Chapter 373: New Human Empire! New Emperor! For the Gods!

(Aside.)

Support arrived the instant the vortex formed; humanity's navigation technology has also changed (gates do exist), individual gear is constantly being refined, but livelihood, economy, trade and colonization must be pursued simultaneously.

When new tech emerges, already‑built warships cannot be discarded at once, nor can orders be canceled; moreover, humanity already possesses ten home worlds, not to mention Terra's Shield and Sui Bian seated within Terra's Shield…

The record of this "father's" strikes is always instant‑kill, one move, never lingering, so sometimes the author has to temper the pace; of course, readers feel suppressed, mainly because it's slower… Hahaha~!

Ahem, what about the ultimate weapon?

The author will not mention it for now, but don't forget what data the shield world that Robert and Leon pulled back stored.

Now to talk about suppressing the protagonist…

First, Dianka lies at the outermost edge of humanity's domain, meaning it now relies solely on native defensive forces, confronting tens of thousands of Chaos Interstellar Warriors and hundreds of millions of mortal scum; the Sparta Corps has only one battalion stationed here…

One battalion…

There are also mortal troops; Krig, UNSC infantry, and auxiliary forces can each hard‑withstand three to six explosive‑arrow shots.

Second, an energy shield can sometimes be "easily" breached because Chaos Interstellar Warriors are empowered by a dark god, while the "Divine Chosen" power is even stronger, capable of interfering with ceramic‑steel armor, Thunder‑God hammer and the Terminator's energy shield; of course, Spiritual Energy stronger than the "Divine Chosen" Astate completely ignores it (a young version of the "Hundred Battles, Hundred Victories" will appear shortly).

Moreover, thousands versus hundreds: even the "old" Zeus‑class shield ships outclass the Endless from Halo (Superweapon) by far and have far prettier records, yet they cannot withstand the concentrated barrage of thousands of enemy vessels.

There's no help for it; when divergent timelines clash, you inevitably run into "this doesn't work" and "that's impossible" situations, and the author sometimes trims comments accordingly, since he wishes to avoid disputes—any debate, win or lose, hurts feelings.

Look closely.

These thirty‑one Spartans each wear Umbrella's Terminator powered armor, making the already‑giant men average three meters one centimeter tall.

However, they lack the parallel‑linked explosive‑arrow gun as a "standard configuration," because affixed to their left forearm is a dark‑red circular giant shield bearing a white "Λ" emblem at its center.

Combined with the powered short spear in their right hand, their dark‑green and jet‑black Terminator paint scheme, and the bright red cape draped on their backs, they resemble the three hundred Spartans of 2,700 years ago who defended the Hot Springs Pass against the Persian army.

Of course, these Spartans would not dare to board an enemy flagship without any ranged weapons.

Their powered backpacks sport mechanical arms on both sides, each arm equipped with a plasma shoulder cannon and a 1.0 caliber explosive‑arrow machine gun; some "heavy‑load" Spartans also carry two micro‑missile launch bays, enough firepower to cause a major ruckus.

Thirty of these Spartans belong to the 1st Company, 1st Platoon of the 16th Battalion; they are the most seasoned elite veterans of the 16th, each over 120 years old, thus qualified to don Terminator powered armor.

Leading these elites is the 16th Battalion's commander Saertu Demitrius; though his helmet is sealed, one can easily picture a short‑haired, resolute, mature visage, since Spartans generally look that way, unlike the unkempt, ragged Space Wild Wolves.

As for why he remains a battalion commander, it is because above a commander sits the OriginalBody; in peacetime each battalion operates independently, tasked with guarding a star system, planet, or patrolling a sector, so Saertu has not been promoted for a long time. Nevertheless, merit rewards come in the form of artisan‑crafted exclusive weapons and armor, or additional ships, powered armor and weaponry, or increased funds, resources, and personnel.

(Umbrella's legion headquarters resembles a warband overall, but its scale is smaller than a normal warband; Astate numbers only six hundred, auxiliary forces range from forty‑thousand to four hundred‑thousand, and they possess their own fleet.)

Saertu and the 16th Battalion's illustrious deeds explain why they possess Terminator powered armor.

The teleport completes, arriving at this crimson‑dim chamber, everywhere stamped with Chaos symbols, and the corners of the metal deck even sprout a writhing, living‑flesh tumor in the hangar…

"Bang—Bang—Bang!!"

"Enemy attack!!"

"Take out these invaders!"

The traitor Astate guarding the hangar reacts instantly and launches a fierce assault on Saertu and his men.

"Tap—Tap—Tap!!"

Immediately, a group of "mortal scum" wielding laser rifles begin spitting dense, eerie‑green and dark‑red high‑energy beams.

"Buzz! Buzz!"

But all attacks are nullified by the energy shield generated by the Terminator powered armor.

