A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1424 - 963: Destruction and Immortality

Chapter 1424: Chapter 963: Destruction and Immortality

Their birth was meant to transform them into angels.

Superior to those legions bearing the title of angels, and even more superior to other Asttart Legions that swept across the Milky Way for the Human Empire and were dubbed with the name of Death Angels, there was only one Legion that fully understood the true, complete meaning of such an ideal – born to be angels, becoming the vision predestined at their creation, achievable only through striving for perfection.

Only one Legion was granted The Emperor’s name, only one Legion was chosen to wear the symbol of the Human Lord, and only one Legion was worthy of being called his sons.

The Emperor’s Sons.

However, all that glory is a thing of the past. The current angels have abandoned their original faith, ideals, and everything they once were, prostrate at the feet of their new god, degraded to become remnants of corruption and decay. The fallen angels no longer deserve to be called angels, and this marks the end of their path.

The smell of irritating gases hits the face and then disperses in front of Duanmu Huai’s helmet. Duanmu Huai never takes off his helmet idly for no reason, and certainly not for the ludicrous reason of "not wanting to scare others" as his family’s ’little padded jacket’ would say, but simply to avoid being taken advantage of. Followers of the Obsessive Sin and Corrupted Foil, in particular, like to use various types of poisonous gases to weaken their opponents, just like now.

Rose-colored smoke wafts around Duanmu Huai. Just one breath in, and one would feel unimaginable happiness and pleasure, as well as bliss akin to a soul ascending to Heaven. But it cannot approach the giant before us – with every step Duanmu Huai takes, the Power of Destruction emanating from him flutters about ruthlessly, driving away the surrounding rose mist. It’s like an unromantic man, who unhesitatingly severs the fragrance of the young girl before him.

Opposite Duanmu Huai is a group of Astartes clad in luxurious purple-red precious metal Battle Armor, staring at the unwelcome guest before them, raising the Sonic Amplifier Cannons on their forearms —— the very next moment, the ear-piercing noise capable of pulverizing both ceramic and flesh erupts from the speakers and voice grilles on these warriors’ armor, nearly shredding the walls and floors along its path, a roar like mountains crumbling and the earth splitting heads straight for Duanmu Huai.

This noise infuriates Duanmu Huai immensely. The feeling is just like when you’re revising for the college entrance exam and hear the aunties downstairs dancing square dances, or when you come home tired from a day at work, ready to sleep, but the aunties are still dancing below, and even after you’ve spoken to them calmly, they continue their dance. At that moment, you have only one thought.

And that is.........

"Kill—————!"

Duanmu Huai lets out a roar, lifting his War Hammer and charging forward, uncaring whether it’s square-dancing aunties or noise-releasing Astartes before him, they’re all dead meat!

The War Hammer swoops down, hitting the chest of the leading Noise Warrior squarely. Duanmu Huai yells as he lifts him up, then smashes him forward with force. The Thunder Hammer flickers as it completely punctures the body of the Astarte before him, searing his limbs and armor into pitch-black char.

Another Noise Warrior rushes forward, grabbing onto Duanmu Huai’s War Hammer, while yet another Noise Warrior pounces onto Duanmu Huai’s back, gripping his waist tightly, and an ear-piercing noise capable of disintegrating all things rings out again, attempting to completely annihilate the enemy before them.

But this... is utterly meaningless.

Duanmu Huai let out a roar, suddenly tilting his head back, retreating to the corner of the wall. Then with a butt thrust, he forcibly shook off the Noise Warrior entangling him from behind, at the same time smashing his head forward onto the Noise Warrior in front who was grabbing his War Hammer, bashing the latter’s head until it bled profusely. Seizing the moment when the Noise Warrior’s strength weakened, he pounced forward, crashing into the body of the Astarte in front of him along with the Iron Hammer, grinding his body into minced meat.

Simultaneously, Duanmu Huai gripped his War Hammer tightly, spinning 180 degrees and striking the Noise Warrior behind him, adding another piece of blood and flesh-blurred decor to the wall.

In just a brief moment, a small squad of Noise Warriors was annihilated. If players encountered these enemies in a game, it would probably take an entire squad to deal with them. But even though Astartes are Demigods, they are certainly no match for Duanmu Huai, the God of Destruction. Even if they groveled at the feet of the new gods, a dog—a dog remains.

Duanmu Huai took large strides forwards, an aura of terror rolling out like an army, accompanying him as he advanced. Everywhere it reached, souls scattered in terror—the slaves, Mecha Servants working on this cursed Warship, all screamed in agony as they fell, the Spirit Light of fear and Destruction coming at them like a raging tsunami, ruthlessly extinguishing the flickers of struggling life flames.

Then, Duanmu Huai halted his steps, observing the silhouette standing at the end of the corridor that resembled a nightclub with its colorful lights. He wore similarly purple-red Armor, masked with human skin, and his originally handsome and dashing face was now blood-soaked and grotesque due to years of self-mutilation, resembling a second-hand prop from a B-grade horror movie rather than flesh and blood.

In his hands, he held a silver curved Sword, and with just one glance, Duanmu Huai withdrew his gaze, also confirming the identity of this Astarte.

"Immortal Lucius."

