Storm Of Iron(科幻战争)-第48部分

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He　rolled　to　his　knees；　slashing　low　with　his　sword　at　a　charging　Imperial　Fist；　hacking　his　legs　out　from　under　him。　Honsou
reversed　the　grip　on　his　sword　and　hammered　the　blade　through　the　Space　Marine's　helm；　dragging　it　free　in　time　to　block　the
swing　of　another　sword；　this　time　swung　by　an　Imperial　officer　with　a　major's　star　on　his　chest。
Honsou　blocked　a　clumsy　thrust　and　kicked　the　man　in　the　groin；　shattering　his　pelvis　and　dropping　him　screaming　to　the　ground。
'Iron　Warriors　to　me！'　he　bellowed；　clearing　a　space　around　him　with　wide　sweeps　of　his　sword。　Bullets　and　las…bolts　ricocheted
from　his　armour。
Another　two　Iron　Warriors　climbed　over　the　lip　of　the　parapet；　forming　a　wedge　with　Honsou　at　its　point。　Together；　the　Iron
Warriors　hacked　a　path　through　the　Imperial　Guardsmen；　splashing　their　silver　armour　with　blood。
An　Imperial　Fist　sergeant　saw　the　danger　and　charged　towards　Honsou；　firing　his　plasma　pistol　as　he　ran。　Honsou　swayed　aside；
the　beam　streaking　past　him　and　punching　through　the　helmet　of　an　Iron　Warrior　as　he　pulled　himself　over　the　parapet。
Honsou　gripped　his　sword　two…handed　and　charged　to　meet　the　Space　Marine；　diving　forward　and　rolling　beneath　the　swing　of　his
opponent's　blade。　He　rose　to　his　feet　and　cut　high；　decapitating　the　Space　Marine　in　a　single　blow。
Perhaps　a　dozen　Iron　Warriors　had　gained　the　ramparts　and　more　were　flooding　the　walls　as　Honsou's　wedge　pushed　further　into
the　ravelin；　pushing　the　enemy　back　before　them。　Honsou　yelled　in　triumph　as　his　men　spread　out　along　the　walls；　killing
everything　in　their　path。　The　Guardsmen　fell　back　in　the　face　of　such　savagery　and　the　ramparts　were　his。　The　enemy　retreat　was
practically　a　rout；　a　few　Imperial　Fists　all　that　held　it　from　collapsing　completely。
Honsou　leapt　from　the　ramparts　as　he　saw　a　reserve　of　Guardsmen　with　heavy　weapons；　commanded　by　a　junior　officer；　lying　in
wait　in　the　centre　of　the　ravelin。　He　hit　the　ground　and　rolled；　watching　the　officer　gauging　the　correct　moment　to　fire。
The　officer's　sword　swept　down　and　heavy　weapon　fire　raked　the　inner　faces　of　the　ravelin；　pitching　four　Iron　Warriors　from　the
walls。　Bolter　fire　answered　them　and　a　handful　of　men　fell；　clutching　gaping　wounds　in　their　bodies。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
The　crescendo　of　guns　and　screaming　soldiers　was　powerful　in　its　intensity　as　battle　was　joined　across　the　walls　and　bastions。
Smoke　billowed　from　fires　set　by　shell　impacts　and　gunfire　that　had　ignited　the　uniforms　of　the　fallen。
More　bolter　shots　tore　amongst　the　Guardsmen　as　the　officer　swept　his　sword　down　again；　but　it　was　too　late。　Honsou　was
amongst　them；　hacking　and　killing　with　frenzied　abandon。　Blood　spurted；　limbs　were　severed　and　entrails　spilled　as　he　tore　the
beating　heart　from　the　defence。
Dozens　more　Iron　Warriors　were　spilling　into　the　ravelin　itself。　Yellow　armoured　Space　Marines　were　like　tiny　islands　of　stubborn
resistance；　but　Honsou　could　see　they　would　soon　be　overwhelmed。
Ahead　he　could　see　the　massive　golden　gate　of　the　citadel；　flanked　by　two　high　towers　and　topped　with　battered　gun　turrets。
Without　siege　tanks　it　was　inviolable；　but　to　the　right　of　the　gate　was　the　great　breach　and　Honsou　could　see　fierce　fighting　raging
at　its　top。
'Iron　Warriors；　rally　to　me！'　roared　Honsou；　bellowing　to　be　heard　over　the　din　of　battle。　Raising　his　bloody　sword；　he　set　off　at　a
run　towards　the　breach。
The　Primus　Ravelin　had　fallen。
'FORWARD！'　SCREAMED　FORRIX　from　below　the　crest　of　the　breach；　his　power　glove　crackling　with　deadly　power。　They　were　so
close　he　could　taste　victory。　His　armour　was　dented　and　torn　open；　but　he　felt　nothing；　the　arcane　mechanics　of　his　newly
