Chapter 318: with translation of chapter title

Two vortices…

Translation: "Two vortices…" (ellipsis). Keep ellipsis.

Just by looking at the layout on the flat star chart, these two vortices appear to be trying to sandwich human territory.

Translation: "Just looking at the layout on the flat star chart, these two vortices seem to be trying to sandwich human territory."

Just looking at the layout on the flat star chart, these two vortices seem to be trying to sandwich human territory.

And the 'left' and 'right' on the star chart display the words 'foreign invasion'; combined with the two vortices, this completely surrounds humanity.

Translation: "And the 'left' and 'right' on the star chart display the words 'foreign tribe invasion'; together with the two vortices, this completely surrounds humanity."

And the 'left' and 'right' on the star chart show the words 'foreign invasion'; combined with the two vortices, this completely surrounds humanity.

Immediately after.

Translation: "Immediately after."

Andre hurried to the viewport, looked out, and saw a violation of physics—a vivid, extraordinarily beautiful 'cloud mass' that completely enveloped the space they occupied, indicating they were inside the vortex.

Translation: "Andre quickly came to the porthole, looked outside, and could see a 'cloud mass' that violated physical laws, was multicolored and extraordinarily gorgeous, completely enveloping the space they were in, also indicating they were inside a vortex."

We need to keep 'cloud mass' as 'cloud mass'.

Seeing this, Andre instantly realized that over the past decade, while the anomalous space intensified its intrusion on humanity, it also 'opened a new path', undoubtedly corrupting and sacrificing countless alien species, thus creating this vast 'cloud mass'…

Translation: "Seeing this, Andre instantly understood that over the past decade or more, while the alien space intensified its intrusion on humanity, it also 'opened a new path', undoubtedly corrupting and sacrificing countless alien species, thus causing this scale of 'cloud mass'…"

Or rather, an anomalous space storm.

Translation: "Or rather, an alien space storm."

The demons and evil gods' elaborate scheme is obvious: to destroy humanity's existing order, plunge it into despair, and ultimately force it to turn to chaos.

Translation: "The purpose of the demons and evil gods going to such lengths is obvious: to destroy humanity's existing order, plunge humanity into despair, and ultimately force them to turn to chaos."

After all, the anomalous space has already noticed the threat posed by the 'vaccine'.

Translation: "After all, the alien space has already noticed the threat of the 'vaccine'."

The war almost broke out in an instant……

Translation: "War almost broke out in an instant……"

"Colonel!" a communications officer shouted to Andre, reporting that ground forces' information was coming over the public channel.

Translation: "\"Colonel! \" a communications officer loudly reported to Andre: \"Information from ground forces is coming over the public channel! \"" Need to keep quotes.

"Play it."

Translation: "\"Play it. \""

Andre said this, then turned away from the window and walked back to the console.

Translation: "Andre said this, no longer looking out the window, turned and returned to the console."

"Yes!" the communications officer replied, then routed the audio to the console and began playback.

Translation: "\"Yes! \" the communications officer replied, then routed the audio to the console and began playback."

"Hiss… hiss… This is the UNSC's 621st Infantry Division; Kapulan is under attack…… by abnormal creatures…

Translation: "\"Static… static… This is the UNSC's 621st Infantry Division; Kaplan is under attack…… by abnormal creatures' invasion…" Need to keep ellipsis.

We will translate the onomatopoeia as 'Hiss… hiss…'.

Thus: "\"Hiss… hiss… This is the UNSC's 621st Infantry Division; Kaplan is under attack…… by abnormal creatures' invasion…"

We will keep the ellipsis after 'invasion…' as in the original.

"Civilians need to evacuate…! Moreover, the number of abnormal creatures is too great…… we can't hold out on our own! Request reinforcements!"

Translation: "Civilians need to evacuate…! Moreover, the… number of abnormal creatures is too many…… we can't hold on with just us! Request reinforcements!"

We need to keep punctuation.

