NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114: Chapter 114
Bringing the team to a halt a few corridors from Obsidius and his men, we could hear the Chaos Lord barking orders to his soldiers as they engaged another swarm of Demons. Wanting to use the element of surprise to quickly thin their numbers, given the layout of the corridor they were within, I believed the most effective method was a pincher attack from both ends of the hallway. Utilizing custom made Anti-Astarte flashbangs, we would temporarily restrict some of their fighting capabilities before charging in to make close quarter combat easier for us. Explaining the plan to the team, the Eldar and Imperials were intrigued by the flash bangs I mentioned to them.
"How are these any different from the Photon Flash Grenades the guardsmen usually use?", Ionica inquired, uncertain how effective they would be.
"In addition to blinding the enemy, these generate an extremely powerful range of sounds that resonate with the metals in most Imperial armor and equipment. The resonances can cause complete equipment failure, Bolters to jam, Lasguns to short circuit, and Power Armor to go haywire among other things.", I chuckled, handing several grenades to Eldanial and Ionica, "During testing, I even got a Power Armor's power source to go into meltdown."
"Let me see that!", Mane said, snatching one from Ionica, "Is it a guarantee every time?"
"In testing it worked eighty percent of the time.", I answered, with a smirk, "Before you try and replicate it, you should remember, you could disable your own troops with this. They are made from the same metal after all."
Recalling that potentially lethal fact, Mane gingerly handed it back to her and stepped back. Their robotic parts were also made from the same metal meaning the Anti-Astartes Flashbangs were as lethal as a normal grenade to them. The powerful vibrations could do untold damage to sensitive internal components and potentially even cause a complete system failure for them. Recognizing the dangers they posed to his people directly, Mane requested they use them with the utmost care.
"The Eldar and my Order will take steps to minimize the risk to you and your subordinates.", Ionica promised, looking back to me, "Pull the pin, toss them into the corridor, wait for the explosion, then storm in?"
"Yes, but be aware that your armor will also start vibrating as well. The grenade will generate sound for a good thirty seconds before stopping.", I advised her.
"That will not be an issue, our armor lacks the specialized equipment that theirs does. The armor we wear provides additional protection and strength to us only.", Ionica replied, with a grin, "Ladies, we are diving straight in once the grenades go off. Eldanial, can your team provide us with cover fire?
"We can, yes.", Eldanial acknowledged, more than willing to let them take most of the risk.
"Ahem, I am charging in there with you.", Samus stated, "My weapons are less accurate than a laser rifle, so it is safer for me to fight alongside your team."
Happy to have a capable mercenary alongside them, Ionica accepted the offer with a nod. Wanting to avoid losing even more people in this place, I affixed Holtzman Shields to Ionica and her subordinates. Handing them Energy Swords from my inventory, the Sisters were hesitant to accept such weapons from me.
"Lord Victor, you have already provided us with laser rifles and now personal shielding. We could not accept further kindness from you.", Ionica remarked, as her subordinates nodded their heads in agreement.
"The items I am letting you use are only loaners, I expect them to be returned to me once our objective in this place has been completed.", I told them, forcing the swords into their hands, "You have the tools to exact your revenge, now make sure you live to tell the tale!"
"Very well, all of us truly appreciate your kindness.", Ionica replied, with a soft smile, "Now then, shall we get going?"
"UR-025, using the map Dair gave us, can you please lead the group to our targets?", I requested, "I will radio you when we are ready so we can synchronize our grenade tosses."
Wishing them all good luck and happy hunting, we headed to our rallying points slaying a few Lesser Demons enroute. Once my group was in position, I contacted UR-025 and let him know we would toss the grenades in on three. Counting down together, the two groups pulled their pins and chucked the grenades into the hallway. Using the Force to pull the grenades closer to our targets, when they detonated, we heard the screams of pain from both Demons and heretic marines.
"Helldivers, Lucoa, and Roxanne, follow me!", I ordered, pulling my lightsabers off my waist as I rounded the corner, "Everyone else watch our rear for Demon reinforcements and provide support when openings appear."
Acknowledging my orders, the vanguard followed me in while the others took defensive positions. Casting Agility and Lesser Strength on us, Mylene wished us luck before switching to offensive spells like Air Slash and Rock Bullet. Firing upon the enemy as we advanced on them, the firing team blew the heads off three marines with well placed shots. Falling back into their dazed and confused allies, the enemy was left wide open for our opening salvo.
"You are up, Lucoa!", I shouted, as the rest of us stepped aside to give her a clear path.
"Revak Yol Sil!!", Lucoa shouted, releasing a torrent of purifying, golden and white flames upon the enemy.
(AN: Holy, Fire, Soul.)
Reducing the Demons to nothingness in an instant, the flames continued until they crashed into the awaiting marines. Not bothering to avoid the fire, as they were confident that their armor would protect them, their idiocy cost them dearly. Immediately overwhelmed by raw, unbridled pain, those who had been touched by the magic began to bellow in anguish as their corrupted souls slowly burned away.
Stepping up to help tamp out the fires on and around their brothers, several additional marines soon fell victim to Lucoa's magic as well. Realizing there was nothing they could do to save them; the group began backing away from us while trying to lay down cover fire. Discovering that their Bolters were jammed, they scrambled to fix the problem as we resumed our advance.
"Kill them all!", I commanded, as we stormed through the fire and crashed against what remained of their defensive line.