augmented　body　impervious　to　pain。　He　felt　another　impact　against　his　chest　and　laughed　insanely　as　the　bolt　exploded　against　his
breastplate；　the　shell　fragments　scoring　shallow　gashes　in　his　helmet。
The　breach　was　wreathed　in　the　smoke　and　confusion　of　battle。　Bodies　lay　strewn　about；　both　friends　and　foes。　Three　times　they
had　taken　the　crest　of　the　breach　and　three　times　they　had　been　hurled　back　by　Dorn's　lapdogs。
He　clambered　up；　pulling　himself　forward　in　great　powered　strides。
Then　he　was　hurled　backwards　as　a　buried　mine　exploded　beneath　him；　the　ground　rearing　upwards　in　a　pillar　of　smoke　and　fire。
A　chunk　of　rock　smashed　into　his　newly　repaired　helmet　and　shattered　the　visor；　cracking　it　too　badly　to　see　through。　Forrix　rolled
a　few　metres　down　the　breach；　before　sliding　to　a　halt　in　the　loose　rock。
Angrily；　he　pushed　himself　to　his　feet　and　wrenched　off　his　ruined　helmet；　hurling　it　into　the　smoke　above　him。　He　could　see　dim
shapes　ahead　and　opened　up　with　his　combi…bolter；　spraying　the　breach　with　fire。　One　figure　dropped；　but　the　others　swung　their
weapons　to　bear　at　him。
A　blast　of　gunfire　ripped　into　the　hazy　figures；　deadly　fire　from　a　reaper　autocannon　that　swept　them　away　in　a　hail　of　shells。
Forrix　glanced　around　him；　seeing　that　his　company　had　suffered　fearsome　losses　to　get　this　far。　It　would　all　be　for　nothing　if　they
should　fail　now。　Iron　Warriors　climbed　past　him　towards　the　top　of　the　breach。
He　heard　a　great　roar　of　victory　from　below　and　knew　that　the　half…breed　had　succeeded　in　capturing　the　ravelin。　But　how
Kroeger's　attack　on　the　eastern　bastion　was　faring；　he　had　no　idea。　He　snarled　and　resumed　his　climb；　shooting　blindly　into　the
smoke　above　him。　Nearly　twenty　Iron　Warriors　in　Terminator　armour　climbed　with　him；　firing　their　weapons　into　the　breach。
Las…bolts　and　bullets　spat　from　the　nubs　of　wall　to　either　side　of　him；　but　Forrix　ignored　them。　The　breach　was　all　that　mattered。
His　powerful　strides　had　almost　taken　him　to　the　top　of　the　breach　when　a　deafening　roar　erupted　from　beyond　the　crest　and　the
rocks　before　him　exploded；　huge　chunks　of　rockcrete　blasted　to　powder　by　shell　impacts。　Six　Iron　Warriors　were　obliterated　in　a
single；　devastating　volley　as　a　searing　energy　beam　vaporised　another's　upper　body；　leaving　his　legs　standing　for　a　second　before
they　toppled　back　down　the　rubble　slope。　Forrix　dropped　and　crawled　towards　the　edge　of　the　breach；　lifting　his　helmetless　head
over　the　rocks。
The　beast　of　legend　was　before　him；　not　just　one；　but　two　of　the　agile　Scout　Titans　darted　back　and　forth　in　the　gap　between　the
citadel's　inner　and　outer　walls。　Constantly　in　motion；　the　Warhounds　loped　back　and　forth　like　caged　beasts；　pausing　every　now
and　again　to　spray　the　breach　with　murderous　fire　from　their　Vulcan　bolters。
Forrix's　heart　sank。
While　the　Warhounds　covered　the　breach；　there　was　almost　no　way　they　could　cross　it。
THE　THING　THAT　had　once　been　a　determined　lieutenant　in　the　Jouran　383rd；　but　was　now　something　infinitely　older　and　more
malevolent；　pushed　its　way　forwards　over　the　jagged　steel　and　rockcrete　of　the　Mori　bastion's　breach。　The　Avatar　of　Khorne
roared　in　primal　lust　as　it　drank　deep　from　the　well　of　hatred　supplied　by　Larana　Utorian。
Hatred　of　the　Guard　for　shelling　her。
Hatred　of　Kroeger　for　driving　her　to　this。
Hatred　of　the　Emperor　for　allowing　this　to　happen。
Larana　Utorian　now　had　hatred　carved　upon　her　heart。
The　warriors　of　Kroeger's　company　followed　the　thing　they　believed　to　be　their　leader；　fighting　their　way　through　the　hell　of
gunfire　and　explosions；　in　awe　of　the　ferocity　and　sheer　good　fortune　he　displayed。
Bullets　seemed　to　float　around　him；　lasers　passed　through　him　and　explosions　that　should　have　ripped　him　in　two　pattered　like　rain
