Chapter 464 - 409: Treading on Thin Ice, the Holy Fire Guard’s Loadout

If they were to abandon those two border worlds...

One could only imagine the cataclysm that would befall the billions of Imperial Citizens living on them.

But the situation in the Imperial Administrative Region had already deteriorated to such a point that, unless the Emperor himself performed a miracle, the Administrative Region simply didn’t have the military funding or troops to support those two low-value border worlds.

"I... understand."

"Also, notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Have them dispatch a few Tax Collection Ships to transport all valuable materials before the Space Dragon Race completely occupies those two worlds."

Faced with this cold-hearted command, the member of the Think Tank dared not ask any more questions, accepting the order and departing.

If it were possible, Sedon wouldn’t want to just abandon those two border worlds. Manpower, resources, minerals... these were all things the Imperial Administrative Region was in dire need of.

But as the supreme ruler of the Administrative Region, he had to consider the bigger picture at all times.

For the sake of a greater victory, the loss of two worlds and billions of Imperial Citizens was a necessary sacrifice.

In the face of such overwhelming circumstances, no one could remain unscathed.

This wasn’t just about the risk of war with the Space Dragon Race. If the Administrative Region truly had to face a three-front war, an attack from Grand Lord Kles would be all it took to turn all their efforts and sacrifices to ash.

The safety of the three hundred worlds in the Administrative Region rested on his decisions alone.

As the supreme decision-maker, every command Sedon issued was like walking on thin ice; the slightest misstep could lead to irreversible disaster.

For now, his only hope was for good news from Cyrenaica.

...

「Cyrenaica.」

「Avenger Cruiser.」

After breaking free from the planet’s atmosphere, the ship’s vibrations gradually subsided. Reinhardt looked up into the distance at the Tania Flagship, positioned in the center of the massive fleet.

"How much more time?"

After Agate took control of the vessel, this escort ship, which once belonged to the Supreme King’s Guard, revealed its true power for the first time.

The Zeka Energy Shield used by the previous Technician Priest was just the low-load configuration of the ship’s true Annihilation Shield, meant for low-intensity warfare. According to Agate’s description, before the ship’s energy core was depleted, no existing Imperial ship-mounted weapon could cause any damage to the hull. The only threats would be an encounter with a Legendary Immortal, an attack on the level of an Imperial Main Battle Corps Commander, or flying headlong into a Star Zone where a supernova was erupting.

In addition to conventional ship-mounted cannons, the Avenger Cruiser was also equipped with an Ancient Armament called the ’Low-Dimensional Projection Beam’. To put it more vividly, it was a dimension-reducing attack.

Matter from the Real Cosmos struck by this beam would be forcibly compressed into a two-dimensional space-time. Ultimately, due to spatio-temporal incompatibility, it would disintegrate into fundamental cosmic particles.

However, a single firing of the ship’s Ancient Armament would consume one-third of the energy core’s reserves. Agate did not recommend using such an unconventional military weapon unless it was a moment of crisis.

Short-range space jumps and mid-range Space Teleportation were the ship’s most basic means of navigation.

Furthermore, the Avenger Cruiser possessed Void Realm Spiritual Energy-shielding technology that the Mechanical Order had yet to master. In other words, when navigating the Void Realm, the Avenger Cruiser could completely block all interference from the Void Realm’s power.

After the Mechanical Sage’s explanation, everyone, including Reinhardt, finally understood why Casio and the tech-heretics of the Shadow Temple would stop at nothing to claim this ship for themselves.

Agate’s mechanical voice, transmitted through the command system’s Spiritual Energy link, was cold and emotionless.

"Strictly speaking, the Vengeful Angels only have the right to use this cruiser. Its ownership still lies with the Mechanical Order. As for some of the deeper, ancient shipboard technologies, my authority is insufficient to access them.

But this is more than enough to deal with the rebels in Cyrenaica."

After a series of operations, Agate continued, "I will remotely control the Punisher to make a short-range jump for you, bypassing the fleet’s defensive line. The rest of the mission is up to you."

As he spoke, Agate’s body began to emit a faint blue glow. His crimson cape billowed without any wind as Neural Metal Wires spread out, connecting to various interfaces on the bridge. A powerful Witchcraft Energy flowed rapidly across their surfaces.

His every word and deed were like that of a mechanical Demigod.

Even Koller was seeing a Technician Soldier of such immense power for the first time, especially with the overflowing Witchcraft Energy and the aura of deathly stillness it carried.

’That is no longer a power humanity can control.’

Eternal Annihilation.

One of the most dangerous and powerful forces in the Real Cosmos.

’Why would a terrifying power that should only exist within a Saint’s Remains appear in a Mechanical Sage?’

Suppressing his doubts, Koller turned to look at the fully-equipped Holy Fire Guard. He and Urus would not be participating in this boarding action. The latter’s body was no longer fit for combat, while Koller’s responsibility was to remain in the command center and respond to any unexpected situations that might arise.

Serni had applied to join, but his strength was still insufficient to participate in a boarding action of this level.

As one of the members of the boarding party, Nelom’s attention, unlike the worried expressions of the others, was focused on the weapons and equipment of Matthias and his men.

’Has Knight Power Armor really developed this much in the five or six years since I left the Holy Temple of Justice?’

The equipment of some Battle Group Commanders probably wasn’t even as fine as that of the Holy Fire Guard.

He could tell that their Power Armor, from its style to its loadout, was all based on the set worn by Reinhardt.

The heavy Clay Steel armor featured arm-mounted Energy Shields and short-range flight jump packs.

Their Knight’s Broadswords were no standard-issue items either; they looked more like miniaturized versions of the Power Swords the Mechanist Cult typically equips on their Titans. Furthermore, the four men had various models of firearms hanging from their belts, all of which were new to him.

In addition, the paint schemes on their four sets of Power Armor had also been meticulously designed.

The main color was a deep black, accented with very few crimson stripes, exuding a grim and merciless aura.

As the Honor Guard of the Lord of Vengeful, their Power Armor breastplates were adorned with a winged skeleton, a golden insignia symbolizing honor and status. Their gray cloaks were as heavy as Great Cloaks, shaped like Battle Banners.

The golden oak-leaf laurel on Matthias’s Full Coverage Helmet further symbolized his noble status as the Honorary Guard Captain.

Compared to the members of his Honor Guard, even Reinhardt’s own Power Armor looked simple and unadorned.

He was especially drawn to the ’small slips of paper’ affixed to various parts of their Power Armor with wax seals, inscribed with their proud battle records.

The Imperial Knights of old had no such tradition; all merits were known only to the Military Affairs Department and the Battle Groups. Staring at these ’small slips of paper’ that proclaimed their achievements, Nelom thought that whoever invented them must have been a genius.

Lu Jia stood beside Koller.

Not far away, the thud of Power Boots on the steel-cast floor was particularly heavy.

She watched as Reinhardt led the boarding and decapitation strike team, striding quickly out of the damaged gateway and finally disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

All she could do was pray that the operation would go smoothly.