Chapter 139: Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [139]

"Call in the Dreadknights!" The Grand Master of the Grey Knights roared. Faced with such a colossal entity, the only force capable of making any difference now was the Nemesis Dreadknights. These blades of the Imperium, these ultimate mechs of the Grey Knights, were their last hope to turn the tide of the battlefield. When a company of 100 Grey Knights is deployed, they are typically accompanied by three Nemesis Dreadknights. These Nemesis Dreadknights are the ultimate weapons of the Grey Knights. Each pilot is a battle-hardened veteran, a warrior who has fought alongside the Grey Knights for over a century. They are equipped with powerful Sanctum-class Terminator armor, directly linked to the core of the Nemesis Dreadknights, enabling them to pilot these towering 10-meter-tall war machines into battle. These mighty Nemesis Dreadknights are deployed to counter daemon units that ordinary Grey Knights cannot handle—such as Greater Daemons, Daemon Princes, or even Infernal Beasts. Each Nemesis Dreadknight is a relic of the chapter because the Grey Knights cannot independently construct these machines. Their technology dates back to the Dark Age of Technology. The battle barges in the sky responded immediately. Three massive drop pods descended from the heavens, accompanied by a swarm of space fighters. However, the attacks from these human aerial units were nothing more than a drop in the ocean. The Avatar of Slaanesh sneered coldly, its Rune Sword emanating a violet energy wave, slashing out with terrifying force. The massive shockwave instantly annihilated the human aerial units. But the three Nemesis Dreadknights had already landed on the ground. They activated their massive kinetic swords and psionic shield barriers, unleashing their fury through the firepower of their war machines. A violet energy shield shimmered across the Avatar of Slaanesh's form. Its warp-based psionic barrier, in terms of defensive strength, surpassed even the Emperor's golden psychic field. The Emperor's golden psychic power primarily defends against demonic methods, whereas the warp-based psionic shield can resist nearly all forms of ranged attacks. "Attack! Destroy this daemon, Dreadknights!" The Grey Knights squad captain shouted. The battle had lasted no more than ten minutes, yet half of his battle-brothers were already lying on the ground, their fates uncertain. The situation for the Grand Master of the chapter wasn't much better either; everyone was already overloading their psychic abilities. And yet, this violet daemon hadn't even used its full strength. The earlier scene of aerial combat—the golden and violet energies intertwining, causing the entire sky to tremble—was beyond their reach. They weren't even qualified to participate in that titanic battle in the skies. "Face your doom, daemon! Today, you shall be banished!" One of the Nemesis Dreadknights stepped forward, its psionic shield raised and swung its kinetic blade down at the violet daemon. The indomitable kinetic blade, capable of slaying a Greater Daemon in a single strike, struck the violet armor with a resounding clang. But the terrifying disintegration field had no effect whatsoever. Even the most rudimentary form of the killer's armor could withstand Ultraman Ace's Metallium Ray. How could a mere mortal weapon with an added disintegration field hope to compare? "I stand before you, Knight! Is that all you've got? Are you just scratching my leg?" The towering violet daemon let out a mocking laugh. The other two Nemesis Dreadknights charged in from a distance, but their massive frames only reached the thighs of the Avatar of Slaanesh. These Nemesis Dreadknights couldn't even fly, and they appeared utterly powerless against the violet daemon's attacks. With a casual swing of its enormous sword, the violet demon reduced the three Nemesis Dreadknights to wreckage. It crushed their kinetic blades underfoot and tore apart their massive cannons as if tormenting oversized action figures for its amusement. In orbit, Rhodes felt as though these three Nemesis Dreadknights were little more than toys being dismantled. The three pilots inside let out agonized screams. Their nervous systems were linked to the Nemesis Dreadknights, and piloting them was akin to controlling their bodies. As parts of the Nemesis Dreadknights were destroyed, the pain was transmitted directly to them. The three Grey Knights hastily severed their neural links, emerged from their war machines with kinetic swords in hand, and tried to face the colossal daemon. But against such a terrifying foe, they were utterly helpless. Their kinetic swords couldn't even scratch their armor. They could do nothing but futilely hack at the giant's legs. What an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and despair! "How is this possible!? The Nemesis Dreadknights have fallen! And there were three of them!" Several Grey Knights, barely able to stand, cried out in despair as they watched the fallen war machines. These were the pride of the Grey Knights chapter, weapons that had served for tens of thousands of years. These Nemesis Dreadknights had slain