Reinforcements of Chaos Space Marines surged from the spiral staircase leading to the second floor. These Warriors were covered in twisted runic armor, their eyes glowing with demonic red light. Their weapons were black steel blades forged in demonic furnaces, which they wielded as if they could cut through air.
"For the glory of the Chaos Gods / The Four Gods! Kill them all!" The Chaos Lord raised a Warhammer burning with an eerie flame, smashing the turret of an Imperial "Falcon" armored vehicle with a single blow, then laughed as he charged into the crowd. Each of his swings brought forth a large mist of blood, and the Imperial Soldiers retreated steadily.
"Quickly retreat to the staircase! Don't let them break our formation!" The Imperial Captain shrieked desperately, but the tidal assault of the Chaos Warriors rendered his words pale and powerless.
In the dilapidated central hall of the mall, the shouts of Cadian Soldiers intertwined with chaotic gunfire, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.
Every Imperial Soldier knew that this place had become a true hell, and they had to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
Helicopter support gradually became ineffective, as Drukhari / Dark Aeldari flying motorcycles in the sky constantly harassed the Imperial Army's air power. Dense poisoned arrows and energy ripples destroyed several transport helicopters, forcing the remaining aircraft to withdraw from the battlefield.
"Commander! We can no longer get air support! The damned Drukhari / Dark Aeldari have blockaded the skies!" The comms officer reported anxiously.
"I know!" The Commander clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he scanned his surroundings, his eyes filled with fury.
He quickly pulled out his communication device and called all frontline units: "Attention everyone! We must hold the mall and prevent the enemy from breaking through our defenses! No one is to retreat until reinforcements arrive!"
But reality was crueler than the Commander's orders. Chaos Forces reinforcements poured in from the rear of the mall, with gigantic Chaos Daemons wielding burning Warhammers, rampaging and crushing several Imperial Soldiers in their path into pulp.
At the same time, the two factions of the Drukhari / Dark Aeldari—the Malys Faction and the Victores Faction—chose to join forces after a brief ceasefire to fight these common invaders.
"The Cadian bugs are already exhausted," a high-ranking raider from the Victores Faction sneered. His armor was adorned with human bones, and he held a pair of power swords shimmering with purple light. "It's time to let them feel our true terror."
"Less talk," a female Commander from the Malys Faction responded coldly. Her face wore an indifferent expression, but the dark energy swirling around her made her seem extremely dangerous. "Those Chaos scum won't escape from here either. Kill all invaders; this is our city."
And so, the Drukhari / Dark Aeldari attacked again. This time, their assault was more ferocious and orderly.
The situation inside the mall was on the verge of spiraling out of control. Cadian Forces, backed against damaged staircases and cover, fought desperately against the enemy's encirclement. Soldiers took turns, barely maintaining the defensive line with Bolters, lasguns, and heavy weapons.
"They're about to break through! Give me two satchel charges, I'll take them on!" a young Soldier yelled, panting, as he leaned against cover. His armor was riddled with bullet holes, and blood dripped from its edges.
However, at this desperate moment, the Daemons of Chaos Forces launched a new charge. Giant hound Daemons tore through the Imperial cover, and the Chaos Space Marines who followed them charged into the Cadian Soldiers' positions like fierce tigers.
"Captain! We're being surrounded!" A Kasrkin Soldier roared, brandishing his power sword, trying to cover his teammates' retreat. However, before he could take a step, he was sent flying by a Chaos Space Marine's hammer, crashing hard against the wall.
The Commander stood on the shattered troop carrier, watching all of this coldly. His eyes swept over the repelled Soldiers, over the gradually approaching enemies, and finally he slowly drew his Chainsword.
"All units, listen! This is our last line of defense. One step back is certain death," he said, his voice low and cold. "We are the Imperium's warriors, we have no choice! Fight for the Emperor! Charge!"
With a roar, the remaining Cadian Soldiers fought back fiercely, unleashing their last firepower upon the enemy. On this blood-soaked battlefield, the despair and valor of the Imperial Soldiers were pushed to their limits.
