Chapter 249: Listening to Prayers and the Gray Knight

Through the camp commander's "gaze" on Arcadia's battle situation, Sui Bian heard the system's words the instant they were spoken, and immediately said:

'Plunder.'

【Deduct 15,000 points; host's remaining points: 31,200.

Plundering.

Plunder complete; host has obtained the full Spiritual Energy of middle-level demon Sa Mai Er.】

As soon as the system finished speaking, Sui Bian felt a surge of power quickly fill his body, and the Spiritual Energy stored within him grew again, reaching an entirely new height.

Feeling the change in his own Spiritual Energy, and noting the system's mention of "middle-level," Sui Bian can infer that he is now far stronger than the middle-level demons in the other dimension.

Whether he can surpass, reach, or has already surpassed and reached the level of high-level demons remains an unknown to him.

After all, he must defeat a high-level demon to know.

'Demon.'

Confirming that the demon ravaging Arcadia from the other dimension, Sui Bian's fists involuntarily clenched tightly.

Arcadia, which had not yet deployed Ghost agents, almost gave the guy once expelled by Zeus a chance to step into the real world again and attempt to corrupt humanity.

Sui Bian has not forgotten that Sa Mai Er.

Ten thousand years ago, a group of low-level demons failed in their invasion of Earth, and before they fully withdrew from the real universe, they sent a powerful demon to kill Artemis, who possessed purification abilities.

That powerful demon was Sa Mai Er, who hurled a Cassius gun, causing Artemis to fall into a ten‑thousand‑year slumber, yet was easily expelled by Zeus.

'It seems that over ten thousand years, Sa Mai Er has not been idle; he successfully rose from a low-level creature to a middle-level demon, and also possesses a host of divine weapons.'

While saying this in his heart, Sui Bian also, through the camp commander's provided "vision," looked at the curved blade that still emitted an eerie green light.

The system timely added: 【Detected "Deadly Curved Blade"; spend 1,000 points to obtain full usage rights for the item?】

'Acquire.'

【Deduct 1,000 points; host's remaining points: 30,200.

Modifying permissions.

Modification complete; host gains full usage rights to "Deadly Curved Blade."

At the same time, because the permissions were altered by the host, the demon parasitizing the item has been removed.

As the words fell, Sui Bian "saw" a pale green glimmer enveloping the hilt, replacing the previously eerie glow.

He also inferred from the system's words that it was Fei Si Tuo Luo Ni, who, after obtaining the curved blade, was used by Sa Mai Er and became a tool that only knows how to serve demons.

But the specific details will have to be clarified when he reaches Arcadia.

As for the other "god" who shocked Fei Si Tuo Luo Ni to extremes, it is actually Sui Bian, who denied his divinity from the start.

The reason the camp commander of Combat Unit 087 suddenly possesses resistance to Fei Si's Spiritual Energy is also the result of Sui Bian's expenditure of his own Spiritual Energy.

Twenty years ago, a human from Earth prayed to him, causing his Spiritual Energy to increase by an infinitesimal amount, after which Sui Bian learned from Artemis how to listen to prayers.

Through Artemis's teaching and his own exploration, Sui Bian now can clearly hear the prayers of the "prayerers."

The so‑called "prayerers" are mostly Umbrella employees who are aware of his existence.

For example, intelligence agents in crisis, or the armed security and legion support troops responsible for containing and eliminating high‑risk anomalous creatures.

Even though he denies his divinity, titles such as "Father of OriginalBody and Astate," "Pioneer who led humanity's technological leap," and the like have already caused the vast majority of employees to regard him as a god.

And he is not a god like Jesus, Yahweh, or Zeus, but a deity belonging to the human race.

Thus, those employees who are extremely devout toward him will instinctively pray to him in crises, hoping for his blessing to get through the difficulty.

Of course, trivial prayers in everyday life are also not excluded.

For instance, when researchers conduct experiments, they pray for the experiment not to go awry and avoid having to start over.

Most commonly, clerical staff pray before a deadline, asking for a blessing to finish their tasks on time.

At first, Sui Bian somewhat regretted learning how to listen to prayers from Artemis.

He must admit that his mind is constantly filled with countless prayers, giving him a splitting headache and nearly compromising his sanity.

However, having weathered many storms, Sui Bian eventually overcame this, becoming accustomed to the prayers flooding his mind, which no longer affect his normal activities.

