Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

"Greetings, my brothers," Ferrus replied. Then, the usual parade and welcoming ceremony followed. After the ceremony, the Iron Hands were led to the Warrior's Society to mingle with the other Legions while the Primarchs completed their duties. The handover of troops was simple and swift. The Emperor had already made his decision, and as his sons, he only had to carry it out. For the Primarchs, taking this opportunity to connect with one another was paramount.

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The four Primarchs sat together. Horus and Ferrus faced each other, flanked by Fulgrim and Klax. They chatted about war, Imperial affairs, history, culture, and various rumors. Horus handled these topics with ease, while Fulgrim was multifaceted. Ferrus, on the other hand, was a learned man. Klax, on the other hand, was a good listener.

As the two sides chatted, they talked about the only Primarch who was not present - Leman Russ, as well as his allies and the legions they belonged to.

"Russ is lucky. Only on special occasions can we brothers gather together. And when Rus was in Fenris, he had his allies with him. He treated Lord Balder like a brother, just like us." Horus said casually, watching the other brothers' reactions with a hint of anticipation.

"Is the person who is so highly regarded by the Russ brothers as good as us?" Fugen asked, while Clarks looked curious.

"I heard he is a very outstanding craftsman and wizard. He uses psychic power to do many things that ordinary people can't imagine." Horus said.

"Lord Balder is an exceptional lord, craftsman, commander, and master of psychic powers. His abilities are exceptional, no less impressive than those of us present here. I've interacted with him, and he never lets his prowess become arrogant. He treats every comrade with kindness. He is a man of high moral character, faithfully fulfilling his duties, showing compassion and protecting the weak, and fighting the xenos with a fearless spirit. I regard him as an equal, and we've benefited greatly from sharing our experiences and insights. I hope my brothers will also show sufficient respect for outstanding individuals." Ferrus looked at Horus and stood by Balder without hesitation. His words brought a temporary calm to the meeting.

"It's really incredible," Fulgrim said. He didn't have much aversion to psychic powers, but the idea that a mortal could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, especially coming from one of his brothers, made him a little uncomfortable.

"We can't deny that the Sigillite is excellent, right?" said Ferrus.

"My children have worked with him before, and they speak highly of him. And since he's treated as an equal by two Primarchs and accepted as a disciple by the Sigillite, he must be quite capable," Horus said, smoothing things over. Fulgrim was clearly a bit unhappy with this statement, while Ferrus firmly supported Balder. Klax didn't express his opinion. Continuing this topic was clearly inappropriate.

Ferrus couldn't help but frown at Horus's actions, lowering his opinion of his brother. He knew something, something both Russ and Ducain had said. Ferrus disapproved of such underhanded tactics. However, he didn't argue with Horus on the point. The conversation quickly turned to their respective Legions. Coincidentally, within the Warrior's Order, battles were underway. Iron Hands warriors were battling officers and soldiers from the Luna Wolves, the Emperor's Children, and the Dusk Raiders.

In the arena, the Iron Hands' performance seemed somewhat underwhelming. Looking at the arenas projected on the screen, a hint of a smile played on Horus's lips. It was clear that his offspring had the upper hand. He stole a glance at Ferrus, whose expression seemed calm. Yet, he seemed to be planning something.

"That Beckett brat's going too far," Horus whispered to Abaddon beside him. Just now, a Luna Wolves captain named Beckett had knocked an Iron Hands captain off the ring. Both sides were unarmored, fighting with pure physical strength. The contest involved swordplay and hand-to-hand combat.

"I will teach him a lesson later, father. This kid is too arrogant. He is just an ordinary one in the legion." Abaddon said in Horus' ear.

"Hmph." Ferrus's expression darkened. He clearly understood that Horus was being somewhat defiant. The implication of the tall attendant beside Horus was clear: Beckett seemed unworthy of mention among the Luna Wolves. Abaddon could easily handle him.

