Chapter 317: Full-Scale War and the

Soon after.

Solar System.

Within Earth's sunward gravitational range, in an orbit four hundred kilometers above the Pacific Ocean, the Dark Angel Fleet, with the Courage Praise stationed there, is anchored.

On the bridge of the Courage Praise, Sui Bian stands beside the central console, using the holographic star map to review the Supervisory Department's activity trajectory.

Seeing the dense red dots marking demonic traces, Sui Bian couldn't help but furrow his brow.

This trend is currently developing according to the prophecy direction spoken by the Elven Queen Erinmir.

Because, before Pallas Athena attempted to corrupt John, the low- and mid-rank demons that had entered the material universe had already been 'Yang'ed many times by the Supervisory Department and the Grey Knights.

He also took the opportunity to consume points, secretly plundering the spiritual energy of those demons that had been hunted.

Peace persisted for a considerable time, until the arrival of Pallas and the Mar people, who resembled elves, willingly joined human society; thereafter, the frequency of demon incursions into the material universe gradually increased.

"Chairman."

Just then, the White Empress standing to Sui Bian's right reported: "Jill Roslin has already learned of Lin Shunsheng's sacrifice, signed the relevant contracts and agreements, and Original Body Rus has also awarded the Five-Pointed Star Medal to Lin Shunsheng's two children."

"Is that so." Sui Bian ordered the White Empress: "Notify the company's local branch; there's no need to specially attend to them, especially not to disturb those two children."

"Understood." the White Empress acknowledged.

The contract and agreement signed by Jill Roslin were specially prepared by the company for the families of fallen intelligence officers, equivalent to "compensation" and "welfare benefits."

Sometimes, the company also provides part of the files to the families, enabling them to better understand the intelligence officers' decisions, indicating that social stability is inseparable from the intelligence officers.

As for Jill Ros, Sui Bian believes that, as a C-rank employee, she will gradually recount Lin Shunsheng's deeds to those two children.

Thus, the children will come to know that the true 'hero' is actually right beside them.

The Five-Pointed Star Medal awarded by Rus was commissioned by Sui Bian from Hephestus to commemorate employees who have sacrificed and made major contributions.

"Hope those two children will come to understand the medal's meaning later."

Finally, Sui Bian silently sighed to himself.

After calming his emotions, he again looked toward Leon, who stood silently at the left side of the central console, and said meaningfully: "Leon, get ready."

?

Leon, who was viewing the holographic star map, froze, not understanding what his father meant by 'preparation,' and then said somewhat bewilderedly:

"Father, what do you mean by 'preparation'?"

Sui Bian didn't rush to explain, but walked to the front of the bridge, came to the giant porthole, and looked down at the azure mother star beneath his feet.

Next, Sui Bian slightly turned his body, and in a low voice said to Leon, who had also come here:

"If that Mar ancestor's words are correct, humanity is about to face its first foray into another dimension; at that time, you and I, father and son, along with your brothers, must prepare to go onto the battlefield together."

Upon hearing that.

Leon's expression also became much more solemn; he nodded and said: "I understand, Father, but…"

Leon wanted to speak but stopped.

Sui Bian then couldn't help but chuckle: "What's there to agonize over? Speak."

"Yes." Leon spoke frankly: "Father, will the situation really become severe enough to require you to act personally? With me, plus Robert, John, and the others, that should be enough, right?"

"If that's the case, I'd be glad it hasn't come yet." Sui Bian smiled again, then resumed admiring the beautiful scenery outside the porthole, and said: "No matter what, humanity cannot avoid the outbreak of full-scale war, Leon."

———————

…

Dark and damp, clearly inside the sewage channel of some colonial metropolis.

"Stomp! Stomp!"

Several people clad in black robes were hurriedly fleeing along the metal walkway above the water level, occasionally turning to look behind, fearful that something might be chasing them.

Looking closely at these black-robed individuals.

The skin exposed outside their robes was a sickly pallor, and each person had shaved head and eyebrows, with bloodshot eyes.

They ran to the end of the channel, turned right, and when they tried to continue forward, they discovered a batch of fully armed 'soldiers' who had been waiting here for a long time.

The soldiers wore powered armor more advanced than the TPS series, and their laser rifles were connected to the power packs, eliminating the hassle of changing magazines.

