Chapter 262: Despair of Terra

At this moment, the focus of the entire galaxy.

It is also the ultimate destination of this great rebellion, Terra.

The Solar System is now under full martial law, and the Mechanical Church on Mars is working overtime to fortify every planet and asteroid belt in the Solar System.

At the same time, reconnaissance units from the Dark Crow Guard, despite the Rebel Forces' tight blockade, suffer massive casualties to continuously deliver external intelligence.

At this moment, another tiny, smoke‑billowing covert warship bursts into the Solar System, receives support at the outermost Pluto defense line, and a latest report from the Dark Crow Guard is urgently dispatched to the core, Terra.

Simultaneously, Rogdoen, who was inspecting defenses in the asteroid belt, learns the news and immediately ends his duties, turning to rush toward Terra.

"Terminate this inspection immediately; I must return to Terra at once."

Within a small fortress shielded by countless asteroids.

Rogdoen, amid the respectful guard of nearby mortals, turns directly back.

Even though the surrounding mortals watch Rogdoen depart, they will become a lone force without support, delaying and dispersing the Rebel Forces, fighting to the death, their eyes flashing with primal panic.

It does not cause Rogdoen to linger a second, nor does he utter any gentle words of encouragement.

Only before leaving this asteroid fortress does he, with cold indifference, address a Political Commissar who will also stay inside to fight to the last moment:

"After I leave, weld all the gates shut."

Mortals (soldiers): "......"

The Political Commissar salutes fervently, displaying absolute loyalty and resolve toward the order the Original Body personally gave himself:

"Your will shall be carried out!"

Saying that, Rogdoen boards the ship and departs under the desperate gaze of the mortals behind him.

As the Yunxuji passes through the asteroid belt, slowly heading toward the warships waiting at the outer perimeter, Rogdoen's view is a dense cluster of fortresses, and after loading the last batch of mortals, waves of welding light flicker.

These outermost fortresses have been sacrificial pieces from the start.

Even across the vast void, the vacuum cannot transmit any sound.

Yet Rogdoen, watching the alternating welding lights outside the Yunxuji, can feel the overwhelming despair emanating.

What they weld shut is not only the gates, but also their coffins.

"This is this afternoon's execution list, sir; do you need to review it?"

Just after boarding, a Military Affairs Department officer hands over a thick stack of lists.

From the officer's tone, these lists cover only the afternoon's quota.

Rogdoen doesn't even glance at them, waving casually toward the outside:

"Execute directly."

"Execute with urgency!"

There's no choice; a sufficiently resolute defense cannot rely solely on simple loyalty to the Emperor.

Some necessary physical measures must also be employed.

Hearing this, the Military Affairs Department officer says no more, turns and lifts the Communicator on the Yunxuji, addressing the waiting soldiers:

"Execute, yes, execute with urgency."

Before the Communicator is even lowered, the alternating sounds of gunfire executions already come from that end.

Rogdoen silently watches outside the porthole, his eyes filled with contemplation of the dire situation and a hint of helplessness.

This demeanor prompts the Imperial Fist Company Commander beside him, who sees that even the execution of traitors cannot bring his father any joy, to finally speak up:

"Father, the Dark Crow Guard's news looks good no matter how you see it; why are you so worried?"

Although no concrete report has arrived, Rogdoen roughly knows that outside the Solar System a sizable reinforcement has finally appeared.

Yet this hopeful news for the desperate Solar System defenders, under Rogdoen's own order to broadcast it fully, leaves Rogdoen himself with a somber expression.

Now, watching the Yunxuji about to enter the hangar where warships await outside the asteroid belt, Rogdoen pauses briefly, then chooses to at least align understanding within his core command.

Turning back, as the Yunxuji slows and approaches the hangar, Rogdoen looks seriously at his offspring:

"Reinforcements?"

"I believe there are, but I doubt any can confront Helusu directly!"

Rogdoen speaks plainly, and even after finishing, under his offspring's stunned gaze, issues a decisive notice:

"The greatest effect of this reinforcement is probably only to give the Solar System's defenders a few more minutes of hope."

"Beyond that, if they can force Helusu to split off even a small detachment, I will thank the heavens."

The core officers aboard the ship turn pale at Rogdoen's words.

That's Rogdoen; if anyone else said that, they wouldn't even make the urgent list—they'd be executed on the spot.

Rogdoen isn't trying to dampen spirits; with the life‑or‑death battle imminent, any overconfidence or unrealistic hope in external aid will cause needless loss.

Sure enough, under Rogdoen's admonition, everyone below—including the Imperial Fist Company Commander—immediately regains a stern demeanor.

They no longer harbor expectations for the reinforcement spoken of by the Dark Crow Guard.

They treat the approaching reinforcement with the same cold indifference they show toward the mortals welded into the asteroid fortresses.

When the Yunxuji finally halts, Rogdoen steps out, intending to examine the reinforcement intel, see where it can be embellished, so the Empire's Propaganda Department can quickly disseminate the news to the rank‑and‑file.

But waiting on the warship's deck for Rogdoen is not a messenger officer nor the Dark Crow Guard, but the Dark Crow Guard's Original Body, Kolax.

Seeing Kolax himself waiting, Rogdoen, who just complained to his subordinates about the useless reinforcement, pauses, his movement even more direct than the followers behind him.

Then he looks intently at Kolax, his eyes scanning, finally landing on a projection that Kolax holds in his right hand.

Around Rogdoen, attendants constantly pass by, recalling the Original Body's teachings to treat the reinforcement as dead.

When the attendants regroup and look back at Rogdoen, they see the expression Rogdoen just instructed them to adopt now appearing on his own face.

Not only does the expression appear, its intensity is even stronger than before.

So the group can clearly see Rogdoen, staring at Kolax's projection, dry‑swallowing.

There's no choice; others might be fine, but having an Original Body personally deliver the message makes this reinforcement, even for Rogdoen, spark a glimmer of hope in his heart.

And as the most desperate person in Terra at this moment, when hope truly appears, Rogdoen's performance is not any better than anyone else's.

Kolax looked at Rogdoen, took a deep breath, opened the projection, and said quietly:

"It is Xisi, as spoken by the Emperor."

"Lord Sisi's reinforcements officially set out from Makurag a few weeks ago!"