Dark Disciple(科幻战争)-第35章

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Somewhere　in　the　distance　there　was　an　echoing　clang。　It　was　impossible　to　gauge　the　distance
of　the　sound；　but　to　Marduk　he　felt　it　was　confirmation　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　explorator。
“Quickly；”　he　urged。
The　Anointed　were　leading　the　way；　their　combi…bolters　tracking　for　movement。　Khalaxis’s　auspex
throbbed　with　its　steady　light。
The　remainder　of　the　warriors　followed　single…file；　weapons　held　at　the　ready。
They　had　been　moving　within　the　Flame　of　Perdition　for　over　an　hour；　time　enough　to　have
walked　its　length　twice　over　had　their　path　not　been　so　circuitous　and　slow。　No　further　sound　had
been　heard　other　than　that　one；　distant　echo；　but　Marduk　was　confident　that　his　quarry　was　near。
The　First　Acolyte　was　lost　in　his　thoughts　when　it　happened。
A　sheet　metal　wall　panel　punched　inwards；　crumpling　like　synth…board；　and　a　blurred；　dark
shape　leapt　from　the　gaping　hole　in　the　wall。　A　clawed　limb　smashed　into　a　warrior　brother’s
helmet；　crumpling　it　like　paper；　and　hot　blood　spurted；　splashing　across　the　wall。
Marduk　saw　a　blur　of　limbs；　an　exoskeleton　of　dark　chitin；　and　another　warrior　brother　was
dead；　claws　tearing　an　arm　from　its　socket　and　punching　through　a　breastplate。
99
In　the　tight　confines　of　the　corridor；　all　was　suddenly　chaos；　with　warriors　shouting　and　bolters
barking。
The　warrior　in　front　of　Marduk　staggered　backwards　as　the　xenos　creature　turned　its　attention
towards　him；　claws　flashing。　In　an　instant；　his　hand　was　severed　at　the　wrist　by　the　flashing　claws；
the　bolt　pistol　in　his　hand　still　firing　as　it　hit　the　ground；　and　Marduk　stared　into　the　venomous　eyes
of　the　deadly　killer。
The　creature　was　bipedal　and　hunched；　its　four　arms　hanging　low　from　its　armoured　carapace；
and　its　hypnotic　eyes；　glinting　yellow　slashes；　set　deep　into　a　wide；　pallid　face。　Marduk　found
himself　ensnared　by　the　power　in　those　golden　orbs；　and　for　a　second　he　was　frozen　in　place；　staring
dumbly　at　the　alien。
It　pulled　the　disarmed　warrior　into　a　tight　embrace；　and　its　jaws　closed　around　the　Word
Bearer’s　helmet。
Bolter　fire　struck　the　xenos　creature　from　behind　and　a　high…pitched；　inhuman　scream　was
ripped　from　its　throat　as　chunks　of　chitin　were　blasted　from　its　body；　splattering　Marduk　with　its
vile；　xenos　blood。
The　splatter　of　blood　upon　the　skull…face　of　his　helmet　broke　his　hypnotic　reverie；　and　Marduk
lifted　his　bolt　pistol。　Even　as　his　finger　was　squeezing　the　trigger；　the　xenos　creature　spun　towards
its　assailant。
Marduk’s　shots　took　the　creature　in　the　back　of　the　head；　and　its　forehead　exploded　like　a
ruptured　egg；　spraying　brain　matter；　blood　and　shards　of　skull；　and　it　fell　to　the　ground；　dead；　a
tangle　of　alien　limbs。
Khalaxis　gave　a　warning　shout　as　his　auspex　suddenly　lit　up　with　movement。
“Contact；”　he　shouted。
“Where？”　bellowed　Kol　Badar。
“Everywhere！”　came　the　frantic　response。
Marduk　swore；　and　stared　down　in　disgusted　fascination　at　the　lifeless　corpse　of　the　xenos
creature　on　the　ground。
The　exposed　flesh　of　its　head　and　hands　was　pallid；　tinged　slightly　purple…blue；　and　its　chitinous
shell；　like　that　of　an　insect’s；　was　the　colour　of　the　night　sky。　It　had　been　monstrously　fast　and
strong；　and　the　fact　that　one　creature　had　managed　to　kill　two　veteran　Astartes　and　injure　another　in
mere　seconds　meant　that　this　corridor　was　not　a　place　Marduk　wanted　to　be　when　more　of　them
