The Genestealer Patriarch's grotesque, nacing face leaned closer.
"You went to great lengths to try to assassinate .
But it's all for nothing. My countless offspring are on their way.
You, and all your subordinates, will die here..."
As the Patriarch spoke, a series of explosions reverberated from the outer tunnels.
It seed so of the Guards had activated their self-destruct chanisms to take the Genestealers with them.
The distant roars of xenos echoed ominously—more were breaking through the defensive lines, rushing toward the chamber.
"Go hold them off! I'll handle the Patriarch!"
Eden's voice was firm, his eyes locked on the monstrous being in front of him.
Doni and Carter exchanged glances before nodding, quickly retreating with the Guards to fortify positions at the tunnel entrances.
The narrow terrain would help them hold back the oncoming tide of Genestealers.
Soon, the sounds of battle erupted behind them.
The Patriarch sneered mockingly.
"Look at your pitiful little expression. You want to kill , don't you?
Fine. I'll give you a chance to attack."
It extended its head toward Eden, its foul breath reeking of blood and decay.
"Take your best shot, little creature. Make it count..."
The Patriarch closed its eyes, appearing completely defenseless.
"Die!"
Eden roared as he drew his monomolecular blade, channeling all his strength into a strike aid at the Patriarch's eye.
But just as the blade neared its target, the Patriarch's eyes snapped open.
Buzz!
A psychic barrier flared to life, halting the blade mid-thrust.
The Patriarch's grotesque face twisted into a mocking grin.
"Foolish human, did you truly believe you could harm a being as great as ?"
With a thunderous roar, its massive fist swung forward.
Eden tried to dodge, but the psychic field locked his hand in place, leaving him vulnerable.
Boom!
The punch hit like a sledgehamr, sending Eden flying through the air. He crashed to the ground, rolling several tis before coming to a stop.
His blade slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the floor.
Coughing up blood, Eden struggled to his feet, his mind racing. He raised a hand to unleash a psychic counterattack, but the Patriarch was ready.
"I've been watching you. Your psychic power is far inferior to mine, and I won't give you the chance to use it!"
The Patriarch's four arms moved in unison, channeling psychic energy.
Invisible hands ford from raw psychic force, binding Eden and lifting him into the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Eden's body slamd against the walls and floor, leaving deep craters. The relentless impacts left him reeling, seemingly powerless to resist.
Satisfied, the Patriarch drew Eden closer, its voice dripping with contempt.
"Weak, ignorant human. Ti to die!"
Its razor-sharp tongue coiled back, ready to strike like a spear.
This was the Genestealers' preferred thod of execution—a brutal, head-piercing strike.
But instead of fear, a cold smirk appeared on Eden's face.
He had been waiting for this mont.
Having studied the Genestealers extensively—and having been parasitized once—he knew their tactics well.
Before the mission, he had worked with Kaul to create a specially modified suit of armor designed specifically to counter this attack.
Clang!
As the tongue shot forward, Eden's chest plate snapped open, revealing a spiked alloy panel bristling with barbs.
The tongue struck the panel, impaling itself on the barbs.
"Aaaaagh!"
The Patriarch scread in agony, recoiling its tongue only to tear off chunks of its own flesh.
Eden silently pitied the creature. Its tongue, a critical organ for egg-laying, was covered in sensitive nerves.
Imagining such an appendage being pierced by barbs and coated with potent toxins and anesthetics—courtesy of Kaul's enhancents—was enough to make anyone wince.
The toxins spread rapidly through the Patriarch's body, its tongue swelling and blackening. The combination of pain and the drugs disrupted its concentration, causing the psychic bindings on Eden to falter.
Eden dropped to the ground, imdiately springing to his feet.
"Ti to return the favor!"
He launched himself forward, delivering a powerful punch to the Patriarch's face.
But his fist stopped short, caught once again by a psychic barrier.
Even in its weakened state, the Patriarch was still a formidable opponent.
"You dare harm , the great one? You'll die in the most excruciating way!"
Eden gritted his teeth.
"Enough with the theatrics!"
His golden gauntlet transford, revealing jet nozzles along his arm.
This was the jet-propelled power fist, another of Kaul's creations.
Boom!
Compressed fuel ignited, sending flas and exhaust shooting from the jets, propelling his fist with unstoppable force.
Crack!
The psychic barrier shattered like glass as Eden's electrified, jet-propelled fist slamd into the Patriarch's jaw.
"Aaagh!"
The blow shattered its jaw, sending fragnts of teeth and its mangled tongue flying. The massive creature toppled backward, crashing to the ground.
Before it could recover, Eden was on it again.
"Eat this!"
He delivered another rocket-powered punch, driving the Patriarch further into the ground.
Just as he prepared for another strike—
Fizzle.
The fuel in his gauntlet ran out.
The Patriarch's expression shifted from relief to horror as the gauntlet transford once more.
Its outer casing fell away, revealing pistons and air pumps. High-pressure gas hissed as the pumps engaged.
Eden pinned the Patriarch down and began hamring its head with rapid, piston-driven punches.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each blow left deep dents in the creature's skull.
As a high-tier xenos, the Patriarch's regenerative abilities were formidable. Eden knew he had to finish it before the toxins and anesthetics wore off.
While pumling the Patriarch, Eden subtly channeled the power of the Little Sun, attempting to infiltrate the Hive Mind.
"Roar!"
The Patriarch let out an enraged cry, and Eden felt a shift in its aura.
"Damn it, the anesthetics wore off!"
The psychic barrier flared to life, throwing Eden off.
He rolled to his feet, only to see the Patriarch rising, its massive form casting a dark shadow over him.
Its jaw was twisted, its face riddled with injuries, but its voice was chillingly clear:
"Damned human... Die!"
A torrent of psychic energy surged toward Eden. He instinctively raised his hand to block, but the expected impact never ca.
Boom!
The Patriarch, seemingly traumatized, had turned and smashed through a weak section of the chamber wall, fleeing into the tunnels.
Cold calculation replaced its earlier rage.
If it escaped, it could rally its endless hordes and crush Eden with sheer numbers.
For now, retreat was the wisest option.
"This isn't over, human..."
(End of Chapter)
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