countless daemons, achieving countless glories for the Imperium and the Grey Knights. For many members of the Grey Knights chapter, this outcome was simply unacceptable. "You call them Nemesis Dreadknights? A fine name, I admit. But in front of me, they are nothing more than toys. I didn't even have to exert my true strength. I didn't even need to take to the skies. Hahahahaha!" The Avatar of Slaanesh let out a booming laugh. After all, its master had instructed it to play the role of the ultimate villain, a role these Ace killers excelled at—for they were born to play villains. "Ah! Do not give up hope, knights!" The Emperor's Avatar, played by the Chaos Daemon Slayer, staggered to his feet from the ground. A surge of golden psychic energy erupted from his body, and he pointed his longsword toward the distance, unleashing a golden energy wave that struck the Slaanesh Daemon Avatar. The purple rune blade wielded by the Daemon blocked the golden beam, deflecting the energy outward. The shockwave from the clash sent three Grey Knights, who had been tending to their equipment, flying. Despite being grievously wounded, the Emperor's Avatar continued to fight heroically! He pressed on in battle, undeterred. If he could continue to fight with such courage, what excuse did the others have to retreat? This valiant display greatly inspired all the Grey Knights present. The remaining knights seized the opportunity, unleashing every ranged weapon they had and even summoning psychic lightning to launch a ferocious assault on the purple daemon. However, none of their attacks—not even the golden-armored giant's—could penetrate the purple energy shield. "Hahaha! Feel despair!" The purple giant raised his rune blade high, shattering the golden beam. His massive strike severed one of the Chaos Daemon Slayer's arms. The Emperor's Avatar staggered, his body trembling before dropping to one knee. It seemed he had completely lost the power to resist. "No! Damn it! Revenge! Revenge!" The Grey Knights, consumed by fury, launched a frenzied assault. "I will torment you slowly. I won't kill you right away. I will push you to your limits and then offer your souls to Slaanesh." The purple daemon laughed maniacally, plunging his rune blade into the ground. A circular shockwave erupted from the blade. All the Grey Knights present were struck by the shockwave. The Terminator armor they wore instantly lost power, rendering them immobile. It seemed like all hope was lost. Despair loomed. There seemed to be no chance of victory. The purple giant's rune sword unleashed another massive shockwave, even damaging a battle barge in orbit above. "Retreat! Battle barge, retreat immediately! Leave us behind!" "Today is our day to die, but carry news of this daemon back to the Grey Knights' headquarters. Spread the word of our heroism. At the very least, let the Imperium know what we faced here!" The Grey Knight Grand Master struggled to move under the heavy weight of his powerless Terminator armor, unable even to rise. Yet, he issued his final command: no matter what, the battle barge must escape and deliver the message. "Let the Chapter know that there exists such a powerful daemon champion, such a formidable enemy to the Imperium." "Brothers, today we shall fall here!" "For the Emperor! Even in death, we must leave our mark upon this daemon." The captain of the Grey Knights squad removed his Terminator armor, standing in only his undersuit. Armed with a powerful sword, he stood tall. The other Grey Knights followed suit, crawling out of their heavy armor. Only a dozen knights remained capable of moving. Many had lost limbs or suffered grievous injuries, yet they channeled their last reserves of psychic energy. Those who could no longer fight used their remaining strength to cast weak psychic shields over their brothers still standing. This was their final act of defiance. "Daemon, remember this! One day, the Grey Knights will banish you. One day, you will fall." "Heh!" The purple daemon unleashed another surge of energy, and the dozen knights who had risen fell once more. "Do not lose hope! Tell me, Grey Knight Captain, what is your name?" The golden-armored giant, kneeling on the ground, spoke with a powerful voice. "Calern! Avatar of the Emperor. It is my greatest honor to fight alongside you and fall here." The Grey Knight Captain, Calern, replied firmly. This battle was undoubtedly lost. "Will you fight alongside me? Will you join with me as one?" The Emperor's Avatar began to enact his final plan. The warrior he had been waiting for had finally appeared. For some time, the Chaos Daemon Slayer had been in contact with a dark giant statue, absorbing something extraordinary. It was the Emperor's light—the light of hope—an anchor of pure illumination. "What do you mean?" "Give me your life! Merge with me through the great light of hope, the light of the Emperor." "What must I do?" "Open your heart and soul! We shall become one." The Emperor's Avatar began to transform rapidly, turning into a pure golden light and merging with the body of Grey Knight Captain Calern. A radiant brilliance illuminated the entire planet. A massive, indistinct golden figure emerged.