Chapter 801: The Fall of the 'Human Emperor'

Chapter 801: The Fall of the "Human Emperor"

[...After a protracted and arduous battle, as the Alliance's forces advanced into the boundaries of Haibei City and successfully joined forces with the 37th Ten-Thousand-Man Corps of the Legion entering Haiya Province from the north, the long-sunken Haiya Province under the Torchbearers finally glimpsed the dawn of peace.]

[Fearing the trials of the war tribunal, the high-ranking members of the Torch Church, after futile resistance, chose to flee into outer space.]

[Currently, the campaign in the Haiya Province region has entered its final phase. The Coalition forces have secured over 87% of the combat zones, and more than ninety percent of the "Heavenly Domains" have been dismantled. The corruption of Nago is being purged from this sacred land.]

[Faced with the unstoppable Coalition, the Torch Church's resistance grows increasingly passive. The remaining Torch Apostles and their mutant supporters have withdrawn from the frontlines around Guangtian City to the Luosong Mountain area, attempting a last-ditch struggle by leveraging the treacherous terrain. Yet they will soon discover that their death throes are futile; their only way out is to surrender and repent to the dead.]

[As of last night, the Alliance's Jungle Corps and Storm Corps are advancing toward the Luosong Mountain area in two separate prongs. The Alliance's armored units have sealed off all possible escape routes for the remnants of the Torch Church. In an interview with our reporter, the commander of the Storm Corps stated that they will live up to the expectations of the Alliance's people, deliver a heavy blow to the instigators of chaos, sweep across the battlefield like a storm, and bring victory and glory back to Dawn City!]

[Reported by the Survivor's Daily, Dawn City Edition!]

Singularity City, Pinecone Farm.

Rows of leafless fruit trees were adorned with scattered snow, and in the distance stretched endless ridges of fields.

Frost sat on the balcony, flipping through the newspaper in his hands, a radiant smile on his face.

"Oh, Eclipse, this damn war is finally coming to an end. The good days are finally about to return."

"Perhaps."

Unlike Frost, who wore a smile, Eclipse seemed slightly regretful that he hadn't been able to go to the frontlines.

Noticing his expression, Frost asked with confusion.

"Is it my imagination? You don't seem very enthusiastic."

Eclipse's pupils flickered faintly, and he replied in a casual tone.

"It's not your imagination. My spirits are indeed mediocre... After all, the entire war is over, and I haven't been of any use. I really feel I've let down the taxpayers of Ideal City."

Frost stared at him in surprise.

"How can you say that about yourself? We've supplied so much to the front! Even the esteemed Administrator said that our contributions were indispensable for this war to end so smoothly."

Listening to the chatter, Eclipse let out a soft sigh and continued expressionlessly.

"That may be true, but I was designed as a bionic human for warfare. No matter how outstanding my achievements in other fields, if I can't play a role on the frontlines, I doubt I can be happy."

"Well... so that's how you feel." Frost's face showed a look of deep disappointment at his companion's response.

Standing beside the two, Yin Yin, who had remained silent throughout, stared intently toward the south.

Since the war began, she had spent time every day gazing blankly at the southern sky.

As if she had seen something, she suddenly spoke without warning.

"...I can gradually no longer sense their presence."

Her consciousness resided on the bionic chip left by Luo Qian, which was why she could survive in digital form after death.

Since the chip carrying her thoughts was based on algorithms similar to those used by other pioneers of the Torch Church, she had always been able to vaguely sense the existence of other bionic chips belonging to the Torch Church.

As the frontlines advanced, her perception of those chips grew weaker.

Clearly, as the Survivor's Daily reported, the Torch was gradually losing control of the ground—

Few Apostles carrying chips remained!

Seeing Yin Yin lost in thought, Frost smiled and said.

"Isn't that a good thing? Those lunatics have finally fucked off from this planet."

Yin Yin sighed softly and murmured.

"If only it were really that simple... But I always feel they won't give up so easily."

Even today, she still remembered the massacre that occurred on this estate.

Under the corruption of Nago, the once amiable folks had all become like vengeful spirits... and even she herself had once uncontrollably sunk into it.

The hell of Jinchuan Province had come to an end, and she sincerely hoped those evil things would never return.

Yet they clearly wouldn't let it go so easily.

Neither those who had created hell once, nor those who manipulated them from behind the scenes.