The black-coated powered armor bore no obvious insignia or markings, appearing to be a covert unit of some organization.

Just as this group of black-robed individuals rushed into the soldiers' field of view…

"Tap tap tap!"

The entire channel instantly rang with the rapid fire of laser-series weapons, and furthermore, the red‑flashing high‑energy beams illuminated the spot, so the channel was no longer dark as before.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

The two black‑robed individuals at the front, unable to dodge, were pierced and burned by the beams.

Immediately afterward, the beams, like skewers for kebabs, 'threaded' through those two front black‑robed individuals, still unsatisfied, continued to 'thread' on without losing any power.

Instantly, more than half of this group of black‑robed individuals were killed or wounded.

However, one with keen eyes and quick reflexes—or perhaps, having followed the companions around the corner to face this channel, sensed the ambush—quickly raised both hands and released a barrier of spiritual energy emanating a faint purple light.

The usually unstoppable beams were successfully blocked; striking the barrier produced only water‑ripple‑like undulations and a muffled 'hum~ hum~' sound.

Meanwhile, the two surviving companions—one chose to help reinforce the barrier, while the other, his eyes completely occupied by purple light, waved both hands and unleashed a spiritual shock at the soldiers.

"Boom——!"

This shock disrupted the soldiers' formation; several soldiers were blown several meters away and then, with a series of 'plop!' sounds, fell into the sewage.

However, the energy shield generated by the powered armor was not shattered, indicating that the soldiers did not suffer serious injury.

Seeing this.

This black‑robed individual had no intention of stopping; he intended to expend a large amount of spiritual energy as the price to plunge the soldiers completely into unconsciousness.

As for killing them?

If he could obtain more 'blessings' and draw in more spiritual energy, perhaps he could do it.

But before this black-robed person could take any action, the guys chasing and pressuring them had already arrived.

"Splash! splash!" accompanied by the sound of flowing water.

"Ga…"

"Ah!"

The two tall, burly 'soldiers' let out their clan's unique voice, one on the left, one on the right, and rushed forward.

!!!

Sensing the attack from behind, the three black-robed people hastily turned.

But unfortunately, the two 'soldiers' were far faster than ordinary people, in just the blink of an eye…

"Pfft!" One black-robed person's abdomen was pierced by the elite's usual double-edged energy sword.

Another black-robed person's fate was even worse: with a 'hiss!' their head and spine were brutally torn off by brute force, blood spraying everywhere.

"Sizzle!"

Of course, it also splashed onto the last black-robed person's face.

!!!

Seeing the horrific deaths of his two companions, this 'lone seedling' had his legs go weak, he slumped onto the metal corridor, shaking his head as he retreated, and completely broke down, shouting:

"No! No… you can't kill me! My lord won't let you off! He won't!"

However, the two 'soldiers,' both over two meters tall, would hardly stop because of verbal threats.

Thus, the 'hiss!' sound rang out again in the channel, indicating the last black-robed person's head and spine were violently torn out.

Actually, the true identities of these two 'soldiers' were veterans of the Elite and Iron Blood clans respectively.

Both wore black-painted power armor, each bearing their own racial features, yet they were human-made power armor.

At that moment, the soldiers who had suffered Spiritual Shock also re-formed their ranks, splitting into several groups to stand guard and provide covering fire.

One officer approached the Elite and Iron Blood, nodded to his two comrades of different races in thanks, then looked at the black-robed corpses at his feet, opened comms and reported:

"Colonel, this is Hammer Squad; we have eliminated all the believers in our sector."

"You did well, Lieutenant." The communication immediately returned from the colonel, with a thick Russian accent, replying: "Hammer Squad, continue to hold position; technical personnel will arrive shortly to clean up, and then escort them back to the unit."

"Yes, Colonel."

Communication ended.

Leaving the sewage channel and reaching the surface, one discovers that it is now early morning, the sky clear and cloudless, stars twinkling, and two satellites serving as 'moons.'

Under the 'moonlight,' neat rows of large warehouses stand.

Around this area, many peace officers are stationed to blockade, ensuring no idle passersby intrude and hinder the 'military special department' from carrying out its mission.

And inside a brightly lit warehouse.

One sees at the center an unknown symbol drawn with sacrificial blood, and around it, old-fashioned candles placed according to a certain pattern.