Moreover, Saertu's side does not rush a counter‑attack; instead, they form squads of six, using the giant circular shields attached to their left arms to build a shield wall—five squads create a circular formation, with commander Saertu positioned at its center.

The moment the circle is set, the circular shields instantly replace the Terminator's energy shield, generating a visible protective field that emits dark‑green light outward, isolating any attack.

These thirty giant circular shields were forged personally by Hephestus, each containing an exceedingly tiny—practically negligible—amount of Spiritual Energy.

However, the one who infused the shields with Spiritual Energy is their OriginalBody John; though the amount is minuscule, it is the legion leader's Spiritual Energy, enough to aid these Spartans against the vast majority of demons.

When the Spiritual Energy field replaces the energy shield, the left side of each of the thirty Spartans' helmets projects a three‑point "∵"‑shaped red guide line, helping them lock onto their targets, yet they still choose not to fire.

"Traitors!" At this moment, Saertu raises his right‑handed powered war spear, and with a metallic‑toned voice snarls, "I don't want to! I don't need to know where you come from! What I know is that you lot, having chosen to betray humanity and side with Chaos, have abandoned honor! Abandoned faith!

Therefore, you must die!!

Open fire!!"

"Bang—Bang—Bang!" The 1.0 cal explosive‑arrow guns fire in unison

"Ri— whoosh! whoosh!" and the rapid volley of plasma shoulder cannons instantly drown out the traitors' gunfire.

On Saertu and the Spartans' side, they need not worry about the Spiritual Energy field shattering in the short term, but the traitors' side fares poorly.

The traitor Astate dons reserve‑style ceramic‑steel armor, but their armor lacks any energy‑shield generator; while it easily resists laser rifle beams and most projectile and energy attacks, 1.0 cal explosive‑arrow rounds and 50 mm plasma cannon clusters can effortlessly rip through the armor, blasting away their heads and thoraxes.

Indeed, for Astate—and especially these centuries‑old Spartans—a single headshot and a second heart‑destroying strike constitute the most basic "respect" toward the enemy; moreover, the opponents they face are also double‑hearted, triple‑lunged Astate, demanding a lethal finish.

In just one minute, half of the hangar‑guarding traitors are wiped out by Saertu and the Spartans, the rest on the brink of total annihilation, forcing the traitors to opt for a "tactical retreat," evading the blade.

Even if not in the same universe, with slight variations in legion composition and armaments, the traitors know that without the gaze, Blessing, and aid of the "gods," a head‑on clash with Terminator‑armored Astate ends only in a gruesome death.

Thus, to prevent casualties from mounting, the optimal choice is retreat, letting brothers of the same "grade" or their commanders handle the fight.

In the blink of an eye, the remaining Astate traitors vanish without a trace, while the mortal traitors are completely shattered and smashed by Saertu's forces.

Saertu need not issue a specific order; all Spartans cease fire, and the hangar falls into death‑like silence, only the sizzling of hot muzzles and barrels remaining.

Saertu furrows his brow, a vague bad omen lingering that he cannot articulate, then brandishes his powered war spear and says in a deep voice, "Team One, Team Two follow me to assault the bridge; Teams Three, Four, Five, create chaos and destruction; remember, our deaths are trivial, but we must not let these traitors prosper— for the father, for humanity."

"For the father, for humanity." The brothers all respond in hushed tones.

"Alright, let's go."

"Yes."

With the plan set, Saertu leads twelve brothers in a brisk charge toward the ship's bow.

The remaining eighteen brothers split into three squads, each heading a different direction; it seems they intend to execute the usual boarding strategy and wreak havoc on the enemy flagship.

Next, Saertu and his brothers charge head‑on; with this commander as the formation's tip, they slash anyone they encounter, and the traitors have no opponent that can match them.

Soon they traverse dim, filthy, even somewhat eerie corridors, finally arriving at a spacious compartment.

Looking out,

This chamber resembles a gladiatorial arena stuffed inside a warship, with its metal deck deliberately laid with fine sand for cushioning—or to give a ritual feel—and numerous metal cages stained with blood, sinew, and chunks of flesh, though at the moment the cages are empty.

Above, bathed in bright light, a grand spectator stand was built from what appeared to be marble stone, forming a large circle.

Suddenly!

Accompanied by a piercing, violent "Boom!!" sound, all the gates dropped simultaneously, turning the arena into a completely sealed state and cutting off the retreat of Sa'ertu and his comrades.

Actually, at the moment the gates fell, a Sparta quickly turned around and used his 50mm shoulder cannon to blast the gates behind them.

"Whoosh——!" the plasma cannon volley shot out of the barrel.

"Hum——!" however, a Spiritual Energy barrier easily nullified the volley.

Just then;

"Hahaha! Trash! Scum!"

"Welcome to our place of amusement, your burial ground!"

"Look at their flashy outfits! A bunch of brats!"

