Chapter 76: The Approach of War

The traitors cursed and mocked the King's Court district and the Governor, ridiculing their foolishness. They planned to seize the opportunity tonight to sneak out of the refugee camp and escape from the Hoffman family's territory.

Then, posing as refugees from the Hoffman lands, they would boldly return to the King's Court.

This way, they could not only evade punishment but also enjoy the wheat-infused corpse starch offered by the district.

As they eagerly discussed their plan, filled with anticipation, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

"Everyone, look! What… what's going on?"

Unbeknownst to them, the refugee camp had been surrounded by the Hoffman family's riot control troops.

Dressed in black protective suits and skull-faced breathing masks, the troops carried standard-issue automatic rifles, coldly staring at the refugees.

Soon, as the officer with the skull mask and glowing green electronic eyes waved his command sword, the riot troops silently advanced in neat formation.

There was a deathly silence, with only the sound of synchronized footsteps echoing coldly and mercilessly.

These were the forces of the Hoffman family, the backbone that gave them the audacity to rebel against the King's Court.

These riot troops had undergone brutal training from a young age, even having parts of their nervous systems removed.

They were silent, unafraid of death, driven solely by killing and sacrifice.

The traitors who had been so brazen during the Night of the Uprising now trembled like sheep.

"W-what are you doing?"

"What's going on? Didn't Lord Yusef promise to protect us?"

"Sirs, we are loyal subjects of the Hoffman family!"

"Please, spare our lives!"

Some of them tried to sound tough, others attempted to reason, while some knelt with their families, begging for mercy.

They swore their loyalty to Lord Yusef, vowing eternal enmity against the King's Court, desperately pleading for their lives and the lives of their families.

However, none of their actions stirred even the slightest emotion in the riot troops.

The troops simply followed orders, advancing in formation and then opening fire, killing all designated targets.

The slaughter was merciless.

The refugee camp echoed with the cries and wails of the traitors, but it was all in vain. The riot troops killed them one by one, stepping over their corpses to reach the next in line, all with deadly precision and restraint.

Before long, the refugee camp fell silent.

The riot troops emerged from the camp, reassembled like the precise components of a machine, each returning to their designated position.

Then, the synchronized sound of their footsteps resumed as they marched away, leaving behind a camp filled with corpses.

This wasn't limited to the refugee camp—similar scenes were unfolding across the Hoffman family's territory.

Countless people were being slaughtered, and their blood and flesh were offered as sacrifices to the god-spawn granted by the Thousand-Eyed Master.

In a secret underground laboratory, vast quantities of flesh were dumped into a giant glass incubation vat, where the grotesque ball of flesh inside hungrily devoured it.

The creature grew larger, its numerous eyes blinking slowly, as if it was about to fully open!

...

In the King's Court district, within the Imperial Church.

The hymn of the cherubim echoed through the halls as Bishop Doni knelt before the shrine of the God-Emperor, conducting his daily prayer ritual.

Though he had aged somewhat, his eagle-like gaze remained as sharp as ever.

The situation in the King's Court had improved significantly.

The statue of the God-Emperor had been fully restored, and the Emperor had performed a miracle during the holy rites. This had reignited the people's faith in the God-Emperor.

Though the church had not yet fully reopened to the public, more and more people were coming to worship.

The church was gradually reclaiming its former glory.

Praise the God-Emperor!

It seemed the Imperial Church on Urth wouldn't perish under his watch, and might even rise to greater heights.

Bishop Doni felt immense relief, as if the heavy burden he had been carrying was slowly being lifted.

Suddenly, his body trembled, and he nearly collapsed.

The cherubim flying above him let out cries of fear, their wings flailing as they almost crashed to the ground.

Bishop Doni's psychic senses had picked up something terrifying.

God-Emperor, what an abyssal darkness!

And at the heart of that darkness was the upper hive, within the Hoffman family's territory.

In a flash, Bishop Doni recalled the terrifying catastrophe from five years ago.

The heretical rebels had stormed the King's Court, led by a monstrous Chaos high priest, defiling the statue of the God-Emperor.

Though the heretics had eventually been judged and eradicated by the church, the church itself had nearly been destroyed.

Now, those accursed heretics had returned, and the dark power they wielded this time was even more fearsome!

But the King's Court no longer possessed the strength it once had. Doni himself, worn down by injury, could no longer fight as he once had.

How could they possibly resist?

Was the fate of Urth to be total annihilation?

"Great God-Emperor, what should we do?"

Bishop Doni muttered in despair, his body hunched.

After a moment, he seemed to realize something and stood up, grabbing his staff and hurrying out.

Of course, he had asked a foolish question earlier.

The God-Emperor had long since given them guidance and chosen the savior of Urth—the young ruler, Eden Grant.

He would lead them all to the path forward!

Bishop Doni immediately went to the Spire Manor to find Eden, urgently informing him of the gravity of the situation.

The heretics had returned!

Looking at Eden, Bishop Doni anxiously awaited his decision:

"Governor, this is a matter of life and death for the King's Court and all of Urth. We must act swiftly…"

Eden's face was solemn. He had already foreseen the dark, overwhelming Chaos power long before Bishop Doni.

He had been nervously preparing, making the final war mobilizations.

The Defense Forces had been expanded to sixty thousand strong, most of them equipped with the latest laser rifles and new gear.

However, the speed at which the Chaos forces were growing had caught Eden off guard—it was too fast.

If the transformation completed and Chaos descended upon the upper hive, there would be no way to stop it!

There was no time left.

Eden quickly made his decision, turning to Bayev:

"Notify all departments—the plan is moving up. We launch the final battle at dawn tomorrow!"

With the order given, the entire district was mobilized overnight, preparing for war.

They had to ensure that all armed forces were ready to deploy on schedule.

No one dared to be complacent.

Everyone knew that this would be the final battle.

The outcome of this war would determine the fate of the King's Court and the entire planet of Urth!

(End of Chapter)

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