Chapter 268 - 232: Interlude Event, Part 3

These Void Knights were severely mutated, their Anti-Magic Steel Armor fused with their very flesh. After rummaging for a moment, Manon tore a barely recognizable fragment of armor from the corpse’s shoulder. The insignia of the Battle Group this traitor had once served was faintly visible.

He frowned at it, then tossed it to Matthias.

’Can you recognize it?’

It was now certain that this Imperial Rebel Army appearing in the Ash Soil Star Zone had once been a battle cluster of the Seventh Legion. However, Manon, originating from the Emperor’s Shield, wasn’t very familiar with the Seventh Group Army, making Matthias the best person to identify it.

Matthias caught the thrown shoulder plate fragment.

After examining it for a moment, his voice grew heavy.

’Black Storm, a main battle group of the Seventh Group Army’s third echelon. The Death Battle Group once conducted a joint operation with them. I remember these people...’

Matthias stopped himself from saying more. The Black Storm Battle Group’s original function had been to suppress cult rebellions across various regions. Ironically, these loyal Knights, who had once knelt and sworn oaths before the Radiant Holy Image, had now been twisted into this monstrous state.

They had abandoned their knightly ideals and willingly become the minions of Demons.

Pathetic.

Infuriating.

Matthias exhaled heavily, tossing the armor fragment aside. He continued via the shared Telepathy, ’If these are men from the Black Storm, then this rebel army is very likely the battle cluster from the Seventh Group Army that was stationed in the Radiant Star Realm.

At full strength, they command thirty or more Knight Battle Groups, each with over a thousand men, and an Auxiliary Army nearly thirty million strong...’

He paused slightly here.

’As far as I know, a third-echelon battle cluster will be under the command of someone at the Deputy Corps Commander level.’

Before they had undertaken the mission to enter the Void Storm, Sedon had not given them any specific intel on this rebel army’s origins. This was possibly because the battle cluster was considered relatively unremarkable.

However, any Deputy Corps Commander of an Imperial Main Battle Legion was a powerhouse at the Sky Knight Level. If they encountered such a commander within the Void Storm, it would mean certain death, with no possibility of survival.

Matthias guessed that the supreme commander of this rebel army, which had fled to the Ash Soil Star Zone through the Void Storm, had likely died during the Great Rebellion. Otherwise, it was impossible that Sedon would have concealed such crucial intelligence from them.

After a moment of thought, he shared his analysis and speculation with Reinhardt, saying, ’...There’s one more thing I must emphasize to all of you. The Seventh Group Army is different from other Battle Groups. Because they are under the direct command of Karloman and the Imperial Regency Council, the Knights of the Seventh Group Army do not possess Legendary Power.

To compensate for this weakness, the Regent Council typically assigns numerous high-level Think Tanks to the Seventh Group Army’s battle clusters. The predecessor to our own Administrative Region’s Think Tank Group was, in fact, a portion of the Think Tanks from the Death Battle Group’s cluster.’

The Think Tanks within the Empire’s various Battle Groups were, by nature, humans with exceptionally high Spiritual Talent and who possessed the Wizard Bloodline.

A competent member of the Imperial Think Tank could even rival powerful Wizard Lords in strength; their combat abilities were far beyond what an ordinary Imperial Knight could handle.

The Vengeance Angel Squad could slaughter Master Level Tier Two Mages with ease, not because the Mages were weak, but because every member of the Vengeance Angel Squad was a champion-level powerhouse from the Imperial Arena.

If an ordinary Knight Battle Group were to encounter a powerful Wizard of Florant’s caliber, it would mean certain annihilation, with no possibility of victory.

The powers of Raphael, a Mind Mage, only seemed unremarkable because he was serving in the Vengeance Angel Squad.

Most importantly, once these powerful Think Tanks fell into the clutches of Demons and became corrupted into Void Mages, their pursuit of power would no longer be bound by discipline or faith. Their strength would only grow more immense and terrifying!

Just then, Agate, who was attempting to regain control of the ship, spoke through the Telepathy link, ’Don’t overthink the threat from Void Mages. The Lord Governor and the Think Tank Group have already reached a conclusion regarding that intel.

These rebels won’t have too many Void Mages within their ranks.

Raphael, contact the Ash Guard at the Orbital Port. Have them gather as many Technician Priests at the port as possible. The Punisher Ship needs repairs at the Orbital Port.

I’m going to attempt a Radiant Teleportation to get clear of this wreck that crashed into us. Grab onto the handrails inside the cabin. If you fall out, you’d better pray the Divine Emperor protects you.’

The moment Agate finished speaking,

ethereal blue system text materialized in Reinhardt’s vision.

[Interlude Event Part III: Bloody Battle at the Port.]

[A ship in good condition is a prerequisite for entering the Demon Void Realm, but the damage to the Punisher’s bow is too severe to allow entry into the Net Path.]

[Agate, along with the assembled Technician Soldiers, will conduct emergency repairs at the Orbital Port. This process will take over six hours.]

[Your task is to defend the Orbital Port and hold out until the Punisher Ship’s repairs are complete.]

[Event Reward: Enlightenment of Treasure Fusion, 2000 Heart Steel Layers.]

Afterward,

a curtain of ethereal blue energy enveloped the Punisher Ship. The moment Reinhardt grabbed a handrail inside the cabin, the vessel began to tremble with incredible violence!

In the span of a single breath, Reinhardt’s view shifted from the cosmos of low orbit to the interior of the gargantuan Orbital Port.

Before they even touched down,

the roar of cannon fire and the din of combat wove together into a symphony of death that filled their ears.

"Sir! The Vengeful Angels are here!"

"Where’s Bach?! Tell him to— BANG! These damned Demons are endless!"

"There are too many Demons! The brothers in the top-level corridors are about to break!"

"Bach—! Are you deaf?! For the Divine Emperor’s sake, if you hear my voice, make contact with the Vengeful Angels at once!"

As Sedon’s personal Battle Group, the Ash Guard knew many of the Imperial Administrative Region’s secrets. Moreover, as the Vengeful Angels project progressed, they had heard rumors of the mysterious squad under the Grand Governor’s direct command—the Vengeful Angels.

Unlike the lofty titles Verne World had for Reinhardt, the Ash Guard generally believed that anyone who joined this top-secret project would simply be codenamed ’Vengeful Angel.’

It was just like them. Regardless of which Battle Group they had previously served in, after joining the elite formation of the Death Battle Group, they were known by only one name: Ash Guard.

THUD.

The Punisher Ship had just touched down lopsidedly when a massive Slaughter Demon’s head flew in through a breach in the hull, rolling to a stop at Reinhardt’s feet.

At the same time, a deep, spiritually amplified voice resounded within the Punisher’s cabin.

"I am Thinker Bach of the Ash Guard! If you can hear my voice, respond immediately!"