The battle inside the mall gradually subsided, and an eerie silence enveloped the ruins. The Chaos Warriors and Drukhari / Dark Aeldari, who had been fighting frantically moments before, involuntarily stopped their actions, a hint of confusion and unease in their eyes.
In the distance, a low, uniform singing faintly drifted over, the sound like rolling thunder, gradually echoing across the battlefield.
~♪ It matters not to us, we whistle as we please ~♪
~♪ Whether the whole universe knows us, ~♪
~♪ Cursing or praising us, ~♪
~♪ Let them be happy. ~♪
The singing was accompanied by the vibrating sound of tracks on the ground and the roar of machinery. Several "Weasel" tanks emblazoned with skull insignia spearheaded the advance, followed by a column of newly manufactured and modified antique "Tiger" tanks, their turrets slowly rotating, locking onto the faint enemies in the ruins ahead.
Next, from the thick smoke and dust emerged a line of Soldiers dressed in black uniforms, wearing M35 helmets and gas masks. Their steps were uniform, they carried lasguns, and their lapels bore military insignia with skull emblems.
Although their faces were hidden behind gas masks, every step exuded a cold, ruthless, and murderous aura.
They were the Death Korps of Krieg, the Imperium's most cold-blooded and fearless Soldiers.
The lead "Weasel" tank stopped, its roof hatch pushed open, and a Krieg Commander stood up. He wore a black gas mask and a black cloak over his shoulders, coldly surveying the ruins before him and the gradually quieting enemies.
"Enemies, listen well," the Commander issued a cold command through a loudspeaker. "Your sins have been judged. Today, you will face the Emperor's justice."
"Fire."
The next second, the multi-barreled heavy laser cannons on the armored convoy began to roar, and the main guns of the seemingly ancient "Tiger" tanks spewed scorching fire, their shells accurately blasting into the gathering places of Chaos Daemons and Drukhari / Dark Aeldari.
Immediately, explosions and screams erupted simultaneously.
At the same time, Krieg Soldiers advanced like a tide. Their steps were steady, and every shot was precise, destroying enemy cover one by one.
~♪ Wherever we come from, we press onward, ~♪
~♪ And with the laughter of the Emperor and the Prince, ~♪
~♪ Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ~♪
~♪ We fight for the Imperium of Man, ~♪
~♪ We fight for the Emperor, ~♪
~♪ Death never stops. ~♪
The singing grew increasingly impassioned, like a battle song of doom. The roars of Chaos Warriors and the curses of the Drukhari / Dark Aeldari seemed incredibly faint amidst the gunfire.
"Those madmen!" A Drukhari / Dark Aeldari raider tried to ambush a Krieg Soldier with a poisoned blade, but the Soldier seemed to feel no pain, and after being stabbed three times, he still raised his lasgun, directly blowing the raider's head to pieces.
The Chaos Lord witnessed all of this, clutching his burning Warhammer, the fury on his face gradually replaced by a chilling fear. He swung his Warhammer, trying to rally the surrounding Warriors: "Fight for the Chaos Gods / The Four Gods! They are nothing but soulless slaves!"
But the Krieg Soldiers did not respond; they approached silently, and an 88mm plasma shell accurately struck beside the Chaos Lord, sending him flying several meters.
The two factions of the Drukhari / Dark Aeldari, the Malys Faction and the Victores Faction, seeing the relentless assault of the Death Korps of Krieg, saw their brief cooperation dissolve. They began to shove and squabble amongst themselves, trying to use each other as sacrifices to block the ruthless "reapers" in front of them.
The remaining Imperial Army in the mall finally saw hope. Their Commander wiped the blood from his forehead, muttering in a complex low voice, "The Krieg madmen... they've arrived."
"Don't let up! We are also Imperial Soldiers, fighting to the end for the Emperor's glory!" He then pulled himself together, raised his Chainsword, and loudly encouraged his Soldiers.
The tide of battle began to turn in favor of the Imperium.
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