Night fell outside E-Rantel, in a forest somewhere beyond the city. Hundreds of armored soldiers patrolled and rested among their tents. They had been marching for several days.
Throughout this time, they had been extremely cautious to avoid the Kingdom's surveillance, ensuring that no one discovered their whereabouts.
The Theocracy had issued several consecutive notices ordering them to return. It was not only their repeated failures that had angered those in power, but also the loss of Downfall of Castle and Country, which had turned everyone into startled birds at the mere twang of a bowstring. They feared that some legendary Demon God might have descended, or that certain powerful beings they would rather never see had revived.
Of course, there were other matters that could not be ignored. The sudden appearance of numerous non-human races and unheard-of powerful monsters across various regions forced the Slane Theocracy to shift its focus away from human targets and instead confront their true enemies—the demi-human races.
Perhaps it was because battles across multiple fronts were going poorly. Perhaps the situation within the country had become urgent. Or perhaps they were already overwhelmed and had no choice but to recall their forces. In any case, no longer having to remain outside in constant fear, and being allowed to return to the Theocracy, was the best possible news for these soldiers who had been campaigning for so long.
What they did not know was that after tonight, not only would their entire army be annihilated, but their homeland would also be implicated, becoming the object of suspicion across the whole of human society.
Inside one of the tents, several officers sat together, drinking and discussing recent events.
"The Theocracy decided to recall us most likely because internal conflict has already begun and they need our assistance. That's why they chose this timing." The speaker was dark-skinned, broad-shouldered, and thick-bearded—a rough and imposing man at first glance. He drained a cup of wine and slammed it heavily onto the table. "Damn it. If I'd had a little more time, that beauty would've been mine."
"Lulan, haven't we already said that our mission was sabotage, not letting others discover our trail? Why do you always insist on doing this?" The one reminding him was a stern-looking, slender man with clear features. Even without smiling, he carried an air of authority.
"Dena, my business isn't yours to manage. Why don't you worry about your monk-like troops instead? Just looking at you kills my appetite. A bunch of softlings who only know how to follow discipline." Lulan curled his lip in disdain. Everyone knew he and Dena did not get along, and no one bothered to interfere.
"But after the failed attempt to eliminate the Kingdom's Warrior-Captain, the Theocracy ordered us to act cautiously. We must not let anyone discover that we are disguised Theocracy troops. Everything must be pinned on the Baharuth Empire. Only then can we provoke tension between the two nations and push them into war. Your behavior makes it easy for information to leak." Dena's thick brows knitted together as he stared at Lulan's dark face and tried to reason with him.
"Haha. I always kill, take the woman I fancy, and leave. What evidence could possibly remain? If enemies hadn't appeared within the Theocracy itself, I'd probably have already pushed into the Kingdom's central territory. Those Kingdom soldiers are complete trash—they don't even notice our presence." Lulan scoffed after another gulp of wine, boasting shamelessly.
The other officers could only laugh along in agreement. None of them were about to point out that it was largely thanks to the magic casters accompanying them that they had avoided detection. They were colleagues, after all. One had to give some face.
"It seems the non-human races inside the Theocracy have truly become a serious threat. Otherwise, the higher-ups wouldn't be in such a rush to recall us." The loss of Downfall of Castle and Country and the deaths within the Black Scripture were known only to a select few within the Theocracy. Everyone kept silent about it. The official explanation was unrest among non-human races requiring their assistance.
"That's just the Theocracy being cautious. If they mobilized the Sunlight Scripture and the Black Scripture, those pests would be wiped out in no time. How could they possibly act so arrogantly?" These troops out in the field were unaware that Nigun, the captain of the Sunlight Scripture, had already been captured by Nazarick. Within internal records, he was simply marked as 'deceased.'
The information they had received was that the Kingdom's Warrior-Captain had been rescued at the brink of capture. There had been no mention of the near annihilation of the Sunlight Scripture.
