NCCnovel Chapter 257 Leave!
Chapter 257 Leave!
The smoke of battle had not yet completely cleared when the Dark Eldar commander stood at the porthole of his command ship, gazing at the devastated battlefield below. A flicker of resentment crossed his eyes, but more so, calm and calculated. Although the Dark Eldar warriors remained valiant, and although their levitation cavalry and elite troops were still putting up a fierce resistance, he knew clearly that if the war continued, the Dark Eldar would not be able to withstand the immense losses.
"Commander, our frontline troops have suffered heavy losses. The maglev cavalry has been suppressed, and our elite troops are unable to break through the enemy's defenses," an adjutant reported in a low voice, his tone tinged with anxiety.
The commander was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Pass down the order: the entire army must evacuate this world."
The adjutant paused, clearly not expecting his commander to make such a decision: "But, Commander, if we retreat now, all our previous efforts will have been in vain! And those Space Marines..."
The commander coldly interrupted him: "Our goal is to plunder resources and expand our power, not to fight to the death with a bunch of lunatics. This war has exceeded our expectations, and continuing will only cause us to lose more soldiers and resources. Retreat is the only option."
The adjutant lowered his head, offering no further objection. He knew the commander's decision was correct. The survival rules of the Dark Eldar were never about pointless sacrifices, but rather about shrewd calculations and weighing options.
The orders were swiftly relayed to the front lines. The Dark Eldar warriors began an orderly retreat, their levitation cavalry and elite troops quickly disengaging from the battle and regrouping at designated evacuation points. Drop pods and transport ships descended from the sky to pick up the remaining warriors.
Titus, standing atop the highest point of the stronghold, keenly sensed the enemy's movements. He swiftly issued orders via communicator: "The enemy is retreating! All personnel, listen up! Do not pursue! Fortify the lines! Sisters, cover their retreat route with fire! Delay their advance as much as possible!"
Celestine swiftly led the Sisters' warriors to reposition their firepower, and the roar of flamethrowers and bombardment guns once again echoed across the battlefield. The Dark Eldar's escape route was blocked by the fire, slowing their movements, but they still resolutely advanced towards the evacuation point.
Eric and Karl Bloodblade stood at the front lines, watching the enemy gradually retreat. Eric laughed and said, "Looks like these Dark Eldar finally can't hold on! Should we give them a final blow?"
Karl Bloodblade chuckled coldly and shook his head: "Titus's orders are clear: do not pursue. The Dark Eldar's retreat may not be a failure; they have simply chosen a more advantageous strategy. We don't need to take any risks."
Russell walked to the two men, his Bloodthirsty entrenching tool still stained with enemy blood. His gaze was cold as he said in a low voice, "Titus's decision was right. Our mission is to protect this world, not to pursue the enemy. The retreat of the Dark Eldar is already our greatest victory."
As the last Eldar warriors boarded the transport ships, the battlefield finally returned to calm. The Eldar command ship slowly rose into the sky and disappeared into the distant horizon. Their withdrawal signaled the end of the war and the victory of the Space Marines.
Titus stood atop the highest point of the stronghold, overlooking the entire battlefield. His gaze held a hint of weariness, but even more so, a sense of relief. He knew this victory hadn't come easily, but more importantly, they had successfully defended the world.
"For the Emperor, we have won," he murmured, then turned and walked toward the stronghold, preparing for the next mission.
Eric, Karl Bloodblade, Russell, and Celestine also gathered together, their faces showing the weariness of battle, but their eyes still burning with fighting spirit. This battle made them understand the importance of unity even more, and it also strengthened their beliefs.
There are never permanent friends, only permanent interests. This saying has once again become a reality after the Dark Eldar withdrew from this world.
The Wolf Pack and the Blood Knights were locked in a fierce battle over the distribution of resources on the planet. Just as Titus was racking his brains over this, Russell found Titus after the battle. His expression was as calm as ever, but there was a hint of urgency in his eyes.