Many who wore no ceramic steel armor, only light clothing or were bare-chested, showing off their sturdy muscles and Astate implants embedded in body slots, also took seats in the spectator stands, issuing occasional boos and jeers, clearly looking down on fellow Astate cousins.

Sa'ertu and his comrades turned their gun and cannon muzzles to blast the traitors in the stands, but the result was the same—nullified by a Spiritual Energy barrier that enveloped the whole arena.

It was obvious they had fallen into the traitors' trap.

"Form up!" Sa'ertu raised his battle spear high.

"Ah!" the twelve brothers shouted in unison as they set up a simple circular formation for defense.

At that moment, the gate facing the Spartans unexpectedly rose on its own.

"Thud, thud."

Immediately after, a traitor at least 3.4 meters tall, wearing a dedicated Terminator power armor, strode out of the dark tunnel with heavy steps, gradually entering the bright arena.

This traitor's Terminator was just as flashy, with a black-and-gold paint job, shoulder plates draped in gray wolf pelts, a twin-linked missile launcher mounted on the left forearm outer plating, a five-blade power claw on the left hand, and a longsword in the right hand whose blade was wrapped in a cyan-blue Spiritual Energy field.

Notably, this traitor had deathly pale skin and blood-red eyes, yet he wore an ascending braid; behind him, human skeletons were impaled with three Spartan-style helmets, and moreover, blood kept dripping from inside the helmets, falling onto his wolf pelts.

!!!

Sa'ertu's eyes flared with anger as he assumed a bow stance, leaning back, and he hurled his right-hand power spear at the traitor with all his might.

"Rou!!!" the spear sliced through the air, carrying an aura of world-shattering destruction.

Clang clang clang!!

Whoosh——! Whoosh——!

The twelve Spartans fired their guns and cannons in unison, heedless of whether the barrels would quickly overheat, as if they wanted to blast the traitor before them into debris and fragments to quell the hatred in their hearts.

Because the owners of the three helmets hanging behind the traitor were precisely the three squad leaders tasked with sowing chaos and attempting to paralyze the entire enemy ship…

They had fought side by side for a hundred years, they were blood brothers! Who would have thought they'd be sundered by life and death?

And Sa'ertu was not only angry; his heart was also filled with endless shame and self-reproach.

Though he clearly sensed something odd and knew this enemy was no simple foe, he still opted for the usual leapfrog assault on the bridge and the standard tactics of creating chaos, all in the name of so-called efficiency.

On the ascending braid's side, he first dodged Sa'ertu's spear by flicking aside, then released an invisible Spiritual Energy barrier to nullify all attacks, and kept his stride, continuing toward the Spartans' circular formation.

"Cease fire!"

The one they sensed was certainly no pushover, and very likely the mastermind behind the massacre of their brothers; Sa'ertu immediately called off the attack.

The ascending braid also came to the center of the arena, pointing his sword tip at the circular formation, and spoke with an echoing tone: "I am Aizekai'er Abadun, commander of the Black Warband, marshal, and the most proud offspring of the Human Empire's Emperor! Moreover, I am the gods' favored chosen one!"

Now! You are completely surrounded—either die or live! If you die, we will trample you to death; if you live, you will join us in overthrowing the false emperor's rule, liberating humanity and all sentient beings, and then spread humanity's footprint across the entire cosmos.

"Choose, brothers!"

"Hah!" however Sa'ertu smirked contemptuously; though he wasn't sure what a "new emperor" or "new Human Empire" meant, he firmly shouted: "Sparta! Tell this traitor what our choice is!!"

"Aah!!!" an earth-shaking battle cry drowned out the jeers and boos from the stands, reverberating throughout the arena.

At the same time, Sa'ertu led the charge, he and his twelve brothers spreading out to engage in melee with the traitor who called himself Abadun, brimming with confidence and standing stock-still in place.

"Bang!" the energy shield shattered in an instant, contrary to expectation.

"Hum! Hum!" the power spear and the longsword's energy field collided.

"Splurt!" the body was pierced through by a blade.

In less than five seconds, two Spartan veterans were slain by Abadun, and the remaining Spartans could not pierce his invisible barrier at all.

However, Sa'ertu, who lacked any melee weapon from the start, hurled his giant shield like a dart at Abadun.

"Boom!"

The giant shield and the invisible barrier clashed violently, actually forcing Abadun to stagger back three steps before he could barely offset the force.

It seems the trace of Spiritual Energy that OriginalBody John had infused into the giant shield could harm Abadun.

"Since you've chosen death! Then die, brothers! Perfect—offer your bodies and souls to the new emperor! Offer them to the gods!"

However, Abadun had no fear at all; instead, he grew even more excited, and with even more superb swordsmanship plus a rather rascally Defensive Barrier, he crushed, defeated, and killed all the Spartans except Sa'ertu.

Don't worry, Abadun will be properly educated.

Finally, thanks for everyone's support~

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(End of chapter)