Chapter 522: Defiled Star Domain

Soon after.

The carrier‑borne aircraft escorted a large transport vessel away from Srilan, and the transport, using a positioning field that emitted a faint blue glow, forcibly removed the colossal carnivorous‑flower‑shaped Asasitiye from the Dark Plaza, returning together into the hull of a Moonlight Goddess‑class ship.

From then on, an ancient ruler was completely reduced to an anomalous specimen for humans to study and learn from, and it was highly likely that its blood and tissues would be extracted for analysis.

During this time, Leon, Lin Hong and others also concluded their infiltration mission, immediately returning to the Griffin, and rendezvoused with three other Grey Knight‑affiliated Stealth‑class vessels and a Moonlight Goddess‑class ship stationed in a slightly farther orbit.

It is worth mentioning that Rum also joined Leon's group, for, as a retired UNSC rear admiral, nothing was more challenging than seeking an OriginalBody.

As for Zhuoya and the other expedition survivors, many elite mercenaries chose to take Leon's employment, since as long as they get paid, it doesn't matter where they go.

Although Zhuoya and most gang members could resist Asasitiye's corruption, demonstrating strong personal will, Leon ultimately decided to erase their memories.

Primarily, Zhuoya and her companions harbor prejudice against the Empire, disliking official rule and command, and moreover they are not as straightforward as elite mercenaries (they're obtuse).

Therefore, after confirming that Asasitiye had withdrawn its mental corruption and decay from Srilan, Leon left Zhuoya and the others, whose memories had been cleared and altered, at the camp.

At this moment.

The task force's size had already surpassed what Leon had assembled a year ago.

Immediately afterward, the Moonlight Goddess‑class generated another wormhole forty kilometers in diameter, allowing the Griffin and three Stealth‑class ships to pass through first.

When the Moonlight Goddess, acting as the 'tail' of the formation, passed through, the wormhole thundered inwardly and collapsed, vanishing in an instant, and the residents of Srilan still do not know what occurred in the deep desert and low orbit.

Presumably, even though Asasitiye has left and the night no longer glows with blood‑red light, it cannot stop the rumor‑driven expedition teams still preparing to venture into the desert, dreaming of overnight fame and profit.

On the other side of the wormhole.

The task force has arrived at a new sector of space, and from here observing the distant stars many light‑years away appears slightly dimmer, perhaps due to different nebulae, or perhaps because this sector still harbors some subtle, uncanny residue.

After all, this area was once within the Pious Star Zone; before the Human Expeditionary Force of the main universe entered and Device 001 released a cross‑phase pulse, this place was one of the 'Severe Disaster Zones' heavily polluted by Chaos, comparable to the Eye of Fear.

Moreover, because Logaorielian frequently let the Whispering Legion 'revel' and 'sacrifice', the vast majority of planets gained self‑awareness, becoming demon planets.

Although the cross‑phase pulse wiped out all life, whether Chaos believers or Whisperers, and they have long vanished, after nearly half a century this sector of space remains a forbidden zone.

The former UEG, now the Human Empire, explicitly states that unofficial private organizations, corporations, as well as individual pioneers and mercenaries are prohibited from entering this sector whose diameter exceeds several thousand light‑years.

Because, according to the Empire's design, when the vaccine is fully disseminated and even the descendants of Zero‑Three humans who were not vaccinated acquire substantial resistance to whisper‑immunity, corruption, etc., the Zero‑Three Galaxy will be completely shielded from interdimensional influence.

Just as the main‑universe's Milky Way is a dark, mist‑shrouded region to interdimensional space, the evil god cannot directly perceive its interior nor step into it.

In contrast, the current Zero‑Three Galaxy contains only Shensheng Tala, the once‑controlled Dark Star Zone overseen by Conrad Koz, and the similar sector where Srilan lies, which have only just begun to generate mist that hinders interdimensional probing.

In other words, to the evil god's eyes, the Zero‑Three Galaxy is like a parchment riddled with holes (the vaccine effect).

As the holes continue to expand and eventually consume the entire parchment, they will completely lose sight of the Zero‑Three Galaxy.

This is why the Human Empire officially forbids any non‑imperial organization or personnel from venturing into this once‑pious Star Zone, now the Defiled Star Domain.