Seeing the worried look on the young girl's face, Frost stood up from his chair with a grunt, placed his hand gently on her head, and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry."

Looking at Yin Yin's bewildered eyes, he continued in a soft voice.

"...When that time comes, we'll just drive them away again."

...

At the same time that the Burning Corps and the 37th Ten-Thousand-Man Corps of the Legion joined forces at the old site of Haibei City, the Jungle Corps, advancing from another direction toward the hinterlands of the coastline, finally reached the Luosong Mountain area and successfully rendezvoused with the Storm Corps, which had pushed into Haiya Province from the northern line.

Seeing the big guy with a steel plate welded to his chest approaching, the cheerful Springs laughed and stepped forward to greet him.

"You guys are slacking, Brother Chicken. We're almost done here, and you've only just landed."

Midnight Kill Chicken grinned sheepishly.

"Isn't it possible that it's precisely because we landed that you advanced so fast?"

Commander Springs waved his hand with a laugh.

"Pfft, no way. Could those green-skinned beasts have stopped my 37mm cannon? As for you guys, if you'd landed a few days later, you wouldn't even get a sip of the soup."

Midnight Kill Chicken rolled his eyes.

"Keep bragging!"

"Hahaha!"

The two exchanged a few laughs and bantered, without any tension of being on the frontlines, even though the Torch's Tribunal squads and mutant scouts were active in the nearby mountain area.

Several reconnaissance companies under the Storm Corps had already penetrated deep into the areas controlled by the Torch remnants, marking the Torch's strategic facilities and suspected strategic facilities.

At the same time as the two forces joined, the Storm Corps' artillery positions were ready.

With just one command, they could turn the Torch remnants' positions into a sea of fire!

On the other side, the Torch remnants who had retreated to the Luosong Mountain area were low in morale, completely lacking the arrogance they had shown during their operations in Jinchuan and Hegu provinces.

Everyone who had managed to escape here—whether Apostles, Tribunal members, or mutants—had suffered at least three defeats, beaten senseless by the Coalition on the frontlines.

And that wasn't all.

During their southward retreat, Alliance planes flew over their heads every few days, occasionally dropping a bomb just for the noise.

They had taken plenty of bombs and cannon fire along the way. Many had been terrified by the roar of aircraft engines, frantically seeking cover at the slightest sound from the sky.

Although the Luosong Mountain area was treacherous, it couldn't compare to the ruggedness of the Shifeng Mountain region.

Standing on a rocky peak, the Human Emperor stared expressionlessly at the distant Coalition positions, a trace of desolation rising in his heart.

Even if he had ten thousand regrets, he had to admit that the Heavenly Domain of Haiya Province had reached its final moment.

But what he hadn't expected was that when he realized this final moment was approaching, he was calmer than he had imagined.

As if he had already accepted the final outcome.

Just then, heavy footsteps came from the direction of the mountain path. An Apostle in power armor stopped behind him and lowered his voice.

"Esteemed Pioneer, our base in Haibei City has lost contact... I tried to reach Command earlier, but the Son's signal seems to have vanished."

His name was Baskin, an Apostle serving in the "Iron Edge" Knight Order, and also its captain.

The Apostles who had retreated to the Luosong Mountains numbered only 677, including 417 Inquisitors from the Tribunal and a handful of non-combat researchers.

As the Knight Order with the most intact formation, the "Iron Edge" had only 120 men left—far too few to sustain another battle.

Though there were still over four thousand mutants on the front lines, relying on those cannon fodder to turn the tide was impossible.

They needed more reinforcements!

Whether personnel or supplies, even just a bit of ammunition would do!

He sought from the Human Emperor the whereabouts of the Son, believing that the almighty Son must still hold other cards.

Yet to his disappointment—nay, despair—upon hearing the news of the Son's disappearance, the Human Emperor before him merely nodded slightly.

"I see."

As his words fell, the air around them returned to silence.

Gazing at the unmoved Human Emperor, Baskin froze, a rare flicker of anxiety surfacing in his eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

The Human Emperor turned, his gaze calm as he looked at him.

"Is there something else?"

He felt no surprise at the Son's departure; the only surprise was that the man had left before him.

It seemed the Alliance had obtained intelligence from elsewhere, finding Vault 20 before dealing with him.

But it no longer mattered.

This was the final moment.

Sensing a foreboding fear of an uncertain future in that placid gaze, Baskin's throat moved, and at last, he forced a trembling voice from his throat.