Gradually, he can even use his Spiritual Energy to indirectly aid devout employees who encounter crises.

The OriginalBody and Astate beings who are his father‑son relations, in theory, also fall within the "devout prayerers" category.

But these super‑warriors, long beyond ordinary humans, once they act, they declare the anomaly's end.

Up to now, no situation requiring prayer has arisen.

If even they need to pray.

That would mean humanity faces a fourth‑tier, Yi Xi Fan Di Si‑class (apocalyptic) anomalous event.

Thus, even now, Sui Bian has not heard prayers from his ten sons, or the ten thousand Astate.

From the moment their brains formed, all Kriggs, indoctrinated to be loyal to him and to Umbrella's ideology, also belong to the "devout prayerers" line.

Before encountering Fei Si Tuo Luo Ni, who possesses formidable Spiritual Energy, no Krigg ever needed to pray to him to get through a difficulty.

But after meeting Fei Si, when the camp commander of Combat Unit 087 and the Kriggs erupted with a belief that they would die to take Fei Si away for Sui Bian and Umbrella, he finally heard a battle cry akin to a prayer.

Thus he expended Spiritual Energy to grant the camp commander and the surviving Kriggs resistance, and to slay Fei Si Tuo Luo Ni's Spiritual Energy shield.

Through the camp commander's intensely strong belief, he "watched" the battle occurring in Metropolis Zone 01, learning of Arcadia's plight.

Honestly, at the thought that Arcadia's final death toll could exceed ten million, Sui Bian feels an urge to storm the other dimension and slaughter all demons.

But it's only a fleeting impulse; even without Zeus's cautionary tale, he would not personally venture into the other dimension now.

The current primary task is how to prevent off‑Solar System colonies from repeating Arcadia's fate.

"Bai Hou." Sui Bian turned, walked toward the bridge's central console, and said:

"Notify Dr. Wang Zhaofeng, have his corporate team accelerate the quantum communication research; the colony's real‑time communication schedule must be advanced."

"I have already relayed that to Dr. Wang, sir," Bai Hou, who was beside Sui Bian, said.

Walked toward the central console.

Sui Bian gazed at the various information displayed on the holographic screen, then continued: "Also, arrange an engineering ship to head to Lockford Island, and notify the doctor (plague doctor) to get ready, so he can make a trip to Arcadia."

"Yes, sir." Bai Hou nodded in agreement.

"How much longer do Artemis and her team need?" Sui Bian asked.

"It's estimated to be another four hours." the Red Empress standing to Sui Bian's left said.

"Four hours." Sui Bian raised his hand and lightly pinched his chin, letting out a thoughtful hum.

Although he helped the 087th Combat Regiment defeat Philus, the greatest threat, Arcadia's metropolitan area still harbors countless traitorous heretics.

Although the rebels' faith in Samuel has been eradicated after his exposure led to his total demise by his spiritual energy plunder, the corruption of the rebels' bodies and minds will not vanish with the demon's death, and Arcadia's chaos will not cease.

Within four hours, other low-ranking demons might notice Samuel's sudden disappearance, or even detect the humans on Arcadia.

Originally, the time was still considered humanity's "ally," but as humanity rapidly developed and its population grew, it also became easier to attract demons' attention.

"Father."

At that moment, Kelakesi, wearing powered armor and standing opposite the main console, asked Sui Bian: "Do you feel what has befallen Arcadia?"

Beside Kelakesi was Leon, likewise equipped with OriginalBody powered armor.

After receiving intelligence from Leon and Ada, and learning that Arcadia had lost communications, Sui Bian led the Dark Angels and Dark Crow Guard, commandeering the UNSC's Third Fleet, and immediately set out for Arcadia.

Feilusi remained stationed on Zhi Yuan Star.

Just now, Kelakesi and Leon both sensed Sui Bian's spiritual energy fluctuations, but only Kelakesi raised the question.

Upon hearing that.

Sui Bian lifted his gaze to the two sons standing opposite the main console, speaking without concealment: "I have felt it, and the situation is far from optimistic."

"Should we summon Robert and John as well, Father?" Kelakesi proposed.

"No need." Sui Bian shook his head slightly, walked around the main console, and stood before his sons, who were over two meters taller than him, speaking in a low voice:

"Artemis and her team can handle the threats on Arcadia, while what I call unfavorable refers to the worsening danger from the otherworldly realm."

"Father, how should we respond?" Kelakesi said, somewhat worried.