"The Theocracy is just too careful. Still, if it weren't for that, we wouldn't have work to do. We haven't destroyed many villages this time. The Kingdom's patrol frequency has increased lately. It's getting harder and harder to find suitable targets."
"Yeah. I wonder if unrest among non-human races has broken out in the Kingdom too. If it has, the more violent the better. Then they'll have no choice but to seek help from the Theocracy. Once humanity is unified like never before, we can slaughter all non-human races in one sweep."
"Haha, exactly. After all, it's not Theocracy citizens who are dying. The people of the Kingdom and the Empire are nothing but lowly mortals who don't believe in the Six Great Gods. It'd be best if they all died. When the Theocracy's radiance shines over all humanity and the greatness of the Six Great Gods is made known, they'll have no choice but to believe. I'm sure it won't be long before every non-human race is eradicated under the Six Great Gods' guidance."
"That's right. When that time comes, the Theocracy will be the only human nation left. We'll become nobles, people above others. Then it'll be time to reap our rewards. The little suffering now is nothing. After all, it's their fortune to believe in the Six Great Gods. Offering up everything they have is only natural, haha."
"Haha, yes, yes. Beauty, wealth, power—everything will be ours. Those so-called Kingdom nobles and Imperial ladies will just be foolish women who come running the moment we crook a finger."
"Enough nonsense. If word of this spreads and exposes the Theocracy's plans, we'll all be sinners." The more excited the discussion became, the deeper Dena's frown grew. Finally, he could not hold back any longer and spoke up.
"Who here would even know? E-Rantel only recently suffered an undead invasion. Security inside the city has been greatly strengthened—but that's inside the city. No one's coming out here to find us. As for anyone else, even if a hero-level warrior appeared, they'd be nothing more than prey before our numbers. Why be afraid? If you ask me, General Dena, you're just worrying too much, hahaha." Lulan responded in a mocking tone, his sarcasm obvious. Dena's face darkened, yet he had nothing to say.
It was true. The strength of the forces here was not weak. With just a few more troops, he would even have confidence in directly attacking E-Rantel itself. Even hero-level fighters were insignificant before a large formation of elite soldiers.
And yet, he could not shake the feeling that things were not that simple.
"Compared to the minor skirmishes in the original work, once this became a real world, the scale of these troops is what it should be. Otherwise, with just that tiny force, killing a single Warrior-Captain to provoke conflict between two nations would be far too childish. Perhaps my influence on the original storyline wasn't that deep? Or maybe those were simply plotlines that were never written out? In any case, this is what makes sense."
From a distance, Chu Lian concealed herself atop a large tree, watching the recorded footage and conversations playing across the screen before her as she spoke softly.
The reason she had not attacked immediately was because she wanted to capture suitable material—scenes that would make all of humanity question the Slane Theocracy's intentions. With modern technology, once the appropriate segments were edited together, they would appear entirely authentic.
When the time came, she would broadcast it above E-Rantel and rapidly spread the information across both nations. Whether the Slane Theocracy truly held such intentions or not, their purpose would become exactly that in the eyes of the world.
Besides, it was indeed their purpose.
"They're quite cooperative, aren't they? One [Deepened Desire] spell, and only one officer among them managed to stay clear-headed. The others are either drunk on imagined military glory or completely oblivious. Perhaps the Theocracy's treatment is too generous—that's why it breeds parasites like this? Heh. No need to think about that. With these words alone, it's enough."
After hearing them mock other nations' weakness and openly exalt the Theocracy's supremacy, Chu Lian shut off the screen.
Raising her head to gaze at the silver-white moon, a curved smile formed at the corner of her lips.
"The hunt... begins."
Seraph activated.
In an instant, Chu Lian's body pierced through the less-than-one-kilometer distance and came to a halt, hovering before the Slane Theocracy soldiers' camp.
Her arrival was as dazzling as a descending dragon.
In the dead of night, for someone to appear in such a manner could only mean one thing—it was an open declaration.
