[The blinding explosion of the rocket blast engulfs your vision.]
[The powerful force field generated by the shield generator blocks the shrapnel's damage.]
[Even the shockwave from the explosion fails to shake your Terminator armor.]
[At that moment, accompanied by a piercing whistle, the whirlwind missiles of the Destroyer Heavy Fire Team streak across the air.]
[They land amidst the tide of alien flesh, triggering horrific explosions.]
[The cannons of five Predator tanks roar as they fire, while their heavy armor crushes the nearly omnipresent hybrid aliens beneath them.]
[For a brief moment, the surging alien advance seems to be temporarily halted.]
[You seize the fleeting opportunity.]
[Relying on the protective force field of your Terminator power armor, you cover your battle-brothers as they push forward into the cathedral grounds.]
[However, the aliens surging forward once more have begun to evolve their attack strategies.]
[The hum of laser rifles is replaced by the brutal roar of heavy lumberjack guns.]
[The Genestealer cult has taken control of the high ground surrounding the Square of Absolution, launching a ferocious counterattack from above.]
[Even though their accuracy is poor, a few unlucky battle-brothers are still pierced through their power armor and collapse heavily onto the ground.]
[Their deaths are met with a cacophony of alien praise and shrieking.]
[Hybrid acolytes from the first generation of Genestealers, wielding stolen weapons in their four horrifying arms, charge into battle.]
[Moments later, monstrous three-meter-tall Genestealer aberrants, wielding massive industrial tools, storm into the Square of Absolution.]
[They encircle the Land Raiders and Predator tanks, attempting to breach their thick armor.]
[The Space Sharks cannot afford to lose any of their heavy vehicles.]
[Captain Shawin immediately orders a retreat.]
[The vehicle crews lock down their transports and, under the covering fire of the Astartes, attempt a breakout.]
[These clumsy hybrid thieves struggle to operate the stolen vehicles, making their recovery possible after the battle.]
[In just ten minutes, nearly all combat vehicles in the square have been rendered inoperable.]
[The Third Company is now lacking cover and fire support.]
[Captain Shawin orders the Destroyer Heavy Fire Team to unleash even more firepower to suppress the oncoming alien horde.]
[Plasma beams and the thunder of heavy explosive rounds erupt across the battlefield, each volley annihilating thousands of Genestealers.]
[But for the endless alien tide, such losses barely scratch the surface.]
[Your storm bolter fires relentlessly at the towering aberrants, attempting to ease the defensive pressure on your unit.]
[Suddenly, a high-caliber lumberjack round slams into your protective force field.]
[The energy drain from resisting the impact causes your power pack to emit a sudden, high-pitched whine.]
[A battle-brother standing beside you fails to dodge in time—his massive form is torn in half by the brutal projectile.]
["Captain! We must take out the high ground!" you roar into the comms.]
[The next second, amidst the glow of teleportation, a tactical squad clad in full Terminator armor materializes at the center of the Square of Absolution.]
[Their flamers instantly spew searing promethium, engulfing the surrounding aliens in furious flames.]
[You see Squad Leader Koro raising his thundering bolter, leading the unit in an assault against the high ground.]
[A reserve squad, seizing the momentary gap created by the Destroyer Team's overwhelming firepower, rushes into the square to provide vital support for the Terminators.]
[After a hard-fought convergence, the two squads form a wedge formation and charge against the relentless alien onslaught.]
[Several silent battle-brothers sacrifice themselves to buy time for the squads to reach the high ground.]
[A few Terminators equipped with jump packs launch into the air, wielding chainsaw axes and storm bolters as they descend into the enemy strongholds, suppressing the alien heavy weapons fire.]
[The pressure on the cathedral's front lines eases temporarily.]
[Captain Shawin seizes the opportunity to send additional squads to reclaim portions of the square and reinforce the defensive line.]
[Minutes later, the Terminators complete their assault, securing the high ground and shifting to suppressing enemy forces.]
[Yet just as you think the situation has stabilized...]
[The flanks of the square's defenses begin to collapse.]
[A group of hybrid cultists, driving stolen Chimera transports, crashes through the defenses, creating an opening for the alien swarm.]
[Once again, you raise your power axe and chainsaw axe, charging to the rescue.]
[You use every fragmentation grenade at your disposal, blowing up the Chimera as it attempts to turn.]
[You escort wounded battle-brothers into the cathedral's interior.]
[Captain Shawin stands at the cathedral entrance, receiving reconnaissance data from airborne units.]
[Through the dark night sky, you see towering plumes of fire and smoke rising in the distance.]
[It is a momentary victory—the airborne units have eliminated a minor leader of the Genestealer cult.]
[Captain Shawin gazes at the now-frenzied alien tide and decides to tighten the defenses.]
[The defending Astartes squads withdraw into the cathedral, even the Terminators on the high ground deliberately slowing their rate of fire.]
[This emboldens the aliens, who surge forward, relentlessly assaulting the cathedral's main gate.]
[Your storm bolter has long since run out of ammunition.]
[You continue fighting, directing the remaining fuel of your incinerator while swinging your power axe and chainsaw axe.]
[Captain Shawin joins the fray.]
[Silent and efficient, he swings his fearsome chainsaw axe, 'Reaper,' carving through the alien horde.]
[Countless charging aliens are reduced to mangled flesh beneath his relentless strikes.]
[Then, suddenly, the alien tide halts.]
[The snarling creatures unexpectedly retreat, opening a wide path leading straight to the cathedral.]
[Instinctively, you glance at Captain Shawin.]
[The feigned weakness of the company has successfully lured out the Genestealer Patriarch.]
[A towering, six-meter-tall monstrosity emerges—its entire body encased in black chitinous armor, its four muscular claws dragging along the ground.]
[Each of its heavy steps exudes raw power, akin to a king striding through his subjects.]
[The terrifying alien leader ascends the stone steps, approaching the cathedral's entrance.]
[Behind you, the battle-brothers of the Astartes draw their chainsaw axes, preparing to strike.]
[You tighten your grip on your power axe and chainsaw axe.]
[At that moment, your vision blurs, and a searing pain erupts in your skull beneath your canine-shaped helmet.]
[Beside you, Captain Shawin suddenly stops moving.]
[A psychic assault—the Genestealer Patriarch's Hypnotic Stare!]
[You forcefully break free from the mental chains.]
[Enduring the agonizing pain, you let out a furious, guttural roar.]
["For the... Father of the Void—!"]
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