Because of the anomalous space storm, the audio was choppy with noisy interference, but Andre and those present could still understand the speaker's intent.

Translation: "Under the influence of the alien space storm, the audio was intermittent, with noisy turbulence, but Andre and those present could still understand the other party's intended meaning."

Ground forces need support, and civilians also need to evacuate.

Translation: "Ground forces need support, civilians also need to evacuate."

"At this point, the communications officer reported again: six Space Wolf reserve combat companies and the Krieghoff 223rd, 265th, 301st, and 322nd regiments have successively joined the battle."

Translation: "At this time, the communications officer reported again: \"Six reserve combat companies of the Space Wild Wolves, and the Krieg 223rd, 265th, 301st, and 322nd Regiments have successively joined the battle! \"" Need to keep quotes.

Listening to the report.

Translation: "Listening to the report."

Andre cleared the flat star chart of human territory from the console and displayed a real-time readout of a planet named 'Kaplan'—the colony world beneath their feet.

Translation: "Andre dispersed the flat star chart of human territory, using the console to display real-time information of a planet named 'Kaplan', which is the colony planet beneath their feet."

Currently, any inhabited area on Kaplan's surface is being overrun by the abnormal creatures.

Translation: "Currently, any area on Kaplan's surface where humans reside is being invaded by 'abnormal creatures'."

Strictly speaking, what the UNSC calls 'abnormal creatures' are actually demons that have slipped into real space by exploiting the anomalous space storm.

Translation: "To be precise, what the UNSC considers 'abnormal creatures' are actually demons that have entered the real universe taking advantage of the alien space storm."

All forces—UNSC, Umbrella, and the sheriff's office—are fighting them.

Translation: "All forces, whether UNSC, Umbrella, or the Sheriff, are fighting against it."

Deployed in near-Earth orbit, four UNSC Paris-class frigates and one UNSC Halcyon-class, along with two Space Wolf Steadfast-class ships, have entered the atmosphere and are heading to different areas to provide support.

Translation: "Deployed in near-Earth orbit, four Paris-class and one Azure Hawk-class ships belonging to UNSC, as well as two Steadfast-class ships belonging to the Space Wild Wolves, are likewise entering the atmosphere, heading to various areas to provide support."

Kaplan is engulfed in chaos.

Translation: "Kaplan has fallen into a melee."

In this chaos, the official who has assumed supreme command is Grono Sigurd, commander of the 13th Battalion of the Space Wolf Legion.

Translation: "At this chaotic moment, the officer who took over supreme command authority is the battalion commander of the 13th Battalion of the Space Wild Wolves Legion, Gen Luo Xi Ge De."

Because communications are being disrupted by the anomalous space, this Astartes battalion commander issued orders in plain text rather than via hologram, sending them to all units.

Translation: "Given that communications are being disrupted by the alien space storm, this Astate battalion commander did not issue orders via holographic communication, but instead directly expressed them in text, transmitting to each unit."

Of course, the orders also reached Andre.

Translation: "Of course, the order also reached Andre."

Grono ordered all of Kaplan's military forces to hold every starport, gather any ships capable of jump travel and space shuttles, and evacuate civilians to areas outside the vortex that are relatively safe.

Translation: "Gen Luo ordered that all of Kaplan's military forces hold every starport, gather any ships and shuttles capable of jump travel, and evacuate civilians to areas outside the vortex that are relatively safe."

At the same time, each unit received detailed instructions—for example, which area to go to for fire support, or which starport to go to to cleanse demons, ensuring smooth evacuation routes for civilians.

Translation: "At the same time, each unit also received detailed instructions, such as which area to go to for fire support, or which starport to go to to clear demons, ensuring smooth civilian evacuation routes."

Looking at the orders displayed on the console, the captain turned to Andre and asked, "Colonel, what do you mean?"

Translation: "Looking at the order displayed on the console, the captain turned to Andre and asked: \"Colonel, what do you mean? \""

After all, they are the oversight department, not regular military forces, and given Andre's rank, seniority, and even age, he is the foremost authority on all of Kaplan.

