Chapter 162 ·Orbital Bombardment

Qiongqi's ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍body itself rivaled a massive skyscraper.

Its ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍tiger-like eyes, filled with malice far beyond that of any beast, flashed fiercely.

-ROOOOOOOOAR!

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Divine Beast of the Mindscape manifested by Baekhong let out a deafening roar, as though it intended to pass judgment upon those who had defiled the Pure Land in a single stroke.

Craaack!

Watching ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the creature leap while grinding its saw-like fangs and swing its forepaw, Baek Hwi-young let out a faint chuckle before clenching his teeth.

‘Ordinarily it would've been impossible, but…….’

Now that he possessed Gae Assail, cutting through it was entirely possible.

His gray eyes gleamed as he thrust Gae Assail in his hand toward a single point.

An overwhelming shockwave erupted as the two forces collided, and the shriek of tearing air exploded in every direction.

The black military cap pressed down over his head was blown away.

His freed gray hair danced wildly in the wind, revealing sharp eyes in contrast to the lower half of his face that remained concealed.

KWAAAAAAAAAANG!

A mere human stood against a monstrous calamity.

The sight, worthy of an epic legend, left everyone who witnessed it trembling instinctively, regardless of which side they belonged to.

“……Ah.”

“……So that is Qiongqi.”

Behind Baekhong, the followers of the Church of Cosmic Truth bowed in reverence as they gazed upon the legend they had always worshipped, now fallen into endless decline.

“……That man.”

“Quad... no, Penta……? Just what is happening?”

Having finished Saun's emergency treatment alongside the Governor-General's Office Security Division, Lang Wei, Myo Seol-rin, and Regcom Ging stared blankly at the gray-haired man protecting the collapsed Jin Crow.

But only for a moment.

Regcom Ging bit his lip and looked toward Baekhong, who still sat arrogantly upon her throne.

‘An unexpected ally has appeared, but it isn't enough. In the end... does she have to step in?’

His gaze shifted toward the rear of the battlefield.

To the tightly sealed cargo compartment of a military truck.

No one else had sensed anything unusual.

But he knew.

If she entered the battle, they could drive the Church of Cosmic Truth out of the Pure Land once and for all.

‘What are you hesitating for, Regcom? It's what she wants as well.’

But...

Was it really acceptable?

To return the half-mad woman to her original state, she had to be administered nearly lethal doses of awakening drugs and psychiatric stabilizers.

And in doing so, her already weakened lifespan would be shaved away even further.

‘Damn it.’

For the safety of the Pure Land, there wasn't even room for debate.

Yet the dreadful premise of wagering her remaining lifespan left hesitation lingering on Regcom Ging's lips.

-ROOOOOOOOAR!

But at that moment.

Qiongqi's ferocious roar, powerful enough to trigger headaches, interrupted his thoughts.

Unconsciously scratching at the empty socket where his left eye had once been, Regcom Ging finally spoke.

“……Captain Jane.”

“Yes, Vice Governor.”

“……Make the preparations.”

“……Thank you for your decision. Loyalty!”

Captain Jane Hansello.

A Military Police captain under Regcom Ging's command.

Watching her superior's back, she offered a flawless salute.

Perhaps others wouldn't understand.

But she had served alongside both him and her since the mainland.

She knew all too well what Regcom Ging must have been feeling.

‘Offering the lifespan of the person you love to complete a mission... Can any of us truly imagine what that feels like?’

Suppressing the emotions threatening to overwhelm her, Jane Hansello headed toward the military truck parked at the rear.

From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than an old Federal Army truck nearing retirement.

But that was merely camouflage.

Its true interior was a mobile prison constructed from Black Iron special alloy.

...No.

Perhaps calling it a mobile hospital ward would have been more appropriate.

Hiss.

She lit a cigarette out of sheer suffocation.

Brushing aside the bangs partially covering her eyes, she spoke with unmistakable tension.

“Open it.”

“Yes, Captain.”

At her command, the soldiers standing guard released several locking mechanisms.

At the same time, they stepped behind her and aimed their rifles into the truck.

“So it has finally come to this.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Inside was a single doctor.

And a single woman bound at the center.

Jane Hansello discarded the half-smoked cigarette onto the ground before silently saluting the bound woman.

Watching her, the doctor let out a quiet sigh before speaking bitterly to the woman restrained not only by a straitjacket but by countless additional restraints.

Olga Tristina.

“We will begin, Governor.”

Was this what she herself had wanted?

Ordinarily, she should have been resisting while letting out inhuman screams.

Yet now...

She was completely calm.

Perhaps because of that, the doctor could no longer hesitate.

Click.

He injected the awakening drug that had been prepared in advance.

The medication flowed through the tube inserted into her arm.

It was enough to make an ordinary person writhe in agony before dying rather than experiencing any pleasure.

At the same time, a potent mixture of sedatives and psychiatric stabilizers was administered into her other arm.

“--.”

Even so, Olga—her face hidden beneath restraints—didn't let out so much as a groan.

To bind the flawless body of such a beautiful woman.

To inject her with drugs and send her onto the battlefield simply because she herself had wished for it.

Could such an act truly be justified?

‘……I don't know.’

Captain Jane Hansello.

Savoring the bitterness of the thought, she unconsciously turned her eyes toward the battlefield.

Then, at that very moment—

The cigarette she had been about to place back between her lips slipped from her mouth.

She could only stare blankly.

“……What is that?”

Clanggggggggggg!

Chains slammed down, tearing through Qiongqi's body, piercing it, and binding it.

The beast that had been spewing blood while proclaiming purification was restrained by black chains, struggling desperately.