appeared。
“Move！”　he　hollered。
With　a　nod　from　the　Coryphaus；　the　Anointed　at　the　forefront　of　the　group　began　advancing。
The　Anointed　in　the　rear　began　firing；　their　combi…bolters　barking　loudly　as　they　fired　at　the
wave　of　creatures　surging　at　them　from　behind。　Passing　a　side　passage；　Marduk　looked　to　the　left
and　began　firing；　seeing　another　of　the　creatures　scuttling　up　the　corridor　towards　him　with
sickening　speed。　He　dropped　it　with　a　controlled　burst　from　his　bolt　pistol。
The　warriors　at　the　front　of　the　group　halted；　opening　up　with　their　weapon　systems　as　more　of
the　xenos　creatures　appeared。
“A　powerful　foe；”　growled　Burias…Drak’shal　with　relish；　forming　the　words　with　some　difficulty
now　that　his　mouth　was　filled　with　daemonic　tusks　and　teeth。
Marduk　shook　his　head；　and　swung　to　his　right；　blasting　another　of　the　xenos　creatures。
A　sheet　of　metal　in　the　shadowy　ceiling　overhead　smashed　down　in　front　of　him；　and　another　of
the　creature’s　leapt　towards　him；　murderous　claws　flashing　for　his　face。
Burias…Drak’shal　leapt　past　Marduk　and　hit　the　creature　in　mid…air；　driving　it　into　the　reinforced
steel　wall；　which　buckled　inwards　at　the　force　of　the　blow。　The　possessed　warrior　and　the　deadly
xenos　creature　were　locked　together　as　they　slid　to　the　floor；　thrashing　frantically；　limbs　entangled。
100
After　a　few　frantic　seconds　of　combat；　the　fight　ended；　Burias…Drak’shal　pinning　the　creature’s
head　to　the　wall　with　one　of　his　thick　talons。　Pulling　his　talon　free；　the　creature　slumped　to　the
ground。　Burias　looked　up　at　Marduk；　a　feral　grin　plastered　across　his　daemonic　visage。　His　armour
was　hanging　loose　from　his　body　in　half　a　dozen　places；　and　strips　of　flesh　had　been　torn　from　him；
but　his　pleasure　was　palpable。
“Good　fight；”　he　said　with　some　difficulty。
“Good　fight；”　said　Marduk；　with　somewhat　less　enthusiasm。
The　Anointed　had　picked　up　their　pace　again；　blasting　with　their　combi…bolters　as　they　stamped
forwards。　Marduk　heard　the　roar　of　a　reaper　autocannon　firing　on　full　auto；　and　the　alien　screams　of
dying　xenos。
To　Marduk’s　right；　one　of　the　17th　coterie　was　standing　braced　in　an　open　doorway。　A　dozen
xenos　creatures　were　hurtling　up　the　side…corridor　towards　him；　their　claws　clicking　like　the　legs　of
an　insect　scuttling　along　a　metal　table。　The　warrior’s　flamer　roared；　and　they　screamed　and　thrashed
as　they　were　engulfed　in　flaming　promethium。
One　of　the　creatures；　its　body　wreathed　in　flame；　leapt　through　the　inferno；　and　ripped　the
warrior’s　head　from　his　shoulders　with　one　sweep　of　its　claws。　Marduk　hacked　his　chainsword　into
the　alien’s　neck；　the　teeth　of　the　weapon　whirring　madly　as　they　ripped　through　chitin　and　flesh；
spraying　blood　in　all　directions；　and　the　creature　fell　twitching　to　the　ground；　tongues　of　fire　still
burning　across　its　body。
The　corridor　was　a　charnel　house；　promethium　burning　fiercely　across　the　walls　and　floor；　and
the　blackened　corpses　of　the　aliens　were　smoking　ruins。　Still；　more　of　the　creatures　were　leaping
forwards；　throwing　themselves　towards　Marduk　along　the　blackened　hallway。
Snatching　up　the　flamer　from　the　lifeless　hands　of　the　headless　warrior　at　his　feet；　Marduk
squeezed　the　trigger；　sending　a　wall　of　flame　roaring　down　the　corridor；　lighting　up　the　darkness　and
engulfing　the　wave　of　xenos　creatures。　They　screamed　as　they　died；　chitin　melting　and　eyes　dripping