Translation: "After all, they are the Oversight Department, not regular military forces, and given Andre's rank, seniority, and even age, he is the foremost person across all of Kaplan."

Upon hearing the question.

Translation: "Hearing the question."

Andre first looked around at everyone present, raised his voice, and said: "Everyone, because of the anomalous space storm, we humans have been forced into a war that concerns life and death!"

Translation: "Andre first looked around at everyone present, raised his voice and said: \"Everyone, due to the alien space storm, we humans have been forced into a war concerning life and death!"

Now it's not just Kaplan; the entire territory is busy responding to the invasion of demons and demon puppets, so at this critical juncture, all we can do is unite and cooperate, unifying command.

Translation: "Now it's not just Kaplan; the entire territory is busy responding to the invasion of demons and demon puppets, so at this critical juncture, all we can do is unite and cooperate, unify command!"

Saying this, Andre pointed to the console and continued: "It's written clearly here: the Sigurd battalion commander needs us to purge and defend the starport in Metropolitan Area 07, so captain, take us back to the ground."

Translation: "Saying this, Andre pointed at the console and continued: \"This clearly states that the battalion commander named Xige De needs us to clear and defend the starport of Metropolis Area 07, so captain, let's head back to the ground. \""

"Yes! Colonel!"

"Yes! Colonel!"

Having received clear instructions, the captain and crew no longer hesitated and immediately carried out Grono's orders.

Translation: "Having received clear indication, the captain and the crew no longer hesitated, immediately carrying out Gen Luo's orders."

Andre then left the bridge with his two aides and returned to the hangar.

Translation: "Andre then left the bridge with two aides and returned to the hangar."

Even though this 'old' colonel is over a hundred years old, his posture clearly shows he is preparing to personally lead the hunters again into battle against the ground demons.

Translation: "Even though this 'old' colonel is already over a hundred years old, his posture clearly shows he is preparing to personally lead the hunters again and fight the ground demons."

———————

Translation: "———————" (just keep the line of dashes). We'll output same.

…

Translation: "…" (ellipsis). We'll output "…".

At the same time as all forces reacted.

Translation: "While all forces were reacting."

Kaplan's side facing away from the sun.

Translation: "Kaplan's sunny side."

Overlooking a deep inland metropolitan area with a population of six hundred million.

Translation: "Looking down upon the metropolis area deep inland, with a population of six hundred million."

Not long ago, this place was brightly lit, and people had just begun their nightlife; now, however, smoke fills the air, with explosions, gunfire, and screams everywhere.

Translation: "Not long ago, this place was brightly lit, people had just begun their nightlife; now, however, smoke fills the air, everywhere filled with explosions, gunfire, and screams."

Between districts, there are also countless 'gates' of various sizes, their edges emitting a faint red light.

Translation: "Between districts, there are also countless 'doors' of various sizes, their edges emitting a faint red light."

The various demons that have plunged the metropolitan area into extreme chaos rely on these 'gates' to successfully enter Kaplan.

Translation: "The various demons that have plunged the metropolis area into extreme chaos rely precisely on these 'doors' to successfully set foot on Kaplan."

In the past, opening a 'gate' required sacrifice and slaughter, and required meeting certain conditions and making a transaction.

Translation: "In the past, opening a 'door' required sacrifice and slaughter, and required meeting certain conditions and making a transaction."

However, within the vortex generated by the anomalous space storm, the restrictions that once limited demons no longer exist.

Translation: "However, within the range of the vortex generated by the alien space storm, those restrictions limiting demons no longer exist."

Without restraint, the demons naturally indulge their desires through extreme acts such as slaughter and torture, regaining a long-lost sense of pleasure.

Translation: "Without restraint, demons naturally unleash their desires without inhibition, using slaughter, abuse, and other extreme behaviors to obtain a long-lost sense of pleasure."

Fortunately, the 'gates' that release the demons are not stable, opening and closing intermittently, giving humanity a chance to catch its breath.

