In The World Of Sword And Magic As Space Marine - Chapter 121: Enter the Gigantic 'Fuck You' Gun and the Laughing Madmen

William’s forces didn’t face any resistance for four days after entering the land of the vampires. Just like in the military report, five major cities were abandoned and no living or undead was seen whatsoever.

“Four days of nothing but clearing cities. Looks like the capital city, Black Phalanx will be the last stand and major conflict to end this once and for all.” William said to Rana as he touch the wall of the gift major city. With every precaution and warning from his last encounter with the undead, William’s forces were divided into seven different forces clearing five different sectors of the city and castle which is located in the center.

So far, no hidden armies, traps, or ambushes were found which made every officer confused. To completely abandon the formidable and defensible city wall isn’t very logical in military strategy. Not to mention, all five city treasure vaults had their treasures and magical items intact with no sign of tampering or attempt to remove them at the last minute. A city of the dead simply empty and standing without a single soul standing.

“My lord, we have cleared the city and are ready to move on your order.” One of Lord Creed’s men said to William and Rana after giving a salute. From clearing four previous cities, William’s forces quickly adapted to clearing and securing the area without hesitation.

“Good. Inform Lord Creed that we will stay in the city until tomorrow morning. Place guards around the walls and have all the main gates closed for the night.” With an order given, the officer quickly left to pass the new instruction to Lord Creed. Meanwhile, William and Rana entered the command center to review the report from the scouts they sent a few hours ago.

“No hostiles for miles ahead. Not to mention not a single living soul whatsoever so far. Looks like Alpha Legion was busy after all.” Rana said to William after both of them went over the report.

“No kidding. This feels like the classic strategy of attrition and counteroffensive. The problem is that we are not experiencing any attrition at all. No lack of supplies, suffering from extreme weather conditions, or corruption of any kind. I would have said this would be the most incompetent military plan done by enemy force but considering who the enemy is, I’m not so sure.” William’s stern face didn’t change but his voice told Rana that he is worried about the upcoming conflict.

Finally, after reviewing all the information from the scouts and attending the meeting with all the senior officers and representatives of other organizations such as Mechanicus and Sisters of Battle, William retired for a night while Rana attend a further meeting with the Sisters of Battle.

——————–

Next day,

“All units! Halt!” Lord Creed gave the command and all units including the Imperial Knights stopped as they finally reach their destination, the capital city of the undead, Black Phalanx.

“We are outside of the enemy defense and reach, quickly move to your assigned formation and wait for further instruction.” Lord Creed’s voice can be heard from all vox radios and with a given order, all units separated from the marching formation.

Everything went well until something unexpected happened.

Zeeeee… Zap! Boom!

Suddenly, Imperial Knight Gallant, Scion of Wrath exploded and lost its right arm. With the sudden destruction of the Imperial Knight and the key unit of William’s force, everyone panicked and move to take cover.

“Report, what just hit us?” William entered the vox channel and all he can hear is multiple reports from various units and regiments at the same time. William attempts to contact Lord Creed but once again, another explosion can be heard and hit Scion of Wrath’s left leg, completely disabling the knight from the campaign.

“Heavy units, retreat back! I need eyes on what and where the enemy is.” Lord Creed’s voice took over the vox channel and control the situation as multiple voices quieted down. Moments later, William and Lord Creed learn who is responsible.

“This is Major Sarkren from Catachan scouts. We found the presence of Tau in sector 10. I’ll say again, there are Tau forces located in sector 10.” Major Sarkren’s voice made everyone including William and Rana turn their attention to sector 10 which is further left side of the city defense wall.

“You got to be shitting me,” William said to himself as his terminator armor zoomed in further to show an enemy beyond the standard range limit. Standing on top of the wall are two Tau KV128 Stormsurge equipped with all kinds of missiles and one gigantic ‘fuck you’ gun on the shoulder.

Known as Titan Killer, KV128 Stormsurge is a heavy weapon colossus battle suit and possibly the greatest asset of the Tau Empire. Armed with advanced sensors and intelligent systems, this unit has a great advantage when it comes to range and it is equipped to prove it. Instead of arms, it is replaced with a cluster rocket system, destroyer missiles on the left shoulder, and on its right is a large pulse blaster cannon that can fire superheated plasma.

“This is Colonel Milland. Sir, we have Dark Eldar in sector 12. By the throne, it’s nothing but Raiders and Reavers!” The panicking voice of Colonel Milland can be heard in the vox channel and soon in the distance large number of Dark Eldar vehicles can be seen, coming fast.