"Try not to engage your opponent in close combat." Ferrus remembered what Baldur had once said to him. At the time, Ferrus wasn't happy about it, as it seemed to be somewhat dismissive of the Iron Hands' melee abilities. But now, with more experience and knowledge, Ferrus had to admit that his Legion's melee combat was indeed lacking.

(Some legions are powerful, but lack any impressive melee champions. Other legions are awful, but have some truly impressive individuals. The Iron Warriors, for example, are considered powerful, but lack any one-on-one champions. The Night Lords are pretty average, but have freaks like Sevatar. The Iron Hands are similar; there's no one-on-one champion within the legion.)

"My brother, you challenge me in an area that I am familiar with and proficient in." Ferrus looked at Horus and said.

"Are you familiar with the area?" Horus was slightly stunned.

"Indeed, war is the field I am most familiar with and best at. The competition in the ring is just a joke in my spare time. After all, we can't fight with our upper bodies naked and using special wooden swords and fists." Ferrus stared at Horus with eyes like silver coins, and his calm eyes revealed a high fighting spirit.

"So what do you mean? You think this kind of ring fighting is meaningless?" Horus raised his eyebrows, hiding his unfriendly expression.

"Let's do this. You and my best offspring will each lead 100 warriors and use the individual equipment of our respective legions to engage in a simulated battle. The venue and combat situation will be set by you. After that, we will take some time to familiarize ourselves with the venue and formulate tactics. Then, we will conduct an exercise among ourselves. What do you think?" said Ferrus.

"Alright, since my brother is interested, I'm happy to join you," Horus agreed decisively. Fulgrim and Clarks were briefly stunned. They hadn't imagined such a fierce competition between the two sides. Or rather, even Horus hadn't expected it. Initially, he had only intended to slightly suppress his brother, but Ferrus's reaction was so intense!

(In fact, judging from his background, Ferrus was a bit aggressive, and encouraged and participated in competition and confrontation between the Legions. For example, when the Swordmaster Akulduna of the Second Company of the Imperial Children defeated the Iron Hands in an exercise, Ferrus was very unhappy, but everything was within the scope of reasonable competition. Moreover, Ferrus was one of the few people who had a head-on battle with other Primarchs before the Heresy, such as with Dorne. At the beginning, he was knocked to the ground because of his arrogance, but he won back in the end, so he also gained some recognition from Dorne.)

(In reality, before the Heresy, there were very few confrontations between the Primarchs. The only confirmed ones were the cat-and-dog fights, Russ and King Slasher, and Ferrus and Dorn. Therefore, Ferrus's suggestion of such an exercise in the text was perfectly normal. It also fits Ferrus's character. After all, Ferrus was also arrogant, as evidenced by his calling Guilliman a poor choice.)

However, when Ferrus issued the challenge, Horus had no choice but to accept it. For both his own sake and the glory of the Legion, he would not retreat. Before accepting, Horus used his superhuman brain to think for a moment. He felt that this confrontation was at least fair, and even beneficial to him!

If they were to find a planet and engage in a large-scale armored confrontation, Horus would definitely not agree. After all, the Tenth Legion was an expert in armored warfare, and Abaddon was Ducain's apprentice. It would be a fool's errand to have an apprentice against a master, and their skills were inferior. The Luna Wolves excelled at mobile warfare, but such engagements typically dragged on for long periods, leaving neither side with much time to waste. So Ferrus proposed a coordinated squad battle of 100 men each, a more feasible and fair strategy. The Iron Hands were confident in their skill and calculations, while the Luna Wolves were equally confident in their squad tactics and individual quality. So, Horus agreed to a clash!

As for the leaders of both teams, Abaddon was definitely on the Luna Wolves side, and Santo on the other. Both were leaders within the Legion, but neither was truly a leading figure. After all, neither Sejanus nor Ducain was present, which was a bit of a shame, but after all, it was a fair fight.