Staring at the hideous face before him, Duanmu Huai snickered.

"You have forsaken the grace and perfection of the Emperor’s Sons, submitted to the feet of that bisexual, effeminate Devil, and this is what you got? Stupid, ugly, inferior. To see the former Third Army Corps fall to such a state is truly lamentable."

"You have no idea what we’ve received, lapdog of the Fake Emperor."

Lucius clenched the Blade of Ral in his right hand while grabbing the hook-ended whip in his left hand.

"In my view, the ones struggling in ugliness are you people. Even now, you still cannot open your eyes wide and see clearly the lies you serve."

"The Tribunal protects humanity, not that piece of old salted meat, the Emperor."

Duanmu Huai indifferently interrupted Lucius.

"Your grudges with the Emperor have nothing to do with me, but your attacks on humanity are acts of violence that the Tribunal cannot tolerate. I’m not here to argue who’s right or wrong, I am here for one thing only——"

As he spoke, Duanmu Huai clenched his War Hammer in his hand.

"Then I shall obliterate you, Immortal."

"Interesting, let me see if you have that ability!"

There was a moment of silence between them, after which, the battle began.

Duanmu Huai roared as he lifted the War Hammer, charging towards Lucius. The latter suddenly extended his left hand forward and whipped out a long whip, winding it around the shaft of the War Hammer. Meanwhile, Duanmu Huai, holding the War Hammer, swung it forcefully, sending Lucius flying. Anticipating this move, Lucius in midair traced a dazzling arc with the silver scimitar in his right hand, then thrust it towards his adversary.

Faced with the stabbing blade, Duanmu Huai let go with his right hand, clenched his fist, and let out a thunderous roar as he punched forward. His steel gauntlet collided with Lucius’s silver scimitar, knocking the latter away. Like a cannonball, Lucius spun through the air and crashed into the wall at the far end of the hall.

But Duanmu Huai knew this was not the end.

A figure leaped up.

Lucius turned into lightning, bursting out of the debris, charging towards Duanmu Huai again. A vial of bright red potion from behind him got injected into his body. In the blink of an eye, Lucius’s body began to swell, rapidly transforming into a rampaging rhino charging straight towards his nemesis, intent on tearing him to shreds.

"Useless!"

Watching the Immortal charge at him again, Duanmu Huai sneered, standing firm with his legs, clutching the War Hammer, and slamming it down upon the drug-fueled Divine Chosen Champion, smashing directly onto his head!

"Boom!!"

The Thunder Warhammer struck Lucius’s head, and the immense power enveloping Lucius dissipated in an instant. Whatever the origin of his strength, it was meaningless before the Power of Destruction—everything can be destroyed, including power itself.

However, Lucius was quicker. In the split second during which Duanmu Huai’s hammer nearly flattened him, he dodged the follow-up attack that could’ve pierced through an entire warship with his unprecedented agility. He circled around Duanmu Huai like a glimmer of light, the Blade of Ral gleaming brightly in his hand, poised to strike a deadly blow like a venomous snake the moment Duanmu Huai’s guard was down.

"———————!"

At the same time, Duanmu Huai’s hammer smashed into the deck.

The surging blast that erupted was like a supernova explosion, radiating outwards from Duanmu Huai and shattering everything in its path— the armor deck of the Crown Number and the thick, solid floor exploded under the hammer’s impact, as fragile as plaster. Lucius hadn’t anticipated this. He took advantage of the brief opening Duanmu Huai gave to charge forward, with the radiant sword blade casting a dazzling shadow as it cleaved towards Duanmu Huai’s head.

Then, he was blown away by the oncoming blast wave.

For a moment, all sounds vanished, and the bridge was exposed to the vacuum of space. Outside the shattered remains of the warship, they could see streaks of blazing artillery beams. The sensation of zero gravity made Lucius lose his balance, and when he became unsteady, he saw the heavy War Hammer hurtling straight towards his chest.

It was an unspeakable scorching heat.

When the heavy War Hammer shattered Lucius’s chest armor and penetrated his body, he experienced a pain and a joy he had never felt before—the joy brought about by pain almost became the only feeling Lucius could perceive. But soon, he realized everything was disappearing. His mind, his emotions, his soul, shattered into pieces under the hammer’s blow.

"No—————!"

Lucius attempted to scream, but in the vacuum, no sound escaped. Duanmu Huai stepped forward, gripping the War Hammer that had pierced through Lucius, and slammed it down again with all his might!

"—————————!!"

The entire prow of the Crown Number exploded under this strike, the burst of fire flashing across the star-studded sky, and Lucius’s soul and body were utterly destroyed in that blow. Duanmu Huai could feel his mutated, twisted soul shattering like a broken lollipop, his body collapsing.

The remnants of Lucius’s shattered soul transformed into orbs of crimson light, pouring out from his ravaged body and merging into Duanmu Huai’s own.

When Duanmu Huai lifted the War Hammer again, there was nothing left on it.

"Hmph, Immortal, that’s all you amount to."

Watching this scene, Duanmu Huai snorted coldly.

Well, this proved once again that those who show off without wearing a helmet will undoubtedly die miserably.

But after all, Lucius was just an appetizer.

Next, it was time to deal with Lucky Root.