Translation: "Fortunately, the 'doors' that release demons are not stable, sometimes opening, sometimes closing, giving humans a certain respite opportunity."

But this respite merely allows as many civilians as possible to evacuate; if the vortex from the anomalous space storm does not dissipate, eventual downfall is inevitable.

Translation: "But this respite merely allows as many civilians as possible to evacuate; if the vortex produced by the alien space storm does not dissipate, the eventual fate of falling will be unavoidable."

At this moment.

Translation: "At this moment."

Inside a massive residential building nearly six hundred meters tall.

Translation: "Inside a massive residential building nearly six hundred meters tall."

On every floor and in every area, families and residents carrying large suitcases, following the evacuation notice, hurried to the lower-level lobby.

Translation: "On every floor, in every area, residents carrying their families or large suitcases, following the evacuation notice's reminder, hurried to the ground-floor lobby."

Thus the elevators were overcrowded.

Translation: "Thus the elevators were overcrowded."

After all, just a moment ago everything was fine—who knew that in the next second, the official‑mentioned 'abnormal creatures' would surge forth?

Translation: "After all, just a moment ago everything was fine; who knew that the next second, the 'abnormal creatures' that officials had once educated them about would come flooding out."

Moreover, the emergency evacuation notice issued by the military made the residents even more uneasy.

When confusion, panic, and other negative emotions spread rapidly…

"Let me up! Let me up!"

"How dare you cut in line! What the hell!!"

"Hey! Don't fucking cut in line! Get your ass to the back!"

Chaos ensued.

A guy on the verge of mental breakdown shoved through the crowd, heedless, desperately trying to board the elevator whose doors had just opened.

This action instantly provoked public outrage, with people punching and kicking that guy, and, also affected by the interdimensional storm, many residents could no longer hold back, rushing to board the elevator that went straight to the lower levels.

Humanity's savage side was fully exposed.

"Dad… I'm scared…" a little girl still wearing white pajamas whispered.

"It's okay, I'm here."

He was sturdy and close to two meters tall, dressed like a retired soldier; he bent down, reached out, and lifted the girl straight up.

Afterward, seeing the scene in utter chaos, the man, holding his daughter together with several level-headed residents, chose to abandon the convenient elevator, entered the stairwell, and proceeded on foot toward the ground about four hundred meters below.

During the descent.

Seeing sweat beads on the man's cheeks, the girl used her pajama cuff to wipe them, and asked anxiously, "Dad, should I get down…"

"No need, Dad isn't tired; just help wipe my sweat." The man shook his head and smiled.

But…

When they reached the stairwell on the 61st floor, the man could no longer hold on; he first set the girl down, then half-squatted, opting to carry her on his back as he continued toward the ground.

Having come from the UNSC Special Forces Command, if he were still before retirement, carrying a daughter of over fifty jin would be nothing, but after retiring due to injury, his physical fitness had indeed deteriorated greatly.

When only five floors remained above ground, he and the other residents hurrying downstairs began to faintly hear gunfire and explosions, and these sounds of battle grew increasingly intense.

Hearing those noises, aside from quickening their pace, they had no other choice.

They arrived at the ground level.

Leaving the stairwell and entering the spacious, bright hall, they found it likewise crowded, with many residents still awaiting transport.

Fortunately, fully armed security officers were maintaining order, so there was no arguing or fighting.

The man, using his height advantage, looked out of the hall and saw numerous temporarily requisitioned buses and large airships parked on the street.

The security officers stationed outside were relying on street-side greenery, public benches, and similar facilities for cover, exchanging fire with demons coming from the south.

"Boom—rumble——!"

Suddenly, a few booms sounded; a giant demon with purplish skin leapt over the security officers' line, crushed a bus outright, and appeared plainly in the view of the man, the girl, and everyone else.

Then, in full view of everyone, the giant demon seized a security officer with one of its hands.

"Pfft!!" two times.

Even with the protection of Mechanical exoskeleton, two security officers were still easily crushed by the giant demon, plasma spraying everywhere.

