Zog gazed upon the chaotic battlefield, engulfed in destruction. The sound of gunfire and battle cries echoed all around. The Grots—small, trembling creatures—scurried and hid behind crumbled ruins, powerless and terrified. In the distance, Orcs attempting to flee fell one by one, their bodies torn apart by a relentless hail of bullets.
Not far away, several Space Marines of the Dark Angels Legion stood with cold expressions and emotionless stares as they systematically interrogated prisoners. Their methods were rigid and merciless, showing no shred of compassion. Meanwhile, on another side of the field, the Night Lords—infamous for their cruelty and their twisted sense of "art"—were eagerly discussing how to transform the Orc corpses into new, horrific masterpieces.
Amidst the sea of blood and rubble stood Kharak Tyr. Tall and imposing, he raised his chainaxe with arrogance. His piercing eyes locked onto Zog, as if trying to bore into the veteran Brok'Mor soldier's very soul.
"One-on-one duel," he said in a low, calm voice, heavy with a threat that shook the spirit.
Zog, a battle-hardened veteran of the Brok'Mor Empire, knew this was the end. Running away was not the way of a true warrior. He gripped his weapon tighter, drew a deep breath, and squared his shoulders—ready to face Kharak Tyr with a courage worthy of legend.
If death was to come, it would find him standing tall—on the battlefield.
But fate had other plans.
As they prepared to engage in what should have been an honorable duel, two World Eaters Space Marines suddenly appeared. Driven mad by war frenzy and the wrath of Khorne's followers, they saw Zog as an easy prey.
"Blood for the Emperor! For the Golden Throne!" they roared, voices echoing with savage fury.
In an instant, without mercy, their chainaxes tore into Zog's body. Blood splattered wildly, staining the already blood-soaked ground. Zog died instantly, without a chance to fight back.
One of the World Eaters turned with a harsh voice, "Is the shield launcher offline?"
Still drunk on the lust for slaughter, they were oblivious to the danger looming nearby.
Then, their eyes met Kharak Tyr's.
His gaze was cold, deadly, carving an unspoken threat into the air.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The two World Eaters fell silent, their breaths heavy as the burning rage began to subside.
The three figures stood in a tense, silent standoff, surrounded by the scent of death and pools of blood.
One World Eater clicked his tongue softly and muttered hoarsely, "Dead…"
Kharak Tyr growled low, warning, "Next time… don't interfere in someone else's duel."
He took a long breath, calming the nearly uncontrollable urge to kill. Calmly, he turned his face away, raised his weapon once more, and resumed his grim task: cleansing the battlefield of the remaining Orc forces.
Mobilization of the Astra Militarum – The Battle for Zul'kar Begins
The order had been given.
The Astra Militarum forces began preparations for planetary landing. A long and grueling campaign still lay ahead. The planet they were descending upon was known as Zul'kar—a barren world covered entirely by rocky deserts and expansive gobi plains. Strategically, it held little value for the Imperium Caelestis of Man, but for the Brok'Mor Empire, it was of critical importance.
Zul'kar served as one of the main raiding routes for the Brok'Mor forces—a vital corridor that allowed Orc space fleets to strike swiftly and plunder mercilessly. If this world was seized, their supply lines would be crippled, and their offensive momentum shattered.
From both the southern and eastern fronts, anyone attempting to advance had to pass through this galaxy. Should it fall, not only would the Orcs' fleets come under fire, but their strongholds and colonies would be exposed to full-scale assault.
After the Space Marines had successfully destroyed much of the planet's air defense infrastructure, they began organizing the deployment of the Aeterna 5th "Flame of Freedom" Regiment, already standing by in orbit.
One by one, aerial transports and landing ships tore through Zul'kar's atmosphere, descending upon the desolate world below.
On this forsaken planet, a powerful and commanding Orc governor named Grun led millions of Grots and Orc warriors. With thunderous roars and savage threats, he ordered a full assault against the Astra Militarum forces, determined to wipe them out before they could establish a foothold.
"WAAAAAAHHH!!"
A deafening war cry echoed across the sands. A tidal wave of Orcs and Grots charged ferociously toward the Astra Militarum lines and their allied forces.
"James! Stay strong! The enemy is coming fast!"
James's defense line was stationed at the very front. Before them stretched a series of trenches—their entire sector known as the Iron Guard Defense Line. Heavy demolition bombs and standard weapons of the Imperium Caelestis had been deployed along a front spanning several kilometers. Missile launchers were positioned at key locations.
Dozens of Basilisk artillery guns were set up in the rear, providing long-range support. Space Marines were also deployed to offer immediate response reinforcements.
At the command center of the Flame of Freedom Regiment, preparations intensified.
The entire defense line was bolstered with both infantry regiments and armored battalions. The real war for Zul'kar had just begun.