Chapter 277: Inquisition of Heresy

Chapter 277: The Heretical Trial

What sort of monster could endure two rounds of bombardment and yet remain alive?

Jin Zhong did not know, and neither did Shen Yue, who raced toward Liangxi City in the Warrior vehicle.

In theory, even a single warhead strike, with its overpressure and searing heat, should be sufficient to annihilate every microbe, from bacteria to viruses.

But now, after two volleys of bombing, Jiang Yu—who had intended to fetch rocket fuel from Changshan—had already dropped four warheads directly onto the creature's crown.

The creature’s main body had been almost entirely eradicated, yet Jin Zhong now told himself that the monster had risen again.

Such a result exceeded his comprehension; even feeding the data into the Fuxi system could not coax a plausible explanation from humanity’s known body of knowledge.

Fuxi could only surmise that it was a peculiar kind of fungus.

A fungus endowed with rudimentary intelligence, capable of linking through a special medium to form a symbiotic network.

The humanoid monster that Jin Zhong’s Guard Brigade had encircled and slain was clearly the controller of this secondary beast; the gas emitted from the cyst on its back might have been a unique pheromone.

And the pheromone released in its self‑detonation at death could have issued new commands to the colony, urging the fragments that had split to evade the bombing to reconvene.

Undoubtedly, this was a remarkably sophisticated tactical response and an advanced survival strategy.

But who had devised such a tactic?

From where did this fungus originate, and how was it born?

No one knew.

Shen Yue gripped his explosive rifle tightly.

He had already received Jin Zhong’s latest intel, which included the directive that “only fire can destroy the monster.”

Yet he carried no weapon capable of setting flame.

Still, that was no great obstacle.

He bore a nuclear bomb.

The purpose of fire was to generate extreme heat; a nuclear bomb could produce the same.

If fire works, why would a nuclear bomb not?

The Warrior vehicle surged forward, heading straight for Liangxi City.

From a few hundred meters away, Shen Yue spotted Jin Zhong on guard outside the city.

He leapt from the vehicle, sprinted to Jin Zhong’s side, and asked:

“What’s the situation inside the city? Any survivors?”

Jin Zhong shook his head and replied:

“We have swept most of the area and found no survivors.”

“This city is already a dead city; the pathogen has seeped into every corner. Even if there were survivors before we arrived, they are gone now!”

“If you have a plan, act quickly; we must stop the monster from rising again!”

“I understand.”

Shen Yue gave a slight nod.

“We need to plant the nuclear bomb inside the city.”

“A nuclear bomb?!”

Jin Zhong’s eyes widened in shock, and Shen Yue furrowed his brow before asking:

“Do you have a better solution?”

“—No.”

Jin Zhong drew a deep breath and asked:

“If we detonate the nuclear bomb, will the city cease to exist thereafter?”

“Most likely, yes.”

Shen Yue nodded faintly.

“Therefore you must be certain that absolutely no one survives within the city.”

“If any souls remain, their deaths will be counted on our heads!”

“—I cannot confirm.”

Jin Zhong clenched his fists tightly.

“We cannot scour every nook of the city; I cannot rule out the possibility that some may be hiding in concealed corners.”

“But we truly have no time.”

“These fungal colonies are reorganizing, moving with alarming speed; we must eradicate them before they solidify.”

“Commander, you have already done enough.”

“The burden should fall upon me.”

“Give me the nuclear bomb.”

“I will set it up, I will trigger it.”

“Should any issue arise, I will stand as a sinner before the Holy Trinity’s judgment!”

“You?”

Shen Yue was stunned.

He, regardless.

Understood!

Jin Zhong said no superfluous words; he turned toward the nuclear warhead, and with his deputy on either side seized the pre‑tied straps, then hurried toward the city’s heart.

At that moment, the fungal colony that constituted a Level‑Two monster was coalescing into a tangible form.

Shen Yue stared gravely at the distant scene, his anxiety deepening with each breath.

The nature of combat was growing ever more varied.

If before they could dispatch almost any foe with gun and cannon alone, now, with Level‑Two—and even Level‑One—monsters surfacing repeatedly, their own tactics had to be upgraded.

Hence the Chinese forces still possessed the nuclear bomb, a single weapon capable of crushing ten.

What if they lacked the nuclear bomb?

How then could they deal with that beast?

No wonder Fuxi classified it as Level‑Two.

With humanity’s current technology and firepower, confronting such a thing left virtually no means of retaliation.

At that instant, Jin Zhong had already deployed the nuclear bomb and rejoined his unit.

Without a hint of hesitation, Shen Yue led the group in a swift retreat.

Ten minutes later, they had withdrawn three kilometers away.

A blinding flash accompanied the nuclear detonation.

Boom!

Searing flames devoured everything, and beneath the mushroom cloud, all impurity and sin were purged.

Jin Zhong stared silently at the distant blast, tears welling in his eyes from the harsh glare.

He drew a deep breath and spoke:

‘Sir Commander, I wish to borrow your vehicles.’

‘Where are you headed?’

Shen Yue asked.

‘The heretical guards of Liangxi City have abandoned the civilians here and fled ahead.’

‘They left Taihu and will surely land at Suzhou.’

‘I must race there and intercept them.’

‘They must pay for their deeds.’

‘The judgment of the Holy Trinity I must deliver myself!’

Meanwhile, on Taihu Lake.

A handful of steamboats belched black smoke, inching southeast. The Bishop of the Mechanical Cult and the lord of Liangxi City stood at the stern, gazing far toward their hometown.

He, too, saw the flash radiating from there and the faint outline of a mushroom cloud.

Without consulting the Sanctuary, he had already guessed what had transpired.

