Chapter 158: Who Has Already Died?

Xiulun complained.

But listening to the voice on the radio, the wailing ones who had already prepared to die stared blankly at the radio, and only after a good half‑day did they suddenly react.

What does it mean?

We can evacuate?!

The crowd instantly looked up at the sky, and only then did they realize that the fleet above, used to attack the Terra insect swarm......

There seem to be a bit too many!

So that the insect swarm, which should always have a numerical advantage, actually faced the enemy ships in space in a one‑to‑one situation.

And without numbers, the battle in space resembled a massacre.

Light Spears and Macro Cannons, accompanied by air‑dropped crates falling densely like meteors, finally began to wipe out the Terra ground units on the planet in massive swaths.

The Insect Tide that had once suffocated Ma Lajin finally disappeared before the wailing ones for the first time.

Countless mortal refugees rushed out excitedly from their hiding places, cheering and repeatedly raising their arms toward the sky above.

Even after the Terra around the wailing ones was eliminated, many Yunxuji flew in from orbit.

Amid the refugees' growing excitement, a large number of mortal soldiers rushed out, delivering urgently needed food and medicine while re‑occupying the high walls to guard against any possible scattered Insect Tide.

The freed Yunxuji prioritized evacuating women and children, sending them to a safer fleet.

No need to take the elderly, because no mortal can live to old age in the Empire.

The refugees were jubilant, yet they looked at the fleet above and at the Yunxuji arriving before them.

Although many of them had been repainted in the black Xisi Legion livery, many Yunxuji that were too late still bore the Chaos or pirate markings from back then.

Especially one red pirate Yunxuji, which, as a wailing one tormented by Xiulun, felt all too familiar.

If it weren't for the fact that most of the surrounding Yunxuji bore the black Empire livery, and the mortal soldiers who rushed down were equipped in standard Empire Star Realm Army gear.

The wailing ones should now open fire on these unfamiliar troops.

"Thank you."

A group of refugees bowed respectfully to Ma Lajin and the other surviving wailing ones before boarding the evacuation Yunxuji, thanking them; a girl raised a bunch of local wildflowers with both hands, eagerly handing them to the 'angels' who had protected them in battle up to now.

Ma Lajin, unlike other Astartes, was not indifferent; he knelt on one knee with his severely wounded body, removed his helmet, and a kind, gentle smile appeared on his handsome, melancholy face.

Facing the girl who gave him flowers, Ma Lajin carefully took them from her small hands, placed them solemnly in his chest, then smiled gently:

"Thank you as well."

The girl, excited, leapt back into her mother's arms, and cautiously glanced around, curiously surveying the absolute heroes of her world.

Until a soft cough came from beside them, the refugees glanced over, then, with fearful faces, turned and ran into the Yunxuji.

Ma Lajin also looked over; Fanluosi glanced at his Judgment Court attire and the just‑now heart‑warming scene that seemed not to belong to the Empire, and gave an awkward smile.

Seeing a Judge arrive, and having dealt with the other side before, Ma Lajin finally straightened up.

Clenching his right fist and hammering his chest, Ma Lajin bowed his head respectfully:

"Honorable Judge."

The remaining wailing ones also saluted their Battalion Commander; in the past, Fanluosi would have readily accepted.

But now, with Xisi's special attention, Fanluosi dared not be negligent toward the 'Children of Misfortune' before him.

After all, as long as Xisi is watching, even if the wailing ones are truly plagued by misfortune, compared to the luck they've had walking alongside Lord Sisi, it doesn't seem that bad.

At least they won't only fight the Apocalypse war!

Fanluosi turned his body aside and only performed half the ceremony.

Then, after Ma Lajin helped the remaining wailing ones stand upright, he pointed to a gunboat Yunxuji with a distinctive black‑gold livery:

"Let's go, Lord Sisi is waiting for you."

The gunboat roared upward, accompanied by violently scattering heat waves.

The remaining bio‑ship above was being torn apart by intense artillery, and the orbit was strewn with endless bio‑corpse fragments, interspersed with bits of ship wreckage.

Although not unscathed, seeing the wildly disproportionate exchange ratio outside the viewport, Ma Lajin grew increasingly curious about the Aolake above, which was drawing nearer and becoming ever larger.

Until the gunboat steadily docked on Aolake's massive hangar deck, and when Ma Lajin stepped down, a chorus of refugee cheers rose around him.

Ma Lajin looked over and saw a large number of refugees receiving simple bandages and food on the deck.

They not only survived, but also enjoyed a standard of living that is extremely hard to attain in Nest City.

That is, they could receive medical treatment and eat hot meals.

This scene instantly endeared Ma Lajin to the fleet's owner, and then, amid the sudden 'clap' of everyone around snapping to attention, a slightly curious voice came from behind:

"Why didn't you evacuate according to the plan?"

Ma Lajin looked back and saw a mortal in Gilded Silver Armor with a kind expression, quietly watching him.

However, whether Astartes, Terminator veterans, or even that Judge nearby, all showed great respect toward this mortal.

Even Xiulun, who was hiding behind the crowd with a slightly embarrassed expression, bowed respectfully.

Xiulun and Ma Lajin could be considered old acquaintances.

Ma Lajin knew this person was the fleet's commander; whether the other's rank was higher or Xisi's act of saving mortals earned his respect, Ma Lajin also bowed respectfully to Xisi.

Clenching his right fist and hammering his chest, Ma Lajin lifted his head in a deep, resonant tone and replied:

"The Empire requires each planet to personally exterminate its own world."

"They all carried it out; we did not."

A simple sentence, yet it elicited varied reactions from those around.

Xiulun was bored, while Fanluosi watched this group of Astartes who dared defy Terra's will.

Only Xisi's eyes showed further approval.

Perhaps because of a soul from another world, Xisi often subconsciously seeks humanity throughout the galaxy.

"Why must you personally exterminate your own world?"

Fanluosi's tone was not very friendly when he opened, while Mara Jin faced the Judge, pulled a projector from his chest, and turned it on before Xisi.

In the image, two tentacles—one up, one down—were simultaneously spreading toward Terra in the galactic dimension.

At this moment, Xisi's position was merely a branch of the branches of those two massive tentacle offshoots.

And along the inevitable path of the two tentacles lay a vast area that automatically turned into a gray isolated zone.

This was precisely the information Kiriman had given Xisi that day.

To create an isolation belt and guide the Terran to other regions, the Empire world within the gray zone must be completely destroyed.

Fanluosi opened his mouth but could not speak, then buried his head again; Xisi silently watched the projection and refocused his attention on the present.

"This is not your active zone; who brought you here? Where are they now?"

Xisi asked a more practical question, but Mara Jin, who had been somewhat relaxed, and the surrounding mourners instantly showed a pallid look on their faces.

Mara Jin even swallowed dryly, then seemed to recall a terrifying memory and spoke stiffly:

"Imperial Guard, we arrived here following a small Imperial Guard detachment."

"And they..."

"All dead!"