Chapter 9: Fury

Saushyang weighed his last pouch of armor-piercing grenades on the observation platform.

A series of explosions blanketed the uneven surface, clearing away large chunks of black rock and scorching metal fragments.

The attack achieved its intended effect, forcing the ambushers who had not seen Saushyang’s squad rushing down from the upper passages to retreat temporarily, while also drawing their attention.

Boom!

Flames erupted on the platform again before the final grenade could detonate, but this time, the Necrons focused their attention on Saushyang’s squad.

Saushyang’s highly sensitive senses picked up the stench of charred metal and blood, along with the sporadic staccato of weapon fire. He assumed his brothers were occupied with other matters and had no time to welcome them.

After assessing the fire configuration of the ambushers strafing them, Okam slid into the cover beside Saushyang.

"They know we're here."

Saushyang glanced at the battlefield situation; their company was falling into a bitter struggle. The Necrons had cunningly established an ambush zone here.

"What are your orders?"

Hearing Okam’s words, Saushyang turned his composed gaze toward his brother.

"We are going to take them out."

He grinned, though the smile was hidden by his helmet.

"Reznor, Calicinus."

Saushyang called out over the comms channel, and the two summoned warriors left their positions to join their commander.

"Prepare the melta bombs. See those pillars?"

He pointed to the sources that allowed the platform to tower above.

Calicinus and Reznor nodded in unison.

"I’ll go with you—"

"You must stay behind."

Okam decisively put an end to Saushyang’s risky move.

"You must shoulder the burden of command."

The two warriors who had been called also nodded in agreement.

"Very well, then I will provide you with covering fire."

After ten seconds of preparation, Saushyang was the first to stand up, firing his bolter at the xenos on the platform, while Hasdrubal also took up his heavy bolter, pouring a lethal rain of shells onto the abominable machines.

Before venturing across the open ground leading to the support structure, the two Space Marines activated their melta bombs.

The xenos noticed the fire coming from the flank; some of them turned, shifting their muzzles to begin firing at the position of Saushyang’s squad.

As Reznor tentatively took a few steps, a green disintegration beam struck him.

"Ugh!"

The impact knocked him down and sent him spinning before he collapsed into a pool of blood.

Calicinus was luckier. When he reached the base of the platform, he let out a savage war cry and attached the explosives to one of the pillars, only to take a hit to his shoulder immediately after.

"Calicinus!"

Seeing this, Saushyang immediately wanted to jump out and drag the wounded warrior back.

But Okam reached out and held him down.

The Necrons' counter-fire was fierce.

Once the xenos near the base of the structure realized what Calicinus was doing, they immediately pierced his body with several concentrated volleys.

But before they could stop him, Calicinus pressed the detonator.

"For the Emperor!"

BOOM!

The melta bomb explosion accompanied his roar, and the bright, ultra-high-temperature chemicals instantly vaporized him.

Saushyang stood stunned for a few seconds.

The platform held!

"Damn it!"

Just as Saushyang was about to dive into the wall of fire to finish the task, a second explosion erupted.

He turned to avoid the sudden blast; a foul, chemical stench stung his nostrils, followed by the groaning of bending metal.

The observation platform finally collapsed, kicking up a cloud of dust and smoke.

Careless about the source of the second explosion, Saushyang stood up and let out a roar of victory.

"Advance!!"

Charging across the open ground directly toward the mass of twisted metal and shattered black rock, he brandished his chainsword, ready for battle, knowing his battle-brothers were following close behind.

The Necron line struggled to hold against the onslaught of the Space Marine company.

Emerald energy clouds gathered above the Astartes' heads, tearing through the air.

With a loud crack, many warriors were reduced to ash.

The sound of bolters washed over the Necron vehicles, but disintegration beams were also dismembering the Astartes' line. Many warriors' bodies lay twisted on the battlefield; the company banner was riddled with holes and teetering, and their captain was nowhere to be seen.

When Saushyang witnessed this tragedy, the revelation struck him like a thunderclap.

"Kill the xenos!"

Saushyang eagerly quickened his pace, the low hum of his power armor and the buzz of his chainsword filled with endless fury.

As he marched forward, he left one massive footprint after another on the ground, along with a trail of Necron corpses.

The Necron weapons left ripples in the air, but they gained nothing from Saushyang save for his angry war cry.

His bolter unleashed its fury, pounding a Necron barge and blasting its pilot into shreds.

Then, as he stepped over the remains of these machines, there was no mercy in his heart.

Snap!

Suddenly, an impact hit his head, and Saushyang smelled something burning.

His helmet had been grazed by a disintegration beam, nearly taking half his head with it, but the threat of death did not make him retreat.

"For the Emperor!"

Saushyang tore off his shattered helmet, keeping only the respirator, and let out a high-pitched roar before diving into the Necron formation.

He thrust his chainsword forward, carving a rift of death through the ranks of the Necron infantry.

The teeth of the chainsword met living metal, whipping up a storm of parts and discarded debris.

Each blade carefully chewed and tasted the Necron's slender bodies, devouring them clean as if they were fine cuisine, then tossing the unnecessary residue to the sides.

Shiny limbs and torsos littered the earth.

On his right flank, Axer let his fury run wild, ravaging and dismembering the Necron line.

Squad member Arkan had already fallen; before dying, he ignited the promethium canisters on his body, turning dozens of Necrons nearby into smoldering metal fragments.

The company’s honor bearer was leaning against a torso for support, barely managing to keep firing, but his legs had already melted into a pool of shimmering molten iron.

Saushyang gritted his teeth, trying not to notice how the tiny mechanical insects were devouring the masterpiece of humanity bit by bit.

Each bite from the mechanical scarabs was accompanied by the painful sparking of his power armor.

Everyone was engaged in close-quarters combat with the Necrons; though few in number, their fighting spirit was high.

Blades bit into Necron bodies, but boarding shields were also shattering under the glare of green beams, and torsos and bodies lacking shield protection were even more vulnerable.

When Saushyang discovered that one of the cursed Necrons was actually peeling the skin off a living human on the battlefield and wearing it, letting the rest of the flesh evaporate under the green light, his hatred for these xenos became even more resolute.