The Mandala Formation was the most commonly used combat formation of the ancient Thousand Sons Legion.
It could share the strength and abilities of those forming it.
A bolt shell exploded in front of Ahriman, but a shield he instinctively conjured blocked it.
Ktesias, one of the Thousand Sons Sorcerers, cast a summoning spell, and the surrounding air temperature dropped, condensing into frost.
Hordes of Chaos Gods from the Warp were summoned by contracts and incantations, and the Red Letter Warrior, whose head had been blown off by Tenjiro, instantly recovered.
"With a heart like stone, unyielding and resilient."
The Warmaster roared, running and shooting at the same time.
When his boltgun ran out of ammunition, he drew the greatsword from his back and swung it at his opponent.
Psychic shields could not block melee weapons, but demons could.
The enslaved demon charged at the Warmaster, and the black-smoking weapon in its hand clashed with his greatsword, producing a clangorous sound.
The barrier between the Warp and Holy Terra (Earth/Reality) had not been broken.
The demon's projection could not exert much power in Holy Terra (Earth/Reality) and quickly fell into a disadvantage.
After another missed swing, the Warmaster seized the opportunity of his opponent's dodge and threw a punch.
With a bang, he smashed the opponent's head, and the opponent's body dissipated like black smoke, while its soul was expelled back into the Warp.
"There are too many of them," Ktesias said, his voice a little panicked.
"Sons of Dorn? Son of Lion? And the scent of wolf pups!"
Ahriman could feel the bloodlines of the attackers, and his heart immediately sank.
The roar of gunfire was too fierce and relentless.
In the distance, the roar of Valkyrie engines could also be heard, indicating that the entire city's forces had been mobilized.
If the battle was not resolved in time, the endless Imperial soldiers would surely wear them down.
"Death to the traitors!"
Zhuge, an Iron Warriors, charged forward with a chain-axe, swinging it down with immense force.
To avoid his attack, the Thousand Sons Sorcerers had to abandon the Mandala Formation and retreat to dodge.
Bang, the great axe struck the ground, creating a crack in the area where they had just stood.
The attack was so swift that their precognitive abilities were almost useless.
Without the protection of the Mandala Formation, several Red Letter Warriors were subjected to intense gunfire, and one was instantly shattered.
"For the Luna Wolves, for the Emperor!"
Sea Turtle shouted the slogan of the Great Crusade, swinging a chainsword at Ahriman.
"Son of Horus?" Ahriman was stunned for a moment, sidestepping to avoid the attack.
"I am a Luna Wolves!" Sea Turtle shouted, attacking again, his chain-axe roaring as it tore through the air.
Ahriman used the knowledge of the Black Raven school to peer into the threads of fate.
However, to his horror, the precognitive ability that had always served him well failed him at this moment.
In the past, when fighting others, Ahriman could always see various possibilities in the future and choose the one most favorable to him.
But now, he could see nothing.
He awkwardly ducked to avoid the incoming axe blade.
The next second, the opponent delivered a knee strike to his faceplate, and the brutal force instantly shattered the faceplate, causing his face to bleed.
Ahriman looked disheveled; he had relied too deeply on the Black Raven school's precognitive ability.
Without his precognitive ability, he felt at a loss fighting in close combat with the enemy.
But he was, after all, a veteran who had survived since the Great Crusade, and he quickly adjusted.
When Sea Turtle attacked again, he used his staff to block the opponent's axe blade.
Then, a bolt of lightning appeared out of nowhere, striking Sea Turtle and sending him flying.
Ahriman raised his staff, observing the battlefield, and found the situation very unfavorable.
A Tzeentchian beast in the distance was pierced by a blade; the next second, it was chopped into pieces by a battle axe, howling as it was expelled back into the Warp.
The Valkyrie and gunships in the air strafed the ground, and the dense gunfire formed an exaggerated barrage, instantly piercing through the enemies' bodies.
Red Letter Warriors and demons were shattered, and Ktesias and other Thousand Sons Sorcerers were also in trouble.
