Chapter 726 - 453: Sudden Upheaval

Chapter 726: Chapter 453: Sudden Upheaval

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"The Void Engine system is damaged! We can’t cut off the energy transfer! Energy levels in the core are surging. If this keeps up, the Void Engine is going to explode!"

"Dammit! Are these outsiders here to help us or kill us?! If the Void Engine blows, a third of Gaia is going up in smoke!"

"Colonel, bad news! The Void Engine will detonate in thirteen minutes and fifty-seven seconds!"

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! The Evil Spirits are here! The Seventh District has fallen... You, get to the energy chamber. I’ll handle things here."

"But—"

"Don’t fucking dawdle, Morphis! The lives of millions and a third of Gaia are in our hands now! Every second from here on out is critical. You have to sever the energy transmission line or reboot the Void Engine system. Otherwise, your family, my family—everyone is fucking dead!"

"...I understand, Colonel. Take care."

"You too."

In the control room, showering with sparks, the two soldiers shared a final salute before setting off on their separate, one-way paths.

On that day, the Void Engine—created by the scholars of the Star Association who had descended upon Gaia—was attacked by Evil Spirits. All four hundred and eighty-six soldiers stationed there sacrificed their lives. In exchange, the Void Engine was safely rebooted, and a third of Gaia was saved.

Two days later, the Void Engine was rebuilt. Gaia now possessed a near-infinite source of energy. Aided by the knowledge left behind by the Star Association’s scholars, Gaia entered a glorious era of explosive development.

The names of the fallen were engraved upon an obelisk, to be remembered for all time.

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"I’m sorry, Lieutenant. Cabrasa’s Abyssalization is irreversible. We are proceeding with a full Purification of the area..." a heavy voice said from the other end of the communicator.

In a dilapidated building, the lieutenant, covered in blood, leaned against a wall and sighed. "How many people are still alive in the city?"

"Only you. Only the last hundred of you are left..."

"Then how many made it out?"

"One hundred fifty-four thousand and eighty-five, Lieutenant."

The person on the other end said, "They are all alive because of your sacrifice."

"Then do it." The lieutenant pulled a crumpled cigarette from his pocket and stuck it in his mouth. Instantly, countless pairs of eyes, like those of starving wolves, lit up around him. The lieutenant shot them a glare, lit the cigarette, took a satisfying drag, and then passed it to a companion beside him, whose face was full of expectation.

"I’ve got a few outsiders here with me. What will happen to them?"

"They’ll die once, then revive."

"So fucking unfair," the lieutenant laughed bitterly. He laboriously pushed his weary body upright and clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Comrades, we’re going to die."

The lieutenant told them solemnly, "Cabrasa’s Abyssalization cannot be reversed. The Alliance has to carry out the Purification protocol, or more people will die."

There was complete silence.

Only the lit cigarette passed from hand to hand through the crowd.

"It has been an honor to fight alongside all of you."

Having finished his brief, final speech, the lieutenant walked over to the three dazed outsiders.

A young man, a young girl, and a slightly older man.

For some reason, when he saw the young man, the two words "Dusk Knight" popped into his head. Then, as he looked at the young girl with long, ice-blue hair, the two words "Winter King" surfaced in his mind. And after looking at the older man, the title "Great Sage Merlin" appeared. But the thoughts vanished in a flash, like stones tossed into the ocean, leaving not a single ripple.

"On behalf of the one hundred fifty-four thousand and eighty-five people who were saved, I offer you our most profound gratitude. Thank you for your contributions to Gaia. May your path ahead be bright." The lieutenant gave a military salute.

The three of them stood and returned the salute.

The young man’s eyes brimmed with tears as he wiped them away. "I’ll remember you, Lieutenant. I’ll remember all of you..."

The young girl with long, ice-blue hair was expressionless, but the rims of her eyes were red. She said nothing, yet the lieutenant could see indignation, loneliness, and a host of other indescribable, complex emotions in her gaze—she was sad, terribly sad.

The older man patted the lieutenant’s shoulder, and the two men exchanged a look, a silent communication passing between them. It was a strange, almost mystical thing, but in that man’s eyes, the lieutenant saw the tumultuous storm of his inner emotions.

Not long after, the Purification protocol was enacted. The Abyssalized Cabrasa was wiped off the map.

This incident resulted in the sacrifice of over six thousand soldiers. The Fourteenth Combat Legion fought until only one hundred remained, ultimately vanishing along with Cabrasa. Because of their sacrifice, one hundred fifty-four thousand and eighty-five people were able to live.

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"Noah, Gaia Royal City was overrun by the Evil God’s minions long ago. Are you sure you want to go?"

The man known as the "Hero of the Spear" wore a solemn expression. "Even if you’re a Player, that place is extremely dangerous. You could end up with a dead file there."

"Don’t worry, I’m the Son of the Sun!"

Noah gave him a thumbs-up, a confident smile on his face. His pearly white teeth flashed, his golden hair shimmered, and his whole being seemed to sparkle like a hero straight out of a storybook—so dazzling it was hard to keep your eyes open.

"Can you turn off your special effects?" the Hero of the Spear asked, speechless.

He had to admit, Noah was a man of immense charisma. Kind, brave, righteous, passionate, omnipotent... you could find every admirable quality in him. He was like the fated hero praised in the songs of Minstrels, destined to become the Sun that illuminated the world.