A roar, mixed with endless pain and monstrous fury, erupted from the center of the Colosseum.
That red giant, Angron, suddenly lifted his head, which was encased in hideous metal.
His eyes, burning with pure madness and void of anything else, crossed the kilometer of distance, pierced through the filthy air, and like two crimson searchlights, locked with pinpoint precision onto... Leticia and her group, who were hovering in mid-air.
This roar acted like an invisible command.
Clatter—!
On the spectator stands, thousands of World Eaters Space Marines, silent as statues, made a uniform movement at the exact same moment.
Their scarlet helmets turned toward the sky in unison, and thousands of pitch-black muzzles aimed at the three figures, who appeared exceptionally slender beneath the dim, yellowed sky.
The grinding of their power armor joints produced a teeth-aching sound, and the crisp click of Bolters being chambered merged into a torrent of steel.
An almost tangible killing intent, condensed from the fury of thousands of demigod warriors, surged into the sky, as if to tear a hole in that filthy firmament.
Sister!
Terrania let out a short, startled cry. Her pure little face instantly drained of all color, and her golden eyes were filled with fear. She gripped Leticia's black robe tightly, her small body trembling uncontrollably.
Leticia's expression did not change.
The moment that killing intent, which would have made a mortal fleet tremble, locked onto them, she simply reached out and gently, soothingly placed her hand on top of Terrania's golden head.
In the next instant, the three figures blurred in the air, like air distorted by high heat, and vanished into thin air.
Almost at the same moment, dozens of Bolter rounds, carrying sharp whistles, accurately hit the position they had occupied, exploding into futile fireballs in the air.
The sensation of spatial displacement was fleeting.
When Terrania regained her vision, they were already in the ruins of a massive building.
It seemed to have once been a magnificent temple, but now only a few broken stone pillars, carved with blasphemous runes, remained, leaning crookedly to support the dilapidated dome. Thick dust covered everything, and the air was filled with a stale, suffocating odor.
Through a huge hole in the wall of the ruins, one could clearly see the hideous Colosseum in the distance, and around the Colosseum, the World Eaters warriors searching everywhere like a swarm of angry ants.
What a... crude and filthy place.
Fogremia stood at Leticia's side. Her pale pink-purple silk dress seemed so out of place in these dilapidated ruins, yet remained holy and untouched by a speck of dust. She slightly furrowed her beautiful brows, her amethyst eyes filled with undisguised disgust.
This Perfect Sword Princess harbored an instinctive repulsion toward anything that did not conform to her aesthetic standards.
Leticia ignored her complaint.
Her deep, pure black eyes calmly observed the situation outside.
A frontal assault would result in being besieged by the entire Legion.
Leticia's voice rang out calmly in the ruins, clearly reaching the ears of the two Sisters.
We must find an opportunity to face him alone.
Fogremia followed Leticia's gaze, looking at those World Eaters warriors who wore blue and white paint, now mottled with blood and grime, and a cold arc curled at the corner of her mouth.
A bunch of beasts that only know how to slash with brute force... even the word 'warrior' is an insult to them.
She thought disdainfully to herself.
But the problem was also staring them in the face.
My Lady Sister, Fogremia spoke, her voice soft and pleasant. These beasts have keen senses, and they worship pure violence. Any form of stealth is seen as cowardly behavior in their eyes and will only incite their stronger contempt and killing intent. It is impossible for us to reach Angron without alerting anyone.
This was almost an unsolvable deadlock.
How could one make contact with their Primarch alone, under the watchful eyes of thousands of enraged Space Marines who viewed combat as the only truth?
This planet, the entire Colosseum, was an absolutely closed execution ground that Angron had built for himself.
He did not allow anyone to disturb him.
Nor did he allow anyone to escape.
Leticia remained silent.
She knew that what Fogremia said was the truth. Dealing with this group of warriors whose minds had already been twisted by the Butcher's Nails, any strategy seemed pale and powerless. They only believed in the chainaxes in their hands and only listened to the ceaseless roar of fury in their heads.
Inside the ruins, a brief silence fell.
Only the sound of Terrania's slightly rapid breathing due to nervousness remained.
Suddenly, a soft chuckle broke the stagnation.
However...
Fogremia turned around, her moonlight-like silver hair tracing a graceful arc in the dim light. A smile, confident to the point of arrogance, bloomed on her flawless face.
Since they only recognize combat...
In her amethyst eyes, a light called inspiration and pride flickered.
Then let's give them a battle—the most perfect battle—one they could never imagine and could never reach.
Leticia raised her eyes and looked at her.
Fogremia stepped forward, bowed slightly, and with an elegance bordering on theatrical, presented her plan to her goddess.
I will challenge them.
Her voice was filled with iron-clad confidence.
In the name of Perfection, I will show these beasts, who only know how to vent their emotions with crude slashes, what true combat art—the kind that belongs to gods—is.
When an impeccable, epic, and magnificent feast of slaughter is staged before their eyes, all their attention, all of their pathetic little thoughts, will be firmly fixed on me.
Their gaze will not be able to move away from me, not even for a second.
This was a classic overt strategy.
A simple, crude, yet perfectly fitting strategy for the current situation.
Fogremia intended to use herself as the sole and most dazzling bait to attract the firepower and attention of the entire World Eaters Legion.
Using a one-sided, artistic massacre to create the unique time and space for Leticia to infiltrate the Colosseum.
Leticia quietly watched Fogremia.
She looked at this perfect First Knight, whom she had personally molded.
Looking at the pride on her face born from absolute self-confidence, and the fervor in her eyes, longing to achieve glory for her.
She knew this was not just a plan.
It was also Fogremia's declaration.
It was her showing her new master her value as a sword.
Good.
Leticia nodded, saying only one word.
But the trust contained within that one word made the smile on Fogremia's face instantly become incomparably brilliant.
It was a tremendous satisfaction, originating from the soul, of having received the highest recognition.
Stay safe.
Leticia added.
As you command, my Goddess.
The smile on Fogremia's face became even softer. She bowed elegantly once more, and then her entire figure dissolved into tiny specks of purple light, vanishing from the spot.
The next second.
Boom—!
A blindingly brilliant pillar of silver light, like a spear of judgment cast down by a god, descended with unrivaled momentum, landing precisely on the most open ground in front of the World Eaters Legion's temporary command post!
The immense impact blasted a circular shallow crater into the ground, and the rising dust and shockwave caused the surrounding World Eaters warriors to stumble backward.
Everyone looked toward the center of the beam of light in astonishment.
The light dissipated.
A stunningly beautiful woman, wearing a pale pink-purple silk dress with moonlight-like silver hair reaching her waist, stood there quietly.
In her hand, she held a gorgeously crafted silver longsword that was taller than she was.
Facing the thousands of murderous demigod giants around her, she not only showed no fear but slowly raised her flawless face, revealing a condescending smile that carried a hint of contempt and a hint of instruction.
A clear, arrogant, yet musical voice, amplified by psychic power, rang out clearly over the entire area, reaching the ears of every World Eaters warrior.
Emperor's Children, Fogremia, here to offer instruction.
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