coobybook Chapter 219 The Mad Harken
Chapter 219 The Mad Harken
The outer defense line of the Seventh Nest City, Crimson Dawn
Russell stood atop the ruins, his "Fire Kirin" gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the morning light. In the distance, the landing pods of the Khorne cultists plummeted like a meteor shower, creating burning craters in the ground.
"Prepare for battle!" Russell's voice boomed across the defensive line via communicator. "Remember, these madmen feel no pain; only complete destruction can stop them!"
The fanatics emerged from the smoke and dust, their skin covered in glowing runes that grew brighter with each Astragalus soldier they killed.
Russell raised the "Fire Kirin," and laser beams ripped through the air. Each shot precisely struck the target's head or heart, incinerating the fanatic's body into charred remains.
[System Notification: Defeat 3 Khorne fanatics, gain Proficiency +3]
The "Fire Kirin's" energy indicator showed 89% remaining, and Russell's lips curled into a slight smile. The enhanced laser gun felt weightless in his hand, with almost zero recoil after firing.
As the fanatics broke through the barrage of fire, Russell drew the Blood Drinker. The entrenching tool's bone coating refracted iridescent light in the sunlight, appearing almost alive.
The first fanatic charged forward, chainsaw axe in hand. Russell dodged to the side, his entrenching tool tracing a perfect arc. The fanatic's head flew high into the air, the headless body continuing its charge three steps before collapsing.
[System Notification: Blood Drinker has absorbed chaotic energy, sharpness increased by 1%]
The second fanatic attacked from the side, but Russell had already anticipated it. He dodged the attack with a backflip, and by the time he landed, "Fire Kirin" was already fully charged. The laser beam pierced the attacker's chest, and the residual force knocked the fanatics behind him to the ground as well.
Three fanatics charged at him simultaneously, but Russell advanced instead of retreating. He first used "Fire Kirin" to poke the leftmost enemy in the knee, then leaped up as he fell, using "Blood Drinker" to cleave the head of the middle enemy. The instant he landed, he swept his leg to take down the third enemy, followed by a precise laser headshot.
[System Notification: Combo completion rate 100%, gain an additional 5 proficiency points]
Suddenly, a fanatical champion, nearly three meters tall, burst out of the fray. He wielded a massive power hammer, each step causing the ground to tremble.
Russell sheathed the "Fire Kirin" and gripped the "Blood Drinker" with both hands. Instead of retreating as the power hammer slammed down, he lunged forward. His entrenching tool precisely pierced the power hammer's mechanical joints, destroying its power system.
The fanatical champion roared and threw down his weapon, but Russell had already circled behind him. "Blood Drinker" drew a dazzling arc, severing the enemy's spine.
[System Notification: Defeat the Fanatic Champion, gain Proficiency +10]
…………
Harken descended from the sky like a shooting star, his black wings spread to their fullest extent due to the wind!
He sneered and charged quickly toward the defensive line formed by the Crimson Fist.
"Stop that monster!" a Space Marine shouted.
But Harken was too fast. He appeared in the crowd like a black lightning bolt, his sharp spear piercing a Space Marine's chest and his power claws slicing open a head.
"You will all die!" Harken roared.
Perhaps the enemy was powerful, but the warriors of Crimson Fist were no cowards, and they all fought back.
A massacre began, and dozens of Crimson Fist Space Marines were wiped out, their corpses littering the ground.
…………
Harken's black wings unfurled amidst the smoke, each feather shimmering with an ominous light. His spear, "Void Spike," crackled with purple electricity, and his power claws, "Skullgrapper," dripped with the blood of Crimson Fist warriors.
“Pedro Canto!” Harken’s voice echoed across the battlefield. “The screams of your warriors before they die are truly beautiful!”
Pedro's warhammer, "Fortress Fury," slammed heavily into the ground, the shockwave shattering the surrounding rubble. His bronze power armor was covered in scars from millennia of battle, and his shoulder armor was engraved with countless marks of victory.
“Harken,” the chapter commander’s voice boomed like thunder, “your arrogance will cost you.”
With a gentle flap of his wings, Harken vanished from his spot. Pedro immediately raised his warhammer to parry, but the spear still left a crack in his shoulder armor.
“Too slow,” Harken’s voice came from all directions, “You’re moving like a rusty robot.”
The warband commander suddenly turned and swung his warhammer. Harken parried with his spear, but the immense impact still forced him back half a step.
“At least I don’t need wings to fly,” Pedro scoffed. “Your new toy is nice, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a coward.”
Harken's offensive was like a storm, using the mobility of his wings to attack from all angles. Pedro, on the other hand, fought steadily, using his warhammer to build an impenetrable defense.
“You know what?” Harken suddenly appeared behind the Chapter Commander, “What I like most is…”
Before he could finish speaking, Pedro's warhammer came crashing down. Harken managed to parry it with his spear, but his power claws were still numbed by the impact.
"...Interrupting someone else!" Harken roared, his wings suddenly bursting with dazzling purple light.
Pedro felt his vision suddenly blur; the warp energy released from Harken's wings interfered with his senses. In that instant, the spear pierced his chest.
“Two hearts,” Harken grinned, twirling his spear, “and one remains.”
The warband, enduring excruciating pain, slammed his warhammer down on Harken's wing. Black feathers scattered in all directions, and Harken let out a agonizing roar.
The remaining Crimson Fist warriors seized the opportunity, using a barrage of explosive fire to force Harken back. They carried their heavily wounded Chapter Commander and retreated towards the hive city.
“Run!” Harken’s voice was full of sarcasm, “but where can you run to?”
With the Chapter Master rescued, the outer defenses completely collapsed. The Black Legion's forces surged towards the hive like a tidal wave, the howls of the Khorne fanatics echoing across the sky.
…………
The tenacious defenses were broken one by one, and Russell, seeing the situation before him, knew that they were powerless to turn the tide. He told Leos.
"Leos, find Commissar Arek. We need to evacuate!"
“Understood, Captain!” Leos replied.
Although Russell had a new official position, Leos still habitually called him Captain.
The crimson tide flooded the defenses and advanced directly towards the Nest City world.
"Russell, are we really going to evacuate?" Commissar Arek asked as he approached Russell.
Russell glanced at the battlefield and said, "We can't stop the Black Legion's attack, and no one can stop Harken. He's too strong. Continuing to resist will only increase casualties. Let's retreat. We need to preserve our strength and defend the Nest City."
The one-sided battlefield made Harken burst into maniacal laughter.