This four-man paratrooper squad, driven by a resolve to face death, did not spend too much time searching.
Following the dense sound of gunfire and soaring flames in the distance, they quickly pinpointed the location of the Dark Eldar squad.
At this moment, this group of alien raiders was attempting to attack a temporary defensive line established by the Helldivers.
The situation on the battlefield presented a bizarre stalemate. The players on the ground relied on simple cover, setting up heavy stubbers and heavy bolters, creating a dense metal storm that blocked all frontal paths.
Thick bolt shells drew streaks of fire chains through the air, forcing the Dark Eldar into a position where a frontal breakthrough was impossible.
However, the damage inflicted by the players was minimal.
Those Dark Eldar figures moved through the ruins like ghosts. Their speed was astonishingly fast; often, just as the heavy bolter barrage swept across, they had already flashed to another position.
Aside from an occasional unlucky soul grazed by a stray bullet, there were no substantial casualties.
Just as the paratrooper foursome was observing the situation from the air, a jaw-dropping scene occurred.
A player on the ground seemed to have gone blood-mad. He actually pulled the pins on all the high-explosive grenades on his body and charged out of cover with a roar, intending to perish together with an approaching Dark Eldar.
"For the Emperor! Die you cock sucking twinks!"
However, the gap in strength was cruel.
That Dark Eldar seemed to have seen through everything long ago.
Not only did he not retreat, but he actually rushed forward to meet the charge. In the split second before the two collided, the alien timed it perfectly.
The cold light of a sharp blade flashed in his hand, instantly severing the player's Achilles tendons.
Then, utilizing the momentum, he grabbed the player's body like a piece of trash and violently threw it toward the center of the Helldiver position.
"Holy cra—"
The player flying through mid-air only had time to let out a single wretched scream.
Boom!
A violent explosion instantly erupted above the position. Countless shrapnel poured down like a torrential rain, washing over the trenches below.
If this had been a regular mortal army, this precise move of killing with a borrowed knife would have been enough to collapse morale and break the defense line. Fortunately, those defending this position were entirely the Fourth Calamity.
This group of maniacs was left covered in dirt and soot by their own bro's explosion—some even had half a shoulder sliced off by shrapnel—yet they stubbornly remained silent, not even loosening their grip on the triggers for a second.
The roar of the heavy machine guns paused for a mere 0.1 seconds before echoing through the skies once more, forcefully driving back the Dark Eldar who had wanted to use the chaos to push forward.
The foursome in the air couldn't help but grimace at the sight.
"Damn, these twigs react too fast," a player said in the communication channel. "Before restricting their mobility, it's best not to try playing self-detonation. Otherwise, you're just delivering projectiles to the other side."
"Then what do we do? Just rushing down will probably just be sending them free kills."
Just as the paratrooper squad was having a headache over how to enter the field to achieve a miraculous effect instead of throwing away their lives for nothing, the voice of headquarters suddenly came through their communication channel.
"Attention, this is Headquarters. An Astartes unit with the codename 'Lamenters' is about to arrive in your area for support."
Hearing the word "Astartes," the spirits of the four players lifted. The Space Marines were coming! This match was secured!
But the subsequent order from headquarters left them stunned.
"Repeat, the Lamenters Chapter is about to arrive. Your primary objective is to cooperate with them in combat and do your utmost to protect these friendly forces."
The four looked at each other.
Protecting Space Marines?
Five minutes ago, in front of the strategic holographic projection table at the Planetary Defense Command Center, the atmosphere was no less tense than at the front line.
"I resolutely disagree with this deployment, Lord Joker."
The speaker was Malakim Phoros, Chapter Master of the Lamenters Chapter.
This tall giant clad in bright yellow power armor braced both hands on the tactical table, his brows locked in a deep frown, his tone carrying an unquestionable firmness mixed with a hint of offended anger.
"The Astartes are born to safeguard humanity; we are the Emperor's Angels of Death.
Our honor demands that we must always stand at the absolute forefront of the battlefield, using our bodies and boltgun fire to crush the enemy's offensive, rather than hiding behind mortal auxiliaries to drag out an ignoble existence!"
Opposite him, Joker did not show the slightest ripple of emotion due to Phoros's agitation.
"Chapter Master Phoros, please correct your phrasing. This is not hiding, but tactical synergy," Joker said. "You can understand it as a variant of the infantry-tank coordination tactic."
Joker waved his hand to mark out red offensive lines on the holographic map, explaining:
"In my tactical conception, the Lamenters battle-brothers possess unparalleled firepower and pinpoint elimination capabilities; you are like heavy tanks and the spearhead of the assault.
And our Helldiver Legion serves as the accompanying infantry cover."
"Where is the logic in having infantry block artillery shells for tanks? Usually, infantry advances by relying on armored units!"
Phoros countered. "Placing mortals in front of the Astartes is not only a waste of our combat effectiveness but a humiliation to our honor.
When civilians see Space Marines hiding behind mortals, it will cause morale to collapse!"
"On the contrary, Chapter Master."
Joker brought up real-time data from the front line, pointing at the footage of players dying tragic deaths due to the Dark Eldar's toxins and high mobility.
"What we are facing are the Dark Eldar. This group of aliens possesses extremely high mobility and toxic weapons capable of easily penetrating ceramite armor.
Even for the Astartes, facing this kind of ambush and underhanded trickery carries immense risk. Once you suffer casualties in the initial phase of engagement, the pillar of the entire battle line will collapse."
Joker paused, his tone becoming even more solemn: "But the Helldivers are different. Just as our name implies, we do not fear death.
We are numerous; we can act as reactive armor to absorb the Dark Eldar's first wave of lethal ambushes, to scout out the enemy's fire points, and to restrict the aliens' mobility—just like that soldier who grabbed the enemy moments ago."
"And you, brothers of the Lamenters, need to use your precise bolters and chainswords to deliver the definitive kill the moment the enemy exposes themselves. This is the most efficient method of slaughter."
Looking at the mortal soldiers on the screen who threw themselves forward one after another, even charging at the enemy while holding bombs, Phoros's heart was filled with shock and unbearable pity.
As sons of Sanguinius, the Lamenters were always renowned for their compassion. Forcing them to watch mortals throw away their lives to protect them felt worse than killing them.
"But—" Phoros still wanted to argue.
"Chapter Master Phoros, please focus on the bigger picture." Joker interrupted him, directly bringing out his trump card. "We are racing against time right now.
Every second spent arguing means more civilians are being carried away by the Dark Eldar to suffer tortures worse than death."
The holographic projection switched to footage near the civilian shelters, where the situation was precarious.
"My soldiers are an endless stream. But every single Astartes is a precious asset of the Imperium, and every civilian is a subject of the Emperor.
If the advance slows down because of adhering to so-called honor, leading to more civilian casualties, that would be the true dereliction of duty."
Joker ooked directly into Phoros's eyes: "The urgent priority is to eliminate these invading Dark Eldar as quickly as possible and minimize civilian casualties to the greatest extent.
This method of mine can seize military victory more effectively. For the sake of those innocent people, I request you to let my soldiers become your shields."
Phoros fell silent.
He looked at the green light points representing civilians on the map, then at the red light points representing the Helldivers. His tightly clenched fist loosened, then slammed heavily onto the table.
This proud Astartes finally lowered his head, choosing to compromise.
"—You are right, Commander. For the civilians." Phoros's voice was somewhat raspy, but he had regained his composure. "The Lamenters Chapter will execute your tactical arrangement.
We will follow closely behind the Helldivers and will never waste any tactical opportunity they exchange their lives for."
"A wise choice." Joker nodded.