Seraphs of the Emperor’s Judgment

Chapter 153: Capturing the Ship

Swept up by the sudden metallic storm, the caught-off-guard greenskins were reaped in droves like weeds, their remaining fighting spirit instantly shattered.

As corpses piled ankle-deep on the floor, Soshyan had already pushed through the storm, pursuing a disheveled figure through a side door.

The greenskin Freebooter captain had been extremely fortunate to slip away at the very first moment. If it were allowed to escape, the effectiveness of this operation would be severely diminished, and it could even be considered a failure.

Soshyan could not accept such a failure, so he immediately gave chase.

He didn't know where this corridor led. He simply chased the disheveled figure all the way into a colossal room adorned with a multitude of barbaric symbols.

The moment he stepped inside, Soshyan sensed something amiss.

Then, a slight pivot and a tiny tilt of his head saved his life.

Bang!

Some form of energy impact grazed his pauldron, erupting in a shower of red sparks. The blow sent Soshyan staggering, a ringing hum filling his ears.

Subsequently, he turned his head and saw a figure approaching, clad in massive iron armor—it was none other than the fleeing greenskin pirate captain.Immediately after, a vicious kick planted itself squarely in Soshyan's chest. He instantly felt the underlying bone plates crack.

He was still somewhat in a state of shock when the massive power klaw scraped past his face and lodged itself into the floor.

He felt no pain at the time, only a sense of profound weakness as stars danced before his eyes.

His genetically-forged instincts fought against the trauma, causing Soshyan to shudder amidst a wave of dizziness.

He could sense something approaching: a block of metal drawing near with a hiss, the roar of grinding gears clearly audible.

When the bladed klaws clashed against his fist, he didn't even realize he had blocked the strike.

Afterwards, Soshyan's vision finally refocused.

In the corner of the room stood an emaciated, frail xenos. However, its head was unnaturally swollen, yellow saliva drooled from its mouth, and its hands leaned heavily upon a long metal staff.

A psyker among the greenskins.

Soshyan finally knew what had attacked him.

Taking a deep breath, he began to stir the liquid metal within his body.

At this moment, the whirring serrated teeth of the power klaw worn by the pirate captain were merely feet from his face. Soshyan's muscles and armor strained to push the enemy back, while the enemy continuously forced the power klaw forward.

Only now did Soshyan realize just how strong it was—incredibly strong.

At this distance, he could plainly see that the greenskin had surgically connected its body to the armor using pistons and cables. Filthy smoke spewed from the exhaust vents on its back, and its crimson eyes housed pinprick black pupils.

Drawing upon the surging power of the Grey Marrow, Soshyan retaliated with a punch.

"Damned Humie git!"

The greenskin captain was forced to retract the power klaw and step back a half-pace, evading Soshyan's counterattack with an agility wholly mismatched with its massive frame.

Soshyan was only a hand's breadth away from smashing its face, but throwing such a punch also exposed a vulnerability—his arm was extended too far.

Displaying its seasoned combat experience, the greenskin captain suddenly ducked and landed a punch squarely on Soshyan's chest. The power klaw simultaneously tore away a large swath of silver-grey armor plating, ripping out a massive chunk of flesh and blood along with it.

In an instant, Soshyan felt that not only was his breastplate breached, but the wound on his chest was likely deep enough to expose bone.

Blood filled his chest cavity, the metallic tang of it reaching even his throat, making each breath increasingly laborious.

"Ye're done for! Dead Humie!"

A mocking grin appeared on the greenskin captain's face. Soshyan stumbled back a step, blood spilling from his chest.

His heart was hammering wildly, a high-pitched ringing saturated his eardrums, and his vision blurred as if frost were coating his eyes.

The world was dark and warm.

Pain lets you know you're still alive.

This was the combat maxim Sol had imparted to him.

Soshyan immediately seized the pain, using it to haul himself back to reality and into the light.

"Urgh... Aaaaargh!"

At that moment, the greenskin Weirdboy suddenly began to scream. It rolled on the floor, clutching its continuously expanding head, startling the pirate captain.

"Wot are ye doin'—"

Before it could finish speaking, the Weirdboy's head popped like an over-inflated balloon. Liquid and bone fragments splattered everywhere, coating even the armor of the pirate captain and Soshyan.

"Ye!"

The greenskin captain let out a roar of mingled shock and fear, whipped its head back toward Soshyan, and drove the power klaw forward once more.

Yet, unexpectedly, Soshyan raised his right hand, splaying his fingers.

The very next second, he grasped the center of the power klaw's palm. Following a clap of thunder, he crushed his hand shut. Shattered metallic teeth spun wildly into the air.

Soshyan's grip was so overwhelmingly powerful that despite exerting all its strength, the greenskin captain could not break free.

"Purge the xenos!"

The Space Marine growled. Twisting his fist, he yanked his opponent closer and delivered a brutal headbutt, his helmet crashing into the ugly face.

The sickening crunch of breaking bone and a scream of pain sounded simultaneously.

Subsequently, Soshyan released the power klaw and delivered several more vicious blows to his opponent's head, beating the massive creature senseless until it couldn't even stand steadily.

Finally, Soshyan raised Heaven's Fall high and brought it down upon the opponent's forehead, cleaving straight through until the blade halted at the jaw.

The searing energy instantly turned the greenskin's massive head into a piled of boiling sludge.

As Soshyan withdrew the longsword, the colossal body collapsed to the floor, silent forevermore.

Soshyan sank weakly to his knees, hitting the floor heavily. He hadn't noticed in the slightest that Sol had already stepped to his side.

"The remnant enemies on the bridge have been purged."

Blood dripped slowly from the wounds on Soshyan's chest and left hand, and his mouth was filled with the taste of copper rust.

Unable to speak, he merely nodded.

Sol looked at him, then reached out and hoisted him up from the floor.

"This is a lesson. Do not pursue a desperate foe."

Leaning on Sol, Soshyan panted for a moment. His own blood, mingled with the blood of his enemies, had dyed him a deep crimson.

Then, the pain vanished, and a freezing abyss opened its arms to him.

"Your core temperature is dropping."

Sol inspected Soshyan's power armor.

"Your thermal regulation system is offline. You need to get somewhere warm. The climate controls on the bridge are still functioning properly."

However, Soshyan waved his hand dismissively, panting with exertion:

"Send... send a message to Vice Admiral Yarrow. We... have already."

"I've already had Lothar contact the detached fleet."

Soshyan nodded.

"Have the follow-up forces... board the ship. We will completely purge the xenos aboard."

Sol raised an eyebrow.

"Are you truly going to do that? This might worsen our relationship with the Navy."

"This... is our spoil of war."

"Hah, a relatively intact Vengeance-class Grand Cruiser... Let's hope Lord Malakim can shield you from the Navy's wrath."