Chapter 99: Shift in Mindset

At the center of the camp.

The rebels, dressed in mismatched, disorganized clothing, were gathered around the campfire eating dinner.

"Crackle~" is the sound the bonfire makes when burning.

"Hahaha!" Some rebels, after saying something extremely vulgar, couldn't help but laugh stupidly.

The main reason the Ah Ming Faction had this group of rebels stationed here was to probe the attitude of the Lawless 13th Semi-Mixed Brigade; otherwise they wouldn't have sent 14 foreign tourists here to be guarded together.

In a sense, these hundreds of rebels are merely pawns sent to die.

Seeing the rebels only indulge in enjoyment and abuse, with no sense of crisis at all, shows their intelligence is insufficient to think about complex problems.

Not far west of the camp's center stands a wooden warehouse.

"Save… save me… God… (Swahili)"

"Shut up! Or I'll pull out your intestines!"

"Whimper…"

Inside the warehouse there are cries for help, also the rebels' impatient shouts, and more of helpless low wailing.

"Haha~! We've had enough fun, it's satisfying!"

"The higher-ups are really good to us~ hahaha!"

"That's right, just stay hidden in the rear!"

At that moment, two disheveled rebels walked out of the warehouse, arms around each other's shoulders.

Through the gap in the door, one could see several more rebels violently abusing and torturing unarmed prisoners, doing things even beasts wouldn't attempt.

If one were to compare them to "worse than beasts," it would actually insult the beasts.

They don't deserve to be called human!

At this moment, the little Astates that had secretly surrounded the warehouse confirmed the prisoners' location.

Having infiltrated the enemy camp and personally witnessed what was happening here, the Astates' endurance reached its limit.

Now that we've found the prisoners…

"Huh? Why does it feel so empty ahead?"

Just looking at those two rebels with their arms around each other, one finds that something invisible seems to be blocking their path ahead.

"There is something… what is it… poof! Mmm! Mmm!"

The rebel on the left, just about to foolishly reach out to touch, discovered his abdomen had been pierced by brutal force.

He wanted to shout loudly, but his entire head was covered by an invisible giant hand.

"Bang!"

Like a watermelon smashing into the ground and exploding, that rebel's head was directly crushed, blood plasma and brain tissue spraying everywhere.

?!

The rebel on the right was a bit slow to react.

What's going on? Just moments ago his buddy was chatting away, and now his head suddenly blew up?

That guy even instinctively licked the blood and tissue splattered on his lips.

It's a little salty…

"Pfft!"

The last impression of that guy on the right was a slight saltiness, and then his head also exploded with a bang.

The half‑closed warehouse door was pushed open.

The full extent of the darkness of humanity playing out inside was laid bare before their eyes.

The few rebels who were enjoying the abuse didn't notice several giant figures walking into the warehouse.

However.

The abused children and women, however, faintly saw behind the rebels what seemed to be an illusory giant standing there.

What is that?

But it certainly couldn't be a god.

The victims would rather think they were seeing things than believe it was a god.

Because God has abandoned this place; God is not omnipotent, so if there were a God, why would such inhumane horrors be allowed to happen?

But the next second…

"Pfft!"

"Rip!"

The rebels who had been enjoying themselves either had their heads crushed or were torn apart limb from limb by brute force.

!!!

How is this possible?!

The abused victims were stunned and bewildered.

"Sizzle~!" (x10)

Accompanied by electronic sound effects, ten little Astates deactivated their Optical Camouflage.

Robert, standing in the center of the warehouse, used the translation function built into his nano‑suit helmet to speak solemnly to the still somewhat wooden prisoners:

"(Swahili) Don't be afraid, don't be fearful, we have come to rescue you."

"God… is God…"

"Thank you… earth… thank you… mother goddess…"

"Are you… angels sent by God?"

The prisoners, already tortured to extreme weakness, struggled to move and barely managed to make a kneeling gesture.

Uganda's local residents, as well as those 14 foreign tourists, weakly spoke words of admiration to the Astate.

The delirious prisoners had long since thrown the atheist thought to the back of their minds.

Besides God, who could silently 'descend' and then crush those scum with overwhelming force?

Only God can do that.

The Astate silently gazed at the prisoners kneeling before them.

Clearly we defeated those rebels, clearly we saved these prisoners, why is there an indescribable emotion in our hearts?

Pity.

This is the word the young Astate can think of that best describes this emotion.

They followed their father's words, becoming heroes who saved the prisoners, yet they did not gain the imagined sense of accomplishment.

Some merely felt pity for these persecuted prisoners.

At the same time, there was also endless anger.

He eased up.

"Captain Marini, I request to take charge of the upcoming extermination mission, for us Astate to carry it out."

Robert, suppressing his anger, opened his helmet comms and contacted Marini, who had already been lying in wait outside the camp.

"'Reason.' Marini's voice came through the comms immediately."

"I want those rebels to personally experience the despair that these civilians have felt." Robert replied in a low voice.

"I need to confer with the outlaw side."

"Okay."

Within less than half a minute, Marini agreed, saying: "Request approved, we will handle the outer perimeter's escaped fish, but don't forget your primary mission."

"Captain Marini, please rest assured, we will protect the civilians' safety." Robert replied somewhat eagerly.

After ending the comms with Marini, Robert surveyed the brothers standing around, and solemnly ordered:

"John, you and two brothers stay here to protect the civilians' safety; the rest of the brothers follow me to exterminate that bunch of trash."

"Okay." John and the others had no objections.

Although Sui Bian did not directly appoint anyone as captain, the Astate still regarded Robert, who had the greatest command ability and was the oldest, as the eldest brother.

Next was John, the most silent and least talkative, as well as the most executively capable.

The Astate then quickly checked their. 50cal heavy pulse machine guns, as well as melee weapons: wrist blades, boomerangs, and retractable spears.

Everything is ready.

John and two brothers remained in the warehouse, while Robert led six brothers, once again opening the Optical Camouflage and walking out of the warehouse.

Not long after…

"Chi! Chi! Chi!"

All around the camp, the heavy pulse fire of the 50cal guns erupted.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Fragile human bodies could not withstand the. 50cal's shell-less explosive rounds, bursting apart like water-filled balloons.

"Ahhh! Ghosts! It's ghosts!"

"No… don't come over! Don't come over!"

Finally, came the rebels' impotent shouts.

(End of chapter)