“Titus,” Russell said bluntly, “my brothers and I need to get out of here. There are other battlefields that need our support, and we can’t stay here any longer.”
Titus frowned slightly upon hearing Russell's words. Over this period of fighting, he and Russell had developed a tacit understanding, even a friendship. He didn't want Russell to leave so soon.
“Russell,” Titus said in a deep voice, “I understand the urgency of your mission, but the situation here is not entirely stable yet. Eric and Carl… you know their personalities. If they stay here, I fear they will turn this planet into a mess.”
Russell shook his head, his tone calm yet firm: "Titus, this is between you two. My mission is to fight, not to mediate. I have other battlefields that need support, and I can't waste time here."
Titus was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Russell, I know you have your responsibilities, but I beg you, help me one more time. We need your strength to ensure the stability of this planet. Eric and Carl are brave, but their conflict could complicate the situation further. Only by joining forces can we solve this problem."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Russell's eyes. He disliked getting involved in such internal conflicts, but he knew Titus's concerns were not unfounded. Just then, Celestine approached. Her gaze was gentle yet firm as she softly said, "Russell, Titus's request is not without merit. The people of this planet need our protection, and the conflict between Eric and Karl could render our efforts futile. If you can stay and help us resolve this issue, the Emperor's glory will shine even brighter."
Russell glanced at Celestine, then at Titus, and finally nodded helplessly: "Alright, I'll stay. But this is the last time, Titus. We can't keep wasting time here."
A relieved smile appeared on Titus's face: "Thank you, Russell. Your help means a lot to me."
Russell waved his hand and said, "You're welcome."
Over the next few days, Titus and Russell began working to resolve the conflict between Eric and Carl. They convened a formal meeting between the two men, attempting to defuse their grievances through dialogue.
The meeting took place in a simple command room, and the atmosphere was tense from the start. Eric leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a faint smile on his lips: "Titus, you didn't call us here just to give us a lesson in 'unity and friendship,' did you?"
Karl Bloodblade sat in his chair, gave Eric a cold look, and said nothing.
Titus stood before the table, his gaze sweeping over the two men, and said in a deep voice, “Eric, Karl, I know there are some conflicts between you, but now is not the time for infighting. The people of this planet need our protection, and our enemies could return at any moment. If you continue like this, all our efforts will be in vain.”
Russell, standing to the side, added, "Titus is right. Your personal grudges should not affect the mission. If you cannot cooperate, then the future of this planet will be in jeopardy."
Eric shrugged and chuckled, "I never said I wouldn't cooperate. It's just that some people always act so superior, which is annoying."
Karl Bloodblade sneered and replied, "High and mighty? No, I just don't want to waste time with a bunch of barbarians."
Seeing that their words were about to escalate into an argument, Titus quickly interrupted, "Enough! Eric, Karl, your courage and strength are undeniable, but it's time to put aside our prejudices. We need to unite to ensure the safety of this planet."
Celestine stepped forward, her tone gentle yet firm: "The Emperor's glory needs our joint protection. If you continue like this, you will only give the enemy an opportunity to exploit."
Eric and Carl were silent for a moment, then both nodded. Eric laughed and said, "Alright, since the nun has said so, I'll reluctantly cooperate."
Karl Bloodblade coldly replied, "As long as he doesn't hold me back, I have no problem with it."
Titus breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face: "Very good, then it's settled. Next, we need to develop a detailed plan to ensure the long-term stability of this planet."
Thanks to the efforts of Titus and Russell, the conflict between Eric and Carl was finally eased. Although their relationship remained tense, at least they were willing to cooperate for a common goal.
Russell watched all this with a sense of relief. He knew his mission was not yet over, but at least he had done his part for the future of this planet.
“Titus,” Russell said before leaving, “I hope you remember that we don’t have much time. The Emperor’s enemies are everywhere, and we must always be prepared.”
Titus nodded and said solemnly, "I understand, Russell. Thank you for everything you've done."
Russell said nothing more, turned and left the command room. His figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, like a cold, aloof shadow.