The Upper Hive.
As the Guardsmen halted their destruction, most of Stinger's forces rushed to the devastated areas, bewildered by the sight of the ruins and flames. They searched in confusion but found no trace of the enemy. The destruction of the command center had yet to be reported.
Each unit, left with no choice, resumed their defensive positions as per the previous plans.
Soon, the five westernmost districts of the Upper Hive came under attack, with assaults coming from every direction. Distantly deployed unmanned artillery bombarded the positions, raining fire from the northernmost sector to the southern end.
The violent explosions reduced buildings and fortifications to rubble. The infantry huddled in their bunkers, trembling, praying to the Lord of Wisdom to spare them from the onslaught. Officers, equally trembling, attempted to report the attack, notifying their superiors of the enemy's teleportation and the ensuing strike. Yet, no responses came.
Even pleas for retreat—usually met with anger and reprimand—were left unanswered. After exhausting all options, the officers hid in their shelters, resorting to desperate prayers.
The screech of shells tearing through the sky was endless. Each explosion rocked the ground, the blast waves shaking the bunkers. Over the thunderous barrage, the faint screams of the wounded could occasionally be heard, though muted by the roar of artillery.
As the early waves of shelling continued, reconnaissance drones soared over the besieged positions, activating their bio-scanners. The precise locations of every surviving soul were relayed to the unmanned artillery, which promptly adjusted its aim for greater accuracy.
The fifth wave of bombardment marked the deadly precision of these adjustments. Survivors who had previously thanked the Lord of Wisdom for their survival now heard the same shriek of incoming shells—only this time, each one struck closer, slamming into the edges of their bunkers or trenches.
The shells were like sledgehammers relentlessly pounding the defenses. The explosion's shrapnel sprayed against the fortifications, creating a relentless metallic clatter. Inside, each detonation sent a wave of terror through the hearts of those huddled within.
After countless explosions, dust and debris began to rain down from above, shaken loose by the relentless barrage. The soldiers stopped their prayers, exchanging horrified glances as the next shell crashed directly into their bunker, exploding in a furious blaze. Fire and gore spewed from every crack, filling the air with death.
Scenes like this were all too common during the three-hour bombardment. The unmanned artillery systematically obliterated one position after another, moving on only after ensuring total annihilation.
When the artillery exhausted its supply of shells and the logistical drones returned to the Lower Hive for more, the First Army launched its assault.
At the northernmost position in the western section of the Upper Hive, survivors barely had time to catch their breath before feeling the ground tremble. In front of them, a battalion of power-armored soldiers advanced, flanked by the floating Leman Russ tanks. A similar force approached from the rear.
The power-armored infantry moved forward steadily, their laser rifles equipped with scopes. Each shot ripped through flesh with terrifying precision. The Leman Russ tanks fired in sync, each salvo unleashing twenty rockets at a time. Entire positions were engulfed in explosions, and as the troops advanced, the destruction moved with them.
Buildings were reduced to rubble, and the very metal floor of the Hive City was scorched with deep burns. Not a single living soul remained on the battlefield.
The two advancing battalions swept through the northernmost position, methodically scanning for any survivors. Those they found were swiftly executed. The soldiers moved like executioners, mercilessly ending the lives of every remaining foe. As they killed, they saw the despair and regret etched on the faces of their enemies—perhaps they realized, too late, the futility of their faith in the Lord of Wisdom.
After clearing the northern position, the two battalions awaited the success of their comrades assaulting the remaining four positions before they could teleport to the next area of operation.
The Guardians were always ahead of the regular forces, pushing deeper into enemy lines. With the First Army handling the less critical objectives, the Guardians could focus on the primary targets.
Grey crashed through the walls of three buildings, storming into a chapel and eliminating the enemy setting up heavy weapons at its windows. A quick glance at the map revealed his location: the second defensive zone of the western section of the Upper Hive.
Taking a moment to think, Grey realized that the enemy had constructed five defensive lines within the Upper Hive, all aimed at blocking the southern approaches. However, thanks to Andrada's foresight in planting teleportation beacons on the west side, their forces had bypassed the frontlines entirely, launching their assault from the flank.
Grey had initially assumed they would appear directly in front of the defenses when he received orders from Qin Mo.
"There's a fortress up ahead," Jaon's voice suddenly crackled through the comms.
As he spoke, a marker appeared in Grey's vision, highlighting the fortress's location. From where he stood, Grey could only see a cluster of buildings, none towering over the Upper Hive's structures. But his augmented sight traced the outline of the fortress, allowing him to observe it more clearly.
"A square fortress."
"Probably another relic from some governor a thousand years ago, like the Koi Wall?"
"Most likely."
"We'll jump onto the fortress's roof and work our way down."
With the plan settled, Grey and the scattered Guardians converged on the fortress. Unlike the towering Koi Wall, this structure was small enough to leap over. Each Guardian found a nearby building, jumping from rooftop to rooftop before making the final leap onto the fortress.
The defenders atop the fortress had no idea where to aim first. They scrambled to attack, but by the time they chose a target, they were already being decimated.
The Guardians swiftly cleared the rooftop and descended into the fortress, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. From afar, one could see beams of light piercing through the fortress walls, accompanied by the distant echoes of screams and gunfire.
The Guardians fought with deadly precision, oblivious to the fact that they were being closely watched.