"Let's do this for now. We will determine the time and place within one Terra day, and then we will familiarize ourselves with the venue. Three days later, our two legions will have a friendly match. The entire battle will be over within one day. What do you think?" said Ferrus.

"No problem, then." As the saying goes, "If you don't agree, there's no point in saying anything." Horus was genuinely furious, even angrier than he'd been during his earlier clash with Krakos and himself. After all, this was the first person to challenge him head-on. And so relentlessly. But that was fine. Horus still had great confidence in his offspring, and after seeing the Iron Hands' performance in the ring, he felt a certain contempt for them. The meeting ended on a less-than-friendly note.

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"Horus, don't be angry. Perhaps our brother just sees it as an opportunity to learn from each other." After the meeting, Fugen said to Horus.

"It's just a competition between legions. My legion has done similar things with other legions before. It's very common, and this time is no exception. However, I want to win this exercise." Horus was still calm on the surface, chatting and laughing with Fulgrim.

"Abaddon, don't let me down. You are the best squad commander in the legion now. I want to achieve a perfect victory." Horus looked at his captain, a tall and strong man who led the charge in every battle and could kill generals and capture flags.

"The Iron Hands are proficient in frontal combat and armored warfare. They have advanced technology and a large number of heavy equipment. However, they are a little worse in heavy infantry combat. Their organization is somewhat rigid and their mobility is relatively low. If we promote mobile warfare, we will have a great chance of winning." Abaddon was also full of confidence.

"You shall select your own personnel and equipment. You may choose from among the entire Luna Wolves as you see fit, and win this engagement. That is all," Horus commanded. Abaddon then departed, while Fulgrim continued his conversation with Horus.

"What do you think of my brother?" Horus asked.

"Actually, there's a reason why Ferrus and Rus became friends. They both devoted most of their energy to the war. The only difference is that Ferrus wanted to prove that he was better than his brothers, while Rus was more reserved. He focused the rest of his energy on his own territory."

"But he didn't challenge Rus." Horus said dissatisfiedly.

"Because Ruth chose to give in on some things. Just like when he and you first met. Ruth doesn't want to cause trouble, he just wants to do his own thing."

"Believe me, Horus. In the minds of our brothers, this exercise may not be considered a provocation. He is simply eager to see the prey and wants to compete. He longs to become stronger through constant communication and competition. He is also a very simple person, a strong and self-disciplined person, but at the same time, he is not very flexible. He will be a good general and commander, but that's all."

"After all, our father didn't want to see a violent conflict between brothers this time, but it's clear that Ferrus didn't realize this, and in his father's eyes, he lost points."

"And I think that competition between legions is necessary. Otherwise, how can we prove that we are better?" Fugen finally said half seriously and half jokingly.

"Well, what you said makes sense, Fulgrim. You are always so thoughtful. But you are right, this kind of competition is common and effective." Horus's mood became better.

Ferrus's lack of cunning might actually be a good thing for him. After all, as Fulgrim had said, such a man would be a good commander, but at the same time, he would be far from the center of the empire, just like Russ. Regardless, Horus still wanted to make his brother realize how outrageous his ideas were.

"I am very interested in Ferrus. Maybe one day, my legion will have a fight with the Iron Hands." Fulgrim said in his heart.

Meanwhile, on Ferrus's flagship, Clarks was discussing the upcoming exercise with Ferrus.

"My brother, I never thought you would use such drastic means to express your attitude." Clarks said, looking at Ferrus's angular face.

"It's just an exercise. Horus has always liked to give orders to other legions, and I'm just reminding him to focus on his own legion and not meddle in other people's business. And I also want to see whether the famous Luna Wolves Legion is really as elite and invincible as the rumors say." Ferrus said nonchalantly.

