"Damn it… that idiot…"
Peter gritted his teeth, the image of the vile face of the Supreme One of Heaven Mountain flashing in his mind.
At the same time, he recalled what he knew about Heaven Mountain — about "learning" and the so-called "sea of mind."
Every being born from Heaven Mountain, even the gods themselves, had defects within their mental seas. This was something well-known across the divine realms.
However, aside from that one being who ruled the core of Heaven Mountain, no one truly knew what those defects actually were.
Yes, Peter — the Archangel of Retribution — knew that he had lost the ability to learn.
But what he lost wasn't quite what most would imagine.
It wasn't "learning" that had been taken from him.
What he and the other angels truly lacked was the ability to develop — to create new technology, to innovate, and most importantly, to change their own way of thinking.
It was as if there was a lock inside his mind — a reinforced shackle branded with the "Seal of Thought."
Ordinary Heaven Soldiers — those below the rank of angel — were not so completely restricted. They could still "learn," at least to a degree.
Otherwise, how would they even be able to operate their weapons or handle the advanced technology they were equipped with?
The problem was that their "learning" wasn't the same as what normal lifeforms experienced.
From the moment of birth, their education and conditioning began.
There were two main types of Heaven Soldiers.
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The first were the naturally born, humanoid warriors — born into ordinary families within Heaven Mountain.
From birth, their fates were fixed. They were destined to become soldiers.
But "soldier" was a polite term. In reality, they were more like an army of officers.
They served as unit commanders, tactical officers, and field leaders, responsible for relaying orders and maintaining discipline.
Their entire lives revolved around training.
From the moment they could walk, they entered the "War Angel Academies" — brutal institutions where they endured at least thirty years of merciless, iron-blooded education.
They were taught the glory of Heaven Mountain, basic logic, and of course, endless lessons in military strategy.
Alongside this, they underwent physical enhancement surgeries to strengthen their bodies.
When they graduated, they were no longer human — they became perfect killing machines.
Cunning, disciplined, and utterly ruthless.
These officers could command entire divisions, calculate battlefield outcomes, and execute orders without hesitation.
Compared to them, demons seemed merciful — devils seemed gentle.
To follow orders, they could slaughter infants without a second thought.
To secure victory, they could exterminate millions.
In their eyes, ordinary life had no value.
Even their own lives held no meaning.
Their sole purpose was to serve Heaven Mountain — to spread its so-called "blessings" to every world they invaded.
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The second group was entirely different.
They were the "biotech soldiers" — the countless billions of artificial troops.
Unlike the first kind, these beings weren't born naturally.
They were manufactured.
Each one was grown in vats using cloning and bioengineering techniques.
From the moment of creation to full maturity took no more than a month.
During that month, while their brains were still forming, massive machines injected all the data they needed directly into their minds.
From the doctrines of Heaven Mountain to the operation of advanced weaponry — everything was implanted.
When the process ended, they emerged as fully functional soldiers — ready for war.
Unlike the officers, their enhancement procedures occurred during the embryonic stage, so no further surgeries were required.
However, their strength was fixed between Levels 3 to 5. The longer they survived, the stronger their bodies became — veterans were deadlier than new recruits.
Their "learning" wasn't learning at all. It was loading.
Their minds were machines. At birth, they were programmed with the core directives of war, while all emotional responses were left half-active — suppressed.
This was how the Heaven Army "learned."
Heaven Mountain — often portrayed as a paradise — was nothing more than a colossal indoctrination facility.
Every being it produced was a loyal hound, perfectly obedient to its will.
Although each one carried flaws in their mind's structure, those flaws never affected their combat or operational ability.
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Of course, this description left out one crucial group — the true angels.
They were entirely different from the Heaven Soldiers.
The gap between them wasn't just class — it was existence itself.
The difference between angel and soldier was greater than that between man and dog… or man and insect.
The angels were Heaven Mountain's true nobility.
They were the living embodiment of its laws.
At birth, even the weakest angel possessed at least legendary-level power.
The strongest reached the realms of demigods — some even attained divine rank.
Those who mastered divine laws became mythic beings.
And beings like Peter — the "sub-gods" — possessed genuine divine fire, wielding strength that could rival or even surpass most true gods.
Together, they formed the great expansionist machine known as Heaven Mountain.
Yet now, this seemingly unstoppable force was faltering.
Despite having destroyed nearly seventy percent of the swarm, they couldn't eradicate the remaining thirty.
Not because of fatigue or lack of ammunition — but because that final thirty percent was evolving.
Rapidly.
Like the sudden appearance of a boss's second phase, the swarm was mutating.
Far off, in the endless gray tide, countless eggs began to crack open.
From them crawled new forms — twisted, alien, and unlike any Zerg seen before...