The Emperor's minions were too numerous.
"You must come with us."
Ahriman looked at Tenjiro, then slammed his staff on the ground, and psychic power erupted, instantly freezing time in the surroundings.
The members of the Emperor Niuma Battle Group could not move a single finger, remaining like statues in their previous poses.
Ahriman stepped forward, preparing to forcibly take Tenjiro away.
The next second, a golden radiance suddenly erupted from Tenjiro's body, breaking the time confinement.
Alex appeared beside Tenjiro, and Cortana also arrived.
Cortana's appearance was becoming more and more human-like.
She possessed a silver body made of precious active nanometal.
The active nanometal was an improved technology combining the active metal of the Necrons and the nanometal of humanity's Golden Age, possessing incredible regenerative abilities.
Even if only a single atom remained, it could continuously absorb energy and restore itself to its original form.
Upon landing, Cortana immediately flung several demons away.
With a wave of her hand, an invisible force erupted, crushing the demons into pieces.
Alex looked at Ahriman, very calm.
"Ahriman?"
When he received news of Ahriman's invasion, he was at a construction site in the distance, overseeing the reconstruction efforts and discussing the new city with several Players who were designers.
Realizing the Players were in danger, he immediately used his skill to rush over.
"You are that 'Saint,' the Emperor's cla…"
Before Ahriman could finish speaking, Alex launched his attack.
Raging lightning instantly appeared, filling the battlefield.
Ahriman's eyes widened; such terrifying psychic power could only be wielded by his father, Magnus.
He was forced to curl up, concentrating all his psychic energy into a shield to withstand the lightning storm.
But he didn't last long before being flung away, crashing heavily to the ground.
The other Thousand Sons Sorcerers, Red Letter Warriors, and demons suffered the same fate.
The opponent's technique in wielding psychic power was very crude, but the opponent's psychic power was simply too strong; even he was inferior to the opponent.
"Kill him." Ahriman pointed at Alex, urging the demons to charge.
Alex swung his sword, cleaving the first demon that lunged at him.
Another winged demon was grabbed by the throat and slammed violently to the ground.
Ahriman no longer lingered in battle; he used his staff to open a Warp entrance radiating brilliant light.
"No! My MVP, don't leave!" the Warmaster shouted.
The other Players fired at Ahriman, but their attacks were all blocked by his psychic shield.
They could only watch helplessly as he walked towards the Warp entrance.
"Ahriman, do you no longer consider me a brother?"
Tenjiro's words made Ahriman, who was about to step into the Warp entrance, turn and look at him.
"I will return."
His voice was gloomy, and it was clear that Ahriman was furious.
Tenjiro had played tricks on him several times, and now he was trying the same trick again.
"If you close the Warp entrance, I'll go with you!" Tenjiro shouted.
Ahriman staggered slightly, his body trembling with rage.
Was this guy treating him like an idiot?
Ahriman didn't look back again, but left at an even faster pace.
Alex swung his sword, and the radiating blade instantly pierced the body of the demon in front of him.
The demon howled and turned to ashes.
The other demons or Red Letter Warriors who hadn't managed to escape were also shattered into pieces under the intense firepower, scattered across the ground.
The Warp rift completely closed, as if it had never existed.
Tenjiro, Warmaster, and other Players stood at the location of the vanished Warp rift, beating their chests and wailing incessantly.
Ahriman was gone, and their hearts were broken.
If they had caught Ahriman, the MVP would have been theirs.
Ahriman was far more valuable than that Lord of Dark Flame—Balfor Maller.
"Damn it, we were so close to catching him!" Warmaster gritted his teeth, in agony, "Then we wouldn't have to listen to those guys from the Hunter Demon Battle Group gloat, and we could have thoroughly humiliated them!"
"Who would have thought that a chosen one like Ahriman would also run away? He has no backbone; shouldn't he have fought to the death?"
Sea Turtle also limped over, having suffered such a great loss and gained nothing.