Frankly, Ferrus had a negative impression of Horus from the very beginning. After meeting him, he wasn't only unimpressed by Horus's tactics, but rather felt somewhat disgusted. He also felt that, having returned to the Legion for so long, he needed to verify the quality of his own. Horus had given him this opportunity, and he naturally wouldn't let it go. Ferrus was even more hard-headed and confident than Horus.

"We are brothers after all. Although everything Horus did was indeed problematic, it would be best if we could raise it in a tactful manner," said Clarks.

"We are brothers, but first and foremost we are the military commanders that father relies on most, and our legion is the sharpest spearhead. We have a heavy responsibility. War is scientific and cruel. Any mistake or flaw will lead to unpredictable consequences, and as brothers, we should remind him in any appropriate way. And this exercise is just a normal thing. I don't mind the outcome of this exercise, and it doesn't matter if I fail. The important thing is that we can learn lessons from the exercise." Ferrus said.

"Perhaps Horus and Fulgrim would not think so."

"I don't care what they think. I believe that after this exercise, they will understand my good intentions," said Ferrus. "I have an obligation to make my brothers as good as me."

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The Legion's efficiency was remarkable. Soon, the two sides scheduled an infantry confrontation in the ruins of a city on a recently captured planet. The content of the confrontation was simple: eliminate the opposing team within the allotted time! Horus, ever the most discerning, only assigned Abaddon to lead the team, rejecting Horus Eichmander's request for a battle. He didn't gather all his captains and champions together, but instead selected a group from his own guards. On the Ferrus side, Gabriel Santo led the Ferrus guards for this exercise.

After the initial heated exchange, the two Primarchs' attitudes softened when they met again. Ferrus explained the importance of more strategic exchange between the Legions, and Horus expressed his understanding. However, the rivalry between them had already begun. On the chosen battlefield, warriors from both sides prepared for battle.

This exercise was a complete back-to-back battle. Before the battle began, both sides knew only that the opposing force consisted of 100 Legionaries, but were unaware of the opposing force's composition and weaponry. The Primarchs had learned some of the details before their subordinates participating in the exercise. Looking at the deployment charts for both sides, a look of understanding crossed Ferrus and Horus's faces.

In this engagement, both sides saw more than half of their Terminators participating. The Luna Wolves' remaining personnel consisted mostly of assault troopers carrying jetpacks, along with a number of scouts and standard tactical teams. The Iron Hands' order of battle, on the other hand, contained almost no assault teams, with only a small number of heavy weapons teams and scouts, and only a handful of tactical teams.

It can be said that the warriors on both sides have targeted their own strategies. The Iron Hands maximize their firepower, while the Luna Wolves are a fast-moving strike team. After all, in addition to the jump-pack assault warriors, the Terminators also possess short-range teleportation equipment.

Chapter 160 Contest and End

"Begin!" With a wave of Abaddon's hand, the Luna Wolves' legionnaires entered the battlefield. A squadron of scouts formed a cordon in front of the main force. Clad in special camouflage cloaks, they moved through the ruins, searching for any trace of the enemy. Behind them came the tactical squads, equipped with bolters, combination weapons, grenades, and melee weapons. And at the very end, led by Abaddon himself, were the Gastling Terminators and the Jumping Flyers.

"Are we really not going to deploy some heavy weapons teams in the company?" A second lieutenant said with some concern. Obviously, this team was specialized and completely abandoned the long-range heavy weapons support firepower. Not to mention the scouts and tactical teams, there were almost no heavy weapons, and the Gastlin Terminators also tended to be configured for close combat. Their main weapons were power swords and battle axes, as well as incendiary guns/plasma composite weapons in their hands. Some soldiers would install missile launchers on the back of the Terminator armor. These were their few heavy weapons.

"Equip with heavy weapons? This will reduce the number of our mobile forces, and we will not be able to defeat the Tenth Legion in a positional battle of the same scale. Our only chance of winning is to launch a quick assault and move the fighting mode into close combat. Only in this way can the Iron Hand's heavy weapons be ineffective. Except for my Gastlin Terminator squadron, all others are cannon fodder that attract the enemy's exposure." After Abaddon finished speaking, he buckled his helmet.