“Prepare for engagement. Fortified the frontline and by the Golden Throne someone gives me an accurate report of the enemy forces.” Lord Creed said and proceed to light his cigar. Immediately, the frontline is filled with walls of lasguns, lascannons, and heavy bolters. While this is going on, the second company of the Blacksouls (Former Imperial Fists) stands behind the wall of Astra Militarum with bolters up and tower shields ready.

“Artillery unit, open fire when ready.” After Lord Creed gave his order, multiple sounds of artillery fire can be heard as sharp whistles cut through the air and lands on the target with booming explosions. Krieg didn’t stop for one second as one after another, shells continue to drop and destroying fast approaching enemy vehicles.

“We have flyers!” One of the frontline commanders reported in the vox channel and William was the first to see what the commander meant. Flying high and faster than Dark Eldars, William can see four dozen Tau XV8 Crisis Battlesuits with a hundred drones escorting them.

Tau isn’t known for their strong physical trait, so they have battle suits that act as power armor and are capable of traveling long distances thanks to their advanced technology. This also means that they have AI technology that helps them with various things including attack drones.

XV8 Crisis Battlesuit is one of Tau’s iconic units and is formidable. Not only suit is capable of following the mind of its user, but the suit can jam the signal, possess an impact field, and have a wide-range sensor to track enemy movement.

“I will take care of them,” William said and went to work immediately. Using his terminator armor’s command module, William began to hack the Tau’s drones and start giving new instructions. The moment he pressed the confirm, hundred of Tau drones rotate around and opened fire on their masters while matching their speed.

Armed with twin-linked pulse carbines, hundred of gun drones lit up the sky as Crisis Battlesuits began to explode and some even crash land before blowing up. By the time all of the battle suits in the sky went are destroyed, the remaining gun drones fly toward the city defense at high speed.

“William, did you just do that?” Rana asked William with confusion as she saw a swarm of drones begin to retreat back.

“Yep and watch this,” Right after William said, the hacked gun drones descend at a 90-degree angle with intention of crashing into the programmed targets. The two KV128 Stormsurges didn’t have the chance as gun drones kamikaze at them with their guard down. Because they have the high range advantage, the two machines didn’t have their energy field up, resulting in them taking direct damage and getting their primary guns destroyed in the process.

“This isn’t over.” William then activate one of his hidden cards from the inventory and a second later, the sky once again lit up as half a dozen Manticore storm eagle rockets flew behind William’s forces, hitting the castle walls and destroying significant areas of walls.

[Support Item, Manticore Eagle Rocket x1: Fires six rockets and hits targetted area. Note that it doesn’t summon Manticore as this is only a fire support item]

With Tau Empire’s heavy long-range units gone, many of the heavy units of the William’s reappeared from the rear formation. Meanwhile, the frontline is busy taking out fast-approaching Dark Eldars as distance began to shorten.

“All tank unit, fire at will.” Receiving an order from Lord Creed, every tank from Baneblade to Leman Russ opened fire on its primary weapons.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Countless heavy tank rounds hit their target and the sound of the rounds overpowered the sound of the lesser weapons of the Imperium as Raiders and Reavers turn into piles of burned garbage.

“All artillery, fire inside of the castle walls. Destroy everything. All units move forward. Tank units quickly advance to the frontline and provide cover.” Lord Creed orders his men to advance in which William adds the order by having his second company armed with tower shields take the front point of the guardsmen while tanks pass them to provide solid cover.

As soon as the main force reach the city’s mid-range, the hidden enemy force appeared from the far right side of the wall. Approaching at high speed and from the undamaged area of the wall, five Tau TY7 Devilfish and eight TX4 Prianha came in high speed.

“Enemy in sector 1, all unit fire at will!” Just as the commander of the frontline gave an order, William activate his second item from the inventory. Breaking the sound barrier up in the sky, the twenty drop pods crash land between William’s forces and approaching Tau assault vehicles.

Lining up like a barrier, the drop pods of the Blacksouls seem a bit larger than the usual ones. With a wider body and bigger hatch, William’s new unit appear on the battlefield for the first time and it was a surprise for both sides. When giant hatch doors open, loud laughter and the sound of engines can be heard within the drop pods.

VROOM! VROOM!

“HAHAHAHAHA! For the Emperor and the Khan!”

With the thundering sound of an engine and laughter of mad men, a fleet of assault bikes, Invader ATVs, and modified land speeders charge out of the drop pods without worries or concern about who they are about to face.

Formerly known as the Horde of Jaghatai, former White Scars of the Storm of Chogoris entered the battlefield with lightning-fast speed and the laughter of mad men who dare to smile while killing their foes.