down　their　blackened　faces。　Still；　several　of　the　creatures　continued　to　claw　their　way　towards　him；
and　he　sent　another　burst　of　flame　shooting　down　the　corridor。
The　warriors　of　the　Legion　continued　their　advance　for　five　minutes；　being　attacked　by　wave
after　wave　of　xenos　assailants　that　hurtled　headlong　into　their　gunfire。　They　must　have　killed
somewhere　in　the　realms　of　thirty　of　the　deadly　creatures；　ripping　them　apart　with　concentrated
bursts　of　bolter　fire　and　flame；　though　it　was　clear　that　they　could　not　endure　such　a　furious　assault
indefinitely。
It　was　impossible　to　gauge　the　number　of　the　enemy　in　the　shadowy　confines；　but　the　Word
Bearers　were　already　running　low　on　ammunition。　Firing　a　final　burst　of　flame　behind　them；
Marduk　discarded　the　flamer　unit；　dropping　it　to　the　ground；　its　promethium　canister　expended。
“Keep　moving；”　he　barked　as　he　drew　his　bolt　pistol　once　more。
Kol　Badar　hissed　as　the　claws　of　a　xenos　creatures　sheared　through　one　of　his　immense　shoulder
plates；　gouging　a　deep　wound　in　his　flesh。　Firing　his　combi…bolter　at　point　blank　range；　explosive
rounds　tore　through　the　thorax　of　the　creature；　ripping　it　in　two。　He　smashed　another　alien　predator
away　with　a　backhand　sweep　of　his　fist；　the　blow　crushing　bone　and　sending　it　reeling　into　the　wall。
Another　creature　leapt　upon　him；　claws　scraping　deep　furrows　through　his　Terminator　armour；　and
its　jaws　opened　wide　as　its　thick；　muscular　tongue　darted　towards　his　throat。
The　Coryphaus　closed　his　power　talons　around　his　xenos　attacker’s　head；　coruscating　energy
rippling　up　the　long　blades。　With　a　twist；　he　ripped　the　alien’s　head　from　its　shoulders；　half　a　metre
of　its　spinal　column　still　attached；　and　flung　it　away　from　him　before　unloading　with　his　combibolter
once　more；　tearing　another　two　aliens　apart　with　concentrated　bursts　of　fire。　Warning　icons
flickered　before　his　eyes　as　the　chambers　of　his　weapon　emptied。
“Swap；”　ordered　the　hulking　Coryphaus；　and　he　stepped　to　the　side　to　allow　the　Anointed
warrior　behind　him　to　pass。
101
The　massive　warrior　stamped　forwards　to　take　up　the　position　at　the　front　of　the　formation；　and
his　freshly　loaded　weapon　roared。
“Keep　moving；”　ordered　Kol　Badar　as　he　reloaded；　feeding　a　fresh　pair　of　ammunition　belts　into
his　weapon　system　and　locking　them　into　position。　His　weapon　whined　and　pulled　the　first　bolts　into
the　firing　chambers；　and　the　warning　icon　within　his　helmet　flashed　green　and　disappeared。
The　formation　approached　a　cross…junction；　the　side…passages　hidden　from　view　by　the　dull
metal　corners。
“Khalaxis；”　said　Kol　Badar。　“Grenades。”　The　column　paused　briefly　as　the　sergeant…champion
of　the　17th　primed　a　pair　of　frag　grenades。
“Fire　in　the　hole！”　he　shouted；　tossing　the　grenades　forward。　Kol　Badar’s　optic　stabilisers
compensated　for　the　sudden　flash　as　the　grenades　exploded；　dimming　his　vision　so　that　the　sudden
flash　did　not　blind　him；　and　instantly　the　column　was　moving　once　more；　the　lead　warriors　stepping
around　the　blind　corners。
Lumps　of　flesh　and　severed　xenos　limbs　had　been　scattered　by　the　explosions；　and　Kol　Badar
began　to　fire　as　he　picked　up　movement。　The　creatures　had　been　lying　in　ambush　for　them；　and　he
gunned　a　pair　of　them　down　as　his　auto…sensors　flashed　up　targeting　cross…hairs　before　his　eyes。
Too　late；　he　registered　a　flash　of　movement　to　his　flank；　and　tried　to　bring　his　weapon　to　bear　on
the　alien　leaping　towards　him　from　the　sid