Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 619

Chapter 617, Death of the Casting General

. Five minutes was a bit urgent,

but generally speaking, it was still within Moretti’s plan.

Killing Farai during the convoy phase would have been ideal. If

they couldn’t kill him directly, they’d at least forced him out.

This was the designated battle location, and the Space Marines had thoroughly scouted it beforehand. The spot Farai had fled to was the safest, and it was also the area Moretti was most familiar with.

Even before the ambush began, a small squad of New World Torches had been stationed there.

Farai’s hiding there was exactly what he wanted.

However, he couldn’t be too careless.

The combat effectiveness of the Mechanicus’s Magi varied greatly. Their specific combat effectiveness depended on the strength of their modifications. After all, a significant number of Mechanicus’s modifications were designed to facilitate scientific research and the production of precision products. Combat wasn’t their forte.

Of course, components and body modifications weren’t fixed like the physical body; they could be altered at any time. A Sage conducting intense scientific research in his own research facility would certainly wear different modifications when he ventured out into the war.

Has Farai already modified himself into a “battle stance”?

No intelligence mentioned this.

But it’s always wise to be lenient with the enemy.

Ten Space Marines, even veterans and NCOs, wouldn’t necessarily be able to take down a Sage in battle stance.

Moretti and Lacrosha, with their men, quickly surrounded the factory.

The sounds of fighting could be heard from within,

but were fading.

Moretti had a bad feeling.

The original plan was to wait until the rest of the battle brothers arrived and sealed off the factory before entering. The ten veterans inside would simply hold Farai off.

But it looked like that wouldn’t be possible.

If the brothers inside were eliminated, Farai could escape through any exit before the encirclement was complete. By then, they’d be caught in a pursuit, and the time required to resolve the battle would become immeasurable. It was doubtful whether they could resolve the situation in five minutes.

While the mission wasn’t completely lost at the end of the five-minute mark—they could continue to fight against the constant influx of enemy reinforcements—it did increase the difficulty and the probability of failure.

After briefly explaining this to Lacrosha, Moreau, accompanied by his personal guards, entered the battlefield first.

He knew then that he had made the right move.

Of the ten Space Marines, only two remained. They were still struggling, and without help, death was near.

At this moment, Farai was truly in combat stance. The red and black robes of the Alfonzon Order had vanished, revealing his full form. It resembled a gigantic serpent, its lower half wriggling on the ground in a unique manner, capable of flexible expansion and contraction.

Its upper body, roughly human-like, bulged from it with numerous arms, each armed with a variety of weapons.

Most notable were two mantis-like bio-blades. This weapon was unlike the usual weapons used by mechanical magi. It wasn’t forged from steel, but rather fashioned from some biological material, resembling a mantis blade.

In one hand, he wielded a long staff, resembling a long, living insect, its head wriggling. Psionic energy emanated from it, leaving the Space Marines fighting him feeling as if their bodies were rusted, unable to move.

As Moretti roared forward, one of the two remaining veterans was pinned to death by the staff’s psychic energy. Then, a spray of acid sprayed upon him, causing his power armor to crackle. Then, two mantis blades clashed across. The sturdy Terminator armor had become somewhat fragile from previous corrosion, but the strength of these two massive mantis blades was even greater. The combined force of these two made the Iron Knight Terminator look like a piece of paper, and the Space Marine was instantly cut into three pieces.

“Traitor!” Moretti cursed, and he was met with a barrage of fire.

Three or four living cannons extended from the Sage of Farai. The bio-rays they spewed forth not only produced a high-energy explosion but also had a strong corrosive effect. Even

as he charged at full speed, Moretti still had the energy to anticipate the arrival of the living cannons and dodge them. He also managed to slash with his phase sword, deflecting any unavoidable beams.

However, the Guards following behind him were not so adept. A hit in Terminator armor would only cause a small corrosion dent, and as long as they avoided repeated hits, they would be safe for now. However, a Space Marine in ordinary tactical power armor would be unable to withstand the damage, and after several consecutive hits, they would be killed instantly.

During the charge, the Space Marines’ bolters only caused ripples in his Void Shield, not enough to break it.

Bullets would likely be ineffective. Given Farai’s Void Shield’s protection, breaking it would take a long time. Moreover, in a true battle of firepower, Farai alone could outgun the dozen or so Space Marine guards charging in. His unique bio-rays were incomprehensible.