But the candles have been extinguished, the diagram thus damaged, obstructing the smooth progress of some ritual.

Moreover, there are many slain black-robed believers here, as well as the soldiers responsible for killing them.

Soldiers in pairs or fours are scattered inside and outside the warehouse, vigilant of nearby movements, while the technicians are, according to the procedure for handling extradimensional contamination, cleaning the scene and collecting the bodies.

And at the edge of the diagram.

Standing there is an official who has opened his power armor helmet, and who is vigorous despite age.

This official's full name is Andrei Alekseyevich Ivanovsky, rank of colonel.

Andrei was forced into the Arcadia demon incident in 2042, sixty years ago.

Because he gathered many retired UNSC veterans, killed traitors, and physically expelled demons, he was re-recruited by Umbrella.

He currently belongs to the Oversight Department, responsible for commanding over a thousand troops specialized in dealing with extradimensional demons and believers.

Those guarding the warehouse inside and out, plus the soldiers who previously killed black-robed cultists in the sewage channel—including those two Elite and Iron Blood—are all combat units of the Oversight Department, also known as 'Demon Hunters' or 'Hunters.'

When intelligence officers lock onto abnormal phenomena and alien forces that exceed an individual's capacity to resolve, an emergency team will respond.

And if Oversight Department agents discover a demon event far beyond an individual's capacity to handle, the Hunter unit will take over.

The combat units of the two departments are similar in nature, but the Hunter unit is clearly stronger than the emergency team, since it directly faces believers and demons, and its members are all veterans.

At this moment.

The 130-year-old Andrei is patiently waiting for the technicians to finish their work, while staring at the diagram's symbols, lost in thought.

Not long ago, two agents discovered this group calling themselves 'Followers of the God of Bliss,' who no longer hid or concealed themselves, almost openly conducting their activities.

Given the large number of believers, the two agents requested Hunter support; ultimately, when the believers gathered in this warehouse, Andrei ordered a raid, thwarting a certain summoning ritual conducted by this group of 'traitors to humanity.'

"Traitors to humanity…"

With vaccine assistance, humans who willingly degenerate are relatively rare; most are corrupted through close or prolonged contact with items parasitized by demons.

Between 2090 and 2100, this kind of erosion and corruption has been gradually worsening.

As of today, May 30, 2102, from the start of 2102 to now, just half a year, they have handled three believer incidents, including this group of 'Followers of the God of Bliss.'

This makes the now much older Andrei constantly have a bad premonition.

More than thirty minutes later.

Seeing the technicians wipe away the diagram's symbols and all traces of extradimensional residue, Andrei turned and walked toward the warehouse exit, opened comms, and issued the recall order.

Leaving the warehouse.

All personnel boarded transport craft and aircraft; subsequently, the transport convoy carried Andrei and them toward low Earth orbit, leaving the already empty warehouse area for local peace officers to handle.

Soon.

An orbit about sixty kilometers above the ground.

A warship resembling the Defiant class but one size larger than ordinary Defiant specs, painted black with no obvious markings or insignia, deactivated its optical camouflage, allowing the transport convoy to smoothly enter the hangar.

Immediately afterward, the warship re-entered stealth mode, as if it had vanished.

And the corridors inside the warship.

Andre, who had not taken off his powered armor, was walking with two aides toward the bridge.

But just then…

The lights flickered, and one could clearly feel the entire warship shaking, as if it had suffered some kind of impact.

?!

Sensing the anomaly, Andre and the others quickened their pace and rushed to the bridge.

As the hatch opened, Andre looked through the porthole opposite it and saw outer space displaying a strange "dazzling" light.

"Colonel!"

The captain standing beside the console, upon seeing Andre enter the bridge, hurriedly reported:

"Now, all star regions except the Solar System have erupted in star-system-scale spiritual shocks, especially the Border Fortress and the Oslo Star Region where we are located; even quantum communications have suffered considerable interference!"

Spiritual shock?

【132> Andre quickly walked to the edge of the console and saw the flat star map of human territory covered in red.

Andelie hurriedly walked to the edge of the central control console and saw the flat star map showing human territory covered in red.

Meanwhile, the Border Fortress at the "top" and Oslo at the "bottom" each possessed a vortex large enough to cover half a star region.

(End of chapter)