The sight resembled...

What should it even be called?

A distant age.

Back when humanity had still been imprisoned within its cradle—and prison—called Earth.

It looked like a scene torn straight from ancient mythology.

But her amazement did not last long.

-Grrrr... Grrrrrrrr!

Qiongqi bit through the chains impaling its own flesh.

As the creature roared in an attempt to shake free of the restraints that tightened with every movement, the followers of the Church of Cosmic Truth rushed forward and desperately began cutting through the chains.

“Cheap tricks……!”

Ignoring the gaze of her older sister entirely, Myo Seol-rin extended vines that wrapped around the chains and dragged them away.

Nor was she the only one.

Some followers struck at the chains with enormous blades.

Even Baekhong herself rose to her feet, her expression clearly showing irritation.

“How dare such cheap tricks stain the Divine Beast's body…….”

Others might not have realized it.

But Baekhong, directly connected to Qiongqi as the Divine Beast of the Mindscape, sensed something alien from those chains.

Something different from Psionic energy.

Yet not Bright Force either.

Naturally.

The force sustaining Qiongqi's body was her own Bright Force.

‘Disgusting. No... perhaps "dangerous" is the better word.’

Though she still appeared calm and arrogant on the surface, inwardly she was crumbling.

The pressure she had felt the moment those chains pierced Qiongqi's body was entirely different.

How should she describe it?

‘Every object is born with a purpose.’

A lighter exists to create fire.

A blanket exists to cover someone.

A book exists to be read.

‘Then the purpose of those chains is…….’

Would it be an exaggeration to say they felt like a prison created solely to restrain, oppress, and subdue others?

‘This is becoming too dangerous.’

Baekhong herself failed to realize it, but her face had long since lost its composure and stiffened.

She instinctively sensed it.

Beneath those restraining chains, the gray-haired insect holding a Divine Relic was preparing to strike.

‘Sa Hyeong-rang. That fool is useless.’

How long had it been since he entered the Pure Land?

And still, not a single word.

Biting her lip, she distorted her usually flawless expression before issuing an order.

“All followers of the Church of Cosmic Truth—”

No.

She was about to.

At that moment, a blue-haired woman floating in midair quietly uttered a few words.

“……It's been so long since I went out. I wanted to go on a date with Regcom.”

Had she not smiled gently through the drifting wind as she whispered those words—

“Now then. Would you all disappear?”

Her voice was hoarse.

Her cheeks were gaunt.

Even so, Olga Tristina's beauty remained unchanged.

But those who discovered her trembled instinctively, not because of her appearance, but because of the overwhelming Psionic energy pouring from her.

「Target Locked」

「Option: Precision Strike」

「Output: 99%」

「Operator Approved」

A Penta Gear Special-duty Officer wielded a Supernatural Weapon.

Leaving behind only the Psionic energy necessary to sustain her life, she locked onto two targets.

-ROOOOOOOOAR!

Qiongqi, bound by chains, screamed as killing intent and fear mixed into its cry.

“……Why is the Governor... No, more importantly, Penta Gear? A completed one?”

Baekhong, the Immortal-rank High Priest of the Church of Cosmic Truth, could not conceal her bewilderment at the situation that had gone so completely beyond all expectation.

Looking down upon the two of them, Olga Tristina smiled faintly without the slightest hesitation.

Then she quietly whispered.

「Orbital Bombardment」

A blue beam pierced the heavens and descended in a straight line.

The flash illuminated everyone's vision in an instant.

Witnessing it, Baekhong let out a faint laugh.

“Absurd.”

KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!

The two beams that struck the earth erased Qiongqi's body completely.

The followers of the Church of Cosmic Truth were swallowed by the light before they could react.

“……Tch. She got away.”

Only Olga saw it.

At the final moment, Baekhong had dismissed Qiongqi and evaded the attack.

Still, even she could not have escaped a beam descending at nearly the speed of light completely.

She had undoubtedly suffered considerable damage.

‘My husband's subordinates will take care of the rest. ……Ah, I suppose they're my subordinates too?’

Who knew.

Would they even continue following a Governor who had been absent for an entire year?

Besides, she had never wanted the position to begin with.

Olga Tristina bitterly wiped away the saliva clinging to her lips before slowly surveying the ruined battlefield.

“S-Seol-rin! Seol-rin!”

“Medic! If there isn't one, carry her yourselves! Take Saun too!”

Myo Seol-rin had escaped the bombardment by only a narrow margin and was still alive.

Myo Seol-ah and Lang Wei hurriedly rushed to her side.

“Arrest everyone who survived!”

“Should we take them to the hospital?”

“For what? Because they're pretty? Fuck. If it were up to me, I'd kill every last one of them……”

Meanwhile, the Security Division and the soldiers arrested not only the surviving followers of the Church of Cosmic Truth but also the remaining members of the Setter Platoon who were barely clinging to life.

“I-Is it over?”

“Please stay inside! It's still dangerous!”

The Public Security Bureau officers began controlling civilians who were cautiously emerging outside while gradually restoring order.

‘……A lot has changed. In just one year.’

Looking down upon them, Olga Tristina felt an indescribable emotion.

Had she never sat in that 'chair' that day, many things would have been different.

But having already seen the future, she knew.

This role...

Was the one assigned to her in this life.

Perhaps because of that, she unconsciously smiled as she watched the black-haired man lying unconscious among the ruins and the gray-haired man who had already disappeared into an alleyway.

“A Pilgrim and an Irregular. Has the end really begun?”

Her smile was strangely...

Fragile.

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