At this moment.

The task force continues to remain in stealth mode, employing low‑profile, conventional navigation to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

As for wormholes generated by the wormhole engine, according to the administrator's storage description, only vessels with comparable technology have a chance of detecting traces of a wormhole's opening or closing.

Meanwhile, the Moonlight Goddess‑class on its routine course soon sees its destination appear within visual range…

It is a planet whose surface environment is extremely harsh, devoid of any green vegetation, a barren wasteland where even the oceans have turned turbid—

Sanosche.

However, Sanosche's surface does host numerous cities and temple ruins, some of which occupy six‑tenths or one‑fifth of the continent as massive worship temples, visible even from tens of thousands of kilometers away in space.

Although these cities and temples are blasphemously styled, built by Chaos followers to serve the evil god, without any living beings to worship or sacrifice, the structures have lost all Spiritual Energy traces.

Soon.

The Moonlight Goddess, the Griffin, and the fleet of Stealth‑class ships arrived at an orbit roughly six thousand kilometers above Sanosche's surface.

Then, the task force dispersed while deploying various matrix nodes (diamond‑shaped metal pillars), establishing an initial encirclement of Sanosche, ensuring nothing could enter or exit while conducting a preliminary scan.

Before completing the scan, the task force would not rashly land on Sanosche's surface, because unlike Srilan, it is not within the vaccine‑effect zone, thus requiring extreme vigilance.

If the scanning equipment could immediately lock onto the Fire Dragon Lord Wokan, many troubles would be avoided; if not, Leon would dispatch a reconnaissance team to land.

In any case, Sanosche has no human inhabitants, so there is no concern of disturbing local order.

Moreover, before the scan results are ready, the Plague Doctor could not spare time to accompany them to the surface, as the Plague Doctor is busy conducting sample‑collection procedures at that moment…

———————

…

Inside the hull of the Moonlight Goddess‑class.

Mid‑ship section.

A cell specifically used by the Imperial Guard to imprison large creatures and aberrations, equipped with a high‑grade binding field generator…

"First, doctor, hello. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Asasitiye Brolakx Tira, um… could you put down the bone saw?"

Asasitiye was still trapped within a confinement field apparently crafted by the Ancient Saints, and it was retracting all its tentacles and 'petals' as much as possible, attempting to communicate with the 'doctor' who was more than a hundred times smaller.

First, take a look around this cell…

Rather than a cell, it is more like an internal "dock" of the ship, a thousand meters in length, width, and height, sufficient to accommodate four Paris‑class heavy escort vessels.

At the very center, Asasitiye occupies the most space, while the surrounding corridors and platforms host several Imperial Guard sentries and roughly a hundred Solar Auxiliary Forces.

In fact, the Imperial Guard and the Legion are similar in scale and nature, each possessing a dedicated fleet and auxiliaries, though the auxiliaries are named after the Solar System.

Although there is no real combat precedent, netizens often analyze from all angles and conclude that the Solar Auxiliary Forces, equipped with the finest weapons among mortals and possessing extensive combat experience, can, in certain environments, have a three‑person squad defeat a Legion Astate.

Thus, Constantine's expedition officially claimed to have led only a hundred‑plus Imperial Guard brothers, but in reality nearly ten thousand Solar Auxiliary Forces accompanied them.

Including all personnel, the Moonlight Goddess housed over forty thousand individuals.

However, that 'dot' of personnel is somewhat sparse for a super‑battleship thirty‑five kilometers long.

This makes it easy to shove the massive, bulky Asasitiye into the cell, while the highly feared 'doctor' is the Plague Doctor, forever clad in a black hooded robe and wearing a beaked mask.

Moreover, the Imperial Guard carefully brought in metal tables, metal chairs, and an experimental bench, placing them at the forward end of the lower deck of the cell, so the Plague Doctor could set down the assorted tools taken from his small satchel.

Then, the Plague Doctor produced his favorite bone saw and strode toward Asasitiye.

Even with the huge size disparity, the aura the Plague Doctor exuded, especially as he walked while excitedly saying "Ah—! Stay cooperative… click click!" sent chills through everyone in the cell.

You have to know, the plague doctor finally found a good specimen he had never seen before, and being able to restrain himself from jumping on it right away is already quite good.