!!!

"What the hell is that monster!!"

"Quick! Quick, take it down!!"

Witnessing such a brutal, bloody scene directly left the already uneasy residents terrified and unsettled.

Fortunately, the man promptly switched back to a holding stance, preventing the girl from seeing the security officers' grisly demise; he still held the girl and pushed through the crowd into the janitors' exclusive utility room.

"Qiao Yi, Hansen! Bring your men to keep protecting the civilians; the rest of you follow me!"

"Yes!"

Seeing the giant demon leap the barrier and slaughter its comrades, the security officers left behind in the hall immediately dispatched more than half to reinforce.

Unfortunately, the small-caliber pulse firearms issued to the security officers inflicted negligible damage on the giant demon, utterly unable to fell it.

Demons roughly the size of ordinary humans and possessing both sexual characteristics, taking advantage of the gap created by the giant demon's chaos, seized the chance to completely breach the line, then, relying on overwhelming numbers, launched a one-sided slaughter of the security officers.

At the same time, the demons also noticed the civilians gathered in the hall.

Not long after, having slain the last few security officers, they strutted into the hall with ferocious, grotesque grins.

The soul‑less residents tried to flee, but the demons would never let go of their "toys."

Next……

"Ah!!"

Amid the humans' screams of fear and despair, the residents were either flayed and had their bones ripped out, or were used as tools for venting lust.

Demons even forced humans to watch scenes of indulgence, then tempted and lured them into imitating those acts, thereby achieving dual physical and mental gratification.

Inside the utility room.

"Ugh…ugh…"

"Hahaha~!"

Even with the door shut, those hiding here could still clearly hear the "pleasure" reverberations playing out in the hall.

Including that father‑daughter pair, eleven people in total were crammed into this narrow, dark space, not daring to breathe a whit; even the girl obediently hid in the man's arms, silent and still, lest the demons discover them.

Yet the man could not stop cold sweat from beading his brow, his expression grim as he pondered how to escape.

After all, judging by experience, those demons would sooner or later notice this place; then they would be completely sealed off, utterly losing any chance of escape.

But before the man could devise a workable plan, a "shh" sound rang out—the utility room's automatic door was flung open by a humanoid demon.

The demon stepped inside, split the corners of its mouth, wore a "smile", and scanned those hiding within.

!!

"Ah! Ah!"

"Don't kill me! Don't!"

Upon learning their hiding spot had been exposed, and seeing the demon's grotesque form up close, together with its greedy "smile," two people could no longer suppress their instinctive fear and screamed aloud.

The man had no time to be afraid; instead, the parents' protective instinct toward their child burst forth at this moment.

He made a quick decision, let go of his daughter, spread his arms and lunged forward, then with a bear hug he slammed into the demon, using all his strength to drag it outside, reopening the doorway.

The man and the demon fell to the ground together, with the man on top.

Roar?!

The demon let out an angry roar, obviously not expecting that a 'human toy' could actually knock it to the ground.

The man didn't care what the demon thought; he turned, locked his legs around the demon's right arm and neck, then with his hands he clamped down on the demon's right arm, smoothly completing a cross‑hold, and then…

Crack!

Roar!!

Accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, the demon let out another roar, but this time it was not angry—it was a cry of pain.

Having successfully dislocated the demon's right arm, the man rolled to his feet and then kicked hard with his right foot, snapping the demon's jaw.

Afterward, the man had no time to check whether the demon was completely dead; he quickly grabbed his daughter, who had followed the panicked crowd out of the tool room, and, taking advantage of the chaos, tried to run along the edge of the hall to escape.

At first it went smoothly; the vast majority of the demons were only interested in their revelry.

But this good luck lasted only a few seconds before being ruthlessly cut off, as countless humanoid demons kept streaming in from outside the street into the hall and then up the stairs to the upper floors.

Naturally, the demons noticed this father‑daughter pair, as well as the other nine residents who had escaped from the tool room.

(End of chapter)