The first Bloodthirsty Demon stepped onto the torn deck of the genesis.
Its hoof-like feet stepped on the still-smoking alloy edges, emitting a teeth-grinding "hiss." A foul wind, mixed with sulfur and endless resentment, poured in madly from the rift leading to hell behind it, staining the entire corridor an ominous blood-red.
Following closely behind was an endless swarm of its kind, pouring out like a plague of locusts. Wielding copper swords burning with filthy fire, they let out unintelligible shrieks full of the joy of slaughter, converging into an unstoppable tide of flesh and blood, charging straight into the depths of the warship.
"First defense array, fire at will!"
Valeria's voice, through the internal ship communication, clearly reached the ears of the soldiers at every defense node. The voice was cold, steady, without a trace of trembling, like steel standing in the cold wind for a thousand years, instantly dispelling the suffocating fear in the air.
The automatic turrets at the end of the corridor were the first to roar.
Bolter rounds and energy beams intertwined into a deadly web of fire, instantly tearing the dozen demons in the front into fragments. However, more demons roared, stepping on the remains of their companions, charging forward without fear of death.
The firepower of the automatic turrets, in front of this endless tide of demons, was merely a stone thrown into the sea, stirring up only an insignificant ripple.
The first line of defense was breached.
"Second defense array, prepare to engage!"
At the most critical crossroads on Deck 3, the Mortal Legion personally deployed by Valeria had already constructed a solid position.
These girls, who had just gained a new life, wore well-fitting black combat suits, gripping laser rifles in their hands. On their faces, there was still the pallor belonging to mortals, which could not be completely suppressed.
The hideous demons, those monsters that only existed in the most terrifying nightmares, were now alive, carrying the sulfur smell of hell, pouncing on them.
Fear is instinct.
A young soldier, looking at a demon two heads taller than her, its twisted face covered in fangs and pustules, felt her breathing stop instantly. Her fingers holding the rifle trembled violently uncontrollably, almost unable to pull the trigger.
Is this the enemy they have to face? Is this the... apocalypse in the myths?
However, at the moment she was about to be swallowed by fear, the holy pattern on her arm, interwoven with pink-purple and emerald green radiance, seemed to feel her inner trembling and lit up without warning.
A cool, soothing warm current seeped out from the pattern and instantly flowed through her limbs and bones.
That power, like a goddess's gentle whisper, sounded directly in the depths of her soul.
"Don't be afraid, my child."
"I am with you."
The young soldier's body shook violently, and the gray eyes that had become unfocused due to fear regained their focus.
She saw that every Sister beside her had the same light shining on her.
They were no longer isolated mortals shivering before the tide of the apocalypse.
They were the goddess's legion! Warriors walking with the god!
"For the Goddess—!!!"
A young officer with a second lieutenant's rank on her shoulder was the first to stand up from behind the bunker. She pressed the laser rifle firmly against her shoulder and used all her strength to let out the first shout full of endless fanaticism and loyalty.
This war cry was like a spark thrown into a gunpowder barrel.
"For Lady Leticia!!"
"For Lady Terrania!!"
The next moment, the shouts like a mountain tsunami exploded in the entire corridor.
Fear was dispelled.
Replacing it was a flame called "faith" capable of burning everything!
"Fire!!!"
Valeria's calm command became the final trigger for this fanaticism.
Hundreds of laser beams tore through the dim corridor in the same instant.
But this time, the crimson beams looked completely different.
On the surface of each beam, a faint holy halo interwoven with four-colored radiance was attached. In that halo, it contained the distorting power of [Divine Charm], the Fire of Glory of [Battle Intent], the light of logic of [Intellect], and the purifying energy of [Vitality]!
A Bloodthirsty Demon grinned, waving the copper sword in its hand, preparing to tear this seemingly fragile mortal defense line to pieces like tearing paper. It didn't even bother to dodge the laser beams shooting at it; mortal weapons were nothing more than tickling to it.
Hiss—!
A beam with holy light attached accurately hit its chest.
There was no violent explosion, only a harsh burning sound like hot oil poured on ice.
"Roar... Aoooo—!!!"
The Bloodthirsty Demon's hideous smile instantly froze, then turned into a roar of disbelief and extreme pain.
It looked down at its chest, at the place hit by the beam, which was not just a charred hole. An incomprehensible, holy, and domineering power was spreading madly with the wound as the center, purifying, decomposing, and dissolving its filthy flesh made of chaos energy like snow in the sun!
This power was essentially restraining it!
How is this possible?!
Before the demon's last thought could fully flash, dozens of identical beams covered its entire body.