"What... do we do now?"

What to do...

Hearing that voice quivering with despair, even the Human Emperor's stoic face could not help but twist with a trace of bitterness.

He too wished to know what could be done.

But at this critical juncture, any action seemed futile.

For an instant, he suddenly felt he had let down those who followed him.

He had promised to lead them to paradise, yet in the end, he could only watch as they were dragged back to earth by the heavy pull of gravity.

The collapse of paradise was inevitable; they need not drown with him in the water.

The Human Emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Flee from here."

Baskin froze, staring at the Human Emperor in disbelief, as if unable to believe those words came from his lips.

Yet the revered Pioneer continued with his treasonous speech.

"Go to the wasteland, find a place where no one knows you, where the Alliance cannot find you. Bury your ideals, your names, and your pasts in the soil, then live out your lives in obscurity—"

"No!"

Baskin suddenly roared in fury, cutting off the Human Emperor mid-sentence.

He was like a wounded beast now, his bloodshot eyes seeping with terrifying red veins.

Staring fiercely at the expressionless Human Emperor, he clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth.

"What I seek from you is a way to continue fighting, not how to eke out a life. If that is the humiliating end, I would rather die in the last moment of paradise's sinking!"

Hearing the Apostle's words to the end, the Human Emperor was silent for a long while, then let out a soft sigh.

"Is that so... Then I respect your choice. I acknowledge you as a true warrior; you fought for your ideals until the very last moment."

Baskin's lips twitched. Looking at the Pioneer who seemed to have given up, he spoke with a voice tinged with pleading.

"Is there no chance left?"

The Human Emperor shook his head.

"...Probably not."

As he said this, he slowly raised his head, casting his gaze toward the sky ahead, and murmured softly to himself.

"It's coming..."

The words had barely fallen when a towering silhouette appeared in the distant sky as if on cue.

The indestructible bow of the ship split the clouds, revealing the massive 400mm cannon barrels and the armored steel contours.

The Heart of Steel!

The drawn-out wail of the steam whistle seemed to sound the charge.

Watching the airship slowly entering the battlefield, a crack appeared on the Human Emperor's expressionless face, and the taut strings of his heart loosened into a sense of release.

This moment had finally come.

Everything was over...

In his heart now, there was neither madness nor despair, only the relief of a burden lifted...

At the same time, Baskin, standing not far behind him, showed a flicker of terror in his bloodshot pupils.

Especially when he saw the flash of fire from the 400mm main gun's muzzle, he felt his eyes seared by the blinding light, his veins boiling as if filled with molten lava.

"Prepare for battle!!"

He let out a roar with all his strength, then drove his entire body toward the nearest cover.

He would never admit the Torch's failure!

Never!

Almost the instant he dove into the shell-proof bunker, the falling shells landed on the hilltop, and the scorching shockwave, thick with billowing smoke, swept across the entire battlefield in an instant!

"Boom!!!"

The raging flames were like erupting lava, turning everything in their path to scorched earth!

The mud and rubble that poured into the bunker nearly buried Baskin alive.

He was still lucky.

Those Apostles near the impact point, especially those who hadn't made it into the bunkers, were obliterated by the cataclysmic flames, leaving not even ashes behind!

Baskin struggled to push aside the stones and dirt pressing down on him, barely crawling out of the bunker, his eyes darting around in terror.

And at that moment, a sight he would never forget met his despairing eyes.

"Woo—!!!"

A dense rain of fire blotted out the sky, the howling rockets even linking together in the air.

The shrill roar of the buzzer dominated the entire battlefield, even drowning out the thunder of explosions.

Whether mechanical exoskeletons or powered armor, they were like paper before the apocalyptic firepower.

He had barely poked his head out of the blast shelter when the shockwave of the explosion sent him reeling, staggering back into the dugout.

Clearly, the Alliance, like them, had treated this battle as the final showdown, sparing no ammunition and holding nothing back.

Amid the howl of rockets, W-2 ground-attack aircraft swarmed in like locusts, their cannons roaring in sustained bursts, pouring wave after wave of bullets onto the battlefield freshly plowed by artillery.

The Inquisitors of the Tribunal were utterly shell-shocked.

Even the Apostles of the "Iron Edge" Knight Order, under that ferocious hail of fire, could only cower on the ground, wailing for mercy.

Even the mutants, who knew nothing of death, let out terrified screams under the baptism of gunfire.

