047, report to the political commissar, the front is Tyron (middle)

[You presented the corpse of a Lictor to Commander Draco.]

[The tech-priest from the scouting unit at the exploration base confirmed that no such creature exists on Tyran.]

[This is likely an entirely new, unknown species.]

[Once again, you stressed the severity of the situation to Commander,]

[insisting that all soldiers must be mobilized and prepared for battle.]

[Commander agreed with your assessment,]

[and asked you to brief the 358th Regiment about the unknown lifeforms they were about to face.]

[Without hesitation, you spoke to the soldiers of the 358th Regiment, sharing some hard truths.]

["This is a far more terrifying threat than the green-skinned Orks," you said.]

["They are a predatory species from the vast void beyond our galaxy, creatures that seem to exist only to consume, evolve, and increase their numbers…"]

["In the future, the Imperium will call them 'the Great Devourer' or perhaps…" you whispered, bitterness creeping into your voice.]

[By the third week, all Warp communications from the exploration base on Tyran were cut off.]

[The 358th Regiment could only try to contact the Endeavor-class light cruiser orbiting the planet by using aerial vehicles.]

[The sea around the island had become deathly silent, the once vibrant ocean now lifeless.]

[For an entire week, you barely slept.]

[Every day, you and your lieutenant, Lawrence, repeatedly inspected the defensive lines.]

[The island's exploration base had no clear front line; every side was the front.]

[During one of your inspections, a conscript accidentally dropped his lasgun, trembling with fear after hearing your earlier warnings.]

[Lieutenant Lawrence moved to reprimand him, but you gently stopped him.]

[You calmly picked up the conscript's lasgun and carefully placed it back over his shoulder.]

[You patted the young soldier's face—he was barely of age—and then looked around at the eyes of the other conscripts.]

["I know we're about to face a terrifying war, one unlike any we've ever encountered. You're all scared of this unfamiliar enemy… to be honest, I'm scared too, even though I've died many times before…" you said with genuine sincerity.]

["But… we are soldiers! Guardians of the Imperium of Man! We are the first line of defense for countless human worlds! We cannot retreat! We dare not retreat! We must offer ourselves in sacrifice to uncover the enemy's weaknesses and lay the foundation for humanity's future victory! As the Commissar of the 358th Regiment, I promise you this: when the enemy charges, I will be the first to lead the assault! Even if I die in battle, I will die before you, at the front of the charge!"]

[The veins in your neck bulged as you shouted, pulling your chainsword free and raising it above your head.]

["For the Emperor! For the Imperium of Man!" you roared, bloodshot eyes blazing with fervor.]

[At first, only Lawrence offered mild applause.]

[Then, the young conscript whose weapon had dropped cheered, his voice rising in excitement. Soon, others followed, until the entire base roared with thunderous approval.]

[The fighting spirit of the 358th Regiment surged through the skies above the planet Tyran, reverberating across the stars.]

[In the fourth week, a seemingly endless purple tide appeared on the shores of the exploration base.]

[This was the vanguard of the Great Devourer, swarms of swift Gaunts and Hormagaunts surging like a relentless wave across the land around the base.]

[The hum of lasguns filled the air as countless energy beams formed a defensive barrage, while the three support squads deployed heavy bolters and mortars to stem the purple flood.]

[You ran through the bunkers, carrying a hellgun, directing the heavy weapon teams to target the towering Tyranid Warriors amidst the swarms.]

[Commander Feilong led a full company to guard four lascannons, ready for the inevitable assault of the flying Tyranid Gargoyles.]

[Time crept by slowly, but thanks to your earlier preparations and repeated warnings,]

[the 358th Regiment fought without fear in their first encounter with the Great Devourer,]

[even temporarily repelling the Tyranid advance through sheer morale.]

[During a brief lull in the fighting, however, countless crimson Rippers emerged from the sea, crawling onto the island to devour the corpses of their fallen kin.]

[In the fifth week, massive Spore Mines, the size of Chimera infantry tanks, appeared on the battlefield.]

[Their ridged backs sprouted living artillery, launching barrages of spore mines that relentlessly bombarded the bunkers.]

[For the first time, the defending soldiers—whose positions had once been secured by the bunkers—suffered heavy casualties.]

[After analyzing the situation with Commander, you concluded that you must locate the Hive Tyrant, the key synapse creature.]

[You planned a decapitation strike based on previous battles against the Orks.]

[Unfortunately, before you could locate the Hive Tyrant, gigantic Carnifexes appeared at the front line. These living siege engines, bred to crush enemy defenses, effortlessly toppled Leman Russ tanks.]

[You considered ordering the lascannons to fire at the Carnifexes, hoping to stop them from reaching the battered bunkers.

[But Commander stopped you.]

["Hold the lascannons back," he said cautiously. "They're meant as a surprise for the Tyranid commanders. Don't use them unless the Hive Tyrant appears."]

[The mighty roar of the Basilisks echoed through the base, turning countless Gaunts, Hormagaunts, Carnifexes, and Spore Mines into bloody pulp, only to be scavenged quickly by the ever-hungry Rippers.]

[Breathing in the thick, smoke-filled air, you stared silently at the Rippers outside the shattered bunkers.]

[Devour and evolve—this was the Great Devourer's most terrifying ability.]

[In the sixth week, the towering form of a Hive Tyrant appeared at the edge of the battlefield.]

[You ordered the tech-priest to recalibrate the lascannons and fire on the Hive Tyrant.]

[However, while the lascannons obliterated its guards, the Hive Tyrant itself noticed their presence.]

[Its movements became increasingly erratic and difficult to track, and despite several attempts, you failed to land another successful shot.]

[Facing an even more intense assault from the swarm, with many bunkers and soldiers lost,]

[the remaining three companies of the 358th Regiment were forced to retreat inside the exploration base for a final stand.]

[Commander, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, made a reckless decision. Ignoring your heated protests,]

[he personally led two Leman Russ tanks into the swarm, attempting to draw the Hive Tyrant's attention and buy time for the lascannons to take it down.]

[Just when it seemed that the Leman Russ tanks might succeed,]

[one of them was suddenly overturned by a monstrous creature that burst from the ground.]

[A towering, black-armored behemoth, its exoskeleton exuding thick smoke, blood-red limbs wielding serrated blades—]

[The Swarmlord!]

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