Chapter 38: Despair's Barrier and the Final Purification

"Reality Stabilization Anchor," infused with Chen Mo and the others' power, roared violently like a reflected flash, forcibly propping up a relatively stable space and suppressing the most direct rules of the "Heaven's Punishment" protocol outside. The energy shield above Iron Anvil Fortress steadied, and the chaos inside the city caused by gravity anomalies and energy suppression temporarily subsided.

But this brief respite came at a huge cost.

Chen Mo's complexion turned pale, his internal energy nearly drained, and the glow of the Proof of Primordial Origin dimmed slightly. Su Yu was on the verge of collapse, her overdrawn spirit power causing a splitting headache. Han Qing and the others each looked listless. Even Walker grew even more aged from over‑driving the Stabilization Anchor.

"We can't hold it much longer…" Walker said hoarsely, watching the arcs of electricity constantly bursting on the Stabilization Anchor's surface and the increasingly obvious cracks. "This thing was already at the end of its rope; our power is just a drop in the bucket for it. At most… another twelve hours."

Twelve hours.

The desperate countdown rang like a death knell in everyone's hearts.

Outside the fortress, the power of "Heaven's Punishment" had not waned. Ground collapses from gravity anomalies, randomly appearing spatial fissures devouring everything on the wasteland, and a wave of monsters catalyzed to the extreme surged like an endless tsunami, battering the walls wave after wave. The roar of artillery and the hiss of energy beams never ceased; the wall guards took turns fighting, all wounded, while ammunition and energy reserves were consumed at a staggering rate.

Makusi, bloodied all over, commanded the defense, his throat already hoarse from shouting. The reports he brought grew worse each time:

"Cracks have appeared on the western wall! Emergency welding required!"

"Energy Tower No. 3 overloaded and burned! Shield strength down by fifteen percent!"

"Ammunition stocks are critical! At most we can sustain three more massive assaults!"

Iron Anvil, this steel bastion built upon a warship wreck, moaned under the system's fury, straining beyond its capacity.

Even more unsettling, under the blood‑red sky where "Heaven's Punishment" raged, new, more orderly figures appeared in the distance. They were no longer chaotic monsters nor fanatical Purification Corps soldiers, but silent squads clad in standard dark‑gold armor, moving with cold efficiency. Like surgical knives, they precisely cleared the obstructing monsters, advancing purposefully toward Iron Anvil Fortress.

【Detection: System‑directed elimination unit—Arbiter—has entered the combat zone. Quantity: three standard squads (12 members each). Average level: LV18. Leader unit: LV20 "Executioner" (???).】

【Warning! Highest threat level!】

The system's prompt was cold and merciless, completely snuffing out the last shred of hope.

LV20 leader! Three elite squads averaging LV18!

This power is incomparable to any enemy we have faced before! It is the system's true elite, a killing machine born for "Extinction"!

"Arbiter… Executioner…" Makusi said, watching the footage returned by the reconnaissance drone, his face ashen. "It's over… Iron Anvil… can't hold…"

Even the toughest militia captain showed a look of despair.

On the wall, the atmosphere was oppressively heavy. The moans of the wounded, the sizzling of overheated weapons, and the uniform, heavy footfalls of the approaching Arbiter squads blended into a dirge of the end times.

Chen Mo drew a deep breath, forcing down his body's weakness and his heavy heart. He walked to the wall's edge, gazing at the three dark‑gold squads cutting across the wasteland like the Grim Reaper's scythe, then turned to see his exhausted comrades still clutching their weapons, and the Iron Anvil guards on the wall whose eyes held fear yet no one retreated.

We cannot give up.

He stepped before Makusi and Walker, his voice hoarse from weakness yet bearing undeniable resolve:

"Captain Makusi, organize all non‑combat personnel, especially technicians and scholars, gather all core data and equipment, and prepare to evacuate through the preset emergency tunnel."

Makusi snapped his head up: "What about you? What about your side?"