On the other side, Santo was also making final preparations before the battle.

"Let's do it this way. The Terminator unit will be in the middle, and the heavy weapons unit will be divided into three parts. One part will be on the side and rear of the Terminator unit, forming an iron triangle with the main force. I will assign a small number of Terminators to the heavy weapons unit to provide close combat capabilities. The reconnaissance unit will be in the front, responsible for discovering the enemy's targets, and then leave everything to the heavy weapons and Terminators." Santo's tactics, as always, reflected the style of the Iron Hands.

Santo's forces also included over 50 Terminators this time, but only 18 of them were Centurion Terminator armor from the Space Wolves. Yes, you read that correctly, only 18. Ferrus didn't go to extremes. Partly, he felt 18 Centurions were sufficient, but partly, they weren't his own. The Centurion Terminator's production process wasn't difficult, but the Fenris-made Brilliant Frost crystals were truly unique to Fenris. Furthermore, the Iron Hands didn't bring any advanced technology, like squad attack drones or battle droids.

Compared to the Luna Wolves, Santo had largely ignored the troop's mobility and operational flexibility. It wasn't that Santo didn't know, but rather that, since this was a war of annihilation, and taking place in a closed area, he simply needed to maximize his firepower.

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"Lone Wolf No. 1 did not find the target, report completed." A Shadow Moon Wolf scout did not find the enemy after scanning the target area, and then he transmitted the data.

"Neither does Lone Wolf 2."

"Lone Wolf 3 has found the target, a 3-man team, coordinates 135/241."

"This is a decoy," the lieutenant said to Abaddon.

"I know, but this bait can also be an opportunity for us to find the opponent. Tell the tactical team to quickly go around from the side under the guidance of the scout and keep quiet. Let the assault tactical team be ready to kill this team and the heavy weapons team behind it at the right time." Abaddon thought for a while and said.

Abaddon's idea was this: since the other side had exposed a squad, their supporting firepower must be behind the squad. As long as he took action, the heavy weapons behind would surely open fire. So Abaddon made an arrangement, that is, let the assault squad infiltrate first, and then attack the bait. Once the Iron Hand heavy weapons squad behind exposed its position, the lurking assault squad would go up and rush them out and be done with it.

If the opponent's counterattack firepower is particularly strong, it means that you have encountered the main force. You can just teleport over with the Terminator and go all in.

Abaddon's idea was correct, and the tactical process started smoothly. Abaddon proactively exposed a squad to attack. The Iron Hands squad, under attack, immediately went on the defensive, while the heavy weapons team behind them also opened fire. The automatic cannon shells and lasers were accurate and deadly. Even with the cover of the terrain, the Luna Wolves squad could not escape the hail of bullets. However, the Luna Wolves also discovered a hidden heavy weapons squad in this exchange of fire. Ten assault soldiers carrying jump packs quickly switched from hiding to assault, rushing towards the heavy weapons team in the distance!

"We've found our target!" Captain Ata of the assault team looked at the Iron Hands squad as they appeared in their field of vision. There were only four of them, while they had ten. Furthermore, they had deliberately attacked from the side, firing smoke grenades before the attack. The thick smoke obscured their squad. It was, in a sense, a perfectly executed tactical assault.

"Damn it! There's another heavy weapon nearby!" As a beam shot out from the ruins, it struck the squad members. As per the drill's pre-set assumptions, the power armors exposed to the weakened lasers immediately shut down, killing three members of the assault squad. But it didn't matter. Eventually, the remaining seven men managed to reach attack range, their combined weapons unleashing the first hail of bullets at the Iron Hands. The weakened explosives and plasma blanketed the target, and within seconds, Ata's squad secured two kills.