Amidst the shrill screams, this powerful demon, enough to make an entire Astra Militarum squad feel despair, was just like that, forcibly and completely purified into nothingness.
Not even a drop of blood was left.
This scene completely ignited the confidence of all the warriors.
"They... fear our power!"
"For the Goddess! Purify these filth!"
The girls' power seemed to be completely liberated.
Their movements became incredibly agile, moving between bunkers like ghosts, a speed that even surpassed un-sanctified Space Marines.
Their shooting was terrifyingly accurate, every shot aimed at the demons' most vulnerable joints and cores, as if an invisible war god was whispering in their ears, guiding every one of their attacks.
Even more terrifying was that their bodies seemed tireless. A soldier had her arm slashed by the claws of a demon before it died, and the deep wound, visible to the bone, healed at a speed visible to the naked eye amidst the flickering light of the emerald green patterns on her body!
They had become immortal demon slayers!
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the genesis.
Leticia was holding Terrania, who was drowsy due to energy consumption, quietly watching the battlefield images transmitted on the holographic screen.
Suddenly, she felt streams of pure, hot energy full of fanatical faith, returning madly from every warrior on the front line through those countless invisible soul chains, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea!
This power washed over her sea of authority, which had been a bit dry due to the previous "blessing," making her pale face quickly regain a hint of rosiness.
"Sister..."
Terrania in her arms also felt this warm current. The little girl rubbed against her contentedly, making a comfortable purring sound like a kitten in her throat.
A perfect divinity cycle, stronger as it fights, was verified for the first time, and most perfectly, in actual combat!
The battle erupted simultaneously in every corner of the genesis.
In another wider main corridor, the level of combat rose to the realm of demigods.
Fogremia's figure turned into an uncatchable pink-purple phantom.
Every time she swung the gorgeous longsword in her hand, it was like dancing a dance full of the art of death. Her sword never clashed head-on with the chainaxes of those Chaos Space Marine, always cutting open the joints and gaps of their power armor from the most tricky and elegant angles, precisely piercing the heart or severing the head.
Under her feet, there was not a single complete corpse, only ruins cut perfectly like works of art.
"Are vulgar beasts worthy of following the past glory of my master?"
Her clear and arrogant voice echoed in the corridor, every word carrying extreme contempt for these fallen creations.
And at the other end, Angronia's fighting style was the exact opposite, pure violent aesthetics.
Facing a team of violent Chaos Space Marine in red and yellow paint, she didn't dodge at all.
She slammed into the enemy formation like a dark red meteorite.
That huge chainaxe in her hand was no longer a tool for slaughter, but a Warhammer of judgment.
The crown of thorns on her forehead erupted with brilliant golden light, and a pure [Battle Intent] pressure descended abruptly, actually causing those Chaos Space Marine, who were also tortured by the "Butcher's Nails," to have a momentary lag in their movements.
It was this momentary lag that determined their ending.
Angronia's battle axe swept across with the rage of tearing everything apart.
No technique, no fancy moves.
Only the purest power crushed power armor, flesh, and bones, along with their souls twisted by pain, into powder!
"My anger only burns for the Goddess!"
In her amber eyes, what was burning was the flame of liberation, protection, and purity!
Deck 3, crossroads.
The first wave of the demon's attack, after paying the price of hundreds of companions' corpses, was actually forcibly pushed back!
The surviving demons, looking at this legion composed of mortals in front of them, radiating a holy aura that made their souls tremble, felt the emotions called "confusion" and "hesitation" for the first time.
This scene that subverted cognition also fell into the eyes of that brass beast.
The Bloodthirsty Fiend stood at the huge gap leading to hell, his eyes burning with eternal hellfire narrowed slightly.
These mortals... are not right.
Their power does not belong to any known deity in this universe. It is a brand new power system full of the will of "rebirth" and "protection," which makes him feel extreme disgust.
"Roar..."
The Bloodthirsty Fiend let out an extremely impatient roar.
He no longer has any interest in wasting time with these ants armed by the "thief."
His goal, from beginning to end, has been only one.
Find that thief and offer her skull to the Brass Throne!
The next second, The Bloodthirsty Fiend ignored the stalemate below.
His brass body, as huge as a mountain, kicked hard, and the pair of tattered giant wings behind him unfolded with a bang!
The entire genesis shook violently.
Immediately after, he turned into an unstoppable, hellfire-burning brass-colored meteor, ignoring all blocking walls and decks, with an unreasonable, all-tearing posture, rushing straight to the highest point of the genesis—
The bridge!
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