Moreover, just looking at the plague doctor's appearance, Asasatye seems somewhat more 'normal'.

In the blink of an eye.

The plague doctor had already come to the edge of the confinement stance, observed a bit, then muttered to himself: 'Hmm… interesting, Mr. Sui didn't immediately help lift it; is it… for some other purpose, or is he testing me?'

Actually, Sui Bian had no intention whatsoever; it was just that the expeditionary force encountered some new developments, and the emperor, worried about his heirs' safety, immediately ended his spiritual energy inspection of Arthasathiye.

Moreover, Sui Bian didn't consider the confinement stance to be a particularly difficult defense to break.

He pondered for a moment.

The plague doctor shrugged, no longer dwelling on anything, and immediately swung his favorite bone saw downward, easily cutting a small notch, allowing him to enter the stance unobstructed.

"…"

Witnessing the scene before him, Arthasathiye had grown accustomed to it and no longer wanted to utter any complaining words; at the same time, based on the memory fragments it had acquired, it made a self-assessment and found that it had become this group of humans' 'mascot'.

At this moment.

The plague doctor had already extended his left hand and placed it on the outermost flesh tissue of Arthasathiye.

Then, the rigid state spread rapidly from the point of contact; in almost an instant, Arthasathiye felt it lose control of its body, and watched helplessly as the plague doctor used the bone saw to cut away its flesh…

Pain was inevitable, but it had already gone numb.

Just to stay alive, it didn't tremble; it merely lost the dignity of its former ruler, and enduring some physical and mental pain was nothing to worry about!!

Seeing the 'patient' so resolute, the plague doctor felt even more pleased and smooth, so he sped up the sample extraction process.

After all, as long as one doesn't seek trouble, cause trouble, and is willing to cooperate, the plague doctor is still easy to talk to.

———————

…

About half an hour later.

The plague doctor finally finished extracting all the samples, and the task force fleet also completed its scan.

In the Moonlight Goddess-class hangar numbered 'Zero One', ten thousand combat personnel had gathered, among them the task force's direct commander Leon, the Imperial Guard commander Constantine, and a grey knight veteran, plus the Red Empress standing before everyone via holographic imaging.

Because the Imperial Guard directly intervened, and there was also the missing OriginalBody, the Red Empress also devoted some energy to providing comprehensive analysis assistance.

By this point, the nature of the task force had undergone a complete transformation, which forced Leon, who also stood before everyone, to sigh to himself.

The Red Empress didn't care what the Imperial Intelligence Department head was thinking, nor could she have guessed; she directly controlled the holographic device, generating a three-dimensional image of Sannuosie above everyone's heads, marking different regions with different colors, and said:

"Everyone, based on the scan results obtained, we can tell that Sannuosie's surface, subsurface, and even deep underground are filled with large amounts of artificial structures."

Moreover, I detected in the artificial tunnels beneath the surface a large amount of faint spiritual energy responses; if we hadn't arrived here up close, we wouldn't have noticed this, nor distinguished these spiritual energy responses from space radiation.

Thus, we can basically conclude that beneath the surface of Sannuosie, or near the core region, there is a certain probability that the missing OriginalBody that His Majesty cares about, the Flame Dragon Lord Wokan, exists.

Having said that, the Red Empress turned her gaze toward Leon.

Leon, having received the cue, stepped forward a bit, took over the speech, and ordered: "You all have heard the lady's remarks, and I will also upload each of your target locations and mission details to your powered armor…"

"So! Guys, it's time to recover the last missing OriginalBody for the emperor and the Empire!"

"For the emperor!"

"For the Empire!"

As Leon's words fell, the battle cry instantly reverberated throughout the entire hangar.

Next.

Including Leon, the sergeant major, Lin Hong, Lum, and others, plus the Solar Auxiliary Forces, the combat personnel quickly boarded transport planes and landing craft, preparing to head to their respective exploration sites.

As for Constantine and over a hundred Imperial Guard troops, they directly activated the Short-Range Teleportation Device, and in the blink of an eye arrived at the surface of Sannuosie.

Meanwhile, Constantine and his six brothers came to the equatorial region on the sun-facing side.

This is a place connected to the underground network, and… it seems to also be a temple devoted to the worship of lust.

(End of chapter)