"Kill them!" The assault team began to land through the smoke, but at this moment, a tall figure suddenly rushed out from behind the nearby bunker.

"Is that a Dreadnought?" The towering figure in the distance stood at a full 3.5 meters tall. He sported a missile launcher strapped to his power armor, an autocannon in his left hand, and a power gauntlet combined with a bolter in his right. The sudden appearance of the iron giant aimed from the side at the newly landed Ata Squad. Then, a storm of steel erupted! In an instant, the three Luna Wolves were lying on the ground.

"Damn it! It's a Centurion Terminator!" By the time Ata's squad reacted, it was already too late. Several Luna Wolves hastily aimed their combined weapons at the target, but the standard explosive rounds barely scratched the armor, and the plasma shells were deflected!

However, even in the terrible environment, the Luna Wolves still demonstrated extremely high tactical qualities. Two assault warriors quickly rushed towards the two Iron Hands heavy weapons team members who had no time to evacuate, and eliminated them with excellent and skillful melee combat. The remaining Ata took another colleague and rushed up from two directions, trying to use the melta bomb to eliminate this guy.

"You're kidding!" Anor quickly delegated the attack to the Machine Spirit. The autocannon in his right hand and the missile launcher above his head simultaneously locked onto two different targets. In a fraction of a second, the ammunition fired at different targets eliminated the two Luna Wolves. However, in the end, someone still threw two hot melt bombs.

A dazzling ball of fire rose from the ruins. Although it didn't hit the target directly, the violent explosion still caused the training system to determine that the armor was seriously damaged. At this time, the last two Luna Wolves rushed forward. Anor used the grenade launcher in his left hand to deal with one of the Iron Hands, and the other used a plasma grenade to deal with the Centurion Terminator.

"This is Team Ata. There are only me and one soldier left in the entire team." Then, the only remaining Luna Wolf reported the situation to Abaddon.

"How could this happen?!" Abaddon, receiving the message, was completely devastated. A squad expert in melee combat had assaulted a group of heavily armed ranged support troops. Despite ambushing them and throwing smoke bombs, they were outnumbered 1 for 2! How could they possibly fight back? The Iron Hands' information network and firepower had indeed exceeded Abaddon's expectations. The assault squad launched their attack, but was intercepted and killed mid-strike. After landing, they were almost completely wiped out by the enemy. This level of firepower precision and reaction speed was something Abaddon had never encountered before.

"We only have one chance! If we can't catch their main force, we're done." However, before Abaddon could make a choice, the scouts and tactical teams he had deployed on the periphery were attacked by the Iron Hands! Intensive firefights came from a distance, leaving Abaddon with little time.

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"That's all I feel." After the first round, Santo was quite satisfied with the outcome. Scouts from both sides had spotted their opponents almost simultaneously, but Santo didn't attack first. Instead, he went on the defensive, blocking the opponent's initial attack before launching a counterattack. Feeling his advantage was immense, Santo began to become increasingly aggressive. The main Terminator was split into several smaller teams, all of whom, along with the heavy weapons team behind them, pressed forward. The scouts in front spotted their opponents and directed their fire, while the group of gunners behind unleashed a relentless barrage!

However, Santo's choice was obviously a bit too aggressive, or he underestimated the enemy. After almost all the troops were pressed forward, the firepower was definitely enough, but the front line seemed much weaker. Moreover, the Iron Hands' offensive was divided into several small teams due to the terrain, which gave the opponent an opportunity!

"We have figured out their location, prepare to teleport!" With the joint efforts of the scouts and technical sergeants, Abaddon finally determined the location of the main force of the Iron Hands. With the issuance of the teleportation order, the Gastlin Terminators began to teleport. Amidst flashes of light, 50 Terminators were divided into three teams and fell into the Iron Hands array.

"They are coming!" Looking at the Luna Wolves Terminators that suddenly appeared in front of them, the Iron Hands Terminators also took out their composite weapons and swords.