"I'm here to crush you."
"Enemy attack!"
Regardless of how corrupt the upper ranks might be, most of the lower-ranking soldiers still maintained discipline. The moment they saw Chu Lian's imposing presence, they knew she was an enemy. Shouts rang out immediately, alerting the camp to mobilize.
"There!"
The officers, startled from their loud conversation, grabbed their weapons and rushed out of the tent one after another.
What they saw was a pure white figure beneath the moon.
Equipment of breathtaking brilliance, as though crafted by a god. An outfit that appeared pure at first glance yet concealed a deadly allure. A goddess-like face framed by long, straight black hair swaying gently in the wind.
Everything about her existence screamed for attention.
"Is that everyone? Good. Then please—die."
From standby mode, Seraph activated.
Chu Lian raised her left arm. The Left Arm—Endless Rotary Machine Gun roared to life, firing at nine rounds per second, swiftly massacring the Slane Theocracy soldiers disguised as Baharuth Empire troops.
"Damn it! Who are you? Why are you attacking us?"
The officers had not expected her to begin killing without a word. Enraged, they mounted their warhorses and charged toward her. Their individual strength was considerable. They did not fear Chu Lian's attack at all.
Meanwhile, the magic casters who had concealed themselves in darkness to protect their fragile bodies began chanting spells, launching magic toward her.
"Foolish."
With that single, indifferent word, Chu Lian decided she had no intention of prolonging the fight.
Her right arm lifted.
The Right Arm—Star-Slaying Tracking Missiles activated.
One missile after another streaked outward, bombarding the camp. She had no intention of leaving a single survivor.
If the machine gun's relatively modest spectacle had failed to instill fear despite claiming numerous lives, then the relentless explosions that followed shattered their courage instantly.
Unfortunately for them, once Chu Lian began her assault, she had no intention of stopping until her task was complete.
In less than ten seconds after activating the missiles, every Slane Theocracy soldier had been slaughtered.
Their corpses lay scattered in all directions—some torn apart into fragments, some severed into pieces, some outwardly intact yet utterly devoid of life.
Thick smoke filled the air. Flames coiled and danced.
The scene resembled the aftermath of a full-scale war. It was nearly impossible to imagine that a single individual had caused such devastation.
Technology might lack certain mystical wonders of magic, but in terms of destructive power, it was in no way inferior to magic of equivalent level.
With sufficient equipment, an ordinary human could unleash devastation greater than that of a fifth-tier magic caster.
After all, Chu Lian's Seraph-Type IS Armor was a conceptual armament. With its overwhelming firepower, achieving this level of destruction in mere seconds was entirely normal.
Fortunately, this location was still some distance from E-Rantel. Though the missile explosions were deafening in the stillness of night, the sound could not reach the city. At most, it startled sleeping birds from the forest and drove wild beasts away with the scent of danger.
Chu Lian cast one final, deep glance at the ruined wasteland she had created, suppressing the faint discomfort that came after taking so many lives.
Then she turned, activated Seraph once more, and flew toward E-Rantel.
Before the establishment of the Dungeon Space, in Miami, that peak Earth-rank dragon had used an entire city's annihilation to teach Chu Lian how fragile life truly was.
In destroying a city, it had also shattered the persistence in her heart.
Not killing was no longer her goal. Killing was no longer a sin.
All she could do was kill fewer people to prevent more from dying.
Slaughter might not be the only method. But at certain times, Chu Lian did not mind using it to achieve her purpose.
Hypocritical? Sanctimonious? Bitch? Loathsome?
So what?
None of it mattered.
What she needed to do was simply follow her own heart.
This was her choice. It was part of her growth. There was no need to overthink it. She only needed to do what must be done.
Had the system ever issued any warning about her actions?
What she did was what she believed to be right—and what the system judged to be correct.
That was enough.
And so, E-Rantel, whose patrols had already been intensified due to the undead invasion, welcomed a special visitor on this night...