"Next time, we absolutely cannot let him go again."
Tenjiro clenched his fist, "He'll definitely come back."
"......"
He hadn't expected these guys to sneak in.
Fortunately, no major damage was caused.
"I still need to find a way to guard against these traitors infiltrating and causing destruction," Alex mused inwardly.
Cortana walked over; she had switched from combat mode to daily mode.
Her humanoid module activated, transforming her into a human female wearing a naval uniform.
"Master, Fleet Commander Xia You has a communication for you."
"Connect it," Alex nodded.
A light screen appeared out of thin air, showing Xia's figure.
"Saint."
Xia performed an aquila salute.
"Is there something?" Alex asked.
"We've detected a signal from an Eldar vessel. They claim to be from the Usvej Ark World, sent by Prophet Eldrad Ulthran to assist us."
"I need your confirmation on whether to allow them passage."
Alex recalled that before he left Macragge, he had conversed with Eldrad Ulthran, hoping the other party could send subordinates to assist him.
He had expected the other party to be very slow, but who would have thought they would arrive so quickly?
"Permit them passage. Receive them as guests. Inform all departments not to show hostility towards them."
The Eldar's psychic artistry is the strongest in the galaxy.
To prevent infiltration and invasion by Chaos or those traitors, he would have to consult them.
"Understood, Saint."
After Xia nodded, the communication was cut off.
Alex glanced at the Players who were still wailing and occasionally glancing at him from the corner of their eyes, immediately understanding their thoughts.
"Issue them rewards, Cortana."
"Yes, Master."
"[Emergency Event Reward: Ahriman suddenly infiltrated the Syntilla World and attempted to cause destruction. You successfully stopped him, which greatly pleased the Guide. He has decided to grant you a reward.
Reward: 15,000 Contribution Points, 50 Honor Points, 70 War Score
]"
Upon receiving the rewards, these Players immediately beamed with joy, their earlier heartbroken expressions completely gone.
Alex looked speechless; these little leeks were as obsessed with rewards as ever.
After a brief complaint, Alex had Cortana issue another mission.
"[Mission: Investigate the Truth.
Ahriman, as a minion of the Chaos God—the Prince of Pleasure, infiltrated Syntilla, intending some unknown conspiracy. The Guide is concerned that he will cause destruction, and the threat must be nipped in the bud.
Please help the Guide investigate Ahriman's intentions in lurking in the Calixis Sector and thwart his conspiracy.
Inquisition Kaiting will be in charge of this matter. Go report to him quickly and accept the mission.
Reward: 25,000 Contribution Points, 1,000 Honor Points, 1,500 War Score.
]"
Seeing that a mission was issued, the Players left cheerfully.
Alex took a Valkyrie back to the construction site, explained the subsequent work to the supervisors and Players responsible for reconstruction, and then departed back to low orbit, preparing to meet the Prophet of the Usvej Ark World.
He wanted to discuss with the other party how to prevent Chaos infiltration and invasion.
......
Warp, Crystal Labyrinth.
"Ahriman is truly a genius."
Watching the disheveled Ahriman flee, Kairos looked at the messy threads of fate, gnashing his teeth in frustration.
He had thought that the other party would lie low, then strategize and cause a big stir, but this was it?
Seeing that pure Thousand Sons was as excited as the Prince of Pleasure seeing a pervert on a train, he rushed over in a hurry, only to be severely beaten and flee in disarray.
"I'll do it myself. I will weave a perfect plan to plunge the entire Calixis Sector into the abyss of Chaos, making this Emperor's minion exhausted and ultimately collapse, pledging allegiance to the Gods."
"First, seize the opportunity of the chaos in the Calixis Sector. Guide those cults to let the Menagerie's corruption permeate the entire Calixis Sector, allowing those twisted individuals to lurk everywhere until the fated moment, then erupt simultaneously, destroying everything created by the servants of The Cursed one."
"From hope to utter despair, from heaven to hell, this 'Saint's' wails will surely be spectacular."