"I will personally lead the team in preparing for close combat. The remaining troops will maintain their distance and attack from a distance." Santo had anticipated the Luna Wolves' teleportation. Santo was absolutely confident in a direct, long-range engagement. The enemy's only chance lay in a deep strike after securing the firing point. If Santo could withstand this wave, victory would only be a matter of time. Furthermore, this time, Santo believed the Iron Hands brothers were equally unafraid of close combat.

However, the reality surprised Santo. Under Abaddon's leadership, the Gastling Terminators' melee attacks pierced the enemy's ranks like a sharp spear. In the initial engagement, Abaddon, like a walking storm of death, felled at least four Iron Hands Terminators. Faced with such a formidable opponent, Santo personally charged in and engaged Abaddon in close combat.

With a snap, Santo's lightning claws and Abaddon's longsword collided. Santo was clad in custom Centurion Terminator armor, while Abaddon's power armor was also taller and larger than his peers. However, Abaddon was more powerful than Santo, and Santo used the armor's advantage to achieve a draw in the first round. However, Abaddon's experience and swordsmanship made Santo's defense difficult, and he gradually fell into a passive position. The Centurion Terminator was larger, but less agile. It was generally not a problem as a ranged weapon platform, and it was indeed stronger than most Terminators in close combat. But this time, Santo was facing Abaddon!

Lightning claws and power swords were constantly swinging. After adapting to the opponent's powerful force, Abaddon gradually mastered the rhythm of the battle. He could always find Santo's weaknesses through roaming and exquisite swordsmanship, and then leave a scar on the opponent's heavy armor. At this time, the thick defense of the Centurion Terminator once again showed its effect. It greatly delayed the time for Santo to be defeated, but even so, Santo's defeat was doomed.

Even worse, the Gastlings were indeed stronger in melee combat than the Iron Hands, and the performance of both sides in the arena clearly reflected the Iron Hands' weakness in close combat. In this battle, the Luna Wolves gradually overwhelmed their opponents, but in other battlefields, the remaining Sons of Horus were shattered by the Iron Hands' dense and precise long-range firepower!

"Boy, you lose!" Seizing the opportunity, Abaddon's sword passed through the two lightning claws and pierced Santo's chest. At the moment of the violent collision, Santo was judged to be dead. At this time, the inside of the armor automatically locked, but before that, Santo completed the last step and looked at Abaddon with a smile.

"Alright, I win. You're weaker than I thought. If I can defeat you, I'll secure victory." Abaddon sheathed his sword, a satisfied smile on his face. On this battlefield, he led 20 Luna Wolves to attack an equal number of Terminators. In the end, almost all of their opponents were defeated, leaving only eight remaining. Abaddon believed that under his leadership, these eight Gastlin would be the decisive force in this battle.

"You haven't won the battle. During this time, I've already drawn sufficient firepower from other locations. The moment I fall, this place will be covered in fire, and you won't be able to escape," Santo said with a smile. And then, true to his words, a dense rain of missiles, plasma, and gravity waves instantly overwhelmed the area. The dense hail of bullets fired by ten Centurions and other Terminators completely destroyed everything. Abaddon was declared dead before he could even issue another order. The heavy rain of bullets rendered the victor's victory meaningless.

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"We're losing," Fugen, who was watching the entire battle from the sidelines, whispered. With the deaths of Abaddon and Santo, both sides' strongest units were simultaneously wiped out. The situation became clearer. From the previous round of fighting, it was clear that the Gastlins were indeed more skilled in close combat, but not to the point of overwhelming them. Abaddon's ability to trade 12 for 20 was fundamentally due to his outstanding individual performance.

Before engaging Santo, he had already slain six Gorgons and wounded two in return fire. Meanwhile, Santo had achieved less than half the damage of Abaddon in the same amount of time. Gastlin had an advantage against regular Terminators, but was at a disadvantage against the Centurion, who had a much thicker health bar and too many weapons. With two bolter bolts wrapped around his power fists, was this close combat?

