The landing battle began.
Although the rebels managed to establish defenses shortly after the bombardment ended, they were Astartes, after all—super-soldiers created by the Emperor specifically for the Great Crusade.
No matter how shattered their morale was, and no matter how unfavorable the battle had become, they still possessed the most basic military competence.
However, under the furious assault of the allied forces, the rebels' so-called resistance was completely useless. Lacking heavy firepower, they were easily crushed by Warmaster Command, which had come far better prepared.
As the ground offensive progressed, more and more evidence was confirmed.
Malformed flesh mutations.
Blasphemous faiths.
Unsettling written records.
The things discovered on the front lines all corroborated the Warmaster's speech.
Aside from that, among the supplies salvaged from rebel warships, there were also strange objects that were more than enough to put people on alert.
The offensive across the surface advanced with remarkable smoothness.
So smoothly, in fact, that Bruce, who had also descended to the surface, found it unbelievable.
The rebel defensive lines were like paper before Ferrus and the Iron Hands. They shattered at a touch.
That made the Salamanders and World Eaters, who were responsible for coordinated support, as well as the Raven Guard and Night Lords attacking from the flanks, look a little like clowns.
What else could be said?
At this rate, why not let him finish the whole battle by himself?
As expected of the War God of Isstvan. In the original history, Ferrus had nearly killed his way through the rebels with one Legion alone. In this timeline, he was still just as fierce.
One could only say that Ferrus's greatest disadvantage was dying too early. Otherwise, during the Great Heresy era, he might very well have given Horus a massive surprise.
"Advance! Advance!!!"
Ferrus swung the massive hammer known as [Forgebreaker], killing every rebel he saw. The backpack mounted behind him continuously fired lethal energy beams outward.
At this moment, Ferrus was like a Gundam, slaughtering the enemy in the most efficient, absolute, and forceful manner possible.
The Iron Hands under Ferrus's command likewise completed their coordinated breakthroughs with astonishing efficiency. Any rebel they caught was killed.
No exceptions.
Ferrus wanted to calm down, but whenever he thought of his past with Fulgrim, he could not endure it.
Why would he do this?!
If the evidence Horus had shown might still have contained elements of entrapment or fabrication, then on the battlefield, Ferrus had personally seen many Emperor's Children bearing obvious traces of genetic modification.
Their fleet had even salvaged some infuriating biological materials from the wreckage of the Emperor's Children fleet.
This was no ordinary genetic research!
Fulgrim had actually indulged his subordinates to this extent?
There was no way he did not know!
Meanwhile, the Death Guard personally led by Mortarion had also begun cleaning house, although he had yet to obtain more conclusive evidence.
But out of trust in the Warmaster, and after recalling and considering many details from the past, Mortarion was certain that Typhon, his most trusted brother and son, had likely submitted to some heretical faith long ago.
Compared with Ferrus, who intended to kill Fulgrim, Mortarion intended to capture Typhon first and ask everything clearly.
Therefore, he had been searching all this time, hoping by chance that Typhon had not died in the bombardment.
"..."
Mortarion watched the Salamanders' offensive with complicated irritation.
Before their powerful melta weapons, the Death Guard traitors who stubbornly resisted all died under extreme heat, leaving not even scraps behind. They fused with the sand beneath their feet and turned into glass.
And the fact that they shouted their Primarch's name before death made Mortarion, as their father, feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Mortarion."
Curze's voice clearly reached Mortarion's ears from several hundred kilometers away.
"What is it?"
Mortarion closed his eyes and deeply inhaled the toxic gas from his homeworld.
Only this could soothe the somewhat aching heart he felt at this moment. At the same time, Mortarion recalled the scenes of himself and Typhon resisting the xenos together back on their homeworld.
"I found your First Captain. Although I could just kill him directly, this is clearly something that should be left to you."
Curze informed him.
"I'll come over now."
"No problem. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I can do it for you. I would be very happy to help."
"No need. There are some things I must ask him myself!"
Mortarion felt this matter needed an answer. Otherwise, he would remember it for the rest of his life.
"Fine. But I'll remind you: do not expect a fanatic to abandon his faith."
"As for the faith and xenos related to your homeworld, I can only tell you one thing. You and your Legion were targeted from the very beginning. Do not stumble over this."
Curze warned him in a very tactful manner.
"I have my own judgment."
Mortarion said this calmly, then cut the communication.