"." Leon's expression also grew much darker.

"Patrol." Sui Bian lightly waved his left hand and replied:

"Once the Hymn of Courage is refitted, I will patrol with Leon regularly across all colonial star systems, using my spiritual energy combined with the doctor's vaccine to protect all humanity to the greatest extent, thereby reducing the impact of the otherworldly realm."

"And also, wait for the opportunity to change the status quo."

"The opportunity to change the status quo?" Kelakesi said, somewhat puzzled.

"Yes." Sui Bian nodded: "In fact, society has already prepared for you to step into the open, but we need a suitable juncture."

"Father." Leon, who had spent the most time with Sui Bian, said: "Could it be the Great Expedition?"

"Pretty much."

Sui Bian did not deny it, and using the main console, he called up a star chart centered on the Solar System with a radius of five hundred light-years.

Then he marked the human territory at the chart's center; afterward, numerous dense yellow dots spread beyond human territory, indicating traces of possible extraterrestrial activity.

Meanwhile, above the Solar System, in the direction toward the galactic center, scattered red dots were laid out, indicating that Umbrella has confirmed the presence of non-iron-blood clans of extraterrestrial species within those star systems.

Next, Sui Bian pointed to one of those red dots and continued to explain to his two sons:

"When our controlled territory reaches these star systems, hostile alien vermin will come knocking on their own, and you will be able to appear openly in the public eye with full justification."

"And what about you, Father?" Kelakesi asked again.

"Me?" Sui Bian hesitated slightly, then gave a faint smile:

"I might also make some changes, but before that, you only need to wholeheartedly protect humanity."

"All right, Father."

———————

Four hours later.

Inside the rift space tunnel emitting a faint blue glow.

A stealth frigate similar in shape to the Griffon, painted gray-white, was speeding through the tunnel.

This stealth frigate is larger than the Griffon and carries more guns; she is Artemis's flagship, the Full Moon.

The Full Moon's hull houses a large equipment bay replacing the hangar, equipped with two hundred mounting platforms fitted with robotic arms.

One hundred eighty-six muscular warriors over 2.5 meters tall, dressed in exclusive nanosuits, stepped onto the mounting platforms one by one under the guidance of technicians in white uniforms.

Among them, six stood over three meters tall, and their limbs appeared to have been amputated, replaced by prosthetics covered in synthetic skin.

These six were once Olympian attendant soldiers so steadfast that even the fallen goddess Aphrodite could not bewitch them.

But after being rescued by Leon and Shengjilesi, and following Artemis to form the Gray Knights, they are now employees of Umbrella and instructors of the Gray Knights.

Additionally, the 180 warriors are selected from Astartes recruits through successive screenings, then subjected to the most rigorous training, requiring immersion in the Full Moon's water every seven days as Gray Knights.

The attendant soldiers and Gray Knights stepped onto the platforms, then technicians operated the robotic arms to clamp and attach the components of their exclusive powered armor, completing their dressing.

Just then.

Artemis, with her waist-length ponytail and wearing the same exclusive nanosuit, walked slowly into the equipment bay and took her place on the foremost platform.

The black nanosuit accentuated the goddess's perfect figure, forming a stark contrast with her gold-white hair.

Soon, the six attendants and Gray Knights donned their powered armor before she did.

The Gray Knights' exclusive powered armor is a variant of the Terminator model, named "Holy Shield."

The Holy Shield's overall coating is silver, with gold‑copper shoulder guards engraved with ancient Greek inscriptions, giving it a feel more agile than the Spartan Corps' Terminator warriors.

In terms of armament, it features a twin‑tube bolt‑caster mounted on the left forearm's outer plating, and a power spear gripped tightly in the right hand.

Also known as the "Vengeance Goddess," the power spear can draw energy directly from a fusion reactor via a gauntlet slot, and can be amplified by the Gray Knights' spiritual energy, making it their exclusive weapon.

Artemis's and the six attendants' powered armor outwardly leans toward an ancient Greek aesthetic.

Only seeing her without a helmet, she turned and shouted loudly to all: "Knights! Our mission is simple yet arduous—to cleanse every trace of heretical corruption from Arcadia!"

"Eradicate heresy!!" the divine servants and gray knights replied in unison.

Everyone, I might take a day off tomorrow to go get a massage at the TCM clinic.

Finally, thank you all for your support!

Thanks for the subscriptions, tips, recommendation votes, and monthly votes~!

(End of chapter)