Barely able to see or hear the fighting, Obsidius shoved several of his men toward the enemy attack and told them to continue fighting back. Angry and annoyed that they could not catch a break, he wanted to end this quickly so they could return to their ship for food and rest. Having been wandering around for days with minimal provisions and no sleep, if they did not break away soon, he knew this would be where they would die.
"There is only a handful of them, kill them or force them into a retreat!", Obsidius barked, as his vision began to return, "The rest of you, begin moving toward- "
"FOR THE EMPEROR!!", the Sisters of Battle shouted, as they charged in from the opposite end of the hallway.
Providing the Samus and the Sisters of Battle cover fire, the Eldar and Skitarii focused on weaker areas of the Astarte's armor. Disabling the movements of several enemy marines before they could react, those who had been behind them used their crippled bodies as cover. Raising their Bolters to return fire and take out the approaching combatants, as the marines tried to aim, their reticles began to violently move around while their guns remained motionless.
"Lord Obsidius, something is wrong with our equipment!", one of the marines shouted, as an ear-piercing screech began coming from their radios.
Crushing their radios to silence the sound, Obsidius glared at the Imperials with venomous hatred. Believing that the Tech-Priests had done something to mess with their equipment, the Chaos Lord saw an opportunity to redeem himself for being unable to capture the fortress thus far. Bringing such technology back to Abaddon would help make his next crusade even more damaging to the Imperium.
"Bring me those Tech-Priests, slaughter the rest of the False Emperor's cultists and their Xeno allies!", Obsidius commanded his men.
Ignoring the issues with their reticles, the marines tried to fire upon the rapidly advancing enemy only to realize that two of their seven Bolters worked properly. Laying down a hailstorm of bullets from the two functioning guns, the other five tossed their weapons to the side and switched to their Chainswords. Leaping over their crippled brothers, they rushed forward to meet the enemy head on.
"For the Emperor! For Cadia!", Ionica howled, as she and her subordinates drew their Energy Swords, "KILL THE HERETICS!!"
"FOR THE EMPEROR!!", her subordinates shouted in unison.
Aiming to decapitate as many of them as they could, before they were in striking distance of the Energy Swords, the marines threw all their strength into their swing. Coming to an abrupt stop mere centimeters from their intended targets, the marines looked at them in disbelief before the Sisters drove their Energy Swords through their chests and skulls. Knocking the dead and dying traitors to the floor, Ionica and her subordinates trampled them beneath their boots as they continued forward.
"Lord Obsidius, something is very wrong with these cultists! They are immune to bullets and Chainswords.", one of the marines shouted, as more of their brothers charged forward to face them, "What should we do?"
Seeing no other option, Obsidius stepped up to deal with the matter himself. Trampling over his crippled men, the Chaos Lord stormed toward the enemy with his Thunder Hammer at the ready. Using his own men to hide his attack, he slammed the mighty weapon into their backs sending them and their enemies flying down the hallway.
"Take him out!", Mane ordered, pointing at Obsidius, "Focus fire on him!"
Aiming for his head and joints, the firing team bombarded him with everything they had but it was all stopped by an invisible barrier. Giving them a wicked smile, Obsidius showed the stunned group a damaged Armour Crest.
"You are not the only ones with a bag of tricks, fools!", Obsidius laughed, before swinging his hammer around again, "Time to die!"
Rolling out of the way, as the Chaos Lord tried to flatten them, the Sisters staggered to their feet while Samus moved behind him. Blasting him nearly point blank with her plasma cannon, she clicked her tongue in annoyance as his shield resisted the attack. Swinging his right arm back to smack her away, Samus grabbed onto to give the Sisters an opening.
"Let go of me, wench!", Obsidius cursed her.
"Finish this, now!", Samus shouted, beginning to lose her grip, "I cannot hold him back much longer!"
Scrambling to their feet to protect their commander, the subordinates that Obsidius hit used themselves as shields to block slow the enemy down. Knowing that weapons were ineffective against them, the marines resorted to physically tackling women hoping to wrest their swords from them. Forcing them back, at the cost of their lives, the men bought their leader enough time to break free. Jumping backwards to create some distance, Samus was about to try attacking him again when Roxanne blitzed past her.
Swinging his hammer around to intercept her, Roxanne leaped over the weapon and brought her Energy Sword down on his head. Moving to the side at the last moment, her sword cut through his left shoulder causing his blood to start spraying all over the place. Smacking her away with his uninjured arm, the Chaos Lord let go of his weapon and backed away. Looking for away out of this situation, he looked on in dismay as his last marines were dispatched by our forces.
"It is time to end this, Obsidius!", Ionica said, as we all moved in to surround him.
"Do you expect me to beg and plead for mercy!", Obsidius spat, picking up the hammer with his good arm, "If I am going to die here, I will take as many of you with me as I can!"
Dodging his next swing easily enough, the Sisters drove their blades into his abdomen and chest with a loud cry. Driving her blade into his back as well, Roxanne twisted her blade before pulling it out. Feeling himself rapidly beginning to die, Obsidius refused to let them escape without any losses. Using his remaining strength to grab Ionica and one of her subordinates by the head, he tried to crush their heads like watermelon.
"FUCK YOU!", Obsidius seethed, "I am taking you both with- "
"They are staying here with the rest of us!", I shouted, "Now burn!"
Plunging Dawnbreaker through his chest, the Chaos Lord let out a primal scream as golden cracks began appearing all over his body. Destroying his soul almost instantly, Obsidius' lifeless body collapsed to the ground before Ionica and her subordinates.