling the imperial firepower.
The explosive rounds tore through soldiers, destroyed heavy weapons, and weakened the fortress's defenses.
Behind them, monstrous Plaguespreader engines advanced, spewing plague shells and toxins, further suppressing the defenders' already strained firepower.
Desperate, the imperial soldiers resorted to strapping melta bombs to their bodies in an attempt to halt the enemy advance.
Despite their determination, the relentless assault of the plague warriors forced them into a steady retreat, losing ground and shrinking their defensive perimeter.
Fearless demonic war machines, twisted by Chaos, joined the fray. Their devastating firepower overwhelmed the defenders, who had lost most of their artillery and tanks in previous skirmishes.
"My merciful Emperor... it's truly over this time," muttered Jie'an, watching through his binoculars as the monstrous, flesh-infested mechs emerged from the green plague mist.
Behind them, swarms of plague walkers followed in an unstoppable tide. Jie'an knew that without a miracle, the fortress would soon fall.
The Plague Warriors' dreadnought mechs, ancient and blessed by the dark gods, outmatched anything the Imperium could field.
Jie'an had witnessed these terrifying war machines obliterate a Baneblade super-heavy tank with ease. Their firepower was unmatched.
"We don't even have a knight," Jie'an muttered bitterly. "Find a squad to form a death team. See if we can get close enough to detonate a melta bomb."
A squad immediately assembled. Cover fire was laid down as they charged forward, bombs strapped to their bodies, aiming to get close and detonate them.
Their strategy was simple—detonate the bomb manually or have teammates trigger it remotely if they fell.
Yet courage alone was not enough to turn the tide of battle.
"It's such a pity... we failed," Jie'an murmured, watching the last soldier of the suicide squad be shredded by long-range fire. A bitter smile crossed his face.
He turned to gaze at the civilians within the fortress, a deep sorrow in his eyes. Jie'an knew what would happen if the final line of defense fell—Chaos showed no mercy.
Lifting his head, he watched the shield flicker, teetering on the brink of collapse. His augmented eyes saw the gray-green plague fog smothering the sky. The planet was lost, and their resistance had been in vain.
They had fought their hardest, but the outcome was inevitable.
With a deep breath, Jie'an drew his command knife and laser pistol, activating the army communicator. "It's been an honor fighting alongside you all. May the Emperor watch over us, and may our souls find peace in His embrace. The glory of humanity endures, and the Emperor's light shall shine forever. We will fight to the last breath—Chaos will never break us."
As his words echoed, the overburdened shield generator flickered and then failed completely.
Plague bombs rained upon the fortress, detonating with devastating force, releasing thick clouds of toxic gas.
Screams and cries erupted from within the walls, civilians wailing in despair as their doom descended.
Plague Walkers and Plague Warriors breached the defenses, beginning their grisly massacre of the final holdouts.
Defenders resorted to hand-to-hand combat, determined to fight to the end and uphold the dignity of humanity.