The other two groups of deep-strike Gastlins failed to gain an advantage against the Gorgon Terminators mixed with Centurions. As for the remaining tactical and assault teams, they were at a disadvantage against the Iron Hands' information network and precise long-range fire. As the Iron Hands' long-range firepower gradually overwhelmed their opponents, the deep-strike Gastlins finally met their end.

Eventually, the exchange of fire came to a halt. The Gasterlings, having inflicted heavy damage, ultimately withdrew with only a dozen or so men. Iron Hands Terminators suffered slightly fewer casualties than their opponents, but they still had eight Centurion Terminators remaining. The remaining forces now outnumbered the opposing forces 8 to 57. In other words, the Children of Horus suffered the greater losses in this engagement.

"Santo's tactics are flawed." Ferrus, already arguably victorious, frowned. In his opinion, Santo was ill-prepared for the Terminator's deep strikes, and his close-quarters combat was clearly outmatched. It could be said that this was Iron Hand's technical victory, but tactically, he was the loser. If he didn't have something like the Centurion Terminator, a significantly superior weapon, he would have been the loser. Ferrus valued technology, but he didn't rely solely on it.

The confrontation continued, with the remaining Luna Wolves utilizing terrain, traps, and flexible tactics to ambush their opponents within the ruins. After a prolonged tug-of-war, the remaining forces on both sides were now 45 to 35. Facing complex terrain and the possibility of close-quarters combat, the Iron Hands' lack of agile tactical teams was exposed.

"Let's call it a draw. My legion has the advantage in equipment, but my descendants lack sufficient flexibility in the upcoming clearing operations." Finally, Ferrus spoke. At this time, there was only half an hour left before the end of the battle.

"No, you win. The remaining time isn't enough to close the gap," Horus said with a smile. Clearly, the Iron Hands had a slight advantage in this encounter. However, this advantage was due to their equipment. The Centurion Terminator's superior performance was indeed impressive, but it wasn't exclusive to the Iron Hands; the Luna Wolves could also purchase some.

From a tactical perspective, the Iron Hands excelled at long-range combat and frontal engagements, but lacked tactical flexibility and was somewhat inferior in close combat. Horus was aware of this, and believed that after negotiations with the Mechanicus, the latter would be able to help them make up for the shortcomings in their equipment.

"Very good, an impressive exercise. Both sides have their own advantages. We can learn from each other's strengths and make progress together. Let us get one step closer to perfection. So let's relax now?" Fugen stepped forward to smooth things over.

"A meeting between brothers should end with affection and blessings." Ferrus smiled and extended his hand to Horus. Ferrus was very satisfied with this exercise because he found his own shortcomings. Exchanging ideas with people of higher levels always allows people to learn something. For this reason alone, he thanked Horus.

"Yes, this was a memorable friendly match. Our two legions essentially represent the highest level of combat power in the Imperium of Mankind. I believe we all have a responsibility and obligation to make our brothers better." Horus said this to Ferrus. It was clear that he now regarded Ferrus as a highly competitive opponent. Facing challenges and overcoming them was also something Horus enjoyed.

Then, the brothers from each legion held a grand banquet, and most of them had a wonderful evening. However, Abaddon was not. He was annoyed by the defeat, but at the same time, he regretted that in the end, he was unable to fight the man who defeated Horus the Younger. Santo was no match for him, and defeating such a man in a single duel could not even bring Abaddon enough satisfaction.

During the banquet, his eyes were fixed on the person who followed behind the Crow King but was extremely easy to be ignored. He imagined that if there was a chance, the contest between the two sides would definitely be very memorable.

Meanwhile, Sharokin was also observing the various Legion elites present. Clarks noticed Sharokin's movements.

"Is there an opponent here that you are interested in?" Clarks looked at Sharokin.