The Spire.
From a conventional perspective, once war reached this level, it meant the entire planet faced the risk of absolute destruction. Consequently, the defense systems of the Spire were far more formidable than those of the Underhive or the Mid-hive. This was partly to repel external invaders and partly to prevent the lords of the Spire from being overthrown by the angry masses below.
However, as a great figure once said, no organization, no matter how sturdy, can withstand internal corruption. The Spire was not an impregnable fortress, and Yuki knew this well.
Clad in white, he led his forces and easily seized the defenseless transit points between the Mid-hive and the Spire. Ten million Genestealers and various "miraculous" units from the depths of the hive swarmed like locusts toward the nearest ascent points to breach the Spire.
"Eleven, take a team of Cult elites and seize the eastern defense bastion. You have permission to use psychic powers freely."
"Ilia, your task is heavier. I am giving you three hundred thousand men. I don't care about casualty figures; I only want those defense cannons!"
The Spire housed five massive defense cannons—permanent fortifications that Yuki had once visited with Yuno. Each was like a small mountain, serving as the planet's most powerful defensive assets. Built with the entire planet as their foundation, their destructive power exceeded the macro-cannons and lance batteries of warships.
Of the remaining three, Yuki would handle one personally, and Yuno would destroy another. As for the final one, whoever completed their task first would proceed to it. Secondary targets, such as the Governor's Mansion and the military barracks, were left to other detachments.
With only a few days left before the fleet's arrival, Yuki needed to eliminate these major threats. The hive city of Planet Ende was colossal, spanning over three thousand kilometers in length and width, with the five defense cannons separated by hundreds of kilometers. Fortunately, with Yuki's current speed, such distances were no longer a concern.
In just twenty hours, he sighted the alerted defense cannon positions. The term "defense cannon position" was a simplified name; in reality, it was a massive fortress complex covering dozens of square kilometers, with a giant lance battery at its heart.
The fortress gates were tightly sealed. Yuki looked at the steel ramparts, thicker and larger than mountains. Charging straight in might work, but it was unnecessary.
"You lot draw their attention outside or attack other sectors. I'll find a side path."
Yuki believed that disabling the cannon was enough; he didn't need to personally execute everyone inside. He activated his optical cloaking.
Scaling the walls, he saw soldiers guarding the area who were already aware of the Spire's breach. They watched the unidentified figures in the distance with intense vigilance. Yuki followed the piping into the interior of the complex. He noticed large numbers of Planetary Defense Forces (PDF) organizing their gear, ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
"What's going on? Where's the 352nd Regiment? Didn't the higher-ups order them to return immediately?"
"I don't know! We've lost contact with other regions. Those rioters might have cut the comm lines!"
"Dammit, Warp communication is down too. I've had a splitting headache lately. The brass is pushing us, but we don't even know who we're fighting!"
Yuki listened closely. These soldiers still didn't realize the nature of the enemy they faced. He took some time and found the path leading to the main cannon. It was not an easy route; it was heavily guarded the entire way. The equipment of these PDF units wasn't poor—perhaps this sector was an exception—as Yuki spotted dozens of Leman Russ tanks.
Not far behind him, his clone followed, also under optical cloaking. Though called a clone, it was effectively Yuki multitasking with two bodies.
Continuing forward, Yuki saw the primary cannon. This was his destination. The defenses surrounding the main gun were extreme. There was no way to sneak in; every unit entering required strict identification. Furthermore, Yuki spotted psykers—PDF psykers who were still holding their ground within the Shadow in the Warp. Their strength was surely significant.
"Hmm, I need to find a way to blend in. Now isn't the time for a fight."
Yuki pondered for a moment. Suddenly, he locked eyes with a commander below. The commander's eye had been replaced with a bionic one. Yuki was certain he was currently invisible.
"Enemy contact!"
The alarm blared instantly. Without hesitation, Yuki let go of the pipe and jumped down. The commander fired his weapon frantically, but the rounds were deflected by Yuki's chitinous shell. In a flash, Yuki tore the commander's head off. The bionic eye likely possessed advanced infrared or thermal sensors; otherwise, there was no reason he should have been spotted.
Now that the PDF soldiers knew of his presence, there was no longer any point in trying to be stealthy. Yuki didn't pause for a second. He extended his bone blades and the spikes on his back, beginning a frantic slaughter of the soldiers attacking him. To these soldiers with their basic gear, Yuki was a horrific monster—they couldn't deal any damage to him, while any single hit from him was lethal.
Yuki felt nothing, even bordering on boredom. Can I just kill them all quickly and go back?
As he thought this, the heavy iron doors leading to the defense cannon opened.
"Oh? After learning of my presence, they didn't lock the doors but chose to face me head-on? Interesting."
Yuki was confident. In this place, no one could be his match.
The iron doors swung open, and a Leman Russ tank appeared before Yuki. In that instant, Yuki retreated at high speed. It was a wise choice, pushing the limits of biological reaction. But the PDF tank crew were no amateurs.
The moment they locked onto Yuki, the gunner fired.
An armor-piercing shell struck Yuki's body without obstruction, shattering his heart and most of his internal organs. Yet, even after taking a direct hit from a Leman Russ shell, Yuki's body managed to maintain a roughly human shape, proving how much he had truly evolved.
"Crap. I got careless."
Yuki remained conscious. The Leman Russ tank didn't hesitate to move forward to crush him. Clearly, his current regeneration speed was not yet fast enough to recover instantly.
"Dammit. Can we talk this out?"
Yuki gave a self-mocking laugh. The next second, the Leman Russ tank was flipped into the air by an invisible force, getting stuck beneath the slowly closing iron gate.
Psychic power lifted Yuki into the air. He sighed. "This is still more useful."
Bang!
He turned his body. A large number of troops had arrived—flamethrowers, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and several armored vehicles. Yuki didn't want them bothering him while he dismantled the defense cannon.