Meanwhile, Bruce was leading his company while observing from the edge of the battlefield. As he monitored Ferrus's progress, he searched for traces of the Alpha Legion. Strangely, on such a lively ground battlefield, he saw no sign of them at all.
Had all the Alpha Legion died?
Or had they silently infiltrated his own company without anyone noticing?
But very soon, Bruce stopped dwelling on this matter, because he focused all his attention on Ferrus.
That was the most important reason he had joined the coordinated landing on the surface this time.
Although this time, the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan was led by the loyalist faction and held every advantage, Bruce did not want things to inexplicably overturn.
What if, even in a winning situation, Ferrus still somehow got stabbed to death by Fulgrim?
Who would he complain to then?
Considering that later they still had to move against Guilliman's Five Hundred Worlds, Ferrus had to stay alive. He and his Legion were far too important. Therefore, Bruce's company stayed close to him the entire time.
If the battle situation looked wrong, Bruce would intervene immediately!
"Lord Acting Commander, we have discovered a rebel squad claiming to be loyalists. How should we handle them?"
Alfred sent back a message.
"Disarm them. Check whether they have flesh mutations. Make them shout 'Long live the Emperor.' If they satisfy all three conditions, they may be taken prisoner. But if they fail any one of them, execute them immediately."
"If Emperor's Children surrender, add one more question. Ask whether they are loyal to the Emperor or loyal to their Primarch. If they answer that they want Fulgrim to pay the price, they may also be taken prisoner. Otherwise, execute them as well."
"Finally, do not accept surrender from the Alpha Legion. If you see them, kill them. Do not ask why."
"Yes!"
Alfred carried out the order.
"Boss, do you really have to make it this troublesome..."
Warfarin, who had been eavesdropping from the side, said unhappily:
"Just kill them all and be done with it. Why take prisoners? We'll even have to feed them. What a pain."
"Loyalists should be rewarded."
Bruce answered out of personal sentiment.
Of course Bruce knew that killing all the rebels indiscriminately was the best option. After all, some of them might be pretending to surrender.
The problem was that some loyalists were truly loyal.
It would be a pity to kill them.
The ones at fault were their Primarchs, not them. If he could save some, Bruce was still willing to be the good person. When the time came, he would send them all to Malcador.
Who knew? Maybe someday, a Deathwatch department would emerge, and Bruce would just happen to have some friendship with its founder.
If one wanted to survive in Warhammer 40K, what mattered was not fighting, not intelligence, not who lived longer, and not who was more optimistic.
What mattered was damn interpersonal connections!
"Fulgrim!!!!"
Ferrus's roar echoed across the entire battlefield.
"Come out and die!"
"Wuzhi!"
Upon hearing the voice, Bruce turned and shouted toward the silver Astartes nearby who was releasing psychic power:
"I'm leaving command here to you for now. I'm going to the eastern front!"
"I...?!"
Before Wuzhi could even react, Bruce had already activated his jump pack and shot away in a streak of smoke. A group of Night Lords followed with him.
"..."
Wuzhi looked at the eager sisters in the company and fell into silence and deep thought.
Is this really something I can control?
Then, in the very next second, the Thousand Sons, who had been suppressed for a long time, directly split their mouths into wide grins.
Psychic restraints released!
Blow up those damn traitor dogs!
Psychic power feels amazing!
Without Bruce, the acting commander, restraining them, the Thousand Sons became like wild horses that had thrown off their reins. As for the Night Lords from the same company, they had long since gotten used to this.
After all, back aboard the Remilia, these divine lunatics had caused no shortage of trouble.
Using his jump pack, Bruce leapt and glided across the battlefield. While killing rebel Astartes along the way, he rushed toward the source of Ferrus's voice.
Finally, from a distant open space, he saw two Primarchs facing each other.
Aside from that, Bruce also saw a small number of purple Astartes and gray Astartes killing one another.
Join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 285
"Is this chat group even serious?" 150
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 255
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (This matter is completely finished.)
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 155
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 96
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi 51
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 105
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (This matter is completely finished.)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 100
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 120
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 105
After Maxing Out Every Class 110
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 95
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 60
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 69
From Trilobites to Titans 57
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 75
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 86
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 70
Honkai: The Fire Devil 70
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/30
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 60
Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 74
At age 8, she co-starred with 45
Honkai: Schicksal Media 53
An Extremist in a Slice-of-Lif 30
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