against　his　pristine　armour。　Where　they　struggled　up　the　steep　slope；　their　leader　ascended　as　effortlessly　as　if　he　walked　on　level
ground。　The　distance　between　the　Avatar　and　the　Iron　Warriors　widened　as　it　powered　ahead　to　the　top　in　easy；　loping　strides。
As　the　Avatar　leapt　to　the　top　of　the　breach；　its　sword　sang　out　in　dizzyingly　beautiful　traceries；　and　wherever　it　struck；　an　enemy
died。　The　Iron　Warriors　were　still　some　distance　behind；　and　soon　Imperial　Fists　surrounded　the　Avatar；　their　swords　bright　and
deadly。
The　Avatar　cared　not。　It　welcomed　this。　It　needed　it。　It　vaulted　over　the　heads　of　the　lead　warriors；　decapitating　two　before　it
landed　behind　the　others。　It　kicked　out；　snapping　a　warrior's　spine　and　clove　another　in　half　with　a　two…handed　sweep。　Imperial
Fists　and　Guardsmen　clamoured　around　it；　but　none　could　land　a　blow。
The　Avatar　pistoned　its　fist　through　the　skull　of　a　screaming　soldier；　gripping　his　uniform　jacket　and　hauling　him　upwards　to　allow
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
the　jetting　spray　of　blood　to　drench　its　gleaming　armour。　The　blood　hissed　as　it　landed；　seeping　within　the　armour　with　a
monstrous　suckling　noise。
Yet　more　foes　closed　in；　and　each　died　at　the　hands　of　the　Blood　God's　Avatar。
A　rippling　haze　formed　around　the　Avatar；　its　form　bulging　as　though　unable　to　contain　its　sheer　vitality。　A　booming　laugh；
redolent　with　the　malice　of　ages　echoed　across　the　Mori　bastion；　and　the　Imperial　defenders　quailed　before　such　evil。
The　Iron　Warriors　finally　clambered　over　the　lip　of　the　breach；　spreading　out　from　behind　the　Avatar；　drawing　their　weapons　and
hurling　themselves　into　the　fight。
The　Avatar　watched　it　all；　feeling　the　waves　of　hatred　and　aggression　washing　through　it　like　a　tonic；　nourishing　its　new　host　with
pain　and　death。
A　sharp　jolt　of　cold　pain　startled　the　Avatar　from　its　reverie　of　carnage　and　the　white　glare　behind　its　helmet　burned　with　the　fire
of　a　sun　as　it　sought　out　its　attacker。
A　Space　Marine　in　the　spartanly　embellished　armour　of　an　Imperial　Fists　Librarian　advanced　towards　it。　He　carried　a　crackling
force　staff　and　the　Avatar　laughed　as　it　recognised　the　power　of　a　psyker。　Here　was　a　death　worth　inflicting。
Glittering　haloes　of　psychic　energy　flared　from　the　Librarian's　helmet；　engraved　with　hexagrammic　sigils　of　great　potency　and
scrimshawed　purity　seals。
'Abomination！'　hissed　Librarian　Corwin。　'I　shall　send　you　back　to　the　hell　from　which　you　crawled！'
A　beam　of　coruscating　light　lanced　from　the　Librarian's　force　staff　and　struck　the　Avatar　in　the　centre　of　its　chest。　The　Avatar
staggered；　dropping　to　its　knees　as　it　was　bathed　in　flickering　balefires。　It　bellowed　in　pain；　suddenly　thrusting　with　its　sword　and
impaling　an　Iron　Warrior　on　its　blade。
Blood　sprayed　along　the　weapon　and　the　Avatar　roared　as　it　fed；　rising　to　its　feet　as　the　drained　Iron　Warrior　collapsed　to　the
ground。
Flaring　washes　of　energy　erupted　from　the　Avatar's　body　as　the　power　earthed　through　its　armour。　The　Avatar　laughed　again。
'You　are　deluded；'　grated　the　altered　voice　of　Larana　Utorian。　'Do　you　not　realise　that　Khorne　is　the　bane　of　psykers？'
The　Librarian　braced　himself　against　the　rocks　as　the　desperate　struggle　at　the　top　of　the　breach　swirled　around　them。　Neither　side
was　willing　to　intervene　in　this　battle　that　was　fought　in　the　realm　of　the　spirit。
'The　power　of　the　Emperor　commands　you！'　bellowed　Corwin；　striking　the　Avatar　with　another　blast　of　light　and　driving　it　to　the
ground　once　more。　'Begone；　foul　daemon！'
Again　and　again　he　fired　searing　bolts　of　psychic　power　at　the　figure　of　the　Avatar；　sagging　against　the　side　of　the　breach　as　his
reserves　of　energy　dwindled。
His　very　soul　was　being　drained　as　he　fought　to　destroy　this　monster。
The　Avatar　spread　its　arms　and　gave　ven