069, Ku'gath, Father of Plagues (3)
[Week Six: The expedition force is about to reach the frontline of the battlefield.]
[You notice something unsettling.]
[The environment surrounding the expedition force has changed in a twisted way.]
[Countless decaying, blackened trees lie fallen across the ground, and writhing green vines cling to them, swaying in the breeze.]
[Recently fallen rainwater has gathered into swamps emitting a horrific stench.]
[The changed terrain has made progress difficult for the expedition force.]
[The Leman Russ tank you're operating barely manages to navigate these harsh conditions.]
[However, other faithful members of the expedition are experiencing increasing casualties.]
[Some are swallowed instantly by the bottomless, foul-smelling swamps.]
[Others accidentally touch the splattered mud, which causes their bodies to decay, leaving them wishing for death.]
[In the face of such dire circumstances,]
[even the War Apostle Matthieu has had to step up.]
[He has stood atop the war train for several days,]
[desperately preaching to the faithful.]
[It seems he's attempting to use the power of faith to resist the invisible threats from the plague army, soothing the souls of the followers.]
[Perhaps it was truly the Emperor's mercy.]
[Despite heavy losses, the expedition force manages to pass through the swamps.]
[Week Seven: Your expedition force has entered a misty wasteland.]
[You feel an odd sense of familiarity with the scenery.]
[However, you don't have much time to ponder.]
[The moment the expedition enters the wasteland, countless plague zombies and even stronger plague-bearers emerge from the thick fog.]
[Compared to the locally transformed plague zombies, plague-bearers form the core of the plague army's power.]
[Meanwhile, giggling Nurgle spirits jump off the plague-bearers' shoulders.]
[They act like ticking time bombs, eagerly leaping towards the faithful.]
[Suddenly, the hum of countless lasguns, the zealous cries of the faithful,]
[and the booming of bolters wielded by the Sisters of Battle fill the surroundings.]
[With a stoic expression, you pull the trigger of your twin autocannon,]
[sweeping down the plague-bearers holding rotten weapons or human bones.]
[At the same time, the Leman Russ tank's engine roars as its metal treads crush any enemy in its path.]
[However, a mountainous, terrifying figure appears on the battlefield in an instant.]
[With the appearance of Ku'gath, the Great Unclean One of the plague army,]
[the already scarce heavy tanks of the Cadian regiment suffer heavy losses.]
[One Leman Russ tank, unable to evade, is swallowed whole by Ku'gath's gaping maw.]
[Inside the Unclean One's belly, his rotting entrails churn, gradually melting the tank's armor.]
[Pungent green bile floods the interior, instantly snuffing out the lives of the mortal soldiers within.]
["Prepare to concentrate fire!" Colonel Odrameyer's order reaches your ears.]
[In an instant, the tank commander maneuvers the Leman Russ, searching for the right angle.]
[The gunner, freshly loaded, carefully rotates the turret.]
[Ignoring the scalding heat of the autocannon, you keep clearing the plague-bearers and zombies swarming the tank.]
[With each passing moment, every Leman Russ tank on the battlefield gains more damage to its armor.]
[The decaying weapons wielded by the plague-bearers are not without effect.]
[At this moment, your hands burn from the hot gun barrel, giving off a scent of roasted flesh.]
[You grit your teeth and endure.]
[As the autocannon nears its last rounds,]
[the tank cannon's thunderous blast finally echoes across the battlefield.]
[The horned Great Unclean One's massive body wobbles,]
[greasy flesh bursting with ghastly, gaping wounds.]
[But as you think the battle might be won,]
[Ku'gath's horrific wounds start to heal rapidly.]
[You can't help but take a deep breath.]
[You empty the remaining rounds in your autocannon.]
[Your brow furrows as you fall into deep thought.]
[You stare at Ku'gath's rampage across the battlefield, and a mad idea takes root.]
["Commander! Let's charge straight at it! We'll launch a death assault on that monster!" you shout to the commander.]
[The silent commander doesn't hesitate.]
[He sharply turns the tank, pressing the throttle to the floor.]
[The tank rolls over countless plague-bearers as it charges furiously at Ku'gath.]
[Meanwhile, the gunner seems to understand your intention.]
[He loads another high-explosive round, adjusting the turret's angle, aiming the long barrel at the Unclean One ahead.]
[You pull out a melta bomb from the empty ammo box with your burned hands.]
[It was something you grabbed unintentionally during your last resupply.]
[Without expression, you tuck the melta bomb into your coat.]
[At that moment, your tank's reckless charge appears to capture Ku'gath's attention.]
[Dropping the half-melted wreckage of a tank, Ku'gath swings his bloated head and begins lumbering toward you.]
["It's you! I smell your stench! You're the corpse puppet who ruined my Plague Gift! Give it back!" Ku'gath roars across the battlefield.]
[You take a deep breath.]
[A glint of realization lights up your eyes as you understand.]
["Ah, I see…" you murmur with a grin.]
[In that moment, Ku'gath lunges at the tank in fury.]
[Just as his gaping maw is about to engulf the tank,]
[the gunner seizes the moment and fires.]
[At the same time, the silent commander pushes the throttle to the limit.]
[With the high-explosive round's booming blast and the tank engine's fierce whine,]
[half the tank and its long barrel ram into Ku'gath's putrid, rotting body.]
[Dizzy from the impact, you quickly open the sealed hatch at the top of the tank.]
[You stick your head out, staring into Ku'gath's hateful, close-set eyes, and grin.]
["The Emperor sends his regards… you filthy fat blob."]
[You leap out of the tank, melta bomb in your scalded hand.]
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