Another ‘sun’ had risen.

Undoubtedly, to eradicate the monsters there, the Chinese army once again wielded its most potent weapon.

The news eased his previously anxious heart, yet his relief stemmed not from the monsters’ demise but from the very act of the nuclear blast.

He exhaled slowly and addressed the priest beside him:

‘I was still fretting over how to explain this to the Sanctuary, but now there is no need for my explanation.’

‘The Chinese forces took over, intervening in this crisis.’

‘Hence, whatever transpires, it is their responsibility.’

His words hung in the air; the priest beside him nodded thoughtfully, then tentatively asked:

‘Perhaps not?’

‘We inevitably bear the blame for the botched evacuation; on that point we have no excuse.’

‘The guard forces of the other cities also failed to arrive in time, yet before the Saint they could claim the time was too short, the troops were slow to mobilize, the transport insufficient.’

‘Those are understandable reasons; but what about us?’

‘We were already in Liangxi City; we could have done something.’

‘Lord Bishop, perhaps we should not have been so hasty in retreating.’

‘It was my fault.’

The bishop nodded without evasion and said:

‘I underestimated the monster’s lethality; I never imagined it could annihilate an entire city’s populace in such a brief span.’

‘That certainly meets the criteria of a Level‑Two monster, and perhaps even a Level‑One.’

‘Yet precisely because of that, our withdrawal can be justified.’

‘After all, even had we stayed, could we have saved those civilians?’

‘You ought to thank my decisiveness; otherwise, everyone aboard those three vessels would likely have perished in Liangxi.’

‘Indeed.’

The priest exhaled deeply and continued:

‘You are right.’

‘I was only worried that such cowardice would draw the Saint’s wrath.’

‘No, it will not.’

The bishop shook his head.

‘Before the nuclear blast, we might indeed have faced punishment.’

‘But after the blast, no one can condemn us any longer.’

‘Because no one knows what truly occurred in that city.’

‘No one knows whether its residents are dead or still evacuating.’

‘Therefore, you must make our warriors remember one thing.’

‘Liangxi began evacuating long ago; it was merely slower.’

‘The faithful in Liangxi are still alive; they did not fall to the monster.’

‘It was the Chinese army, and those heretics hunting the monster, who resorted to extreme measures, causing the un‑evacuated civilians to be sacrificed to the beast.’

‘Do you understand?’

‘...Understood.’

The priest nodded slowly.

In that moment, guilt rose within him, yet he also knew he had no choice left.

The steamboat gradually drew near the harbor of Suzhou, and the bishop, easing his slightly stiff feet, stepped from the stern toward the bow.

The bishop awaiting in Suzhou, accompanied by the guard troops, stood ready in the distance; the berths at the dock were prepared, and with a faint tremor the three steamboats slipped safely ashore.

Immediately after, the gangplank was lowered.

Escorted by several guard soldiers, the bishop was the first to stride onto the plank.

Safety was almost within reach.

His taut heart finally gave way to complete relaxation.

From now on he need not concern himself with monsters or the populace; he would only have to devote his mind to the cathedral’s inquiry.

At that thought a faint, almost imperceptible smile brushed the bishop’s face.

He waved toward the opposing bishop, his steps steady as he set foot on the dock, intending to turn back and order everyone to disembark, when suddenly—

“Bang!”

A gunshot rang out abruptly.

Immediately thereafter.

“Bang bang bang bang bang—”

A dense hail of fire rained from the shore and the water toward the three steamboats; countless grenades were hurled, the explosions deafening, leaving the newly‑landed bishop frozen in place.

He could not grasp what was happening, and in the next instant a volley of bullets pierced his body.

He felt no pain, only a crushing dizziness and helplessness.

His body collapsed onto the ground; he struggled to rise, only to glimpse a squad whose origin was unknown

emerging, brandishing terrifying automatic rifles as they charged the steamboats.

Assault, boarding, leaping, searching, clearing.

That unit swept through the three vessels like a gale, wiping out every armed guard, while the distant guards stood stunned as if unaware.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

The bishop saw the man opposite him shout in terror, then retreat swiftly with his men.

In that moment hope surged within his heart.

Perhaps there was still a chance of salvation.

The guard forces of Suzhou were not weak; if they could defeat this mysterious contingent,

perhaps he might yet survive!

He strained to crawl forward, seeking a secluded corner where no one would notice him.

Yet a foot had already stepped upon his back.

“Found you.”

The man spoke.

The bishop turned in terror, then, his eyes blazing, declared:

“It’s you.”

“Jin Zhong!”

“Why—why??”

“This is judgment.”

Jin Zhong’s tone was unnervingly calm.

The muzzle of his gun was already aimed at the bishop’s head.

“This is treason! You have no right to judge me! Only the cathedral holds that authority!”

“What exactly are you trying to do? Turn against the cathedral? Oppose the divine church?”

“You can still stop now. I can plead on your behalf to the Saint!”

“It’s a misunderstanding!”

“It is not a misunderstanding.”

Jin Zhong’s finger slowly pressed the trigger.

“Stop! Stop!”

“The Suzhou guard troops have arrived! Do you want to die? They won’t let you go!”

“Bang!”

Without further words, Jin Zhong pulled the trigger.

The bishop’s skull shattered into fragments, the ground awash with a filthy mixture of red and white.

Jin Zhong inhaled deeply, his gaze turning toward the distant guards.

At that moment, overhead, a bomber laden with missiles roared past.

A dark silhouette brushed Jin Zhong, like a phantom lunging at the enemy.

He exhaled softly, lifted his gun, and said:

“Let’s see who dares move!”

(End of chapter)