Moretti sensed this from the outset, and he never paused, intent on charging Farai and ending the encounter with his phase sword.

Seeing his bio-rays unable to stop Moretti, Farai grew increasingly anxious.

He half-turned, preparing to counterattack, but at that moment, the sole survivor of the ten Space Marines previously stationed in the factory area suddenly leaped up and slashed at him with a chainsaw sword.

Farai couldn’t avoid the blow, but he managed to absorb it with something like his shoulder blade, then the blade pierced his midsection. The bio-toxins flooded his body, practically guaranteeing the warrior’s death.

The intense paralysis from the biotoxin would render him completely incapacitated within a few breaths. Then, his forcibly sedated heart, muscles, blood vessels, and brain would all become incapacitated. Even a moment longer, without an antidote, would spell permanent death.

But at the last moment, before the paralysis took effect, he managed to pull out the plasma pistol slung from his thigh. There was no time to charge, but the distance was too close, even the muzzle was inside the void shield, delivering considerable power.

With a puncture wound in his body, Farai, unconcerned with the damage, abandoned the doomed Space Marine and, turning, slashed at Moretti with his twin mantis blades, attempting to force him back.

But at that moment, a ghostly figure appeared beside Farai.

It was Lacrosha, clad in the Power Armor of the Ancestral.

Taking advantage of Moretti’s charge and the Space Marines’ impromptu counterattack, Lacrosha had quietly approached from a blind

spot, unseen by Farai. By the time Farai realized what was happening, Lacrosha was already closer than Moretti.

His instantaneous display of explosive power was even more astonishing!

In a split second, he had stalked into position directly beneath the Void Shield.

He thrust the muzzle of a highly charged plasma rifle into the Void Shield and fired.

The plasma beam pierced Farai’s body with pinpoint accuracy.

It wasn’t fatal, but the Void Shield generator had failed.

A small explosion erupted within Farai. Simultaneously, amidst the smoke, the Space Marines’ previously futile bombardment blasted him, rendering Farai’s prepared defenses and counterattacks useless.

Under the suppressing firepower, Moretti delivered the final blow.

His phase sword slashed repeatedly in a flash. He then severed the pair of mantis blades, decapitating Farai’s head, then cleaved it in half mid-air. He

then struck several more blows at his torso, completely dismembering it. In a matter of seconds, the sage of the Order of Alfonzo, general of the Forge World of Aramita, was dead.

Panting slightly, Moretti glanced at the battlefield.

All ten warriors previously deployed there had perished.

But the sacrifice of Farai’s life was still worth it.

The Chapter’s primary objective on the ground had been achieved.

Next, he methodically contacted all parties.

First, he needed to ascertain the current status of the battles in other locations.

Second, he needed to inform the Alliance agents that their mission was complete. Next, he needed to find a way to evacuate.

Meanwhile, reinforcements from the Mechanicum arrived. They launched a fierce assault on the Space Marines defending the factory complex, while ninety members of the New World Torch and dozens of Honor Guards held their ground.

Despite the sheer number of besiegers, including many high-ranking elite Mechanicus, and even after one wave of attacks was repelled, fierce artillery fire rained down from the sky, nearly blanketing the entire factory…

Yet, by the end of the battle, the Space Marines’ casualties were still low.

The ground was littered with the fragments of elite Mechanicus soldiers, but seven Honor Guards and nine Torch Marines had died.

Moretti was already debating whether to continue holding out or simply lead his men out.

Just then, the Alliance agent finally responded.

“Throw out Farai’s body; they’ll understand once they see it.”

The Mechanicus’ ferocious attacks paused.

It seemed the battle was won.

Moretti personally stepped forward, and he and his Torch Marines dragged out a pile of body parts.

On the Mechanicus side, a floating, reconnaissance Servo-Skull witnessed this and faithfully transmitted the footage back.

Immediately afterwards, the Skitarii began to retreat.

Moretti could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, good news followed.

All assassinations on the ground in Aramita were successful.

Including him, the total casualties of the New World Torch did not exceed forty.

Although this number of casualties was somewhat heartbreaking, Moretti still smiled.

The first major battle in the New World Torch’s quest to cleanse its sins was a good start after all!

However, his good mood did not last long.

Bad news arrived:

“Our attack on the starport is not going well. We need support!”

(End of this chapter)