"Roar—!"

A wounded mutant struggled to rise from the trench, brandishing a shotgun at the sky, firing upward repeatedly.

It tried to shoot down the swarming aircraft but couldn't even touch their shadows.

Its impotent, furious roar did nothing but make it look like a clown.

Just then, the distant artillery fire finally ceased, replaced by gunfire converging on Luosong Mountain from all directions.

The hulking figures clad in K-10 "Iron Wall" exoskeletons launched the first assault.

With a bolter in one hand and a chainsaw in the other, they surged up the mountain like a reverse torrent of floodwater.

Finally seeing the enemy, the disoriented mutants howled and charged, trying to teach the foes a harsh lesson with their rifles and clubs.

But before they could even reach the hulking figures, they were blasted into shreds of flesh and blood by the roaring bolters, collapsing unwillingly onto the black mud.

Still, the mutants had the upper hand in numbers, and with the cover of cybernetic implants and bulletproof armor, a few lucky ones managed to break through the dense fire net.

One mutant finally reached the fully armed hulks.

But before it could howl and swing its battle axe, it was met by a chainsaw thrust into its chest, cleaving it in two at the waist.

"Madness!! Utter madness!!! Hahaha!!!"

In the heat of the kill, Midnight Chicken Killer roared with excitement, drenched in the cascading blood.

Seeing his demonic visage, the surrounding mutants were terrified, momentarily forgetting who was the predator and who was the prey.

Not only the mutants were afraid; the Inquisitors of the Tribunal and the Apostles of the Knight Order all showed terror in their eyes, fearing that such a plague god would draw near.

As the man strode up to him, Baskin swallowed hard, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Even though he wore powered armor, the thick steel gave him no sense of security.

Midnight Chicken Killer stopped, looking down at the man half-buried in the dugout, a cruel grin spreading across his face.

"You'd better surrender."

Though the man wore powered armor, Midnight Chicken Killer felt no threat from him.

Too weak.

This guy wasn't even an Awakener; he might not have even undergone genetic modification.

Hearing the word "surrender," Baskin felt a surge of blood rush to his head, a sting of humiliation rising in his heart.

Surrender...

Never!

"Go to hell!"

He struggled out of the blast shelter, drew the large-caliber assault rifle from his powered armor, glared at the man with the chainsaw, and roared as he pulled the trigger.

Bullets flew like rain toward the man, seemingly about to hit the burly figure.

But in that instant before success, he saw an unbelievable blur.

So fast!!!

The speed defied his understanding of human anatomy, so fast he couldn't even see the fleeting afterimage.

The roaring chainsaw slammed onto his shoulder armor almost instantly, forcing all the air out of his lungs.

"Ah—!"

A brief scream escaped his lips, and then Baskin felt his upper body lift into the air, crashing heavily to the ground.

With his last shred of consciousness, he saw his own half-body standing motionless, the part above the shoulders reduced to a spurting column of blood.

The man with the chainsaw strode past him without a glance at the fallen body.

"Too weak."

A mocking voice pushed his remaining awareness into the abyss, and utterly crushed the last shred of resistance from the Torch Church.

Under the cover of artillery, the Jungle Corps that had stormed the mountain was like a branding iron thrust into a snowdrift, punching straight through the Torch Church's positions without a doubt.

The positions on Luosong Mountain crumbled at a visible pace, blood forming little rivers in the trenches.

This could no longer be called a battle; it was a one-sided slaughter!

Whether Apostles of Torch or mutants.

Since they had chosen to resist to the end, the Alliance would mercilessly bring equal death to them all...

On the bridge of the Steel Heart, Chu Guang stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire battlefield, his heart unruffled.

Beside him, Vanus lowered his binoculars and spoke slowly.

"This mountain range should be Torch's last stronghold... It seems that before sunset today, you can declare victory."

"Mm."

Chu Guang nodded, but his thoughts had already drifted beyond the battlefield.

For him, such a foregone conclusion was hardly worth mentioning.

In fact, the coalition had already secured final victory days ago.

This was merely the cleanup.

Suddenly recalling something, Chu Guang spoke.

"After this war ends, I plan to visit the islands to the south."

Vanus was momentarily taken aback, puzzled why the esteemed Administrator would suddenly mention the southern islands.

But surely there was some purpose behind it that he didn't understand.

Without dwelling further, Vanus nodded respectfully and said obligingly.

"I'll accompany you."