Chapter 29: Preparations for Battle

Barbarus, Northern Mountains, Old Base.

Two days later.

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In the blacksmith's shop, the forge's flames blazed fiercely, casting a bright yellow and red glow, with sparks occasionally bursting from the furnace and flickering around the room.

Several muscular men, their muscles taut, were intensely focused, hammering away at the molten metal, sending sparks flying through the air, cutting through the atmosphere of the forge.

Beside the forging platform, other workers were meticulously assembling a large suit of armor. The steel, glowing under the scrutiny of the flames, shone brightly.

Next to this half-assembled massive armor stood several smaller, but fully completed suits of armor, identical in design.

Hades stood nearby, holding a blueprint, occasionally glancing up to inspect the assembly work.

The armor under construction was clearly not designed for a normal person. 

Standing over 4 meters tall, the armor towered in the room, making the craftsmen seem even smaller in comparison.

This was a fully enclosed suit of armor, designed by Hades based on schematics seized from the Xenos Overlords in the south, and further refined with technology from other human territories.

The armor consisted of three layers:

The first and thickest layer was made of refined anti-corrosion alloy, with metal seals at the joints and an integrated breathing and circulation system.

The second layer was a protective layer made from the hide of a Xenos Overlord, sewn together with dense stitches, showing the immense patience of the craftsmen. The joints were given extra reinforcement.

The third layer was thick cotton soaked repeatedly in medicinal herbs. 

If the first two layers failed to provide adequate protection, this final layer would filter out toxins and serve as the last line of defense, also offering hemostatic and stimulant effects.

The exterior of the armor featured a breathing apparatus connected to the internal circulation system, utilizing the most effective filtering materials available and a system to physically absorb toxic particles.

Hades watched the assembly with a mix of anxiety and seriousness, correcting any mistakes in the assembly process on the spot.

Due to his inability to interact with machines directly, Hades had to minimize the use of the Black Domain and guide others through the process instead.

Because of this limitation, the enclosed armor designed for Hades lacked an electronically driven breathing system. 

Instead, it used the simplest filtering method, relying on Hades to draw in air himself.

The other suits of armor for the honor guard lacked the second layer, as the Xenos Overlord's hide was scarce and could only be used to craft two suits.

Hades still remembered the shock on the craftsmen's faces when he first revealed the Xenos hides from his bag.

Not everyone could accept Hades' methods easily.

For this reason, Hades even had to briefly persuade Mortarion. 

Although Mortarion harbored an extreme hatred for the Xenos, Barbarus was no place for idealists. Only the most practical survivors could endure.

Realizing the importance of the second layer, Mortarion reluctantly approved of Hades' actions.

Once the final custom armor for Mortarion was completed, all seven suits of armor would undergo a unified anti-corrosion treatment, followed by an additional metallic coating.

Finally, a simple crossed scythe decoration would be affixed to the shoulders, marking the completion of these specially designed full-body suits of armor.

In addition to Hades' forge, the other forges in the old base were also bustling with activity, producing countless firearms and cannons to replenish the losses at the frontlines.

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Barbarus, Northern Mountains, Xenos Overlord Necare Territory, Plains Below the Mountain.

Now.

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Countless cannons roared to life, their rolling fire blossoming across the land, trembling as it spread.

The bodies of puppets exploded, their remnants soaring through the air before crashing heavily back to the ground.

Countless slow-moving vehicles were overturned, their occupants turned to nothing more than splattered flesh.

Then, the sound of blades slicing through the air.

Mortarion charged first into the retreating puppet horde, wielding his scythe in wide, sweeping arcs, each swing bringing a shower of blood and the wails of dying enemies.

Around him, corpses of the stitched-together puppets littered the ground, organs piling upon organs, blood splattering, bodily fluids soaking the earth.

The Death Guard followed closely behind Mortarion, their scythes crossing in perfect unison, sparks flying as countless puppets were decapitated.

Aside from the wails of the retreating enemies, the slicing of blades through air, the booming of muskets, and the pounding of feet, the battlefield was eerily silent.

Yes, the Death Guard carried out their slaughter in silent, methodical order, their reaping unfolding like a mute harvest dance across the toxin-laden plains, the dead their inevitable tribute.

When the last puppet's head fell, when the final Death Guard sheathed his sharp scythe—

Silent joy mingled with the stillness that blanketed the battlefield.

This was yet another victory worth celebrating.

Using the intelligence map sent earlier from the frontlines, Mortarion led the Death Guard to successfully sever the supply lines of the Xenos Overlord Necare.

These supply lines, like bloodsucking parasites, had been draining the life of the Barbarus people, their lives stolen by these greedy creatures.

But all of this was about to end.

The oppression of Barbarus, the centuries of exploitation, the shameful history of Xenos rule—

Was about to end!

He, Mortarion, would sever the head of the last Xenos Overlord, proclaiming the victory of the Death Guard, the victory of the people of Barbarus!

With the last supply line cut and the final suit of armor forged, Mortarion knew that Necare's days were numbered.

The rhythm of war beat ever faster, both sides stepping onto the stage, wagering everything in a life-and-death struggle.

In the next clash of arms, in the next cannon's roar, whose head would fall to the ground amidst the gleam of blades?

The game of fate was approaching its first climax. The players were in place, and the curtain was about to rise.

Could the game of the gods reach its breaking point?

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Imperator Somnium.

Now.

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"My Lord, our scouting party has discovered a planet known locally as Barbarus."

"The scouts have found evidence suggesting that one of your sons may be on this planet."

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