"We stay behind to buy you time," Chen Mo said, his tone frighteningly calm. "The 'Echo' team is the system's primary target; wherever we go, disaster follows. Rather than dragging every Iron Anvil soul into a funeral, we'd rather settle it here with these 'Arbiters.'"

"No!" Su Yu was the first to object, clutching Chen Mo's arm tightly, her eyes full of tears and reluctance.

Han Qing, Zhang Yang and the others wore solemn faces but voiced no opposition, silently gripping their weapons to show their stance.

Chen Mo gently patted Su Yu's hand, then looked at Walker: "Master Walker, can the Stabilization Anchor… erupt one final time? It doesn't need to last long, just create a large enough energy turbulence to disrupt the 'Arbiter's' lock, buying time for evacuation and giving us… a chance."

Walker's cloudy eyes flashed with a hint of madness; he glanced at the Arbiter squads about to reach the city and at the on‑the‑brink Stabilization Anchor, then nodded heavily: "Fine! But this is the last time! After the eruption, the Anchor will be utterly destroyed, the resulting energy storm will spare no side, and… it may summon something even more terrifying!"

"There can't be a worse outcome," Chen Mo said calmly.

The plan was quickly formulated. Makusi, eyes reddened, began forcibly organizing the evacuation of non‑combatants. Walker, with a few of his most capable assistants, lunged toward the Stabilization Anchor to commence the final, extremely dangerous overload adjustment.

Chen Mo gathered every member of the "Echo" team and distributed all remaining high‑energy supplies.

"Brothers," Chen Mo's gaze swept over each familiar face, "this may… be our final battle."

No one spoke, but each person's eyes gave the answer.

"Our mission is not victory, but to stall those 'Arbiters' for as long as possible, especially that LV20 'Executioner,'" Chen Mo's voice was low and powerful, "to buy time for evacuation and to give Master Walker the conditions to activate the 'Final Agreement.'"

He looked at Su Yu: "Su Yu, your perception is our only 'eyes'; I need you to precisely guide us to the 'Executioner's' location and movements."

Su Yu nodded firmly, wiped away her tears, and her gaze steadied.

He then looked at Han Qing: "Brother Han, your shield is our final bulwark."

Han Qing grinned a grim smile, patting the cracked tower shield beside him: "Don't worry, as long as I'm still standing, nothing can get past us!"

"Zhang Yang, Li Siwen… Wang Hu, Zhao Lei, Liu Qian…" Chen Mo listed their names one by one, "protect yourselves and each other."

"Understood!" the group roared in unison, a death‑defying spirit soaring skyward.

At that moment, a synchronized, teeth‑grinding clatter of metal boots echoed from outside the wall. The three Arbiter squads, like three moving dark‑gold walls, had already massed at the city gates! Leading them was a towering Executioner over 2.5 meters tall, clad in heavy, snarling armor, wielding a double‑handed sword as massive as a door panel. He lifted his skull‑masked head, and two scarlet gazes, like spotlights, instantly locked onto Chen Mo and Su Yu on the wall!

A cold, pure, emotionless killing intent pressed down like a tangible force!

"For the… continuation of… civilization…" the Executioner emitted a choppy, metallic‑grating electronic voice, "Eliminate… all… unstable… variables…"

He slowly raised his massive double‑handed sword, and dark‑red energy began to coil on the blade, sending a chill through the air.

"Prepare to meet the enemy!!" Chen Mo roared, and the Proof of Primordial Origin burst forth with unprecedented dark‑gold light, forcefully dispelling the suffocating pressure!

The "Echo" team, like moths drawn to fire, faced the overwhelming power gap and defiantly bared their last fangs!

Meanwhile, deep within the fortress, Walker pressed the button that signified ultimate destruction.

"In the name of the 'Tenacity'… for… the future…"

"Reality Stabilization Anchor—Final Agreement! Activate!"

Buzz—!!!!

A pure white light pillar, indescribable in words, erupted from the fortress's depths, instantly piercing the heavens and the earth!