Above the orbit of the Tau Empire's fortress planet "Ka'Shien", the Dark Angels fleet circled like a flock of steel crows, their figures appearing particularly cold and majestic in the dark universe.

Standing on the bridge of the Indomitable Truth, Lion El'Jonson's deep pupils were like cold stars in the night sky, reflecting the gray-blue planet below. This planet was like an abandoned gem, hanging alone in the abyss of the universe.

However, the planet is not lifeless.

Its surface was covered by a hemispherical energy shield, which flashed a sickly light, as if a dying life was making its last struggle.

This layer of shield has been bombarded for too long and is now making a heart-wrenching groaning sound, as if it will collapse at any time.

"The shield critical value has reached 97.3%." The voice of the Mechanical Priest came from the data terminal without any emotion, "It is expected to collapse after the next round of salvos."

Ryan's mouth twitched slightly, revealing a hint of coldness. His eyes were as sharp as a cold star, staring intently at the planet below.

"Entire fleet, saturation strike." His voice was not loud, but it was like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, piercing straight into the soul of every soldier.

The next second, the universe seemed to be ignited.

The macro-cannon array of the "Unyielding Truth" opened fire first. Dozens of huge shells were like a group of roaring dragons, tearing through the void and rushing towards the crumbling energy shield at an astonishing speed.

The shells exploded on the surface of the shield, forming dazzling spots of light, like fireworks blooming in the night sky, short but brilliant.

Immediately afterwards, the light spears of seven strike cruisers were fired at the same time, and the blazing white beams pierced towards the same coordinates like the sword of God.

The shield screamed as it was overwhelmed, and the energy waves vibrated wildly, and finally...

"boom!!!"

The hemispherical shield exploded into billions of broken fragments of light, like a shattered glass dome.

The shock wave swept across the entire surface of the planet, a huge hole was torn in the atmosphere, and the clouds fled in all directions like a frightened herd of beasts.

"The shield has been broken." Ryan's voice was terribly calm. "Target: enemy command node, precision strike."

The second phase of orbital bombardment has begun. The attack in this phase is not to blindly destroy everything, but to carry out targeted strikes on the target like precise surgical operations.

The light spears were like beams of laser scalpels, cutting across the surface of the planet with astonishing speed and precision.

The Tau Empire's air defense arrays, communication centers, and energy nodes were turned into blazing fireballs one after another under the attack of the light spears and were destroyed in an instant.

At the same time, macro cannon shells slammed into the ground mercilessly.

These shells were specifically aimed at the entrance to the underground bunker, and each explosion was accompanied by violent tremors in the earth's crust, as if the entire planet was shaking.

Ryan stood in front of the tactical holographic table. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, staring closely at the battlefield in the holographic projection.

His fingers tapped lightly in the void, quickly and accurately marking one high-value target after another.

Ryan's command style is just like his swordsmanship, precise, efficient and ruthless. He will not leave any breathing space for the enemy, and every decision is decisive and resolute.

"The Eastern Continental Command Center has been destroyed."

"Orbital defense platform silenced."

"The main enemy forces are gathering at the capital fortress and are organizing anti-aircraft firepower."

Reports came one after another, but Ryan just nodded slightly, indicating that he already knew the information.

His attention was completely focused on the center of the holographic projection - the Tau Empire fortress known as the "Final Bastion".

At this moment, the fortress is like a wounded beast, curled up near the equator of the planet, appearing extremely fragile.

However, Ryan knew very well that this fortress was by no means an easy target. It must have a powerful defense system and a solid building structure.

“Prepare for landing.”

The belly hatch of the "Indomitable Truth" slowly opened, and thousands of airborne capsules fell like raindrops, separating from the mother ship amid the roar of mechanical devices.

Ryan personally stood in the first wave of airdrop cabins, the Lion Sword already unsheathed, the blade gleaming coldly under the dim light in the cabin.

His power armour was specially tuned, and the Dark Angels emblem on the shoulder armor stared forward in the shadows like a living thing.

"30 seconds until contact." The mechanical voice in the cabin announced calmly.

Through the observation window, Ryan could see the flames ignited by the friction of the atmosphere on the hull of the drop capsule.

Below, the Tau Empire's anti-aircraft fire came towards them like a retrograde meteor, but most of it was intercepted in advance by the fleet in orbit.

The few shots that hit their targets did little more than leave useless dents in the armor of the Dark Angels' custom drop pods.

“10 seconds.”

Ryan's breathing was steady and deep, his muscles slightly tense, not out of nervousness, but the instinctive reaction of a hunter facing prey.

“5, 4, 3—”

"boom!"

The airdrop pod crashed into the square outside the fortress like a meteorite, and its heavy armor directly penetrated three layers of armor plates.

The moment the hatch exploded, Ryan turned into a streak of golden lightning and rushed out.

His first sweep of the sword cut in half five hastily arrived Fire Clan warriors.

The second sword slashed down, and an XV8 crisis combat suit was split in two from head to hip. The driver had no time to scream before his internal organs were shattered by the aftermath of the power sword.

"For Caliban!"

The roar of the Lion King was like a storm, and the Deathwing warriors of the Dark Angels followed closely behind. The roar of grenade launchers and the roar of chainswords instantly drowned out the sound of the pulse weapons of the Tau Empire defenders.

Ryan never stopped.

He led the elite of the first company like a sharp knife and stabbed directly into the core of the fortress.

The Tau defenses were like thin paper in front of them. The XV88 heavy combat suits were smashed into scrap metal by power fists, the pulse artillery positions were razed to the ground by whirlwind missiles, and even the most elite Tau Guards could only slow down the Dark Angels' pace slightly.

"The east passage has been breached!"

"The command center is located on the lower level, high energy response detected!"

Ryan didn't answer, but swung his sword to cut open the last blast-proof door.

Behind the door, the Tau commander raised his ceremonial pulse pistol with trembling hands.

Their eyes met in the air.

On one side was the Primarch who had fought for thousands of years, and on the other side was a young Fire Caste officer who hadn't even grown a full beard.

The pistol fired.

Ryan didn't even dodge. The pulse beam exploded a ball of blue light on his chest armor, without even leaving a scratch.

“Alien.”

The lion sword flashed.

As the Tau Empire commander's head rolled to the ground, an expression of disbelief was still frozen on his face.

Ryan stepped over the corpse, walked to the central control console, and smashed the main control system with a sword.

"Notify all fleet." His voice came over the encrypted channel to orbit. "Ka'Shien, purge complete."